May
11,
2025
Houston
Astros
left
fielder
Jose
Altuve
(hamstring)
is
out
of
the
team's
starting
lineup
for
Sunday's
series
finale
against
the
visiting
Cincinnati
Reds
at
Daikin
Park.
Zach
Dezenzo
is
starting
in
read more...
May 11, 2025
Texas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager is not in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's series finale in Detroit against the Tigers at Comerica Park.
Ezequiel Duran will start at the 6 and hit ninth for the Rangers against Tigers right-hander
Reese Olson. Seager missed Thursday and Friday due to a minor right-hamstring injury, but he returned with a bang on Saturday against Detroit, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double and three RBI in the 10-5 win. The Rangers appear to be playing things safe with the 31-year-old veteran on Sunday, and he should be back in there for Monday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies. Duran makes for a very low-upside DFS play in the nine-hole for the Rangers for Sunday's slate of action. The 25-year-old Dominican has just one hit in his 16 at-bats this season and has one hit in his four career at-bats against Olson.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May
11,
2025
New
York
Mets
infielder
Brett
Baty
will
return
to
the
bench
with
a
left-hander
on
the
mound
in
Sunday's
series
finale
against
the
visiting
Chicago
Cubs
at
Citi
Field.
Mark
Vientosread more...
May 11, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Alec Burleson is not in the starting lineup on Sunday when the Cardinals face Washington Nationals left-handed pitcher
MacKenzie Gore. Through the early part of the season, Burleson has yet to receive a start against a left-handed pitcher. Instead, this will open the DH spot for catcher
Ivan Herrera, who will bat in the six-hole. Through his first 36 games of the season, Burleson has been effective at the plate, holding a .261/.311/.351 slash line with two home runs and three stolen bases. Under the hood, the 26-year-old has generated a low .279 xwOBA with a 3.2% barrel rate, which suggests he could face regression later in the season. Fantasy managers should expect Burleson to also sit on Monday as they are set to face Phillies left-hander
Cristopher Sanchez. This afternoon, the Cardinals are best to fade in DFS facing Gore.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 11, 2025
Atlanta Braves catcher
Sean Murphy is not in Sunday's lineup when the Braves conclude a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The backstop has started each of the past three games. During this stretch, Murphy has gone 2-for-10 at the plate with a double and a 5:2 K:BB. He will cede catching duties to rookie
Drake Baldwin, who will bat in the five-hole. Under the hood, Murphy has generated a strong 13.2% barrel rate with a .446 xSLG, which are both above the average marks. Through 24 games this season, the 30-year-old catcher has posted a .221/.330/.500 slash line with three doubles, seven long balls, and 14 RBI. This afternoon, Baldwin carries high streaming appeal facing Pittsburgh right-hander
Carmen Mlodzinski, who carries a 6.16 ERA.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 11, 2025
Detroit Tigers shortstop
Trey Sweeney is not in Sunday's lineup when they conclude a series against the Texas Rangers on Sunday afternoon. Sweeney has become an everyday player in the Detroit starting nine and will be given a typical day off. Fantasy managers should expect the former 20th overall pick to return to the starting nine on Monday evening when they host the Boston Red Sox. This afternoon,
Zach McKinstry will shift to shortstop and bat in the six-hole. Over his last 20 games, Sweeney has been very productive at the plate, holding a .275/.359/.377 slash line with one double and two home runs. However, he has generated a modest .308 xwOBA, which suggests he could face some regression later in the season. The Tigers are best to fade in DFS facing Texas right-hander
Nathan Eovaldi.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 11, 2025
Washington Nationals catcher
Keibert Ruiz and outfielder
Jacob Young are not in Sunday's lineup when the Nationals face the St. Louis Cardinals. Ruiz has started each of the previous three contests. Over his last 10 games, the backstop has been very productive at the plate, holding a .282/.317/.308 line with a 6:2 K:BB. Fantasy managers should expect Ruiz to return to the starting nine on Monday when they face the Atlanta Braves. Young has been in the starting lineup in each of the past 12 games. During this stretch, the 25-year-old has posted a modest .220/.273/.268 line. As a result,
Riley Adams will be behind the dish, and
Dylan Crews will shift to center field, which opens right field for
Alex Call. The Nationals are worth a look in DFS facing
Miles Mikolas, who enters this game holding a 4.76 ERA.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 11, 2025
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ (oblique) remains out of the starting nine on Sunday when the Cubs play the final game of their three-game set against the New York Mets. Happ was unable to suit up on Saturday due to this oblique injury. However, the team noted this injury is not overly serious and that he should be considered day-to-day. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to their next game on Monday evening against the Miami Marlins. Instead,
Seiya Suzuki will cover left field for the second-straight contest. This opens the DH spot for
Justin Turner. In addition, center fielder
Pete Crow-Armstrong will remain in the leadoff spot. This afternoon, the Cubs have streaming appeal in DFS facing
Griffin Canning.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 11, 2025
The Milwaukee Brewers have optioned right-handed pitcher
Tobias Myers to Triple-A Nashville. In a corresponding move, the Brewers have recalled
Elvis Peguero from Triple-A. Myers missed the start of the season due to an oblique injury and has struggled in his return. Over his first five outings of the season (16 1/3 innings), Myers has posted a 3.86 ERA with a 1.53 WHIP. During this stint, he has struck out 11 batters and served up 10 free passes. While the 26-year-old has gotten off to a slow start this season, he has impressed during his MLB debut last summer. Across his first 138 MLB innings, Myers posted a 3.00 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP. He struck out 127 batters. With Myers being sent down, fantasy managers should expect either
Aaron Civale (hamstring) or
Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) to return from the injured list in the coming days.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Brewers
May 11, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Taj Bradley allowed two earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five over six innings of work, but did not factor into the decision in the 3-2 victory over the Brewers on Saturday. The 24-year-old seems to have righted the ship after a six-run blowup against the Yankees a few weeks ago, posting three quality starts in his last four outings, now with five quality starts on the year (out of eight). The righty owns a 4.24 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and an 8.4 percent K-BB% so far in 2025. With an 18.3 percent strikeout rate that is well below his 25.9 percent career rate, hopefully he can start striking out a few more batters in these quality starts, which would make the former fifth-round draft pick much more serviceable for fantasy, and he'll get that opportunity against the Marlins next week, a team with the sixth-highest strikeouts-per-game average in the majors.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
May 11, 2025
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
AJ Smith-Shawver pitched well in Saturday's 3-2 victory over the Pirates, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven, but he came away with a no-decision. This effort comes on the heels of an eight-inning, one-hit masterpiece in his previous start, and if he continues to pitch like this, it will be hard to remove the righty from the rotation once
Spencer Strider (hamstring) returns. Through six starts this season, Smith-Shawver owns a 2.76 ERA (3.80 xFIP), 1.35 WHIP, and a 13.8 percent K-BB%. The 22-year-old's next start lines up with the 17-23 Nationals at home next Thursday, so it is an opportunity to keep rolling. The former seventh-round draft pick is still available in over half of Yahoo leagues for fantasy managers looking for pitching help with some rest-of-season upside.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
May 11, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop
Bo Bichette went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Mariners. The home run was just his second of the year, while he collected two RBI and scored once in the contest. The 2x All-Star has a solid .287/.337/.395 slash line with a .324 wOBA and 110 wRC+ so far this season, and many peripheral stats -- such as barrel and hard-hit rate -- are back in line with career norms after a down, injury-plagued 2024 campaign. While it hasn't shown up in the power department yet with a .108 ISO, his 9.3 percent barrel rate and xSLG of .504 may foretell that a surge is coming, and Saturday's performance may be a starting point.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
May 11, 2025
San Diego Padres starting pitcher
Stephen Kolek twirled a gem on Saturday, tossing a complete-game shutout in his second career start in the majors, picking up the win in a 21-0 blowout victory over the Rockies. The 28-year-old scattered five hits and two walks over nine innings while striking out seven. A week ago, the righty tossed five and one-third innings of shutout ball, leaving his ERA at a spotless 0.00 after two starts. The former 11th-round draft pick threw 46 2/3 IP for the Padres in his debut last season, but as a reliever, so this is somewhat uncharted waters for him, although he's worked as a starter in the minors. The 6-foot-3 hurler's next start lines up with a surprisingly stout Mariner lineup, and his recent success should allow the Padres to give
Yu Darvish (elbow) as much time as he needs to build up his arm for a return to the mound.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
May 11, 2025
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Walker Buehler (shoulder) is expected to return for the team's series against the Mets that goes from May 19-21, according to manager Alex Cora. The 30-year-old has been on the 15-day injured list with minor bursitis in his right shoulder. Before going down with the injury, the 2x All-Star was 4-1 with a 4.28 ERA (3.72 xFIP), 1.22 WHIP, and a 14.3 percent K-BB%, but had been more effective than those numbers suggest over his last four starts with three of those four registering as quality starts (2.59 ERA, 1.07 WHIP). Although the righty doesn't strike out as many batters as he used to, he should be a solid back-end option for fantasy once he returns.
Hunter Dobbins, who has looked good in limited action, will get another turn through the rotation next week against the Pirates, but could be the odd man out once Buehler returns.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Chris Cotillo - MassLive.com
May
11,
2025
A
few
weeks
ago,
Kyle
Larson
famously
said
that
when
he
races
in
the
Xfinity
Series,
he
wants
to
embarrass
his
competitors
to
help
them
improve.
Well,
that
could
happen
to
his
Cup
Series
competitors
this
weekend
at
Kansas
Speedway
as
read more...
May 11, 2025
Keep Tyler Reddick on your list of contenders for Sunday afternoon's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. The No. 45 Toyota has been one of the fastest cars on intermediate tracks this season, as the 23XI Racing driver is averaging 29 fastest laps per race between Las Vegas and Texas this season. At Kansas specifically, Reddick is averaging 14.75 fastest laps per race over the last four. Finish-wise, Reddick had a rough couple of results last season (20th and 25th) but in 2023 he won the second race here at Kansas and finished ninth in the first event after leading 23 laps. For this weekend's race, Reddick qualified fourth, so he will have great track position to start out with on Sunday. However, this severely limits his Place Differential upside. Therefore, if Reddick is going to be a good pick in DFS at his $10,000 salary on DraftKings, he's going to need to lead laps. He's certainly capable of that.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: ifantasyrace
May 11, 2025
Denny Hamlin is going to be one to watch out for in Sunday's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. In six of the last seven races at this track, Hamlin has walked away with a top-five finish, and he hasn't finished worse than eighth at Kansas since the 2021 season. He's a four-time winner at this track and has the best driver rating (113.6) in the series over the six Next Gen races here. The next driver on that list is Hamlin's teammate, Christopher Bell, at 105.4. This weekend, Hamlin looked steady in practice, and noted that he was really happy with the balance of his No. 11 Toyota. He ranked ninth-best in 20-lap average despite being in the somewhat-slower Group 1 during practice. Hamlin qualified 14th for Sunday's race and is a prime DFS option, even at his $10,200 salary on DraftKings. He has room for Place Differential points as well as dominator and potential race-winning upside.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: Sports Illustrated
May
11,
2025
New
York
Mets
infielder
Brett
Baty
belted
a
pair
of
home
runs
in
a
2-for-5
day
at
the
plate
during
Saturday's
6-5
loss
to
the
Cubs.
The
first
home
run
was
a
three-run
shot,
and
the
second
read more...
May 11, 2025
Team Penske's Ryan Blaney will start 12th for Sunday's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. When considering his starting position last week at Texas, this is the first time since March that Blaney will have back-to-back starting positions outside of the top 10 this season. In 20 Cup starts at Kansas, Blaney has eight top-10 finishes and placed 12th or better in five of the last six Cup events at the site. In 11 races completed this year, Blaney has five top-10 finishes, including three top-5s in the last four Cup events and an average finish of 17.3. In practice, Blaney ranked 31st in overall lap averages while ranking as high as ninth in 15 consecutive lap averages. Based on his equipment, practice speeds, and recent 2025 performance, Blaney will likely place in the top 10.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
May 11, 2025
Chris Buescher of RFK Racing will start second for this week's Cup race at Kansas Speedway, the AdventHealth 400. This will be the third time in Buescher's Cup career that he will have a top-10 starting position, but his first time on the front row. In 18 races at Kansas, Buescher has four top-10 finishes, including a runner-up finish in this race last year, where he lost by mere inches to Kyle Larson. After 11 races this season, Buescher has five top-10 finishes and an average finish of 16.2. In practice, Buescher ranked seventh in overall lap averages and displayed top-5 speeds in the five, 10, 15, and 20 consecutive lap average categories. Based on his practice speeds and equipment, Buescher is an underrated favorite for the win this week at Kansas.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
May 11, 2025
Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron scored a starting position of seventh for this week's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway after qualifying. Byron has previously qualified inside the top 10 at Kansas eight times in his Cup career. In 14 races at KS, Byron has eight top-10 finishes, while scoring a career-best second-place finish in his last appearance at the site. Through 11 races so far this year, Byron has one win, seven top-10 finishes, a series-leading average finish of 8.9, and he is the current points leader. In practice, Byron ranked fourth in overall lap averages and displayed top-5 speeds in all eligible categories, including 20 consecutive lap averages where he ranked first among all drivers. Based on his practice speeds, track history, and equipment, Byron will be one of the top favorites to compete for the win.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
May 11, 2025
Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing will start in the 15th position for Sunday's Kansas Speedway race, the AdventHealth 400. This will be the fifth time that Wallace will start in the top 15 at KS since the 2022 season. In 15 races at Kansas, Wallace has one win, three top-10 finishes, and has gained positive Place Differential in four of the last six races at the site. In 11 races so far in the 2025 season, Wallace has four top-10 finishes with an average finish of 18.4. In practice for this week's race, Wallace ranked 25th in overall lap averages and showcased top-10 speeds in the 15, 20, and 25 consecutive lap average categories. Overall, Wallace is one of the better drivers to consider for DFS, with his salary being around $8,500 on DraftKings. Considering his practice speeds and overall track history, he is worth rostering in all formats as a driver likely to place in the top 10.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
May 11, 2025
Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing acquired a starting position of third for this week's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. This breaks a streak of three consecutive poles at Kansas for Bell. In 10 previous races at KS, Bell has seven top-10 finishes, which include six of the last seven Cup events at the site. Through 11 races so far this season, the No. 20 Toyota driver has three wins, seven top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 12.0. In practice for Sunday's race, Bell ranked 17th in overall lap averages, while displaying top-10 speeds in all categories except single lap and 15 consecutive lap averages. Based on his equipment, history, and practice speeds, Bell will likely maintain a top-10 finish and should have another solid performance this week.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
May 11, 2025
Austin Cindric of Team Penske will start 18th for Sunday's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. This is tied for Cindric's lowest starting position for a Cup race at Kansas since the Next-Gen car arrived in 2022. In seven races at KS in the Cup Series, Cindric has two top-20 finishes and four straight finishes outside of the top 30 going into this week's race. With 11 races completed this year, Cindric has seven top-20 finishes, including twice at 1.5-mile Intermediate tracks (Las Vegas and Homestead). Cindric ranked 16th in overall lap averages while showcasing top-10 speeds in all eligible categories in practice. Even if his overall history at Kansas has been uninspiring, Cindric has looked better overall as a driver this season, and with practice speeds capable of competing for a top-10 finish, Cindric is a sneaky DFS option worth rostering for this week's race.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
May 11, 2025
RFK Racing driver Ryan Preece will start 30th for Sunday's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. This will be the fifth time in his Cup career that Preece will start a race at Kansas 30th or lower. In 10 prior starts at the site, Preece has three top-20 finishes, including two of the last three Cup events there, and he nabbed positive Place Differential in seven different events. After 11 races this season, Preece has six top-20 finishes, including two top-10 finishes at 1.5-mile Intermediate tracks (Las Vegas and Homestead). In practice for this week's race, Preece ranked 34th in overall lap averages and ranked as high as 16th in 20 consecutive lap averages. Preece brings plenty of upside based on his starting position this week, and with decent results in recent Kansas races and this season at Intermediate tracks, Preece should be considered for all DFS formats this week.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
May 11, 2025
Wood Brothers Racing driver Josh Berry will start Sunday's AdventHealth 400 from the 38th position after grazing the wall during qualifying at Kansas Speedway. This is the lowest starting position Berry has ever obtained in his Cup career to date at Kansas. In three previous Cup starts at the site, Berry has two top-25 finishes with a best finish of 15th. In 11 races completed this season, Berry has one win, four top-20 finishes, and an average finish of 22.5. In practice, Berry ranked 35th in overall lap averages, but ranked 22nd or higher in the 10, 15, and 20 consecutive lap average categories. Berry has massive upside due to his starting position, and considering his equipment, he is well worth rostering in all DFS formats this week.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
May
11,
2025
Justin
Haley
of
Spire
Motorsports
will
start
12th
for
Sunday's
AdventHealth
400
at
Kansas
Speedway.
This
is
a
new
career-best
starting
position
for
Haley
in
the
Cup
Series
and
also
is
the
second
time
he
will
start
inside
the
top
15
read more...
May 11, 2025
Noah Gragson of Front Row Motorsports obtained a starting position of 24th for this week's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. It will mark the fifth time in his Cup career that Gragson will begin a Kansas race outside of the top 20. In five previous Cup starts at Kansas, Gragson has four top-20 finishes and obtained positive Place Differential four times. Through 11 races completed in the 2025 season, Gragson has four top-20 finishes, with only one of them being at a 1.5-mile Intermediate track like Kansas (Homestead). In practice for this week's Cup race, Gragson ranked 36th in overall lap averages while ranking 33rd in 10 consecutive lap averages. Overall, Gragson is a driver who should be deemed playable in all formats for DFS this week based on history, but not the top racer to recommend in his salary range of $6,900 on DraftKings, especially with his slow practice speeds.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
May 11, 2025
John Hunter Nemechek of Legacy Motor Club will start 17th for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. This is Nemechek's highest starting position to date for a Cup race at Kansas in his Cup career as well as the first time he will start in the top 20 at the site. In four previous Kansas Cup starts, Nemechek has three top-20 finishes and obtained positive Place Differential every time. In 11 races completed so far this season, Nemechek has five top-20 finishes and an average finish of 18.9. In practice, Nemechek ranked 37th in overall lap averages but displayed top-20 speeds in the 15 and 20 consecutive lap average categories. Despite his decent track history, Nemechek's equipment and overall upside make him tough to recommend outside of tournament lineups for DFS this week.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
May 11, 2025
Truck Series regular Corey Heim nabbed a starting position of 28th for this week's Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, the AdventHealth 400. This will be Heim's first Cup start of the 2025 season, but his second overall at Kansas. In his only previous Cup start at the site, Heim started 20th, nearly scored a top-10 finish before spinning late, and placed 22nd overall while in a substitute role for Legacy Motor Club. In seven Truck Series races at Kansas, Heim has two wins and five consecutive top-5 finishes, including a fourth-place finish earlier this weekend. In practice, Heim ranked 19th in overall lap averages and 29th in 10 consecutive lap averages. Heim will drive in a fourth 23XI racing car this week, which usually brings fast cars to Kansas. With high potential upside and great Truck history at Kansas, Heim is a solid driver to consider for all lineups as someone to compete for a top-20 finish despite his Cup inexperience.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
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