Williamsport hosts another vivid reminder of the Little League pipeline to the big leagues as the MLB Little League Classic brings the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets together on August 17 at Bowman Field. The event spotlights the journey from local Little League fields to the majors, with “then” and “now” visuals of players who started early and blossomed into MLB standouts. A notable thread is Mariners manager Dan Wilson’s 1981 LL World Series appearance with Barrington Little League, underscoring how LL roots thread through generations of professionals. The feature highlights a roster of notable LL alumni across both clubs, underscoring the durability of the LL-to-MLB link and offering fantasy-savvy readers fresh context on players who began in youth baseball and landed on the sport’s biggest stages.

Evening MLB DFS action is limited with just five games slated. However, there's still value to be found. George Kirby stands out against the White Sox with a solid 3.13 ERA over his last 11 starts, excelling with a 2.36 ERA at home. Jose Quintana also shines on the road for the Brewers, sporting a 2.49 ERA. Jarren Duran's impressive 1.106 OPS makes him a top target, while J.P. Crawford offers potential as a bargain buy with recent power displays. Consider stacking Royals players against Dustin May, who has struggled significantly on the road.

In Week 17 of the 2025 MLB season, several hitters are emerging as fantasy baseball assets. Chandler Simpson holds the longest active hit streak at 16 games, showcasing his speed and potential for steals, yet remains under-rostered. J.P. Crawford is also heating up, boasting a 14-game streak and strong on-base skills. Roman Anthony has turned a slow start into a hot 9-game streak, crucial for the Boston Red Sox, while Byron Buxton's recent cycle highlights his offensive prowess despite injury concerns.

Further examining the batting landscape, Nick Kurtz has posted an impressive isolated power (ISO) of .714, signaling his potential for home runs, while Ivan Herrera is making waves as a catcher with stolen base capabilities, even after a long injury absence. Fantasy managers should also consider xwOBA leaders like Luis Garcia Jr. and Carlos Narvaez, who illustrate the variance in player performance versus expectations. This week’s report emphasizes the importance of tracking these trends to bolster fantasy lineups.

As the MLB season progresses into Week 16, fantasy baseball managers should focus on the waiver wire for potential category boosters. Colt Keith of the Detroit Tigers is making waves, batting leadoff and bringing in a solid performance with eight home runs and 43 runs. Meanwhile, J.P. Crawford from the Seattle Mariners and Angel Martinez of the Cleveland Guardians are providing consistent run support with impressive batting averages. For those seeking home runs, Noelvi Marte from the Cincinnati Reds is showing promise after recovering from injury, complemented by Jorge Polanco's power for the Mariners.

In terms of RBIs, Evan Carter from the Texas Rangers has a knack for driving in runs, while Baltimore's Ramon Laureano is making a case for increased playing time. Speedsters like Chandler Simpson from the Tampa Bay Rays and Sal Frelick from the Brewers are also noteworthy for stolen bases, despite Frelick's recent hamstring issue. For those in need of batting average boosts, Alec Burleson of the St. Louis Cardinals and Jung Hoo Lee of the Giants are viable options to consider as they continue to show solid performances.

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz showcased his incredible arm strength with a 105.2 mph throw to nab Seattle Mariners' J.P. Crawford at the plate, marking it as one of the hardest throws in MLB history.

This throw stands as the second-fastest recorded outfield assist since Statcast began tracking in 2015, just shy of Aaron Hicks' record of 105.5 mph. The impressive play occurred during a first-inning single from Jorge Polanco, demonstrating Cruz's defensive prowess and athleticism.

Additionally, Cruz has been a Statcast sensation this season, previously achieving the hardest-hit ball at 122.9 mph with a home run that famously splashed into the Allegheny River.