Texas Rangers sprint to playoff contention with a 6-3 win over Milwaukee to complete the series sweep, buoyed by Jake Burger’s two-homer eruption. Burger’s power surge, paired with Helman’s clutch plays, fuels Texas’ late-season push and extends a season-best run above .500. The win tightens the wild-card landscape as the Rangers sit one game behind Seattle for the final third AL Wild Card berth and two behind Houston in the division.

Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta was tagged for five runs across five innings, while Merrill Kelly steadied the ship after the opener, and Pederson’s hustle-created runs in the third helped Texas pull away. The Rangers’ recent string of wins over top teams underscores their growing momentum as the regular season winds down.

Meanwhile, the Brewers see the setback while Texas maintains momentum in a tight playoff race, with key performers like Burger, Helman, Pederson, and deGrom guiding Texas toward a potential postseason berth.

Michael Helman’s 24-hour surge reshaped the Rangers’ late-season push. He delivered the first grand slam of Texas’ season in his bases-loaded first at-bat, driving in all five runs, then followed with a game-tying homer after a sensational catch that saved a run. The next day, his late-inning blast sparked a four-hit rally as Texas rallied to beat Milwaukee, narrowing the gap in the AL West with 16 games left. Depth, resilience, and Helman’s unlikely ascent are fueling a playoff chase in Arlington.

Helman’s journey from waiver claims to Day One contributor has become a magnet for Texas’ energy. The Rangers had claimed him on waivers from Pittsburgh, used him in Round Rock, and watched him become a two-game catalyst while veterans like Pederson and Higashioka chipped in. With the Astros surprising losses elsewhere and the Rangers' lineup clicking, Helman’s breakout is more than a one-off—it’s a potential turning point in Texas’ bold finish.

Adolis García could be activated as early as Friday for the Rangers after live batting practice and on-field running, setting the stage for an immediate return to right field or possibly DH. Texas has leaned on Alejandro Osuna, Dustin Harris and Cody Freeman in RF during García’s absence, posting a 3-3 mark in the six games since his injury. Joc Pederson has filled DH duties vs right-handers, a role that could shift again once García is back in the lineup.

Kyle Schwarber headlines a Padres-leaning off-season, with Jeff Passan tying the slugger to San Diego as a prime upgrade. Schwarber’s 2025 numbers—49 HRs, 119 RBIs, 93 walks and 10 steals in 141 games—position him as a top MVP contender and a perfect DH fit for a high-octane lineup. If SD lands him, fantasy rosters gain a deep power/OBP anchor with strong RBI pace, while reckonings around Soto, Bogaerts, and Cease shift in dynamic ways.

The piece also flags other suitors—Texas, Houston, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit—and notes the Phillies’ desire to keep Schwarber. It weaves in Soto’s star presence, Cease’s rotation upside, and Miller’s ceiling, painting a market-wide boom that would redefine NL-heavy fantasy value this winter. Offseason moves could reshape lineup construction, especially for DFS setups and keeper leagues.