RADIO
Chandler Simpson Leaves Early Monday With Leg Cramps
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that outfielder Chandler Simpson (leg) left Monday's win over the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays with a leg issue that they think "might just have been a cramp more than anything," according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Strength tests on Simpson's leg were good. He was likely going to be off on Tuesday with a left-hander on the mound for Toronto. "Then we'll go from there. But from all the reports, sounds really good," Cash said. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Wednesday to see if the speedy Simpson can return, but as of now, it looks like he has avoided a serious injury. Simpson had a big game for his fantasy managers out of the leadoff spot on Monday before leaving, too, going 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored and two stolen bases. The 25-year-old is now up to 14 swipes on the season. He has yet to homer through 149 big-league games, but Simpson is an elite speed threat for fantasy managers after he stole 44 bags in 109 games in his rookie campaign in 2025.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Is Now the Time to Sell High on Robbie Ray?
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray has been one of his team's lone bright spots early in the 2026 season, recording a 3-4 record with a 2.76 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts across his first 45 2/3 innings (eight starts). With a 26.1% strikeout rate, the 34-year-old remains a reliable source of whiffs for fantasy managers. However, Ray could be a logical sell-high candidate. Ray's has both poor command (10% walk rate) and a tendency to allow the long ball (1.58 HR/9), which points to likely ERA regression. He also got off to a similarly strong start in 2025 before losing steam down the stretch, pitching to a 2.65 ERA in the first half of the season and a 5.54 ERA after the All-Star break. If there's a monster offer out there for Ray, fantasy managers should at least consider moving the 34-year-old while his value is at a relative high point.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kris Bubic a Prime Sell-High Candidate Amidst Current Hot Streak?
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic is off to a strong start to the 2026 season, as he's posted a 3-1 record with a 3.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts across 46 1/3 innings (eight starts). Bubic has pitched particularly well of late, allowing just five earned runs while striking out 18 in 17 2/3 innings over his last three outings. However, Bubic's profile contains some red flags. For one, his 12.3% walk rate is unsustainably poor and points to likely WHIP regression. Additionally, Bubic missed the final two months of the 2025 season with a rotator cuff strain in his left shoulder. While he's managed to stay on the mound so far in 2026, his average fastball velocity is down to 92.1 miles per hour, and he's reached 100 innings in a season just once since 2022. Fantasy managers may be wise to consider selling high on Bubic in the midst of his current hot streak.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Willy Adames' Slow Start to 2026 Cause for Major Concern?
San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames is off to a brutal start to the 2026 season. Entering play on Tuesday, the 30-year-old was hitting .209/.242/.342 with three home runs, eight RBI, 14 runs scored, and one stolen base across 165 plate appearances. Adames has been one of the more consistent players in baseball in recent years, recording at least 30 homers and 87 RBI in three out of four seasons between 2022 and 2025. While there's still time for Adames to pull out of his current slump, the underlying numbers suggest that he may be suffering from more than just tough luck at the plate. Adames' 7.3% barrel rate is his lowest mark since his rookie season in 2018. He also owns just a 3.6% walk rate, significantly below the 11.7% mark he posted in 2025. Adames is in the second year of a seven-year contract with San Francisco, so he'll be given every opportunity to turn things around. Still, fantasy managers looking to buy low on Adames may want to proceed with caution.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Drew Rasmussen Continue his Hot Start Over the Course of a Full Season?
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen picked up his third win of the season on Monday, allowing three earned runs across six innings of work in his team's 8-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Rasmussen allowed four hits and a walk while striking out six. The 30-year-old is off to a strong start to the year, as he's pitched to a 3.16 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP with 43 strikeouts across 42 2/3 innings (eight starts). With a 4.1% walk rate, Rasmussen's command is arguably the best of any starting pitcher in baseball. However, fantasy managers may want to think about selling high on Rasmussen. While the 30-year-old reached 150 innings in 2025, he's already undergone two Tommy John surgeries and one internal brace procedure so far in his career. Given his extensive injury track record, cashing in on Rasmussen at a high point in his value could be the right move.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Should Fantasy Managers Be Looking to Sell High on Mike Trout?
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout has looked like his vintage self early in the 2026 season, hitting .248/.414/.510 with 11 home runs, 23 RBI, 33 runs scored, and five stolen bases through his first 186 plate appearances. The 34-year-old owns a ridiculous 20.4% walk rate, and his 25.8% strikeout rate is a significant improvement from the 32% mark he posted in 2025. Trout's quality of contact is also elite, as his 23.2% barrel rate would be the best mark of his career over a full season. Despite all the encouraging indicators, fantasy managers still must consider selling high on Trout. While he's managed to stay healthy so far this year, Trout has topped 500 plate appearances in a season just once in 2019. Given how this decade has gone for Trout, his best stretch of 2026 may be already behind him. Trout's upside is high enough that holding him is defensible, but fantasy managers are also justified in moving him if they receive an offer that's too good to pass up.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jarren Duran Shaking Off Slow Start to 2026
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran's numbers through his first 150 plate appearances of 2026 are well below his career norms, as he's hitting .194/.253/.324 with four home runs, 18 RBI, 19 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. However, the 29-year-old is starting to show signs of a breakout. Across 42 plate appearances in May, Duran is hitting .256/.310/.513 with three homers and three stolen bases. Duran's underlying metrics also provide reason for hope as his .237 batting average on balls in play is nearly 100 points worse than his career mark of .333. While Duran's production so far this season has been tough to stomach for fantasy managers, there's every reason to believe he is working his way back to his usual level of production. He profiles as a prime buy-low candidate across all fantasy formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Samuel Basallo is Fine After Being Scratched With Knee Injury
Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said after the 3-2 win on Monday over the division-rival New York Yankees that catcher Samuel Basallo (knee) will be fine, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. The Orioles scratched the young backstop from the starting lineup on Monday as a precaution due to discomfort in his left knee. It sounds like he will avoid a stint on the injured list, and he could be back in the starting nine as soon as Game 2 of the series in Baltimore against the Yankees on Tuesday. Adley Rutschman got the start behind the plate on Monday and did the catching for right-hander Brandon Young. The left-handed-hitting Basallo has handled himself well so far in 2026 in his first full year in the majors, slashing .270/.333/.470 with an .803 OPS, five home runs, 15 RBI, and 14 runs scored in 33 games across 126 plate appearances. Despite the presence of Rutschman, Basallo is expected to continue catching enough to retain eligibility at the position for fantasy managers, which is a big deal. He's currently rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MASN Sports - Rock Kubatko
Source: MASN Sports - Rock Kubatko
Giancarlo Stanton Could Ramp Up his Running This Week
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (calf) was getting tests done on Monday to check on his healing process. Depending on the results of the tests, Stanton could ramp up his running program this week, per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Boone added that the power-hitting DH has done some indoor running work already as he rehabs from a right-calf strain that landed him on the 10-day injured list. Once the 36-year-old veteran advances in his running program, he could be cleared to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. Until then, though, we won't have a clearer picture of when he might rejoin the major-league roster. With both Stanton and Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) on the IL, the Yankees finally called up left-handed power/speed prospect Spencer Jones. Stanton can still be an asset in fantasy baseball leagues for his power from the right side, but a lot of managers have run out of patience in having to deal with his durability issues. Stanton is currently rostered in only 34% of Yahoo leagues. He's hitting .256 (23-for-90) on the season with three homers, 14 RBI, eight runs, and a stolen base in 24 games.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Mets to Call Up Top Prospect A.J. Ewing
The New York Mets plan to call up top prospect A.J. Ewing before Tuesday's game against the Detroit Tigers, league sources told Will Sammon of The Athletic. The Mets came into Monday's action with a 15-25 record, which is the worst in the National League, and they are desperate to do something to turn their season around. Per MLB Pipeline, Ewing is New York's No. 2 prospect, behind only right-hander Jonah Tong. In 12 games at Triple-A Syracuse, Ewing has hit .326. He started the year at Double-A Binghamton, where he had a 1.052 OPS while playing strong defense in center field. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter was a fourth-rounder in 2023. Ewing is ranked No. 98 on Keith Law's top-100 list. He's known for his speed and contact ability, and he's one of the top young prospects to stash in fantasy baseball leagues, especially now that he's heading to the Show this week. The Mets are hopeful that Ewing's plus defense, plus baserunning, and developing power will give them a jolt, and fantasy managers can say the same. He's currently rostered in just 3% of Yahoo leagues, but that number should jump in the next few days.
Source: The Athletic - Will Sammon
Source: The Athletic - Will Sammon
Carlos Correa Undergoes Season-Ending Ankle Surgery on Monday
The Houston Astros said that veteran infielder Carlos Correa (ankle) underwent surgery on the peroneus brevis tendon in his left ankle on Monday, and he will miss the rest of the season, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Correa suffered the freak ankle injury while taking batting practice last Tuesday before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he's expected to need around six to eight months to recover. Although shortstop Jeremy Pena (hamstring) is on track to return from the injured list later this week, Correa's injury is one that the struggling Astros may never recover from in 2026. The 31-year-old veteran has a history of foot injuries, but this ankle injury is not related to the plantar fasciitis that he's dealt with in recent seasons. Before his season-ending injury, Correa was hitting .279 (34-for-122) with three home runs, 16 RBI, 22 runs scored, and a stolen base in 32 games played. Fantasy managers in single-year formats should have already dumped Correa to the waiver wire.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
Jeremy Pena Expected to Start a Rehab Assignment on Tuesday
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (hamstring) did full baseball drills on Monday and is expected to start a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday, likely at Double-A Corpus Christi, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Pena will be back in action in the minors this week as he recovers from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for more than a month, but barring a setback, the 28-year-old could be back in the big-league starting lineup by the end of the week. It's great news for a struggling Houston squad that already lost veteran infielder Carlos Correa (ankle) for the rest of the 2026 season. With Correa and Pena out of late, the Astros have been running a platoon at the 6 with Braden Shewmake and Nick Allen. When he's reinstated, Pena will be the Astros' everyday starter at shortstop, and he'll have value in most fantasy leagues after being named a first-time All-Star in 2025, when he hit .304/.363/.477 with an .840 OPS, 17 homers, 62 RBI, 20 steals, and 68 runs in 125 games played. Pena went 11-for-43 (.256) with five runs and a stolen base in 10 games earlier this year before landing on the IL. He's rostered in 80% of Yahoo leagues right now.
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
Bryce Eldridge to be Involved Every Day
San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello said that the plan is to find a pinch-hit opportunity every day that first base prospect Bryce Eldridge doesn't start, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. The Giants will mix him in at first base and designated hitter, too. The team believes that late-game appearances will be good for Eldridge's development, and the bench needs his power. The 21-year-old rookie is starting on the bench for a second straight game in Monday's series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, but we should see the former 16th overall pick in 2023 at some point later in the game as a power bat off the bench. Since being called up recently, Eldridge has just two hits in 16 plate appearances with a solo homer, two walks, and five strikeouts in five games played. He's rostered in only 12% of Yahoo leagues right now, but Eldridge is a fine young player to stash in deeper leagues for his left-handed power stroke, and his playing time should only increase as the year goes on, especially if the Giants trade away some of their big contracts by the deadline this summer.
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Mookie Betts is Officially Back on Monday
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants. As expected, Betts is back after a five-week absence due to a strained oblique. Before going down, Betts was struggling with only five hits during his first eight games of the season. He could need a few games to shake off the rust, but fantasy managers shouldn't be worried about him long-term. He'll cover shortstop and bat second against right-hander Trevor McDonald on Monday. Fantasy managers should double-check their lineups and make sure Betts is in there ahead of the first pitch.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Harrison Bader Activated, Playing on Monday
San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader (hamstring) has been activated from the 10-day injured list on Monday. Bader is back in the mix after missing nearly a month of action due to a strained hamstring. Before the stint on the shelf, Bader was struggling with only six hits in his first 52 at-bats of the season. Bader will take over in center field and bat eighth versus right-hander Roki Sasaki on Monday. Bader could offer some help to fantasy managers in deep leagues that need a bat. He figures to play every day out in center field for the Giants going forward.
Source: mlb.
Source: mlb.
