Matt Olson’s 24th homer and a 172 wRC+ fuel Atlanta’s Sunday run, part of a rising wave that has the Braves 6-1 in their last seven Sunday games. Fraley lands on the IL with an oblique issue as Luke Williams is recalled to bolster the bench, while J.R. Ritchie shines in Gwinnett and Sandy León belatedly homers for a feel-good moment.

Across MLB, Cal Raleigh ties Mickey Mantle’s single-season mark for switch-hitters (54) and breaks the catcher-HR record (43), underscoring the era’s power-swing trends. Pete Alonso provides Mets offense, Nolan Arenado returns for the Cardinals, Jose Quintana heads for calf MRI evaluation, and Trey Yesavage gets the call for a Jays debut. A snapshot of late-season power, depth, and prospect pressure shaping fantasy rosters.

Cardinals 2025 drifted to .500 after a deadline move that sent Ryan Helsley to New York and left Nolan Arenado sidelined by injuries. The offseason spins around how St. Louis rebuilds around Arenado’s health and a reshaped rotation. The San Francisco Giants are pegged to chase Sonny Gray, eyeing a veteran complement to Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, especially if Justin Verlander tests the market.

Gray sits at the center of the chatter with a 13-8 mark, 4.45 ERA, and 179 strikeouts in 2025, a profile that could push SF’s ceiling if the price is right. The Melvin-Gray link adds a backstory element to a likely low-prospect cost, turning the Giants into a serious fantasy pivot if the deal materializes.

In short, the Cardinals’ winter plan hinges on health and bullpen stability, while the Giants weigh a veteran add that could realign the NL West balance and fantasy projections across both rosters.

Week 24 stash list highlights 25 injured MLB stars worth rostering in IL spots for the fantasy season’s final stretch. Key return timelines loom: Adolis Garcia, Chase Burns and Wilyer Abreu anchor this group alongside Nolan Arenado and Jonathan Aranda, with some timelines as concrete as mid-September. The piece emphasizes players with clearer paths back who could swing the endgame, while flagging a few returning soon like Taillon and Ta** for late-season boosts.

Names to watch include Adolis Garcia, Nolan Arenado, Anthony Santander, Tommy Edman, Tyler O'Neill, Jameson Taillon, Rhys Hoskins, Alek Manoah and Paul Sewald. The focus is on power and reliability late in the year, balancing risk with upside as fantasy playoff clocks wind down.

Alec Burleson returns Monday against Seattle after wrist inflammation sidelined him for nine games, a big lift for a Cardinals club now 72-72 in a tight wild-card chase. Burleson leads St. Louis with a .286 average and .451 slugging, plus career-best .337 OBP and a .788 OPS, with 16 homers and 60 RBI in 122 games. Arenado (shoulder) and Donovan (groin) remain out, but Burleson’s comeback could ignite a lineup needing a spark as the Mets hold the last NL Wild Card spot.

Cardinals have won four of five to climb back to .500, 4.5 games back of the Mets before a Monday series with Seattle. Burleson’s return could set the table for late-season counting-stat gains, and the ripple effect of other injured teammates returning could further shape fantasy outlooks as the playoff race heats up.