Gavin Williams delivered 5 1/3 scoreless innings, fanning five and walking one, as the Cleveland Guardians snapped a three-game skid with a 3-1 win in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks. CJ Kayfus produced two hits, including a 406-foot homer in the second that gave Cleveland a 1-0 lead, and Brayan Rocchio connected for a homer in the fifth to push the cushion to 3-0. Cade Smith closed it out with a save, striking out Ketel Marte to cap the victory.

Arizona stranded 10 and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, while Zac Gallen allowed three runs on five hits, including both homers, with three strikeouts and no walks. Gallen’s season has seen a career-high in homers allowed. Cleveland closed within three games of the AL wild-card cutoff. Rocchio has been heating up, hitting safely in 14 of his last 16 games with a .315 clip and nine RBIs in that span, while Kayfus has homered in both road trips since his Triple-A promotion.

Week 21 fantasy baseball waiver targets lean toward speed, multi-position eligibility, and affordable power. Sal Frelick remains a surprise under-rostered asset, posting a .298/.361/.416 line with a pace for roughly 78 runs, 12 homers, 63 RBI, and 24 steals, while anchoring Milwaukee’s top-of-order role. Blaze Alexander has surged since Eugenio Suárez was moved, flashing 3B/2B/SS flexibility with 12.0+ barrel-rate indicators and a strong power-speed profile. Noelvi Marte sits at the heart of Cincinnati’s lineup surge, delivering 27 runs, eight homers, 36 RBI and seven steals in a pace that hints at 25+ homers and 20+ steals if given full plates. Chandler Simpson’s speed drives the category lead, with a .307 average across 287 PAs and 34 steals, making him a gold-mangled draftee in deep formats. Joey Ortiz has heated up to a .392/.436/.529 clip this month, pairing strong contact with dual 3B/SS eligibility. Nolan McLean debuts for New York, bringing a deep, six-pitch mix that offers upside in 12-team or deeper leagues. Hurston Waldrep has dazzled in Atlanta, with a sub-1.10 ERA across his late-season run and a splitter that continues to miss bats. The common thread is roster flexibility and year-end upside for managers chasing categories across AVG/OBP, power, and speed.

The MLB trade deadline has far-reaching impacts beyond just the star players on the move. With 50 trades made in the final hours leading up to the deadline, many roles within teams are up for grabs, creating opportunities for lesser-known players to step into critical positions. Fantasy baseball managers should take note of these changes, as several players have seen their value skyrocket due to recent trades.

For instance, Tyler Locklear of the Arizona Diamondbacks is filling in at first base due to an injury to Pavin Smith, making him a hot pickup in leagues. Likewise, Randy Rodriguez has emerged as a prime candidate for the Giants' closer role following the trade of Camilo Doval. The Marlins promoted Jakob Marsee, who made a dazzling debut, while JoJo Romero steps into a closing opportunity with the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Dennis Santana from the Pirates could become a key reliever following David Bednar's departure. Keep an eye on these players as they may prove pivotal to your fantasy playoff hopes.

As the MLB off-season unfolds, projections from ZiPS and Steamer are being analyzed at Arizona Diamondbacks On SI, focusing on the performance expectations for each member of the team. The site aims to provide a comprehensive overview of players by averaging projections and assessing individual contributions based on rate statistics and playing time.

The evaluation extends beyond the 26-man roster typically utilized on Opening Day, encompassing the entire 40-man roster and including promising minor-leaguers and prospects that may impact the Diamondbacks' 162-game season.