Late-season fantasy baseball hinges on edge finding and smart salary-driven plays. Michael Wacha brings steady 3.31+ ERA and 1.16 WHIP across four years, with a home-friendly environment against Texas that could yield 6+ innings and solid DK points. Zac Gallen is a rebound candidate facing Cleveland’s slumping offense, especially at home where he’s shown better K per nine and lower hit rates. Will Smith anchors a weakened catcher pool and gets Coors Field upside against a weak lefty, while Elly De La Cruz enters with elite power-speed upside, making him a core buying option.

That core is complemented by a Dodgers stack that leans on Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez, especially in a high-ceiling Coors slate. Heliot Ramos is a budget-friendly bat with platoon advantages, and the Reds bring Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and TJ Friedl into a favorable matchup against an unproven starter. The piece also highlights top stacks (Dodgers at Rockies, Reds at Angels) and cautions about ownership and exposure alignment, inviting readers to use the DraftKings MLB Lineup Optimizer to tailor pools and exposures.

Texas Rangers visit the Kansas City Royals in a four-game series that's pivotal for both clubs’ playoff chances. The opener features Jack Leiter against Michael Wacha, with wagers leaning Rangers +1.5 and Royals -1.5 and a 9-run total. A standout prop is Leiter under 3.5 strikeouts, given Kansas City’s strong contact discipline since the All-Star break and Leiter’s recent inability to reach four Ks in back-to-back starts.

The Royals boast a clear offensive edge since the break, ranking sixth in wRC+ while Texas sits in the lower tier. Kansas City’s bullpen and Wacha’s recent form (no more than two runs in six straight starts) amplify the Royals’ chances to seize momentum in this series, making Royals -126 an appealing play. The under on the total feels plausible thanks to solid pitching matchups and a potentially tight collection of early innings.

Rangers at Royals on Monday night pivots on a brisk pitching duel: Jack Leiter (7-6, 3.94 ERA) for Texas against Michael Wacha (7-9, 3.35 ERA) in Kansas City. Texas arrives off a 10-4 win vs Toronto after two straight sweeps, while KC has surged with a 3-game streak and a 5-1 run in their last six. The betting line shows KC favored on the moneyline at -130 with Texas at +109, and a 9.0 over/under looms as both offenses look to maximize the park’s hitter-friendly rhythm. NBC Sports’ model projects a close, mid-range sprint with a slight lean toward KC’s bullpen depth and game flow leaning over 9 in recent trends.

Fantasy and betting angles center on Leiter’s upside versus Wacha’s steady track record and KC’s surge. The Royals have carved out wins by stringing timely hits and leveraging the bullpen, while Texas will lean on Leiter’s strike-acceleration and Wacha’s ground-ball efficiency to keep runs scarce. The matchup also anchors in recent form: KC 5-1 over six games; Rangers 1-4 over five, with KC taking four of five previously against Texas this season. A smart playbook blends Leiter’s strikeout potential with Wacha’s control and the park’s scoring tempo.

Washington faces Kansas City in a Tuesday tilt at Kauffman Stadium as Mitchell Parker (WAS) goes against Michael Wacha (KC). The Nationals, sitting at 47-71, are spiraling lately (3-9 in their last 12) while the Royals, 59-60, kicked off the series with a 7-4 win and own a solid home run through recent weeks. Parker owns a 7-12 record with a 5.43 ERA and is looking to stabilize after a rough last start; Wacha has been the steadier presence on KC with a 3.36 ERA through 15 decisions. The matchup shapes up as a grind, with KC favored but not a slam dunk given the recent form and ballpark dynamics.

Odds tilt toward Kansas City (-172 ML) with Washington +143 and a -1.5 spread, total 8.0. NBC Sports Bet projects KC on the moneyline and ATS, while staying away from the game total. KC has won 5 of their last 7 at home, and Washington has scuffled (3-9 over its last 12). For fantasy angles, Parker’s 5.43 ERA and last-start hiccup temper upside, while Wacha’s 3.36 ERA and recent form provide the Royals a favorable backdrop. Live lineup updates and in-game changes will swing daily fantasy and prop decisions, so stay plugged in until first pitch.