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Bryan King Tallies Five-Out Save on Friday, Emerging as Houston's No. 1 Closer?
Houston Astros left-hander Bryan King notched his fourth save of the season on Friday, working 1 2/3 scoreless innings without allowing a baserunner in his team's 2-0 win over the Texas Rangers. It was a nice bounce-back outing for King, who had blown a save in his most recent appearance on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners. King has been steady overall this season for Houston, recording a 3.26 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 16 strikeouts across 19 2/3 innings. While King's 19% strikeout rate is not in line with typical closer dominance, he appears to have seized the ninth-inning role in Houston with Astros closer Josh Hader (biceps) on the 60-day injured list due to a biceps injury. Hader could be close to making his return when first eligible in late May, so King's time as the closer in Houston may be short-lived. Still, King offers short-term value on the waiver wire for fantasy managers in desperate need of saves.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
River Ryan Emerging as Must-Stash Pitcher Ahead of Potential Call-Up?
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher River Ryan (hamstring) threw 53 pitches in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing two hits, an earned run, and a walk while striking out four across four innings of work. The 27-year-old opened the year in Triple-A while recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in August 2024 and caused him to miss the entire 2025 season. However, he suffered a hamstring injury on April 11 that caused him to miss more than a month. Ryan will likely need more time in the minor leagues as he continues to be built up to a full starter's workload. Still, the Dodgers now have a hole in their big-league rotation after the news that left-hander Blake Snell (elbow) is being placed on the injured list due to loose bodies in his elbow. Ryan pitched to a 1.33 ERA across a small sample size of 20 1/3 innings (four starts) after making his MLB debut in 2024. Given his upside and the opportunity in the Dodgers' pitching staff, Ryan could be worth stashing off the waiver wire for fantasy managers.
Source: milb.com
Source: milb.com
Is Jahmyr Gibbs the Dynasty RB1?
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has finished as the RB2 and RB4 over the past two seasons, all while running mate David Montgomery continued to average more than 200 opportunities per year. With Montgomery traded to the Texans this offseason and replaced in free agency by downtrending former Chief Isiah Pacheco, expectations are sky high for Gibbs heading into his fourth season. Only Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, and De'Von Achane have finished as top six fantasy running backs in each of the past two seasons, and with all three entering their age 24 seasons, team environment becomes one of the most weighted factors in determining the dynasty RB1. Both the Falcons and Dolphins are bringing in new coaching staffs for 2026, while the Lions approach year six under Dan Campbell, coming off four consecutive seasons with a top-five offensive finish. Gibbs should continue to see the most positive game scripts and scoring opportunities. In slotting him in at dynasty RB2, RotoBaller gives the slight edge to Robinson for his unique ability to gain hidden yardage in ways that few players in league history have been capable, but Gibbs is, and will continue to be, one of the most exciting young assets to build around, and is worthy of an early first-round selection, even in superflex startups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Trevor Megill Earns Save for Brewers, Seeing Fantasy Value Bounce Back
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Trevor Megill picked up his fifth save of the season on Friday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout in his team's 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. Megill has struggled overall in 2026, pitching to a 5.63 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 20 strikeouts across 16 innings. He appeared to have fallen out of the closer mix in Milwaukee, as Friday marked his first time appearing in the ninth inning of a game since April 17. However, fellow Brewers high-leverage reliever Abner Uribe has had some issues of his own this season, including allowing three earned runs and blowing a save opportunity against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. On Friday, Uribe worked the eighth inning ahead of Megill. While Megill may not yet be back to working exclusively in the ninth inning, he's now allowed just two earned runs while recording 15 strikeouts over his last 11 appearances. In leagues where he may have been dropped, Megill could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
The Long-Called-For Isaiah Likely Breakout Could Finally Arrive in 2026
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely has long been a popular dynasty breakout candidate, but while playing his first four seasons for John Harbaugh in Baltimore, he was never truly able to get out from under the shadow of three-time Pro Bowler Mark Andrews. In following Harbaugh from the Ravens to the Giants in the early stages of free agency, his head coach remains the same, but he should have every chance to finally claim the top spot on the depth chart. Second-year tight end Theo Johnson had built a healthy rapport with Jaxson Dart in their first season together, but with the $26 million guaranteed commitment given to Likely as part of his three-year, $40 million deal, the expectation is that he will be heavily involved in New York's new look offense. With Wan'Dale Robinson departing for Tennessee in free agency, Likely could realistically see the second-most targets on the team, with his raw volume potentially increasing should 2024 first-round pick Malik Nabers miss any time at the start of the year as he continues to work his way back from the knee injury that ended his sophomore campaign. Likely is RotoBaller's dynasty TE15 and should finally be given a chance to live up to the hype that has followed him for years.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tony Santillan Pitches in Seventh Inning on Friday, Falling Out of Closer Committee
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Tony Santillan appeared in the seventh inning of his team's 7-6 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, pitching a scoreless inning with a strikeout. The scoreless inning was a welcome change for Santillan, who had given up eight earned runs across five appearances in May leading into Friday. However, the 29-year-old still owns a 5.50 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP so far this season and appears to have fallen out of the closer mix in Cincinnati as the team looks to replace the injured Emilio Pagan (hamstring). Right-hander Tejay Antone picked up his first save of the season against Cleveland and could be worth a look for fantasy managers on the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Duncan Robinson Nets 14 Points With Four Triples
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Duncan Robinson had a major impact in his return to action on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, contributing 14 points in 20 minutes off the bench in a 115-94 win. Following a tightly-contested first half, Detroit won the third quarter 30-19, with Robinson nailing a pair of three-pointers late in the frame. Overall, he finished 4-for-7 from behind the arc and had no two-point attempts, going 2-for-3 at the line. After missing one game due to a lower back injury, Robinson also contributed two rebounds and two assists. Daniss Jenkins, who jumped into the starting unit as Robinson's replacement in Game 5, recorded 15 points, three rebounds, and three assists on Friday. With both players performing well, Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has little reason to tinker with the starting lineup in Game 7 on Sunday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cade Cunningham Contributes 21 Points in Game 6 Win
Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham notched a team-high 21 points and delivered eight assists in Friday's 115-94 elimination game victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons' superstar wasn't very efficient with his work, going 7-for-19 from the field and committing seven turnovers, but he still made a big impact. Five of Cunningham's makes came with 10 attempts from behind the arc. His line included two rebounds in 42 minutes. Over the last two games, Cunningham has made 11 triples and boasts a 47.6% three-point efficiency in the series. He has averaged 25.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.2 steals against Cleveland. In Game 7 on Sunday, the pressure will be on Cunningham to lead the Pistons to their first Conference Finals appearance since 2008.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jalen Duren Bounces Back With Double-Double
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren tallied a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double and added three blocks and one steal in Friday's 115-94 Game 6 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The All-Star big man provided the perfect response to being benched in Game 5. His performance was especially remarkable considering Duren injured his left ankle in the third quarter. Luckily for the Pistons, the 22-year-old big man was able to return for the fourth and helped the team secure an impressive road victory. Duren made only one of four free-throw attempts but finished a very good 7-for-10 from the field. The challenge for Duren now is to replicate this performance in Game 7 on Sunday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Anthony Edwards Finishes Season-Ending Loss With 24 Points
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards had a team-high 24 points in Friday's season-ending 139-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The Timberwolves couldn't stave off elimination on home court, struggling on the offensive end all night. Edwards produced his third-highest scoring game of the series but was limited to 9-for-26 from the field. He finished 2-for-7 with the three-ball and 4-for-7 at the free-throw line, adding two rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 36 minutes. Despite being hit by knee problems late in the season, Edwards enjoyed a good campaign. He averaged a career-high 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals. Edwards already has six NBA campaigns under his belt, yet he'll still be just 25 when the 2026-27 season begins, meaning his best fantasy production is likely still ahead of him.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Victor Wembanyama Tallies 19 Points in Friday's Win
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama had a quiet outing by his standards in Friday's Game 6 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, totaling 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, and three blocks in a 139-109 win. Wembanyama missed both his three-point attempts, but he went a good 6-for-11 overall from the field and had a 7-for-9 record at the charity stripe. On Friday, Wembanyama was able to take a lighter load as San Antonio's backcourt powered the team to a series-clinching victory. Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper combined for nearly half of the team's points (68). The Spurs will face Oklahoma City in the Conference Finals, a team they have beaten in four of five meetings this season. San Antonio has dominated this matchup despite Wembanyama's modest averages of 18.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
De'Aaron Fox Highly Effective in Blowout Win
San Antonio Spurs point guard De'Aaron Fox eased his way to 21 points, four rebounds, nine assists, and two blocks in just 24 minutes in Friday's series-clinching 139-109 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fox went a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc and 2-for-2 at the line, missing just two of 10 field-goal attempts. This was one of Fox's best performances of the postseason. While the All-Star guard hasn't set the world alight in the playoffs, he has done a solid job overall. Across 11 appearances, Fox has contributed 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He's been dealing with an ankle issue and left the first half early on Friday, which is something to monitor in the upcoming Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Stephon Castle Shines in Series-Clincher
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle led the demolition job as the team punched its ticket to the Western Conference Finals with a 139-109 blowout victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Castle posted game highs with 32 points and 11 rebounds, while delivering six assists in 30 minutes. He finished 11-for-16 from the field, including 5-for-7 beyond the arc. Castle nearly matched his Game 5 total (17) in the opening quarter when he scored 14 points. The 21-year-old is playing in his first postseason, but hasn't had any issues handling the extra pressure. In 11 outings, Castle has averaged 19.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists, nailing 44% of his three-point attempts.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Brandon Lowe has Two-Homer Game in Loss to Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe did his best to help his team against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park on Friday, but it was not enough in a 10-inning, 11-9 loss. Lowe went 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and two strikeouts to raise his season average to .252 and his OPS to .915. Lowe now has four home runs in 12 games in May and 12 home runs overall in 39 games to begin his first year in the Steel City with the Bucs. The veteran left-handed-hitting second baseman came into Friday's series opener with a .247/.351/.527 slash line, an .878 OPS, 28 RBI, and 24 runs scored in 171 total plate appearances. The two-time All-Star reached the 30-homer mark for the second time in 2025 in his final year with the Tampa Bay Rays, and he's on pace to get there again in 2026 if he can stay healthy. Lowe brings above-average pop to the second base position for fantasy managers, but he also has a lengthy injury history. So far, he's been an excellent value pick for fantasy managers.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Kyle Schwarber on a Heater, Hits Two More Homers to Take Major-League Lead
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder/designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is on another planet right now. The veteran slugger went 3-for-5 at the plate in Friday night's 11-9 win in extra innings over the hosting Pittsburgh Pirates with two more home runs, five RBI, a walk, and a strikeout to raise his season average to .237 and his OPS to 1.010. The 33-year-old veteran is as hot as they come and now has the major-league lead with 20 home runs and has also driven in 35 in his first 45 games of the 2026 season. Schwarber is seeing the ball really well right now and has homered nine times in his last eight games despite hitting just .237 overall on the year. Strikeouts will continue to be a big part of his game, but as long as he continues to send balls over the fence with regularity, his fantasy managers won't care too much. In his last seven games, he has a 1.133 slugging percentage, and he pulls the ball in the air more than any hitter in baseball. He's a sight to behold right now.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Cal Raleigh Being Shut Down for a Week
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (oblique) is being shut down for a week, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. Raleigh's MRI exam came back better than the previous one, which is obviously good news, but he will be re-evaluated in another week. The 29-year-old left-handed slugger was placed on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with an oblique strain, but it sounds like he could miss minimal time. It's the best-case scenario for Raleigh and his fantasy managers. Until he's able to return, the M's will mix and match behind the plate with veteran Mitch Garver and Jhonny Pereda. On top of his injury, Raleigh's start to the 2026 has been a rough one, as he is currently slashing a dreadful .161/.243/.317 with a .560 OPS, seven home runs, 18 RBI, 16 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his first 41 games played. It's not what his fantasy managers were expecting at all after Raleigh destroyed baseballs last year and led the league with 60 home runs and 125 RBI in 159 games played in the regular season. Despite the terrible start in his sixth year in the majors, Raleigh must be stashed in all fantasy leagues.
Source: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
Source: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish
Heliot Ramos Pulled With Right-Quad Tightness
San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos (quadriceps) was pulled from Friday's game early against the Athletics on the road with right-quadriceps tightness, according to the team. Before leaving the game early, Ramos went 1-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout. He was replaced in left field by infielder Casey Schmitt. Ramos apparently injured his quad in the sixth inning during a swing and was replaced in the outfield the next half inning. For now, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day, but don't be surprised if he's held out of the starting nine for Game 2 of the series in Sacramento against the A's on Saturday. If Ramos' injury is serious enough to send him to the injured list, Drew Gilbert would likely be the primary beneficiary in San Fran's outfield going forward. The 26-year-old Puerto Rican outfielder came into Friday's contest hitting .265/.306/.426 with a .732 OPS, four home runs, 20 RBI, and 19 runs scored in 43 games played for the Gigantes.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
Clay Holmes Suffers Fractured Fibula on Friday Night
New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes (leg) suffered a fractured fibula on Friday night in his outing against the crosstown-rival New York Yankees, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday. Holmes broke his leg when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Yankees rookie outfielder Spencer Jones in the fourth inning. He actually remained in the game before being pulled in the fifth inning. The 33-year-old veteran took the loss and ended up allowing four earned runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out eight in 4 1/3 innings pitched. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that Holmes will be out for "a long time," and he could be placed on the 60-day injured list. It's literally a tough break for an injury-ravaged Mets team, especially since Holmes entered his start on Friday with a tidy 1.86 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 37 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings across his eight starts in 2026. Fantasy managers will be without the converted reliever for potentially a few months. It's unclear who the Mets will choose to replace him in the starting rotation going forward.
Source: Newsday - Laura Albanese
Source: Newsday - Laura Albanese
Taj Bradley Throws Successful Bullpen Session
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Taj Bradley (pectoral) threw a successful 20-pitch bullpen session on Friday. This is the first time that Bradley has taken the mound since going down with right pectoral inflammation on May 6. The expectation is that he'll throw another bullpen session at some point next week. After that, Bradley should progress to facing live hitters. It doesn't sound liike he's too far away from being activated from the Injured List. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Bradley, with him possibly being able to return by the end of May.
Source: Aaron Gleeman
Source: Aaron Gleeman
Brandon Woodruff Feels Good After Bullpen Session
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) reportedly felt good after throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session on Thursday. Assuming nothing changes in the next few days, Woodruff will throw another bullpen session on Monday. Afterwards, he'll likely throw a simulated game before possibly rejoining the Brewers rotation. It's unclear if he'll require a minor league rehab assignment, but that'll likely depend on how he feels after these sessions. The right-hander hasn't pitched since late April due to right shoulder inflammation. There seems to be a good chance that Woodruff will be back in the mix for the Brewers before the end of May.
Source: Adam McCalvy
Source: Adam McCalvy
Matthew Boyd is Making Solid Progress
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (knee) is reportedly feeling good physically and plans to throw off the mound on Saturday. If everything goes well, Boyd will throw a bullpen session sometime next week. This is great news considering Boyd underwent meniscus surgery on his left knee last week. The recovery timetable is about six weeks, so there's still more work to be done. It sounds like the veteran southpaw has a chance to beat that timetable, assuming everything continues to go well. There's a chance he is back in the Cubs rotation by mid-June. Boyd wasn't posting great numbers before the injury, but could be someone worth stashing in deep leagues.
Source: Tony Andracki
Source: Tony Andracki
Blake Snell Heads to 15-Day Injured List
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (elbow) was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Friday. Ugh, this sucks for fantasy managers who just got Snell back. The southpaw was scratched from his scheduled start on Friday, and now we see why that happened. Snell heads to the shelf due to loose bodies in his elbow, which is something that could sideline him for multiple months. In a corresponding move, reliever Charlie Barnes was recalled to take over the spot on the active roster. It's unclear at the moment what the Dodgers plan to do with the vacant spot going forward. Will Klein gets the nod as the opener on Friday, with the Dodgers going with a bullpen game. The Dodgers should announce a timetable for Snell soon, but fantasy managers should expect to be without Snell for at least a month or more.
Source: Maddie Lee
Source: Maddie Lee
River Ryan Could Join the Starting Rotation
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher River Ryan (hamstring) is making a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday. Recently, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that there is a slim possibility that Ryan joins the starting rotation at some point. It's going to take some time as the Dodgers want to slowly build up Ryan. He hasn't pitched since suffering a hamstring injury on April 11. The plan is for Ryan to throw four innings during his outing on Friday. He'll likely continue to be built up from there, but could be an option for the Dodgers down the road. Fantasy managers in deep leagues that are looking for a stash option might want to consider adding Ryan.
Source: Fabian Ardaya
Source: Fabian Ardaya
Austin Reaves Could Command $40M Per Year With New Contract
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is set to receive a major pay raise as a free agent this offseason. According to Dan Woike and Sam Amick of The Athletic, because of a weak free-agent class, rival executives believe Reaves could secure a contract worth $40 million per season. The Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets have the salary cap space needed to sign Reaves, and both the Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks are said to be interested in his services. Reaves, who earned $13.9 million this season, averaged a career-high 23.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 2025-26, along with 5.5 assists and 1.1 steals. Year after year, his fantasy stock has grown, and it's expected to remain high whether Reaves stays with the Lakers or signs elsewhere.
Source: The Athletic
Source: The Athletic
Jalen Duren Available to Finish Game 6
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (ankle) started the fourth quarter of Game 6 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He injured his left ankle midway through the third quarter. Duren made several trips to the locker room but appears to have avoided a major injury. Paul Reed enjoyed a strong stretch during Duren's absence. Before the injury, Duren was having his best performance of the series, posting nine points, seven rebounds, one steal, and two blocks.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Yanic Konan Niederhauser Not Expected to Be Ready for Start of Next Season
Los Angeles Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser (foot) is not expected to be ready for the start of next season, Law Murray of The Athletic reports. In March, the rookie big man was diagnosed with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot and underwent season-ending surgery. Unfortunately, Niederhauser must also sit out the start of the 2026-27 campaign. Recently, it was reported that the 23-year-old is looking at a 5-8-month recovery timeline. While Niederhauser didn't get much burn during his first year in the Association, he flashed plenty of potential. Across 41 appearances, he averaged 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game.
Source: Law Murray
Source: Law Murray
Jalen Williams Declares Himself Healthy for Conference Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) has declared himself healthy for the start of the Western Conference Finals, ESPN's Tim MacMahon reports. Williams has dealt with hamstring issues throughout the season, missing the last six games in the playoffs. Despite being without one of their best players, the Thunder have still dominated in the postseason, sweeping two opponents. With Williams sidelined, Chet Holmgren has been a bigger part of the offense. He averaged 20.0 points per game in the second-round series against the Lakers. Ajay Mitchell has put in some eye-popping performances while filling in for Williams in the starting lineup, but he will head back to the bench now that Williams is set to return.
Source: Tim MacMahon
Source: Tim MacMahon
Terrence Shannon Jr. Will Play Friday Night
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Terrence Shannon Jr. (head) will suit up for Game 6 against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. It was initially unclear whether Shannon Jr. would play after he was a late addition to the injury report due to a head contusion. Shannon Jr. has made some noise in these playoffs, but he might not play much on Friday, with Minnesota needing to rely heavily on its best players in an elimination scenario. In Game 5, Shannon Jr. was limited to two points and four assists in 17 minutes.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Kevin Huerter is Available for Game 6
Detroit Pistons guard Kevin Huerter (adductor) is available to play for Friday's Game 6 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Huerter made his return to the court after a seven-game absence on Wednesday. He only logged in three minutes of playing time during Wednesday's overtime defeat. It's unlikely that Huerter sees much of an increase in playing time on Friday. Duncan Robinson (back) is returning after missing Game 5, so it's possible that Huerter doesn't play at all. DFS managers should not count on Huerter to be a reliable option ahead of this must-win matchup.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Duncan Robinson is Returning for Game 6
Detroit Pistons guard Duncan Robinson (back) is available to play ahead of Friday's Game 6 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Robinson is back in the mix after being forced to miss Wednesday's Game 5 defeat. Daniss Jenkins moved into the starting five with Robinson unable to go in the last game. He played over 40 minutes, but should see a significantly reduced role with Robinson returning on Friday. The assumption is that Robinson will move back into the starting five. He'll be a decent source of three-pointers, but doesn't offer a ton of upside outside of that.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
