Texas rode a nine-run outburst to complete the sweep of Oakland, riding a five-game winning streak into September and closing to within striking distance of a Wild Card. Jacob deGrom was efficient through five scoreless frames before the Rangers eased him off the mound, while Joc Pederson launched a two-run shot and Josh Jung joined the power party with a homer and a double. The lineup cluttered the bases with nine hits and seven walks, and the bullpen weathered a late scare to seal it.

Caleb Boushley faltered late, allowing a spike in runs as the A’s clawed back, but Texas still managed to hold on. Up next, Texas heads to Arizona to open September against the Diamondbacks, with Patrick Corbin facing Ryne Nelson in a high-leverage series opener. For fantasy managers, Pederson and Jung remain hot hands, while deGrom’s innings pace will influence stacking and bullpen usage as the playoff push intensifies.

Texas started fast, riding Joc Pederson’s 2-run blast and Josh Jung’s solo shot to seize an early lead as Jacob deGrom spun five shutout innings for the Rangers. Oakland’s offense finally woke in the eighth, stringing together five runs, highlighted by Jacob Wilson’s two-run bloop double, Tyler Soderström’s RBI double, and Carlos Cortes’s later tally, but the rally fell short in a 9-6 loss and a series sweep.

The A’s slugfest effort wasn’t enough to slow Texas’s top pitching and bullpen, and the club now heads to St. Louis with rookie Luis Morales making the opener while the Cardinals counter with Sonny Gray. Texas, meanwhile, looks to carry momentum into the next slate after a strong team effort and deGrom’s vintage performance anchored the win.

Aroldis Chapman and the Boston Red Sox finalized a 13.3M, one-year pact for 2026 with a vesting option for 2027 that could push total front-loaded guarantees to 26M if Chapman racks up 40 innings in 2026. The club prevailed 5-2 over the Pirates as Chapman notched another save, lifting his 16th-year tally to a career-best 1.02 ERA. With 76 strikeouts in 53 innings and a club-record 15-game hitless streak, Chapman remains a dominant late-inning force and targets a 400th career save.

Boston’s move signals confidence in Chapman as the closer backbone while tying 2027 to on-field volume. His career arc spans Reds, Yankees, Cubs, Royals, Rangers, Pirates, and now Boston, underscoring his durability and high-leverage upside. Fantasy managers should weigh innings projection and bullpen usage as the Sox balance veteran talent with rising arms in a playoff chase.

Burger could be activated Monday after a left wrist sprain that sidelined him Aug. 18, potentially rejoining Texas for a three-game set with Arizona. He was swinging a hot bat before the injury, slashing .467/.529/.667 across seven games and posting a 1.097 OPS in 21 second-half games. Haggerty remains out with a left ankle inflammation and is likely a week away. Chris Martin was progressing in a rehab stint at Double-A Round Rock and could lift Texas’ bullpen.

Texas pounded out big run totals with a resilient offense, and the club is weighing next steps as they push for a late-season surge. The club also kept tabs on the Diamondbacks series, and the rehab progress of Martin adds a stabilizing factor to a bullpen that has battled coverage gaps.

Toronto claimed Isiah Kiner-Falefa off waivers from Pittsburgh on Aug. 31, adding a versatile, postseason-eligible utility piece as September and October loom. IKF can fill shortstop, third, center, and corner-outfield spots, and his arrival comes as Ernie Clement nurses an injury, giving the Jays immediate defensive depth and lineup flexibility for a tight stretch run.

IKF posted a .264 mark this season with Pittsburgh and slashed .292 in 83 games with Toronto last year. His multi-positional value, speed on the bases, and experience across multiple clubs make him a practical lift for Toronto as it aims to optimize defense and depth for playoff contention.