3 days agoOklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams had a fantastic all-around performance on Monday against New Orleans as the team completed a first-round sweep with a 97-89 road victory. Williams tied Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for most points in the contest with 24, grabbed eight rebounds, and tallied four assists, two steals, and one block. The 23-year-old Santa Clara product has been hugely impressive in his first postseason campaign. He's averaging a team-high 1.8 steals and also sits among the Thunder leaders with 21.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists.Source: ESPN
3 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers catcher Diego Cartaya is struggling to open the season in Double-A Tulsa. Cartaya, 22, was once one of the top prospects in all of baseball, but his struggles in 2023 lowered his ranking and thus far, he is hitting justread more...
3 days agoMiami Heat center Bam Adebayo racked up 25 points, 17 rebounds, and five assists Monday versus Boston, but his efforts weren't enough as a 102-88 loss sent Erik Spoelstra's team to the brink of elimination. Adebayo did the damage with 11-for-22 shooting. The Heat big man has gone for 20-plus points in all four games in the series, and he boasts two double-doubles, but Jimmy Butler (knee) is a huge loss to the team, and Miami needs to pull off something special to survive in Game 5 on Wednesday. Adebayo will enter the action averaging 22.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists for the series. Strangely, he hasn't yet registered any defensive stats this postseason.Source: ESPN
3 days agoBoston Celtics guard Derrick White led the charge in Monday's Game 4 against Miami, scoring a career-high 38 points in a 102-88 win. He nailed eight three-point bombs with 15 attempts and shot 15-for-26 overall. As usual, White also made himself useful defensively and produced Boston's only three blocks of the game. He wrapped up his line with four rebounds and three assists. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown generally grab the headlines in Boston, but White once again demonstrated how well this Celtics team is built. He's been effective throughout the series, averaging 21.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks with 47 percent shooting from downtown.Source: ESPN
3 days agoKansas City Royals catcher prospect Blake Mitchell has been off to a solid start for Single-A Columbia. Mitchell, 19, is hitting .273 with two homers and six RBI. Mitchell was drafted out of high school with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 draft and has become the Royals No. 1 prospect. As one of the better hitting prospects behind the dish and at such a young age, Mitchell has the potential to offer plenty of power. However, to make a big leap, Mitchell will have to learn to be less aggressive at the plate. If Mitchell can improve his plate discipline and continue to tap into his raw power, he can have a bright future as the Royals catcher after Salvador Perez hangs it up. For now, he is a name for dynasty managers to monitor as he is years away from a potential big-league debut.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoBoston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum struggled with his shot in Game 4 against Miami on Monday but still produced 20 points and posted his third double-double of the 2024 postseason by grabbing 11 rebounds. Tatum added five assists in a 102-88 win, shooting 5-for-14 from the field with a 2-for-6 effort from outside. He was able to reach the 20-point plateau thanks to perfect 8-for-8 free-throw shooting. The Boston superstar tweaked his left ankle with five minutes to go in the contest, although he had no trouble finishing the game. Tatum has suffered from streaky shooting in the 2024 playoffs, but the Celtics have still grabbed a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round series and will go out for the kill in Wednesday's Game 5.Source: ESPN
3 days agoLos Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis suffered a shoulder injury in Monday's Game 5 loss to Denver but was able to complete the game and logged 40 minutes. Davis was hurt late in the third quarter when he took a blow from behind to his left shoulder area by Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.. He sat out the final four minutes of the quarter before playing the entire fourth as the Lakers desperately tried to remain alive in the series. Davis had another strong outing with 17 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. The nine-time All-Star will be massively disappointed with the early playoff exit, but Davis had a lot of personal success in 2023-24. He played in a career-high 76 regular-season contests, setting his new record with 12.6 rebounds and averaging 24.7 points with 3.5 assists and 2.3 blocks.Source: ESPN
3 days agoLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James refused to commit himself to the team for next season after suffering the earliest playoff exit of his career at the hands of the Denver Nuggets on Monday. "I'm not going to answer that," James said when asked if he considered whether Monday's game could be his last with the Lakers. James, who went out in the first round for only the second time in his 21-year-career, also said he would eventually sit down with his agent, Rich Paul, and his family to evaluate "what's best for my career." The NBA's all-time leading scorer has a player option for next season worth $51.4 million. He has until June 29 to opt into the final year of his contract or become an unrestricted free agent. Despite turning 39 in December, James continued to post strong numbers in 2023-24, averaging 25.7 points with 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals.Source: ESPN
3 days agoCincinnati Reds third base prospect Cam Collier had an impressive month of April for High-A Dayton. The 19-year-old hit .296 with seven home runs, 25 RBI and a .617 slugging percentage. The son of former big-leaguer Lou Collier, Cam was the Reds first-round selection in the 2022 draft. Collier improved during the second half of last season as he started driving more balls that were grounders earlier in the season. At such a young age, Collier's improving at a fast rate and more power should continue to come his body fills out and he continues to make improvements at the plate. He is a few years away from making an impact at the big-league level, but managers in dynasty leagues should consider rostering Collier as his value will only continue to get higher as the season goes on.Source: Milb.com
3 days agoDenver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was close to only the ninth 25-20-10 triple-double in NBA playoff history on Monday, finishing a 108-106 victory over the Lakers with 25 points, 20 rebounds, and nine assists. Jokic started the game slowly and had trouble handling the ball, ending up with seven turnovers, but he played a massive role in the team's success again and came very close to having his fifth postseason game with at least 25 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 dimes. He finished the contest with 12-for-21 shooting, missing four of five attempts from downtown. The Serbian superstar will now start preparing to battle the Timberwolves. Minnesota was the league's top defensive team during the regular season and has Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns to throw at Jokic, but he's averaged a 33-point triple-double in the matchup this term.Source: ESPN
3 days agoToronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Brandon Barriera (elbow), who has been dealing with an elbow injury, has undergone a combination of Tommy John surgery and an internal-brace procedure on his throwing elbow. Barriera was the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 draft and is the Blue Jays' No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 20-year-old has only thrown 21 2/3 innings in his professional career and was currently in Single-A at the time of his injury. Barriera has potential in the long-term but can be avoided in all fantasy formats for now.Source: MLB Pipeline
3 days agoDenver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray shook off a calf injury to produce a game-winning performance in Monday's Game 5 against the Lakers. He led all scorers with 32 points, wrapping things up with a jumper four seconds from the end to make it 108-106 and win Denver the game and series. Murray shot 13-for-28 from the field and 5-for-10 from downtown en route to his highest-scoring performance of the series. He also contributed on the offensive end with seven assists and recorded three rebounds and one steal. Despite dealing with a calf strain, Murray logged 41 minutes of action. He will now get some much-needed rest, with the Nuggets' second-round series against Minnesota not starting until Saturday. Denver's star guard is averaging 23.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in the postseason.Source: ESPN
3 days agoSeattle Mariners catcher/designated hitter Mitch Garver played the hero in Monday's 2-1 win over the Braves. Garver went 1-for-3 with a walk-off, two-run home run, a walk, and two strikeouts. It was a nice moment, but the 33-year-old has struggled offensively with his new team, slashing .150/.266/.313 with three HR and seven RBI in 94 plate appearances. Garver has been a reliable source of power throughout his fantasy career, so hopefully this can help get him going.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried continued to impress in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Mariners. Coming off a complete-game shutout, Fried pitched six no-hit innings, allowing two walks and seven strikeouts. The 30-year-old got off to an extremely rough start to the season but is now 2-0 with a 4.02 ERA, a 7.18 K/9 rate, and a 3.16 BB/9 rate in six starts and 31 1/3 IP. He will be tested in his next projected start at the Dodgers. While it is a tough matchup, Fried's recent success may convince fantasy managers to roll with him.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young continued to showcase his speed in Monday's 7-2 win over the Marlins. Young went 1-for-4 with a single and two stolen bases. The 24-year-old is now slashing .328/.368/.391 with no home runs, 16 runs scored, seven RBI, and 12 stolen bases in 70 plate appearances. He may not provide much power, but Young's speed makes him worth a look in deeper roto leagues.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoIt wasn't pretty, but Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jason Adam picked up his first save of the season in Monday's 1-0 win over the Brewers. Adam came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by one. He allowed a leadoff double, got the first out on a line-out, allowed a walk, allowed a double steal, got the second out on a past-ball strikeout where the runners were held due to batter's interference, hit a batter to load the bases, and finally ended things with a strikeout. The 32-year-old racked up 12 saves last season when Pete Fairbanks (hand) was on the injured list, and Fairbanks is now serving a stint with a hand injury. Given his history serving as interim closer, Adam is worth rostering in at least all roto leagues at this time.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoNew York Mets shortstop prospect Luisangel Acuna hit his second home run of the season on Sunday for Triple-A Syracuse. The 22-year-old went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored in Game 2 of a doubleheader, while the home run was his first since the first game of the season. Not known as much for his power as his older brother, he does still have some wheels, swiping 57 bags last season, and is up to eight so far in 2024. MLB's 59th-ranked prospect overall is inching closer to the bigs, but with Francisco Lindor blocking him at short it's uncertain where he would fit in. Managers in need of steals will need to be ready once he earns the promotion.Source: MiLB.com
3 days agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot continued to string together strong starts in Monday's 1-0 win over the Brewers. Pepiot pitched six innings, allowing just two hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. The 26-year-old has looked good in his first starts with his new team, going 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA, a 9.87 K/9 rate, and a 2.60 BB/9 rate in six starts and 34 2/3 IP. He will look to keep things going in his next projected start against the middling Mets.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoToronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Nate Pearson managed to secure his first save of the season in Monday's 6-5 win over the Royals. Pearson came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by one. He allowed a leadoff single, got the first two outs on a groundout and a line-out, allowed another single, and stranded the tying run at third with a strikeout. Closer Jordan Romano had pitched in each of the last two days, so Pearson was called upon. The former prospect has a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings of work this season, but his fantasy value will remain limited until he can routinely earn high-leverage situations.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoToronto Blue Jays first baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner did his part in Monday's 6-5 win over the Royals. Turner went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, a solo HR, and a strikeout. The 39-year-old veteran has continued to provide fantasy value late into his career and is now slashing .311/.390/.533 with four HR and 15 RBI in 105 plate appearances. He should continue to be a reliable source of batting average with some pop.Source: MLB.com
4 days agoMilwaukee Brewers first baseman prospect Tyler Black keeps making the push for a promotion to the big league club, smacking two solo home runs on Sunday for Triple-A Nashville. The 23-year-old is now slashing .303/.393/.525 on the season and has shown some power (five HR), some speed (three SB), and patience (11:12 BB:K). The lefty hit 18 home runs and stole 55 bases last season in 123 games between Double-A and Triple-A, and if he does get the call, he could instantly provide a boost to the Brewers as well as fantasy lineups.Source: MiLB.com
4 days agoThe Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are among the list of teams that have shown interest in free agent safety Jamal Adams, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. The Seahawks released Adams earlier in the offseason, but general manager John Schneider didn't rule out the possibility of re-signing him. Now, Condotta notes that Seattle has "legitimate" interest, though they'll have to compete with the Niners and other teams. The three-time Pro Bowler has struggled to stay healthy lately, playing in just 10 games over his last two seasons and registering 51 tackles during that span.Source: Bob Condotta
4 days agoWashington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams showcased his power and speed in Monday's 7-2 win over the Marlins. Abrams went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, two walks, and a stolen base. The 23-year-old has traded some of his speed for power to this point but is slashing a solid .297/.377/.634 with seven HR, 17 RBI, and six stolen bases in 115 plate appearances. He has provided plenty of fantasy value, even if it hasn't been exactly as fantasy managers expected.Source: MLB.com
4 days agoBaltimore Orioles relief pitcher Danny Coulombe picked up his first save of the season in Monday's 2-0 win over the Yankees. Coulombe entered the game to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by two and turned in a 1-2-3 outing with no strikeouts. Closer Craig Kimbrel (back) is currently day-to-day with back tightness, so Coulombe was called upon to close things out. The 34-year-old has pitched well this season with a 3.18 ERA, an 11.12 K/9 rate, and a 1.59 BB/9 rate in 11 1/3 IP. His fantasy value will remain limited without seeing routine high-leverage situations, but he could provide value in saves-plus-holds leagues if he ends up getting interim save opportunities.Source: MLB.com
4 days agoCincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is seeking a deal similar to the one that Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. received, according to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Pittman fetched three years and $70 million on his latest deal, which would suggest that Higgins is looking for a three-year deal worth roughly $23 million on an annual basis. If so, there's a significant gap in negotiations between him and the Bengals, who have not offered more than $20 million annually, according to Conway. The former second-round receiver previously requested a trade, but as it stands, he's expected to remain in Cincinnati for the 2024 season. With Joe Burrow throwing him passes, Higgins ranks as a low-end WR2 in fantasy football.Source: Kelsey Conway
4 days agoBaltimore Orioles third baseman/shortstop Gunnar Henderson continued his power display in Monday's 2-0 win over the Yankees. Henderson went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a strikeout. He was also hit by a pitch. The 22-year-old is now tied for the league lead with 10 HR and owns a .289/.352/.632 slash line with 23 RBI and six stolen bases. He showed huge fantasy potential last season in terms of power and speed and has taken a step forward in average so far this season.Source: MLB.com
4 days agoBaltimore Orioles relief pitcher Cionel Perez (oblique) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Monday and pitched a scoreless inning in a 2-0 win over the Yankees. Perez had been dealing with a right oblique strain. Dillon Tate was optioned in a corresponding move. Perez has made just two appearances this season, allowing two runs over an inning plus of work. The 28-year-old has been a reliable later-inning arm for the O's over the past couple of seasons, making him worth a look in saves-plus-holds leagues.Source: MLB.com
4 days agoMiami Marlins outfield prospect Victor Mesa Jr. went 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored on Sunday for Triple-A Jacksonville. The Marlins' top-ranked offensive prospect is having a great season for the Jumbo Shrimp, slashing .298/.362/.500 with four home runs, 14 RBI, 15 runs scored, and a 7:8 BB:K. Strikingly though, the 22-year-old has yet to record a stolen base thus far after swiping 16 bags last season. With the Marlins losers of seven straight and owners of the worst win percentage in all of baseball, it wouldn't be surprising to see Mesa Jr. get the call to the majors at some point this season. Jesus Sanchez and Nick Gordon haven't done much of note this season and Mesa Jr. is already on the 40-man roster.Source: MiLB.com
4 days agoCincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown remains the No. 2 option out of the backfield after the team opted not to select any competition in the NFL Draft. Cincinnati replaced Joe Mixon with Zack Moss last March, and while it seemed like they could upgrade their backfield in the draft, that wasn't the case. Instead, it appears Moss will be Cincinnati's primary running back, barring a surprise signing or trade. Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic indicates that Moss has a leg up over Brown heading into the summer, including on third downs. This isn't necessarily a surprise given that Moss looked great in Indianapolis last year, but Brown also flashed promise as a rookie, totaling 335 yards and a touchdown. He enters the summer as Moss' backup but could push for more snaps with a strong camp.Source: Paul Dehner Jr.
4 days agoBoston Red Sox second baseman prospect Nick Yorke went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base on Sunday for Double-A Portland, extending his current hit streak to seven games. During the streak, the 22-year-old has gone 10-for-28 (.357) with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBI, seven runs scored, and three stolen bases, raising his season average to a solid .284. He's coming off a season in which he hit .268 with 13 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 110 games at Double-A. The former first-round draft pick could see Fenway by the end of 2024, but offseason acquisition Vaughn Grissom is going to get a shot at being the everyday second baseman starting this week when he comes off the IL. Nevertheless, with the tools that Yorke has, he should be on dynasty managers' radar.Source: MiLB.com