Houston’s first-place cushion in the AL West is under pressure after a Detroit sweep exposed the Astros’ flaws: an offense that stalled at times, a rotation that sputtered behind a brilliant but squandered outings, and a bullpen that couldn’t steady the ship. A team meeting led by Carlos Correa and Mauricio Dubón stressed energy and a return to Houston’s brand of baseball, signaling a reset. Correa has been a catalyst since returning, batting .333 with an .859 OPS in 17 games this month, while Dubón emphasizes supporting teammates as the lineup grows deeper with Yordan Alvarez nearing a mid-next-week return from rehab. Hunter Brown offered six scoreless innings in the Detroit start, but Houston still lost, underscoring the need for more consistent offense as Spencer Arrighetti and Framber Valdez each faced rough innings. Alvarez’s comeback could spark immediate upside, even as Houston clings to the division lead amid Seattle’s skid and a Dodgers-flavored reminder of MLB volatility. The next few days will be telling as Houston looks to reestablish its rhythm and close the gap to playoff pace.

Bobby Witt Jr. joined an exclusive club and powered Kansas City to a 5-2 win over Texas, their fifth straight victory and a step closer to the AL wild-card race. Witt crushed a 449-foot homer in the eighth off Cole Winn, becoming the youngest Royals to reach 100 homers in his career at 25 years, 66 days. The moment underscores his role as the lineup anchor and a symbol of Kansas City’s late-season surge.

The milestone vaults Witt into elite company in MLB history: he’s among a small group of players with 100 homers and 100 steals through their first four seasons, a list that includes Julio Rodríguez. Witt’s season pace remains strong, batting .291 with 18 homers and 69 RBIs while already swiping 32 bases, showing a rare power-speed combination and a Gold Glove-caliber glove that fuels the Royals’ run at a playoff bid.

Kansas City’s skipper Matt Quatraro has leaned on Witt heavily, and teammates like Pasquantino have joined in with big nights to support the star. The Royals head into the Rangers series with momentum and a realistic shot at improving their wild-card odds, with Witt at the center of their plans and the rest of the lineup backing him as they chase a postseason berth.

Seattle travels to Citizens Bank Park in a marquee midweek clash, with Luis Castillo on the hill for the Mariners against Jesus Luzardo and the Phillies. The SportsLine model casts Raleigh and Turner as the two most pivotal fantasy/bet anchors of the game, pairing Cal Raleigh’s power upside with Trea Turner’s contact-rate consistency while giving Luzardo a solid strikeout angle and Castillo a reliable floor. The over/under sits at 8.5 as the series finale looms, making both run production and bullpen usage critical for daily fantasy and prop players.

The model highlights three top bets: Cal Raleigh Over 1.5 total bases, Turner Over 1.5 hits, and Luzardo Over 6.5 strikeouts. Raleigh’s season-long power (47 homers, 102 RBIs) tempers risk around his bases prop, Turner’s hot bat provides multi-hit avenues, and Luzardo’s strikeout upside pairs well with Seattle’s lineup. Castillo, holding a 3.48 ERA and 8-6 record, anchors Seattle’s odds, while Luzardo’s 4.21 ERA and 158 strikeouts frame Philadelphia’s scoring chances in a high-leverage environment.

Three prime home-run props headline the Aug. 20 MLB slate: Jose Ramirez vs Brandon Pfaadt, Nick Kurtz vs Bailey Ober, and Kyle Schwarber vs Luis Castillo. Ramirez sits in a strong offensive window, carrying a .300+ clip recently and a track record of dingers against right-handers. Kurtz, thriving at .306 with 25 homers, draws a favorable right-hander in Ober who has coughed up plenty of deep balls. Schwarber, pacing the NL with 44 homers, faces Castillo but owns a solid .300 average and power against righty pitching. The bets carry varied upside with Ramirez at +425, Kurtz at +245, and Schwarber at +200, offering distinct paths to fantasy points or DFS value in a day with multiple afternoon starts.

The breakdown centers on matchups and recent form. Ramirez’s potential to exploit a right-hander with a late-season surge is tempered by the Diamondbacks’ bullpen, but his seven-day .300+ rate and 21 HR vs RHP tilt the odds. Kurtz’s breakout year, especially versus right-handers, is underscored by Ober’s homer-prone history (24 allowed in 20 starts, 17 since June 1). Schwarber’s career dominance of Castillo and his NL-leading HR pace add a high-upside element, even if Castillo has been stingy at times. Odds are dynamic, but each pick ties directly to recent production and favorable platoon angles, making them compelling targets for fantasy managers and prop bettors alike.

Wednesday’s MLB slate features 15 games headlined by three solid bets. Detroit Tigers +1.5 against Framber Valdez and the Houston Astros stands out as the clearest value, aided by Valdez’s August struggles and Charlie Morton’s regained form for Detroit. The Rays’ First 5 Innings Moneyline against the Yankees leans in Tampa’s favor behind Rasmussen’s recent ace work, while Cam Schlittler counters for New York. In the NL Central, Milwaukee and Chicago collide with an over/under of 7 that feels too low given Misiorowski’s volatility and Colin Rea’s era indicators.

Valdez’s August skid opens a window for Detroit to stay within reach in the series finale, especially with Morton delivering steady results since June. Rasmussen’s ability to push deep and Schlittler’s early-season command keep the Rays in the driver’s seat early, even as the Yankees try to bounce back offensively. The Brewers-Cubs matchup projects a busy night, with both bullpens capable of late-game bursts that could push the total over 7.