Nick Kurtz has transformed a scouting buzz into MVP-caliber production for Oakland, blazing through MLB pitching since the All-Star break. He leads the league in several second-half metrics, posting a blistering blend of average, on-base, and slugging that stacks with elite clutch hitting. The breakout has not only solidified him as the AL Rookie of the Year favorite but also showcased his power, patience, and contact skills as the cornerstone of the A’s order.

Oakland’s 2024 draft class—headlined by Kurtz and supported by top picks like Tommy White and Gage Jump—shaped a bold over-slot strategy that now looks brilliantly efficient. Kurtz’s rapid ascent, from Wake Forest prospect to a probable MVP front-runner, has coincided with an array of young talents contributing in the majors. The class’s college-heavy pedigree and quick arrivals signal a rising wave for the franchise and a new benchmark for evaluating left-handed youth in today’s game.

As teammates like Jacob Wilson and Shea Langeliers chase the same breakout arc, the A’s look poised to leverage this core into sustained relevance. The larger narrative positions Kurtz not just as a breakout star, but as a potential franchise anchor whose development could redefine Oakland’s competitive arc in the near term. More MLB coverage from Sports Illustrated follows.

Texas Rangers face a pivotal sprint with 36 games left, still chasing playoff life after a 4-3 loss in Kansas City that underscored their road mystique and the inability to string a big inning. Back-to-back hits vanished in crucial moments, and a controversial replay review kept a run off the board. The club’s road record (85 losses since 2024) sits near the bottom, and 100 losses to teams at or above .500 in the last two years highlight the uphill battle ahead.

Lineup tinkering added another layer to fantasy considerations: Josh Jung on the bench, Wyatt Langford stepping into bigger at-bats alongside Corey Seager and Joc Pederson, with Luke Maile and John Rave influencing late-game dynamics for Royals. The Rangers must win multiple series this week—ideally 5-1 or better—to render the final stretch meaningful. Bruce Bochy and Chris Young framed it as a test of urgency, urging a stronger finish to unlock the roster’s ceiling.

Clayton Kershaw, at 37 with a battered body, anchored the Dodgers in a tense win over the Padres, six innings of two hits and one run lifting Los Angeles into a first-place NL West tie. He spat through trouble, set the tone for a series that matters down the stretch, and stayed in the middle of the postseason rotation chatter with a 7-2 mark and a 3.01 ERA.

Los Angeles rode defensive plays at the corners and a late bullpen save to seal it, with Kershaw delivering the kind of big-game calm that fantasy managers crave in frontline starters. The win also underscored the Dodgers’ plan to protect their veteran by keeping him on a measured leash as October approaches.

Padres star power supplied the drama: Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado featured prominently, and Ramon Laureano’s long homer for San Diego was a rare bright spot amid a series that added a fresh chapter to the West’s roiling rivalry. Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández contributed on the Dodgers’ side, with Hernández delivering a seventh-inning homer that proved decisive, while Laureano’s curveball-miss kept the tension high.

In a wider sense, this opener reestablished old-school baseball energy: pitching, defense, and competitive edge. It set the tone for a brutal two-week stretch where the Dodgers and Padres collide six times, each win carrying postseason vibes and fantasy implications as Kershaw and his peers navigate a crowded playoff race.

Bochy’s reshuffle aims to spark Texas’s sputtering lineup in a must-push period. Corey Seager slides to the 3-hole, Marcus Semien drops to the 6, and Wyatt Langford slots into the two-hole in front of Seager. Joc Pederson and Evan Carter join Seager among the top five as four left-handed bats pepper the early portion of the order. The move is a clear attempt to manufacture early runs and create RBI opportunities by stacking high-OBP threats behind Langford’s presence at the top of the lineup.

Texas has scuffled offensively since August began, ranking bottom-five in key metrics and struggling to sustain offense on homestands. Bochy acknowledged the balance trade-offs—greater risk of unfavorable bullpen matchups—yet believes the potential benefits of early scoring, especially against the Blue Jays’ bullpen, outweigh the downsides. The Rangers’ offense has shown a tendency to surge with early tallies, making this lineup tweak a high-leverage, high-variance play for a playoff push.

The shift reflects Langford’s value as a table-setter (team-leading .360 OBP since July 1) and the veteran pairing of Seager in a more RBI-friendly spot, while Semien’s move out of the traditional spots could unlock a different rhythm. Pederson’s lefty pop and Carter’s speed/athleticism give Bochy a versatile, left-handed-forward configuration to attack right-handed starters and navigate bullpen mismatches in a tight window.

Nathaniel Lowe was designated for assignment by Washington to clear room for Dylan Crews, a trade deadline drama that reshapes two rosters. Lowe slashed .216/.292/.373 with a career-worst -0.7 WAR and subpar defense at first, triggering the Nationals to DFA him to make space for Crews after his 60-day IL stint. Texas moved on earlier, shipping Lowe to shed salary and partly finance Joc Pederson’s two-year, $37 million deal, and replacing him with Jake Burger in a cost-controlled first-base plan.

Texas’ gains center on Burger’s value versus Lowe’s, at a fraction of the cost, even as Burger carries injury questions. Robert Garcia’s rise as a late-season high-leverage option and Pederson’s bat in the DH/OF mix underscore Texas’ push for offense, while Crews’ return from the injured list adds high-upside depth for Washington. The saga also features Lowe’s potential waiver outcomes and the Mariners/Diamondbacks backdrop as a reminder that one DFA can ripple across a pennant race landscape.