The Yankees sit atop the AL wild-card picture after a 7-3 stretch, primed for a pivotal series in the Bronx against the Rays as both clubs chase playoff spots. Tampa Bay slid from the postseason chase after dealing assets at the deadline, while New York braces for a run at the top Wild Card and a possible surge in the crowded AL East race.

In the marquee matchup, Carlos Rodón goes for New York against Shane Baz of Tampa Bay. Aaron Judge looms as a prime DFS/street-promise option, especially given his history against Baz and his power against right-handed pitching this year. The betting line has the Yankees as slim road favorites with favorable remaining schedules helping their cause.

From a fantasy angle, Rodón’s steady 2025 profile and Judge’s popping upside against Baz stand out. The Rays’ lefty-vs-righty dynamics and Tampa’s post-deadline shift add volatility, but New York’s top OPS and runs-scoring pace keep them in the center of attention as they vie for a deeper October run.

Rob Manfred floated expansion and geographic realignment as a path to cut travel time and refresh MLB’s post-season format. The idea pairs teams like the Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Giants, Athletics and Mariners in a Pacific Division, with East/West scheduling aimed at boosting West Coast visibility and reducing wear on players. Nashville and Salt Lake City emerged as top expansion targets, alongside Portland, Orlando, San Antonio and Charlotte, signaling a broad market push that could reshape rivalries and travel patterns for fantasy play.

But pushback from traditionalists and questions about competitive balance linger. Cameron Maybin warned that balanced divisions matter more than geography, while Manfred argued realignment could unlock new markets and stronger TV windows. The Rays’ future and the Rays-Diamondbacks dynamic from the league’s 1998 expansion add layers to timing and location decisions, with 2029 eyed for expansion approval and a linked realignment plan that could redefine cross-town and cross-state series, including a potential revival of regional clashes like a West Coast matchup cadence.

MLB is weighing a dramatic 32-team expansion and a geographic realignment designed to cut player travel and open new market opportunities. Commissioner Rob Manfred floated the idea during ESPN's Little League Classic featuring the Mets and Mariners, suggesting cities could be chosen by 2029 and divisions realigned by region. A drastic shift could reshape rivalries and the postseason, moving beyond the traditional AL/NL structure to boost cross-country marquee matchups.

The plan would hinge on travel savings and broadcast strategy, with Manfred noting that a 10 p.m. Pacific Time slot for West Coast games could become a genuine audience boon. The last expansion occurred in 1998 (Diamondbacks and Rays) and the last realignment in 2013 (Astros to the AL). The Mets and Mariners are foregrounded in coverage of the idea, but other markets such as Boston and Anaheim would be in play for two new clubs.

Milwaukee and Chicago square off in a rare five-game NL Central set, with the Brewers carrying baseball’s best record (78-45) and an eight-game edge on the Cubs (70-53). Milwaukee rode a six-week surge to a 29-5 run since July 6, scoring back-to-back run clusters and turning a four-game gap into a comfortable lead. Freddy Peralta will open the pair of games in the Wrigley doubleheader, while the Cubs counter with Cade Horton in Game 1 and a mystery pitcher in Game 2.

The Brewers’ lineup features Christian Yelich, leading in homers (25) and RBI (86), and a high-octane offense that’s also stolen plenty of bases. The Cubs answer with a deep power balance—Crow-Armstrong (27), Suzuki (27), Busch (24) and a 18-HR contributor in Kyle Tucker—providing a multi-pronged threat as they chase a wild-card path.

Across the rest of the Monday slate, the night features NFL preseason intrigue (Bengals at Commanders) and a trio of MLB showdowns: Tigers vs Astros, Mariners vs Phillies. Model-driven bets lean toward the Tigers’ late-night upset bid at -155 on the money line, and Seattle’s matchup-edge on the road. The day’s betting chatter centers on offense in preseason shootouts and the usual division-tilt theater in Detroit and Milwaukee.

In short, Monday is a dual-front baseball showcase plus a mixed NFL prelude—an ideal day for fantasy players who lean into hot lines, bullpen usage, and how each team builds its lineup ahead of the stretch run.