Milwaukee takes Game 1 of the NLDS behind Freddy Peralta, who spun 5.2 innings of two-run ball and punched out nine, tying a Brewers postseason K record. Chicago’s Matthew Boyd couldn’t find the strike zone early, lasting just a sliver of an inning before Michael Soroka came on to steady the ship. Milwaukee jumped in front and never looked back, cruising to a 9-3 win.

The milestone nine-K night places Peralta among Brewers playoff legends and injects momentum into Milwaukee as they head to Chicago. The Cubs face an uphill climb after Boyd’s rough start, while Counsell’s bullpen management and timely hitting underscored Milwaukee’s depth in a potential long series.

Soroka is on track to rejoin the Chicago Cubs after shoulder strain, flashing a 96.6 mph fastball in a Triple-A Iowa rehab appearance. Initial return could lean bullpen-ward as Chicago manages workload, with a longer runway if needed. Palencia is sidelined by a right shoulder strain, while Kyle Tucker battles calf issues. Suzuki is ill and Ballesteros replaced him as DH. Soroka arrived in a deadline deal with Washington, as the Cubs prep for a Tampa Bay series and gauge bullpen depth.

Christian Franklin deserves a real MLB look for the Nationals as outfield production remains spotty. Since arriving in the Michael Soroka trade, the 25-year-old has posted a .296 average and an .840 OPS, showing a well-rounded hit tool and plate discipline that could translate quickly at the big league level. Moving Dylan Crews to center right now would unlock Franklin’s natural corner fit, while Hassell III and Jacob Young have not provided the needed impact. The end-of-season phase should be used to evaluate Leiter-like upside, and Franklin offers a credible test to determine if he belongs in the MLB long term.

With Franklin in the lineup, Crews could slide to his natural center field position, which the article argues is a better long-term alignment for the club. Hassell and Young have carried the lineup but haven’t produced, making a Franklin call-up a low-risk, high-reward move that could reshape the outfield root-up for 2026 and beyond.

Week 23 centers on IL stashes with clearer timelines for the fantasy final month. Donovan, Arenado, Burleson, Santander and Soroka headline multi-category upside, while Wells, O'Neill, Soler, Meyers, Meadows and Manoah offer mix-and-match risks and bursts of upside as returns loom. Depth pieces like Muncy and Ashcraft could swing weeks in shallow formats if timing lines up. Lock in IL spots now and target players with defined returns to weather late-season pressure.

Jumbo Shrimp host Rochester Red Wings for Labor Day weekend at VyStar Ballpark, aiming to build off a first-half postseason clinch after a six-game road split with Worcester. Matthew Etzel’s seventh-inning burst and Cody Morrissette’s quick Triple-A adjustment headline Jacksonville’s offense as they welcome Rochester to town.

Rochester counters with Christian Franklin, a Nationals top-15 prospect, amid a roster reshaped by a July 31 trade that sent Michael Soroka to the Cubs. Honey Drippers Weekend and other ballpark festivities cap a week of baseball as fantasy managers monitor call-up risk and minor-league production ahead of September rosters.