Two big themes dominate the latest fantasy baseball today: two starting pitchers are being relegated to the drop pile as the season tightens, while a flock of power-rich Yankees and top-end NL stars keep fantasy managers marching toward playoff bids. Baz is dropped in many leagues after a brutal August stretch, with two starts looming and a shaky command profile. Meanwhile, Christopher Sanchez shines, pushing into a top-rest-of-season tier thanks to a changeup-heavy approach that keeps hitters off balance and deep outings. The crew also gushes over David Peterson’s rebound, Adley Rutschman’s continued value, and a rising Guardians name who could shake up rest-of-season rotations. The Yankees erupt for 13 runs and nine homers, Judge and Stanton both taping up their health narratives, while the lineup shuffle around Ben Rice and Caballero hints at late-season batting order shifts. Across the minors to the majors, Parker Messick is watched intently as the Guardians tee up a rotation shakeup, and Parker Messick’s potential grab becomes a talking point for 15-team and deeper rosters. Vlad Guerrero Jr. lands on the day-to-day radar with a hamstring issue, while Jacob deGrom’s workload and Judge’s health become tug-of-war storylines for playoff rosters. The show also threads in the NL Young contender chatter around Sanchez and the late-season steam of Wander Franco, Ward, and a handful of hot hitters who could swing category-heavy leagues in the final weeks.

Promotions & breakout runs drive late-season fantasy intrigue as Baltimore stacks its top prospects. Samuel Basio and Dylan Beavers were promoted, with Basio poised to add catcher eligibility amid a defensively adaptable, power-heavy profile. Beavers brings a rare blend of power and speed, elevating the Orioles’ potential impact down the stretch. Caminero’s early-season power chatter remains a touchstone as the show weighs bold 35-HR forecasts and the realistic path to staying in the lineup.

On the pitching side, Nolan McClean and Hurston Waldrip headline the waiver-wire lift after impressive weekend showings; McClean’s velocity and plus breakers pair with control concerns, while Waldrip’s splitter-led mix offers upside in deeper leagues. The conversation widens to weekend standouts like Francisco Alvarez and Ben Rice behind the plate, and the risk-reward calculus around Wheeler’s IL stint looms large for Philadelphia.

Health updates dominate the breaking news: Wheeler’s blood clot complicates a top-tier season, while Francisco Alvarez leaves with a thumb concern and Yordan Alvarez begins a rehab assignment. The panel nudges Andrew Painter’s future opportunity as a potential fantasy pivot, and they debate catcher-depth implications, especially given the current depth at the position.

As the season winds down, the episode emphasizes careful rostering for catcher-eligible players (Basio, Rice, Alvarez) and aggressive pickup of dynamic prospect debuts (Beavers, Caminero). The feel is pragmatic: chase the breakout while accounting for playing time, eligibility rules, and innings risk in a sprint to peak fantasy weeks.

Mets promote a top pitching prospect who could debut this weekend, signaling a new wave of callups shaping fantasy rosters as the stretch run nears. The narrative centers on a hard-throwing righty with a plus slider and improving control, hinting at immediate minor-league-to-MLB impact and potential wins if he gets a favorable matchup in Seattle. The bullpen picture in Houston grows murkier after Josh Hader’s shoulder strain, pushing a committee between Brian Abreu and Bennett Sousa with Sousa scoring a save in recent action. On the hitting side, Giancarlo Stanton's hot streak continues to dominate, while Francisco Alvarez starts tapping into his raw power with multi-homer games that could catalyze a strong finish for the Mets. Sal Frelick and Chandler Simpson pace a Brewers and Rays backcourt of speed and table-setting, respectively, while Ernie Clement (Toronto) provides multi-position eligibility as a steady in-season contributor. The episode also highlights Christian Javier as a sneaky stash option heading into Sunday starts, with Will Warren offering another streaming window for players short on pitching depth.

Stanton's power surge sits at the center of the bats, but Alvarez, Frelick, and Simpson each carry tangible upside in shallower leagues while Clement's positional flexibility adds value in daily formats. The Astros bullpen dynamic could swing saves count and leverage, a critical factor for fantasy pitchers late in the season. Across the board, the episode emphasizes upside adds on the waiver wire—particularly pitchers with clear paths to innings and hitters who can sustain hot streaks—and cautions about health and workload as teams navigate down the stretch.

Fantasy implications touch multiple angles: elite power bats that are slowly returning to health, multi-positional infielders and outfielders who can be slotted for value, and pitchers who can turn short outings into wins with strong run support. The curation of arm depth—Cortes, Javier, Warren—and bullpen orchestration in Houston underscore the volatility but also the upside of mid- to late-season adds. A balanced mix of proven contributors and high-upside rookies defines this week’s landscape for fantasy managers aiming to dodge FAAB landmines and maximize weekly upside.

Pete Alonso cemented Mets lore by passing Daryl Strawberry for the franchise lead in home runs, blasting number 253 on Tuesday. The polar bear’s consistency — 253 homers in seven seasons, missed time included — reframes Mets history and casts Alonso as the core of the lineup for years. Fantasy managers should view him as a steady, elite 1B option, with durability that keeps him near the top of the position all year.

The episode pivots from Alonso to a broader franchise narrative: the 300-300 club chatter around Jose Ramirez and others, Wander Franco’s breakout trajectory, and Shohei Ohtani’s brand and on-field dual threat. It also spotlights the Pirates/Tigers prospect pulse and the Dodgers-Padres duel in the NL West, all with eye-opening context for dynasty and keeper formats.