RADIO
Ryan Blaney Has Upside at Watkins Glen After Signing Contract Extension
After signing a contract extension with Team Penske, it's time to keep an eye on Ryan Blaney this weekend. The Team Penske driver is one of the best at long-run speed and managing his tires, and with the falloff expected by Goodyear for this weekend's race, that could play right into Blaney's hands. Additionally, the No. 12 Ford was stout in practice this weekend, ranking fourth-fastest in 10-lap average during Saturday's session. Blaney had a very fast car here at Watkins Glen last year, leading 35 laps from the pole en route to a sixth-place finish, and the same can be said at COTA earlier this season (another road course), where Blaney led 11 laps and finished eighth. At $8.2K on DraftKings and starting seventh, Ryan Blaney is definitely a risky DFS pick, but in large field tournaments, there is an opportunity there to be overweight on a driver who should have a very fast race car on Sunday.
Source: Team Penske
Source: Team Penske
Michael McDowell Still Searching for First Top-Five Finish at Watkins Glen
Michael McDowell is a very established road course racer. He has a dominating win at the Indy Road Course to his credit, and over the last 11 races on this track type, McDowell has walked away with a top-five finish in six of them. He has yet to do that at Watkins Glen, though. Over 16 career starts at this New York track, McDowell's best finish has been sixth, and that came back in the 2022 race. He also ended up seventh here in the 2024 race. Could that change this weekend, though? McDowell qualified on the outside pole for Sunday's Go Bowling at The Glen and ranked fifth-best in five-lap average during practice. He seems poised to have a career-best day at The Glen. As far as DFS goes, McDowell ($8.0K on DraftKings) has limited upside due to his high startng position, so he's a risky tournament play (to use sparingly) at best.
Source: Catchfence
Source: Catchfence
Is Carson Hocevar Too Aggressive for Road-Course Racing?
Carson Hocevar has been on quite a hot streak in Cup Series action as of late, getting a win at Talladega a couple of weeks ago while also posting four top-10 finishes over the last six races overall. This weekend will be good test for the No. 77 team and their momentum, though, as the Go Bowling at The Glen is set to take place on Sunday afternoon. Hocevar is by no means a road course ace, and his aggressive driving style typically doesn't mesh well with this track type. He does have a third-place to his credit at Watkins Glen but that is Hocevar's only top-10 finish in 12 career starts on this track type, and in five of the last six, he's finished 29th or worse. This weekend at Watkins Glen, Hocevar qualified 11th, though, and showed good speed in practice, ranking third-best in 10-lap average. He's a very risky fantasy pick this weekend, but as we've seen before, there could be some surprise upside there.
Source: Driver Averages
Source: Driver Averages
Joey Logano Needs a Good Run at Watkins Glen
With 11 races complete in the 2026 season, Joey Logano is now on the outside looking in on the Chase, as he sits 17th in the points standings as the midway point of the regular season looms. Logano sports an average finish of 21.0 this season and is currently on a three-race streak of finishes of 30th or worse. In other words, he desperately needs a good finish to get back on track. Could that be this weekend at Watkins Glen? Logano qualified sixth for Sunday's Go Bowling at The Glen, which is his best starting spot at a road course since 2024, and it's possible that he challenges for a top-10 finish as well; in the Next Gen era, Logano has finished 15th or better in all four Watkins Glen races, including a third-place result in 2022. As far as DraftKings goes, though, Logano at $6,900 and starting up in sixth isn't that good of a pick because of his high probability of negative Place Differential.
Source: Beyond The Flag
Source: Beyond The Flag
Spencer Miles is Named Opener for Sunday
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Spencer Miles will operate as the opener for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. The plan is for Miles to pitch an inning or two before handing the ball over to Eric Lauer. The southpaw should pitch the bulk of the innings, but is likely being used this way due to his lackluster results lately. Miles has been mostly solid this season with a 3.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 16:5 K/BB ratio across 18 innings this season. Neither pitcher is an ideal streaming option given the situation. Lauer owns a 6.15 ERA in his last six starts, so he'll be avoidable on Sunday.
Source: Keegan Matheson
Source: Keegan Matheson
Mariners Intend to Piggyback Luis Castillo, Bryce Miller
Seattle Mariners starting pitchers Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller will piggyback each other after a full turn through the rotation. Miller is set to return from the Injured List on Wednesday after missing the start of the season due to an oblique issue. The Mariners plan to use a six-man rotation for one full turn through, but will shake it up after that. The Mariners don't want to disrespect Castillo, who has been a starter throughout his big league career. However, Castillo has been horrible with a 6.29 ERA through seven starts this season. The hope is that putting Castillo and Miller together will end up offering better results for both pitchers. Between the two, Miller is the more desirable fantasy option, but he won't be an ideal streaming choice if he doesn't pitch deep into games.
Source: Ryan Divish
Source: Ryan Divish
Pierce Johnson Earns Save, Climbing the Closer Depth Chart?
Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Pierce Johnson was called upon to hold a two-run lead against the Houston Astros on Saturday. The Reds are without closer Emilio Pagan (hamstring), so they'll need to find a new ninth-inning option. Johnson has put himself in the mix after tossing a clean inning to earn his first save of the season on Saturday. He needed only 12 pitches to retire the side in order during Saturday's 3-1 victory. He owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and a 15/5 K:BB ratio across 16 innings this season. Johnson could be the favorite for saves in Cincinnati with Tony Santillan and Graham Ashcraft in the mix as well.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Payton Tolle is Named Sunday's Starter
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Payton Tolle will take the mound for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Tolle was supposed to start on Saturday, but the contest was rained out. Brayan Bello was slated to start on Sunday, but he'll have his start pushed back. The Red Sox have a scheduled off day on Monday, so they'll evaluate the starting rotation after that. It's possible that Bello has his next start pushed back further than Tuesday. Fantasy managers who have Tolle rostered should make sure he's in their lineups ahead of first pitch on Sunday.
Source: Chris Cotillo
Source: Chris Cotillo
Kerry Carpenter Exits Early with Shoulder Injury
Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (shoulder) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Carpenter injured his left shoulder when he slammed into the wall attempting to make a play in the first inning. He remained in the game but was ultimately taken out in the third inning due to left shoulder soreness. Before exiting, Carpenter was 1-for-1 during his lone plate appearance on Saturday. Wenceel Perez replaced him in the ballgame and figures to see more starts if Carpenter is forced to miss time. Fantasy managers should consider Carpenter as day-to-day until more information is revealed.
Source: Evan Petzold
Source: Evan Petzold
Duncan Robinson Shines on Both Ends Saturday
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Duncan Robinson produced a great all-around performance in Saturday's 116-109 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He finished with 15 points, three rebounds, four assists, five steals, and one block. Robinson remained hot from downtown, going 4-for-7, and finished 5-for-9 overall from the field. With three games played, Robinson has already made 14 triples in this series. Recently, he has also become a defensive pest, snagging 3.25 steals per game over his last four appearances. This two-way version of Robinson is a high-impact performer and should continue to see heavy minutes against Cleveland.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cade Cunningham Records Second Career Postseason Triple-Double
Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham led his team in scoring (27), rebounding (10), and assists (10) in Saturday's Game 3 defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers, recording his second career postseason triple-double. He almost had an unwanted quadruple-double, finishing with eight turnovers. Cunningham committed several costly turnovers late in the game. Handling the ball has been an issue for Cunningham throughout these playoffs, as he has recorded fewer than four turnovers just once in 10 outings. Against Cleveland, the Pistons' superstar has also faced some scoring difficulties. He was only 10-for-27 from the field in Saturday's defeat, going 2-for-6 from downtown. The 2026 playoffs have gone well for Cunningham, but he could be an even bigger threat on the court with improved efficiency and ball-handling.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Donovan Mitchell Logs 35-Point Double-Double
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 35 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the team defeated the Detroit Pistons 116-109 in Game 3 on Saturday. This was one of Mitchell's best postseason games of the year, as he added four assists in 38 minutes, going 13-for-24 from the field. He had a 2-for-8 record from deep and went 7-for-8 at the charity stripe. Mitchell is looking sharp, which is great news for the Cavaliers, who cut the series deficit to 2-1 on Saturday. The seven-time All-Star will have a chance to register his third consecutive 30-point outing in Monday's Game 4.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
James Harden Plays Late Hero Saturday
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden scored seven points in the final 1:29 of action in Saturday's Game 3 against the Detroit Pistons, helping his team to a 116-109 win. The former MVP was quiet for most of the game but made up for it with key baskets down the stretch. He had 19 points overall, finishing 8-for-14 from the field, including 3-for-7 from behind the arc. Harden grabbed two rebounds, dished out seven assists, and picked up one steal. With this effort, he became only the fourth player in NBA playoff history to record at least 4,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists. Throughout the postseason, Harden's performance has been inconsistent, but he will now carry positive momentum into Monday's Game 4.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
OG Anunoby Could Miss Another Game Sunday
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. The 2019 NBA champion injured his right hamstring late in Game 2 and missed Friday's Game 3 of the series. Miles McBride got a chance to start Friday, making the biggest impact on the defensive end with two blocks. On offense, he was limited to three points and two assists due to a 1-for-6 effort from the field. Landry Shamet was another player to benefit from Anunoby's absence and was a lot busier than McBride. In 26 minutes off the bench, Shamet tallied 15 points, three rebounds, and one steal. He finished as New York's third-highest scorer, behind Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Joel Embiid Considered Probable for Sunday's Elimination Game
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (hip) has been tagged as probable for Game 4 against the New York Knicks on Sunday. Philadelphia will fight to stay alive in the series and is expected to have Embiid available. In Game 2, Embiid returned to the lineup from a one-game absence, notching 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in 35 minutes. After a strong effort in Round 1, Embiid's production has been modest against the Knicks, with health issues once again affecting him at the most crucial stage of the season.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jarred Vanderbilt Active on Saturday Night
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (finger) will suit up for Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. The 27-year-old suffered a nasty finger injury in the series opener but sat out only one game. Vanderbilt will bolster the Lakers' frontcourt depth, but it would be surprising to see him play a major role. So far in the playoffs, Vanderbilt has averaged 3.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game. He has been held to two or fewer points in three of six appearances.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Garrett Mitchell is Returning to the Lineup on Saturday
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell (illness) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the New York Yankees. Mitchell was scratched ahead of Wednesday's contest due to an illness. He was held out of the starting lineup on Friday, but came in the game after Brandon Lockridge (knee) exited the contest. Mitchell is now ready to return to the starting lineup for Saturday's contest. He'll cover center field and bat seventh versus right-hander Cam Schlittler. Mitchell has struggled against right-handed pitching this season and isn't anything more than a deep league option right now.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Bryce Harper Exits Game with Migraine
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (head) was pulled out during the first inning of Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Harper was taken out of the game before taking his first at-bat due to a migraine. Felix Reyes took over as the pinch-hitter and will cover first base for the rest of Saturday's game. This shouldn't be something that forces Harper to miss additional time. Fantasy managers should check back on Sunday just in case Harper isn't ready to play yet.
Source: Cole Weintraub
Source: Cole Weintraub
Logan Webb Placed on 15-Day Injured List With Knee Bursitis
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (knee) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday, retroactive to May 6. Webb was expected to make his next start on Monday, but the team will ultimately opt to place him on the shelf. Webb is dealing with right knee bursitis, so giving him a two-week break seems like a good idea to let him rest and recover. In a corresponding move, right-hander Trevor McDonald has been recalled to take over the vacant spot in the starting rotation. It has been a down year for Webb, but this is still a tough blow for fantasy managers. The hope is that he'll be able to return when first eligible in two weeks.
Source: Alex Pavlovic
Source: Alex Pavlovic
Andrew Benintendi is Scratched with Neck Stiffness
Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi (neck) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Seattle Mariners. Benintendi is dealing with neck stiffness, so the team will pull him out of the lineup. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. Randal Grichuk will take over the designated hitter spot and bat eighth versus right-hander Luis Castillo on Saturday. Normally, Benintendi's status isn't relevant, but he is hitting over .300 during May. He could be someone to keep an eye on in deep leagues.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Bryce Miller is Set to Return on Wednesday
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller (oblique) is set to return from the 15-day Injured List on Wednesday. Miller has been sidelined since the beginning of the season due to a left oblique strain. After making four rehab starts, Miller is ready to return to the big league mound. Miller is scheduled to take the ball against the Houston Astros on Wednesday. He should be worth a look as a waiver wire addition for fantasy managers seeking pitching help. The Mariners will go with a six-man rotation for now, so no one will be booted yet.
Source: Shannon Drayer
Source: Shannon Drayer
Jeff Hoffman Could Return to Closer Role
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman was pulled out of the closer role after struggling to begin the season. Hoffman has handled it well and has been putting together quality outings lately. Recently, Jays' manager John Schneider spoke about the possibility of Hoffman returning to the closer role in the future. He mentioned that the team will continue to go with a committee, which should include Hoffman if he continues to pitch well. It doesn't sound like Hoffman is going to fully regain the closer role, but he should get chances to close out games. If that happens, Hoffman could be someone worth scooping up on the waiver wire, assuming he begins pitching in the ninth inning again.
Source: Sportsnet 590 The Fan
Source: Sportsnet 590 The Fan
Blackhawks Bring in Roman Kantserov for Next Season
The Chicago Blackhawks are expected to sign 21-year-old forward prospect Roman Kantserov to an entry-level contract, ESPN's Ryan S. Clark reports. Kantserov's current team, Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL, announced on Friday that it had terminated his contract, clearing the way for him to start his NHL career. Kantserov was selected 44th by the Blackhawks in the 2023 draft. He had a spectacular KHL campaign with Metallurg in 2025-26, scoring 64 points (36 goals, 28 assists) in 63 games. Kantserov finished the regular season ninth in points and led the league in goals. It remains to be seen how well Kantserov's game translates to the NHL, but he has the potential to make an immediate impact with the Blackhawks next season.
Source: Ryan S. Clark
Source: Ryan S. Clark
Mason McTavish Set to Rejoin Ducks Lineup Sunday
Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish will play in Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune reports. He has sat out the last two games as a healthy scratch. McTavish landed in the press box after his four-game point streak ended in the second-round opener against Vegas. During his first postseason campaign, McTavish has recorded four points (one goal, three assists), 14 SOG, 19 hits, and a plus-one rating in seven appearances. He has generally made a positive impact and should have something to prove on Sunday night as the Ducks try to tie the series at two on home ice.
Source: Zach Cavanagh
Source: Zach Cavanagh
Lukas Dostal to Remain in Ducks Crease Sunday
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal will start Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune reports. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville will keep faith in Dostal despite his awful Game 3 performance. Dostal wasn't himself on Friday night, allowing three goals on eight SOG in the first period. Ville Husso took over the crease after the first intermission, stopping 17 of 19 pucks. Before Friday's Game 3, Dostal had allowed two or fewer goals in three straight contests, and the Ducks will hope to see him return to that level. Overall, the Czech netminder has recorded a 3.48 goals-against average and a .876 save percentage this postseason, winning five of nine starts.
Source: Zach Cavanagh
Source: Zach Cavanagh
Zach Bogosian Back for Wild Saturday
Minnesota Wild defenseman Zach Bogosian (lower body) will re-enter the lineup for Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports. The 18-year veteran didn't play in Game 2 due to a lower-body injury. Jeff Petry will be scratched to make room for Bogosian, who will skate with Jake Middleton in Saturday's game. In seven playoff appearances this year, Bogosian hasn't recorded any points, but he does have eight blocks and eight hits on his account. He has been limited to 13:09 of ice time per game, and Bogosian's workload is unlikely to increase on Saturday night.
Source: Michael Russo
Source: Michael Russo
Jesper Wallstedt Starting Game 3 Against Avalanche
Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt will be back between the sticks in Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. Wallstedt has been Minnesota's No. 1 this postseason, but Filip Gustavsson took over the crease in Game 2. Wild head coach John Hynes gave Wallstedt some time off after he allowed eight goals in the series opener against Colorado. It was a really tough night for Wallstedt, but he has been solid overall this postseason. The 23-year-old Swedish native holds a 4-3 record and has allowed 2.81 goals with a .903 save percentage. He'll look to bounce back Saturday on home ice, where Wallstedt has won two of three playoff outings.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Joel Eriksson Ek Not Ready to Return Saturday
Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) will remain out on Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports. The Swedish forward is close to returning from a lower-body injury, but he won't be available for a third consecutive game on Saturday night. As a result, Danila Yurov will continue in a second-line role and skate with the second power-play unit. Yurov has recorded assists in each of the first two games against Colorado, earning his first career postseason points. In six playoff appearances, the 22-year-old Russian rookie has also registered five SOG and nine hits.
Source: Dan Rosen
Source: Dan Rosen
Owen Tippett Won't Play Saturday
Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett (undisclosed) will remain sidelined on Saturday for Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. Despite regularly participating in practices and morning skates, Tippett has yet to play in the series due to an undisclosed injury. He was again on the ice on Saturday morning. With Tippett on the shelf, the Flyers have lacked sharpness offensively in Round 2, scoring just three goals in three games. Their season will end Saturday night with another loss, putting added pressure on players such as Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny to spark the offense.
Source: Jordan Hall
Source: Jordan Hall
Cooper Kupp a Dynasty Hold into the Start of 2026 Season
While playing in 16 games in his first season with Seattle, Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp failed to crack 100 half-PPR fantasy points for the first time in his career. Dating back to his final two seasons in Los Angeles, he has now finished outside the top 40 at the position in three straight years, though 2025 marked the first time he fell so low without missing significant time. At nearly 33 years old, his once dominant fantasy days are clearly behind him, but at RotoBaller's dynasty WR118, he has now entered into the keep/drop conversation as managers struggle to find bench space for the incoming crop of rookies. Given the relative lack of receiver talent the Seahawks have behind Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kupp should be held into the season wherever possible, a task made easier by the lackluster 2026 rookie class, but should an injury occur ahead of him on the depth chart, name recognition should still be enough to make him an immediate sell candidate.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
