Houston heads to Truist Park to face Atlanta in a late-season showdown. Hunter Brown (11-7, 2.25) is matched against Bryce Elder (7-9, 5.35) as the Astros chase the AL West lead with Seattle, two games clear of Texas. A second straight win would keep Houston rolling down the stretch. Friday saw Zach Cole erupt for a homer in his first at-bat with a three-hit game and a win, while Lance McCullers Jr. landed on the injured list again, shaking up Houston’s rotation.

Atlanta contends in the NL East and will lean on Elder to slow the Astros’ momentum. Fantasy managers should watch for bullpen decisions late and the potential impact of McCullers’ absence on Houston’s depth. This matchup carries meaningful implications for postseason positioning and streamer options.

Toronto's bid for a decade-long division title is shadowed by a bullpen in flux after the All-Star break. Hoffman has struggled, serving up homers and blowing late leads, including a ninth-inning shot to Yainer Diaz that doomed a comeback against Houston. The Jays still lead the AL East by three games, but playoff savor hinges on stabilizing late innings and Hoffman’s next few outings.

Depth arms—Louis Varland, Yariel Rodríguez, Brendon Little, Tommy Nance, Braydon Fisher—offer options if Hoffman falters, and Seranthony Dominguez is a logical closer fallback given his prior closing work. Fantasy managers should watch how Toronto choreographs late-innings duties down the stretch and into October.

Four sneaky Week 24 waiver adds for fantasy starters: Cade Cavalli, Bryce Elder, Ryne Nelson, and Parker Messick. Cavalli vs Pirates leans on a 20.7% K-rate with a tight 5.9% walk rate and a curve-heavy mix, boosting his streaming appeal. Elder’s slider has sharpened, supporting a solid floor against Houston. Nelson pairs a dominant fastball with control for a favorable date vs Minnesota. Messick’s five-pitch mix offers depth in deeper leagues.

Across the board, these arms blend opportunity with upside, delivering meaningful value in Week 24 and late-season rosters in deeper formats. Track matchups, innings risk, and bullpen usage to optimize starts during the stretch drive.

The Cubs’ offense remains a fluctuating theme as they drop another 4-1 decision to Atlanta. Elder kept Chicago blanked for the second time in a week, while Imanaga labored early but steadied into six innings. Nico Hoerner provided Chicago’s lone extra-base hit with a double, and Matt Shaw added a seventh-inning sac fly, but the Cubs’ bats didn’t sustain pressure. With 18 games left, the Cubs must bolt their lineup back to consistent scoring to chase the playoffs. Atlanta, leaning on a sharp first inning and a resilient bullpen, holds serve as the schedule tightens.

Imanaga’s adjustments after the first helped limit damage, but the Braves’ early onslaught set the tone. Hoerner stressed the need for a unified, high-intensity approach, while the Cubs look to rebound with offensive stability. The Braves’ aggression in the opening frame underscored the gap the Cubs must close, especially as the postseason picture nears.

Jamie's Monday MLB DFS guide for DraftKings and FanDuel targets an eight-game slate with a Dodgers-centric approach led by Shohei Ohtani at the top of the order and Freddie Freeman providing affordable power. Tyler Glasnow is highlighted as the ceiling option against a Rockies squad that’s struggled on the road, while Garrett Crochet and Bryan Woo split the high-roster spend decisions with Crochet holding the edge in strikeout upside.

Value plays abound with Wyatt Langford and Mike Trout at the forefront, plus Byron Buxton and Pete Crow-Armstrong offering salary relief without sacrificing upside. The piece also leans into three core stacks: Dodgers vs Chase Dollander, Cubs vs Bryce Elder, and Twins vs Caden Dana, while noting Coors-free slate clarity and lineup shifts as pivotal for optimal DK/FD rosters.