Juan Soto has delivered a star turn in Queens, blasting his 40th homer as the Mets chase a hopeful postseason finish. He sits at 40 HR, 32 stolen bases and 118 walks, placing him in an elite 40 30 100 club with only Bonds and Bagwell ever reaching those marks in the same season window. Soto also joins a rare list of players who have hit 40 homers with different teams in consecutive seasons, underscoring both his power and adaptability while the Mets grapple with a late season skid that could derail big payoffs.

Despite Soto power, the Mets have dropped eight straight and sit 21 30 in the second half, threatening a disappointing end to a contract that reshaped MLBs payroll landscape. The season opens the door to MVP chatter on a personal high note, even as the team fights to salvage a playoff berth. The contract race sits in the backdrop as Soto continues to produce at an historically elite level.

Three MLB bets headline Saturday's slate: Yankees-Red Sox under 8.5; Mariners -1.5 vs Angels; Dylan Cease under 7.5 strikeouts against Colorado. Bello vs Fried anchors the low-scoring expectation in the opener, Seattle's hot run supports the run-line, and Cease's late-season innings trend keeps the Ks in play.

For fantasy bettors, anticipate bullpen leverage and lower-scoring outcomes, which shape daily lineups and save chances. Target teams riding momentum while avoiding high strikeout risk, as these picks blend scoring suppression with controlled Ks upside.

Two DFS-ready arms lead the slate: Bryan Woo at Seattle and Dylan Cease in San Diego. Woo owns a five-plus inning streak and a stingy 0.95 WHIP, with a favorable Seattle bump against an Angels lineup that's weak at the plate and prone to strikeouts. Cease, despite an uneven season, faces Colorado, a lineup buried in sagging runs and a brutal road split, making him a high-floor, high-ceiling pick. The article also flags strong stacks with Julio Rodríguez, Elly De La Cruz, and a Padres-Giants mini-plot featuring big bats and bargain pitchers.

Target heavy with Padres and Dodgers stacks: Fernando Tatis, Manny Machado, Ryan O’Hearn, and Jackson Merrill headline the Padres against the Rockies, while Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Max Muncy anchor the Dodgers against Logan Webb. Elly De La Cruz’s power-speed profile and Treasures like Mitch Farris and Bradley Blalock are sprinkled in, offering paydown options and leverage nuggets for late-slating contests.

Houston heads to Truist Park to face Atlanta in a late-season showdown. Hunter Brown (11-7, 2.25) is matched against Bryce Elder (7-9, 5.35) as the Astros chase the AL West lead with Seattle, two games clear of Texas. A second straight win would keep Houston rolling down the stretch. Friday saw Zach Cole erupt for a homer in his first at-bat with a three-hit game and a win, while Lance McCullers Jr. landed on the injured list again, shaking up Houston’s rotation.

Atlanta contends in the NL East and will lean on Elder to slow the Astros’ momentum. Fantasy managers should watch for bullpen decisions late and the potential impact of McCullers’ absence on Houston’s depth. This matchup carries meaningful implications for postseason positioning and streamer options.