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.

Paul Skenes continues to dominate the first time through lineups, hammering an implied under in the Pirates–Orioles matchup. The Baltimore side is the headline under 0.5 runs in F3, with Skenes playing a pivotal role. Freddy Peralta’s heater fuels a Brewers play in a favorable venue, while Merrill Kelly’s recent form tempers Rangers bets on the same under concept. Logan Gilbert at home reinforces a Cardinals–Mariners under trend, and the slate leans toward early unders and careful run suppression.

Boston chased Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly from Arizona by offering Connelly Early as the centerpiece, but the Diamondbacks sought more value than a late first-round pick and preferred to keep the veteran arms. Boston instead added Steven Matz and Dustin May to stabilize the rotation and bullpen as it pushes toward the playoffs. Gallen’s post-deadline form—2.20 ERA across seven starts (41 IP)—underscores the market’s premium on him, while May has struggled to a 5.40 ERA in five starts. Early looms as a tantalizing lefty prospect who could reach Boston soon, as Yoshida’s leadoff role keeps the lineup dynamic in Cora’s shuffle.

Astros drop a 4-3, 12-inning decision to Texas as its offense continues to struggle against the Rangers’ pitching staff. Houston produced three or fewer runs in five of eight meetings this season, with runners in scoring position going 2-for-14. Correa’s eighth-inning two-run shot sparked a comeback, but the big hit never arrived late. The bullpen was outstanding, yet a walk-off in the 12th sealed it. Houston’s division lead remains 3.5 games over Seattle with 20 games left.

Eight pitchers priced at or above 9K anchor Friday’s FanDuel MLB slate, with Coors Field lifting Padres stacks around Tatis and Machado. Christopher Sanchez delivers a strong floor with five quality starts in six, especially versus Miami’s light lefty splits. Merrill Kelly brings steady innings, while Ian Seymour offers cheap upside in bulk relief for Tampa. Bellozo’s home-friendly splits add Miami’s offense sneaky value. Oakland’s Langeliers, Rooker, and Butler provide solid cheap bats, and a Red Sox mini-stack against Eduardo Rodriguez adds another avenue for salary relief.