Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Lorenzen (hamstring) will make the start for the team on Wednesday at Nationals Park against the Washington Nationals, with right-hander Alec Marsh moving to the bullpen to close out the 2024 regular season, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Lorenzen will come off the 15-day injured list to make his first start since late August due to a hamstring strain, so don't be surprised if he doesn't go very deep into his start after the long layoff. It is an enticing matchup for fantasy managers still playing for something in the final week of the season. The 32-year-old veteran will be hoping to pick up where he left off after being acquired by the Royals, as he's pitched to a 1.85 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and 10 walks in 24 1/3 innings over his first five starts in KC. Lorenzen began the year in Texas.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Chris Paddack (forearm) faced live hitters on Monday and plans to throw again on Thursday, with a decision point possibly coming after that this weekend as to whether the team will activate him from the 15-day injured list. The 28-year-old has been out since late July with a strained right forearm, though, so he would almost certainly return in a relief role for Minnesota at the tail end of the regular season. The Twins are currently on the outside looking in for a wild-card spot in the American League, so they have work to do this week if Paddack wants to pitch at all in the postseason. Before his injury earlier this year, Paddack was inconsistent as a starter for the Twins, posting a 4.99 ERA (4.18 FIP), a 1.39 WHIP and a 79:21 K:BB in his 17 starts covering 88 1/3 innings pitched. He also had a career-low 20.6% strikeout rate.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle (knee) is starting in center field and is batting third for the Rockies on Tuesday at Coors Field against the St. Louis Cardinals and rookie right-hander Michael McGreevy. Doyle will return on Tuesday after missing the three-game series over the weekend versus the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers due to right-knee soreness. The 26-year-old will now hope to finish off the 2024 season on a strong note in the final few days. Even if he doesn't, it's been a standout year for Doyle, who comes into Tuesday's contest with a .264/.321/.449 slash line, .770 OPS, 22 home runs, 71 RBI, 29 stolen bases and 81 runs scored in 145 games in just his second year in the majors. Doyle's power-speed combination at Coors Field will make him a popular fantasy outfielder heading into 2025 drafts.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ (back) has returned to left field and will bat leadoff on Tuesday in Game 2 of the series at Citizens Bank Park against the Philadelphia Phillies and left-handed opener Tanner Banks. Happ is returning to the lineup after missing the last two games due to tightness in his lower back, but apparently he's feeling good enough to go on Tuesday. The 30-year-old switch-hitter has hit .250 (35-for-140) with seven of his 25 home runs on the year against southpaw pitchers. He's batting .284 (23-for-81) with two home runs, a double, a triple, nine RBI and two stolen bases in 19 games in the month of September, but he's also gone hitless in three of his last four games before sitting out a few games with his back injury. Happ will be a nice DFS target against a Phillies team expected to be hungover on Tuesday after celebrating winning the National League East on Monday night.

Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Goodman will get a night off after recording only one hit over the weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rockies are hopeful that Goodman can be a key piece to this offense long term. However, the 24-year-old has struggled to the tune of a .190 batting average with 13 home runs and 36 RBI in 68 games. Jacob Stallings will do the catching and bat seventh versus right-hander Michael McGreevy. Stallings is having a surprisingly solid season at the plate with a .261 batting average and nine home runs with 36 RBI across 79 contests.