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Hunter Henry's Long-Term Future in New England in Question After NFL Draft?
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry was a steady contributor in 2025, hauling in 60 receptions for 768 yards and seven touchdowns on 87 targets across 17 games. The veteran established excellent red zone chemistry with Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and led New England in touchdown catches. However, Henry's long-term future with the Patriots may be in question after New England used a third-round pick on Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon in the 2026 NFL Draft. While Henry still projects to open the upcoming year atop the Patriots' tight end depth chart, 2026 will be his age-32 season and is also the final season on his current contract. In dynasty formats, Henry's value is in question following the NFL Draft.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matthew Golden a Prime Dynasty Buy-Low Candidate Heading into 2026
A first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden failed to establish a consistent role in his team's offense as a rookie. Across 14 games, the 22-year-old recorded 29 receptions for 361 yards and zero touchdowns on 44 targets. Despite the underwhelming production, there's reason for dynasty managers to be optimistic about Golden heading into 2026. The Packers let wide receiver Romeo Doubs walk in free agency and traded away wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles. Green Bay still has a pair of talented wideouts ahead of Golden on the depth chart in Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. Still, Golden should have an opportunity to step into a far more prominent role in the Packers' passing game. In dynasty formats, managers may want to seek out buy-low opportunities on Golden ahead of 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kevin Huerter is Out for Game 7
Detroit Pistons guard Kevin Huerter (groin) has been downgraded to out ahead of Sunday's Game 7 against the Orlando Magic. He came into the contest as questionable, but ultimately won't be able to play due to a strained left adductor. His absence from the rotation should free up playing time for Duncan Robinson, Daniss Jenkins, and Caris LeVert. Among the three, Robinson is the only viable DFS option heading into this game. The Pistons will need to lean on Cade Cunningham to do the heavy lifting on offense in this elimination contest.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jalen Coker Carries Breakout Potential into 2026
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker had the start of his 2025 season delayed by a quad injury, which caused him to miss the first six games of the year. Upon his return, the 24-year-old hauled in 33 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns on 43 targets across 11 games. The Panthers added some talent to their wide receiver room this offseason, drafting University of Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II in the third round of the 2026 Draft and signing former New York Jets wideout John Metchie III in free agency. Still, Coker appears set to open 2026 as the number two pass-catcher in Carolina alongside Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. If Coker can put together a fully healthy season, he could be in line for a breakout in his third NFL campaign. Coker's dynasty stock is rising entering 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ronny Mauricio Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks With Broken Thumb
New York Mets infielder Ronny Mauricio (thumb) will get a CT scan on his broken thumb, and his tentative timeline is six to eight weeks, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday. Manager Carlos Mendoza said the situation at shortstop going forward will be fluid. Bo Bichette is making the start at the 6 on Sunday in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels and is batting leadoff against right-hander Jack Kochanowicz, while Brett Baty starts at third and bats cleanup. The Mets put Mauricio on the 10-day injured list on Sunday after fracturing his left thumb in Saturday's loss to the Angels when he dove back into first base. With All-Star Francisco Lindor (calf) already on the IL with a calf strain, the Mets have called up veteran infielder Vidal Brujan from the minors. In addition to Bichette, Brujan could make some starts at shortstop for the Mets, but he probably won't see enough regular playing time to be worth an add off the waiver wire in mixed fantasy leagues. Mauricio is drop-worthy for any managers who picked him up for infield depth when Lindor went on the shelf.
Source: Newsday - Laura Albanese
Source: Newsday - Laura Albanese
Dak Prescott Remains a Dynasty QB1 Heading into 2026
After a hamstring injury limited him to just eight games in 2024, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott bounced back in a big way in 2025. Across 17 games, Prescott completed 67.3% of his pass attempts for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. The veteran signal-caller led the NFL in completions (404) and finished as the overall fantasy QB6. Heading into 2026, Dallas maintains one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, with tight end Jake Ferguson and wideout Ryan Flournoy rounding out a deep group of pass-catchers. The Cowboys also have continuity along an offensive line that showed major improvement from 2024 to 2025. With plenty of question marks on the defensive side of the ball, Dallas will likely need Prescott and the offense to keep the pedal to the metal once again in 2026. In dynasty formats, Prescott remains a viable fantasy QB1 as he enters his age-33 season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nico Hoerner Recovers From Neck Injury, Returns to Sunday's Lineup
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (neck) returned to the team's starting lineup on Sunday for the series finale at Wrigley Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Merrill Kelly, according to MLB.com. Hoerner missed Saturday's game against Arizona after being pulled from Friday's game early with tightness on the left side of his neck. The injury obviously wasn't too serious, as the star second baseman is back in the lineup after missing just one game. When active, Hoerner has been a must-start in all traditional fantasy baseball lineups as Chicago's table-setter. The 28-year-old former 24th overall pick in 2018 out of Stanford has always been a high-end contact hitter, but he's doing more in 2026, as he entered Sunday's game with a .297/.374/.461 slash line, .835 OPS, four home runs, 26 RBI, 17 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in his 32 games played.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Yusei Kikuchi Placed on 15-Day Injured List Due to Shoulder Inflammation
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (shoulder) has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation, retroactive to April 30. Left-hander Tayler Saucedo will replace Kikuchi on the Angels' active roster. Kikuchi has gotten off to a rough start to the 2026 season, posting a 0-3 record with a 5.81 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts across 31 innings (seven starts). The 34-year-old's .352 opponent batting average on balls in play and 65.5% strand rate both point to some poor luck. Still, Kikuchi's 13.4% K-BB rate does not inspire much confidence, and it's possible that this shoulder issue may have been impacting his performance all season. With Kikuchi sidelined, right-hander George Klassen could be in line for a promotion from Triple-A to the Angels' starting rotation.
Source: Los Angeles Angels
Source: Los Angeles Angels
Ronald Acuna Jr. Diagnosed With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) is dealing with a Grade 1 left-hamstring strain, manager Walt Weiss told Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. While it's great news that Acuna's strain is minor, Bishop cautions that his injury could linger, and Acuna coming off the 10-day injured list when he's eligible will be a best-case scenario. Acuna strained his hamstring running to first base in Saturday's win over the Colorado Rockies in Denver, and he'll now be forced to miss at least the next week and a half. All things considered, it's about the best possible news that fantasy managers could have hoped for with Acuna, who has suffered ACL tears in both of his knees in past seasons. There's no current timetable for the perennial All-Star's return to Atlanta, he'll be a must-stash in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues. In the meantime, both Mauricio Dubon and Eli White should see more playing time in the Braves' outfield.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
Brice Turang Under the Weather on Sunday
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (illness) was scratched from Sunday's lineup against the hosting Washington Nationals due to an illness, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Infielder David Hamilton will slide over from third base to second base, while Luis Rengifo entered the lineup at third base and is leading off against Nationals left-hander PJ Poulin. Fantasy managers will need to check back on Monday to see if Turang is feeling good enough to return to the starting lineup for Monday's series opener on the road against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. The 26-year-old former 21st overall pick in 2018 remains a must-start in traditional fantasy lineups when he's active, as he's hit .291 (32-for-110) so far in 2026 with four home runs, 20 RBI, 27 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 30 games played. Turang is currently riding a modest five-game hitting streak, in which he's gone 8-for-17 with three doubles, two RBI, and seven runs scored in 23 plate appearances.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Vidal Brujan Recalled by Mets
Veteran infielder Vidal Brujan has been called up by the New York Mets, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Brujan is replacing infielder Ronny Mauricio (thumb) on the Mets roster, with Mauricio headed to the injured list due to a broken left thumb. Across 94 plate appearances split between the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Atlanta Braves in 2025, Brujan hit .253/.305/.310 with zero home runs, eight RBI, 14 runs scored, and two stolen bases. He's put together a similarly anemic line across 92 Triple-A plate appearances so far this season, hitting .241/.304/.313 with one home run, seven RBI, 11 runs scored, and five stolen bases. Brujan could be in line for some playing time on the left side of the infield in New York with both Mauricio and Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf) on the injured list. Still, he should be avoided by fantasy managers in all but the deepest of leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Nikola Vucevic Could be Done in Boston
Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic didn't suit up at all during Saturday's Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers. The veteran center played limited minutes throughout the series. Head coach Joe Mazzulla decided to bench Vucevic completely for this elimination game. Instead, he opted to go with a combination of Neemias Queta and Luka Garza at the center spot. Given Vucevic's limited role since joining the Celtics, it seems likely that he'll head elsewhere in free agency. When given the opportunity, Vucevic was arguably a top-50 fantasy contributor during his time with the Chicago Bulls. It's unclear at this stage in his career if another organization is willing to give Vucevic 30-plus minutes per night in a rotation. The fact that Vucevic barely played during the most important series of the season likely means he'll opt to play somewhere else next season.
Source: nba.com
Source: nba.com
Is Christopher Bell Worth Rostering for Texas Lineups?
Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing will start in the seventh position for this week's Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. The No. 20 Toyota driver will start in the top 10 for the first time since April 2024 at Texas. In seven Cup starts at Texas, Bell has four top-10 finishes, including two of the last three Cup events at the site. After 10 races completed this season, Bell has four top-10 finishes and an average finish of 15.5. In practice for this week's Cup race, Bell ranked 12th in 10 and 15 consecutive lap averages. Bell does not carry much upside from his starting position, but he is a driver who can maintain a top-10 finish based on equipment and overall favorable track history. Fantasy players should roster Bell in tournament-based lineups more than cash games this week.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Cal Raleigh Considered Day-to-Day With Soreness in his Side
Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson said that catcher Cal Raleigh (side) is considered day-to-day while he battles soreness in his side, per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Kramer also reports that Raleigh is planning to go through pre-game drills on Sunday after he was scratched from the Mariners' lineup on Saturday. Coming off his 60-homer campaign in 2025, Raleigh is off to a bit of a slow start in 2026. Across 147 plate appearances, the 29-year-old is hitting .182/.272/.380 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 13 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Raleigh's hard-hit rate is down from 49.6% to 30.7%, while his strikeout rate has risen from 26.7% to 29.3%. Still, the switch-hitting catcher owns an above-average 13.6% barrel rate and remains one of the most dangerous power hitters in baseball. It appears that Raleigh has a chance to avoid the injured list, although more information may be available later today. Mitch Garver started behind the plate and batted eighth in Raleigh's absence on Saturday.
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
X-Rays Negative on Jackson Chourio's Ankle/Foot
X-rays came back negative on Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio's ankle/foot on Saturday night after he fouled a ball off himself during a minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Nashville, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It's now unclear if Chourio will be reinstated from the 10-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut early next week against the St. Louis Cardinals. Even if Chourio doesn't return during the series against the Cardinals, he shouldn't be far off from returning to the Brewers' big-league roster after having surgery to fix a broken hamate bone in his hand before the start of the regular season. The 22-year-old remains a must-stash in all fantasy baseball leagues for his multi-category potential and high-end power/speed upside. The Brewers should have another health update on Chourio on Monday. In his first two years in the majors, Chourio has produced plenty for fantasy managers, slashing .272/.317/.463 with a .781 OPS, 42 home runs, 157 RBI, and 43 stolen bases in 279 games across 1,162 plate appearances.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Brandon Ingram is Downgraded to Doubtful for Game 7
Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (heel) has been downgraded to doubtful ahead of Sunday's Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ingram is trending towards missing his second straight game due to an inflamed right heel. The Raptors were able to pull out the victory on Friday without Ingram on the court. Jamal Shead drew the start with Ingram on the sideline, and that'll likely remain the case on Sunday. Shead finished with seven points and six assists across 33 minutes of action on Friday. RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes will be leaned on as the primary scoring options if Ingram is forced to miss this elimination game.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Carter Jensen Emerging as a Power Bat to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 111 plate appearances so far in 2026, Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen is hitting .235/.315/.439 with six home runs, 16 RBI, and 13 runs scored. The 22-year-old's elevated 29.7% strikeout rate is a red flag in his profile, limiting his batting average upside. However, Jensen's 12.1% barrel rate and 45.5% hard-hit rate are indicators of intriguing power potential. Jensen has also established himself as an everyday staple in the Kansas City lineup, rotating between catcher and designated hitter duties with veteran Royals backstop Salvador Perez. For fantasy managers looking for power off the waiver wire, Jensen is a logical target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
William Byron Might have the Speed to Compete for the Win at Texas
William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports qualified 15th for this week's Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Byron last qualified outside of the top 10 at Texas in the 2023 race at the site. In 11 Cup races at Texas, Byron has one win and six top-10 finishes with an average finish of 11.4, which ranks second-best of all active Cup drivers. In 10 races completed so far this year, Byron has five top-10 finishes with an average finish of 14.8. In practice for this week's race, Byron ranked first in 10 consecutive lap averages and second in 15 consecutive lap averages. Considering how Texas is one of his better tracks with fast enough speeds to compete for the win in practice, Byron is an excellent choice to roster in all DFS formats.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Jonathan Isaac Remains Out for Game 7
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons. Isaac will miss the entirety of this series while he continues to deal with a sprained left knee. Isaac hasn't played since mid-March, and it's unclear if he'll be ready for the next round, if Orlando advances. His continued absence from the rotation won't make much of an impact. Jamal Cain and Tristan de Silva will continue to see an uptick in playing time without Isaac available.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jared Jones a Prime Injury Stash Candidate Off the Waiver Wire
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) has not pitched in an MLB game since September 2024 due to an elbow injury. However, the 24-year-old began a rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton on Wednesday, throwing three perfect innings with five strikeouts. Given how long Jones has been out, he'll likely need an extended run of rehab outings before he's ready to return to the big leagues. Still, Jones could be on track to make his 2026 debut before the end of May. Across 121 2/3 innings (22 starts) in 2024, Jones posted a 6-8 record with a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts. Jones offers significant strikeout upside once healthy, so fantasy managers may want to consider stashing him off the waiver wire ahead of his eventual return.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Joey Logano Provides Solid Upside for Texas DFS Lineups
Team Penske's Joey Logano will start in the 23rd position for Sunday's Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway after qualifying. This marks the fourth consecutive Texas race where Logano will start 20th or worse in the Cup Series. In 30 Cup starts at Texas, Logano has two wins, 22 top-20 finishes, and an average finish of 13.3. After 10 Cup races completed so far this year, Logano has six top-20 finishes and an average finish of 19.4. In practice, Logano ranked seventh in 10 consecutive lap averages and ninth in 15 consecutive lap averages. Due to his upside from his starting position combined with his practice speeds, Logano is worth rostering in all DFS formats for this week's race at Texas.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Joe Ryan Exits Early From Start on Sunday Due to Elbow Soreness
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (elbow) was forced to exit early from his start on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays due to elbow soreness, per Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Ryan faced just two batters before being removed from the game, recording a walk and a strikeout. While the exact nature of Ryan's injury is not yet clear, any elbow issue for a pitcher is obviously a major cause for concern. Entering play on Sunday, Ryan had posted a 2-3 record with a 3.76 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts across 38 1/3 innings (seven starts). Any absence for Ryan would be a significant blow for both fantasy managers and the Twins. Should Ryan miss time, Minnesota right-hander Zebby Matthews could be in line for a promotion from Triple-A to the big league rotation.
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press - Betsy Helfand
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press - Betsy Helfand
Could Chase Briscoe be A Sneaky Pick for Texas Lineups?
Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing is starting Sunday's Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway from the fifth position after qualifying. Briscoe matches the best qualifying result of his career from the 2024 race at Texas for this week's race. In seven previous races at the site, Briscoe has four top-10 finishes in three of the past four Texas Cup races. Through 10 races so far this season, Briscoe has four top-10 finishes and an average finish of 18.3. In practice for this week's race, Briscoe ranked among the top five fastest in the 15 through 30 consecutive lap average categories. Based on his great track history, top-notch equipment, and practice speeds, Briscoe is an underrated driver capable of competing for the win this week.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Should DFS Managers Roster Ty Gibbs at Texas?
Joe Gibbs Racing's Ty Gibbs will start 10th for Sunday's Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. This will be the fourth consecutive race in his Cup career where Gibbs will start inside the top 10 at Texas. In four previous races at Texas, Gibbs has had a best finish of 13th and led only five laps total. With 10 races completed so far in the 2026 season, Gibbs is sitting fifth in the regular season standings with one win, seven top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 12.7. In practice for this week's race, Gibbs ranked 18th in overall lap averages and 22nd in 15 consecutive lap averages. Although Gibbs does not have the strongest track history at Texas, he has been remarkably consistent this season, regardless of track type. Fantasy players should consider Gibbs as a potentially sneaky DFS option to compete for a top-10 finish based on his season-wide performance and top-notch equipment from JGR, which has led more laps on 1.5-mile Intermediate ovals than any other team this season.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Garrett Crochet Plays Catch on Sunday
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) played catch on Sunday for the first time after a brief no-throw period, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. The early signs continue to be positive for Crochet, but the Red Sox continue to preach caution/patience with the All-Star hurler. The good news for Crochet started when an MRI exam on his left shoulder didn't show anything other than inflammation, although he couldn't avoid a trip to the 15-day injured list. The 26-year-old southpaw probably won't have an extended absence, although fantasy managers also shouldn't expect him to be ready to rejoin Boston's starting rotation when his 15 days are up on May 12. Shoulder issues could be the reason why the two-time All-Star hasn't looked quite like himself early in the 2026 season. Crochet is 3-3 with a 6.30 ERA (4.35 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 11 walks in 30 innings over his six starts. Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett got the first shot to replace Crochet in the team's starting rotation, and he delivered with a win and just one earned run allowed with three K's in five innings on Friday against the Astros. Crochet should not be dropped in any leagues while he rebuilds strength in his left shoulder.
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Is Daniel Suarez Worth Rostering After Career-Best Starting Position at Texas?
Daniel Suarez of Spire Motorsports is starting second for the Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. This is the first front row start of Suarez's Cup career at Texas. In 13 Cup races, Suarez has six top-10 finishes and an average finish of 14.7 in 13 Cup races. Through 10 races so far this year, Suarez has two top-10 finishes and an average finish of 16.1. In practice for this week's race, Suarez ranked 22nd in overall lap averages and 14th in 10 consecutive lap averages. Despite a new career-best starting position and solid track history at Texas, Suarez is difficult to recommend for this week's race in DFS since he carries little upside. The No. 7 driver is only playable in tournament games, as he is likely to lose positions from Place Differential over others with better equipment who are more likely to compete for the win.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Cubs Reinstate Daniel Palencia From the Injured List on Sunday
The Chicago Cubs reinstated right-handed closer Daniel Palencia (lat) from the 15-day injured list and designated pitcher Yacksel Rios for assignment in a corresponding move on Sunday before their series finale against the D-backs, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. Palencia was initially expected to return for the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, but instead, the Cubs sent him on a short minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa. The 26-year-old Venezuelan hurler threw two-thirds of an inning with Iowa on Friday and is now back in Chicago's big-league bullpen. The Cubs could decide to ease Palencia back in after he recovered from a lat strain, but there's no question that he will be the team's primary closer now that he's healthy. Before his injury, Palencia had one save and five strikeouts in five shutout innings, and he had a career-high 22 saves for the team in 2025. Pick him up immediately if he's available in your fantasy league. He's rostered in 82% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
Kyle Busch Is a DFS Risk Starting in the Top 10 at Texas
Kyle Busch of Richard Childress Racing will start in the sixth position for this week's Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. This will be the first race of the 2026 season where Busch will have a new crew chief, Andy Street, who last worked with Busch and RCR in the last five races of the 2025 season. In 35 total Cup Series races at Texas, Busch has four wins, 19 top-10 finishes, and is the only driver in the field with over 1,000 laps led throughout their Cup career (1,069) at the site. After 10 races this season, Busch has one top-10 finish, an average finish of 22.1, and sits 27th in the regular-season standings. In practice for this week's race, Busch ranked 17th in overall lap averages and as high as 11th in 20 consecutive lap averages. Although Busch has solid track history at Texas, his high starting position makes him only worth recommending for tournament lineups, as he is a risk for DFS otherwise.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Braves Place Ronald Acuna Jr. on Injured List With Strained Hamstring
The Atlanta Braves announced on Sunday that they placed star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. In a corresponding move, the team added outfielder Jose Azocar to the major-league roster. Acuna was pulled from Saturday's win over the Colorado Rockies early at Coors Field with left-hamstring tightness. The 28-year-old former MVP and five-time All-Star pulled up lame while running to first base and was removed from the game after manager Walt Weiss and a trainer came to check on him. It's unclear how long Acuna will be out, but regardless, it's a major blow to the Braves and for fantasy managers. In Acuna's absence, both Eli White and Mauricio Dubon could see more playing time in the outfield in Atlanta. Dubon is the more attractive fantasy option, but only in deeper leagues for the added playing time. Acuna heads to the IL with a .252/.362/.378 slash line, .740 OPS, two home runs, nine RBI, seven stolen bases, and 17 runs scored in 34 games. The numbers don't stand out, especially for Acuna's high standards, but the five-category contributor is an obvious must-stash while he recovers.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
Nick Lodolo Expected to Make Season Debut on Friday
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut on Friday at home at Great American Ballpark against the Houston Astros, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. The 28-year-old southpaw convinced the Reds that he is ready to rejoin the big-league starting rotation after he gave up two earned runs while walking two and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday in his third minor-league rehab start. Lodolo has been on the IL since Opening Day due to a recurring blister issue on his left index finger, but he looks to have put it behind him. The former seventh overall pick in 2019 out of TCU looked great in his three rehab starts, allowing just two earned runs while walking two and fanning 17 in 12 innings of work with Louisville, Single-A Dayton, and High-A Dayton. For his high-strikeout upside, Lodolo deserves to be rostered everywhere. He will be a more dicey fantasy play in his season debut on Friday against Houston, but he should be rostered in most fantasy leagues with his return on the horizon. Lodolo is rostered in 88% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
