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.

The Phillies will deploy a six-man rotation for at least one turn as Aaron Nola returns from a three-month IL stint to start Sunday against Washington. The plan emphasizes added rest for Wheeler, Sánchez, and Suárez during a dense 24-in-25 stretch, while still keeping a bullpen built to handle short bursts. The rotation shakeup also aims to curb wear on the staff by spreading workload and enabling tandem starts or rotation skips in the near term.

Atlanta’s edge is showing signs of life as the season looks bleak. Michael Harris II is in the midst of a second consecutive strong month, blasting the ball hard and elevating it more often after mechanical tweaks to his swing. The tradeoff is a still-poor walk rate, but the overall contact and lift could unlock a serious Braves run of production in 2026 and beyond, especially with Harris under contract for years and the outfield depth finally stabilized with Jurickson Profar contributing on offense.

Matt Olson reached a milestone, tying Dale Murphy for consecutive games played and climbing to 13th all-time in durability. That reliability in the heart of Atlanta’s order matters in fantasy— Olson consistently drives in runs and supplies a steady baseline across categories, particularly in OBP and RBI when the surrounding lineup is clicking.

Profar has shown offensive spark lately, helping fill in the middle-infield voids while Nick Allen offers elite defense at short and second. The Braves front office has room to maneuver depth as they balance spending against their long-term payroll, aiming to turn a challenging offseason into a smarter, steadier 2026 core.

The Mets series produced a high-scoring back-and-forth, highlighted by Harris’s grand slam in Flushing and a showcase of both teams’ power. In broader MLB notes, Hader’s shoulder strain lands him on the IL, a wrinkle that could shift late-inning dynamics in Houston while Dylan Crews returns to the Nationals lineup off the 60-day IL, potentially reshaping Washington’s offense as he builds toward an impactful rookie season. Kang Baek Ho’s pursuit of MLB opportunities and Crews’ return against Philadelphia add intrigue to the surrounding NL East narratives.

The Norfolk Tides blinked at a four-run deficit and still emerged 8-7 in a roller-coaster win over Rochester at Harbor Park, taking the series 4-1 entering the finale. A four-inning rough patch gave Rochester a 4-0 cushion, but Norfolk answered with a four-run burst in the fourth and a late rally that set up a dramatic finish. Bowens homered in the sixth, Ardoin delivered a two-run single, and Trimble lined a clutch RBI single to slice the deficit to 6-4, then to 6-6 with the tying run aboard after a Bowens’ RBI infield grounder error from Morales. In the seventh, Lipscomb’s RBI single nudged Rochester back ahead, but Rivera drew a walk, Bowens reached on the costly error, and Reetz delivered the winning two-run double off Mejia. Norfolk starter Ward struck out seven across four innings, Rodríguez earned the win, and Espada closed it out for the save.

The final stretch of the MLB season is upon us, and several players are crucial to monitor as managers prepare for the playoffs. Notably, Lawrence Butler, once a breakout candidate, has struggled significantly, posting troubling numbers and losing playing time. In contrast, Jackson Merrill, despite a similar PPG average, has shown more consistent contact and could be a value next season. Additionally, Jung Hoo Lee's promising skills growth is worth tracking. On the younger side, Dylan Crews is returning from injury with potential, while Coby Mayo is finally getting a chance after performing well in the minors.