5 days agoBaltimore Orioles third base prospect
Coby Mayo went 2-for-4 with a single and three-run homer at the Triple-A level on April 30. He also struck out once and drew a pair of walks. Baltimore seems to have a surplus of hot-hitting prospects and Mayo might be the next to make his MLB debut. He's making a strong push for a promotion with his .330/.400/.652 slash line, nine home runs, and 25 RBI through 28 games this year. He has now homered in back-to-back games and also owns a four-game hitting streak.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
5 days agoCleveland Guardians first base prospect
Kyle Manzardo went 2-for-5 with a double and solo homer on April 30. He currently owns a three-game hitting streak and has ultimately got on base in five consecutive contests. The 23-year-old left-hander has already launched seven homers this year, and he owns a strong .991 OPS. Furthermore, he's maintained a 12.7 BB% and 17.3 K%, both impressive marks for someone with significant power. Manzardo was dealt from Tampa Bay to Cleveland last summer and is now pushing hard to make his MLB debut this May.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
5 days agoPittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect
Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick in last year's MLB Draft, spun another gem during his sixth minor league appearance of the season on April 30. The 21-year-old right-hander tossed six shutout innings, recording seven strikeouts along the way. He surrendered just one walk and four hits. 2024 has certainly treated Skenes well; the former LSU standout has allowed just one earned run through 23 innings of work, dropping his FIP to 0.91. He has also forced plenty of weak contact (52.5 GB%) and hasn't allowed a homer since he was in college. No team ever wants to rush their prospects to the majors, but there may be no better time than the present for Pittsburgh to promote Skenes. He has proven that he can mow down Triple-A batters, so he should get his shot in the majors sooner rather than later.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
5 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect
Quinn Mathews is a former fourth-round pick just one month removed from his pro debut. The southpaw has a low-90s fastball and rounds out his repertoire with a curveball, slider, and changeup. Of those secondary options, the changeup is the best, though all three can be effective. Mathews flashed decent control in college and has racked up strikeouts so far this year. He also struggled with walks in his pro debut but has seemed to harness his control since then. Last week, Mathews delivered six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out 13 batters along the way. He's averaging more than two strikeouts per inning this season, and he also hasn't allowed an earned run since his pro debut back on April 5 (two runs, one earned). Keep an eye on Mathews, who could push to make his MLB debut sometime next year.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
5 days agoArizona Diamondbacks third base prospect
Deyvison De Los Santos was snatched by the Guardians in December's Rule 5 draft but returned to Arizona this spring. He has seen his prospect stock drop lately (he was MLB Pipeline's No. 5 Diamondbacks prospect
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5 days agoCleveland Guardians pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson's total minor-league appearances can be counted on one hand, but that doesn't detract from his excellence ever since the club selected him in the 10th round of last year's draft. He gets plenty of spin on his fastball, which he commands quite well. He can also locate his slider and changeup, both of which are effective secondary offerings. Wilkinson's big run in the minors technically started with a scoreless relief appearance last season when he struck out all three batters he faced. However, he's already seen much more action in 2024, remaining nearly unhittable through four phenomenal starts. In his latest outing last week, Wilkinson tossed six hitless innings, surrendering just one walk while striking out 15 batters. The 270-pound southpaw nicknamed "Tugboat" might ride the wave to High-A sooner rather than later.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect
Ryan Ward is a power-first player whose claim to fame is that he hits a lot of home runs. The former eight-round pick went yard 76 times from 2021 through 2023 and is hitting homers at an even
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5 days agoAtlanta Braves pitching prospect
Owen Murphy was the club's first-round pick in 2022 and has flashed significant upside ever since making his pro debut. The right-hander gets good spin behind his offerings, making up for a lack of velocity likely caused by his relatively undersized 6-foot-1 frame. His fastball registers in the low 90s. He also throws a slider with good break and a slow, loopy curveball that misses enough bats. Finally, he's working on improving his changeup. Murphy was quite effective in his outing last week, striking out 10 batters and allowing just one hit over seven scoreless innings. He has looked brilliant at the High-A level this year, never allowing more than two runs in a single outing. If he continues to pitch well, he could earn a promotion to Double-A by the end of May.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
5 days agoArizona Diamondbacks first baseman
Christian Walker played hero for the club in Tuesday's victory against the division rival Los Angeles Dodgers. The slugger went 3-for-5 with two homers, including a walk-off, two-run homer off
Nabil Crismatt in the bottom of the 10th inning. Walker is now hitting .283 with seven homers and 22 RBI over his first 113 at-bats. Even at age 33, Walker continues to remain an underrated player with his ability to hit for plenty of power without sinking ones batting average. He should be rostered in most formats and will look to keep it going on Wednesday when the Diamondbacks finish their series against the Dodgers and ace
Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoSeattle Mariners closer
Andres Munoz recorded his fifth save of the season versus the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday evening. Munoz was summoned to get the final five outs of the ballgame and he did so with three strikeouts. He also allowed a hit and a walk. Munoz has a fantastic swing-and-miss arsenal and now has a 2.25 ERA to go along with 12 K/9. If there has been one blemish for Munoz, it has been that he has walked seven batters in 12 innings of work, but his ability to rack up strikeouts has helped him get out of any jams. He should be rostered in all formats moving as one of the better closers in the league.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoReturning from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, San Diego Padres starting pitcher
Yu Darvish did not miss a beat. Darvish tossed five innings and allowed three hits with no runs or walks and three strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds. It was Darvish's first start since April 14 as he dealt with neck stiffness. Darvish had a bit of a down season in 2023, but he has bounced back so far in 2023 with a 3.45 ERA over his first 28 2/3 innings. His strikeouts are down at the moment versus his career numbers, but there is still plenty of time for that to improve. Darvish is worth rostering in all formats and will face the Chicago Cubs early next week.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoCincinnati Reds corner infielder
Jeimer Candelario went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss against the San Diego Padres. The round tripper was the third of the season for the offseason acquisition. Candelario has struggled early on with his new club to the tune of a .189 batting average and nine RBI. Candelario has been a good source of pop in the past, but he has not been hitting the ball hard this season and the results have shown. It is still early enough in the season to be patient, but managers in smaller leagues can think about swapping him out for a player swinging a hot bat or one with more upside at this point.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoSan Diego Padres closer
Robert Suarez worked a perfect 1-2-3 inning to secure his 10th save of the season on Tuesday versus the Cincinnati Reds. Suarez recorded one strikeout and lowered his ERA to a pristine 0.71 on the season. Suarez has been dominant out of the bullpen for the Padres and hasn't made the club miss former closer
Josh Hader, who left to sign with the Houston Astros this offseason. Suarez hasn't struck out many batters this season with 11 in 12 2/3 innings, but he continues to get the job done and should be rostered in all formats.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoMinnesota Twins catcher
Ryan Jeffers went 1-for-3 on Tuesday versus the Chicago White Sox. Jeffers lone hit was a single, but he has quietly been putting together a strong campaign behind the dish. The 26-year-old is hitting .295 and has five homers with 17 RBI. Managers couldn't ask for more from behind the dish and Jeffers is delivering it at a much lower price than other top tier catchers. The backstop hasn't been hitting the ball hard and his average exit velocity is a weak 83.9, so managers should expect a regression in the future. Despite that, Jeffers makes good contact with nice pop in his bat, so he should continue to be valuable throughout the season. Jeffers should remain rostered in most 10-team leagues moving forward.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoIndiana Pacers point guard
Tyrese Haliburton had a rough outing in Game 5 against Milwaukee on Tuesday, finishing a 115-92 loss with 16 points, four rebounds, and six assists. Haliburton turned in a below-par line despite a hot start that saw him hit two treys inside the first four minutes. He ended up going 4-for-10 from downtown with a 6-for-14 overall effort from the field.
Pascal Siakam was limited to 12 points, and the Pacers definitely need more from their leaders to wrap up the series in Game 6 on Thursday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoTaylor Pendrith has developed a reputation for being one of the most volatile options in the game of golf. A top-10 finish or a disastrous missed cut are entirely in the 32-year-old Canadian's range of outcomes on any given week, and fantasy managers need to look no further
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5 days agoSeamus Power is trending in the right direction leading up to the CJ Cup and should be squarely on the radar of fantasy managers. The 37-year-old Irishman struggled in early 2024 after taking a five-month hiatus from golf while recovering from a hip injury, but he's flashed glimpses of his former self in the past two months. Since March, he's made the cut in four of five starts, with notable finishes of T21 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T26 at the Valspar Championship, and a T12 in his last start at the RBC Heritage. He's also gained strokes on approach in all five of those starts. Power should feel comfortable heading back to TPC Craig Ranch, as he's finished inside of the top-20 in all three of his trips to this event. He is one of the best bentgrass putters in the field and clearly has the all-around game to contend here, and the reward for fantasy managers could very well outweigh the risks for Power this week.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
5 days agoDavis Thompson may be a tempting option for fantasy managers this week given his $7,900 DraftKings salary. The 24-year-old Georgia Bulldog has been playing solid golf in his second PGA Tour season, and he enters the week on the heels of four-straight made cuts with three top-25 finishes during that span. TPC Craig Ranch demands elite long-iron play and the ability to spike with the putter, and Thompson certainly checks those two boxes. He ranks eight in approach play from 200+ yards over the last 24 rounds, a proximity bucket in which over 35% of approach shots will come from, and he's gained over two strokes on the greens in four of his 10 measured PGA Tour starts this calendar year. Thompson does have two top-10 finishes in his short career, including a solo runner-up finish at the 2023 American Express. In a year where golf fans have seen a number of first-time and long-shot winners, it would not come as a surprise to see Thompson in contention on Sunday.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
5 days agoFrom a statistical perspective, Aaron Rai should line up to be a solid course fit for TPC Craig Ranch. The 29-year-old Brit definitely checks boxes required for success at this course, as he ranks fourth in good drive percentage, 11th in overall approach, 9th in approach from 200+ yards, and 10th in opportunities gained over the last 24 rounds. But his short game is usually the culprit preventing him from converting those opportunities, as Rai ranks 81st in bentgrass putting and 80th in birdie-or-better percentage. Perhaps that helps explain his subpar performances here, with a 46th place finish in 2022 and a missed cut in 2023. With only one top-10 finish to his name in twelve starts this calendar year, it's hard to imagine Rai reversing his fortune with a high-end finish this year. Fantasy managers would be wise to pivot away from Rai to higher-upside options around the $8,000 salary on DraftKings this week.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
5 days agoMilwaukee Bucks forward/center
Bobby Portis was back to his best against Indiana on Tuesday, helping the team extend the series in Game 5 with a 29-point, 10-rebound double-double. He shot 14-for-24 from the field and had one assist and one steal as well. This was an impressive bounce-back performance from Portis after he was limited to only four points and three rebounds in Game 4 due to an early ejection. Filling in for
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) in the first unit, Portis has done a great job, averaging 15.8 points and 10.6 rebounds in the series. He should remain a double-double threat even if Antetokounmpo is cleared for action and Portis heads back to the bench.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoMin Woo Lee is undoubtedly a fan favorite who generates plenty of excitement whenever he tees off at a PGA Tour event. But fantasy managers should proceed with caution when considering whether to roster him at TPC Craig Ranch. On a course that demands elite mid-to-long iron play, Lee ranks 93rd in overall approach and 148th in approach from 200+ yards, the latter category in which over 35% of approach shots will come from this week. And while he's generally a positive putter, he's lost strokes on the greens in six of his last eight PGA Tour starts. Perhaps that helps explain the missed cut in his only start here in 2023, in which he lost over five strokes on approach and almost three strokes in the short game. While Lee is super talented with four international victories to his name, expectations should be lowered for the eighth-highest priced golfer on DraftKings this week.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
5 days agoThe stars could be aligning for Tom Hoge to capture his second PGA Tour win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Prior to a missed cut at the Zurich Classic last week, the 34-year-old TCU put together a string of ten-straight made cuts, including seven top-20 finishes during those starts. Notorious for his iron play, Hoge hasn't lost strokes on approach in a PGA Tour event since the FedEx St. Jude Championship back in August of 2023. He also appears to have found something on the greens, having only lost strokes putting once in his last 10 starts. Hoge will also jump off the page statistically over the last 24 rounds, as he projects to have the best adjusted course fit adjusted course fit while 18th from tee-to-green, second on overall approach, and eighth in both opportunities gained and birdie-or-better percentage. With just an average short game this week, Hoge should find himself in contention coming down the stretch on Sunday.
--Ryan HickeySource: PGA Tour
5 days agoMilwaukee Bucks forward
Khris Middleton notched 29 points as the team fought off elimination in Game 5 against Indiana with a 115-92 victory on Tuesday. He was a superb 4-for-7 from behind the arc and shot 9-for-20 overall while adding a game-high 12 rebounds to his tally. Middleton posted his third consecutive double-double in the series and also helped out on offense with five assists. The Bucks would be dead and buried without his fantastic play in the 2024 playoffs. With
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and
Damian Lillard (Achilles) battling injuries, Middleton had notched 26.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists against the Pacers.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoCleveland Cavaliers guard
Donovan Mitchell led his team with 28 points in Tuesday's Game 5 win over the Magic. The multi-time All-Star finally lived up to his reputation points-wise in the series, but he shot a poor 9-for-23 from the field, including 1-for-7 from outside. Mitchell also committed four of the team's 10 turnovers while picking up six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. The Cavaliers star has been off his game in the 2024 playoffs thus far, shooting below 23 percent from deep and averaging only 22.4 points. His other numbers have dropped as well compared to the regular season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoCleveland Cavaliers forward/center
Evan Mobley was the hero of the night in Tuesday's 104-103 Game 5 win over Orlando. With mere seconds left in regulation, Mobley blocked
Franz Wagner's layup to complete a good all-around performance. The USC product posted a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double and had four assists, two steals, and two blocks with 7-for-11 shooting. The Cavaliers needed every bit of Mobley's contributions after seeing
Jarrett Allen (ribs) ruled out for the contest. He's set to have a huge role again in Game 6 on Friday if Allen can't return.
Marcus Morris Sr. helped out on the frontcourt with 12 points and three rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoOrlando Magic forward
Paolo Banchero led the way with 39 points in Tuesday's 104-103 Game 5 loss to Cleveland. He shot 14-for-24 from the field and 4-for-7 from downtown en route to becoming the third-youngest player ever with 39-plus points in a playoff game, behind only
LeBron James and Magic Johnson. Banchero's night included eight rebounds and four assists with five turnovers. The Magic star now boasts two 30-point efforts in the series and is averaging 24.8 points overall, along with 7.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists. Orlando will need similar numbers from him in Friday's Game 6 to survive for another day.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoOrlando Magic guard/forward
Gary Harris suffered a hamstring strain in Tuesday's Game 5 against Cleveland. After averaging 28 minutes in the first four games of the series, the veteran was limited to a 19-minute outing. Harris came up with a pair of blocks in the contest but didn't contribute anything else on the box score, shooting 0-for-3.
Jalen Suggs went close to 40 minutes on the night with Harris out of the lineup for the fourth quarter.
Markelle Fultz and
Cole Anthony could be looked at for bigger contributions in Friday's Game 6 if Harris is unavailable.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Cody Taylor
5 days agoNashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg posted an assist on both of his team's goals in their Game 5 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. The Preds stayed alive in the series with a 2-1 win, pushing the Canucks to Game 6, which will take place in Nashville. Forsberg has been the Predators' best player so far this series, tallying six points (two goals, four assists) in four games, but he's going to need more help if they want to complete the comeback, as Nashville has had major difficulties with scoring in this series.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
5 days agoNashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros had a solid performance in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Vancouver Canucks, picking up a 2-1 victory. Saros helped the Preds stave off elimination, stopping 19 of 20 shots in his best outing of the series. The Predators will need their veteran goaltender to keep having performances like this if they want to come back and win this series, as his current .879 SV% isn't good enough to win the team two more games. It has been a low-scoring series so far and the difference could easily be which goaltender is better, so Saros could have to steal a game or two.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
5 days agoColorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had another solid showing in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets, helping the team to a 6-3 win that ended the series. MacKinnon put up a pair of helpers on two Mikko Rantanen third-period goals that sealed the deal for the Avs. He put up a herculean effort in the series, notching nine points (two goals, seven assists) in five games. The Avalanche will now face the winner of the Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights series.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
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