There is a "very good chance" that New York Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt (lat) will rejoin the starting rotation this weekend at Wrigley Field to face the Chicago Cubs, according to manager Aaron Boone. Schmidt will make his third and final minor-league rehab start with Double-A Somerset on Monday before rejoining the starting rotation this weekend for the first time since late May. Although it's been a while since the 28-year-old pitched in a major-league game this year, fantasy managers shouldn't ignore him in mixed leagues in the final month of the regular season. He has struck out 11 and walked only two while giving up just two runs in his two rehab starts for Somerset. In addition to Schmidt, the Yankees are expected to get Luis Gil (back) back from the injured list this weekend. Schmidt was solid in his first 11 starts, going 5-3 with a 2.52 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 67 K's in 60 2/3 frames.

There's a "very good chance" that New York Yankees right-hander Luis Gil (back) will return to the team's starting rotation this weekend to face the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, according to manager Aaron Boone. Gil made a minor-league rehab start with Double-A Somerset and allowed three runs while striking out six in 3 2/3 innings (80 pitches). The 26-year-old is stretched out enough to rejoin the Yankees' rotation his next time out, and it appears it will come on the road against the suddenly hot Cubbies. Gil could be tiring down the stretch this year after having tossed a combined 33 1/3 innings over two seasons in his big-league career coming into 2024. He was lights-out in the first half of the year but also leads the league with 66 walks in 124 2/3 innings. Gil will be fantasy relevant in mixed leagues the rest of the way as long as he remains in the rotation and isn't having his workload monitored.

The Houston Astros placed outfielder Jake Meyers on the paternity list on Monday and recalled outfielder Chas McCormick from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. Meyers will most likely be away from the team for the next three days while he attends to family matters, so fantasy managers probably won't have him available for the entire three-game series in Cincinnati against the Reds this week. McCormick, 29, might get a little run in center field at Great American Ball Park this week with Meyers out, but once Meyers returns, he'll return to being a bench bat, at best. The former 21st-round pick in 2017 out of Millersville University of Pennsylvania has hit just .192/.256/.292 with a .548 OPS, five home runs, 24 RBI and eight steals in 219 at-bats in 2024. With Kyle Tucker (shin) on the verge of a return, too, there's just no opening for consistent playing time for the struggling McCormick.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (calf) is out of the team's starting lineup for the series finale on Monday against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. Pavin Smith will make the start in left field for the Snakes and will hit fifth against Dodgers right-hander Jack Flaherty. Gurriel will take a seat to begin the new week after leaving Sunday's win over the Dodgers early due to a left-calf ailment. Until we know the full extent of his injury, fantasy managers should consider the 30-year-old to be day-to-day. The Cuban right-handed slugger has contributed modest power (17 home runs) and speed (seven steals) for fantasy managers this year while hitting a respectable .274 (133-for-486). Smith will be a DFS sleeper on Monday in the five-hole against a tough right-handed pitcher in Flaherty.

The New York Mets placed designated hitter J.D. Martinez on the paternity list on Monday and recalled outfielder DJ Stewart from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Martinez is likely to miss the entire series this week at Citi Field against the visiting Boston Red Sox as Martinez welcomes a new addition to his family. Outfielder Jesse Winker will serve as the DH on Monday and bat cleanup, while Stewart mans left field and hits in the eight-hole against Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello. Martinez has provided moderate power for fantasy managers this year and has hit .308 (8-for-26) with two homers, a double and four RBI for the Mets in his last seven games dating back to Aug. 25. The 30-year-old Stewart should get some more starts this week if the team is facing right-handed pitching. He's hit just .172 (26-for-151) in 2024 with five homers and 19 RBI.