Week 23 centers on IL stashes with clearer timelines for the fantasy final month. Donovan, Arenado, Burleson, Santander and Soroka headline multi-category upside, while Wells, O'Neill, Soler, Meyers, Meadows and Manoah offer mix-and-match risks and bursts of upside as returns loom. Depth pieces like Muncy and Ashcraft could swing weeks in shallow formats if timing lines up. Lock in IL spots now and target players with defined returns to weather late-season pressure.

AL wild-card races tighten after Labor Day, with the Rangers’ six-game win streak lifting Texas to fourth and narrowing Seattle’s hold on the final postseason spot. In the NL Central, the Cubs chipped away at Milwaukee’s lead, keeping hopes alive into September. The NL wild-card leaders include the Cubs, Padres and Mets, while Brewers and Phillies sit atop their divisions as byes enter the bracket. The playoff bracket today shows Mariners at Astros, Yankees vs Red Sox (tiebreaker scenario), and byes for Tigers and Blue Jays in the AL, Brewers and Phillies in the NL. September’s implications for fantasy rosters center on who sustains runs, depth, and the late surges that decide October rosters.

As the standings tilt, fantasy angles sharpen: late-season rotations, bullpen usage, and lineup depth will determine who emerges from the wild-card fray. With byes set, the focus shifts to momentum, injuries, and the subtle matchups that unlock extra wins in September and into October. This is the moment for savvy fantasy managers to track closing-time performers and spot opportunistic pickups as teams jockey for playoff position.

Carson Kelly delivered Chicago’s clutch finish, tying the game with a two-run homer in the eighth and winning it with a single in the 10th as the Cubs toppled Atlanta 7-6. Ian Happ stitched a three-hit night with his 19th homer, while Dansby Swanson and Matt Shaw supplied key RBI hits in the comeback. Michael Harris II carried Atlanta with four RBIs, but Chicago’s late surge overcame a 6-1 deficit in front of a roaring Wrigley crowd.

Seiya Suzuki began the Cubs’ 10th on second, and Kelly’s liner sealed the victory. The win highlighted Chicago’s late-inning depth and could reshape fantasy lineups as Shota Imanaga and Joey Wentz prepare for the next matchup, with Chicago’s bullpen also factoring into the equation.

Carlos Santana and Aaron Civale joined the Cubs as the playoff chase intensified, giving Chicago veteran depth and bullpen flexibility. Santana, a switch-hitter with post-season pedigree, slides onto Counsell’s bench and offers insurance for a potential lineup shuffle. Civale profiles as a bulk-relief option who could start if needed, preserving rotation options. Cubs promotions of Alcántara and Caissie add youthful upside as Pete Crow-Armstrong cools at the plate.

The moves underscore a pragmatic, veteran-flavored infusion to fortify a 28-man roster on the cusp of a championship push, with Santana eyeing a title before retirement and Civale aiming to leverage this fresh opportunity for impact in high-leverage moments.