RADIO
Ian Happ Sitting for Second Straight Game, Should Managers be Concerned?
Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Houston Astros for a "mental breather." Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, "he told him to take Saturday off completely, and Sunday, he's been hitting and doing other typical pregame work. The 31-year-old has struggled mightily over his last six games, slashing .042/.115/.083 with 14 strikeouts across 26 plate appearances. Overall, Happ had been solid, slashing .214/.350/.429 with 10 home runs, 20 RBI, 35 runs, and two stolen bases through 220 plate appearances. His walk BB% has increased from 13.1% last season to 16.4%, while his K% has ballooned from 22.8% to 33.2%. Although there is cause for some concern, fantasy managers should continue to hold onto Happ as he works his way back through his slump. Happ is expected to return to the Cubs lineup for Monday's contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Source: Jared Wyllys
Source: Jared Wyllys
Cubs Place Edward Cabrera on the 15-Day Injured List
The Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Edward Cabrera (finger) on the 15-day injured list due to a blister on his right middle finger, retroactive to May 21. He was pulled from Wednesday's start against the Milwaukee Brewers early after allowing our runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out two batters across three innings. Before landing on the injured list, Cabrera owned a (3-2) record with a 4.00 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 47:20 K:BB across 54 innings this season. The Cubs recalled left-hander Jordan Wicks in a corresponding move, and he will take Cabrera's spot in the rotation. Wicks owns a 4.44 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts across 26 1/3 innings with Triple-A Iowa. The 26-year-old has pitched well recently, posting a 0.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts over 15 innings. Wicks is scheduled to start on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. He is mainly a streaming option in deep and NL-Only leagues for now.
Source: Taylor McGregor
Source: Taylor McGregor
Denny Hamlin the Favorite to Win at Charlotte
Denny Hamlin is the favorite to win this year's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and that shouldn't be too surprising for any NASCAR fan. The No. 11 Toyota has been the strongest car on 1.5-mile tracks this season, and it hasn't really been that close. Hamlin has also been strong here at Charlotte, with 53 laps led in last year's race to go along with a win in the 2022 Coca-Cola 600. As far as DFS goes, Hamlin makes for an excellent fantasy pick this weekend, as the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has some Place Differential upside (he starts 11th) along with the dominator and race-winning potential. Even at $11,500 on DraftKings, Hamlin is a good pick, as there is no reason to think that the speed won't be there for the No. 11 Toyota on Sunday night.
Source: ifantasyrace
Source: ifantasyrace
Tyler Reddick on Pole for Coca-Cola 600
Tyler Reddick will lead the field to the green on Sunday evening for the Coca-Cola 600, as the Cup Series points leader got the best starting position this weekend after qualifying was rained out and the field was set by the metric. Reddick is no stranger to running up front at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and should be a contender on Sunday night. He has the best average finish (10.3) at this track among all drivers in the series, and has finished ninth or better in four of the last five races here. At similar tracks this year, Reddick has a 13th-place finish at Vegas, a win at Kansas, and a fourth-place result at Texas. As far as DFS goes, Reddick is the leading candidate to be the early dominator of the Coca-Cola 600 due to his starting position, and makes a solid fantasy play even with his high salary ($11,000 on DraftKings).
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Christopher Bell Could Break Out of Slump
Keep an eye on Christopher Bell in this weekend's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is in a bit of a slump right now, with five straight finishes of 17th or worse, but there is hope for the No. 20 team this weekend. First, Bell is a previous Coke 600 winner, taking home the trophy in the rain-shortened 2024 running. Second, CBell has been super fast on the intermediate tracks this season, posting a fourth-place finish at Las Vgeas, and leading a bunch at both Kansas and Texas before running into issues. There's no doubt that it's hard for fantasy players to trust Christopher Bell right now, but this is a perfect "buy low, sell high" scenario. At $10,000 on DraftKings, Bell makes for an excellent tournament option in DFS contests this weekend. He starts 17th, so there is Place Differential upside to go along with race-winning upside as well.
Source: Catchfence
Source: Catchfence
Kyle Larson May have A Solid Day at Charlotte
Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports is starting in the 18th position for this week's NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Coca-Cola 600. Larson was given the starting position after qualifying was canceled due to rain on Saturday. In 15 Cup starts at Charlotte, Larson has one win, six top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 19.0. With 12 Cup races completed for the 2026 season, Larson has six top-10 finishes and an average finish of 17.3. In practice, the No. 5 Chevrolet driver ranked 29th in 10 consecutive lap averages. Despite his slow practice speeds, Larson has led laps in each of his last four appearances at Charlotte and typically shows plenty of speed in the middle of the race. With his starting position and equipment, he is a driver worth rostering in all formats who can finish in the top 10.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Ryan Blaney Is A DFS Risk for Charlotte Lineups
Team Penske's Ryan Blaney will start in the sixth position for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway this week. Blaney obtained the starting position after qualifying was canceled on Saturday due to the weather. In 15 Cup starts at Charlotte, Blaney has one win and four top-10 finishes. After 12 Cup races so far this year, Blaney has one win, seven top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 12.9. In practice for this week's Cup race, Blaney ranked 20th in 10 consecutive lap averages and seventh in 15 consecutive lap averages. The No. 12 Ford driver does not offer much DFS upside for fantasy players this week due to his high starting position inside the top 10. Considering his practice speeds, track history, and low upside, Blaney is only playable in tournament DFS contests, but even then, there are alternatives with more upside and cap flexibility.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
William Byron Could have A Great DFS Performance at Charlotte
William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports will start 31st for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway after qualifying was canceled due to rain. The position for Byron was set based on a formula and equation used by the NASCAR rule book to determine the starting lineup. In nine Cup starts at Charlotte, Bryon has five top-10 finishes with an average finish of 13.7. Through the first 12 races this season, Byron has six top-10 finishes and an average finish of 16.0. In practice, Byron ranked first in overall lap averages, but he comes with enormous upside from his starting position. Due to his great track history, equipment, and upside, Byron is a must-start for all DFS formats who can have a massive DFS day.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Chase Briscoe Is A Solid Tournament Option for Charlotte DFS Lineups
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe will start in the fifth position for this year's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Briscoe was given the starting position after qualifying for this week's race was rained out, and the starting lineup was set by the NASCAR rulebook. In five Cup starts at Charlotte, Briscoe has two top-5 finishes, including a career-best finish of third in last year's Coca-Cola 600. In 12 Cup races so far this year, Briscoe has five top-10 finishes and an average finish of 17.5. In practice, Briscoe ranked 10th in 10 consecutive lap averages of all drivers. Although Briscoe has been hit-or-miss at times at this track and throughout this year in finishing results, he looked fast enough in practice to warrant rostering in this week's race. Due to his low upside from his starting position, however, Briscoe works best for tournament games over cash games in DFS.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Steelers Restructure Pat Freiermuth's Contract
The Pittsburgh Steelers restructured tight end Pat Freiermuth's contract on Sunday to free up some salary cap space for the 2026 season, multiple sources told Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. Freiermuth's salary cap hit this year will decrease to $11.2 million. The 27-year-old should see more volume in Pittsburgh in his sixth year in the league with both Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward no longer in town, and it's a positive that veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers is back in the Steel City for one more season. In his fifth year with the Steelers in 2025, Freiermuth caught 41 of his 54 targets for 486 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (eight starts) to finish as the TE24 in half-PPR scoring. While the former second-rounder's volume should increase at least slightly, he'll now have to battle for targets with new wideout Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie receiver Germie Bernard. Freiermuth has never had more than 732 receiving yards or seven touchdowns in a single season, so the ceiling is pretty low in fantasy, and RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 24 TE for the 2026 campaign.
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Ty Gibbs May not be Worth his Salary for Charlotte DFS Lineups
Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing is starting on the outside of the front row in second for this year's Coca-Cola 600. This is the second-highest starting position of Gibbs' Cup career at Charlotte after qualifying was canceled due to weather. In three Cup starts at the site, Gibbs has one top-10 finish of sixth back in 2024. After 12 Cup races completed this season, Gibbs has one win, eight top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 13.8. In practice, the No. 54 Toyota driver ranked 18th in 10 consecutive lap averages, 12th in 15 consecutive lap averages, and fourth in 20 consecutive lap averages. While Gibbs has been performing on a higher level this season, Charlotte is a track where he displayed mixed results, and his practice speeds do indicate that he will compete for a top-10 rather than a win. Fantasy players should only consider Gibbs for tournament games since he has very little upside to offer in this week's race.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Wyatt Langford is "Much Healthier Now"
Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford (forearm) threw and hit on Friday for the first time in three weeks, according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Langford will do the same routine for another week or so before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. "It's much healthier now than it was when I was trying to come back the first time," Langford said. The 24-year-old is currently on the 10-day injured list and has not played since April 21 due to right-forearm soreness. Langford already had a setback with his forearm and was pulled from a rehab assignment. It's good news that he's swinging and throwing again, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to return until at least early June. The former fourth overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida has high-end power/speed upside in the outfield in Texas, but injuries have been piling up for him early in his career. He has only played in 20 games in 2026 and has hit .238 (19-for-80) with a homer, four RBI, three steals, and nine runs scored across 84 plate appearances. Langford is still rostered in 89% of Yahoo leagues, though, after hitting 38 home runs, driving in 136, and stealing 41 bases in 268 games in his first two years in the majors.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
Jared Jones an Elite Injury Stash Target for Upside
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) is an elite injury stash target for upside, even though he's still on the 60-day injured list. According to general manager Ben Cherington, Jones will meet with the team back in Pittsburgh and throw a bullpen session on Tuesday before "making a determination" on his next outing/activation, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Cherington did not clarify whether Jones will be a starter or a reliever. He's under consideration for a return from the IL, but the Pirates want to make sure his recovery continues to go well. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2020 threw 76 pitches and allowed three runs while walking three and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings in his latest minor-league rehab outing on Saturday at Triple-A Indianapolis. Jones has a 2.89 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 24:6 K:BB in 18 2/3 frames over his five rehab starts with Single-A Bradenton, Double-A Altoona, and Indy, and is on the cusp of returning after he missed all of 2025 due to UCL surgery on his right elbow. He's currently rostered in only 21% of Yahoo leagues and is one of the best pitching stashes in fantasy right now.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Chris Buescher May be a Sneaky Tournament Option for Charlotte Lineups
Chris Buescher of RFK Racing will start in the seventh position for this week's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Buescher obtained the starting position after qualifying was canceled due to weather and the field being set by the NASCAR rulebook. In 13 Cup races at Charlotte, Buescher has four top-10 finishes and an average finish of 18.8. Through 12 races this year, Buescher has six top-10 finishes with an average finish of 11.3. In practice for this week's Cup race, Buescher displayed top-10 speeds in the 15 through 25 consecutive lap average categories. The No. 17 RFK Ford driver does not have much upside from his starting position, but he has solid long-run practice speeds and is one of the most consistent performers of the year. Although he is best suited for tournament lineups, he is one of the more underrated options of the week to consider.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Max Muncy Remains Out on Sunday With Wrist Issue
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (wrist) remains out of the team's starting lineup for Sunday's series finale in Milwaukee against the Brewers, according to MLB.com. Veteran Miguel Rojas will start at third base and will hit ninth in the batting order against Brewers right-hander Brandon Sproat. Muncy will miss the final two games of the series in Milwaukee after being hit by a pitch on his wrist on Friday in the loss. The 35-year-old veteran left-handed hitter is batting .258/.363/.515 on the season with an .878 OPS, 12 home runs, 19 RBI, and 36 runs scored across 48 games and 190 plate appearances so far in 2026 in his ninth year with L.A. The two-time All-Star has struggled a bit in May, batting .210 (13-for-62) with three long balls, two doubles, eight RBI, and 13 runs scored in 19 games played. Check back on Monday to see if he's feeling good enough to return for the series opener back in L.A. against the division-rival Colorado Rockies. Rojas has gone 20-for-75 (.267) this year with just one homer, and the Venezuelan should be avoided in DFS formats. UPDATE: Manager Dave Roberts said he doesn't expect Muncy to return for Monday's contest against the Rockies. Roberts also said that Muncy likely won't have a CT scan on his wrist on Monday.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Juan Soto Scratched on Sunday With the Flu
New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (illness) has been scratched from the team's starting lineup on Sunday in Miami against the division-rival Marlins due to the flu, according to Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News. Manager Carlos Mendoza said the flu has been going around the clubhouse this week. Tyrone Taylor is starting in left field and is batting eighth, while MJ Melendez is serving as the designated hitter and is batting seventh against Marlins right-hander Tyler Phillips. Fantasy managers will want to make sure Soto is out of their starting lineups for the series finale in South Beach and check back on Monday to see if he's feeling good enough to play in the series opener back in New York against the Cincinnati Reds. Soto got off to a slow start in 2026 and landed on the injured list with a calf injury, but he has been money of late, hitting .356 (16-for-45) with six home runs, 11 RBI, four steals, and 12 runs scored in 12 games since May 12. The four-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner has seven multi-hit games in that span. Soto is a must-start in all traditional fantasy leagues when he's active.
Source: New York Daily News - Abbey Mastracco
Source: New York Daily News - Abbey Mastracco
Bubba Wallace Has Favorable Upside for Charlotte DFS Lineups
23XI Racing's Bubba Wallace is starting in the 24th position for this week's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Coca-Cola 600. Wallace was given the position by NASCAR under the rulebook after qualifying was canceled on Saturday due to rain. In nine Cup races in his career at Charlotte, Wallace has four top-20 finishes with one inside the top five. After 12 races completed so far this season, Wallace has six top-10 finishes with an average finish of 17.0. In practice for this week's race, Wallace ranked 10th in 15 consecutive lap averages and sixth in 20 consecutive lap averages. Considering his top-notch equipment and fast practice speeds, Wallace is worth consideration for all DFS formats with favorable upside.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Ross Chastain Is A Strong Addition for DFS Lineups at Charlotte
Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing will start in the 27th position for this week's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Chastain will start there as a result of starting positions being set by the NASCAR rulebook after qualifying was rained out on Saturday. In eight races at Charlotte, Chastain has three top-20 finishes and is the current defending winner of the Coke 600. With 12 races completed so far in the 2026 season, Chastain has seven top-20 finishes with two inside the top 10. In practice, Chastain ranked 16th in 10 consecutive lap averages and sixth in 15 consecutive lap averages. Chastain's starting position offers plenty of upside, and with equipment capable of competing for a top-15 finish, he is a worthy addition to any DFS lineup this week.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Should Fantasy Managers Roster Austin Dillon for Charlotte DFS Lineups?
Richard Childress Racing's Austin Dillon will be starting in ninth for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. After qualifying was canceled due to weather, Dillon was given the starting position as per the starting lineup equation from the NASCAR rulebook. In 17 Cup starts at Charlotte, Dillon has one win and five top-10 finishes with an average finish of 16.9. Through the first 12 races this season, Dillon has eight top-20 finishes with one inside the top 10. In practice for this week's race, Dillon ranked third in overall lap averages and 26th in five consecutive lap averages. With a high starting position, Dillon does not have much upside for this week's race. Historically, Charlotte is not Dillon's best track, and his practice speeds make him more suited to be a risky tournament play.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Chase Elliott Should Be Strong at Charlotte
Chase Elliott has been strong on the high-speed 1.5-mile tracks in 2026, so there's no reason to think he won't contend at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600. Now, Chase will start from back in 16th-place when the race goes green, but passing cars has been no problem for the Hendrick Motorsports driver this season; at Las Vegas, Elliott started 15th and finished second, and then at Texas, he started 14th and ended up in victory lane. Over the last two Coca-Cola 600s, Chase has posted finishes of sixth and seventh, and don't forget that he won this Crown Jewel race back in 2020 (after starting 19th). Charlotte Motor Speedway is a strong track for Chase Elliott and he should be a contender this weekend. As far as DFS goes, he's a great pick at an affordable salary ($9,700 on DraftKings).
Source: ifantasyrace
Source: ifantasyrace
Carson Hocevar Confident for Coca-Cola 600
Don't count out Carson Hocevar in the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend. Remember, Hocevar blew an engine in last year's race while contending for the lead, and the No. 77 Chevrolet might be a little bit better this time around. After practice on Saturday, Hocevar stated, "I felt like we were pretty fast. I feel like we're pretty good. I wish we could qualify, but we came from last to the front last year and we're a few spots better than then." Looking at similar tracks this season, Hocevar ended up 13th at Kansas back in April and finished seventh at Texas after starting from the pole and leading 40 laps. He will have to start from back in 23rd for this weekend's race, but with there being 600 miles to race, Carson will have plenty of time to get toward the front. He's a solid DFS play this weekend, even at an elevated salary of $8,700 on DraftKings.
Source: PRN
Source: PRN
Corey Heim a Chalk DFS Pick at Charlotte
Corey Heim will rightfully be a popular DFS pick for the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend. Thanks to qualifying being rained out and the starting lineup being set by the metric, Heim will start from dead last (39th) in this year's Coca-Cola 600. That means that Heim is the safest DFS pick on the slate, as he can not lose any positions during the race. Additionally, he has massive upside in fantasy contests, as the No. 67 Toyota is a very competitive car. In addition to finishing 15th at Kansas earlier this year, Heim also led 69 laps at Texas a few weeks ago--and both of those tracks are relatively similar to Charlotte Motor Speedway, the site of this weekend's race. Priced at just $6,900 on DraftKings this weekend, Corey Heim is an easy pick to make that should make it into the optimal lineup if he doesn't run into any issues during the race.
Source: Jayski
Source: Jayski
Is Michael McDowell A Tournament Option for Charlotte Lineups?
Michael McDowell of Spire Motorsports will start fourth for this week's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. McDowell was given the starting position after qualifying was canceled due to rain, and starting positions were assigned by the NASCAR Rulebook. In 26 starts at Charlotte, McDowell has two top-10 finishes, which were scored in the last four races at the site. After 12 races so far this season, McDowell has three top-10 finishes and an average finish of 19.9. In practice for this week's race, McDowell ranked first in 10 consecutive lap averages. Although McDowell did have some quality finishes in the last few years and did show speed in practice, he is only playable in tournament lineups due to his low upside.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Teoscar Hernandez Extends Hot Streak, Drives in Six on Saturday
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez continued to swing the bat well in Saturday's 11-3 blowout win over the hosting Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field and extended his current hitting streak to four games. Hernandez went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, six RBI, two runs scored, and a walk to raise his season average to .276 and his OPS to .796. The 33-year-old Dominican now has a modest four-game hitting streak and has gone 15-for-37 (.405) with three home runs, three doubles, 14 RBI, and 10 runs scored in his last 10 games since May 13. Hernandez is batting .333 (24-for-72) in May to boost his season line to .276/.349/.447 with seven home runs, 31 RBI, 28 runs scored, and a stolen base across 192 plate appearances. The big blow on Saturday against the Brew Crew was a three-run home run in the fourth inning, which helped him tie a career high with six runs driven in. The two-time All-Star has had at least 25 homers and 89 RBI in his two seasons in L.A., and even though he might not be a great source of average, the counting stats will be there as long as he stays healthy.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Grant Holmes on a Roll, Strikes Out 10 on Saturday Against Nats
Atlanta Braves right-hander Grant Holmes had a third straight strong start on Saturday in his outing at Truist Park against the division-rival Washington Nationals in his team's 2-0 shutout loss. Despite losing his second game of the 2026 season, Holmes made his fantasy managers happy, allowing two earned runs on six hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out a season-high 10 in five innings of work. The 30-year-old veteran allowed two solo home runs to Washington, but otherwise, he was strong, generating 18 swings and misses on 87 total pitches. Since allowing a season-high six runs (five earned) on May 1 against the Colorado Rockies at hitter-friendly Coors Field, Holmes has given up just four earned runs on 12 hits (three homers) while walking seven and fanning 19 in 15 innings in his last three starts. He has gone more than five innings just four times in his 10 starts this year, but Holmes has allowed three or fewer runs in nine of his appearances for Atlanta, and he now holds a 3.78 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 48:24 K:BB in 52 1/3 frames. Consider him when looking for a matchup-based streamer down the road.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Liam Hicks Hits Two Homers on Saturday to Beat the Mets
Miami Marlins catcher/first baseman Liam Hicks was the catalyst for the team's offense in Saturday's win over the division-rival New York Mets at Loan Depot Park. Hicks went 2-for-4 at the plate with two solo home runs to raise his season average to .279 and his OPS to .842. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger took Mets starter Freddy Peralta deep twice for the first multi-home run game of his young career. The two home runs were Hicks' first since May 7, and he's now hitting .233 (17-for-73) with four long balls, a double, 16 RBI, and six runs scored across 21 games and 82 plate appearances this month. He had gone hitless in each of his last three games, so it was nice to see him break out on Saturday. In his second year in the big leagues, Hicks is breaking out for the Fish, hitting .279 (46-for-165) overall with 11 round-trippers, 44 RBI, 24 runs, and a steal in 50 games played. He also has a .339 on-base percentage, .503 slugging percentage, and .842 OPS. Hicks is rostered in 81% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Christian Walker Hits Two Homers Saturday, Breaking Out of his Funk?
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was the team's offense in their 3-0 shutout victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and a walk to raise his season average to .266 and his OPS to .861. Walker hit a two-run home run to get things going in the first frame and later hit a solo homer in the fourth inning for all the runs that Houston would need to finish off the Cubbies. The 35-year-old reached base in all four of his plate appearances on the day. Despite the two-homer performance, Walker has hit just .164 (9-for-55) with four home runs, a double, seven RBI, six runs scored, four walks, and 14 strikeouts in his last 15 games, dating back to May 8. On the year, the right-handed power hitter is slashing .266/.340/.521 with an .860 OPS, 13 long balls, 34 RBI, and 30 runs scored in his 192 at-bats. Hopefully, his two-homer outing on Saturday will get him back on track offensively for an Astros team that really needs him more than ever.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Stephen Kolek Turns Heads With Complete-Game Shutout
Kansas City Royals right-hander Stephen Kolek could start to attract some interest on the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues after another impressive performance on Saturday in the team's 5-0 shutout over the visiting Seattle Mariners at Kauffman Stadium. Kolek won his third game of the year by throwing a complete-game shutout with four hits allowed, one walk, and two strikeouts to lower his season ERA to an impressive 2.77. It was the 29-year-old's second career shutout, and it was also his second straight scoreless outing after throwing 6 1/3 shutout innings with a walk and three strikeouts in his last appearance on May 17 against the St. Louis Cardinals on the road. Kolek has three quality starts in his four outings for the Royals, going 3-0 with a 2.77 ERA (4.21 FIP), 0.85 WHIP, and 14:5 K:BB in 26 innings pitched. He has been impressive in a small sample size for the Royals, but regression should eventually come, and fantasy managers in mixed leagues should know that the upside is limited, as Kolek has a 16.9% strikeout rate in his career.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jordan Mason a Short-Term Dynasty Depth Piece
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason was a popular breakout candidate after the team acquired him from San Francisco in the 2025 offseason, but he was a top-20 fantasy back in only two weeks and finished the year as the RB35. His 4.8 yards per carry, while representing the lowest mark of his career, was still solid, but he never saw the volume needed to sustain fantasy success. With Aaron Jones missing five games, Mason exceeded 15 carries only twice all season, and even then, topped out at 16. Seven times, he was held to single-digit attempts. The Vikings spent a sixth-round pick on running back Demond Claiborne in the 2026 NFL, but at only 5'10" and 195 pounds, he's more likely to impact Jones' role on third downs, while Mason should remain the early-down thumper. With a healthier offensive line and improved quarterback play, his second season with the Vikings could be marginally more productive even if his role remains largely unchanged. At 27 years old, Mason is RotoBaller's dynasty RB52, and while the breakout calls have quieted, he is still capable of playing out the final year of his contract as an occasional flex option with notable insurance upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Corey Seager's Live Batting Practice Session Delayed
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (back) was scheduled to face live pitching on Sunday. That session has been postponed due to Seager not quite being where he needed to be in his recovery process. The Rangers are still figuring out the next steps for Seager, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him back when first eligible. The organization was hopeful that Seager could be back for the upcoming homestand, but that seems doubtful to happen now. Fantasy managers should check back for another update on Seager in the coming days. Ezequiel Duran should continue seeing more at-bats while Seager is sidelined.
Source: Shawn McFarland
Source: Shawn McFarland
