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          Fantasy Baseball Forecaster for Week 23: Sept. 18-24

          Since the Atlanta Braves have already clinched the NL East crown, their players may see extra rest over the next two weeks. AP
          • Tristan H. Cockcroft
          Sep 18, 2023, 01:47 PM ET

          The championships are here in ESPN standard head-to-head leagues!

          Congratulations if you've made it this far. Fantasy baseball's Week 24 begins the two-week, head-to-head championship matchups, pitting the two winners of the Week 22-23 semifinals against one another for all the marbles. These matchups cover the games of Monday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 1, which can be a tricky two weeks in the real-life baseball world.

          Playoff-bound teams that clinch their positioning early often rest regulars to keep them fresh for October, while eliminated teams shut down tired youngsters and injured veterans and often audition youngsters for 2024 roles. Fortunately, in ESPN standard leagues, the daily transactions format helps to alleviate concerns about finding replacements for players whose seasons end early.

          It's a very good time to lean on players from teams still in the thick of the pennant race. Among the teams within three games of important playoff position (as of time of publication) are as follows:

          • Arizona Diamondbacks: the NL's second wild-card team, with a one-game lead

          • Baltimore Orioles: two games ahead (and three in the loss column) in the AL East

          • Chicago Cubs: tied for the NL's final wild-card spot

          • Cincinnati Reds: half a game behind (but one in the loss column) for the NL's final wild-card spot

          • Houston Astros: 1.5 games ahead (but one in the loss column) in the AL West and 2.5 games ahead for a potential AL wild-card spot

          • Miami Marlins: tied for the NL's final wild-card spot

          • San Francisco Giants: two games behind for the NL's final wild-card spot

          • Seattle Mariners: 2.5 games behind (but two in the loss column) in the AL West and one game behind for the AL's final wild-card spot

          • Tampa Bay Rays: two games behind (but three in the loss column) in the AL East

          • Texas Rangers: 1.5 games behind (but one in the loss column) in the AL West and the AL's final wild-card team ahead by one game

          • Toronto Blue Jays: the AL's second wild-card team, with a 1.5 game lead (but one in the loss column)

          Lineup lock times

          Scheduling quirks for Week 24

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          Michael Wacha has the important home-field advantage for a pair of Week

          Michael Wacha has the important home-field advantage for a pair of Week 24 starts against the Rockies and Cardinals. Video by Tristan H. Cockcroft

          Starting pitchers for Week 24

          Hitting charts for Week 24