April
29,
2025
Minnesota
Twins
utility
man
Willi
Castro
(oblique),
who
is
on
the
10-day
injured
list
with
a
right-oblique
strain,
continues
to
perform
most
baseball
activities,
including
hitting
from
the
right
side.
Castro
will
hit
from
the
left
read more...
April 29, 2025
New York Mets infield prospect
Ronny Mauricio (knee) went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a strikeout during his first rehab outing with Single-A St. Lucie on Sunday. The 24-year-old missed the entire 2024 campaign after undergoing ACL surgery. In 2023, Mauricio made his MLB debut and held a .248/.296/.347 slash line with four doubles, two home runs, and seven stolen bases. Earlier in that season, Mauricio spent most of his time with Triple-A Syracuse, where he flashed high upside as he posted a .292/.346/.506 line with 30 doubles, 23 home runs, and 24 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to Mauricio's progress during his rehab outing, as he should be in the mix to return to the majors later this summer. When he returns to the big leagues, he could carry value in category formats, given his power and speed upside.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
April 29, 2025
Minnesota Twins infield prospect
Luke Keaschall (forearm) is expected to miss at least a "couple of months" of action. Keaschall suffered a forearm fracture during Friday's contest after being hit by a pitch. While the infielder could avoid surgery, he will remain sidelined for at least the foreseeable future. The 22-year-old has enjoyed an impressive start to his MLB career as he posted a .368/.538/.526 slash line with three doubles and five stolen bases through seven games. During the first 14 games of the Triple-A regular season, the No. 58-ranked prospect in the sport on MLB Pipeline held a .261/.379/.348 line with one home run and four stolen bases. While Keaschall remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect
Edouard Julien to see more opportunities at the keystone.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Phil Miller
April 29, 2025
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said on Monday that he didn't have an update on outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee). Acuna has yet to make his 2025 debut after tearing his ACL last year, although he was cleared to ramp up his baseball activities a few weeks ago. The Braves always planned on taking things slow with the 27-year-old former MVP, so it's not that big of a surprise that there are no updates or that he hasn't started a minor-league rehab assignment yet. When we hear more on Acuna, we'll pass it along. For now, fantasy managers must remain patient and hope that he's able to return to the Braves starting lineup sooner than later in the month of May. Acuna still has the potential to be a difference-maker for fantasy teams, although he probably isn't going to run nearly as much on the basepaths. When he's ready, the Braves plan on returning Acuna to right field immediately.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
April 29, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays infield prospect
Xavier Isaac has begun to find his footing at Double-A. After missing the start of the campaign due to an elbow injury, Isaac went 2-for-20 with two doubles during his first six games of the season. However, over his last three contests, the 21-year-old has tallied at least one hit in each game. During this stretch, the No. 2-ranked prospect in the Tampa Bay system has held a .400/.538/1.000 with one double, one triple, one home run, and four RBI. Last season, the former 29th overall pick spent most of the campaign with High-A before earning a brief taste of Double-A. During his first look at Double-A, Isaac posted a .211/.346/.349 slash line with four doubles and three home runs across 31 games. Fantasy managers should expect Isaac to spend most of the 2025 campaign at the Double-A level.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
April 29, 2025
New York Yankees pitching prospect
Will Warren struggled during his loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday evening. The right-hander logged just three 1/3 innings of work and allowed six hits and four runs. He served up two walks and struck out five batters. Warren was able to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster but has struggled at times during his first extended look in the major leagues. Through his first 24 innings of the campaign (six starts), the 25-year-old has held a 5.63 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP. During this stint, he has struck out 26 batters and served up 12 free passes. Under the hood, he has placed in the 30th percentile and 26th percentile in xERA and xBA, which suggests he may continue to see inconsistent results. As a result, he should only be targeted in 15-team formats for his strikeout upside.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 29, 2025
Houston Rockets center
Alperen Sengun posted a third consecutive double-double in a 109-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, leading all scorers with 31 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He completed his line with five assists and two steals in 42 minutes, but efficiency was once again an issue for Sengun in the game. After making 61 percent of his shots in the series opener, Sengun has been held to below 43 percent shooting in each subsequent game. He finished 12-for-28 from the field on Monday while going 7-for-10 with his free throws. The Turkish big man has led the Rockets in the postseason, averaging 22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals. However, his efforts may not be enough for the team as Houston heads into Wednesday's Game 5 facing elimination.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 29, 2025
Golden State Warriors guard
Brandin Podziemski scored 26 points on 6-for-11 three-point shooting in Monday's 109-106 win over the Houston Rockets. He nailed two triples early on and provided efficient scoring throughout the night, finishing 9-for-18 from the field. In 40 minutes of action, Podziemski also had five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. After battling food poisoning during Game 2 of the series, Podziemski has quickly returned to form and has emerged as a crucial player for the Warriors in this series. The 22-year-old is Golden State's third-highest scorer in the postseason, trailing only superstars
Stephen Curry and
Jimmy Butler III. He has averaged 16.7 points in the three games he has played while healthy.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 29, 2025
Golden State Warriors forward
Jimmy Butler III netted a team-high 27 points on 7-for-12 shooting in Monday's 109-106 win over the Houston Rockets. After returning to the lineup from a pelvic contusion, Butler needed some time to get going, scoring only four points in the first quarter. But he turned out to be a key figure in the contest, finishing 12-for-12 from the free-throw line and picking up five rebounds, six assists, and one block with zero turnovers in 40 minutes. With Playoff Jimmy in top form, the Warriors are well-placed to end the series in five games on Wednesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 29, 2025
Cleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen was highly efficient against the Miami Heat on Monday, finishing a 138-83 win with 14 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and six steals. He went 5-for-5 from the field and made all four of his free throws, achieving a game-high plus-42 over 25 minutes of play. Cleveland made quick work of the Heat in the first round, with Allen performing as a walking double-double. He recorded three double-doubles in four games, averaging 14.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. It promises to be more challenging for Allen going forward, but he appears to be in outstanding form for the playoffs.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 29, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
Andre Pallante turned in a decent outing in Cincinnati, but he didn't get enough run support to avoid taking the loss in his team's 3-1 divisional defeat. Pallante worked six innings and gave up three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four. He allowed a home run in the third, an RBI triple in the fourth, and an RBI double in the sixth, but avoided any big innings. He got a double-play from
Spencer Steer with his final pitch of the game to escape a jam. Pallante falls to 2-2 in six starts with the defeat and has a 4.13 ERA, 5.33 FIP, and 20 strikeouts in his 32 2/3 innings on the season. His next start is scheduled for Saturday at home in a tough matchup against the Mets.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
April 29, 2025
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward
Brandon Boston Jr. underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle last week, as announced by the team. His recovery timetable is approximately 3-4 months. With many Pelicans struggling to remain healthy, Boston Jr. earned an expanded role this season and demonstrated good upside. He averaged 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals in 23.6 minutes. However, the 23-year-old made only one appearance after February, as the ankle injury derailed his second half of the season. He should be fully healed for the start of the 2025-26 campaign and may continue to have a regular role in the rotation after the Pelicans converted his two-way deal into a standard two-year contract in the middle of the season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA.com
April 29, 2025
New Orleans Pelicans forward/center
Kelly Olynyk has undergone a minimally invasive surgery on his left heel and ultrasound-guided tendon debridement, the team announced. He had the procedure performed on Friday and is expected to be out for around 3-4 months. Olynyk should be ready for the start of the 2025-26 campaign, but the surgery will certainly impact his offseason work. The veteran big man will enter a contract year next season. His numbers dropped across the board this season, but Olynyk should have some extra motivation in 2025-26 as he approaches his 35th birthday. He finished this season with averages of 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 20.3 minutes over 44 games with the Pelicans and Toronto Raptors.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA.com
April 29, 2025
Minnesota Twins second baseman
Edouard Julien isn't known for his power, but he hit a leadoff home run to set the tone for the Twins in their 11-1 romp over the Guardians in Cleveland on Monday night. He finished the game just 1-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, but his one hit was a big one. Julien hit the first pitch of the game from
Gavin Williams over the center field fence for his second long ball of the season. The 25-year-old is hitting .213 on the season with a .296 wOBA, two home runs, eight runs scored, eight RBI, and 10 walks. He has hit leadoff in his last 12 starts, but could get crowded out of playing time when
Royce Lewis (hamstring) returns from his rehab assignment.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
April 29, 2025
Cincinnati Reds second baseman/outfielder
Gavin Lux went 3-for-4 on Monday night against the Cardinals with a pair of doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Lux raised his batting average for the season to an impressive .352, and his hot start is backed up by a 44.6% hard-hit rate that would set a new career high. Lux has hit safely in 12 straight games, going 22-for-43 (.512) over that span with five doubles, a home run, and a .553 wOBA. Lux has always had the potential to be outstanding if he's healthy, and he looks fully healthy and ready to be a key part of the Reds' offense the rest of the season. He only has one homer on the year, but his batting average and counting stats have been exceptional.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
April 29, 2025
Indiana Pacers forward
Aaron Nesmith (back) is listed as probable for Tuesday's Game 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks. The 25-year-old is carrying a lower back bruise, but this is not expected to keep him off the floor. Nesmith has had a highly successful series, averaging 13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals. He has scored at least 14 points in three out of four games, primarily due to his impressive 52.4 percent success rate from three-point range. Nesmith has averaged 27.5 minutes a night, so there will be a considerable gap to fill in the rotation if he suffers a setback and can't play.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
April 29, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Kirby Yates allowed an unearned run in the 10th inning but still secured the win on Monday as the Dodgers walked off winners over the visiting Marlins. With the score tied 5-5, Yates came on to pitch the 10th inning and allowed the runner placed on second base to start the inning to come around to score on
Jesus Sanchez's RBI double. He avoided further damage, though, and the Dodgers stormed back for two runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-run single from
Tommy Edman. Yates' win was his third of the season, and he is now 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA and 1.82 FIP to go with 24 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings this season. He has no saves but six holds to go with his three wins, and he'll remain a high-leverage option out of the bullpen for the Dodgers going forward.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
April 29, 2025
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon posted a goal and an assist in Monday's Game 5 against the Dallas Stars but was unable to save his squad from a 6-2 loss. Colorado found itself in a three-goal hole in the second period before goals from MacKinnon and Arturri Lehkonen brought the team back into the game. However, there was no further offense from the Avalanche, who will face elimination in Wednesday's Game 6 after falling behind 3-2 in the series. Things have been difficult for Jared Bednar's men in the matchup, but MacKinnon has continued to deliver the goods. With five games played, he leads all skaters in the postseason with five goals and has recorded two assists with 31 shots on goal.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 29, 2025
Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas collected assists on both of the team's goals during Monday's 6-2 defeat to the Dallas Stars. The Stars jumped to a 3-0 lead, and while Necas' playmaking abilities helped Colorado narrow it to a one-goal game, Jared Bednar's team was no match for the hosts on Monday night. The Avalanche are averaging three goals per game in the series, but Necas has been a disappointment so far this postseason. He has not scored with six shots on net and has three assists through five games. An improvement from the Czech forward must be imminent, as Colorado will face elimination on Wednesday night in Game 6.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 29, 2025
Athletics relief pitcher
Mason Miller worked a scoreless ninth inning to preserve his team's 2-1 win on the road in Arlington on Monday night. He walked
Marcus Semien to start the frame but then retired the next three batters he faced, including a huge strikeout of
Adolis Garcia with the potential tying run in scoring position. Miller has pitched 11 innings in 11 games for the A's this season, compiling a 1.64 ERA, 0.79 FIP, and 0.73 WHIP. He has 22 strikeouts in those 11 innings and has converted all nine of his save opportunities. The Athletics are 15-14 after their win on Monday, and Miller will remain one of baseball's top closers for a vastly improved team moving forward.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
April 29, 2025
Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen accumulated three points in Monday's big 6-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche. His former teammates had held Rantanen to just one point through four games, but he returned to form on Monday night with a goal and two assists. Rantanen's first goal of the postseason, scored early in the second period, turned out to be the game-winning goal. It has been a slow start to the playoffs for Rantanen, but he is one of the most productive players in Stanley Cup Playoffs history, and it was only a matter of time before the Finnish star regained his rhythm on the offensive end.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 29, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani singled, stole a base, and came around to score in the first inning against the Marlins on Monday, but he didn't get much to hit for the rest of the game. He walked three times and struck out in his other at-bat to finish 1-for-2 with three walks, a run scored, and his seventh stolen base of the season. Ohtani is hitting .290 on the season with six home runs, a .243 ISO, a .399 wOBA, and 27 runs scored, which is just one behind the MLB lead held by
Brice Turang. Ohtani is doing a great job as the Dodgers' leadoff hitter, even if his power numbers are slightly down, since he constantly is getting on base and creating scoring chances.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
April 29, 2025
Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston led the way as the team rocked the Colorado Avalanche 6-2 on Monday night. He notched two goals and one assist, bringing his total in the series to five points (two goals, three assists). Johnston scored one of the fastest goals in Stanley Cup Playoffs history, finding the net just nine seconds into the game, and added the team's fourth goal during a power play in the second period. He now boasts three multi-goal performances in his postseason career, trailing only Sidney Crosby (4) and Pierre Turgeon (4) for the most by a player aged 21 or younger in NHL playoffs history. At just 21, Johnston has already made 43 playoff appearances, becoming a highly productive player for Dallas in the postseason.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 29, 2025
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky saved 18 of 20 shots in Monday's Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, helping the team to a 4-2 victory. Tampa Bay beat Bobrovsky twice inside 11 seconds in the second period, but the Russian netminder enjoyed a solid bounce-back performance after giving up four goals on 21 shots during a 5-1 loss in Game 3. Bobrovsky now holds a 3-1 record in the matchup with a 2.01 goals-against average, a .901 save percentage, and one shutout. He's performing excellently in this series, providing the Panthers a strong opportunity to finish off their neighbors on Wednesday night in Tampa.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 29, 2025
Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell finished Monday's 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning with two points. He scored the first goal of the contest and provided an assist on Seth Jones' late game-winning goal. The 23-year-old became the sixth player in franchise history to record 30 postseason points. Lundell had been scoreless in the series before his breakout performance on Monday. Despite his limited offensive impact in the matchup, Lundell remains a core piece of the third line, which also includes Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen. Both players finished Monday's game with one assist apiece.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 29, 2025
Ryan Gerard enjoyed consecutive top-10 finishes in Texas, which included a runner-up result at the Valero Texas Open. The young American golfer had a decent run earlier in the season as well. Overall, Gerard has made 11 cuts and only missed one (Puerto Rico Open). For those wondering, the odds stand at plus-450 currently for him to post a third top-10 finish. It may surprise some that Gerard ranks 14th in overall strokes gained at 1.060. Furthermore, Gerard's biggest key to good starts is the start. He averages a tidy 26.82 putts per opening round. That is now fifth on the PGA Tour, so many putting metrics are inside the top 50. Along with respectable driving numbers (80th in length), Gerard again has an opportunity to contend at the CJ Cup.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
April 29, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel (upper body) left Monday's 4-2 loss to the Florida Panthers in the second period. In the middle of the frame, Hagel took a high hit from Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad that wasn't penalized. Hagel was back in the Lightning lineup after serving a one-game suspension for interference on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov. He saw action in all situations but recorded only one block in 11:04 of play. Following a 90-point regular season, Hagel has yet to register any points in the playoffs. The two teams will meet up for Game 5 in Tampa on Wednesday, and it's unclear if Hagel will be available to play.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 29, 2025
Joe Highsmith seems to have fallen off his form in a big way. The American golfer won the Cognizant Classic in early March. Since that weekend of 64s, Highsmith has struggled, especially in April. Three missed cuts and a near-miss at the RBC Heritage does not inspire confidence. Despite this, Highsmith does have a good birdie average at 4.14 (40th overall). However, his bogey avoidance is troubling down at 151st (17.59%). Combine this with his starts, which rank 164th with a scoring average of 71.92, and Highsmith needs to get off to a better opening 18 holes in the worst way. From a DFS standpoint, it may be wise to at least look away from Highsmith this week.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
April 29, 2025
Eric Cole did not appear concerned with his showing in the New Orleans area. The American golfer missed the cut at the Zurich Classic but had finished 26th or better in his previous four events. Now, the hard part is to figure out which Cole will show up at the CJ Cup. One relevant constant is Cole is shorter off the tee and ranks 153rd in strokes gained at -0.303. That can be somewhat overcome in McKinney, Texas. However, his putts-per-round ranks 11th at 27.77. That rank rises to sixth for Sundays. Cole is up to +220 for a Top 20 maybe for this reason more than any. It boils down to making putts and that is volatile (80th overall in birdie average at 3.85).
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
April 29, 2025
Brian Campbell has extremely long odds but there may be a chance for the American golfer at The CJ Cup. Winning would be almost miraculous at +20000 given the field (includes Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth). Another concern is Campbell's up-and-down 2025. Yes, he has one win in Mexico. However, there have been four missed cuts in 10 events. Also, Campbell seems to be haunted by one round an event where things do not go so well. See the Saturday at the Masters and the final round at the RBC Heritage. On the bright side, a Top 20 stands at +450. The TPC Craig Ranch comes in at 7,468 yards. Being long off the tee will not hurt Campbell at much and he could be a cheap DFS option potentially early.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
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