RADIO
James Wood a Reliable Source of Elite Raw Power
Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood is only 23 years old, but he's already one of the best sources of raw power production in the big leagues. The 6-foot-6, 234-pounder was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his first full year in the majors despite leading the league with 221 strikeouts in 689 plate appearances. He hit 31 homers, drove in 94 runs, and even stole 15 bases in 157 games. So far in 41 games in 2026, the former second-round selection by the San Diego Padres in 2021 has gone 38-for-156 (.244) with 11 home runs, 11 doubles, 28 RBI, 35 runs scored, seven stolen bases, a league-leading 35 walks, and 60 strikeouts across 41 games and 194 plate appearances. Wood is hitting .265 (9-for-34) with a homer, four doubles, four RBI, five runs, and two steals in nine games so far in May and remains a must-start in all traditional fantasy formats as a high-upside power bat with excellent on-base skills. He currently ranks in the 99th percentile in hard-hit rate and the 97th percentile in walk rate, which is a recipe for success long term.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Bubba Chandler's Lack of Control Making him Hard to Trust
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler has plenty of long-term upside, but so far in his first full season in the big leagues, he has struggled to control the baseball, allowing a league-high 27 free passes in his 39 innings over his first eight starts in 2026. Chandler has gone 1-4 in the early going with a 4.62 ERA (5.53 FIP) and 1.46 WHIP with 34 strikeouts. The 23-year-old former third-round pick in 2021 walked 13 batters in three starts from April 23 to May 5. In his most recent outing, though, Chandler went five innings against the punchless San Francisco Giants, giving up two earned runs on five hits while walking just one and striking out three for a no-decision. It was encouraging that he only walked one batter his last time out, but until he can show us that he can command his arsenal more consistently, Chandler is going to be a volatile fantasy starter. His next start will come against the underperforming Philadelphia Phillies at home. Start Chandler at your own risk.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Yoshinobu Yamamoto a Reliable Fantasy Ace Despite Heavy Postseason Workload
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto's heavy workload during the team's World Series run last fall, in just his second year in the big leagues, doesn't appear to have affected him so far in 2026. Through his first seven starts for L.A. in 2026, Yamamoto has gone 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA (3.53 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 40 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 43 2/3 innings pitched. The 27-year-old Japanese native held the struggling Houston Astros to three earned runs in six innings while walking one and striking out a season-high eight in his last time out on May 4. Yamamoto has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any of his outings this season while going at least five innings in all seven of his starts. Fantasy managers need to continue to throw him out there in their starting lineups every time he toes the rubber. Yamamoto has another great matchup on tap for Tuesday in L.A. against the visiting San Francisco Giants, who have the second-worst team OPS (.655) in the big leagues. In his first meeting with the Giants on April 21, Yamamoto allowed three earned runs on six hits while walking two and fanning seven in seven innings.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jesus Luzardo Continues to be Volatile in Second Season With Phillies
After a three-start stretch where he didn't allow more than two earned runs, Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo fell apart again in his latest outing on Friday against the Colorado Rockies, allowing six earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out six in a season-low three innings of work. The 28-year-old southpaw is now 3-3 on the year with a bloated 5.98 ERA (2.96 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 57 strikeouts and 12 walks in 43 2/3 innings over his eight starts for Philly. He has failed to go five innings in three of his eight starts and has allowed five-plus runs in four of his outings so far. At this point, fantasy managers may not know what to do with him. Opponents are currently hitting .278 against him, but Luzardo holds an expected average of just .236, while the difference in his wOBA (.334) and xwOBA (.286) also shows that he's been hit with some pretty bad luck early on. Luzardo also ranks in the 91st percentile in strikeout rate and 82nd percentile in walk rate. He's a prime buy-low candidate, and he could easily dominate his next time out against the struggling Boston Red Sox.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Cade Smith has Become a High-End Closing Option in Fantasy
Cleveland Guardians right-handed reliever Cade Smith hasn't been perfect, but he has quickly become one of the best options for saves in fantasy baseball in 2026. The 27-year-old Canadian pitcher is currently tied for the American League lead in saves with 11 and has gone 2-0 with a 3.44 ERA (1.86 FIP), 1.25 WHIP, and 24:4 K:BB in 18 1/3 innings pitched for the Guards. He gave up a run in his last appearance on Friday against the Minnesota Twins, but Smith still managed to hold on for the save in his inning of work, and he's been successful in each of his last eight save opportunities, allowing two earned runs on 10 hits while walking one and striking out 13 in 9 1/3 innings. Under the hood, Smith is in the 93rd percentile in strikeout rate, the 91st percentile in walk rate, and the 92nd percentile in whiff rate while posting an 11.8 K/9 in his third year in the big leagues. There's a reason why he's rostered in 98% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Kyle Teel a Top Stash Option Amid Rehab Assignment?
Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel (hamstring) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday night, according to Milb Central. Teel has been cleared to resume playing in games after he ran the bases over the weekend. The 24-year-old has been recovering from a Grade 2 right-hamstring strain that put him on the 10-day injured list before the start of the 2026 regular season. Barring a setback on his rehab assignment, he could make his season debut for the Pale Hose by this weekend or early next week. He's only rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues at the moment, but fantasy managers looking for an upgrade at catcher should be interested in the former Virginia product. Teel was originally a first-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2023 before being traded to Chicago. In his first year in the big leagues in 2025, he hit a very respectable .273 (69-for-253) with eight homers, 35 RBI, 38 runs, and three steals in 78 games played. Teel should do most of the catching for the White Sox when he's reinstated from the IL.
Source: Milb Central
Source: Milb Central
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has Cooled Off in May, a Buy-Low Candidate?
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is hitting an even .300 (45-for-150) on the year, but he has cooled off considerably in May, going 5-for-37 (.135) with no extra-base hits, two RBI, five runs scored, four walks, and five strikeouts across 10 games and 41 plate appearances. With his recent slump, Guerrero's hard-hit rate now sits in the 63rd percentile, although his xwOBA is in the 87th percentile. Even the best hitters in baseball go through rough patches, and it appears that Vladdy is one of them right now. The good news for fantasy managers is that his expected batting average sits at .312, and his expected slugging percentage is at .453 -- he's currently slugging just .387 with two home runs, 17 RBI, and 23 runs scored on the season. The five-time All-Star shouldn't be expected to approach the career-high mark of 48 homers he hit back in 2021, but he's still projected to reach the 20-homer mark in 2026 while hitting around .300. It wouldn't hurt to test out the Vlad manager in your league to see if you can't pick him up for pennies on the dollar during his current skid.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Shohei Ohtani to Get a Day Off From Hitting This Week
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he plans to give two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani a day off from hitting either on Wednesday (when he pitches) against the division-rival San Francisco Giants, or in Thursday's series finale, according to Maddie Lee of The Los Angeles Times. "I think he's just trying to swing out of it," Roberts said, referring to Ohtani's struggles at the plate lately. The four-time MVP took on-field batting practice before Monday's loss to San Fran, which is only the third time he's taken pre-game BP on the field this year. After hitting 50-plus home runs and stealing 79 bases combined in his first two years with the Blue, the 31-year-old Japanese superstar hasn't produced up to his standards offensively in his first 38 games of 2026, slashing .233/.363/.404 with a .767 OPS, six home runs, 16 RBI, five steals, and 25 runs scored across 180 plate appearances. Ohtani has especially struggled since the calendar flipped to May, going 4-for-36 (.111) with no homers, three RBI, four runs, and a steal in 10 games this month.
Source: The Los Angeles Times - Maddie Lee
Source: The Los Angeles Times - Maddie Lee
Nolan McLean Remains High-End Option Despite Lack of Wins
New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean has only one win this season, but his numbers have been strong across the board despite his lack of run support. McLean has made eight starts this season, matching his total from last year after his promotion. He has an even higher strikeout rate (32.6%) than last year, with a lower WHIP (0.90) and FIP (2.39). His ERA is slightly higher than last season at 2.78, but the 24-year-old righty continues to progress across the rest of his metrics and should continue to grow into his ace potential as the year goes on. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in every start this season and can continue to be a strong starting pitcher to anchor your fantasy rotation moving forward, despite his lack of consistent run support on an underperforming Mets team.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kevin Gausman Struggles in Monday's Loss to the Rays, Cause for Concern?
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman had a rough outing at home on Monday night, giving up seven runs (six earned) to the Rays on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. He took the loss to fall to 2-3 on the season with a 3.86 ERA and 3.29 FIP. The 35-year-old righty reached a notable milestone by recording his 2,000th career strikeout, but it wasn't a strong outing overall. He has allowed 13 runs on 20 hits in 16 1/3 innings over his last three starts, with three home runs against him. He'll look to get back on track on Sunday with a road matchup in Detroit against the Tigers. He's a fringe starting pitcher option in standard-sized leagues at this point, but he has proven in the past few years that he can find his rhythm even after tough stretches like this one.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Orioles Turn to Anthony Nunez to Earn Save, Remains Option in Closer Committee
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Anthony Nunez earned his second save of the season on Monday night in his team's 3-2 victory over the Yankees. With Rico Garcia taking on the heart of New York's batting order in the eighth inning, Nunez came on in the ninth and locked down the victory with one strikeout and one hit against him. He gave up a single to Paul Goldschmidt with two outs, but pinch-runner Jose Caballero was thrown out attempting to steal second base to end the game. Nunez has a 4.05 ERA and 4.57 FIP in his 20 innings this season with a win, two saves, and six holds. He hasn't been quite as dominant as Garcia, but the two high-leverage options will likely continue to split the closer workload for Baltimore until Ryan Helsley (elbow) is ready to return from the injured list. If you need saves in a deep league, Nunez is an option to consider, although Garcia is still the preferred pickup if he's available.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Paul Sewald Earns Ninth Save, Remains High-Volume Saves Option
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Paul Sewald remains a very solid option at the end of the game, as he picked up his ninth save of the year on Monday night against the Rangers. Sewald entered a 1-0 game and worked a hitless ninth inning, allowing just one baserunner on a hit-by-pitch. The 35-year-old righty has converted all nine of his save opportunities this season, allowing five earned runs on six hits in 14 2/3 innings for a 3.07 ERA and 4.34 FIP. While he isn't the most dominant option in the league, Sewald consistently sees opportunities as the primary ninth-inning option for Arizona. He has nine saves in Arizona's 20 wins this season, and that total ties him for seventh-most in the majors. If he's available on the waiver wire in a league where you need saves, he's definitely worth a look, given his safe floor.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Rico Garcia Deployed in Eighth Inning in Victory
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Rico Garcia was excellent in his inning of work on Monday night in his team's 3-2 win over the Yankees. However, his fantasy managers will be disappointed that he was brought into the eighth inning instead of the ninth and earned a hold rather than a save. Garcia faced Ben Rice, Aaron Judge, and Cody Bellinger, retiring the heart of the Yankees' lineup in order with two strikeouts. He only needed nine pitches to get through the inning, but was replaced by Anthony Nunez for the ninth. Garcia has a stellar 0.47 ERA and 0.42 WHIP in his 19 innings this season, with 22 strikeouts and seven walks. He had two saves and a win in his previous three appearances and will continue to get high-leverage spots for the Orioles. He is definitely still a top option for saves in Baltimore, but this game is a reminder that he's still part of a committee. He's a solid short-term add while Ryan Helsley (elbow) is out, but he isn't the only primary ninth-inning option for the O's, which does slightly hurt his fantasy value.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Is Ceddanne Rafaela's Buy-Low Window Slowly Closing?
After combining for a .248/.284/.402 slash line, .686 OPS, 31 home runs, 138 RBI, 39 stolen bases, and 154 runs scored in 308 regular-season games over the last two years as a full-time player in Beantown, outfielder/second baseman Ceddanne Rafaela has been a disappointment through 38 games in 2026. Going into Tuesday's action this week, the 25-year-old is slashing .269/.336/.400, but with a career-high .736 OPS, three home runs, 16 RBI, 17 runs, and only two stolen bases across 143 plate appearances. Savvy fantasy managers should consider buying low on the Red Sox outfielder, even though he's currently in the 29th percentile in hard-hit rate and the 15th percentile in walk rate. So far in nine games in May, he's gone 10-for-35 (.286) at the plate with two home runs, six RBI, four runs scored, two stolen bases, two walks, and eight strikeouts. Rafaela is probably never going to be an asset in on-base percentage unless he cleans up his plate approach, but as an everyday player, he should offer enough power and speed to potentially threaten for a 20-20 campaign if he stays healthy.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Andres Gimenez has First Multi-Homer Game of his Career, Drives in Five
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Andres Gimenez was the team's offense on Monday night in their 8-5 loss to the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays at the Rogers Centre. Gimenez went 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, five RBI, and two strikeouts out of the eight-hole in the batting order. It was the 27-year-old Venezuelan's first career multi-homer game in his seventh year in the big leagues, and he's now up to five long balls in 38 games to start the 2026 campaign. Gimenez is not known for his power from the left side of the plate. In fact, he's mostly known as a strong glove on the middle infield. In his six years in the big leagues, he has hit double-digit home runs only twice, and not since 2023 with the Cleveland Guardians. Gimenez had seven round-trippers in 101 regular-season games with Toronto in his first season with the team in 2025. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect more power from Gimenez moving forward, and he's currently rostered in only 22% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
