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Francisco Lindor Expected to Miss "Significant Time"
The New York Mets don't have a clear timetable yet on shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf), who went on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left-calf strain, but they expect him to miss "significant time," according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Lindor's calf strain is considered more serious than outfielder Juan Soto's was. The Mets recalled infielder Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse, and manager Carlos Mendoza said that Mauricio is going to get a "long run" at shortstop to prove himself with Lindor sidelined. Soto just returned from a stint on the IL on Wednesday, when Lindor went down with his calf injury. Despite the bad news for the 32-year-old All-Star shortstop, fantasy managers need to stash Lindor everywhere. Mauricio, a former top prospect, now has the chance to be a post-hype prospect with regular playing time. The switch-hitting Dominican infielder was hitting .293 (17-for-58) with six home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs, and five steals in 15 games at Triple-A before his call-up. In deep-mixed and NL-only leagues, Mauricio is worth a flier off the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Tyler Kleven Available for Ottawa Senators Versus Carolina Hurricanes
Tyler Kleven comes back for the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night versus the Carolina Hurricanes. Ottawa needs all the help they can get with Artem Zub not likely to return for Game 3. Kleven had been out since April 2nd with an upper body injury. Kleven only had 18 points over 70 appearances but his physical play is much needed given Carolina's hard-charging forecheck. The defenseman tips the scale at 225 pounds and has 126 hits with 94 blocked shots. Kleven is not afraid to throw his body around. He is not guaranteed to start but Kleven is ready to go.
Source: Bruce Garrioch
Source: Bruce Garrioch
Josh Norris Out With Undisclosed Injury for Thursday Night
Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (undisclosed) played 44 regular-season games and two playoff games. Unfortunately, an undisclosed injury will keep him out of the lineup against the Boston Bruins on Thursday. Norris had zero points against Boston in the two contests. He had 34 points in those 44 games, including nine points on the power play. Norris only had one shot on goal in each game despite quite a few scoring chances and a combined 9:29 of man-advantage time in the postseason. Noah Ostlund and Ryan McLeod figure to benefit from his absence. Norris was tentatively listed as day-to-day, so his Game 4 status will need to be monitored.
Source: Bill Hoppe
Source: Bill Hoppe
Noah Ostlund Will Return for Game 3 Against Boston
Center Noah Ostlund (upper body) will make his postseason debut on Thursday for the Buffalo Sabres. Lindy Ruff hinted on Wednesday that Ostlund was very close. Sure enough, the forward expects to be on the second power-play unit and may find himself in the middle six. He missed a total of 12 games with an upper-body injury, including the first two games of this series. The rookie had 27 points in 60 games during the 2025-26 campaign. Ostlund is a good two-way forward who should sub in for Josh Norris (undisclosed), who is out on Thursday for the Sabres. Ostlund's speed and defense could be a significant asset for a Buffalo team that had defensive issues in Game 2.
Source: Rachel Lenzi
Source: Rachel Lenzi
Caleb Banks on Track to be Fully Cleared in Early June
Former University of Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks (foot) is currently recovering from a surgically repaired bone in his left foot, but NFL teams received a letter on Wednesday that states that Banks underwent a CT scan on Tuesday and is "on pace to be fully cleared for full football activities in early June," sources told Pete Thamel of ESPN. Banks had surgery on a fractured fourth metatarsal of his left foot on March 9. A strong performance at the Senior Bowl in January bolstered Banks' 2026 draft stock, but his draft stock is now in question after he fractured his foot during the NFL scouting combine in late February. He was considered one of the top defensive tackle prospects in this year's draft class, but there are more questions after he played in only three games in 2025 at Florida due to an injury to the same foot. The 6-foot-6, 327-pounder had 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles in 2024 as a dominant interior defensive lineman in the SEC.
Source: ESPN.com - Pete Thamel
Source: ESPN.com - Pete Thamel
Colston Loveland Ready for Expanded Role in Year 2
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland had just 11 catches for 116 yards and no touchdowns through six games in his rookie season in 2025. But Loveland slowly became a bigger part of the Bears' offense in the second half and showed why Chicago took him 10th overall in the 2025 draft. By season's end, he had 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns in 16 regular-season games, which led the Bears in all categories. After the offseason trade of receiver DJ Moore, Loveland figures to have an even bigger role in his sophomore season in head coach Ben Johnson's passing attack. The Michigan product is fully ready for an expanded role in Year 2 and is embracing the challenges it will bring. "I wouldn't want it any other way, obviously," Loveland said of the gathering attention. "It means I'm doing something right. I have to continue to do that. But like I said, we've got weapons, so whether you want to focus in on one dude or not, there are weapons all over." Going into his second year in the NFL, Loveland is a top-five fantasy TE in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Source: NFL.com - Grant Gordon
Source: NFL.com - Grant Gordon
Sonny Gray Expected to Play Catch on Friday
Boston Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray's (hamstring) MRI exam didn't show anything worse than what the team expected, manager Alex Cora told Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. Gray will probably play catch on Friday. Gray strained his right hamstring in his outing on Monday against the Detroit Tigers and was officially placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. It appears to be a pretty minor injury, though, so he could be ready to rejoin Boston's starting rotation when he's eligible to be reinstated on May 6. In the meantime, rookie left-hander Payton Tolle has been called up from Triple-A Worcester and will make his 2026 season debut in Thursday's series finale at Fenway Park against the division-rival New York Yankees. Tolle is one of the best young arms in baseball and deserves a pickup off the waiver wire for fantasy managers in deeper mixed leagues that are struggling with starting pitching. Gray has started his first year in Beantown with a 2-1 record, 4.30 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched across five starts.
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Blake Snell Goes an Inning in First Rehab Start
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) was eased into his first minor-league rehab start on Wednesday at Single-A Ontario, as he only threw one inning. In 32 pitches, Snell allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking one and striking out none. The two-time Cy Young winner will receive a pass since he didn't pitch at all during spring training, but he was pretty inefficient his first time out on the rehab trail. We all know what kind of upside Snell can have when he's fully healthy because of his high strikeout rate, but the Dodgers aren't going to rush him back, and he could need the full 30 days on his rehab assignment. Snell said he felt good coming out of his first rehab appearance, and he'll be hoping to go deeper into his next outing, which should come at some point next week. The 92% of fantasy managers stashing Snell in Yahoo leagues need to stay patient.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Mets Officially Place Francisco Lindor on Injured List With Calf Strain
The New York Mets officially announced on Thursday that they placed shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf) on the 10-day injured list with a left-calf strain and recalled infielder Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Lindor will miss at least 10 days with a calf injury that he suffered in the team's win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. With Lindor on the shelf, Mauricio will start at the 6 and bat eighth in Thursday's series finale against the Twins and right-hander Joe Ryan. Mauricio is worth a look in deeper fantasy baseball leagues if he sees regular playing time in New York with Lindor sidelined, as he was really hitting the ball well at Syracuse before his call-up. There's a chance that Bo Bichette is moved from third base to short, too, which would open up the hot corner for either Mauricio or Brett Baty. Lindor was off to a slow start by his standards early on in 2026, but he's a must-stash in an IL spot while he heals in all fantasy formats.
Source: New York Mets
Source: New York Mets
Michael Harris II Removed Early With Quad Tightness
The Atlanta Braves announced that outfielder Michael Harris II (quadriceps) was pulled from Thursday's 7-2 win over the Washington Nationals early as a precaution with left-quadriceps tightness. Before Harris was pulled from the game, he was going off at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. He was removed in the seventh inning of this contest after doubling in the top of the inning. Harris has been among the hottest hitters in the league of late, hitting .447 with five home runs over his last 11 games, so it would be a terrible time for him to go on the 10-day injured list. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Friday to see if Harris is feeling good enough to give it a go for the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. Eli White took over for Harris in center field on Thursday and would see a notable bump in playing time in the short term if Harris misses any additional time with his quad injury.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
James Tibbs III Heating Up Again at Triple-A, Nearing MLB Debut?
After a 3-for-33 (.091) cold spell, Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III is heating up again at Triple-A Oklahoma City. The former first-round draft pick has hit safely in five of his last six contests, tallying three doubles and two home runs over that stretch. The left-handed hitter is batting .293 with a 1.106 OPS and a minor-league-leading 10 home runs through 23 games. The strikeout rate remains elevated (29.6 percent), already recording three games with four strikeouts, but with his power stroke, the 23-year-old has put himself on the fantasy radar. He'll likely debut at some point this season, so fantasy managers should continue to monitor his performance at Triple-A. Should one of the big league regulars get bitten by the injury bug, Tibbs could be in the majors in a heartbeat.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Colt Emerson Remains Out with a Wrist Injury, but Remains on the Stash Radar
Seattle Mariners infield prospect Colt Emerson (wrist) has yet to play in any games this week at Triple-A Tacoma after suffering a wrist injury over the weekend. He's yet to be placed on the injured list and could return to the lineup this weekend, but it is worth monitoring. The Mariners declined to call him up when a spot opened due to Brendan Donovan's (groin) injury, so Leo Rivas is manning third base for the big league club. Emerson looked like he was starting to heat up prior to the injury, belting a pair of doubles and a home run along with drawing four walks and stealing three bases over his last four games. For the season, the left-handed hitter is slashing .258/.361/.452 with two home runs and six steals in 18 games. If he can catch fire whenever he returns to the lineup, the Mariners' top-ranked prospect will be on the verge of a major league debut, so monitor his status over the coming days.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Can Yoshinobu Yamamoto Sustain Strong Production Despite Drop in Strikeout Rate?
Across his first 32 2/3 innings (five starts) of 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto owns a 2-2 record with a 2.48 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts. While Yamamoto has been his usual dominant self in terms of run prevention, his strikeout rate is down from 29.4% in 2025 to 22.8% in 2026. The 27-year-old reached 211 innings pitched during the Dodgers' run to the World Series in 2025, so he may be making a concerted effort to pitch to contact and avoid deep counts in 2026. In addition to the lowered strikeout rate, Yamamoto's walk rate is also down to a career-best 4.1%. The star right-hander is one of MLB's craftiest pitchers and has a proven track record of getting outs that dates back to his time in Japan. However, his fantasy upside is lowered just a bit by his lack of strikeouts. Yamamoto remains a high-level fantasy starter, but managers will want to monitor his strikeout rate trends over the course of the year.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Logan Henderson Shining at Triple-A, Closing in on Return to the Majors?
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Logan Henderson recently moved into the MLB.com top-100 prospects list, but more importantly, the right-hander has continued to pitch well at Triple-A Nashville to begin the season. The Brewers' sixth-ranked prospect owns a sterling 0.71 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and a 17:8 K:BB in 12 2/3 innings this season, and could be nearing a return to the majors. The right-hander already made one start for the Brewers earlier this month and showed well in his debut last year when he posted a 1.78 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 25.3 percent K-BB% over five starts. The 24-year-old has historically displayed strong strikeout production with above-average control, which is an enticing makeup for fantasy. Likely to be recalled the next time Milwaukee needs a starter, Henderson is worthy of stash consideration for managers looking for pitching help.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Can Jacob Misiorowski Sustain Current Strikeout Pace Throughout 2026?
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski has been one of the most overpowering arms in baseball so far in 2026, pitching to a 3.04 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 42 strikeouts across his first 26 2/3 innings (five starts) of the season. The 24-year-old's 37.8% strikeout rate is relatively unheard of for a starting pitcher and hints at his massive fantasy upside. However, command remains an issue for the hard-throwing right-hander, as he's posting a double-digit (10.8%) walk rate for the second straight campaign. He's also allowed an elevated 1.35 HR/9, which spells potential trouble for his ERA when paired with his tendency to issue free passes. Still, Misiorowski's 99.0 mph average fastball velocity and his ability to generate whiffs make him incredibly appealing to fantasy managers. While he may be more prone to the occasional blow-up outing than your standard ace, Misiorowski has fantasy SP1 upside if he can stay healthy throughout 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Max Clark a High-End Stash with Multi-Category Potential
Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark continues to show off the tools that will eventually make him a fantasy asset this season. The Tigers' second-ranked prospect has cooled at Triple-A Toledo over the last four games, going 1-for-16 (.063) over that stretch, but still managed to draw a pair of walks and steal a base during that time. Despite the cold spell, the former third-overall draft pick is still hitting .318 and has a robust .394 on-base percentage thanks to a 12.1 percent walk rate, which happens to be the same as his strikeout rate (12.1 percent). The left-handed hitter has also leveraged his speed, swiping seven bases already in just 21 games. The 21-year-old should make his MLB Debut by midseason, potentially sooner if he gets hot again, and should be viewed as a high-priority offensive stash with multi-category potential.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Does Cade Smith Have Buy-Low Appeal Amid Slow Start to 2026?
Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith has gotten off to a bit of a slow start to the 2026 season, as he's pitched to a 4.50 ERA and 1.42 WHIP across his first 12 appearances (12 innings). Smith's strikeout rate is down from 34.7% to 28.3%, while his walk rate is up from 6.3% to 7.5%. However, Smith still has five saves and does not appear to be in danger of losing the ninth-inning role in Cleveland. The 26-year-old was one of the best relievers in baseball in 2025, when he posted an 8-5 record with a 2.93 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 104 strikeouts, 16 saves, and 19 holds across 73 2/3 innings. His struggles so far in 2026 might be attributable to poor luck, as opponents currently own an elevated .364 batting average on balls in play against him. Given Smith's history of dominance, he could be a worthy buy-low candidate for fantasy managers to target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Paul Skenes Rounding into Form as May Approaches
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes got his 2026 season off to a terrible start by allowing five earned runs and failing to get out of the first inning on Opening Day against the New York Mets. However, the 23-year-old ace has slowly been rounding into form and looking like his usual dominant self since then. Across five starts (22 innings) overall this season, Skenes owns a 3-1 record with a 3.27 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts. Since his disastrous outing against the Mets, Skenes has allowed just three total earned runs across his last 21 1/3 innings. Skenes' 18.2% K-BB rate is down from the 23.7% mark he posted in 2025, which could be a very minor cause for concern. Still, opposing batters are hitting just .165 against him. As long as he stays healthy, Skenes should provide fantasy SP1 production once again in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Robby Snelling a High-End Pitching Stash for Strikeout Upside
Miami Marlins pitching prospect Robby Snelling remains one of the top prospect pitching stashes for fantasy baseball as the first month of the season draws nearer to a close. Outside of some control issues, the southpaw has been utterly dominant over his last two turns through the rotation, allowing zero earned runs on four hits and five walks while striking out 21 batters in 11 innings pitched. The 6-foot-3 hurler now owns a 1.89 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and has struck out a whopping 41.9 percent of hitters he's faced through four starts this season. The Marlins' second-ranked prospect could be the next name the team calls when a pitcher is needed in the coming weeks, and with his strikeout potential, fantasy managers should consider picking up the lefty ahead of time, especially if an NA spot is available to tuck him away in. The 22-year-old's next start for Triple-A Jacksonville will come Friday in Gwinnett.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Eury Perez a Potential Buy-Low Candidate Amid Slow Start?
Through his first 26 innings pitched (five starts) of 2026, Miami Marlins starting pitcher Eury Perez has recorded a 2-1 record with a 4.15 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts. The 23-year-old has struggled with command in the early going of the season, as his walk rate currently sits at a career-worst 10.7%. Perez's strikeout rate is also down from 27.3% to 24.1%. However, the young right-hander's average fastball velocity is up from 97.8 mph to 98.2 mph, which is a good sign that there hasn't been any degradation in his stuff. Perez has been victimized so far this season by an unusually low 65.9% strand rate. If he can be a bit more effective at navigating traffic throughout the remainder of the year, Perez's ERA could gradually decrease. Perez remains a highly talented young arm with plenty of upside and could be an appealing buy-low candidate for fantasy managers after his slow start to 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Charlie Condon Remains a Must-Stash for Home Run Potential
Colorado Rockies corner infield/outfield prospect Charlie Condon has continued to shine at Triple-A Albuquerque to begin 2026. In his latest game, the former third-overall draft pick cracked a double, hit a sacrifice fly, drew a walk for the fourth straight game, scored a run in his fourth straight, and stole his third base of the year after stealing two bases all of 2025. For the season, the 6-foot-5 slugger is slashing .328/.455/.574 with four home runs in 16 games. Perhaps most impressively, the right-handed hitter is drawing walks (16.9 percent) nearly as often as he's striking out (18.2 percent). The improved strikeout rate is a welcome sight as it looked like something that could cap his ceiling in the past, but now strengthens his case for a call-up to the majors. The 23-year-old's power potential at Coors Field keeps him as a top hitter to stash in most leagues for fantasy managers searching the wire for home runs.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Can Aroldis Chapman Sustain Hot Start to 2026?
Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman is off to a strong start to the 2026 season, as he's pitched to a 1.17 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with eight strikeouts and four saves across his first eight appearances (7 2/3 innings). The 38-year-old was absolutely dominant in his first year with Boston in 2025, recording 32 saves and 85 strikeouts while pitching to a 1.17 ERA across 61 1/3 innings. While Chapman's surface-level numbers are excellent again, his underlying metrics are not quite at the same elite level they were last season. The veteran left-hander's average fastball velocity is down from 98.5 mph to 97.4 mph, and his strikeout rate has fallen from 37.3% to 26.7%. Chapman's walk rate, which he lowered to a career-best 6.6% in 2025, has returned to 10% in the early part of 2026. Chapman remains the unquestioned closer in Boston, and he's been effective thus far, so there's no reason for fantasy managers to panic. Still, he may not be in line to fully repeat his 2025 success in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Daylen Lile Stays Hot With Another Home Run on Wednesday
Washington Nationals outfielder Daylen Lile is on a power binge of late and should start attracting more interest off the waiver wire if he keeps it up. Lile went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to the division-rival Atlanta Braves in D.C. The 23-year-old outfielder now has three home runs in his last five games, including five extra-base hits during that span. To start his first full season in the majors, Lile is slashing .282/.333/.437 with a .770 OPS, three home runs, 13 RBI, 15 runs scored, and a stolen base in 111 plate appearances across 24 games played. The former second-rounder in 2021 has quickly become a regular in Washington's everyday lineup after hitting .299 (96-for-321) with nine long balls, 41 RBI, 51 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 91 games in his rookie campaign in 2025. Lile has also hit safely in eight of his last 10 games going into Thursday's series finale against Atlanta. He's currently rostered in 57% of Yahoo leagues, but that number figures to go up in the coming days.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Nicholas Singleton Likely a Day 3 Pick?
Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton cooled off during his final season at school, but he remains an impact prospect heading into this week's NFL Draft. Singleton was a four-year contributor at Penn State, but his worst season was his senior year, which resulted in his draft stock dropping significantly. He had 4,448 scrimmage yards and 54 touchdowns at school, but just 768 scrimmage yards (albeit with 14 touchdowns) last season. It's unlikely that Singleton will be an every-down back in the NFL, but he still has high scoring upside and could be an impact fantasy option. As it stands, he's a projected Day 3 pick in the draft. From a fantasy perspective, he's the RB7 among rookies and the overall RB39 in dynasty leagues. He's presumably in play for more than half the teams in the NFL, so his landing spot could shift where he ranks in fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Pete Alonso Continues to Find his Swing, Launches Third Homer
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso has gotten off to a slow start offensively in his first year in Baltimore, but he could be on the verge of turning things around. Alonso went 1-for-4 at the plate in Wednesday's 8-6 win over the hosting Kansas City Royals with his third home run of the year, two RBI, two runs scored, and a walk to raise his season average to .213 and his OPS to .699. The 31-year-old former National League Rookie of the Year and five-time All-Star has hit .275/.408/.525 with two home runs, four doubles, and seven RBI in his last 11 games as he slowly heats up at the plate. Alonso was an All-Star with the New York Mets in each of the last four seasons before he signed with Baltimore in free agency over the winter. He's an elite source of power for fantasy managers, with at least 34 home runs in each of the last five MLB seasons. Alonso is up to three homers, 10 RBI, and 13 runs scored through his first 25 contests with the O's.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Mickey Moniak in Midst of Seven-Game Hitting Streak, Emerging as Must-Start Hitter
Colorado Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak extended his hitting streak to seven games in the team's 8-3 win over the visiting San Diego Padres on Wednesday night at Coors Field in Denver. Moniak went 2-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored out of the third spot in the batting order. The 27-year-old former first overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016 is now hitting .286/.313/.651 with a .964 OPS, six home runs, 13 RBI, 11 runs scored, and a stolen base across 67 plate appearances in 18 games played in his second year in Colorado. During his seven-game hitting streak, Moniak has gone 9-for-26 (.346) with a homer, five doubles, four RBI, five runs scored, and a stolen base for the Rockies. He's still much more attractive in fantasy baseball when he's playing at home at hitter-friendly Coors Field, but after a 2025 breakout, Moniak is quickly becoming a must-start hitter in fantasy lineups, and he's only rostered in 30% of Yahoo leagues. If you're looking for a spark among fantasy outfielders, look no further than Moniak.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Vinnie Pasquantino Extends Power Surge, Slowly Snapping Early-Season Skid
Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino could be on the verge of putting his slow start to the 2026 season in the rearview mirror. Pasquantino went 2-for-3 at the plate in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to the visiting Baltimore Orioles with his third home run of the year, a double, two runs scored, and a walk to raise his season batting average to .160 and his OPS to .546. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger's home run came in the first inning off Orioles starter Chris Bassitt. The two-hit performance on Wednesday in the series finale against the O's broke a string of four straight hitless games for the Pasquatch. His overall numbers through 25 games in 2026 don't look great at all, but Pasquantino could quickly break out in the power department after he hit a career-high 32 round-trippers in 160 games played in 2025 in his second full MLB season. Fantasy managers shouldn't be giving up on Pasquantino just yet, and his buy-low window in single-year leagues could close quickly.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Could a Team Draft Omar Cooper Jr. Higher Than Expected?
Indiana wide receiver prospect Omar Cooper Jr. continues to generate significant buzz ahead of this week's NFL Draft. According to aggregate mock draft data from NFLMockDraftDatabase.com, Cooper's consensus draft ranking has increased every week since the start of January. He went from ranking as the #93 prospect back in January to the #22 prospect today, just hours before the NFL Draft gets underway. He's currently projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick, but we can't rule out the possibility of him being selected in the first half of the first round. That's because there are a lot of wide receiver-needy teams picking within the first 12 slots. That includes a run of eight consecutive picks belonging to the Titans, Giants (twice), Browns, Commanders, Saints, Chiefs, and Dolphins, all of whom would benefit from a wide receiver upgrade. Cooper has quite the track record as a national champion in Indiana's Fernando Mendoza-led offense. Last season, he caught 69 passes for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns. He's the #5 wide receiver in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rookie rankings, as well as the WR50 in dynasty leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Justin Verlander Throws "Encouraging" Bullpen Session
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that veteran right-hander Justin Verlander's (hip) bullpen session on Wednesday was "encouraging," according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. However, it remains to be seen how much longer it will be before Verlander can make his 2026 season debut. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer went on the 15-day injured list on April 4 with left-hip inflammation, and it's been a slow and frustrating rehab for the veteran hurler. Verlander was pleased with his mechanics during Wednesday's bullpen. It's unclear where he goes from here, but he'll likely throw at least one more bullpen before facing live hitters. Verlander will need at least one simulated game or minor-league rehab start before returning to the major-league roster in Detroit. In Verlander's place, right-hander Keider Montero has pitched well with a 3.68 ERA, so the Tigers don't have to rush Verlander back. With durability concerns and a declining strikeout rate, Verlander doesn't have much fantasy upside near the end of his career. He's only rostered in 5% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Source: The Athletic - Cody Stavenhagen
Can Eli Stowers Sneak Into the First Round of the NFL Draft?
Vanderbilt tight end prospect Eli Stowers continues to trend upward ahead of this week's NFL Draft. The latest aggregate mock draft data from NFLMockDraftDatabase.com has a consensus ranking of Stowers as the #48 overall prospect, which is a significant increase from his ranking at #103 back in January. He's a projected second-round pick, but there's a chance that he could be selected late in the first round. One team that has been consistently linked to Stowers in mock drafts is the New England Patriots, who pick 31st overall. New England reportedly plans to exit the draft with a reliable pass-catching tight end, and Stowers fits that description. The Vandy product caught 111 passes for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns over his final two seasons at school. He's the only player in RotoBaller's second tier of rookie tight ends, and he ranks as the overall TE15 in the latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
