Ryan Pepiot’s fatigue forced Tampa Bay into a bullpen night, and Mason Montgomery paid the price, allowing five runs in 0.2 innings after a 1-0 lead. The Rays hung around with six relievers, while Chicago built a 6-1 cushion. Carson Williams and Junior Caminero homered in the fifth to fuel a comeback bid, Yandy Díaz had an earlier homer, and Richie Palacios plus Hunter Feduccia added small-ball pressure. A two-run late surge fell just short as Jake Mangum’s highlight catch and solid work from Joe Rock and Cole Sulser kept the Rays within striking distance, but White Sox held on 6-5.

Two homers by Rays hitters spurred the late charge, but eight White Sox relievers combined to blunt Tampa Bay’s rally. The game showcased a bullpen-focused night with innings decided by leveraged matchups and timing, rather than extended rotations, cementing a storyline where Rays’ depth and late-game execution were enough for a near-miss in Chicago.

The Twins unloaded their five top relievers at the trade deadline—Jhoan Duran to Philadelphia, Griffin Jax to the Rays, Louie Varland to the Blue Jays, Brock Stewart to the Dodgers and Danny Coulombe to the Rangers—shifting the late innings to a new group and leaving questions about an immediate payoff with their prospects haul. Duran has thrived in Philly (1.69 ERA) while the other four have struggled with their new clubs, fueling debate on whether the risk was worth the potential long-term gain.

Ten Aug-Sept relief-heavy games that could have swung Minnesota’s results underline the volatility of such a purge. The Daily Delivery podcast weighs the possibility of a stronger bullpen in 2026 against the palpable cost in 2025, while also touching on Vikings optimism (and pessimism) and a subplot about J.J. McCarthy in quarterback-adjacent chatter. Fantasy players should watch how the rebuilt pen settles in and which rookie arms rise into key roles as the season winds down.

Kyle Finnegan’s deadline-day move to Detroit has redefined the Tigers’ bullpen, turning him into a multi-inning weapon in late-innings high-leverage spots. In 13⅓ innings since the trade, he’s 0.00 ERA with a splitter-heavy, strike-throwing approach that lets Hinch deploy him for extended bursts. The deal landscape around him features a flood of reliever moves—Miller, Duran, Bednar, Helsley, Jax, Doval—setting a new late-inning baseline across the majors. Royals batters Pasquantino, Maikel Garcia and Salvador Perez loom as a contrasting late-game reference point for KC’s offenses.

The combination of Finnegan’s efficiency, endurance, and willingness to attack hitters in the toughest moments has shifted expectations for closers and bridge-to-close roles league-wide, impacting fantasy bullpen planning and daily lineup decisions as teams recalibrate leverage usage after the deadline chaos.

The Rays’ deadline activity didn’t flip their fortunes, but it did shuffle their upside and how fantasy managers should look at August. The Athletic pegs Tampa Bay at No. 15 in power rankings as the team added Adrian Houser to bolster the rotation, while also juggling a multi-team swap that shuffled catcher talent and infield depth. The moves are described as a rare, almost paradoxical mix of buyer-and-seller instincts that sum to a net effect that may feel like a wash as the stretch run begins.

Key trades included Danny Jansen leaving and Nick Fortes coming aboard, Zack Littell moving out in a three-team deal for Hunter Feduccia, and José Caballero traded for Everson Pereira. Curtis Mead was sent away for Houser, Taj Bradley for Griffin Jax, all underscoring the Rays’ philosophy of flexible asset allocation rather than a core rebuild. Entering August, Tampa Bay sits 11 games back of Toronto and four ahead of Baltimore, a classic August “dog days” setup where momentum—and fantasy value—will matter more than ever.

From a fantasy lens, the Houser addition stands out as a potential anchor for the back of the rotation, while the trades at catcher and infield may shuffle lineups and playing time in ways that elevate some players and suppress others. If the Rays can find a new gear in August, Houston-like depth and defensively oriented pieces could emerge as best bets for streaming starts and potential saves opportunities behind a veteran group.

The Philadelphia Phillies are in a fierce competition for the top spot in the National League East, and as the trade deadline approaches, they have pressing needs to address. With José Alvarado sidelined due to a PED suspension, the Phillies are in dire need of bullpen reinforcement. Additionally, they require another offensive weapon to bolster their lineup, particularly considering the struggles of players like Bryson Stott and Max Kepler, who have underperformed significantly since May.

Analyst Paul Hernbekides has suggested that the Phillies should pursue Willi Castro and Griffin Jax from the Minnesota Twins. Castro, a recent All-Star, could fill in at second base or provide a much-needed upgrade in the outfield with an above-average batting line. Jax, while showing a higher ERA this season than last, possesses impressive underlying metrics suggesting he could regain his dominant form. The Phillies' management must act decisively to secure these players and enhance their chances for a postseason run.