New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton is getting the day off on Monday with the Arizona Diamondbacks in town. Aaron Judge is serving as the designated hitter and batting in the two-hole, while rookie Everson Pereira (hamstring) returns to left field and the nine-hole against Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly. Stanton is in a funk at the plate in the month of September, going 6-for-55 (.109) with four home runs, seven RBI, 25 strikeouts and seven runs scored in 15 starts. He has just two hits (one homer) and 13 strikeouts in his last eight starts since Sept. 12, so he's been out of the lineup three times in the last four games.

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New York Yankees right-hander Frankie Montas (shoulder) isn't being ruled out for a potential return to the team for the final week of the 2023 season. Montas has been on the 60-day injured list all year after shoulder surgery this spring, but he's been working hard to make an appearance before the season ends. He's made two starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the last week, including two scoreless innings and 25 total pitches on Saturday. It would be a positive step for Montas, but he's also set to become a free agent this winter and is unlikely to return to the Bronx in 2024. His acquisition from the Oakland Athletics last summer at the trade deadline will go down as one of the worst blockbuster deals in general manager Brian Cashman's tenure.

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New York Yankees outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera is making another start in right field and is batting sixth in the order on Monday against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Merrill Kelly. It will be Cabrera's 12th straight start for the Yankees, with most of his starts coming with rookie Everson Pereira sidelined due to a nagging hamstring injury. Pereira has returned on Monday, while Giancarlo Stanton will be given the day off. The 24-year-old Cabrera has hit .246 (14-for-57) with a home run, three doubles, four RBI, one stolen base and six runs scored in 17 games (16 starts) in the month of September. However, he's hitting just .221 (60-for-271) with five homers and eight stolen bases on the year in pinstripes.

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The Cincinnati Reds reinstated infielder Kevin Newman (oblique) from the 10-day injured list on Monday and then designated him for assignment. Newman missed over a month with an oblique injury and will now not be with the Reds as they look to somehow secure the final wild-card spot in the National League over the final week of the regular season. The 30-year-old veteran will likely make it to the free-agent market and be looking for a new team this offseason. In his first year in Cincinnati in 2023, he hit .253/.311/.364 with only three home runs, 16 doubles, 28 RBI, eight stolen bases and 28 runs scored in 253 plate appearances and 74 games.

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The New York Yankees placed right-hander Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 22) on Monday with right-shoulder inflammation and recalled right-hander Matt Bowman from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding move. Kahnle will now be forced to miss the final week of the 2023 regular season, but he should be fine for the starting spring training next year. The 34-year-old veteran reliever was relevant for fantasy managers in leagues that rewarded points for holds, as he picked up 14 holds, two saves, a 2.66 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 48 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings pitched over 42 appearances out of New York's bullpen.

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New York Mets rookie catcher Francisco Alvarez (finger) appears to have avoided serious damage after getting hit on the fingers by foul balls in the game on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies. "Just a finger contusion," manager Buck Showalter said. "He's been getting hit a lot lately." With the Mets having nothing to play for in the final week of the regular season, Alvarez could take at least a couple of days off before returning to catching duties, so expect Omar Narvaez to be behind the dish for the Mets on Tuesday for the start of a series against the Miami Marlins. The 21-year-old Venezuelan backstop has been a strong source of power at a weak position for fantasy managers in his first full big-league season with 23 homers and 57 RBI, but he's hit only .175 (28-for-160) with six homers, 22 RBI and 47 strikeouts in 52 games (41 starts) in the second half.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (wrist) was moved to the 60-day injured list on Sunday, and manager Phil Nevin said that Trout's season is over. Trout was hoping to return for the final week of the regular season, but he's not going to end up making it back after all. The 32-year-old fractured the hamate bone in his left hand/wrist in early July and made it back for one game in August before aggravating his wrist and going back on the injured list. He will finish his 2023 campaign with a .263/.367/.490 slash line with 18 home runs and 44 RBI in 362 plate appearances. Trout is no longer in his prime and is much more of an injury risk than ever before, but he should be fully healthy and ready to contribute for the start of the 2024 season.

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Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (illness) remains out of the starting lineup on Monday against the New York Yankees. Geraldo Perdomo is starting at the keystone and will hit in the nine-hole against Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt. Marte will miss his second straight game while being under the weather, but he's apparently feeling better and expects to return to action on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox. The 29-year-old has been a must-start in fantasy lineups this year and is finishing his 2023 season strong with a hot month of September. Overall in 552 at-bats this year, he's slashing .279/.360/.489 with 24 home runs, 80 RBI, seven stolen bases and 91 runs scored. Marte is a big reason why the D-backs are in the thick of the race for a wild-card spot in the National League.

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Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Julian Merryweather picked up his second save of the season on Sunday in a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies. Merryweather struck out one and walked a pair but escaped unscathed. After Adbert Alzolay went on the IL, it appeared as though Merryweather was in line for some save opportunities. Unfortunately, the Cubs haven't won many close games recently and Merryweather only has a couple saves in his absence. With Alzolay likely coming off the IL Tuesday, it will be tough to decipher which Cubs reliever will be relied upon in save situations in the final week of the season.

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Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher Jose Leclerc picked up his fourth save Sunday in a 9-8 win over the Seattle Mariners. Leclerc allowed a hit, but struck out two and didn't allow a run in his inning of work. The 29-year-old has been a big part of the Rangers bullpen late in the season, notching three saves and five holds since August 24. Although Aroldis Chapman appears to be the favorite for saves still, Leclerc could get some opportunities when the lineup they are facing is righty-heavy. He is a potential save source in deeper leagues for the final week of the season.

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Philadelphia's SP Cristopher Sanchez recorded 10 strikeouts in 7 innings with the win in a 5-2 win over the Mets on Sunday, Sep. 24.

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Ian Gibaut recorded a rare save on Sunday, shutting the door on the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 4-2 victory. Gibaut pitched a clean ninth inning, allowing no baserunners and striking out none. It is noteworthy that usual closer Alexis Diaz was used in the eighth inning of this one, something the Reds don't typically do. With their postseason chances hanging on the line, though, they went with what they thought would give them the best chance of winning. This sets up a potentially frustrating final week for Diaz owners, who may see the 26-year-old appear in more non-save situations if the Reds' feel it is necessary.

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San Francisco Giants infielder Wilmer Flores left Sunday's game early with right knee discomfort. Flores exited in the fourth inning after collecting a pair of hits in his first two at-bats. It appears to be a minor issue, as Gabe Kapler said after the game that he doesn't believe it will be a lingering concern. Flores has been excellent for the Giants this season, slashing .285/.356/.509 with 22 homers in 393 at-bats. Fantasy managers will want to make sure Flores is in the starting lineup on Monday before setting their own lineups.

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Washington Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan picked up his 27th save of the season on Sunday, closing out a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Finnegan allowed a two-out homer to Sean Murphy, but managed to escape without further damage. The 32-year-old has been extremely shaky in September, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) over 8 IP. He has a blown save and two losses in his eight appearances this month. He will surely close out the season as the Nats closer, but they may look elsewhere next year and there will almost certainly be competition for his job in spring training.

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Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien was phenomenal on Sunday, belting two solo home runs as the Rangers collected a 9-8 victory over the Mariners, capping off a three-game sweep. With seven games left in the season, Semien can reach a 30-homer year, needing just three more long balls. The 33-year-old has stepped to the plate 642 times in 2023 and has posted a slash line of .277/.350/.475 with 27 home runs and 97 RBI.

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Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda is being moved to the bullpen for the coming week, according to manager Rocco Baldelli. Maeda was originally slated to pitch on Tuesday against Oakland, but Baldelli appears to be setting up his postseason rotation and wants to see Maeda get some reps out of the bullpen in preparation for that. It is a tough break for Maeda's fantasy managers, as a tasty matchup against the A's in the championship week could've made for a nice stat line. Bailey Ober will start in his place on Tuesday and is worth a look in leagues where he is available.

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Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan struck out 10 batters while conceding just three runs over six innings in a victorious outing against the Angels on Sunday. Ryan didn't give up a walk in the contest. As the regular season winds down, he is considered the front-runner to be the Twins' third starter in the postseason. However, final decisions have yet to be made. The 27-year-old's last regular-season start is scheduled for next Saturday in Denver against the Colorado Rockies.

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Twins' SP Joe Ryan recorded 10 strikeouts in 6 innings getting the win in a 9-3 win over the Angels on Sunday, Sep. 24.

In Chicago's rain-shortened victory over Boston on Sunday, White Sox infielder Elvis Andrus was 1-for-3 at the plate while driving in two crucial runs. Filling in for Tim Anderson at shortstop and batting in the leadoff spot, Andrus provided a two-run double off right-hander Kutter Crawford, propelling the White Sox to a 2-1 lead in a game shortened to six innings. Throughout the season, Andrus has maintained a respectable batting line of .255/.309/.364, establishing himself as a reliable and versatile asset for the team.

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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Michael Lorenzen recorded his first save in 2023 as he closed out the Mets on Sunday. He needed just 13 pitches to shut down Mets batters in the ninth. Lorenzen has worked out of the bullpen before, as he's collected 15 saves in his major league career. His last save was in the 2021 season. The 31-year-old has posted a 4-2 record with a 5.89 ERA in 44/1 innings since joining the Phillies.

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