Week 24.Arizona Diamondbacks: With Rubby De La Rosas health in question, the Diamondbacks will move Braden Shipley back into their rotation in his place, beginning on Sept. 19.Los

Fantasy Forecaster updated Monday, Sept. 18, at 12:51 p.m. ET.On tap: Its the penultimate week of the 2016 regular season -- and with it, fantasy baseball -- a time during which playoff races increase in intensity, while teams no longer battling for a playoff spot either amplify their efforts aligning rosters for the upcoming postseason (those who have clinched) or auditioning players for 2017 (those who are out of it). Besides Week 25, the final week, there might not be another week on the schedule during which player roles shift more rapidly than this one. What you want: Players on teams with playoff motivation. In other words, seek the games that mean something.As such, here are the teams that, entering play on Sept. 18, are within five games of a playoff spot (either havent clinched and lead in the standings, or trail by no more than five games): Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets,?Pittsburgh Pirates,?St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. These teams are, therefore, the most likely to push their regulars to play roughly the same volume they might have one or more months ago. Rest? Wait until November!The American Leagues wild-card race might come into focus in Week 24, with the Blue Jays in a commanding position to make a statement. Tied with the Orioles for those two playoff spots, the Blue Jays first travel to Seattles Safeco Field to battle the Mariners, whom they lead by three games in the wild-card standings, from Sept. 19-21 (three games). They then return home to host the Yankees, who are four games back in the wild-card standings, at Rogers Centre from Sept. 23-25 (three games). Minor injuries (reportedly) to Marco Estrada, aligned as the teams two-start pitcher, and Aaron Sanchez thrust this team under the spotlight.A pair of division showdowns grace the early-week schedule, as the Red Sox, up three games on the Orioles in the American League East standings entering play on Sept. 16, visit Camden Yards from Sept. 19-22 (four games). The Dodgers, up five games on the Giants in the National League West standings as of the same date, host San Francisco at Dodger Stadium from Sept. 19-21 (three games). Well get another Clayton Kershaw-Madison Bumgarner showdown during this series on Sept. 19, and the Rich Hill-Johnny Cueto battle a day later is almost as compelling.Among the weeks schedule oddities: The Chicago White Sox visit the Kansas City Royals for a rescheduled game on Sept. 19, which makes up for their May 26 postponement. Though thatll cause an early start to Week 24 -- that game is scheduled for a 2:15 p.m. ET start -- that fortunately gives the White Sox a six-game week, eliminating what was initially slated to be the weeks only five-game schedule. All 30 teams are scheduled for at least six games, and 12 will play seven.Quickly jump to any section, if you want specific intelESPN lineup deadlinesInterleague impactProjected starting pitchersPitching scuttlebuttWeek 24 pitcher rankingsHitting ratingsHitting advantagesESPN leagues: Lineup deadlinesThe White Sox at Royals make-up game on Sept. 19 begins at 2:15 p.m. ET, resulting in an early start to Week 24 action.Championship matchups, which are two-week matchups, in ESPN leagues begin in Week 24. These matchups last through the games of Sunday, Oct. 2.Remember that game times have tremendous influence upon daily planning, so be aware of every days first scheduled pitch. This week, they are:Monday, Sept. 19: 2:15 p.m. ET (Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals, the days only day game) Tuesday, Sept. 20: 7:05 p.m. ET (two games begin at that time) Wednesday, Sept. 21: 3:10 p.m. ET (St. Louis Cardinals at Colorado Rockies, one of three day games) Thursday, Sept. 22: 7:05 p.m. ET (Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles) Friday, Sept. 23: 2 p.m. ET (St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs, the days only day game) Saturday, Sept. 24: 1:05 p.m. ET (two of four day games begin at that time) Sunday, Sept. 25: 1:07 p.m. ET (New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays, one of 14 day games)Interleague impactThis weeks interleague series:Chicago White Sox at Philadelphia Phillies (2 games, Sept. 20-21)Arizona Diamondbacks at Baltimore Orioles (3 games, Sept. 23-25)Diamondbacks probable DH(s), with three games in AL ballparks: Rickie Weeks has six of the Diamondbacks seven starts at DH this season and remains on the active roster, though he hasnt been playing nearly as much in games in NL venues of late, his last start coming on Aug. 31. Its possible, therefore, that the Diamondbacks could use the DH to rotate players as a half-day off, with Paul Goldschmidt (who has the other DH start), Brandon Drury, Jake Lamb and Yasmany Tomas other candidates to shift there. That means the extra at-bats could be divided evenly between players like Socrates Brito, Phil Gosselin, Mitch Haniger, Kyle Jensen and/or Weeks, meaning none of the five is a clear fill-in even for NL-only owners.White Soxs traditional DH, with two games in NL ballparks: Justin Morneau, though he has been sidelined recently by back stiffness, seemingly rendering the DH point moot in an NL park; hed simply start the two games in Philadelphia on the bench. Carlos Sanchez has been the player recently benefiting from Morneaus absence, playing third base with Todd Frazier at first base and Jose Abreu at DH, so expect Frazier to shift back to third base and Abreu to first for these two games.Projected starting pitchersThe chart below lists each of the 30 MLB teams schedules and projected starting pitchers, and provides a projected Bill James game score for each days starter.Projected starting pitchers, Sept. 19-25 P: The starting pitchers projected Bill James game score, accounting for past history (three years worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. A 50 is typically deemed a quality start by this measure, while a 70 is considered a dominant start.Pitching scuttlebuttThe Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres have all been using six-man rotations and are expected to continue to do so through Week 24.Baltimore Orioles: Wade Miley (back) is questionable for his next start, so the Orioles seem likely to go with a five-man rotation for Week 24.Toronto Blue Jays: Marco Estrada (herniated disc) has been pitching through an injury, and it is unclear whether hell need to miss a start during Week 24. Aaron Sanchez (blister) is expected to rejoin the Blue Jays rotation on Sept. 21.Detroit Tigers: Manager Brad Ausmus recently insisted that the Tigers wont stick with a six-man rotation, but the team hasnt yet announced its starters beyond Sept. 22 (Thursday), so its possible that they might. Mike Pelfrey, Anibal Sanchez or Buck Farmer will get the Sept. 21 start, with Sanchez a virtual lock to start during the Sept. 23-25 otherwise. Pelfrey, Farmer and Jordan Zimmermann are the three starters not listed above would could slot in sometime during Week 24.Cleveland Indians: Carlos Carrasco (fractured hand) is out for the season, leaving the Indians in need of a Sept. 24 fill-in. The team could go with a bullpen day arrangement, or Cody Anderson could fill in.Kansas City Royals: Jason Vargas (DL: elbow) rejoined the Royals rotation on Sept. 17, seemingly lining him up to make another start on Sept. 22 during Week 24.Minnesota Twins: The Twins used the Sept. 19 off day to push Tyler Duffeys next start back to Sept. 24.Atlanta Braves: Josh Collmenter joined the Braves rotation on Sept. 17, seemingly lining him up for a Sept. 22 start during Week 24.Miami Marlins: Wei-Yin Chen (DL: elbow) will rejoin the Marlins rotation on Sept. 19, replacing Jake Esch.New York Mets: Jacob deGrom (forearm/elbow) is out for the season, leaving the Mets with a rotation opening on Sept. 23; they used Gabriel Ynoa for a spot start on Sept. 18. Steven Matz (DL: shoulder) could be a candidate to take that turn.Washington Nationals: Joe Ross (DL: shoulder) rejoined the Nationals rotation on Sept. 18, seemingly lining him up for a Sept. 24 start during Week 24. The team could always go in another direction in that spot, howveer, with Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez candidates for starts.Milwaukee Brewers: Junior Guerra has been shut down for the season after reaching his innings limit, so the Brewers appear likely to revert to a five-man rotation for Week 24.St. Louis Cardinals: Anthony Reyes replaced Jaime Garcia in the Cardinals rotation on Sept. 18, seemingly lining him up to make another start on Sept. 24 during Week 24.Arizona Diamondbacks: With Rubby De La Rosas health in question, the Diamondbacks will move Braden Shipley back into their rotation in his place, beginning on Sept. 19.Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers have been rotating pitchers through the fourth and fifth spots in their rotation, which next arrive Sept. 22-23. Brock Stewart and Jose De Leon were the pitchers most recently used in those turns, but Bud Norris, Ross Stripling, Julio Urias and Brett Anderson (DL: finger) are all considered candidates to fill in on either day.Tristans Week 24 pitcher rankings1. Madison Bumgarner (SF) -- Mon-@LAD (Kershaw), Sat-@SD (Cosart)2. Clayton Kershaw (LAD) -- Mon-SF (Bumgarner), Sat-COL (Bettis)3. Noah Syndergaard (NYM) -- Mon-ATL (Blair), Sat-PHI (Asher)4. Chris Sale (CWS) -- Wed-@PHI (Eickhoff)5. Max Scherzer (WSH) -- Wed-@MIA (Koehler)6. Rich Hill (LAD) -- Tue-SF (Cueto), Sun-COL (Anderson)7. Jose Fernandez (MIA) -- Tue-WSH (Roark), Sun-ATL (Teheran)8. Jake Arrieta (CHC) -- Fri-STL (Leake)9. Johnny Cueto (SF) -- Tue-@LAD (Hill), Sun-@SD (Richard)