Chase Elliott a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Source: ifantasyrace
Chase Elliott is an elite road course racer, and that is especially the case at Sonoma Raceway. Although the Hendrick Motorsports driver has never won in Wine Country, Chase has the third-best average finish (5.7) at Sonoma in the Next Gen era and ranks fourth-best in driver rating over that same time span. He consistently runs up front at this race track and that should be the case in this weekend's Toyota/Save Mart 350 as well. As far as practice goes, the No. 9 Chevrolet wasn't crazy fast on Saturday (15th-best) but Elliott had consistent speed over the course of a long run during that session. He qualified 13th for this weekend's race, which means there's some Place Differential upside for him in DFS contests as well as the finishing position upside. At $9,800 on DraftKings, Chase Elliott is a premier daily fantasy target on Sunday.Marcell Ozuna Getting Sunday Off
Marcell Ozuna is not in the starting lineup on Sunday for his team's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Sean Murphy will get the start at DH in his place and bat fourth. Ozuna has had somewhat of a strange season so far in 2025. His 16.2% walk rate would be the best full-season mark of his career by a significant margin, but his .396 slugging percentage is 150 points lower than the .546 mark he posted in 2024. In totality, Ozuna is hitting .239 with 13 home runs, 42 RBI, and 37 runs scored in 388 plate appearances. His .483 xSLG suggests he'll provide fantasy managers with a better power output in the post-All-Star break portion of the season.Source: MLB.com
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Julius Chestnut, Kalel Mullings Competing for RB3 Role
TennnesseeTitans.com's Jim Wyatt points to a battle to watch during training camp being the one between Tennessee Titans running backsMichael McDowell Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
Source: ifantasyrace
After showing race-winning speed before mechanical issues struck at the Chicago Street Course last weekend, many people expected Michael McDowell to roll into Sonoma and look like one of the drivers to beat again. However, that was simply not the case this weekend. The No. 71 team was a little disadvantaged in practice on Saturday since they went out with the first group (and slower track conditions), but McDowell himself mentioned afterward that the speed just wasn't there in the race car this weekend. Now the question becomes, will the Spire Motorsports team be able to make the right adjustments for race day? Sonoma is one of the best tracks on the circuit for Michael McDowell, as he has had the best speed here in the Next Gen era and an average finish of 4.0 over the three races. Starting 15th and being priced at an affordable $9,300 on DraftKings, McDowell should be a solid DFS play on Sunday if he can just do his normal thing in the race.Carlos Correa Returns to Twins Lineup
Carlos Correa (ankle) is back in the lineup for his team's Sunday game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after being held out on Saturday. His return is excellent news for Minnesota, as it looked like Correa may have suffered a serious injury when Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham collided with his lower leg in a play at second base on Friday night. Injuries have historically been an issue for Correa, but he's managed to largely stay healthy in 2025, logging 318 plate appearances so far. However, his production on the field is below his usual standard. Correa has posted a .261/.302/.385 slash line with seven home runs and 30 RBI.Source: MLB.com
Minnesota Twins shortstop Matt Shaw Out of Starting Lineup for Third Consecutive Day
Matt Shaw is absent from the starting lineup for his team's Sunday afternoon game against the New York Yankees. Shaw has now been on the bench for four out of the Cubs' last five games and three straight, so this could be a more permanent role change for the struggling youngster. Utility man Vidal Brujan is playing third and batting ninth today, while veteran Jon Berti got the start at the hot corner on both Friday and Saturday. The 23-year-old Shaw won the Cubs' third base job out of Spring Training, but he's hit .199 with two home runs, 15 RBI, 28 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. With the trade deadline nearing and the Cubs reportedly searching for upgrades, Shaw could soon be looking at a demotion to Triple-A.Source: MLB.com
Chicago Cubs third baseman Connor Norby Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Connor Norby (wrist) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with left-wrist inflammation, according to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. Infielder Graham Pauley was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville as the corresponding move and will start at third base and bat eighth for the Marlins in their Sunday game against the Baltimore Orioles. The 25-year-old Norby missed the start of the season due to an oblique strain, so this is his second trip to the injured list in 2025. In 273 plate appearances, Norby is hitting .241/.289/.364 with six home runs, 26 RBI, 33 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. It remains to be seen how long this latest injury will keep him sidelined.Source: El Extrabase - Daniel Avarez-Montes
Miami Marlins third baseman Kimani Vidal Fighting for No. 3 Job
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Blake Sabol Traded to White Sox
Blake Sabol to the Chicago White Sox for cash considerations, per MassLive's Chris Cotillo. The 27-year-old Sabol appeared in eight games this season for Boston, hitting .125 with a 38.9% strikeout rate. He wasn't much better in 167 plate appearances at Triple-A Worcester, slashing .167/.281/.299 with three home runs, 17 RBI, 15 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. Sabol is the rare catcher-eligible player with some speed, but he's not yet proven he can hit at the big league level. It does not appear as though he'll immediately have a spot on Chicago's 40-man roster.Source: Mass Live - Chris Cotillo
The Boston Red Sox have traded catcher/outfielder Cam Hart Recovering From Shoulder Surgery
Source: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Cam Hart (shoulder) missed most of the spring program while he rehab from offseason shoulder surgery, which made it hard to get a read on where the team's rotations stood during OTAs and minicamp, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper. Hart and Tarheeb Still both had solid rookie seasons in 2024, but Donte Jackson and Benjamin St-Juste enter the picture as free-agent additions in 2025, while Ja'Sir Taylor and Deane Leonard return as veterans. It's unclear exactly how the Chargers plan to attack their cornerback rotations. Popper explains that they have plenty of choices. They could have a package with bigger bodies outside, they could have a package with smaller ball-hawking types, or they could mix and match.Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Source: ifantasyrace
Christopher Bell is one of the elite road course racers in the NASCAR Cup Series, but he has struggled to put it all together at Sonoma Raceway. In four career starts in Wine Country, CBell has two top-10 finishes (in each of the last two seasons) but they were both ninth-place results--which is surprising considering he has posted five top-five finishes over the last 10 road course races overall. Eventually, though, Bell will get a great finish at Sonoma. Will that be this weekend? The No. 20 Toyota will roll off the starting grid from 10th-place for Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350, but Bell looked to have much better race speed than that in practice. In that session, he was seventh-best in five-lap average, third-best in 10-lap average, and second-fastest in 15-lap average. If those speeds hold true during the race, we should be looking at a career-best Sonoma finish out of Christopher Bell on Sunday.Ryan Blaney Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
Source: ifantasyrace
Ryan Blaney typically isn't the first driver that most people think of when it comes to the NASCAR Cup Series, but the Team Penske driver has been solid at Sonoma Raceway. Over the last seven races in Wine Country, Blaney has posted a top-10 finish five times, and in the three Next Gen races, he has two top-10 results and a driver rating over 100 in both of those events as well. This weekend, the No. 12 Ford showed good speed in practice (Blaney was fifth-best in five-lap average during practice) and then went out and qualified seventh for Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350. All signs point to this being a strong afternoon race for Blaney. As far as DFS goes, Blaney is strictly a tournament option due to his high starting position, but his strong track history makes him a very intriguing play on DraftKings, especially at his relatively cheap salary of $7,500.Tony Blanco Jr. to Begin Rehab Assignment
Tony Blanco Jr. (leg) was sent on a rehab assignment to the Florida Complex League Pirates, according to Anthony Murphy of Baseball America. Blanco Jr. has yet to log any game action this season as he recovers from a leg injury. He's just 20 years old and has not yet made it past the FCL, so Blanco Jr. is still a ways off from the Majors. Power is Blanco Jr.'s calling card, and MLB.com ranks him as the #21 prospect in the Pirates' system. In 109 plate appearances in the Complex League last season, Blanco Jr. slashed .305/.385/.505 with four home runs and 17 RBI.Source: Baseball America - Anthony Murphy
Pittsburgh Pirates first base/outfield prospect Quentin Johnston Might Not Get Many Chances to Prove Himself
Quentin Johnston too many chances to prove himself as a starter during training camp this summer. The first-rounder in 2023 is going to have to earn his chances, especially after the team added Tre Harris in the second round in April and reunited with Mike Williams in free agency. L.A. also took wideout DeAndre Lambert-Smith in the fifth round, and Harris, Williams and Lambert-Smith all primarily play on the outside, which is also where Johnston plays. Johnston improved from Year 1 to Year 2, but he still had frustrating moments, and drops remain an issue. Receiver is going to be a highly competitive position in training camp, so Johnston is really going to have to perform in order to retain a starting position in three-wide sets for the Chargers in 2025.Source: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
The Athletic's Daniel Popper doesn't think the Los Angeles Chargers' coaching staff will give wide receiver Tre Harris Officially a Holdout
Tre Harris is officially a holdout after not reporting with the rest of the team's rookies for the start of training camp, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Harris and the Chargers continue to haggle over guaranteed money in his contract. It remains to be seen when something will get worked out for the 23-year-old, but for now, he's going to miss some developmental time in camp. Harris impressed the coaching staff during OTA and minicamp workouts, though, and he has the potential to make a fantasy impact in redraft leagues in his first year in the NFL with the Bolts in 2025, even in a run-first offense. Ladd McConkey is the unquestioned WR1 for the Chargers, but Harris could be quarterback Justin Herbert's go-to deep target if Mike Williams and Quentin Johnston continue to disappoint.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Los Angeles Chargers rookie second-round wide receiver Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Source: ifantasyrace
Bubba Wallace is currently in the thick of the points standings for the final Playoffs spot, as the 23XI Racing driver heads into Sonoma this weekend with a two-point advantage over Ryan Preece for the final postseason position. However, it's going to take a lot of race car improvements for Bubba to maintain that lead. The No. 23 Toyota has struggled to find any speed at Sonoma this race weekend, as Wallace was just 27th-fastest in practice on Saturday and then followed that up with a 30th-place qualifying effort for Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350. When it comes to track history, Bubba does have three top-20 finishes at Sonoma over the last four races, but he hasn't started this far back at this track since the 2019 season, and he finished 26th in that race. The No. 23 team will likely need to make a risky strategy call in order for Bubba to get any track position on Sunday.Kyle Larson Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Source: DriverAverages.com
Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson obtained a starting position of 11th after qualifying for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. It will be just the second time in his Cup Series career that he will begin a race at Sonoma outside of the top 10. In 10 races at the California road course, Larson has four top-10 finishes, including two victories. The No. 5 Chevrolet driver is the defending race winner of this week's race. After 19 races completed in the 2025 season, Larson has 12 top-10 finishes, which is the most of all drivers, and three victories. In practice, Larson ranked third in overall lap averages and displayed top-5 speeds in the five and 10 consecutive lap average categories. Larson is expensive to utilize in DFS this week, but his practice speeds do point to him being a driver who will compete for a top-5 finish at one of his better tracks in the Cup Series. Richard Fitts Recalled
Richard Fitts from Triple-A Worcester on Saturday. The team placed righty Hunter Dobbins (knee) on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Dobbins is done for the year after suffering a torn ACL, which opens up the fifth spot in Boston's rotation for Fitts. The 25-year-old has made eight starts this year and gone 1-3 with a 4.28 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and 28:10 K:BB in 33 2/3 innings. That's passable back-end production, which is what the Red Sox are looking for in a Dobbins replacement.Source: Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox recalled right-hander Ryan Preece's Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Road course races always open up the possibility of alternate strategies for race teams, and that is the case for Ryan Preece and the No. 60 team at Sonoma this weekend. Heading into the Toyota/Save Mart 350, Preece is two pointsIvan Herrera Getting Outfield Work
Ivan Herrera (hamstring) has begun getting "introductory workouts" in the outfield during his rehab assignment, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Herrera hasn't played since June 19 because of a strained left hamstring. When he does return, the Cardinals plan to significantly cut his time behind the plate to reduce wear and tear. He'll primarily slot in at designated hitter upon activation, but occasionally lining up in the outfield would provide the team more flexibility to plug in various players at DH. Herrera's production this year has been stellar regardless of position. The 25-year-old has slashed .320/.392/.533 with eight home runs and 36 RBI in 171 plate appearances. Herrera is on track to return to the St. Louis lineup after the All-Star break.Source: Derrick Goold
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Todd Gilliland Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Source: Jaysk
Considering he just finished 10th at Sonoma last season, it has been a bit of a surprise to see Todd Gilliland struggle to find any speed this weekend in Wine Country. The Front Row Motorsports driver was just 32nd-fastest (out of 37 cars) in practice on Saturday and then went out and qualified way back in 35th-place for Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350. Now NASCAR Fantasy players are left wondering, can Gilliland move up, or is he really that slow? Todd finished 10th at COTA earlier this year and followed that up with a 22nd-place finish at Mexico City before wrecking out at the Chicago Street Course last weekend. And in five of the last seven road course races in the Cup Series, Gilliland has posted a finish of 18th or better. Considering his 35th-place starting spot at Sonoma this weekend and his relatively cheap salary on DraftKings ($6,400), Gilliland could be a sneaky DFS Place Differential play on Sunday.Ty Gibbs May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Source: DriverAverages.com
Joe Gibbs Racing's Ty Gibbs will start sixth for this week's Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. Gibbs's starting position for this week's race matches the best of his Cup career at the California road course. In two previous races at Sonoma, Gibbs's best finish is 18th, and he also has one DNF at the site. With 19 races completed this season, Gibbs has four top-10 finishes, while going on a streak of five top-15 finishes in the last five Cup events. Gibbs also scored his best finish of the season last week at Chicago. In practice, Gibbs ranked fifth in overall lap averages and ranked among the top five fastest in all eligible categories on speed. Gibbs has typically been fast on the road courses, and this week is no exception based on his practice speeds. Despite never having a top-10 finish at Sonoma in the Cup Series, Gibbs is a driver to watch for the win this week.Jordan Walker Still Without Timetable to Return
Jordan Walker (appendix) remains without a timetable to return to the major leagues, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Walker, who last played for the Cardinals on June 22, is on the 10-day injured list as a result of an appendectomy. The 23-year-old has returned to action on a rehab assignment in the minors, where he has been working on swing adjustments. Those changes have paid off lately, as Walker has homered twice in a three-game span with Double-A Springfield. Other than a promising rookie campaign in 2023, the former standout prospect hasn't hit much in the majors. Walker was batting an ugly .210/.267/.295 with three home runs and a 33% strikeout rate in 191 plate appearances this year before he went on the IL. The Cardinals have gotten much better production in right field from Alec Burleson, who's slashing .289/.334/.463 with 11 homers and 43 RBI over 312 trips to the plate.Source: Derrick Goold
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Should Move Up on Sunday
Source: Driver Averages
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. qualified 34th for this weekend's race at Sonoma Raceway, which is pretty much par for the course for the Hyak Motorsports driver this season. So far through 19 races in 2025, Stenhouse has an average starting position of 27.0, but he has an average finish of 19.6, which has made him a DFS option most weeks due to the place-differential upside. The same is the case this weekend at Sonoma. Stenhouse is no road-course master by any means, but he's a servicable option in some NASCAR fantasy formats. Earlier this season at COTA, for example, he ended up finishing 18th, and here at Sonoma he has ended up finishing 25th, 12th, and 24th in the three Next Gen era races. At just $5,200 on DraftKings, Stenhouse is a cheap place-differential play that could save you some very valuable cap space in your DFS lineup.Ross Chastain is a Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Source: DriverAverages.com
Trackhouse Racing's Ross Chastain will start fourth for Sunday's race at Sonoma Raceway, the Toyota/Save Mart 350. This will be Chastain's first Cup race at Sonoma, where he will start inside the top five in his Cup career. In five starts at the site, Chastain has four top-10 finishes, which all came in his last four appearances at the California road course. Through 19 races so far this season, Chastain has nine top-10 finishes and an average finish of 14.2. Chastain has placed between 10th and 16th in all three road course events this season, only scoring positive Place Differential in last week's race at Chicago. In practice for this week's race, Chastain ranked eighth in overall lap averages but ranked among the top five fastest in all other eligible categories. Chastain has little upside from his starting position, but his practice speeds and Sonoma history do point to another strong top-5 run, making him worth consideration in DFS formats, but especially in tournaments.Tanner Houck, Red Sox Have Not Discussed Role
Tanner Houck (elbow) will take on when he returns from the injured list, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. Houck has been working back from a flexor strain that he suffered in mid-May. Before going on the IL, the 2024 All-Star stumbled to an 0-3 record with an 8.04 ERA in nine starts and 43 2/3 innings. Having lost righty Hunter Dobbins (knee) to a season-ending torn ACL this weekend, the Red Sox are set to plug Richard Fitts into the fifth spot in their rotation. Barring any more injuries to the team's starting staff, it seems likely Houck will pitch out of the bullpen for the first time since 2022 when he comes back. He's expected to return sometime this month.Source: Christopher Smith - MassLive.com
The Boston Red Sox have not discussed which role right-hander Josh Berry Should Be Avoided in Fantasy at Sonoma
Source: Driver Averages
There are certain race weekends where Josh Berry easily falls into the sleeper category, but the race weekends at road courses are not one of them. Berry has never finished better than 22nd at a road course in his Cup Series career, and this weekend's Toyota/Save Mart 350 will mark his ninth attempt at this style of track. The No. 21 Ford will roll off the starting grid from 25th place when the race goes green, but it would be surprising to see Berry move up at all from that spot. In fact, it's much more likely he will fall back. In practice on Saturday, Berry ranked 29th-fastest out of 37 cars. He should be avoided in all NASCAR fantasy formats, even in DFS, where he is a very cheap option ($5,100 on DraftKings).Chris Buescher is A Great DFS Option to Consider for Sonoma Lineups
Source: DriverAverages.com
Chris Buescher of RFK Racing qualified 14th for this week's Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. Buescher was the top qualifier of the three RFK entries in this week's race. In eight races at Sonoma, Buescher has seven top-20 finishes, including three top-5s in the last three Cup events at the site. After 19 races completed this season, Buescher has 14 top-20 finishes and an average finish of 13.9. Buescher has two top-10s at road courses this season and finished 18th in the only other road racing event at the Chicago Street Course. In practice for Sunday's race, Buescher ranked fourth in overall lap averages and 11th in five consecutive lap averages. Buescher is one of the best overall drivers at road courses in the field, and with his salary being around $8,600 on DraftKings at one of his better tracks of the past few years, makes him easy to recommend for all formats, especially with his favorable practice speeds.Keegan Akin to Face Hitters Monday
Keegan Akin (shoulder) will face hitters Monday before beginning a potential rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. Akin has been on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation since July 1. The Orioles had to shut him down from throwing earlier this week after he received an injection in his shoulder, but he's now progressing toward a return. The 30-year-old has gone 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA, a 1.42 WHIP, 38:16 K:BB, and 12 holds over 38 innings.Source: Roch Kubatko - MASNSports.com
Baltimore Orioles left-handed reliever Daulton Varsho to Start Rehab Assignment Monday
Daulton Varsho (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment in the Florida Coast League on Monday, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Varsho could rejoin the Blue Jays out of the All-Star break if things go smoothly. The 29-year-old hasn't played since he strained his left hamstring on May 31. He also missed almost all of April while recovering from shoulder surgery. When healthy, Varsho has brought plenty of power to the table this year. The two-time 20-home run hitter is batting .207/.240/.543 with eight HRs in 100 plate appearances. Myles Straw has gotten the majority of starts in center field with Varsho unavailable.Source: Arden Zwelling
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder