3 days agoAndrew Novak played well in the Zurich Classic team format last week, finishing T23. This is his fourth consecutive made cut and fifth top-25 finish of the year. Despite a rough start to 2024, Novak has found his rhythm and continues to play brilliantly. TPC Craig Ranch could be a perfect match for Novak's skill set. During last year's CJ Cup Byron Nelson, over 35% of approach shots came from over 200 yards. Over the previous 12 months, Novak ranks in the 88th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from over 200 yards in the fairway. Therefore, he could be an excellent addition to DFS lineups this week.Source: Data Golf
3 days agoPatrick Rodgers has withdrawn from this week's CJ Cup Byron Nelson without a specific reason. This may be a surprise as he had tied for fifth place at the RBC Heritage, but it is important to note that he had also withdrawn from the Valero Texas Open earlier this month. Rodgers has either withdrawn or missed the cut in four out of his last five appearances. As a result, Sean O'Hair will replace him in the tournament.Source: PGA Tour
3 days agoMilwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez (hamstring) was removed from Tuesday's game against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays with tightness in his right hamstring. Sanchez hit into a fielder's choice in the first inning, coming up lame after legging out a throw to first base and getting pulled from the contest right away. Top prospect Tyler Black, who was just promoted from the minor leagues on Tuesday, replaced Sanchez to run for him. The Brewers should offer another update on Sanchez's status when he's further evaluated following the contest. The 31-year-old slugging backstop is slashing a decent .208/.283/.458 with three home runs, three doubles, and six RBI in 48 at-bats (18 games) for Milwaukee this year, and the club would really lean on the red-hot William Contreras behind the dish if Sanchez is facing a significant setback. Black would also see more work as a designated hitter in this case.Source: Milwaukee Brewers on X
3 days agoCleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (ribs) couldn't shake off a questionable tag for Tuesday's Game 5 battle against Orlando. He suffered a right rib contusion in Game 4. There were hopes of him being available on Tuesday, but Allen was ruled out after going through a warmup. Isaac Okoro started the game in his place. Evan Mobley has a huge role to play without Allen on the Cavaliers frontcourt, with Marcus Morris Sr. and Tristan Thompson working as his backups. Allen's first chance to return comes in Friday's Game 6.Source: ESPN
3 days agoMiami Marlins starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (elbow) is throwing up to 90 feet on Tuesday. Luzardo plans to play catch again on Wednesday and then throw a bullpen session thereafter. Barring any setbacks, he hopes to then make a minor-league rehab start and rejoin the major-league club. It sounds like the 26-year-old southpaw is eyeing a return from the 15-day injured list close to when he's first eligible, which is certainly an encouraging sign. Luzardo is recovering from a mild left flexor muscle strain, and he struggled to a 6.58 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 27:13 K:BB over 26 innings (five starts) for the Fish before hitting the shelf. Fantasy managers should keep top prospect Max Meyer glued to watchlists in the meantime, as it's only a matter of time before he's recalled to the big leagues after submitting a 2.12 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 14:3 K:BB across 17 frames (three starts) this year.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoLuke List, who finished T19 at last week's Zurich Classic, will compete in this week's CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch. List has had a mixed year in 2024, with four missed cuts in 12 starts, one top-five, and two top-25 finishes. However, he finished T34 at last year's tournament and is expected to perform well again. In last year's edition, over 35% of approach shots were taken from over 200 yards. List's proximity to the hole on approach shots from over 200 yards in the fairway ranks in the 96th percentile over the past 12 months. Even though List may be overlooked this week, he could be a valuable addition to DFS lineups.Source: Data Golf
3 days agoIndiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (back) will be good to go for Tuesday's Game 5 against Milwaukee. He's been dealing with lower back spasms, and the team initially had him as questionable for the game, but Haliburton has been upgraded to available. The two-time All-Star will look to register his third double-double of the series on Tuesday. He's averaging 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 10.0 assists in the playoffs.Source: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoRiding scorching-hot play with his irons (averaging 1.32 strokes gained on approach) over his last two starts, Tom Kim is a much more appealing name this week given the questionable firepower at the top of the board. Given how the season has gone thus far, it isn't far-fetched to think the South Korean is in the premier range for players that have won this year not named Scottie Scheffler. Kim is an above-average long-iron player and has kept his putter fairly consistent for months. It's also intriguing that he is notorious for occasionally posting some low scores, which is the typical recipe at TPC Craig Ranch. It's a fairly safe bet that he plays all four rounds, but the extent of how close he gets to the lead is a big question mark. He hasn't shown the firepower needed to contend here, but the trend in his game and the undeniable talent says his next high finish is coming sooner rather than later.Source: Data Golf
3 days agoMilwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) and guard Patrick Beverley (oblique) will play on Tuesday against Indiana. The team has upgraded both players from probable to available. With Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) on the shelf, the Bucks offense will lean heavily on Middleton, while Beverley will mostly fill defensive duties. The rest of Milwaukee's starting five also needs to step up for the team to avoid a fourth consecutive loss and elimination on Tuesday.Source: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoBoston Red Sox first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper (wrist) was removed from Tuesday's game against the visiting San Francisco Giants due to a right wrist contusion. Cooper, who was making his Red Sox debut and went 0-for-2 before exiting on Tuesday, was hit by a pitch on the right wrist in the fifth inning, and he was replaced at the cold corner by Bobby Dalbec. The Red Sox should provide another update on Cooper's status after the veteran is evaluated further following the contest. The 33-year-old lefty masher is slashing a modest .256/.341/.410 with one home run, one double, six RBI, and three runs scored over 39 at-bats (13 games) this season, and Boston would likely be forced to hand Dalbec regular at-bats at first base if Cooper needs to miss additional time.Source: Chris Cotillo - The Springfield Republican
3 days agoMilwaukee Bucks stars Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) have both been ruled out for Tuesday's Game 5 against Indiana. They were considered doubtful for the clash and unfortunately for Milwaukee, the team won't have either available on Tuesday. Bobby Portis and Malik Beasley will likely remain among the starters. The first unit should get massive minutes in the contest as the Bucks face elimination.Source: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoThe Arizona Cardinals have chosen not to pick up defensive end Zaven Collins' fifth-year option, according to general manager Monti Ossenfort. With the move, Collins will be in the final year of his rookie deal in 2024 and will become a free agent next March. It's a surprising move after the 24-year-old former 16th overall pick has recorded 166 tackles (103 solo), 5.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 12 passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 50 games (39 starts) in his three years in the NFL. Collins isn't exactly on the IDP fantasy radar as a defensive lineman because of his lack of sacks, but he should continue to be a starting edge defender for Arizona in 2024.Source: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
3 days agoThe Arizona Cardinals took running back Trey Benson in the third round of this year's NFL draft, and it's unlikely that he will take over lead-back duties from James Conner this year, even though Conner hasn't shown that he's up to bell-cow duties in the NFL. Mainly because of injuries, Conner has posted between 200 and 250 touches in each of the last four seasons with the Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers, never playing in more than 15 games. Conner has been a pretty big injury risk for fantasy managers, but when he's been on the field, he's been impressive. The 28-year-old had 5.1 yards per touch in 2023. However, with Benson now in the fold, Arizona's backfield could easily evolve into a platoon situation that turns both Conner and Benson into solid RB2 candidates.Source: The Athletic - KC Joyner
3 days agoThe Green Bay Packers selected former USC running back MarShawn Lloyd with the 88th overall pick in this year's NFL draft, and The Athletic's Matt Schneidman writes that he could compete for the backup to new feature back Josh Jacobs in 2024. The Packers re-signed AJ Dillon this offseason, but he might not be a lock to make the final roster. The Athletic's Dane Brugler doesn't think Lloyd has the profile of a high-volume back, but he has the ability to spark an offense with his mix of patience, burst and promise as a pass-catcher. Green Bay may want to take some of the load off Jacobs -- in five seasons with the Raiders, Jacobs ranked second in the NFL in carries and rushing yards since 2019. Lloyd will at least compete with 2023 undrafted RB Emanuel Wilson for the No. 3 job.Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
3 days agoTaylor Montgomery had a disappointing performance at last week's team format, Zurich Classic, as he missed the cut. Unfortunately, this has become a pattern repeated in his previous four appearances. This differs from his performance at the beginning of the 2024 season, where he made five straight cuts and achieved two top-15 finishes. He faces a tough challenge at TPC Craig Ranch this week, considering that over 35% of the approach shots at last year's CJ Cup Byron Nelson came from over 200 yards. Over the previous 12 months, Montgomery ranks in the 16th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots that are over 200 yards in the fairway. Despite his recent poor performances, he could still be worth considering for DFS lineups this week.Source: Data Golf
3 days agoDenver Broncos running back Javonte Williams will be the team's unquestioned lead back in 2024 if he's healthy, and the team is hopeful he'll more closely resemble the RB who rushed for 903 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie season. However, rookie Audric Estime, who was taken in the fifth round of this year's draft out of Notre Dame, could quickly put himself in the mix in 2024. He had limited wear and tear in college and could be the goal-line answer in the backfield that the Broncos missed in 2023. The 20-year-old stands at 5-foot-11, 221 pounds and is a powerful and physical runner. He had 1,341 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns for the Fighting Irish in 2023 on 210 carries. At best, Estime might be a touchdown-dependent, goal-line guy, but he's a long shot to carve out much fantasy value as long as both Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin stay healthy.Source: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
3 days agoJason Day is returning to TPC Craig Ranch for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, where he will defend his title. So far this year, Day's form has been impressive, with only one cut missed and three top-10 finishes. He finished T18 at last week's RBC Heritage and T30 two weeks ago at the Masters Tournament. Despite his win last year, Day faces a tough challenge this week. Over 35% of approach shots in last year's tournament came from over 200 yards. Over the past year, Day ranks in the 17th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from over 200 yards in the fairway. Although his approach game could be better, Day's past success and overall recent form make him worth considering for DFS lineups.Source: Data Golf
3 days agoAdam Scott is all set to tee it up in the CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch this week. His last appearance was two weeks ago at the Masters Tournament, where he finished at a respectable T22. Scott has had a great year in 2024, with only one missed cut, one top-10, and four top-25 finishes. TPC Craig Ranch is a course that should suit Scott's skills perfectly. He ranks 15th in Total Driving and has been fantastic on approach shots over the past 12 months. Scott ranks in the 76th percentile over the last year in proximity to the hole on approach shots from over 200 yards in the fairway. It's essential to note this because over 35% of approach shots at last year's tournament came from this distance. Given Scott's recent form and suitability for TPC Craig Ranch, he could be an excellent addition to DFS lineups this week.Source: Data Golf
3 days agoThe Denver Broncos surprisingly took quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick in this year's NFL draft, adding to a QB room that already included Jarrett Stidham and former first-rounder Zach Wilson. The Broncos were in no rush to name Nix the starter last week after drafting him, and he hasn't even thrown his first pass in rookie minicamp. Neither Stidham nor Wilson have had much experience or success at the NFL level, but it's clear that Denver won't rush Nix if he's not ready. With that said, the former Oregon signal-caller has every chance to win the job in his rookie season in 2024. The best bet going into Week 1 this fall is that either Stidham or Wilson will open the year as the team's starter under center, giving Nix time to develop and learn. Nix won't be a realistic option in 2024 redraft fantasy leagues, nor will Stidham/Wilson, outside of superflex leagues.Source: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
3 days agoFormer Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott reached an agreement on an undisclosed one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday, according to sources. The Rams backfield now boasts Kyren Williams, rookie third-rounder Blake Corum, Scott and others. In addition to those three, LA also has Ronnie Rivers and Zach Evans as backfield depth. The 29-year-old Scott was mostly a complementary third-down, pass-catching back in his six years with the Eagles but was never a big part of the offense. The former sixth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2018 out of Louisiana Tech has never gone over 374 rushing yards in a single season, and his seven-touchdown campaign in 2021 was an outlier. Barring injuries, Williams and Corum figure to see most of the Rams' backfield touches in 2024.Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
3 days agoIt may have looked like a week off for Sungjae Im when looking at his PGA Tour schedule, but the South Korean was busy keeping his game sharp by defending his title at the Woori Financial Group Championship on the KPGA circuit. There isn't much statistical data available from that event, and the fact of a much weaker field than what he normally faces is hard to deny. But being coupled with a T12 finish at the RBC Heritage is enough evidence to suggest Im is trending in a very nice direction. Long iron play is a strong attribute for TPC Craig Ranch, and the 37th-ranked player in the world has notoriously been one of the best players in that category for quite a while. Most notably ranked 8th on the season in approaches from 200-225 yards. There isn't anyone at the top of the DFS board this week that's worth falling head over heels for, but at $11,300 on FanDuel, he feels like one of the safer plays at the top of the board.Source: PGA Tour
3 days agoChicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (hip) is at 80 percent running in his recovery from a hip-flexor strain and is also taking batting practice, according to manager Pedro Grifol. "He's strong, energetic, he's excited to come back so we're hoping sooner than later but we're going to take our time because we don't want this to happen again," Grifol said. Robert was initially given a six- to eight-week timetable for a return after last playing on April 5. The oft-injured 26-year-old looks to be ahead of scheduled, but for a player with Robert's extensive injury history, the White Sox would be wise to play it safe and not bring the talented outfielder back too soon. The Cuban slugger's 38-homer, 80-RBI, 20-steal 2023 season displays his upside, but he's also played in over 100 games just once in his four previous MLB seasons due to injuries.Source: Chicago Sun-Times - Daryl Van Schouwen
3 days agoToronto Blue Jays outfield prospect Alan Roden has been off to a great start at Double-A to begin the 2024 season. Roden has posted a strong .290/.388/.464 line with two round-trippers and two stolen bases. Last season, the 24-year-old put up similar numbers in Double-A (.310/.421/.460), suggesting that Roden may be ready to move up to Triple-A. MLB Pipeline ranked Roden as the seventh-best prospect in the Toronto system and projects him to reach the major league level later this summer. As a result, dynasty and keeper league managers should monitor Roden's status as he could be joining Triple-A Buffalo fairly soon.Source: MiLB.com
3 days agoChicago Cubs outfield prospect Owen Caissie continues to succeed at Triple-A and is making a case for a much earlier-than-anticipated major league promotion. Across 26 games with Triple-A Iowa, the 21-year-old has posted a .289/.418/.433 stat line with one home run and three stolen bases. Caissie has also tallied ten extra-base hits. Over the past seven days, the number three prospect in the Chicago system has logged a .389/.542/.444 line with an impressive 6:9 BB:K ratio. Caissie may join the major league roster later this summer and be given the opportunity quite soon as Cubs outfielders Cody Bellinger (ribs) and Seiya Suzuki (oblique) have sustained serious injuries and may miss an extended period. Caissie should be rostered in all dynasty and keeper formats and should be monitored in deeper redraft leagues.Source: MiLB.com
3 days agoThe Detroit Tigers reinstated infielder/outfielder Andy Ibanez (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned infielder Buddy Kennedy to Triple-A Toledo after Sunday's game in a corresponding move. Ibanez didn't play at all in the 2-1 loss on Tuesday to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of a doubleheader, but he's starting at second base and batting second in Game 2 against Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz. The 31-year-old is back from a stint on the IL due to a strained left hamstring and should see starts against left-handed pitchers moving forward. The Cuban infielder returns to a .267/.235/.267 slash line with no home runs and three RBI in just 15 at-bats in 2024. Ibanez is only an option in AL-only leagues for middle-infield depth.Source: Tigers PR
3 days agoCincinnati Reds starting pitching prospect Lyon Richardson delivered another strong outing on Tuesday, where he tossed five shutout innings with seven punchouts. Richardson has not allowed over two runs in his past three starts and has lowered his ERA to 2.74. The 24-year-old got a small taste of the majors last season but struggled with an 8.64 ERA and 1.92 WHIP across 16 ⅔ innings. However, Richardson has never performed this well at Triple-A, suggesting that he may have taken another step forward in his development. The former second-round selection should be given another opportunity in the majors later in the summer and may be worth adding in NL-only formats when he is promoted.Source: MiLB.com
3 days agoThe Toronto Blue Jays placed right-handed rookie Yariel Rodriguez (spine) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with thoracic-spine inflammation and recalled right-hander Zach Pop from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Rodriguez began experiencing soreness in his back during his outing on Monday night against the Kansas City Royals in which he allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking three and striking out one in 3 2/3 innings. Given the nature of the injury, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if the 27-year-old Cuban hurler misses more than the 15 days on the IL. Rodriguez hasn't been bad in his first four MLB starts, but he also hasn't gone past four innings pitched in any of his outings while sporting a 4.11 ERA and 1.76 WHIP with 16 K's in 15 1/3 frames. It's unclear who will take Rodriguez's spot in Toronto's rotation for at least the next two weeks.Source: Toronto Blue Jays
3 days agoThe Texas Rangers are pushing right-hander Max Scherzer's (back, thumb) next minor-league rehab start with Double-A Frisco back a few days after he experienced some soreness in his thumb after his last outing at Triple-A Round Rock, according to general manager Chris Young. Scherzer will hopefully make his next rehab start by the end of the week. The 39-year-old's surgically repaired back has apparently held up well, though, which is the main takeaway here for fantasy managers that have been stashing the three-time Cy Young winner. In his lone rehab start with Round Rock, Scherzer allowed three earned runs while walking none and striking out four in 2 1/3 innings, so he still has a ways to go to build up his arm before making his 2024 MLB debut. Barring setbacks, Scherzer should be back in Texas' rotation at some point next month.Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
3 days agoChicago White Sox starting pitching prospect Ky Bush has been off to an electric start to the 2024 season. The former second-round pick is sporting a 1.27 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 21 ⅓ innings at Double-A. He has struck out 26 batters. In addition, Bush has not allowed a run in his past 11 innings. It looks like the southpaw has begun to figure things out, as he posted a hefty 6.38 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 67 ⅔ innings at Double-A last season. The 18th-ranked prospect in the Chicago system is not expected to make his major league debut until 2025. However, he could become a name to monitor in dynasty leagues due to his elite strikeout potential, especially if he can reach Triple-A later in the summer.Source: MiLB.com
3 days agoSan Francisco Giants left-hander Blake Snell (groin) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to the team. Snell is recovering from a Grade 2 adductor strain that put him on the injured list last week. The 31-year-old left-hander is hoping to spend the minimum 15 days on the IL, but fantasy managers should probably expect him to be out a bit longer than that, especially considering he got a late start to the 2024 season because he signed with the Giants right before the season started. Already known as a slow starter, last year's National League Cy Young winner went 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA (4.62 FIP) and 1.97 WHIP with five walks and 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings in his three starts before getting hurt. Snell shouldn't be on any waiver wires, though, and could easily rebound once he's healthy given his high-end strikeout upside.Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin