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.

Seattle rides a 1.5-game gap back to the Astros into a 1:05 PM ET series finale at Citizens Bank Park, with Luis Castillo facing Jesus Luzardo in a high-leverage showdown. Kyle Schwarber carries NL homer vibes into the day, sporting a +200 prop to go deep against Castillo as Philly tries to finish a sweep and keep the momentum rolling. The Phillies’ offense has been imposing, while Castillo has battled long balls this season. Seattle, stung by a modest road slide, needs a strong turn to keep pace in the division race.

Philly’s Luzardo has strung three straight August quality starts and owns a favorable history against Seattle, while Castillo’s 3.48 ERA masks a homer habit, especially to right-handed power. The pick tilts Phillies’ way on the moneyline behind Luzardo’s form and a lineup that’s clicking, particularly in the park edge. For fantasy bettors, Schwarber’s matchup stands out, and Castillo’s risk-reward profile makes this a key dfs stack-versus-ace contest.

Beatles night at Citi Field turns tense as the Mets fall 11-9 to Seattle after a brutal bullpen meltdown. Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto supplied early thunder, Lindor driving in four and Soto launching a 30th homer to push New York ahead. The lead vanished in a six-run seventh inning highlighted by Cal Raleigh’s leadoff double, Eugenio Suárez’s RBI double to tie, and Dominic Canzone’s RBI single as Seattle surged ahead. The Mets’ new bullpen trio of Rogers, Helsley and Raley couldn’t close the door, extending a skid that has seen them drop 14 of 16.

Francisco Alvarez connected for a three-run homer in the eighth, but the comeback fell short. The night also carried a Beatles anniversary vibe and a note of wild-card math, with Milwaukee erasing a seven-run hole to beat Cincinnati and keeping New York just a half-game up on the Reds for the final NL wild-card spot. Next up, Seattle’s Bryan Woo was slated to start while Mets rookie-to-be Nolan McLean eyed MLB debut implications amid the continued bullpen shakeups.

Luis Castillo and Sean Manaea square off in Player’s Weekend aroma, a marquee MLB matchup with fantasy ripple effects. Castillo’s strikeout upside and control mix against a Mets lineup that’s shuffled by early-season injuries sets floor and ceiling expectations for DFS and season-long holds. The Mariners pivot around Naylor’s late scratch, with Eugenio Suárez and Dominic Canzone moving up and Mitch Garver stepping into DH, reshaping daily lineups for both teams.

Luke Raley returns from injury, while Logan Evans and Miles Mastrobuoni land on the injured list, prompting Tayler Saucedo’s arrival. Seattle’s historical notes—Félix Hernández’s peak performances—underline the franchise’s recent peak-to-plate discipline and power. This game blends a high-strikeout, high-variance start with patchwork lineups that could unlock opportunistic sleepers and riskier stacks in daily fantasy.

Projected game time is 4:10 PM PT on ROOT Sports, with radio coverage on KTTH. In fantasy terms, Castillo’s ace-grade upside versus Manaea’s potential floor makes this a card to target for strikeouts and wins, while the shifting lineup around Naylor and Raley’s return could buoy or suppress value across the Mariners’ table. The Mets’ bullpen and late-inning leverage are critical dominoes in deeper formats.

Mariners at Mets in Queens sets the stage Friday night for a mid-summer barometer with Castillo (SEA) facing Manaea (NYM). Seattle rides a 10-3 surge in its last 13 while New York has slumped to 1-9 over its past 10, a slope-steep decline that gnaws at fantasy angles and betting lines alike. NBC Sports projects a tight spread and an 8-run total, with the model wary of a big-moneyline move but leaning toward the over given recent offenses. In this matchup, Castillo’s strikeout upside and Manaea’s wobble-season risk create a high-variance night that could swing both DFS lineups and bettor tickets.

Expect a tense early phase with New York’s bats trying to solve Castillo, while Seattle’s lineup looks to capitalize on Manaea’s occasional control issues. The Mets have covered the Run Line in several recent home games against the Mariners, and the Under has trended in the Mariners’ last few games, but the latest data hints at a game that could breach the total or hinge on a late-inning burst. The model’s bets tilt toward Seattle +1.5 and the over, offering a path for contrarian or balanced fantasy strategies.

Odds once again show Mets as slight favorites at -120 with Seattle at +100 and a 8.0 run total. The day’s actionable angles center on Castillo’s K upside versus a slumping Mets offense and Manaea’s recent rough outing, which keeps the door open for Seattle stacks or Mets fade considerations depending on your risk tolerance and format.