Texas Rangers pitching prospect Kumar Rocker was excellent again on Wednesday for Double-A Frisco, tossing 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out eight. The 24-year-old has now made five starts at Double-A, posting a 0.46 ERA (one earned run in 19 2/3 innings), allowing nine hits and three walks while striking out 29. The former first-round draft pick began his season late after recovering from Tommy John surgery but certainly looks ready to take on Triple-A hitters. That's likely where he'll start next season, but it's looking more and more like he'll be ready to make his MLB debut, so even redraft managers should be filing his name away in anticipation of him taking the next step in 2025.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher prospect AJ Smith-Shawver twirled his longest outing of the season on Wednesday when he pitched six innings of shutout baseball, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out seven batters. With the Braves in dire need of pitching earlier this season, the 21-year-old made one start for the big league club before suffering a strained oblique which led to a stint on the IL. The righty has made eight starts since coming off the IL in July and it hasn't gone too smoothly, allowing 12 earned runs on 15 hits (six home runs) and 12 walks, although the strikeout total remained stout with 32 Ks in 22 1/3 IP. Hopefully the Braves' second-ranked prospect is rounding into form and will be ready if called upon again down the stretch, but look for his fantasy relevance to reemerge in full force next season.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene homered with three RBI in Wednesday night's win over the hosting Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Before hitting an RBI single for an insurance run in the ninth inning, Greene took Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon yard for a two-run home run to right-center field to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead in the second inning. The 23-year-old former No. 5 overall pick is beginning to establish himself as a fantasy stalwart in 2024, slashing .261/.353/.483 with 18 dingers, 54 RBI, 59 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 440 plate appearances.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz joined the exclusive 20/60 club of just five players since 1900 in Wednesday night's win over the hosting Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, tallying three hits, his 22nd homer of the year, three runs, three RBI, and his 60th steal of the season in the victory. After singling to center field in the fifth inning to score Noelvi Marte and Jonathan India and make it 6-5 Reds, De La Cruz hit a solo homer off Blue Jays right-hander Zach Pop to left field in the eight frame to make the score 11-6 Cincinnati over Toronto on Wednesday. The 22-year-old switch-hitting phenom is now slashing .262/.345/.493 with 28 doubles, eight triples, 82 runs scored, and 56 RBI in 541 plate appearances (125 games) in his second season in 2024.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado walloped a walk-off grand slam in Wednesday night's extra-inning win over the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium. Arenado tagged Brewers right-hander Trevor Megill with the walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning, powering the Cardinals to a 10-6 win over Milwaukee on Wednesday. The 33-year-old former All-Star continues to quietly go about his business for fantasy managers in 2024, batting an excellent .304 (45-for-148) with seven homers, six doubles, 25 RBI, and 23 runs scored in his last 39 games as St. Louis' everyday third baseman.