The weekend offered a number of insights heading into the final week of this Fantasy Baseball season, perhaps the biggest being that Cristopher Sanchez is not in fact sharing his starts with Michael Lorenzen, as had been speculated. His seven-inning, 10-strikeout effort against the Mets Sunday confirmed as much, and if he's still being used like a conventional starter, then it's clear his stock is on the ascent.

He's among those featured in my final round of waiver wire pickups for the 2023 season, which I'll share with you shortly. But first, let's talk about injuries. Max Fried and Charlie Morton both went on the IL this weekend with finger injuries that shouldn't impact their availability for the playoffs but obviously take them out of the running in Fantasy. Likewise, Nolan Arenado (back spasm), Royce Lewis (strained hamstring), Brandon Lowe (fractured knee cap) and Eury Perez (hip inflammation) have made their last Fantasy contributions for this season. Meanwhile, Cubs closer Adbert Alzolay (strained forearm) and Reds infielder Matt McLain (strained oblique) could return from the IL as soon as Tuesday. Starting them is an obvious risk, but if you're in a tight enough spot, it may be justified.

Part of the concern for McLain is that the Reds are playing just five games this week -- and all somewhere other than their hitter-friendly home venue. It's also why Christian Encarnacion-Strand and TJ Friedl may not be the best choices even though the former has five home runs in his past seven games and the latter has three homers and two steals in his past three.

So who would be better? Evan Carter, for one. The rookie leads my list of waiver wire targets for the final week of 2023.

In this week's final waiver wire push, there are several players to get you through the final push.

Michael King, RP, Yankees

This Michael King pickup has been a long time coming. Considered by many to be the Yankees' top reliever the past two years, the right-hander began his transition to the starting rotation in late August, and it was going well enough. His performance was holding steady. He wasn't losing velocity the way so many relievers do when stretched over multiple innings. The only issue was that his outings were short, his transition progressing too gradually for him to be of much use in Fantasy. When the restrains finally came off in his last start Wednesday against the Blue Jays, the results were nothing short of astounding: seven innings, one run, no walks, 13 strikeouts. And wouldn't you know he lines up for two starts right away? With a 1.40 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 13.7 K/9 in his past five starts and two pitches (sweeper and changeup) capable of generating whiffs at better than a 40 percent rate, King is peaking at just the right time.

Christopher Sanchez, SP, Phillies

Cristopher Sanchez's seven-inning gem Sunday against the Mets marked the second time in three starts that he recorded 10 strikeouts, which shows that the first time (against the Braves, actually) wasn't a fluke. But just as important is the fact he lasted seven innings. There was talk after the first 10-strikeout effort that he would share his starts with Michael Lorenzen moving forward, which might limit him to four innings at a time, and indeed, he lasted only four innings in the one start in between the two 10-strikeout efforts. But he also wasn't pitching so well in that one, which is just as plausible of an explanation for his early removal. Sunday's outing would seem to confirm it, in fact. If there are no artificial limitations on his workload, why shouldn't we start Sanchez against the Mets again next time out? He's an elite strike-thrower and ground-ball generator who's showing newfound swing-and-miss ability with a wipeout changeup.

Reese Olson, SP Tigers

Normally, a rookie pitcher would see his performance slip and his outings shorten as the season draws to a close, but Reese Olson seems to have saved his best for last. After making it six innings in only three of his first 16 outings, he has now done so in four straight, allowing just two hits in each of his last three. While earlier in the year, he was mostly looking to overpower hitters with his slider -- a pitch that generates its share of whiffs, to be sure -- he's taken to throwing his changeup more lately and is having more success on balls in play as a result. Whether it's a tweak that can sustain him for the long haul remains to be seen, but we're not so interested in the long haul right now. We're interested in his matchups next week against the Royals and Guardians, which couldn't be more favorable and couldn't be coming at a better time.

• Sandy Alcantara will not pitch again this season because of that UCL sprain in his right elbow. And now we have to wonder if it will affect him at all next year.
• Mike Trout was transferred to the 60-day IL and will not return this season. 
• Yordan Alvarez has been limited to DH duties because of a right elbow issue.
• Randy Arozarena has missed two straight with right quad tightness. Start or sit this week?
• Luis Robert was removed Sunday with left knee soreness he suffered on a slide into second base.
• Matt McLain started a rehab assignment at Triple-A Saturday and is on pace to return Tuesday. Start this week?
• Joe Musgrove restarted a throwing program Friday with the Padres winning 10 of their last 12 games. They're five games out of a WC spot.
• Yandy Diaz left Sunday's game with right hamstring tightness. He's day-to-day.
• Luis Arraez was out of the lineup Sunday due to a left ankle injury.
• Aaron Civale's next start will be pushed back due to illness. He was originally scheduled to start Tuesday against the Red Sox but will now face the Blue Jays next weekend.
• Kenley Jansen was reinstated from the COVID IL Saturday.
• Marcus Stroman has been moved back into the Cubs rotation', which means Javier Assad went back to the bullpen.
• Michael Brantley has missed five straight due to that surgically repaired shoulder. 
• Chris Paddack was activated by the Twins and will serve in a multi-inning relief role.