Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is not in the team's lineup on Wednesday for the series finale against the division-rival Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park a day after the Astros clinched the American League West division title yet again. With Altuve getting the day off, rookie Shay Whitcomb will man the keystone and bat seventh versus Mariners right-hander George Kirby. After injuries limited him to 90 games in 2023, Altuve has had a great bounce-back year in 2024. The nine-time All-Star is slashing .293/.349/.436 with 20 home runs, 65 RBI, 22 stolen bases and 92 runs scored in 152 games played this season. Whitcomb, drafted in the fifth round in 2020 out of the University of California-San Diego, will be making his first start since Sept. 1. In his first 19 big-league games in 2024, he's gone 9-for-37 (.243) with three doubles, five RBI, five walks and eight strikeouts.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) "could be in play" to return to the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest at Truist Park against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Lindor was in the on-deck circle ready to pinch hit in the ninth inning of Tuesday's loss if the Mets got anybody on base, but that did not come to pass. The 30-year-old has been dealing with a nagging back issue that has kept him out for each of the team's last eight games, but he's hopeful of returning to the lineup before the end of the week as the Mets look to keep themselves in the wild-card picture in the National League. They enter Wednesday's action in the second wild-card spot, half a game ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Check back later to see if Lindor is active. If he's not, it will likely be impressive rookie Luisangel Acuna manning the 6 yet again for New York.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India (head) is in the league's concussion protocol after being hit in the head by a Tanner Bibee pitch in the fifth inning on Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians. India did say after the game that he thought it was mild and that he'd be OK, but fantasy managers still playing for something in the final week of the season shouldn't expect India to play on Wednesday. The 27-year-old former fifth overall pick went 0-for-1 with a walk and the hit-by-pitch in three plate appearances on Tuesday before being removed early. With the Reds out of the playoff picture, they aren't going to take any chances with India if he's not 100 percent. In his fourth year in the big leagues, India has hit .247 (129-for-523) with 15 home runs, 58 RBI, 13 stolen bases and 83 runs scored in 147 games for a disappointing Reds club.

New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow), who was scheduled to start Wednesday's contest at Yankee Stadium against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles, is getting an MRI exam on his left elbow. Cortes has been dynamic lately for the Yanks, allowing just one earned run in his last 15 1/3 innings, and would be a valuable weapon for the team in the postseason as either a starter or reliever if he's healthy. It now seems unlikely that Cortes will be able to make his start on Wednesday, but we'll await further confirmation on that. If the 29-year-old southpaw is scratched, right-hander Marcus Stroman, who recently made the move to a relief role, would be the logical candidate to take the ball for the Yankees on Wednesday. Cortes' 22.8% strikeout rate leaves a lot to be desired in fantasy, but he's been solid in 2024, posting a 3.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 162 K's and 39 walks in 174 1/3 innings.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Matt Wallner (oblique) left Tuesday's contest against the Miami Marlins early due to left-oblique tightness, according to manager Rocco Baldelli. The Twins will hope to know more on Wallner's injury on Wednesday, but he shouldn't be expected to be back in the starting lineup. The 26-year-old went 0-for-1 with a strikeout in his pinch-hitting appearance in the sixth inning and was seen grabbing at his side. Oblique injuries can be tricky, so there's no guarantee that Wallner will be available for the rest of the final week of the regular season or even the start of the playoffs next week if the Twins get in. Entering play on Wednesday, Minnesota is two games behind the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers in the wild-card race. In a part-time role this year, Wallner has hit .259/.372/.523 with a strong .894 OPS, 13 homers and 37 RBI in 220 at-bats for the Twins.