AL free-agent bids get real in this week’s FAAB-focused look, with two-start windows and keeper-grade upside driving the top targets. Expect big money on Bradish and Early as immediate impact bets, while Alexander, Urquidy, and Mahle offer upside in shallower formats or as roll-the-dice options when a two-start week aligns. Depth pieces like Rivero, Cole, Eaton, and Loperfido provide later-week dart throws, and a handful of power bets (Meadows, O’Neill, Meadows) could swing the week in the right matchups.

Grid-based pricing and a player-grade scale guide decisions, helping managers allocate a $100 FAAB budget efficiently. The slate features a mix of rotation depth, bullpen stability, and situational bats—useful for chasing wins, ERA/WHIP gains, and stolen-base upside down the stretch. Keep an eye on two-start schedules, IL-returns, and late-season callups that can reshape rosters in competitive leagues.

Brewers clinch a postseason spot as September narrows, with Phillies close and Dodgers atop the NL. Padres, Cubs and Mets chase wild cards while Giants and Reds surge. In the AL, Mariners and Astros duel for the West as the wild-card field tightens behind Red Sox and Yankees. The 12-team format awards byes to the top two division winners; October begins Sept. 30.

SportsLine projects the byes for Brewers, Dodgers and the Jays and Tigers, with a crowded wild-card scramble testing bullpen usage and daily lineups in the final weeks.

Schmidt’s Rockies era ends with the franchise’s worst run in modern history: 224-407 since 2021 and a 40-107 pace this season, the worst in club memory. The payroll squeeze and a string of high-profile but underperforming free-agent bets, led by Kris Bryant, defined the era as fans questioned a rebuild that never fully materialized. Outside leadership and listening to ownership about evaluating all operations kept swirling as the franchise lurched toward change.

Drafts and extensions offered mixed results. Freeland and McMahon extensions provided some stability, while others undercut the plan’s credibility. The team’s drafting yielded several hits but also notable misses, and trades like McMahon to the Yankees signaled a shift toward future upside rather than immediate contention. With external candidates discussed and leadership in flux, a true rebuild appears likely to loom in LoDo.