Nolan McLean sparked the Mets in late August, arriving from Syracuse and immediately flinging impact starts. Eight shutout innings vs Philadelphia, a 3-0 record, and a 0.89 ERA since his arrival have the club dreaming of an October surge. New York’s playoff chase in the NL East is back in play, with McLean’s emergence reshaping rotations and mood. The test is sustaining the run through September and beyond, turning a rollercoaster summer into a possible late-season chapter.

Across town, the Yankees’ power display and the broader chase for division titles provide contrast, but it’s McLean’s meteoric rise that changes Mets narratives. If health holds, the kid could redefine the rotation blueprint and offer a blueprint for high-upside pitcher add-drops in fantasy leagues as October looms.

Jacob deGrom’s latest Rangers start underscored a brutal stretch: more than a month without a win, a home run on the first pitch after a shoulder-fatigue pause, and a 4-0 loss to the Angels. He’s 0-4 in five starts since July 22, throwing 90 pitches across five innings while battling inconsistency and command issues. Bochy plans to ride the moment, hoping rest isn’t needed, as Texas fights for a wild-card push with five weeks remaining.

On the Angels’ side, Zach Neto delivered a jolt by launching a franchise-record ninth leadoff homer this season, and LA rode early momentum to keep deGrom from settling in. Neto’s emergence quickened the pace for fantasy managers eyeing stolen-base and run-scoring upside, while deGrom’s workload and health remain the bigger storyline as Texas looks to maximize his remaining starts.

Jacob deGrom’s return from elbow surgery looks healthier than in prior years, but command remains a work in progress. He worked five innings, yielding two runs on three hits and two walks, and exited after 90 pitches with the Rangers down a couple of runs. The night was ruled a fair-to-good showing by Bruce Bochy, yet deGrom himself called it inconsistent and not where he wants to be with location and control.

Angels starter José Soriano pumped 100 mph on the heater and Zach Neto opened the scoring with a first-pitch hit that helped set the tone early, fueling an 8-run Angels attack. Travis d’Arnaud supplied a late-inning single off a slider deGrom struggled with, while Texas struggled to solve an Angels staff that answered with timely at-bats and power. For fantasy owners, the takeaway is gradual health for deGrom paired with lingering command concerns, while Neto and Soriano flashed upside for a wings-and-pights approach in daily lineups.

The Rangers, now under .500 at 66-67, face a familiar reality: their ace might be back, but the offense must improve to support him. deGrom’s season ERA sits among the league’s top marks (2.79) but his recent five-inning cap and the inability to string hits with runners in scoring position illustrate the volatility in Texas’ offensive nights. Bochy’s club will need more from the lineup to turn these tight losses into wins as they maintain an every-five-games rhythm with deGrom in the rotation.

Jacob deGrom is on track to start Monday against the Angels after a bullpen session and a shoulder fatigue scare that caused Texas to skip his last turn. His 2.76 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and .197 average against make him a top fantasy ace when healthy, and the Rangers are balancing caution with opportunity as they welcome back a former Cy Young winner. The health-first approach around deGrom could impact Texas’ rotation depth and streaming options as the schedule tightens.

Fantasy managers should weigh deGrom’s workload and matchup in the coming weeks, especially while he ramps back up. A healthy deGrom immediately boosts Texas’ win potential and strikeout upside, while a limited or re-fatigued return would temper expectations. The Rangers’ improved health profile also supports more aggressive streaming decisions in weekly lineups, particularly against elevated offenses.