The final scheduled Monday of the regular season features 11 contests, including a matinee in Anaheim with first pitch at 4:10 p.m. ET so make sure you check lineups a little earlier than usual.
Good luck as we embark on the last week of the regular season. Long-term planners should keep in mind that the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers will play only 58 games through Sunday. If the games end up having playoff implications, the clubs will meet next Monday.
The card has limited options to assign a spot start, but is replete with the usual array of bats to fortify your offense on a day some regulars are off. Everyone recommended is available in at least half of all ESPN leagues.
Pitching
Dane Dunning (R), rostered in 32% of ESPN leagues, Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians: Lost in the craziness of the 2020 season is the impressive debut of several young pitchers. In his first start, Dunning was the opening act with Casey Mize the headliner. Fast forward a few weeks and Dunning may be drafted ahead of Mize next fantasy season. In his five starts, Dunning has compiled 28 strikeouts in 27 innings with nine walks and just two homers allowed. He's been particularly sharp over his last two efforts, allowing just one earned run over 13 frames.
Kyle Gibson (R), 5%, Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels: Overall, it's been a disappointing season for Gibson and the Rangers. However, he's coming off a whitewashing of the Houston Astros, tossing a complete game shutout with nine strikeouts.
JT Brubaker (R), 1%, Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs: Brubaker is the third rookie to make the cut, though he's a notch or two below Singer and especially Dunning. It happened and can't be stricken from the record, but back out a rough outing against the White Sox and Brubaker's ratios drop to a 3.56 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. Facing the Cubs will be a challenge, though Brubaker does benefit from working in his pitcher-friendly home park.
Bullpen: After cycling through several other options, veteran lefty Tony Watson is closing out games for the Giants down the stretch. He's rostered in only 18% of ESPN leagues and should get a couple of shots at adding to his saves total as San Francisco has eight games this week.
For the latest team-by-team closer situations, please consult our Closer Chart.
Hitting
Catcher -- Andrew Knapp (S), 1%, Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals (RHP Anibal Sanchez): J.T. Realmuto isn't likely to be ready to catch on Monday, giving Knapp at least one more game behind the dish. Knapp's numbers have suffered since assuming regular duties, but a 321/.443/.482 performance for the season ranks him as one of the better backup receivers in the league.
First Base -- Jared Walsh (L), 49%, Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers (RHP Kyle Gibson): Don't worry, this is probably the last time Walsh will make this space as his %ROST continues to climb and will soon eclipse the 50% cutoff. Walsh carried an 11-game hitting streak into Sunday's contest, registering a .442/.440/.911 slash over 50 plate appearances in that span.
Second Base -- Rougned Odor (L), 27%, Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels (RHP Dylan Bundy): It may be too little, too late to secure his job next spring, but Odor has cleared the fence four times over the past week, adding a double as well.
Third Base -- Ke'Bryan Hayes (R), 8%, Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs (LHP Jon Lester): Rookie pitchers aren't the only ones turning heads this season as Hayes is one of several position players having a strong debut campaign. Since getting promoted on Sept. 1, Hayes has compiled a .310/.385/.603 line through Saturday's play, hitting lefties especially well.
Shortstop -- Miguel Rojas (R), 18%, Miami Marlins at Atlanta Braves (RHP Huascar Ynoa): Granted, it's been an odd season, especially for the Marlins, but Rojas' widespread availability is mind-boggling. Not only is he batting .347, but his four homers and three steals prorate to around 20 and 15, respectively, over a 162-game season.
Corner Infield -- Austin Riley (R), 35%, Atlanta Braves vs. Miami Marlins (LHP Trevor Rogers): Riley hit safely in eight of nine games leading into Sunday's slate though that has yielded just a .688 OPS. Still, he's a power threat against Rogers. The Marlins' 22-year-old lefty has racked up 29 whiffs in 21 innings, but he's also allowed five homers.
Middle Infield -- Tyler Wade (L), 1%, New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays (RHP Matt Shoemaker): After slumbering through early September, the Yankees' offense has been rejuvenated with the return of sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, just in time for the postseason. Wade isn't assured to play, but if he does, he provides a great way to get a piece of a productive lineup. Shoemaker is making his first start since coming off the IL with a sore lat and is expected to throw about 60 pitches, so Wade will also get a couple cracks at a suspect Blue Jays bullpen.
Outfield -- Dylan Carlson (S), 12%, St. Louis Cardinals at Kansas City Royals (RHP Carlos Hernandez): Carlson will hope to provide a spark down the stretch as the Cardinals push for a playoff spot. He's started the past three games, responding with a double and homer helping to fuel a productive .973 OPS in that span.
Outfield -- Manuel Margot (R), 15%, Tampa Bay Rays at New York Mets (RHP Jacob deGrom): While it may be difficult to get on against the two-time NL Cy Young award recipient, those reaching first get frisky as deGrom has seen 10 steals against, tied for most in the league. Margot is an efficient 12 of 14 this season in that department.
Outfield -- Jose Marmolejos (L), 3%, Seattle Mariners vs. Houston Astros (RHP Lance McCullers Jr.): Marmolejos has cooled down considerably, but for the season he's hit right-handers effectively, slugging five of his six homers with the platoon advantage, fueling a .262/.294/.554 slash with a righty on the mound.