May 17, 2026, 11:43 AM ET

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich (back) is serving as the DH and will bat cleanup for the Brewers in Sunday's series finale in Minnesota against the Twins and right-hander Bailey Ober, according to MLB.com. Yelich returned from a groin injury on Tuesday after a lengthy stay on the injured list, only to develop back soreness and miss the next four games. The Brewers are being especially cautious with the veteran left-handed hitter because of his history with back injuries, and they admitted they were considering putting him back on the IL. Yelich is back in action for the series finale at Target Field, but if his back flares up at all again, he will most likely be ticketed for a trip back to the IL. The 34-year-old former MVP and three-time All-Star has only played in 16 games for the Brew Crew so far this year and has just one home run, but he's hitting .291 (16-for-55) with 10 RBI, 10 runs, and three stolen bases. In his career against Ober, Yelich has three hits in six at-bats with a 1.333 OPS.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 17, 2026, 11:36 AM ET

New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams flashed upside as a big-play threat down the field in 2025 in his first year in the NFL after the Patriots selected him 69th overall in the third round out of Washington State. The 23-year-old pass-catcher caught 10 of his 21 targets for 209 yards (20.9 yards per reception) and found the end zone three times in his 17 regular-season games. He caught two of six targets for 14 yards in four playoff games. The speedy 5-foot-11, 190-pounder never really capitalized on an opportunity to establish himself as a consistent weapon during quarterback Drake Maye's breakout last year, and things won't get any easier for him going forward despite the departure of Stefon Diggs. The Patriots signed Romeo Doubs in free agency and are expected to acquire Pro Bowler A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles after June 1. The Pats also still have Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, and DeMario Douglas, so a path for Williams to carve out an expanded role going forward for dynasty managers is not a given. Williams is an intriguing downfield threat because of his speed, but he's currently the No. 89 receiver in RotoBaller's WR dynasty rankings.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

May 17, 2026, 11:21 AM ET

When wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Pittsburgh Steelers back in March, it was unclear if veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers would return for a 22nd year in the NFL. That made the 28-year-old's short-term outlook in his new digs somewhat cloudy. On Saturday night, Rodgers and the Steelers agreed to a reunion for the 2026 season, which won't drastically affect Pittman's long-term dynasty outlook, but it should give him a short-term boost in value, especially in point-per-reception leagues. The former second-round pick by the Colts in 2020 out of USC had two 1,000-yard seasons in his six years in Indy. Pittman had a career-high seven touchdowns in 17 games in 2025, but he disappointed with 784 receiving yards on 80 receptions. He will now be competing for targets in Pittsburgh with DK Metcalf and rookie second-rounder Germie Bernard. If not for QB Daniel Jones' (Achilles) injury last year, Pittman might have had his third 1,000-yard campaign. Pittman will be a short-term boost in his dynasty stock with Rodgers now officially back in town, but beyond that, all bets are off. He's currently RotoBaller's No. 53 WR in dynasty formats.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

May 17, 2026, 11:07 AM ET

The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Sunday that they recalled infielder Carson Williams from Triple-A Durham after placing outfielder Jake Fraley (hernia) on the 10-day injured list. Williams, who made his major-league debut in 2025, made the Rays' Opening Day roster but was quickly sent back to the minors after going 3-for-23 (.130) at the plate with one walk and nine strikeouts in just seven games played. He also struggled in 32 games as a rookie, batting .172 (17-for-99) with five homers, 12 RBI, two steals, six walks, and 44 strikeouts in 106 plate appearances. Taylor Walls, the team's current shortstop, is a whizz with the glove, but he doesn't provide much offensively, so the first-place Rays could give Williams another run at the position. The former first-rounder in 2021 was hitting .238/.333/.418 with a .751 OPS, five home runs, 21 RBI, six steals, and 24 runs in 32 games for Durham before his call-up. In deeper leagues, Williams is worth a dart throw for middle-infield depth. He's rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Rays Communications

May 17, 2026, 11:00 AM ET

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (hamstring, neck) could come off the 10-day injured list and rejoin the team on Monday for the start of their series against the Minnesota Twins, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Pena has been on the IL for a month due to a hamstring strain, and then he collided with a baserunner earlier this week on his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi and missed a few games due to neck soreness. He was able to return to action on Friday, though, and he appears to be ready to rejoin the big-league roster after going 2-for-11 with two doubles in three rehab games with the Hooks. It's great news for a struggling Astros team that has already lost veteran infielder Carlos Correa (ankle) for the rest of the season. The 28-year-old Pena has only played in 10 games so far in 2026 due to injuries, going 11-for-43 (.256) with no homers, a stolen base, and five runs scored. He will be an everyday player at the 6 in Houston after missing his first 20-20 season in 2025 by three home runs. Pena is only available in 20% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart

May 17, 2026, 10:48 AM ET

The New England Patriots love free-agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs, and he would love to return to New England, but Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer believes a reunion is unlikely if the Patriots acquire A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles after June 1, as is expected. Breer also thinks that Diggs will eventually land a deal in the one-year, $10 million range. The Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders make sense. The Chiefs would love to add to their WR room, and Diggs is from D.C. Breer thinks the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams would also be interesting landing spots for the 32-year-old veteran who was cut by the Patriots this offseason for salary-cap purposes after he had 85 catches, 1,013 yards, and four touchdowns with the team in 17 regular-season games before leading them to a Super Bowl berth. Diggs has seven 1,000-yard seasons in his 11 years in the NFL and will eventually latch on with another organization. Until then, it's very difficult to gauge his fantasy outlook in both redraft and dynasty formats.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer

May 17, 2026, 10:40 AM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) is going on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with a right-quad strain, according to Pirates reporter Jason Mackey. O'Hearn was pulled from Saturday's game early against the Philadelphia Phillies with right-quad discomfort, and now the 32-year-old veteran will miss at least the next 10 games. O'Hearn went hitless in just one at-bat on Saturday before leaving and is hitting a strong .291/.370/.462 with an .832 OPS, seven home runs, 29 RBI, 27 runs scored, and a stolen base in 158 at-bats over his first 43 games with the Pirates this year. Now that he will be sidelined for a bit of time, both Nick Yorke and Billy Cook could see more time in the Bucs' outfield for at least the next 10 days. O'Hearn's strong season to this point had earned him some looks off the waiver wire, and he's currently rostered in 72% of Yahoo leagues. Surprisingly, O'Hearn has improved against lefties this year, going 13-for-46 (.283) with one of his seven home runs against them.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Jason Mackey

May 17, 2026, 10:32 AM ET

Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 13-3 loss to the hosting Washington Nationals in D.C. to extend his current hitting streak to nine games. The left-handed-hitting Dominican backstop is now batting .278 on the year with an .833 OPS as one of the better young hitters in the game. He also has a decent .341 on-base percentage and .492 slugging percentage with six home runs and 17 RBI on the year across 138 plate appearances. The 21-year-old will see regular playing time between catcher and designated hitter while sharing time behind the plate with Adley Rutschman. Manager Craig Albernaz has said that Basallo has earned the right to face left-handed pitchers, which is huge. So far in 2026, he's gone 7-for-25 (.280) against southpaws with one of his six home runs. Basallo is one of the better young catchers in the game, and he's rostered in only 40% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

May 17, 2026, 10:23 AM ET

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/designated hitter Andrew Vaughn missed all of April due to a hand injury, but he's swinging the bat well since his return and is only rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues at the moment. Vaughn shares playing time at first base and DH with Jake Bauers, but he should see more regular playing time with outfielder/DH Christian Yelich (back) potentially landing on the injured list. The 28-year-old former third overall pick out of Cal Berkeley in 2019 by the Chicago White Sox flipped a switch late last year when he was acquired from the White Sox, hitting .308/.375/.493 with an .869 OPS, nine homers, 46 RBI, and 26 runs scored in 64 games in Milwaukee. Since returning from his hand injury this year, he has gone 7-for-24 (.292) at the plate with a homer, two doubles, five RBI, and five runs scored across 30 plate appearances. It's a small sample size, but Vaughn certainly has more fantasy upside as a corner infield/utility option for fantasy managers in Milwaukee. Give him a look.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

May 17, 2026, 10:16 AM ET

San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt has been carrying the Giants' offense this year, and he did it again in the team's 6-4 victory in Sacramento on Saturday night to defeat the hosting Athletics. Out of the three-hole in the batting order as the Giants' designated hitter, Schmitt went 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and a strikeout to raise his season average to .293 and his OPS to .878. The four-hit performance broke him out of an 0-for-9 slump in his last three games. Both of Schmitt's long balls came against A's right-handed starter Luis Severino. Right now, the 27-year-old former second-rounder in 2020 out of San Diego State is splitting time at DH with rookie first baseman Bryce Eldridge, but he can also play pretty much anywhere on the infield, and he has eligibility in Yahoo leagues at first base, second, and third. Schmitt is versatile on defense and has been productive with the bat so far in 2026, totaling eight home runs, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored, and three stolen bases. He's currently rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 17, 2026, 10:07 AM ET

Los Angeles Dodger two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani received a couple of days of rest as the team's designated hitter earlier this week after a slow start to the 2026 season by his standards, and it already appears to be paying off. Out of his usual leadoff spot on Saturday night in the Freeway Series against his old team, the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, a triple, five RBI, two walks, two runs scored, and a stolen base in a 15-2 drubbing of the Angels. Since taking both Wednesday and Thursday off from hitting, he has gone 3-for-8 with three extra-base hits and three walks in his two games against the Halos. The 31-year-old four-time MVP is now slashing .240/.370/.429 with a .799 OPS, seven home runs, 17 RBI, 27 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 154 at-bats in his ninth year in the big leagues. We can't realistically expect him to produce another 50-50 season as a hitter, but his slow start could quickly be forgotten if he continues to produce like he has in the last two games. Fantasy managers need to keep Ohtani in their starting lineups on a daily basis.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 17, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard did not see the field as a rookie after coming off the board in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but with the team's quarterback uncertainty lasting more than two months into the new league year, there was an outside chance he could have been named the starter for the 2026 season. With the Steelers agreeing to terms with Aaron Rodgers on a one-year deal on Saturday night, Howard's chances of ever seeing the field as a starter, as well as his dynasty value, were dealt a serious blow. Howard will now look to earn the role of Rodgers' primary backup, but with Mason Rudolph still on the roster and the Steelers spending third-round capital on former five-star recruit Drew Allar in the 2026 NFL Draft, even that could be an uphill battle. It's entirely possible the Steelers could thin the room by sending one of Howard or Rudolph to a team in need of depth, but even in a best-case scenario, Howard remains in Pittsburgh for a 2027 positional battle against the higher-drafted, more toolsy Allar in a year that quarterback is expected to be a true strength of the NFL Draft. Howard is RotoBaller's dynasty QB49, and while he's unlikely to ever amount to a fantasy difference maker, he should be held through training camp wherever possible, with the upside case being that he wins the backup job behind a 42-year-old quarterback who has played a full 17-game slate only once in the last three seasons.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 17, 2026, 9:49 AM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is arguably one of the biggest beneficiaries of the team's reunion with 21-year veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. With the sides agreeing to a one-year deal worth up to $25 million on Saturday, target distribution in the Steelers' new-look offense could bear a striking resemblance to that of 2025. While personnel tendencies are expected to shift dramatically away from Arthur Smith's heavy usage of multi-tight end sets, who the ball gets thrown to will still be determined by the 42-year-old Rodgers. In 2025, with Rodgers seemingly unwilling to hold the ball any longer than necessary, his running backs were targeted 126 times across his 16 starts, second only to the 49ers. Kenneth Gainwell and his 73 receptions were allowed to walk in free agency, and in replacing him with Rico Dowdle, whose 39 catches in 2025 matched a career high, Warren should serve as Rodgers' primary pass-catching back. At RotoBaller's dynasty RB30, Warren is perennially one of the more underrated assets in the game, and the 27-year-old former undrafted free agent has a realistic shot at another RB2 finish after ending the 2025 season as the RB16 in Half-PPR formats.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 17, 2026, 9:40 AM ET

Seattle Mariners first baseman/outfielder Luke Raley has put together a strong stretch at the plate lately. It has been hit-and-miss with Raley this season, but he's in the middle of a hot streak right now. Over the last two weeks, Raley is 9-for-28 at the plate with five home runs, 14 RBI, and three walks. This is an impressive stretch of play, given Raley has 10 homers on the season, and half of them have come in the last 14 days. Fantasy managers who are seeking a power stick right now should consider adding Raley. He doesnt' offer a ton of upside in other departments, but is displaying good power numbers right now.--Andy Webb
Source: mlb.com

May 17, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

Steelers quarterback Drew Allar may no longer have a realistic shot of winning the starting job in Pittsburgh after the team reached a one-year agreement with Aaron Rodgers on Saturday night, but Allar could be viewed as a long-term dynasty winner. Allar entered college as a five-star recruit with all the physical tools to play the position, but poor decision-making and a lack of development across his 35 starts at Penn State caused him to fall to the third round in the 2026 NFL Draft. With the 42-year-old Rodgers back in the fold, Allar will have the opportunity to study behind one of the best to ever play the position, and by 2027, Mason Rudolph will be a free agent while 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard will have only two years remaining on his rookie contract. The 2027 draft class is loaded with quarterback talent, but if the reunion of Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy goes well, Pittsburgh could again find itself out of position to add a difference maker through the draft. While Allar's true dynasty success remains a long shot, the perception of learning behind Rodgers beats that of losing an open competition to Rudolph or Howard, or even taking the field before he is ready. At RotoBaller's dynasty QB33, he should hold value throughout the year and, at the very least, could become an interesting sell candidate once he and Howard are all that remain at the top of Pittsburgh's depth chart.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 17, 2026, 9:33 AM ET

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Matt Gage was called upon to hold a two-run lead against the Athletics on Saturday. The Giants called on Gage after Erik Miller and Caleb Kilian were already used in the game. Gage tossed a scoreless final frame to earn his first career save on Saturday. Gage has a 1.40 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, but his 11 walks across 19.1 innings are a concern. Gage may end up in the closer committee going forward, which makes him someone worth considering stashing in deep leagues. The Giants don't have a full-time closer, so Gage should likely get more looks.--Andy Webb
Source: mlb.com

May 17, 2026, 9:27 AM ET

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Caleb Kilian was earning more looks as a closer, but he could be falling back into a setup role. Kilian earned the save on Tuesday when he tossed 1.1 scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Saturday, Kilian was used to get the final two outs of the eighth inning against the Athletics. After that, Matt Gage was handed the ball to finish out the final frame. It appears the Giants aren't committed to using one closer at the moment. Kilian has pitched well with a 1.40 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts across 19.1 innings of work this season. His overall fantasy value could take a hit if he ends up in a committee role with Gage and possibly others.--Andy Webb
Source: mlb.com

May 17, 2026, 9:25 AM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth caught 41 passes for 486 yards in 2025, his lowest career totals outside of a 2023 season in which he missed five games with a significant hamstring injury. With 42-year-old veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers agreeing on Saturday night to return to the team on a one-year deal, Freiermuth's dynasty value could see a slight bump, but the reality is that his situation might be even worse heading into 2026, making him an ideal sell candidate. Under Arthur Smith, the Steelers operated out of heavy personnel packages at one of the league's highest rates, whereas new head coach Mike McCarthy was last seen in Dallas, deploying primarily 11 personnel packages, a trend he could reasonably continue after the team added Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard through trade and the 2026 NFL Draft. In 2025, Freiermuth frequently shared the field with the 6'6", 311-pound Darnell Washington, but if Pittsburgh opts for more lighter personnel usage under McCarthy, the two tight ends could find themselves splitting reps moving forward. The Steelers' betting lines were not impacted by the signing of Rodgers, but with fantasy leagues often being reactionary to the news cycle, now could mark a good time to try to move on from RotoBaller's dynasty TE41.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 17, 2026, 9:18 AM ET

Houston Astros relief pitcher Bryan Abreu was asked to close down Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers. Abreu has struggled in the closer role this season, but put together a nice outing on Saturday. He tossed 1.1 scoreless innings while allowing one hit and a walk on his way to earn his second save of the season. Abreu could be back in the mix for saves, but will still need to compete with Bryan King and Enyel De Los Santos for saves. Also, Josh Hader (biceps) is hopefully going to be cleared to return from the 60-day Injured List soon. Abreu could be worth an add in deep leagues, but probably won't have long-term value.--Andy Webb
Source: mlb.com

May 17, 2026, 9:13 AM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf finished the 2025 season with a career-low 850 receiving yards on the lowest reception total since his rookie campaign. With the Steelers and veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers agreeing to a one-year deal on Saturday, his situation is unlikely to see any drastic improvement in 2026. In fact, with the Steelers acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. via trade and spending a second-round pick on Germie Bernard, there are signs that Pittsburgh could see a dramatic increase in 11 personnel under new head coach Mike McCarthy, a staple of his offenses in Dallas. Both Pittman and Bernard are expected to occupy the short-to-intermediate areas of the field, where the 42-year-old Rodgers has focused most of his attention in the later stages of his career, meaning Metcalf could be in line for one of the lowest target shares of his career. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR32, the 28-year-old Metcalf could be on a slow march toward the end of his career, but if the consensus view of the Rodgers signing is a favorable one, that creates an ideal selling window for the two-time Pro Bowler.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 17, 2026, 9:10 AM ET

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Antonio Senzatela pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his third save of the season on Saturday. The right-hander gave up a hit and a walk, but was able to keep the Arizona Diamondbacks off the scoreboard. This marked his first save of the season, where Senzatela didn't need to pitch more than one inning. Senzatela has looked great in his new role out of the bullpen. He's sporting a 1.27 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 25:8 K:BB ratio across 28.1 innings of work. Victor Vodnik has struggled lately, so it wouldn't be shocking to see the Rockies turn to Senzatela more frequently. The veteran right-hander could be worth adding in deep leagues right now.--Andy Webb
Source: mlb.com

May 17, 2026, 6:59 AM ET

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland wants to stick with the team. "I feel like this is where I belong. I definitely want to come back," Hyland said Saturday. In 2025-26, Hyland had his first full season with the Timberwolves, posting averages of 8.5 points and 2.6 assists in 16.6 minutes per game. His workload dipped to 8.5 minutes per game during the second-round series against San Antonio. Yet Hyland sees a future in Minneapolis, and the team might also be interested in bringing him back after losing Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) from the guard rotation. Although Hyland has flashed potential, his inability to secure a steady role on any team has kept his fantasy value low.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Jon Krawczynski

May 17, 2026, 6:49 AM ET

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley doesn't appear ready to hang up his shoes just yet. "I think I might've proved to myself I can play a little longer," Conley told reporters on Saturday. Conley had his 19th NBA campaign in 2025-26, making 54 regular-season and 12 playoff appearances. While he was happy with his contribution, this season was by far Conley's worst in the Association. The 38-year-old averaged 4.5 points and 2.9 assists in 18.4 minutes per game. It's been a few years since Conley made a fantasy impact, and that won't change in 2026-27, when we will probably see him offering primarily veteran leadership on a team.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Chris Hine

May 17, 2026, 6:38 AM ET

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Kevin Huerter (adductor) remains on the injury report ahead of Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. After missing seven games due to an adductor strain, Huerter has suited up for back-to-back games despite being listed as questionable each time. However, he logged only three minutes in Game 5 and was a DNP-CD in Game 6 on Friday night. Overall, Huerter has been limited to 9.2 minutes per game across five postseason appearances, so even if he's cleared to play on Sunday, he might not be part of the rotation.--Taavi Pailk
Source: NBA Injury Report

May 17, 2026, 6:29 AM ET

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Caris LeVert (heel) is considered questionable for Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. The former Cavalier is nursing a right heel contusion. Given that LeVert has played through the injury so far, it seems likely he will suit up on Sunday. He's done a decent job off the bench in the series, averaging 8.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in 20.5 minutes per game. If LeVert isn't in the lineup, Marcus Sasser and Duncan Robinson (back) can expect a larger workload, though Robinson is also listed as questionable.--Taavi Pailk
Source: NBA Injury Report

May 17, 2026, 6:22 AM ET

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Duncan Robinson (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Robinson hurt his lower back earlier in the series and didn't play in Game 5. He was listed as questionable ahead of Game 6 but managed to return to action, contributing 14 points in 20 minutes off the bench. It's hard to imagine Robinson sitting out Sunday's crucial game, but if he has to miss time again, Daniss Jenkins, Caris LeVert (heel), and Marcus Sasser will be in a position to see additional minutes on the floor.--Taavi Pailk
Source: NBA Injury Report

May 17, 2026, 6:11 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Larry Nance Jr. (illness) is considered doubtful for Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. The 33-year-old missed Game 6 due to illness and hasn't yet fully recovered. Even when healthy, the Cavaliers haven't used Nance Jr. in the series, so his absence isn't a major issue for the team. In fact, Nance Jr. has logged just 4:39 across two appearances this postseason. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley will continue to lead the frontcourt in Sunday's win-or-go-home matchup.--Taavi Pailk
Source: NBA Injury Report

May 17, 2026, 12:14 AM ET

Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz had yet another strong performance at the plate in May in the team's 13-3 blowout win over the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night in D.C. Ruiz finished the game 3-for-5 with a career-high five RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base to continue his hot-hitting ways since the calendar flipped from April to May. The 27-year-old Venezuelan backstop continued to disappoint offensively in April, going 8-for-45 (.178) with no home runs, four doubles, six RBI, two runs scored, one walk, and seven strikeouts in 17 games across 47 plate appearances. But so far in eight games in May, he's been a different hitter, batting .323 with three home runs, five doubles, and 11 RBI in his last 31 at-bats to boost his season average to .230 and his OPS to .715. Ruiz's three-hit showing on Saturday was his second of the month already. Something appears to be clicking for the switch-hitter, but fantasy managers have every right to be skeptical that it will last. He's still rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 17, 2026, 12:08 AM ET

Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami continued to surprise in his first season in the big leagues on Saturday night in an 8-3 win over the crosstown-rival Chicago Cubs, going 2-for-3 at the plate with two more home runs, three RBI, a walk, and a strikeout to raise his season average to .236 and his OPS to .943. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger wasn't the only one to terrorize Cubs right-hander starter Jameson Taillon on Saturday, as the veteran hurler gave up five total long balls in his outing. After the two-homer performance at Guaranteed Rate Field on the South Side of Chicago, Murakami is now up to 17 home runs and 32 RBI in his first 45 games with the Pale Hose in 2026. He currently trails only Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber for the league lead in home runs (20). Murakami sits in the 91st percentile in xwOBA and is in the 100th percentile in hard-hit rate, so the analytics back up his red-hot start to his first year in the United States. But with a strikeout rate in the third percentile, fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting any kind of help from the Japanese star in the batting average department.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 17, 2026, 12:00 AM ET

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez was at the top of his game in a masterful performance on Saturday night in the team's 6-0 shutout win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Sanchez threw a complete-game shutout with six hits allowed, no walks, and 13 strikeouts to drop his season ERA to a stingy 1.82 in his 10th start of 2026. The 29-year-old Dominican southpaw now has five wins on the season as well. His outstanding performance on Saturday evening was his second career complete-game shutout, and his 13 punchouts were a career high. Sanchez has been amazing so far this year for the Phillies and his fantasy managers, going at least seven innings while giving up zero runs in three straight starts this month. He's a set-and-forget fantasy starting pitcher with an upcoming matchup against the first-place Cleveland Guardians, a team that ranks only 24th in OPS (.689) and 19th in home runs (43) in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com