Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia (shoulder) threw off a mound on Monday for the first time since going on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 8 with a right-shoulder strain. Palencia resumed playing catch on Sept. 12 and has continued his rehab with positive results. While there's no timetable on the 25-year-old's return, it seems he has a good chance to return before the end of the month if he can avoid setbacks as he continues to ramp up. Palencia will be a big part of Chicago's bullpen for the postseason, as he has converted 22 of his 25 save opportunities this year and has a 3.00 ERA in 52 games pitched. With Palencia sidelined, both Brad Keller and Andrew Kittredge have picked up saves, but Kittredge is manager Craig Counsell's preferred option in the ninth inning, having saved three games in the last week.

Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya (ankle) is not back to 100 percent, but MLB.com reports he will start at designated hitter for Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. Manager Craig Counsell is hopeful that Amaya will be able to catch in rehab games later in the week. The 26-year-old backstop landed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 14 with a left-ankle sprain, but barring a setback on his rehab assignment, he should be able to rejoin the Cubs before the end of September. Amaya suffered an ankle injury in his first game back from the IL since late May due to a strained left oblique, so it's been an injury-plagued year for him, to say the least. When he returns, he'll give the Cubbies another option behind starter Carson Kelly at catcher for the end of the regular season and in the playoffs. Amaya has played in only 28 games this year and has gone 27-for-96 (.281) with four homers and 25 RBI.

San Francisco Giants left-hander Carson Whisenhunt (back) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento and throw two innings on Tuesday. The rookie has been on the 15-day injured list with a back strain since Aug. 28, and he could rejoin a shorthanded Giants rotation when he returns. The Giants are also without Landen Roupp (knee), who suffered a season-ending knee injury in late August, leaving them scrambling to fill in their rotation as they vie for an NL wild-card spot. They'll start reliever Tristan Beck in a crucial game against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. Whisenhunt, 24, has gone 2-1 with a 5.01 ERA, a 1.46 WHIP, and 16:12 K:BB over five starts and 23 1/3 innings since he received his first promotion to the majors in late July.

San Francisco Giants right-handed reliever Tristan Beck will start on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle. It'll be the first start of the season for Beck, who has made 26 appearances in relief this year and amassed 48 innings of 4.88 ERA ball with a 1.10 WHIP, 36 strikeouts, and 14 walks. The 29-year-old has thrown multiple innings in four straight appearances, maxing out at 63 pitches, so he should be able to give the Giants a little bit of length in what will be a bullpen game for the NL wild-card contenders.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker (calf) began running on Monday, according to MLB.com. However, he admitted that his recovery from a strained left calf is taking longer than anticipated. "It hasn't gone as quickly as I would have hoped," he said. Manager Craig Counsell revealed that there hasn't been "much progress" since Tucker went on the 10-day injured list on Sept. 9 (retroactive to Sept. 6). While the 28-year-old has been able to hit and throw without issue, his return does not look imminent. It's unclear if Tucker will return during the regular season, but with the Cubs all but guaranteed an NL wild-card spot, they don't have to rush him back this month. With Tucker down, Willi Castro has gotten the lion's share of starts in right field.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen has had a disappointing season, but he has looked much better in his last few outings, and has done a good job establishing his value before becoming a free agent this offseason. Gallen allowed just two hits and one run to the Giants on Monday night, striking out six in six innings. He is 12-14 on the season with a 4.73 ERA and 4.51 FIP, but he has been much better over his last handful of outings, going 3-1 with a 2.05 ERA and 3.41 FIP, while striking out 29 batters in 30 2/3 innings. Gallen will be a fascinating free agent to watch, but before he hits the open market, he'll probably make two more starts this season, with his next outing scheduled to be in a tough home mtachup on Sunday afternoon against the Phillies.

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo went 3-for-3 with two walks in his team's 8-1 win over the visiting Giants on Monday night. Perdomo had a double, a triple, a run scored, and two RBI to help carry his team to the victory. Perdomo has been outstanding lately and is putting the finishing touches on a true breakout season. The 25-year-old righty has posted a .290 batting average with 19 home runs, 26 stolen bases, and a .371 wOBA on the season. He's been even hotter since August 1, hitting .325 with eight homers, 11 stolen bases, and a .423 wOBA. Perdomo has established himself as a key part of the top of the order and will be a shortstop to target as a strong fantasy starter after the elite options are off the board next season.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper smashed his 27th homer of the year on Monday night against the Dodgers, and the Phillies clinched the NL East with their 6-5, extra-inning win in Los Angeles. Harper went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks, and his eighth-inning homer gave the Phillies the lead at that point in the game, before the Dodgers rallied to tie the game. Harper is hitting .320 with three homers and a .486 wOBA over his last seven games, and the veteran looks to be ramping up for more postseason heroics as the Phillies look to make a run deep into October. Harper is a strong DFS consideration while he's hitting the ball so well and makes a strong start in all formats over the final week of the season.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman/outfielder Spencer Steer (neck) was originally part of the team's lineup for Monday's game, but he had to be scratched due to neck spasms. Steer's playing time has been limited over the last couple of weeks since the arrival of top prospect Sal Stewart, who moved from third base to first base in Monday's lineup adjustment. Steer is hitting only .208 since the All-Star break, but does have six home runs in those 46 games. On the season, he has 17 homers, a .237 batting average, and a .309 wOBA. Steer could be back in the lineup soon as the Reds chase the NL Wild Card, but for now, he's considered day-to-day.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brock Stewart (shoulder) is close to returning to action for the Dodgers after being shut down in mid-August due to right shoulder inflammation. The Dodgers acquired Stewart from the Twins at the trade deadline, but he only pitched 3 2/3 innings for the team before his time on the injured list. In his 43 games in total this season, Stewart has a 2.63 ERA and 3.20 FIP, with 44 strikeouts and 37 2/3 innings. The team expects Stewart to pitch on Tuesday and Thursday before being activated for the final week of the regular season. While he has limited fantasy appeal as a middle reliever, Stewart could earn a spot on the postseason roster if he finishes the year strong.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras (biceps) exited Monday's 11-6 loss to the Reds early with right-biceps tightness, per St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold. Contreras went 2-for-3 with a single, a double, an RBI, and a stolen base before being pinch-hit for by Nolan Gorman in the seventh inning. The 33-year-old was checked by team doctors for soreness/discomfort before the game and drew the start at first base. Fantasy managers should keep an eye out for more news before Tuesday's game. Contreras is having another productive offensive season, slashing .257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs, 80 RBI, and five stolen bases in 563 plate appearances.

Miami Marlins third baseman Connor Norby (quadriceps) was activated from the 10-day injured list on Monday. He only needed to miss the minimum number of days with his quad strain, and he'll step back in as the team's primary third baseman. The 25-year-old was a trendy sleeper pick in deep roto leagues heading into the year, but he ultimately has not lived up to expectations. Norby is batting just .247 with a .298 on-base percentage, while hitting six home runs in 77 games. His three trips to the injured list certainly didn't help him find a groove, as he missed time with quad, wrist, and oblique injuries.

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Edmundo Sosa (groin) could return on Tuesday, reports Matt Gelb of The Athletic. He hasn't played since he was removed from Friday's game early with groin tightness, although it looks like he is recovering enough to avoid a trip to the injured list. The plan is to complete a full workout on Monday before returning to the lineup on Tuesday against the Dodgers. The 29-year-old has been a solid role player for Philadelphia this season, batting .270 in a platoon role. Weston Wilson and Donovan Walton have been filling in at second base in the meantime, but expect Sosa to play a significant amount while Trea Turner and Alec Bohm are injured.

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (shoulder) made the trip with the team to take on the Dodgers in LA, reports Matt Gelb of The Athletic. They left many of their injured players at home, so this is a promising sign that he could be activated within the minimum number of days. While he won't actually be eligible to return until after the Dodgers series on Friday, he is doing full workouts with the team. It was always supposed to be a short injured list stint for the 29-year-old, who is dealing with a cyst in his left shoulder. This is his second injury of the season, as he missed a month earlier in the year due to a fractured rib.

San Diego Padres right-handed reliever Jason Adam (quadriceps) had surgery on Sept. 3 and has a timetable for recovery of six to nine months, according to MLB.com. Adam felt his quadriceps muscle pop while trying to make a play on a ball on Sept. 1 against the Baltimore Orioles and was carted off the field before eventually being diagnosed with a season-ending left-quadriceps tendon rupture. The 34-year-old veteran will not be ready for the start of spring training next February and probably won't be ready for Opening Day, either. Losing Adam for the rest of 2025 was a huge blow to the Padres' relief corps, but San Diego's bullpen is still one of the best in baseball. Adam was one of the best all-around relievers in baseball this year before his injury, posting a 1.93 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 70 strikeouts, and 30 holds in 65 1/3 innings pitched.

San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) started playing catch in early April and has been throwing bullpen sessions since early August. It's still unlikely that Musgrove will pitch this year after recovering from Tommy John surgery to fix a torn UCL in his right elbow, but he's holding out hope that he can return as a reliever if the Padres make a deep playoff run in October, according to MLB.com. The 32-year-old veteran has been out all year after having TJ surgery on Oct. 11, 2024. The fact that Musgrove has yet to face live hitters doesn't bode well for his chances of pitching for the Padres before spring training of 2026. Musgrove was a first-time All-Star in 2022 in his second year in San Diego and was one of the most reliable starters in fantasy, but injuries in the last two seasons will make him a wild card in 2026 fantasy drafts next spring.

San Diego Padres left-hander Nestor Cortes (biceps) played catch from 90 feet last Thursday and felt good enough to throw off a mound on Saturday, according to MLB.com. Cortes was put on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 4 (retroactive to Sept. 4) with left-biceps tendinitis that he began experiencing following his start on Sept. 3. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw is unlikely to return to the big-league roster when he's eligible later this week, and the Friars probably don't want him anywhere near their starting rotation down the stretch as the look to cement their spot in the postseason. The Cuban hurler has not been very effective in just eight starts with the Padres and Milwaukee Brewers this year. He has a 5.47 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in SD in six starts and has allowed a whopping 13 home runs in only 34 1/3 total innings in 2025.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Cruz will head to the bench for the third time in the last five games. The first two times were because a left-handed starter was on the mound, but right-hander Jameson Taillon is drawing the start for the Cubbies on Monday. Cruz has been awful with the bat in the second half of the season. Luckily, his power and speed give him enough upside to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats. Jack Suwinski will take over in center field during Monday's contest.

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Blaze Alexander (elbow) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Alexander will make his return to the lineup after exiting early during Sunday's game due to an elbow contusion. Luckily, Alexander was able to avoid serious injury after getting hit by a pitch on the left elbow. He'll cover third base and bat fifth during Monday's game. The 26-year-old is putting together a strong season at the plate and is worth a look in at least deep leagues.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz has been dropped to seventh in the batting order on Monday at Busch Stadium for the series opener against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals and left-hander Matthew Liberatore. This will be the first time all season that De La Cruz has hit anywhere besides third in the lineup. However, the 23-year-old switch-hitter is mired in a slump that has seen him hit just .206/.243/.291 since Aug. 1. The Dominican shortstop has not homered since July 31, and his recent cold stretch has dropped his season slash line to .263/.331/.433 with 19 home runs, 82 RBI, 97 runs and 35 stolen bases in 586 at-bats. The Reds desperately need to get De La Cruz going if they are going to have any chance of sneaking into the final wild-card spot in the National League. He has hit .250 with a home run and a .900 OPS in eight career at-bats against Liberatore.