May 19, 2026, 11:41 AM ET

The Atlanta Braves announced on Tuesday that they optioned right-hander JR Ritchie to Triple-A Gwinnett following Monday night's game against the Miami Marlins. Ritchie, the team's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, didn't allow more than three earned runs in his first four major-league starts for the Braves after making his MLB debut on April 23 with a strong performance against the Washington Nationals, but he will head back to the farm after he surrendered six earned runs on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts in four innings in a 12-0 loss to the division-rival Miami Marlins on Monday night. The 22-year-old former 35th overall pick in 2022 is now 1-1 on the year with a 4.91 ERA (5.72 FIP) and 1.48 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and 16 walks in 25 2/3 frames across his first five major-league starts. Ritchie should be back with the Braves at some point in 2026, but for now, veteran left-hander Martin Perez will likely take his spot in the starting rotation. Ritchie is still deserving of being stashed in deeper fantasy leagues, although he's only rostered in 18% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Atlanta Braves

May 19, 2026, 11:34 AM ET

The Atlanta Braves announced on Tuesday that they placed catcher Drake Baldwin (oblique) on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique muscle and selected the contract of catcher Chadwick Tromp from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. Baldwin suffered the injury in the blowout loss to the division-rival Miami Marlins on Monday, and he's likely to spend more than 10 days on the shelf. With Sean Murphy (finger) also sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Braves will split the catching duties going forward between Tromp and veteran Sandy Leon. Fantasy managers will want to avoid that situation. The 25-year-old Baldwin, last year's National League Rookie of the Year, needs to be held in all fantasy baseball leagues as one of the top catchers in the game in just his second year in the majors. The former third-rounder in 2022 out of Missouri State is currently slashing a healthy .303/.389/.543 with a .931 OPS, 13 home runs, and 38 RBI in 48 games played. Baldwin had 19 homers and 80 RBI as a rookie in 124 games in 2025. UPDATE: Manager Walt Weiss said on Tuesday that Baldwin was sent back to Atlanta to undergo an MRI exam.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Atlanta Braves

May 19, 2026, 11:26 AM ET

Philadelphia Phillies right-handed rookie Andrew Painter could begin attracting interest in fantasy baseball leagues after his first career quality start on Monday night in a no-decision against the visiting Cincinnati Reds in the team's 5-4 win. Painter allowed two earned runs on three hits while walking two and striking out three in six innings of work in his ninth appearance in the big leagues. The 23-year-old threw 44 of his 69 pitches for strikes. Painter came into the 2026 campaign as one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball after recovering from injuries that slowed his progress down in the minors in recent years. The Phillies are being cautious not to overwork him early on, which is why he hasn't gone 70 pitches in any of his outings so far. After his strong performance on Monday night, Painter is now 1-4 with a 5.77 ERA (4.60 FIP) and 1.49 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 14 walks in 43 2/3 innings across his nine appearances (eight starts) for the Phillies. Painter's leash should continue to get longer as the season progresses, making him a waiver-wire target in deeper leagues. He's scheduled to take on the Cleveland Guardians his next time out this weekend.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 19, 2026, 11:18 AM ET

Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga was touched up by the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night to take his fourth loss of the season. It wasn't pretty, as the Japanese left-hander allowed a season-high eight earned runs on nine hits (two homers) while walking three and striking out two in 4 1/3 innings of work to raise his season ERA to 3.38. The 32-year-old southpaw came into the series opener against the Brew Crew with a 2.32 ERA with three straight quality starts, but he just wasn't on his game on Monday and allowed seven earned runs in the third and fourth innings combined. In his first three starts in May, Imanaga was excellent for his fantasy managers, giving up just three earned runs on 15 hits (two homers) while walking four and striking out 21 in 20 innings pitched. Outside of his rough outing on Monday, Imanaga has allowed more than two earned runs in a game just twice. His peripherals have been solid, so fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned with Imanaga's ugly outing to begin Week 8.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 19, 2026, 11:12 AM ET

Miami Marlins right-hander Max Meyer extended his breakout season on Monday night in the team's 12-0 rout over the Atlanta Braves with another dominant outing, tossing six shutout innings with three hits allowed, two walks, and six strikeouts to win his fourth game of the year. Meyer is emerging as a top waiver-wire target for fantasy managers and is now 4-0 on the year with a career-best 2.85 ERA (3.07 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 60 strikeouts and 19 walks in 53 2/3 innings pitched across his 10 starts with the Fish in his fourth big-league season. The 27-year-old's performance was pretty impressive against the first-place Braves, and he has now gone at least five innings while giving up two or fewer runs in six of his last eight appearances. Meyer will be a must-start against the division-rival New York Mets in his next scheduled start this weekend. He is currently rostered in 62% of Yahoo leagues, but that number should be going up slowly but surely.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 19, 2026, 10:35 AM ET

Detroit Tigers veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (hip) threw a 50-pitch, three-inning simulated game at Comerica Park on Friday and showed improvement in pitch quality and his fastball velocity, per MLB.com. He will throw a longer simulated game around the middle of this week. Verlander is currently on the 60-day injured list with left-hip inflammation and is expected to return around late May or early June. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer landed on the IL all the way back on April 4. He's making good strides, but he still has some boxes to check, and it's unclear if the Tigers want to send him on a minor-league rehab assignment before bringing him back to the big leagues. No longer the dominant arm he once was for so long, it's hard to convince fantasy managers that it's worth holding onto Verlander at this point in his career, especially after he allowed five earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out only one in 3 2/3 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his lone start this year before going on the IL. Verlander is rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 19, 2026, 10:30 AM ET

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (shoulder), who is currently on the 10-day injured list with a shoulder injury, has been doing some light running and throwing and expects to resume swinging a bat this week, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. The 28-year-old sprained the AC joint in his left shoulder back on May 9, which is something he also did in 2023, which caused him to miss six weeks. His shoulder injury this time around appears to be healing much quicker, though. Once he resumes swinging a bat, Carpenter should be cleared to go out on a minor-league rehab assignment shortly after that, giving him a chance to return to the Tigers' lineup before the calendar flips to June. The former 19th-round pick in 2019 had a career-high 26 home runs and drove in 62 in a career-high 130 games for Detroit last year in his fourth season in the big leagues, and he's had at least 18 long balls in each of the last three years. Carpenter is currently rostered in 40% of Yahoo leagues as he tries to recover from his shoulder sprain.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Detroit News - Chris McCosky

May 19, 2026, 10:23 AM ET

Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (wrist) was pulled from Monday night's win over the Houston Astros early with a left-wrist sprain, according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. Jeffers said he will undergo further testing on Tuesday. He was removed from the contest after fouling a pitch off and breaking his bat in the eighth inning. The 28-year-old backstop went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored before being replaced behind the dish by Victor Caratini. For now, fantasy managers should consider Jeffers day-to-day. There's a high likelihood that he will take a seat for Game 2 of the series against the Astros on Tuesday. If Jeffers' wrist injury is serious enough to send him to the injured list, Caratini would become the Twins' primary catcher for a bit. After going 1-for-3 on Monday night, Jeffers is hitting a strong .295/.408/.541 on the year with a .949 OPS, seven home runs, 26 RBI, 36 runs, and a steal in his 148 plate appearances in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Aaron Gleeman

May 19, 2026, 10:16 AM ET

Minnesota Twins first baseman Josh Bell ended a lengthy dry spell in the home run department in Monday night's 6-3 win over the visiting Houston Astros by going 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and four RBI to boost his season average to .223 and his OPS to .647. Both of Bell's home runs came off of struggling Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai in his first two plate appearances of the game. The left-handed veteran power hitter drove in the team's first four runs of the game to help them win the first game of the series at Target Field. Bell's home runs on Monday night snapped a 31-game homerless stretch. It's been a rough season for Bell so far in Minnesota in 2026, which is why he's rostered in less than 10% of Yahoo leagues at the moment. After his big game on Monday night, he's still hitting only .223/.286/.361 with five long balls, 28 RBI, 23 runs scored, and one steal with 14 walks and 43 strikeouts in 182 plate appearances. Fantasy managers should be able to find more consistent power options than an aging Bell.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 19, 2026, 10:02 AM ET

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams has finished as the fantasy RB9 or better in each of the past three seasons, but before even turning 26 years old, he has fallen to RB17 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. With second-year back Blake Corum seeing his usage rise down the stretch of the 2025 season, much of Williams' slide can be explained by growing concerns that the Rams could employ closer to a 50/50 split moving forward. While Corum did prove himself worthy of an expanded role in 2026, Williams is still the superior pass-catcher and more trusted runner in goal line and short-yardage scenarios, so situationally, it's difficult to envision his snap count falling below 60%. And for as long as the Rams' offense is run by Sean McVay and reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, a 60% work share is still enough to keep Williams comfortably in the top 10 running back range. With the market down on him despite the three-year contract extension he signed in 2025, Williams has become an interesting buy candidate for contending managers.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 19, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Juan Mejia got the call in the ninth inning of a one-run game on Monday night and shut down the Rangers on one hit and one strikeout to earn his third save of the season. Former closer Victor Vodnik was charged with three runs after starting the eighth inning, but Brennan Bernardino was able to close out the frame with the Rockies still holding a one-run lead. Mejia and Antonio Senzatela will continue to share closing responsibilities in Colorado, although both were available on Monday and Mejia got the call, giving him a slight advantage at this point. Senzatela could also emerge as a trade candidate, giving Mejia more long-term upside as the potential full-time option. For now, Mejia is trending in the right direction and makes a solid addition if you need saves in deeper leagues.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 19, 2026, 9:54 AM ET

New York Mets outfielder Nick Morabito is poised to make his MLB debut after getting a promotion on Tuesday, as the Mets designated veteran Austin Slater for assignment. Morabito will join an exciting young outfield in New York with rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing already in the mix. While Ewing and Benge are lefties, Morabito is a right-handed hitter, which could help him earn playing time. Just a few weeks after his 23rd birthday, Morabito should bring instant speed potential after swiping 49 bases in 118 games in Double-A last season and adding 14 stolen bases in 41 games in Triple-A this year. He hit .253 in Syracuse with a .350 wOBA and four homers, but his primary fantasy asset initially will be his stolen base upside as he works his way into the Mets lineup. If you need stolen bases from the waiver wire, Morabito is a nice speculative grab in deep leagues.--Zach Thompson
Source: Anthony DiComo

May 19, 2026, 9:50 AM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has the 11th-most receptions in NFL history by any player through their first six seasons. Remarkably, he has only played five years, meaning anything more than 59 catches in 2026 (fewer than half of what he's recorded in each of the previous two seasons) will earn him the record. Chase has had one of the most legendary starts to a professional career across all sports, and that is reflected by his standing as the overall number one player in RotoBaller's non-superflex dynasty rankings. Even with a Week 2 foot injury to Joe Burrow derailing Cincinnati's offense for much of the first half of the 2025 season, Chase was the one Bengals player who did not fully sink fantasy managers while Jake Browning was averaging 172 passing yards per game across his three starts. With competent quarterback play, Chase was his usual unstoppable self, reaching double-digit receptions in five of 14 games started by Burrow or Joe Flacco, while finishing with fewer than seven catches only four times. At only 26 years old, Chase has several years of prime play still ahead of him, and with both he and Burrow tied to Cincinnati through the 2029 season, his reign atop the dynasty rankings could be a long one.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 19, 2026, 9:42 AM ET

Athletics starting pitcher J.T. Ginn took a brutal loss on Monday against the Angels after an exceptional outing. The 26-year-old righty entered the ninth inning with a no-hitter before giving up a single to Adam Frazier and a walk-off homer to Zach Neto to take the loss. Ginn did still get the complete game with 10 strikeouts and just one walk, but he couldn't quite seal the victory. Ginn has allowed a total of just three earned runs over 22 innings in his last three starts, with a 1.23 ERA and 0.82 WHIP. He has 21 strikeouts in his 22 innings in those starts, and he has been a strong option since joining the rotation in mid-April, with just one rough start against the Guardians. He will look to continue his momentum with his second start of the week on Saturday night in San Diego against the Padres. He's a great grab from the waiver wire in all formats with so much recent success and a solid lineup behind him.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 19, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams was once pegged as the next great dynasty back, rising all the way to RB2 in consensus rankings following a 2021 rookie season in Denver in which he forced the second-most missed tackles in the league on barely over 200 carries. Unfortunately, a devastating knee injury and a painstaking recovery led to several underwhelming fantasy seasons, and it was not until his first year in Dallas that he truly returned to form. Williams again forced more than 50 missed tackles in 2025, with his 896 yards after contact good enough for the sixth-highest total in the league. Because the failed breakout call and the ensuing lean years weigh heavily on the minds of dynasty managers, there is a perception that Williams is older than he actually is. However, having entered the league as one of the youngest players in his class, the sixth-year veteran only recently turned 26, and with 865 career carries (only 60 more than Bijan Robinson), he still has plenty of good football ahead of him. Even with the Cowboys committing $16 million in guaranteed money in the three-year extension he agreed to this offseason, Williams remains an overlooked and underrated asset at RotoBaller's dynasty RB22. With Dallas still brandishing one of the league's highest-powered offenses, and improvements to the defense potentially allowing them to close out more games on the ground, Williams will have every chance to top his RB11 finish from 2025, making him a player worth pursuing by all contending managers.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 19, 2026, 9:31 AM ET

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt has impressed through his first 10 games in the majors and looks ready to be a long-time fixture in Arizona's outfield moving forward. The 23-year-old is the team's No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and has lived up to the hype, hitting .313 (6-for-32) with four doubles, three stolen bases, three walks, and six RBI. He hasn't hit a homer yet in the majors, but had 18 in 134 games in the minors in 2025 and three in 34 games in Triple-A before his promotion. He has a 16.7% barrel rate and has caught barrels in back-to-back games after going 3-for-3 with two doubles in Monday's 12-2 rout of the Giants. Waldschmidt is a great fantasy baseball addition if you need outfield depth at this point in the season and offers well-balanced production with good speed and batting average production right away.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 19, 2026, 9:28 AM ET

Alabama freshman running back Ezavier Crowell enters the program as a former five-star recruit in the Class of 2026, and after the Crimson Tide failed to land an impactful transfer running back, he could make an immediate impact in Ryan Grubb's offense. Last season, the Tide ranked 15th in the SEC in rushing yards per game (104.1), and its leading rusher, Jam Miller, tallied just 504 yards. Miller is now in the NFL, leaving Daniel Hill (284 yards) and Kevin Riley (224 yards) as the program's leading returning rushers. Alabama needs a spark at the position, and Crowell, who rushed for 2,094 yards and 28 touchdowns in 12 games in his final high school campaign, could provide just that in his first collegiate season.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: RollTide.com

May 19, 2026, 9:25 AM ET

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin missed seven games in 2025 and finished as the fantasy WR54 in half-PPR formats. Soon to be 31 years old, he has fallen to WR38 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, but when last seen playing a complete slate of games with a fully healthy Jayden Daniels, he reeled in 1,096 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns on 82 receptions. Having averaged only five scores per game in his five prior seasons, he was a clear regression candidate heading into 2025, but the rash of injuries and resulting disarray to Washington's offense have caused the pendulum to swing too far, leaving McLaurin as an underpriced buy candidate for contending managers. The Commanders have added complementary pass catchers in tight end Chig Okonkwo, running back Rachaad White, and third-round draft pick Antonio Williams, all of whom should help to draw coverage in service of new offensive coordinator David Blough's stated goal of building the offense around McLaurin. The eighth-year veteran had been remarkably durable before hitting the wrong side of 30, and while age-related maintenance now must be viewed as part of his profile, if 2025 proves to be more of a blip than a true decline, McLaurin could become one of the best bargains in dynasty leagues.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 19, 2026, 9:22 AM ET

Seattle Mariners shortstop/third baseman Colt Emerson only needed two career games to make an impact as he hit his first MLB homer on Monday night in his team's 6-1 win over the White Sox. Emerson went 1-for-4 with the eighth-inning three-run blast. He started each of the last two games at the hot corner for the Mariners, who are set to give him a long look at that spot with Brendan Donovan (groin) on the injured list. Emerson is just 20 years old but hit .255 with seven homers and 10 stolen bases in his 38 games in Triple-A before his promotion. He is a top-10 prospect in all of baseball (according to MLB.com) and looks ready to make an immediate impact. In mixed leagues, he's a nice grab if still available, although there isn't a clear spot for him when Donovan returns. Emerson has a solid plate approach, but he did have a 27.2% K% in Triple-A. He has the tools to be a great fantasy contributor if he keeps his strikeouts under control and climbs to a more prominent spot in Seattle's batting order.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 19, 2026, 9:19 AM ET

USC true freshman tight end Mark Bowman was the No. 29 overall high school recruit (ESPN) in the Class of 2026. after forgoing his senior year of high school, he enrolled with the program this spring, and he could be a Day 1 impact player in Lincoln Riley's offense. USC's top two leading receivers from last season (Makai Lemon and Jakobi Lane) are off to the NFL, and tight ends Lake McRee and Walker Lyons are also no longer with the program. Rising sophomore Tanook Hines is slated to be the leading receiver in 2026, but Bowman has the opportunity to capture a productive role immediately to kick off his collegiate career. The 235-pound Colorado native is one of the top true freshmen to watch in 2026.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: USCTrojans.com

May 19, 2026, 9:13 AM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has averaged 11.8 half-PPR points per game since being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and has finished as the WR22 or better in four of the last five seasons despite playing a full 17-game slate only once. When the Bengals' offensive core of Higgins, Joe Burrow, and Ja'Marr Chase are healthy and available, as appears to be the case heading into 2026, Cincinnati boasts one of the most fantasy-friendly offenses in the league. While improvements made to the defense could lessen the need for Burrow and company to keep pace in one barnburner after another, talent alone should keep the Bengals among the highest-scoring teams in the league. The 27-year-old Higgins is as reliable an NFL WR2 as can be found, with arguably the highest upside insurance case in the league should Chase miss significant time, and at RotoBaller's WR24, he is quickly approaching underrated territory.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 19, 2026, 9:10 AM ET

During an appearance on "Pardon My Take," North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick spoke candidly about his first year in Chapel Hill. "It was like they (last year's team) were recruited by somebody else; they came here for somebody else. I was new, they were leaving, you know." Belichick said. "It wasn't a bad relationship, but it wasn't a great one. There wasn't the same kind of adhesion that there is to guys that you bring in." But the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach is optimistic heading into 2026, calling this year's group hard-working and smart. Needless to say, Belichick carries plenty of expectations with him after a storied pro career. After last year's 4-8 campaign, the Tar Heels have one of the toughest schedules in the ACC, including games against Miami, Notre Dame, Duke, Virginia, and Louisville.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: On3

May 19, 2026, 9:09 AM ET

Washington Nationals third baseman Brady House was optioned to Triple-A on Monday in the corresponding move that brought outfielder Dylan Crews back to the MLB roster. House has seven homers in his 44 games with a .227 batting average and .302 wOBA. House had a 43% hard-hit rate and 10.5% barrel rate, and his BABIP of .280 was below league-average. Some of his lower numbers were tough luck, but he also did have a 28.2% strikeout rate. He's always been a high-strikeout, high-homer prospect, but his defense has dropped off significantly this season. He seemed to be trending up lately, but the team may want him to get more full-time work in Triple-A while they fill in with Jorbit Vivas and Jose Tena in the majors. At this point, House is droppable in almost all formats, although he does have power upside if he gets another call later in the season.--Zach Thompson
Source: Nationals Communications

May 19, 2026, 9:01 AM ET

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Alex Caruso led his team with a season-high 31 points in a 122-115 double-overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. The veteran, who scored 25 total points in the second-round series against the Lakers, looked incredible in the Western Conference Finals opener, going 11-for-19 from the field with an 8-for-14 record from downtown. Additionally, he was busy on the defensive end with two blocks and two steals. In 32 minutes off the bench, Caruso also contributed a pair of rebounds and one assist. In the previous eight playoff games, Caruso finished with double-digit points just twice, so he is unlikely to match his Game 1 effort on Wednesday night. But he's a valuable member of the rotation and generally does a little bit of everything.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 19, 2026, 9:00 AM ET

Mississippi State quarterback Kemario Taylor flashed in limited action as a true freshman, completing 43 passes for 629 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. He was impressive as a runner, tallying 458 yards and eight scores on just 82 attempts. Taylor started just two games in 2025, including against Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. He threw for 178 yards and rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns in the defeat, showing a glimpse of his upside heading into his starting career. With a full offseason and preseason as the QB1 in Jeff Lebby's system, he's a prime breakout candidate in the SEC in his true sophomore season. With Mississippi State having the talent disadvantage in most of its SEC contests, the program needs a game-changer at signal-caller, and Taylor could be just that.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: Sports Reference CFB

May 19, 2026, 8:53 AM ET

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams made an all-around impact in Monday's Game 1 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. In his first game in nearly four weeks, Williams had 26 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block. He finished 11-for-25 from the field, including 1-for-3 at the free-throw line. Williams logged 37 minutes, proving he's fully healthy after overcoming a left hamstring injury. While the Thunder did well without Williams, his return may prove essential in the Western Conference Finals after the Spurs' impressive performance on Monday.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 19, 2026, 8:52 AM ET

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss came out of nowhere in 2025, beginning the season as the backup to Austin Simmons before quickly taking over the QB1 job for Lane Kiffin. The rising sixth-year senior tallied 3,937 passing yards, 527 rushing yards, 30 total touchdowns, and just three interceptions in 15 games. He led the Rebels to their best season in modern history. After winning his fight for another year of collegiate eligibility this offseason, he's viewed as the best quarterback in the SEC entering 2026. Chambliss will be without three of his top four receivers from 2025 (Harrison Wallace II, De'Zhaun Stribling, Cayden Lee), but the program added transfer wideouts Johntay Cook (Texas), Darrell Gill Jr. (Syracuse), Horatio Fields (Auburn), Cameron Miller (Kentucky), and Isaiah Spencer (Virginia Tech). With John David Baker calling plays, Chambliss should have another big season of production.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: On3

May 19, 2026, 8:45 AM ET

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander logged his first double-double of the postseason with 24 points and 12 assists in Monday's Game 1 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. After picking up his second MVP award ahead of the game, Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to meet his usual high standards. He came alive in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 points to help the Thunder extend the game. Yet Gilgeous-Alexander cooled off again in overtime, posting only two points. The Canadian star went only 7-for-23 from the field and collected eight points from the free-throw line with nine attempts. His line included three rebounds, five steals, one block, and four turnovers. Oklahoma City needs Gilgeous-Alexander to be much sharper to avoid a 2-0 hole in the series on Wednesday.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 19, 2026, 8:38 AM ET

Former Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht followed his head coach, Matt Campbell, from Ames to Happy Valley this offseason. He is slated to be the starting quarterback for Penn State during his final season of eligibility. According to Campbell, Becth has been an important figure in uniting the group of players who came from Iowa State and those who remained at Penn State following James Franklin's departure. "I think he's already done an incredible job of kind of bringing those selfless work ethics here and being a great unifier from, you know, the young men that stayed in this program from Penn State, and kind of unifying all the young men that came on our football team in January, that Rocco has been a great anchor for all of us," Campbell said. In 42 games over the last four seasons. Becht completed over 60% of his passes for 9,274 yards, 64 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions. As a runner, he added 499 yards and 19 scores. He will look to help Penn State be competitive in Year 1 of the Campbell era.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: On3

May 19, 2026, 8:36 AM ET

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle produced a double-double in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, posting 17 points and 11 assists in a 122-117 double-overtime victory. He grabbed six rebounds and had one steal, but Castle also committed 11 turnovers, which marred his line. After losing De'Aaron Fox (ankle) from the lineup, the Spurs needed more playmaking from Castle, and things didn't go smoothly for him. Castle's field-goal efficiency also left a lot to be desired, as he finished 5-for-14 from the field and 1-for-6 from three-point range. Even after opening the Conference Finals with a double-double, Castle has plenty of room for improvement in Game 2.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN