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.

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.

Updated 2025 MLB prospect rankings reflect a year of drafts, breakout seasons and a busy trade deadline that reshuffled the ladder. The piece calibrates upside, risk and proximity to the majors, using a clear tier system (60 FV at the top, 50 FV midrange) and rookie eligibility rules to separate true prospects from recent big‑league callups. Expect movement in Double‑A and above as players graduate or surge, while the top end remains thinened by graduations but loaded with high‑ceiling talent ready to push toward the show.

Konnor Griffin (Pirates) anchors the top tier with a Fernando Tatis Jr.–level upside, strengthened defense and patient, line‑drive approach that could power a 30‑homer peak. Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle and Milwaukee’s Jesus Made highlight the breadth of talent creeping toward the majors, while Samuel Basallo shows legitimate 40‑homer potential for Baltimore and Leo De Vries looks like an elite, everyday infield contributor in the near term.

Beyond the very top, the piece flags a wave of emerging stars—Max Clark and Colt Emerson in Detroit and Seattle, Sebastian Walcott in Texas, Travis Bazzana in Cleveland and Aidan Miller in Philadelphia—each with a clear path to regular at‑bats and a ceiling that could reshape their franchise’s long‑term outlook. With the 55 FV tier thinning as graduates pile up, almost every movement matters in dynasty and keeper formats, and the coming season should reveal several more proximities to the big leagues.

Victor Robles received a 10-game suspension after a bat-throw incident during a Tacoma rehab assignment, an event that followed four hit-by-pitch events in five rehab games. He apologized publicly, citing the emotional strain of rehab and the recent loss of his mother. MLB fined him and suspended him to begin upon his return to the Mariners’ active roster, though the player is appealing, so no immediate action is taken. The suspension underscores the pressures of rehab in a season full of setbacks for the veteran outfielder.

Robles, who hasn’t appeared in the majors since an April shoulder dislocation, is on the Mariners’ radar as a potential early-back contributor when healthy. Acquired from Washington last year, he’d be asked to bring outfield depth and speed if/when he returns. Fantasy players will want to watch how the appeal unfolds and when he’s cleared to rejoin Seattle’s lineup, as that return will influence the team’s outfield rotations and potential bid opportunities on the waiver wire.

In the meantime, Seattle must navigate roster planning without Robles, balancing rehab progress with the need to maintain competitive depth down the stretch. The outcome of the appeal and his performance post-reintegration will shape his fantasy outlook—whether he can reclaim a regular role quickly or face a prolonged ramp, affecting stolen-base potential, run production, and defensive contributions.