Max Fried carried the New York Yankees through Gerrit Cole’s injury-era stress, but a troubling late-season stretch has surfaced. His last six starts yielded four or more runs each, inflating his ERA to a concerning mark and casting doubt on reliability entering the playoff push. A Saturday tilt in St. Louis underscored the volatility, as Fried battled to miss bats and left heart-of-the-strikezone pitches that Masyn Winn turned into a decisive three-run homer. Blister issues in the second half add another wildcard to his availability, complicating lineup decisions for fantasy managers.

New York’s rotation depth getting thin makes Fried indispensable, yet health and command fears loom large. The Yankees must decide whether to ride Fried through the rough patch or pivot to other arms as they cling to a wild-card spot. Winn’s breakout moment for the Cardinals punctuates the contrast: a strong young hitter providing genuine upside and a reminder that even elite pitching can be offset by on-field risk. The broader MLB news mix—Judge’s 29-team history, Kershaw’s clock-reset, Schwarber’s free-agent chatter, and Verlander’s retirement talk—keeps fantasy contexts fluid as rosters churn toward October.

In short, Fried’s next starts will be pivotal for both the Yankees’ fortunes and fantasy rosters anchored by him. Expect continued risk management around his blister dynamics and matchup-driven decisions, while Winn’s bat remains a tantalizing add for owners streaming Cardinals pieces or rostering up-and-coming hitters with big-contact upside.

Masyn Winn has emerged as the Cardinals’ defensive anchor at short, leading MLB with 21 outs above average and a wide edge in OAA over a tight group behind him. If he sustains this pace, he could become STL’s first Gold Glove winner since Edgar Renteria in 2003. Winn is hitting .267 with 9 homers and 46 RBI with 38 games left, showing enough pop to pair with elite glove work. In the Yankees game, his three-run homer helped Memphis… er, St. Louis briefly surge, underscoring the two-way threat he offers.

The Gold Glove chase features a cluster around Winn, including Witt Jr., Hayes, and Crow-Armstrong, all at 18 OAA and within striking distance. Winn’s two errors all season and a league-leading 4.02 PO/9 showcase a rare blend of contact, range, and consistency. If he stays healthy and erases a few mistakes, Winn could author a historic Cardinals season and transform his fantasy upside as a premier multifaceted contributor.

Logan Webb lands at the top of Monday’s DFS board after a groundball-heavy, high-strikeout profile that plays in San Francisco’s pitcher-friendly set-up against San Diego. Freddy Peralta brings near-elite strikeout upside with a solid 3.03 ERA as Milwaukee hosts Pittsburgh. Ryne Nelson offers salary relief with a steadily strong run of outings, while Nathan Eovaldi looks like a stable anchor for Texas against a lighter-lung lineup. Stacks lean Cardinals in a favorable Rockies matchup (Alec Burleson, Masyn Winn, Nolan Gorman) and a Boston trio (Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony) against Houston’s lefty-friendly arms. Ha-Seong Kim provides a value spark for San Diego, and the Red Sox outfield trio adds flyer potential against lefty-friendly spots.

Since his call-up on July 7, Cardinals prospect J.J. Wetherholt has dominated Triple-A pitching, posting a remarkable .379 batting average with four home runs in just eight games. This stellar performance has solidified his status as a top prospect, and with injuries plaguing the current shortstop Masyn Winn, Wetherholt's MLB debut could be imminent.

Winn, who has been productive, recently revealed knee issues that might force the Cardinals to reconsider his ongoing role. The team is struggling, losing five out of six games, and may prioritize the long-term health of their players over immediate results. If Winn's condition doesn't improve, Wetherholt is poised to take advantage of the situation as early as August.

As MLB ramps up post-All-Star break, savvy fantasy owners should keep an eye on the waiver wire as several undervalued hitters are emerging as strong options for Week 17. With the trade deadline looming, players like Austin Hays of the Cincinnati Reds (23% rostered) are making noise, hitting four homers since returning from injury, particularly excelling against lefties. Jordan Beck of the Colorado Rockies (17% rostered) is also heating up with a solid .296 average in recent games, making him a candidate for a boost in production during upcoming matchups. Jesus Sanchez (OF, Miami Marlins; 6% rostered) continues to show power potential and could be moved to a better lineup before the trade deadline, while St. Louis Cardinals' Victor Scott II (14% rostered) brings unmatched speed with 25 stolen bases this season. Lastly, Nationals' prospect Brady House (5% rostered) is proving his worth with a .308 average since his call-up, making him a valuable fill-in for those needing infield depth.