May 26, 2026, 10:37 AM ET

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) worked two scoreless innings while giving up two hits and striking out three in his first minor-league rehab start on Monday in the Florida Complex League, according to Sportsnet. It was Bieber's first game action since last year's World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The veteran right-hander will continue to build up his workload from here, but it's unclear when his next rehab outing will be. The 30-year-old has not pitched for Toronto at all in 2026 yet after entering spring training back in February with right-elbow fatigue. Bieber got a late start to last year as well while recovering from Tommy John surgery, which is why the team has slow-played his recovery. In seven regular-season starts in 2025, Bieber struck out 37 and had a 3.57 ERA in 40 1/3 innings. His return will be a big boost for a Jays rotation that is missing both Jose Berrios and Cody Ponce for the entire season, with Max Scherzer also sidelined. The former American League Cy Young isn't going to be as dominant as he was earlier in his career with Cleveland, but his strong showing last year after coming back from TJ surgery makes him an obvious stash candidate. He's currently rostered in 45% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Sportsnet

May 26, 2026, 10:30 AM ET

Athletics right-hander Aaron Civale (shoulder, lat) had another tough outing in Monday's 9-2 loss to the division-rival Seattle Mariners and is expected to be placed on the injured list, manager Mark Kotsay told Theo DeRosa of MLB.com. Civale allowed seven earned runs on nine hits (three homers) while walking one and striking out only two in four innings on Monday to take his second loss of the 2026 season. Kotsay and Civale were unable to pinpoint the issue, but his injury appears to be related to his right shoulder or lat. In his place, the A's plan to call up left-handed pitching prospect Gage Jump. Civale first noticed something with his shoulder/lat during his previous outing against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, when he allowed five runs in five innings, and his fastball velocity was down more than 1 mph. His fastball was 3 mph below his season average on Monday, sparking more concern. The good news is Civale said he hasn't felt much pain, but "just something's off." It's hard to say how quickly Civale will be able to bounce back and come off the IL. He's currently rostered in just 21% of Yahoo leagues and has a 4.20 ERA and 1.47 WHIP with only 39 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings over his 11 starts.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Theo DeRosa

May 26, 2026, 10:22 AM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) left the game against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 16 after the third inning because of right-quad discomfort and was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day with a right-quad muscle strain. O'Hearn worked in the outfield on Monday with agility/cone drills, according to MLB.com. Barring a setback once he starts ramping up more, O'Hearn is expected to come off the IL at some point in mid-June. Monday was the first activity that the 32-year-old veteran has done since injuring his quad. In his first year in the Steel City, O'Hearn has hit .289/.368/.459 with an .827 OPS, seven home runs, 29 RBI, 27 runs scored, and a stolen base across 44 games and 182 plate appearances. Although he has just one home run against left-handers, he's gone a very respectable 13-for-47 (.277) against them with a .300 on-base percentage. O'Hearn is currently rostered in 59% of Yahoo leagues. In his absence, the Bucs have been mixing and matching in right field with Esmerlyn Valdez, Jhostynxon Garcia, and Jake Mangum.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 26, 2026, 10:12 AM ET

Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin (oblique) is only dealing with a Grade 1 strain of his right oblique muscle, which creates hope that he might be on the 10-day injured list for just one month, but manager Walt Weiss said it's too early to put a timetable on his return, per MLB.com. Baldwin was put on the IL on May 19, and barring a setback, he could be back with the big-league club around the middle of June. The 25-year-old National League Rookie of the Year in 2025 has yet to resume baseball activities, and until then, we won't have a clearer picture of when he might be back with the Braves. In the meantime, he should be stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues as one of the best-hitting catchers in the game in just his second season. Baldwin was hitting .303/.389/.543 with a .931 OPS, 13 homers, 38 RBI, 39 runs, and a steal in 188 at-bats before his oblique injury. Sandy Leon and Chadwick Tromp will continue to split the catching duties in Atlanta until Baldwin can return at some point next month.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 26, 2026, 10:02 AM ET

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy has been a dynasty disappointment after his record-breaking Combine performance and favorable landing spot pushed him into the first round of 2024 rookie drafts. Injuries and inconsistency have limited him to less than 1,200 receiving yards through his first two seasons, but with teammate Rashee Rice again making off-field headlines and tight end Travis Kelce set to turn 37 at the start of the 2026 season, Worthy becomes an intriguing buy candidate with his price tag having fallen dramatically from the consensus WR18 dynasty ranking he took into his rookie year. Rice is currently serving a 30-day jail sentence after violating the probation conditions stemming from his 2024 multi-car collision that caused serious bodily injury. It's unlikely he'll face additional punishment from the NFL after serving a six-game suspension for the initial incident in 2025, but with injuries and the aforementioned suspension limiting him to only 12 games over the past two seasons, there is a potential opportunity for growth in an otherwise lackluster receiver room. Behind Worthy and Rice, Kansas City's depth chart includes Tyquan Thornton, 2025 fourth-round pick Jalen Royals, 2026 fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen, and undrafted free agent Jeff Caldwell. Worthy is RotoBaller's WR52 in dynasty leagues, but in an offense that could look drastically different as early as 2027, there is still a bull case to be made for his long-term upside.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 26, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Rico Garcia continues to share closing duties with Anthony Nunez while Ryan Helsley (elbow) is on the IL, but he could be lined up for more opportunities in the short term since Nunez has struggled. On Monday, Nunez came on in the eighth against the Rays, and he was charged with a blown save after giving up two hits and a run. Garcia came on and spun two shutout innings with one strikeout and one hit allowed in the 9th and 10th innings before the O's eventually walked off the winners in the 13th. Garcia has thrived in high-leverage spots all season, compiling a 0.77 ERA and 0.64 WHIP in his 23 1/3 innings. He could get a few more save chances while Helsley ramps back up, so he makes sense as a short-term add in deep leagues, even though he doesn't have the full-time closer role in Baltimore.--Zach Thompson
Source: RotoBaller

May 26, 2026, 9:52 AM ET

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Emilio Pagan (hamstring) tweaked his hamstring while throwing a pitch against the Cubs on May 5. He landed on the injured list with an estimated timetable of 4-to-8 weeks, and since that was almost four weeks ago, it makes sense that he's almost ready to start working his way back. On Saturday, manager Terry Francona said that Pagan was meeting with a doctor and could begin playing catch soon. Before the injury, Pagan was 2-1 with six saves in 15 appearances. He had a 6.43 ERA and 5.79 FIP, but he was still clearly the team's preferred closer after he posted 32 saves last year. Without him, the Reds have gone with a committee that has struggled with multiple blown saves in his absence. Pagan should get a shot to reclaim the job as soon as he's ready to return, so if you need to get ahead of his rehab in your NL-only or deep league, now is the time to stash him. In standard-sized formats, he is an interesting option to put in an available IL spot if you know you'll need saves later in the season.--Zach Thompson
Source: RotoBaller

May 26, 2026, 9:52 AM ET

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas has been an exciting young playmaker when given opportunities through his first three seasons in the league, but a lack of playing time has severely limited his fantasy upside, and nothing about his situation appears to be improving heading into Year 4. After seeing a season-high 63% snap share in a Week 1 loss to the Raiders, Douglas did not top 40% for the rest of the year. The Patriots essentially swapped Stefon Diggs for Romeo Doubs this offseason, which, in theory, should open up more snaps out of the slot, but with the team making significant additions to the tight end and fullback positions, the expectation is that a team that already deployed three-receiver sets at less than a 50% rate in 2025 could trend to even more heavy personnel usage. With New England guaranteeing $35 million to Doubs at signing and still the clear frontrunner to land A.J. Brown after June 1st, Douglas' role could be limited to specific and infrequently used packages in 2026. At RotoBaller's WR125, he still has a place in best ball dynasty leagues, with Josh McDaniels' game-plan-specific offense ever capable of scheming up unexpected matchups, but trying to predict those matchups makes him borderline droppable in all but the deepest lineup leagues.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 26, 2026, 9:40 AM ET

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee had a rough outing on Monday night at home against the Nationals, giving up seven runs on eight hits, including five home runs. Bibee gave up a leadoff homer to James Wood to start things off on the wrong foot and never got any kind of momentum going. The loss dropped Bibee to 0-7 on the year with a 4.57 ERA and 4.85 FIP. He has allowed 12 homers in his 12 starts and has allowed 11 runs in his last three games. Despite Monday's home run derby, he has had a few strong outings recently. He went eight innings and gave up just one run in Detroit in his previous start, and he had three quality starts in a row before Monday's disaster. There are enough reasons for optimism to still hold onto him in deep leagues, but until he turns things around, he's not worth a roster spot in shallower formats.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 9:38 AM ET

Baltimore wide receiver Elijah Sarratt fell to the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft after months of projection as a Day 2 pick, and when he finally came off the board, it was as the second receiver selected by the Ravens. Baltimore spent third-round capital on USC's Ja'Kobi Lane, another big-bodied contested catch specialist who spent most of his collegiate time on the boundary. While the outside is likely where Lane sticks at the next level, Sarratt could be used in more of a jumbo slot role and as a potential replacement for some of the close-to-the-line work vacated by tight end Isaiah Likely. Sarratt was a consistent chain-mover in college, and while a case could be made for him as the higher upside Ravens rookie, his ceiling could still be capped in the league's only offense to throw the ball at a sub-50% rate in each of the past four seasons. Sarratt is RotoBaller's rookie WR15, and while he has an uphill climb to fantasy relevance, the same can be said of most players going in the late-second to early-third-round range of dynasty rookie drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 26, 2026, 9:25 AM ET

Commanders rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams was a productive option out of the slot across three healthy seasons at Clemson, and his landing spot in Washington could allow him to see the field immediately in an offense helmed by one of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the league. In a rookie class with very few prospects to get genuinely excited about, those are at least reasons to look his way in dynasty rookie drafts. A third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Williams ran almost 80% of his routes from the slot, and in Washington, his biggest barriers to immediate playing time are Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane, neither of whom has produced significantly across their three combined seasons with the Commanders. David Blough steps into the offensive coordinator position after two years as the team's assistant quarterbacks coach, so his play-calling tendencies are still a bit of a question mark, but whoever earns the primary slot role could still struggle to find meaningful work in an offense expected to run through Terry McLaurin and a league trending towards heavier personnel usage. Williams is RotoBaller's rookie WR7, and while he was never a true dominator in college, he at least has a path to step in as the second or third receiving option in an uptrending Washington offense, making him a worthwhile selection at the end of the first or early-second round of rookie drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 26, 2026, 9:21 AM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Treinen got his first save of the season on Monday night against the Rockies. He only needed four pitches to get the job done in his team's 5-3, come-from-behind win. Lefty Alex Vesia started the ninth and got two outs, but allowed a single to Willi Castro. When the Rockies went to pinch-hitter Braxton Fulford as the potential tying run, manager Dave Roberts countered by bringing in the righty Trieinen. Treinen struck out Fulford to end the game, posting his ninth scoreless outing in his last 11 appearances. The 37-year-old veteran is 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA and 3.97 FIP in his 21 games this season and has mostly been used in middle relief. With Tanner Scott pitching back-to-back days before Monday's win and the comeback way the game came together, Trienen's save seems like an outlier, but in deep leagues, he is worth watching to see if he gets more work at the end of the game as the Dodgers continue to cover until Edwin Diaz (elbow) returns.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 9:16 AM ET

Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Joe Flacco stepped immediately into the starting role in 2025 after a rare in-division mid-season trade from the Browns, turning in three fantasy finishes as the QB7 or better across his six starts, all while learning a brand new playbook on the fly. With Flacco signing a one-year deal to return to the team this offseason, a better grasp on the system and one of the best surrounding casts in the league should allow him to thrive if called upon again in 2026. Perhaps more importantly for fantasy, his presence boosts the worst-case scenario floors of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown should three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow miss significant time again. With Burrow shelved early in 2025 with a serious turf toe injury, all three saw their production plummet with Jake Browning under center, but rebounded nicely following the trade for Flacco. At 41 years old, his remaining time in the league is limited, but at RotoBaller's dynasty QB46, Flacco's cost to acquire is significantly lower than any other player with such a clear path to week-winning production.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 26, 2026, 9:14 AM ET

Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez closed out his team's 3-1 win on Monday over Minnesota, and he seems to have shaken off his struggles from earlier this month. Dominguez turned in back-to-back scoreless innings on Sunday and Monday after allowing two runs in each of his two previous appearances. On the season, the 31-year-old has 11 saves in 14 opportunities with a 4.35 ERA and 5.59 FIP. He has held opponents to a .192 average, but has a 1.26 WHIP since he has issued 11 walks in 20 2/3 innings. Dominguez hasn't exactly been a shut-down, elite option as a closer, but he should have a chance to claim more saves for Chicago, making him a good addition from the waiver wire if he's available. Bryan Hudson and Grant Taylor both appeared as setup men before Dominguez on Monday, and they would likely be next in line for saves if Dominguez struggles again. For now, though, he seems to have re-secured his role at the back end of the White Sox bullpen, making him worth a roster spot in most standard-sized leagues.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 9:00 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley tallied 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and one steal in Monday's 130-93 blowout loss to the New York Knicks. Mobley, who finished 7-for-15 from the field in Game 4, played well throughout the series, but the Cavaliers fell well short in other areas. The 24-year-old finished the second season of a five-year, $269 million contract. In 2025-26, Mobley averaged career highs with 1.7 blocks and 3.6 assists. While his three-point efficiency declined, Mobley still notched 18.2 points and grabbed 9.0 rebounds per game. His high-level two-way ability makes Mobley an outstanding fantasy asset, and he hasn't even reached his prime yet.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 8:51 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden holds a $42.3 million player option on his contract for the 2026-27 season and wants to stay with the team, ESPN's Jamal Collier reports. "Definitely want to be here," Harden said after Monday's season-ending 130-93 loss to the New York Knicks. "I think we found something. It's tough. It's not ending how we wanted to, but I think we found something." Harden had a disappointing outing on Monday night, finishing with 12 points on a 2-for-8 effort from the field. But he showed strong play overall after arriving midseason from the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. The former MVP formed an excellent backcourt partnership with Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland went 16-6 with Harden and Mitchell in the lineup, and the team's 122.1 offensive efficiency with the two on the floor would have ranked first in the NBA over a full season.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Jamal Collier

May 26, 2026, 8:38 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell has no plans to move despite the team being swept in the Eastern Conference Finals by the New York Knicks. "I love it here. I don't know any other way to say it," Mitchell told reporters after Cleveland's season ended with a 130-93 blowout loss. The team struggled badly in Monday's elimination game despite Mitchell's 31 points. Mitchell reached the Conference Finals for the first time in his nine-year NBA career and clearly sees a bright future for the Cavaliers. He is eligible to sign a contract extension this offseason, ahead of his 30th birthday. While Mitchell isn't getting any younger, he still has plenty of fantasy value, having posted averages of 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.5 steals this season.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Marc Stein

May 26, 2026, 8:29 AM ET

New York Knicks guard/forward Mikal Bridges contributed 15 points, three rebounds, and five assists during Monday's series-clinching 130-93 road win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Once again, Bridges did a solid job for the Knicks, though his hot hand finally cooled off. After making at least 57% of his field-goal attempts in eight consecutive games, Bridges finished 4-for-16 from the floor. He went 1-for-8 from three-point range and 6-for-6 at the line. While Bridges' recent percentages have been unsustainable, the Knicks will be hoping he can replicate that form in the NBA Finals to boost their title chances.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 8:22 AM ET

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby recorded 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals in Monday's 130-93 blowout win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He made only one of five three-point attempts but finished a decent 6-for-13 from the field, helping the Knicks reach their first Finals since 1999. After recovering from a hamstring injury, Anunoby improved with each outing in the series, averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.0 steals. He will compete for his second NBA championship and has some unfinished business after not seeing the floor in the 2019 Finals as a member of the Toronto Raptors.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 8:15 AM ET

New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns scored a team-high 19 points in Monday's series-clinching 139-93 blowout win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He added a game-high 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks, marking his ninth double-double of the postseason. Towns was 3-for-3 from downtown and missed only three of his 11 field-goal attempts overall. The 30-year-old big man has been extremely efficient and effective with his play throughout the postseason and will no doubt play a major role in the upcoming Finals, where the Knicks face either San Antonio or Oklahoma City. Towns may prefer to face the Thunder, having had more success against them during the regular season.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 8:08 AM ET

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson was unanimously named the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals MVP after the team completed its sweep of Cleveland with a 130-93 victory on Monday night. Brunson, who earned his third consecutive All-NBA Second Team selection over the weekend, averaged 25.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.0 steal per game against Cleveland. The 29-year-old has been among the top performers in the 2026 playoffs, leading the Knicks to back-to-back sweeps and the first Finals since 1999. While Brunson was outstanding in the Eastern Conference Finals, he still has room for improvement after making only 18.2% of his three-point attempts.--Taavi Pailk
Source: NBA.com

May 26, 2026, 7:34 AM ET

Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov finished Monday's 3-2 overtime loss in Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes with an assist. He helped Mike Matheson score Montreal's first goal of the game. Demidov registered his second point of the series after being among the goal-scorers in Montreal's big 6-2 Game 1 victory. Throughout the playoffs, Demidov has primarily made an impact on the power play, but each of his last two points has come at even strength. He has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 17 games. One more point would tie the young Russian for the fifth-most playoff points by a rookie in franchise history. Demidov will have at least two games to reach that mark, starting with Game 4 on Wednesday.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 7:23 AM ET

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson returned to the score sheet in Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, scoring a power-play goal in a 3-2 overtime defeat. Hutson's goal sent the game into overtime, where Montreal suffered a second consecutive loss. It was a painful ending for the team, but the Canadiens will take some joy in knowing Hutson collected his first point of the series. He's played a key role throughout the postseason, recording 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 17 games. However, two-thirds of Hutson's points (10) have come on the power play, and Montreal is facing a team with a 93.5% penalty-kill rate in the Eastern Conference Finals, making it tougher for him to generate offense.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 7:14 AM ET

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen faced only 13 shots on goal as the team defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime on Monday. After being lit up in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Andersen has come back strongly with back-to-back 3-2 overtime wins. He's been getting a lot of help from the team, as Carolina has limited Montreal to 25 shots on goal over the last two games. On Monday night, the Canadiens didn't record a single SOG over the final 24 minutes of action. The Hurricanes' suffocating defense is making Andersen's job a piece of cake. He's now 10-1 in the playoffs, with a 1.56 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage, and two shutouts.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 7:05 AM ET

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere celebrated his first goal of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday, giving his team a 1-0 lead en route to a 3-2 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens. While Gostisbehere was nearly a point-per-game player during the regular season, his offensive production has been lacking in the playoffs. He's managed only three points (one goal, two assists) in 11 outings. Gostisbehere has been held pointless nine times. A few other key performers have also struggled to make an impact in the postseason, yet the Hurricanes still find themselves only two wins away from the Stanley Cup Finals.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 6:59 AM ET

Carolina Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall picked up his first point in the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday, scoring the team's second goal in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens. Hall has been Carolina's leading scorer in the playoffs, but the Canadiens had done a good job defensively against him prior to Game 3. Before ending a four-game goal drought and registering seven SOG, Hall had managed only two attempts on the net in the series. The former MVP is enjoying the best postseason of his career, having tallied 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 11 contests.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 6:53 AM ET

Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov scored the winning goal in Monday's 3-2 overtime victory in Game 3 against the Montreal Canadiens. Carolina blew two leads in the contest but eventually secured a win, giving the team a 2-1 series lead. This was only the second goal of the postseason for Svechnikov, who produced a career-high 31 goals and 70 points in 79 regular-season games. In 11 playoff outings, he has been limited to five points. Svechnikov has a lot more scoring potential, and it could be only a matter of time before he finds the same level of consistency on the offensive end that he showed during the regular season.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 26, 2026, 6:24 AM ET

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Athletics are promoting top left-handed pitching prospect Gage Jump to the major leagues. Currently, the southpaw is ranked as the overall No. 41 prospect in the entire sport on MLB.com. Jump was selected with the 73rd overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of LSU and was enjoying a dominant stretch at Triple-A Las Vegas prior to his promotion. Over his last two outings (11 frames), Jump did not allow a run while racking up 15 punchouts to just one free pass. Over his first 27 innings of the season, the southpaw posted a much higher 6.67 ERA but continued flashing elite strikeout potential, totaling 41 over this stretch. While Jump does not have much experience against the top hitting of the minor leagues, he has shown he can tally strikeouts at a dominant rate. Managers should expect Jump to slot into the starting rotation when he joins the roster, which makes him a solid pick-up in all 12+ team leagues ahead of his debut.--Andy Smith
Source: Jeff Passan

May 26, 2026, 12:54 AM ET

Washington Nationals infielder Curtis Mead had a career night on Monday in the team's 10-2 win over the hosting Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, going 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and a strikeout. It was Mead's first career multi-home run in his fourth year in the big leagues. The 25-year-old Australian came into Monday's series opener in Cleveland with a .234/.351/.441 slash line, .793 OPS, only five home runs, 17 RBI, 20 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 39 games across 131 plate appearances in his first year with the Nats. Mead is hitting a very modest .241/.353/.491 on the season with seven home runs now, but he has been displaying more power of late, going deep three times in the last three games. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Mead to keep it up, as he never had more than three round-trippers in a single season before 2026. He's primarily useful in NL-only leagues, mainly for his eligibility at first, second, and third base. Mead is rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 26, 2026, 12:46 AM ET

St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore took his third loss of the year on Monday night on the road against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, but it was still a very strong effort on the mound. Liberatore allowed three earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out a career-high 10 batters in five innings of work. The 26-year-old southpaw now has 19 strikeouts in his last two starts, but he also has failed to pitch into at least six full innings in five of his last six outings. He has allowed 11 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings in his last three starts as well, so it hasn't all been great recently. Liberatore still has a 4.76 ERA on the year despite his strong showing against the Brew Crew on Monday night, adding 53 strikeouts and 29 walks in 56 2/3 frames across 11 starts for the Red Birds. The strikeouts lately have been nice, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues should take this as an opportunity to try and sell high. Liberatore is only rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com