

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds (back) has returned to the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale at PNC Park against the Seattle Mariners and right-hander George Kirby, serving as the designated hitter and batting second. Reynolds missed Saturday's win with a sore lower back, but he's back in there just a day later. Bryan De La Cruz is in left field again and is batting sixth for the Bucs. It's a tough matchup, but Reynolds is a must-start for fantasy managers when he's active. In just two career at-bats against Kirby, he does have a hit and two RBI. The 29-year-old two-time All-Star has been in a little funk at the plate of late, but overall this month, he's hitting .273 (15-for-55) with a homer, three doubles, eight RBI and six runs scored in 13 contests. Get him back into your lineups for the series finale.


Baltimore Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander appears to be getting a regular day of rest in Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards. With Santander starting on the pine, Ryan O'Hearn will play right field for the O's and bat second, while Eloy Jimenez is serving as the designated hitter and is batting cleanup against Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford. Santander has already hit a career-high 36 home runs in 2024 and driven in 80 runs in 119 games. However, he's hitting just .183 (11-for-60) with five home runs, three doubles, seven RBI, a stolen base and 18 strikeouts in 68 trips to the plate over 15 games in the month of August. O'Hearn has faced Crawford seven times in his career and is still searching for his first hit against him, while Jimenez is batting .167 in six career at-bats against Crawford.


Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (back) is back behind the plate and is batting fifth on Sunday at Camden Yards against the division-rival Boston Red Sox and right-hander Kutter Crawford. Rutschman was scratched from Friday's series opener on Friday and also sat out of Saturday's contest, but he's feeling good enough to give it a go in the series finale. The 26-year-old switch-hitting All-Star catcher needs to be returned to starting lineups in all fantasy formats. He's one of the best hitting players at the weak catcher position and has gone 12-for-42 (.286) with three doubles, a triple and eight RBI in 13 games played in the month of August. And in eight career at-bats against Crawford, Rutschman is hitting .250 with an .875 OPS, one home run and two RBI.


Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper will get a much-needed rest day on Sunday as the Phillies look to complete a three-game sweep against the Washington Nationals. Harper has started 31 straight games but has gone 0-for-7 this series. As a result, Alec Bohm will cover first base, which opens up the hot corner for Edmundo Sosa. Overall, Harper has posted a strong .278/.370/.533 slash line with 26 long balls and five stolen bases. He holds a solid 47.5% hard-hit rate and a near-perfect 12.6% walk rate. Fantasy managers should expect the former MVP to return to the lineup on Tuesday as the Phillies face the Atlanta Braves. The entire Phillies lineup is worth considering in DFS as they will face Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin, who has struggled to maintain consistency over the past month, holding an underwhelming 6.23 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.


Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (ankle) will take a seat in Sunday's series finale. Marte missed three games earlier this week due to an ankle injury and but returned to the lineup on Saturday. However, the Diamondbacks will exercise caution with their star infielder and give him a day off on Sunday. As a result, Kevin Newman will cover the keystone and bat in the nine-hole. Marte has enjoyed a fantastic season and is near the top of the NL MVP odds with a .298/.370/.560 line with 30 long balls and six swiped bags. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the Arizona starting nine as Marte could be given the occasional rest day as he battles the lingering injury. Newman is worth a look as a value play in DFS on Sunday as the Rays will use the bullpen with southpaw Tyler Alexander slated to serve as the bulk option.
