Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola came up clutch in Monday's 6-2 win over the Cubs, sealing the National League East division title. Nola pitched six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. The 31-year-old has been a solid fantasy option overall this season, going 13-8 with a 3.52 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and an 8.80 K/9 rate in 32 starts and 194 1/3 IP. He has turned in some inconsistent starts throughout the season and his strikeout rate has declined over each of the last four seasons. However, Nola has turned in good numbers overall in a rebound season. He is currently in line to start the final game of the season at the Nationals, but fantasy managers should keep an eye out for news as the game gets closer. They should ensure that Nola will still make the start, given that the Phillies have now won their division.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown continued his strong second half in Monday's 6-1 loss to the Mariners. Brown pitched six innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. However, the Astros could not figure Bryce Miller out and provided little run support. The 26-year-old has figured things out in the second half after a mediocre first half and is now 4-3 with a 2.26 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and 74 strikeouts in 12 starts and 71 2/3 IP. Assuming the Astros continue to use a six-man rotation to end the season, Brown will finish the 2024 regular season with an 11-9 record, a 3.49 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a 9.48 K/9 rate in 30 starts and 170 IP. This is a big improvement from his 2023 numbers and fantasy managers may have the opportunity to see him pitch more in the playoffs.

San Francisco Giants closer Ryan Walker continued his excellent season in Monday's 6-3 win over the Diamondbacks, picking up his 10th save. Walker came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by three and turned in a 1-2-3 performance with no strikeouts. The 28-year-old has had an outstanding season, compiling a 9-4 record while converting 10 of 14 save opportunities with 21 holds to go with a 1.94 ERA, an 11.28 K/9 rate, and a 1.94 BB/9 rate in 79 innings of work. He has served as a reliable fantasy closer since taking over the closer's role from Camilo Doval, who pitched the eighth inning in this game. Fantasy managers will need to see how spring plays out prior to the 2025 season, but Walker could be a fantasy target in all leagues if named the team's closer and will be a target at least in saves-plus-holds leagues.

San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman continued his strong offensive second half in Monday's 6-3 win over the Diamondbacks. Chapman went 2-for-4 with a triple, a two-run, inside-the-park home run, three RBI, a walk, and two strikeouts. The 31-year-old hit a third-inning Eduardo Rodriguez fastball off the center-field wall, which ricocheted back into center field and allowed him to scamper around the bases for his 27th homer of the season. Chapman has put together an impressive second half after a lackluster first half, slashing .275/.354/.565 with 14 HR, 35 RBI, and six stolen bases in 200 at-bats. Chapman provided high-end power earlier in his career, and his second half has shown that he still has the ability to do so.

Detroit Tigers rookie infielder Jace Jung and infielder/outfielder Matt Vierling are both on the bench for Tuesday's contest at Comerica Park versus the Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Ryan Pepiot. Jung has lost serious playing time of late, as he hasn't started in seven of the team's last 10 games. The younger brother of Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung has struggled at the plate in his first 31 big-league games this year, going 19-for-76 (.250) with no homers, five doubles, three RBI, 13 walks and 28 strikeouts in 89 plate appearances. Zach McKinstry is starting at third and batting seventh, while Parker Meadows is in center field and hitting leadoff against Pepiot. In just five career at-bats against Pepiot, Meadows has a homer and an RBI. McKinstry has yet to face Pepiot in his career. Vierling has hit .238 (15-for-63) with a homer, two doubles and six RBI in 19 games in September.