23 hours agoKaulig Racing had one rough Saturday as Derek Knaus finished 38th in qualifying for Sunday's AdventHealth 400. Kraus had issues similar to William Byron but was 1.775 seconds off the pole lap by Christopher Bell. Kraus was 36th in practice, running laps a little above 175 mph. His lap averages in the No. 16 car seemed to get worse and worse. His overall performance in practice was 31.545 seconds. With 15- and 20-lap averages approaching 31.6 seconds, the likelihood is that Knaus stays very close to the bottom of the field on Sunday. Place differential is only possible if there is a lot of field attrition.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: NASCAR.com
23 hours agoAustin Hill had a rough Saturday in the Richard Childress Racing Chevy. Hill qualified 34th overall for Sunday afternoon's race in Kansas. It did not help that the No. 33 car had all sorts of issues coming out of the turns. Furthermore, turning in 31+ second laps during practice will not get it done on this track. At least in qualifying, Hill managed a lap of 30.392 seconds. It was a marked improvement but still 0.901 seconds off from Christopher Bell's pole lap. Hill also qualified 34th at Texas and some of the same issues persisted. Sunday could see Hill slow down again.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: NASCAR.com
23 hours agoJimmie Johnson will start the AdventHealth 400 from the 19th position on Sunday afternoon. The Legacy Motor Club part-time driver inched out Corey Heim for the honor. The last time Johnson raced at Kansas was in October of 2020 where he finished 31st for Hendrick Motorsports. Johnson has been pretty consistent in the Toyota in 2024 producing nine, eight, and nine points in his three appearances. The expectation is that the No. 84 car loses track position as the race goes on. Johnson was 35th in practice and his best lap there was dead last in the field.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: NASCAR.com
1 day agoAs Zane Smith adjusts to the Next Gen car, which seems to take longer for most rookies to adapt to than previous chassis, he is currently the slowest full-time driver in the NASCAR Cup Series with a speed percentile of 21.54. However, his qualifying speed at Kansas this weekend was competitive with his Spire Motorsports teammates, as Smith qualified 24th, one position behind Carson Hocevar and two positions ahead of Corey LaJoie. Smith has never started a NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas, but he has been solid in the Craftsman Truck Series, where he won the 2022 spring race, finished second in this weekend's event, has led 250 career laps here, and has never finished worse than 11th. It's unlikely that any of his setup notes from the Truck race will carry over, but this might be one of his best chances for a decent run regardless.
--Sean Wrona - RotoBallerSource: Racing Reference
1 day agoJohn Hunter Nemechek has been one of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series's biggest lowkey disappointments. After triggering the pileup that injured his teammate Erik Jones at Talladega, Nemechek has now been out-qualified by both Jones's substitute, Corey Heim, and his part-time car owner, Jimmie Johnson, back-to-back weeks at Dover and Kansas despite having more experience in the Next Gen car than either of them. Nemechek did post a faster qualifying time than Heim, but he starts 29th while Nemechek starts 20th because the first qualifying group was much faster. Nemechek is better at Kansas than he is at most tracks, as his average finish of 18th in the Cup Series is better than his average at most other tracks. He has also won two Xfinity Series races and one Craftsman Truck race there, but his struggles in the Next Gen car will probably override that.
--Sean Wrona - RotoBallerSource: Racing Reference
1 day agoJustin Haley has certainly improved Rick Ware Racing's competitiveness and reputation to a significant extent this season, as his speed percentile this year of 27.10 is considerably higher than the drivers in the other RWR car, but the team continues to lack the speed necessary to significantly contend, particularly on a track where horsepower is paramount in a year when Ford has been winless across all three national series. Haley qualified only 35th for this weekend's AdventHealth 400, beating his teammate du jour Riley Herbst by .015 seconds. Haley is a plodding, methodical driver who usually finishes better than he starts, as he did in his last three Kansas starts, where he had an average start of 29 and an average finish of 19.33. He'll likely do so again this weekend, but it's hard to imagine the team finishing better than 25th on a horsepower track.
--Sean Wrona - RotoBallerSource: Racing Reference
1 day agoAustin Cindric continued his string of consistent qualifying runs with a seventh-place start for this weekend's race at Kansas, but despite outqualifying all his Penske teammates as well as the Front Row Motorsports and Wood Brothers satellite cars, he has seldom been able to convert his strong qualifying runs into solid race finishes. He has never scored a top-10 finish at Kansas nor has he led a lap and he finished worse than his starting position in each of his last four starts there. In the last intermediate race at Texas earlier this year, he qualified eighth and finished 25th and he has finished worse than his starting position in 10 of the 11 races this season. Expect this trend to continue on Sunday.
--Sean Wrona - RotoBallerSource: Racing Reference
1 day agoHarrison Burton qualified 31st at Kansas this weekend and there's little to suggest he might contend on Sunday. Not only has he never led a lap or finished better than 21st in a race at Kansas, he has never even scored a top-10 finish on a non-drafting intermediate to date. Even in the Xfinity Series, Burton only managed a single top-10 despite driving dominant Joe Gibbs Racing equipment. Additionally, almost all Ford teams except for Stewart-Haas Racing have underachieved expectations in the NASCAR Cup Series this year, so when considering Burton's lack of performance on this track type, Ford's lack of performance in general, and the fact that recent Kansas races tend to have minimal attrition, bettors should stay away from Burton entirely.
--Sean Wrona - RotoBallerSource: Racing Reference
1 day agoChase Briscoe qualified 10th for this weekend's race at Kansas, but forecasting his performance is particularly difficult. The Stewart-Haas cars have been notoriously slow on intermediate tracks for the most part with the Next Gen chassis, and Briscoe himself has neither scored a top-10 finish nor led a lap at Kansas. Furthermore, Briscoe's performance on intermediates was dreadful last season, as he was the second-slowest driver on that track type with a speed percentile of 15.16. However, the SHR cars have appeared to be significantly faster than expected this year, as Briscoe's teammate, Noah Gragson, qualified third and gave the team its best start on an intermediate since 2021. Briscoe finished sixth in the last intermediate race at Texas. He shouldn't factor in for the win, but a top-10 showing is probably likelier than oddsmakers project.
--Sean Wrona - RotoBallerSource: Racing Reference
1 day agoChristopher Bell won his first pole of the season for this weekend's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas. This continues his recent trend where he has been the best qualifier in the NASCAR Cup Series, as he won the most poles in both 2022 and 2023 and had the best average starting position last year. However, despite winning ten poles (including two previous ones at Kansas) and seven races in his career, Bell has never won from the pole and he has historically been likelier to win in races when he drives up through the field. Despite Toyota's general dominance on intermediate tracks, this track type seems to be Bell's Achilles heel. Although he usually finishes in the top ten at Kansas, he has never finished better than third and has only won on an intermediate once. Expect him to fade while another driver charge to the front on Sunday.
--Sean Wrona - RotoBallerSource: Racing Reference
1 day agoOakland A's outfielder
Esteury Ruiz (wrist) exited Saturday's game against the Miami Marlins after injuring his wrist while diving for a hit in the sixth inning. He left the game with the trainers and was replaced by
Seth Brown. Ruiz is considered day-to-day and will undergo further evaluation on his injured wrist. The 25-year-old went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI before exiting. He was starting to heat up at the plate, hitting .300 (3-for-10) with three runs, three RBI, and two stolen bases over his last five games. Brown would see an uptick in playing time if Ruiz were to miss any games. The 31-year-old is off the fantasy radar in most formats after slashing .180/.232/.281 across 31 games in 2024.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: A's On NBCS
1 day agoSeattle Mariners right-hander
George Kirby (knee) had an MRI on his right knee on Saturday as a precaution. Mariners manager Scott Servais is optimistic Kirby won't miss any time and will make his next start Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. The 26-year-old was pulled from Friday's outing against the Houston Astros after just 88 pitches. Kirby's knee injury doesn't sound serious, and the MRI results should confirm the severity of his issue. He owns a 3.76 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 41:4 K:BB across 38 1/3 innings in 2024. Fantasy managers should continue to roll with Kirby as long as he's cleared for his next scheduled start on Thursday.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Adam Jude
1 day agoNew York Mets top pitching prospect
Christian Scott allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out six over 6 2/3 innings in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. He did not factor into the decision. Scott was promoted to majors on Saturday after posting a 3.20 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and 36:6 K: BB over 25 1/3 innings for Triple-A Syracuse in 2024. The 24-year-old struggled in the first inning, allowing a run on three hits. He bounced back the rest away and retired 11 hitters in a row. Scott threw 94 pitches, landing 67 for strikes. The Mets rookie will look to build off his stellar debut in his next start on Friday against the Atlanta Braves. Scott has tremendous fantasy upside and should be added in all league formats.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
1 day agoBaltimore Orioles left-hander
John Means (1-0) allowed three hits and no walks while striking out eight over seven scoreless innings in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Means started the season on the injured list after having a setback on his surgically repaired left elbow. Means picked up his first victory of the season. He completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk and made his 2024 debut on Saturday against the Reds. He was stellar in Saturday's win, blanking the Reds over seven innings on 85 pitches. The 31-year-old owned a 2.66 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and a 10:4 K: BB across 23 2/3 innings in 2023. Means will look to build on Saturday's performance at his next start on Friday against the Seattle Mariners.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
1 day agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Dylan Carlson (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago White Sox. Pedro Pagés will be optioned to Memphis as the corresponding move. Carlson recently completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis and is set to make his season debut on Sunday. The 25-year-old missed the start of the season due to a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. He slashed .219/.318/.333 with five home runs, 27 RBI, 27 runs, and three stolen bases over 255 plate appearances in 2023. With
Tommy Edman (wrist) sidelined and
Jordan Walker in Triple-A Memphis, Carlson has a clear path for playing time and is a speculative add in deep-league formats.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Katie Woo
1 day agoBaltimore Orioles reliever
Yennier Cano allowed a walk while striking out one over 2/3 innings in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Craig Kimbrel entered the game in the ninth inning to protect a one-run lead. Kimbrel was pulled from the save situation after he allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out one batter in one-third of an inning. Cano replaced Kimbrel and retired two of the three batters he faced to notch his first save of the season. Kimbrel has been dealing with a back tightness and has blown back-to-back saves. The Orioles could turn to Cano for saves while Kimbrel is struggling. Cano owns a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts over 17 1/3 innings. Fantasy managers searching for saves should add Cano in all league formats.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
1 day agoCleveland Guardians outfielder
Steven Kwan (hamstring) will undergo an MRI on Sunday. Kwan initially injured his hamstring during Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Angels while trying to make a play in the outfield. "A hamstring is always concerning, especially with my history," said Kwan. "It's not something to be optimistic about." The Guardians will have a timetable and if an injured stint is needed once the MRI results are in. The 26-year-old is slashing .353/.407/.496 with three home runs and three stolen bases over 32 games in 2024.
Gabriel Arias replaced Kwan in the game and would see an uptick in at-bats if he were to miss any time. Arias is on the radar in deep leagues after slashing .250/.271/.382 with a home run, nine runs, eight RBI, and three steals over 21 games this season.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Paul Hoynes
1 day agoCleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen (rib) is questionable heading into Sunday's pivotal matchup with the Orlando Magic. The 26-year-old has averaged 17.0 points, 13.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks during this series. However, a rib contusion prevented him from suiting up for the team's last two contests. With the series tied at three games each, the Cavaliers certainly hope to get Allen back for Game 7. But if he can't play,
Marcus Morris Sr. and
Isaac Okoro could get more work, although neither player is a reliable DFS contributor.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 day agoDenver Nuggets guard
Jamal Murray had 17 points in Saturday's playoff loss to the Timberwolves. He added four assists and one rebound. The 27-year-old had trouble finding his rhythm in this one. But to be fair, his teammates didn't play much better, with
Nikola Jokic going 11-for-25 from the field and 2-for-9 from deep. Murray averaged 17.3 points, 7.7 assists, and shot 53.8% from behind the three-point line in three meetings with Minnesota during the regular season. With that in mind, he has an excellent chance of bouncing back in Game 2 on Monday night.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoLos Angeles Angels catcher
Logan O'Hoppe (hand) was removed from Saturday's game against the Cleveland Guardians with a right-hand contusion. The 24-year-old took a foul tip off his right hand during the fourth inning. He initially stayed in the game before being replaced in the bottom of the fifth inning. O'Hoppe went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before exiting. X-rays came back negative on O'Hoppe's hand. He is considered day-to-day and will likely get the day off Sunday in the series finale against Cleveland.
Matt Thaiss would see an uptick in playing time if O'Hoppe were to miss any time.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Fletcher
1 day agoDenver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic finished with 32 points in Saturday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He added nine assists, eight rebounds, and three steals. While the multi-time MVP nearly had a triple-double, he had issues finding the bottom of the net in Game 1, shooting 11-for-25 from the field and 2-for-9 from deep. He also had seven turnovers. The Timberwolves did a fantastic job preventing Jokic from getting comfortable. With that in mind, head coach Mike Malone will make adjustments heading into Game 2 on Monday evening, so Jokic should play better.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Wyatt Langford (hamstring) was removed from Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals in the fifth inning due to right hamstring tightness. He slowed up while trying to run out a tapper in front of home plate. The Rangers rookie went 0-for-3 before being replaced by
Travis Jankowski in the fifth inning. Langford is considered day-to-day and will undergo further evaluation after the game to determine the severity of the injury. Jankowski would see an uptick in playing if Langford were to miss any games and is a speculative add in deep-league formats.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Evan Grant
1 day agoMinnesota Timberwolves guard
Anthony Edwards led his team to a win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. He had 43 points, a postseason career-high, and added seven rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. The 22-year-old played well during the regular season. However, Edwards has played at a higher level, averaging 33.4 points while shooting 43.6% from behind the three-point line in his five playoff appearances. With the Timberwolves now leading the series, the Nuggets will try to knot things up on Monday night. As usual, expect Edwards to be featured in plenty of DFS lineups.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoPhiladelphia Phillies infielder
Alec Bohm (hip) was removed from Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants with right hip tightness. The Phillies announced that the move was precautionary. The 27-year-old went 1-for-1 with an RBI, an HBP, and two runs scored before being removed. He extended his hitting streak to 17 games. It's worth noting that the Phillies were up eight runs, and there were rainy conditions before
Whit Merrifield replaced Bohm in the bottom of the third inning. He is slashing .364/.435/.579 with four home runs, 32 RBI, 18 runs, and a stolen base over 34 games in 2024. Bohm is considered day-to-day. Merrifield would see an uptick in playing time if Bohm were to miss any games.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Alex Coffey
1 day agoTrackhouse Racing superstar Daniel Suarez has qualified 27th for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. Suarez's disappointing qualifying efforts came as no surprise, as the 32-year-old also struggled to find speed during Saturday's practice session. Despite being on the track for 30 laps, which was tied for the
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1 day agoRyan Preece has qualified 32nd for Sunday's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. Besides being priced at $6,400, there is little to like about Ryan Preece heading into this weekend's race. In eight Cup starts at this track, he has no top-10s and has an average overall finish of 24.8. While his 25.73 average DraftKings points in the Next Gen Car at this venue does rank 16th in the Series, his 13.23 average on similar D-shaped intermediates is the third lowest among active full-time drivers. Even his practice on Saturday was disastrous as he finished with the second worst time of the day (30.793), a result that only adds to the overwhelming case against playing the 33-year-old this weekend in fantasy. Between his struggles both this season and on this style of track, it is recommended that you fade the No. 41 this weekend in DFS.
--Adam Erhardt - RotoBallerSource: Jayski.com
1 day agoFresh off a disappointing trip to Dover last weekend, Brad Keselowski will start 30th in Sunday's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. Prior to finishing 30th at Dover, Keselowski had finished second in back-to-back races, a testament to how competitive this team has been all season. Heading into this
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1 day agoComing off back-to-back top 10 finishes at Talladega and Dover, Daniel Hemric will look to build off this momentum on Sunday when he starts 33rd in the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. As a driver who failed to crack the top 20 in six straight races this season,
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1 day agoTruck Series regular Corey Heim will start 20th in Sunday's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. Heim, who is in his second week of relief duty for the injured Erik Jones, did a respectable job last week at Dover in what was his first-ever Cup start. After starting 32nd,
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1 day agoChase Elliott, who currently sits third in the NASCAR playoff standings, will start ninth in Sunday's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. With four top-five finishes in the last five races this season, Elliott enters the race as one of the hottest drivers in the Cup Series. Despite
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