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Cade Cunningham Notches 27 Points, 11 Assists in Slow-Burning Win
Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham led his squad to a 98-83 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, finishing with a 27-point, 11-assist double-double. He made nearly 58 percent of his field-goal attempts, adding six rebounds, one steal, and one block to his line. On the negative side, the Pistons star committed a game-high seven turnovers and was just 1-for-6 from three-point range. Still, this was another excellent outing from Cunningham, who now boasts five double-doubles through his first eight career postseason games. Detroit fans will want to see more of the same as the series shifts to Orlando this weekend.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Devin Booker Settles for 22 Points in Game 2
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker scored 22 points in Wednesday's 120-107 Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, adding seven rebounds, four assists, and one steal to his line. He also had five turnovers in 40 minutes. Booker went 50.0 percent from the field, but the Thunder limited him to only 14 attempts. The Suns' leader couldn't get anything to drop from downtown, going 0-for-3. So far in the series, Booker has averaged 22.5 points per game and must do a lot more after being part of two clear defeats. He will hope to hit top gear in front of home support on Saturday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dillon Brooks Leads Suns With 30 Points Wednesday Night
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Dillon Brooks was his team's leading scorer in Wednesday's Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, racking up 30 points with a 12-for-23 effort from the field. He finished 5-for-9 from deep and had five rebounds with one assist in 38 minutes. Brooks stood out on offense as Devin Booker and Jalen Green combined for only 43 points. Although Brooks produced an efficient performance on Wednesday, the Suns are likely to go down in four games in the first round if they have to rely on him offensively. The team must get more out of Booker and Green, especially with Grayson Allen remaining a DNP-CD in Game 2.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Chet Holmgren Productive on Both Ends Wednesday
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Chet Holmgren scored 19 points and blocked a game-high four shots in Wednesday's 120-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns. He finished two rebounds shy of a double-double, making seven of his 12 field-goal attempts with a 3-for-6 record from deep. Holmgren already has six blocks in the series and has chipped in well on the offensive end, posting 17.5 points per game. Phoenix has been without its starting center, Mark Williams (foot), making things easier for the Thunder's frontcourt on both ends. Isaiah Hartenstein also narrowly missed a double-double on Wednesday, recording nine points and 10 rebounds.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Notches 37 Points in Game 2 Win
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 37 points in Wednesday's 120-107 win over the Phoenix Suns. The reigning MVP also had the most assists in the game with nine, along with five rebounds and one steal in 38 minutes. After struggling from the field in the series opener, Gilgeous-Alexander improved his efficiency to 52.0 percent on Wednesday night, sinking two of five from beyond the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.0 points and 8.0 assists through the first couple of postseason games. The Thunder's dependence on him could grow going forward, depending on Jalen Williams' (hamstring) status for the rest of the series.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jalen Williams Aggravates Hamstring Injury
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) is looking at another spell on the sidelines. He appeared to have aggravated a left hamstring injury midway through the third quarter in Wednesday's Game 2 win over Phoenix. The team plans to re-evaluate Williams in the next couple of days before providing an update. Before his early exit, Williams tallied 19 points, one rebound, four assists, and one steal in 23 minutes. The 2025 All-Star has battled injuries throughout the year, making only 33 appearances during the regular season. If Williams misses time, the defending champions have several options to replace him in the first unit, including Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Arvell Reese Could Generate Trade Interest in the Top 10 of NFL Draft
The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese is expected to garner "significant trade interest" if he's still available at No. 4 or No. 5 overall in this year's 2026 NFL draft, which kicks off on Thursday night. The New Orleans Saints, who hold the No. 8 overall pick, are a team that might be interested in trading up within the top 10 picks of the first round for Reese. Rapoport also mentions the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that is also looking for an edge rusher and who have been rumored to be trying to trade up with the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 3 overall pick. Reese has the potential to be a game-changing edge rusher at the next level for any team that ends up taking him in the top 10 picks of this year's draft. He had seven sacks in his three-year collegiate career at Ohio State, and he totaled 34 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss in 14 games in his final season as a Buckeye in 2025.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Colts Targeting a Training Camp Return for DeForest Buckner
The Indianapolis Colts are targeting training camp for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner's (neck) return to the field after he had surgery on his neck in 2025, according to JJ Stankevitz of Colts.com. "He's in a really good spot," general manager Chris Ballard said. Buckner originally injured his neck in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he returned for just one game in Week 16 against the San Francisco 49ers. As long as the 32-year-old veteran doesn't have any setbacks with his neck in training camp this summer, he should be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September. Buckner is a former seventh overall pick in 2016 out of Oregon, and he's made three Pro Bowl teams while being named a first-team All-Pro once, so if he's fully healthy, he'll be a big part of Indy's defensive line. He had only four sacks in 10 games last year, but Buckner has racked up 71.5 sacks over 10 NFL seasons with the Giants and Colts.
Source: Colts.com - JJ Stankevitz
Source: Colts.com - JJ Stankevitz
Michael Harris II Continues to Heat Up With Two-Homer Game on Wednesday
Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II has been seeing the ball well of late, and that continued in Wednesday's 8-6 win over the division-rival Washington Nationals in D.C. Harris led the charge by going 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI to raise his season average to .296 and his OPS to .880. In his last 10 games, Harris is slashing .412/.459/.882 with five home runs, nine RBI, and a stolen base in 37 plate appearances. There aren't many hitters in baseball more locked in than Harris right now. Wednesday's performance was Harris' seventh multi-homer game of his career. The 25-year-old third-rounder in 2019 can be streaky and inconsistent for fantasy managers, but he had his first career 20-20 season in 2025, and he can still be plenty valuable in all leagues for his power/speed skills in a strong Braves lineup. Harris has stolen exactly 20 bases in three of his four full major-league seasons. While he's on fire at the dish, keep him locked into your starting fantasy lineups everywhere.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Francisco Lindor Leaves Wednesday's Game Early With Calf Tightness
The New York Mets announced that shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf) was removed from Wednesday's game early against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field with left-calf tightness. Lindor's injury came on the same day that the Mets reinstated star outfielder Juan Soto (calf) from the 10-day injured list. The 32-year-old veteran did go 2-for-2 before he injured his calf while running the bases in the fourth inning. The Mets will have Lindor undergo an MRI exam on Thursday, so we should have a better idea of how much time he'll miss at that point. Like most of the Mets' hitters early on in 2026, Lindor has struggled at the plate in the first month-plus of the season. He entered Wednesday's game batting .209 (19-for-91) with two home runs, four RBI, 13 runs scored, and two stolen bases, but one of his homers came on Tuesday night. If Lindor's calf injury is serious enough to send him to the IL, Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien would both be options to move to the 6 for the Mets.
Source: New York Mets
Source: New York Mets
David Bednar Working Around Frequent Traffic on the Bases Early in 2026
Through his first 9 2/3 innings (10 games) of 2026, New York Yankees closer David Bednar has pitched to a 3.72 ERA and 1.76 WHIP with 13 strikeouts and six saves. While the 31-year-old has blown just one save and does not appear to be in any danger of losing the ninth-inning role for the Yankees, Bednar has not been particularly sharp. His 10.9% walk rate is the worst mark of his career, and his average fastball velocity is down from 97.1 mph to 95.9 mph. Some of Bednar's struggles can be chalked up to his .429 opponent batting average on balls in play, which seems likely to regress closer to his career mark of .296 over a larger sample. Still, it's worth noting that Bednar is allowing more contact this season and is also allowing a 61.5% ground ball rate, both of which could result in an elevated opponent BABIP. Before 2026, Bednar had never allowed a ground ball rate higher than 44.1% over the course of a full season. Bednar remains a quality closer option for fantasy managers, but his unorthodox early-season production could be worth monitoring.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Eugenio Suarez's Slow Start to 2026 a Sign of Age-Related Decline?
Fresh off a 49-homer campaign in 2025, veteran third baseman/designated hitter Eugenio Suarez agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Cincinnati Reds before the 2026 season. The 34-year-old hasn't quite gotten his power bat working through his first 100 plate appearances this year, as he's hitting .231/.300/.363 with three home runs, 11 RBI, and 10 runs scored. Suarez's barrel rate is down from 14.3% to 8.6%, while his hard-hit rate currently sits at a career-worst 20.7%. Suarez has a long history as both a prodigious and streaky power hitter, so it's too early for fantasy managers to panic. He also has the benefit of playing his home games in the hitter-friendly environment of Cincinnati, so he could easily get hot as the weather starts to heat up. Still, signs of age-related regression for Suarez are worth monitoring as he enters his mid-thirties. The Reds also have several potentially capable corner infield/designated hitter options, so Suarez could eventually start to lose some playing time if his production remains merely middling.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Griffin Jax Remains Difficult to Trust Amidst Prolonged Struggles
Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Griffin Jax got off to a disastrous start to the 2026 season, allowing five earned runs across his first four outings (two innings pitched). The 31-year-old has stabilized his numbers to some degree since then, posting scoreless outings in five out of his last seven appearances. Still, Jax owns an 8.00 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP across nine innings pitched on the year. Jax's strikeout rate is down from 35% to 22.7%, while his 15.9% walk rate is more than double his 7.4% rate from 2025. The Rays' closer job remains largely up for grabs with the news that reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) experienced a setback in his recovery from a shoulder injury. Jax could eventually work his way back into the ninth-inning mix, but his early-season struggles make him very difficult for fantasy managers to rely on with any degree of confidence.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Didier Fuentes Being Demoted to Triple-A After Disastrous Outing
Atlanta Braves right-hander Didier Fuentes was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to make his first MLB start against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. However, the 20-year-old struggled against the Nats, allowing seven hits and four earned runs in just three innings of work. After the game, Atlanta announced that Fuentes is being sent back down to Triple-A, with Braves pitching prospect JR Ritchie taking his place on the roster. On the bright side, Fuentes showed off his swing-and-miss stuff by recording seven strikeouts against Washington. The young flamethrower will almost certainly get another chance to crack the Atlanta rotation at some point in 2026. Still, for now, it appears as though the organization wants him to continue to refine his arsenal in the minors. Fuentes will regain waiver-wire appeal if and when he gets called back up, but he can probably be cut in the majority of redraft formats.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Kenley Jansen Earns Sixth Save on Wednesday, Re-Emerging as a High-End Closer?
Detroit Tigers closer Kenley Jansen picked up his sixth save of 2026 on Wednesday in his team's 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Jansen allowed two walks and a hit but worked around the traffic in a scoreless ninth inning. The 38-year-old is off to a strong start to his first season in Detroit, as he's worked to a 1.35 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with eight strikeouts and six saves across his first eight appearances (6 2/3 innings). Jansen may not be able to bring the same level of dominance he once did at his peak, but the veteran right-hander has proven that he is still capable of consistently recording high-leverage outs. As long as he can stay healthy, Jansen should continue to be a reliable source of saves for fantasy managers.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jo Adell Sacrificing Power for Contact Early in 2026?
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell was one of the breakout success stories of the 2025 season, hitting 37 home runs in 573 plate appearances. Through his first 112 plate appearances of 2026, the 27-year-old is hitting .269/.313/.375 with three home runs, 15 RBI, 12 runs scored, and one stolen base. Adell's power hasn't quite been where it was in 2025, as his barrel rate is down from 17.2% to 5.1%. Adell may be sacrificing power for contact, as he's also cut his strikeout rate from 26.4% to 19.6%. While Adell would be able to hit for both power and average in an ideal world, fantasy managers would likely prefer him to rediscover his 30-homer form. If he can get back to hitting the long ball consistently while holding some of his contact gains, Adell could put together his most complete MLB season to date.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
JR Ritchie Earns Promotion, Will Make MLB Debut on Thursday
The Atlanta Braves are promoting right-handed pitching prospect JR Ritchie to the MLB roster to start Thursday's contest against the Washington Nationals in his MLB debut. In a corresponding move, the Braves are demoting fellow prospect Didier Fuentes to Triple-A. Ritchie is considered the team's No. 2-ranked prospect on MLB.com and the overall No. 81 in the sport. Ritchie has enjoyed a dominant start to the Triple-A season and is being rewarded with an early promotion. Through his first five starts of the season, the right-hander has logged 27 1/3 innings to the tune of a stellar 0.99 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. During this stretch, Ritchie has struck out 28 hitters and served up 13 free passes. Last summer, the right-hander spent time in High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A and posted a 2.64 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over 140 games. Given the elite upside he has flashed at Triple-A, Ritchie carries solid streaming upside facing the Nationals.
Source: Mark Bowman
Source: Mark Bowman
Jakob Poeltl Expected to Bounce Back Thursday
Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl still remains very much part of the team's plans this postseason. That was called into question after Monday's Game 2 loss to Cleveland, where Poeltl saw just nine minutes of action and sat out the entire second half. "He needs to be part of the solution for us," Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic told reporters on Wednesday, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN. "He needs to be more aggressive. He needs to dominate the glass. He's going to be a big part of Game 3 and I believe he's going to perform really well." While Rajakovic appears confident in a bounce-back performance from Poeltl, he didn't commit to a starting center for Thursday's game. Collin Murray-Boyles started the second half at the No. 5 spot on Monday night, finishing with 17 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block.
Source: Josh Lewenberg
Source: Josh Lewenberg
Collin Gillespie Replaces Jordan Goodwin in Starting Unit for Game 2
Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie will join the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, filling in for Jordan Goodwin (calf). The Suns are forced to make a switch after Goodwin injured his left calf in the series opener. A starting role isn't new to Gillespie, who benefited from Jalen Green's health issues during the regular season and appeared as a starter in 58 contests. In those games, Gillespie averaged 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals. The Suns will be hoping for similar production from him on Wednesday night as they try to even the series.
Source: Phoenix Suns
Source: Phoenix Suns
Rob Dillingham Undergoes Wrist Procedure
Chicago Bulls point guard Rob Dillingham recently underwent successful minor surgery to have a ganglion cyst removed from his right wrist, the team announced on Wednesday. Dillingham battled this issue late in the year, but he will have the entire offseason to get to 100 percent for the 2026-27 campaign. The 21-year-old had a strong finish to the season, averaging 13.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in April. However, this happened with Josh Giddey out of the lineup. Tre Jones is another option at point guard for the team. Giddey and Jones both have a contract with the Bulls for next season, making Dillingham's situation murky.
Source: Chicago Bulls
Source: Chicago Bulls
Grayson Allen Cleared to Play Wednesday
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (hamstring) will suit up on Wednesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports. He has been upgraded from questionable to available. Whether Allen will take the court is another matter. Recently, he has picked up a few DNP-CDs as Allen has been managing a hamstring injury. With Jordan Goodwin (calf) out on Wednesday, the Suns could really use him. Allen might be his replacement in the starting lineup, although even after Goodwin left Game 1 with a calf injury, Suns head coach Jordan Ott elected not to use Allen.
Source: Duane Rankin
Source: Duane Rankin
Keldon Johnson Lands Sixth Man of the Year Award
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson has become the second player in franchise history to win the Sixth Man of the Year award. Hall of Fame member Manu Ginobili was San Antonio's only previous winner of the award. Johnson set the Spurs' record for most bench points this season, finishing with 1,081. He appeared in all 82 games, averaging 13.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 23.3 minutes. Miami's Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Denver's Tim Hardaway Jr. were the other finalists for the award. So far, Johnson's efforts to replicate his form in the playoffs haven't worked out, as he has been limited to 5.0 points per game against Portland.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jordan Goodwin Won't Play Wednesday
Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (calf) will miss Wednesday's Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After suffering a calf injury in Game 1, Goodwin was listed as questionable on the initial injury report. He has now been downgraded to out, leaving a starting spot open. Royce O'Neale is the likeliest candidate to fill it, while Ryan Dunn could also have an expanded role in Wednesday's game. The two would also benefit from the absence of Grayson Allen (hamstring), who is a game-time decision.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Mark Williams Misses Wednesday's Action
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (foot) will sit out Wednesday's Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He will be unavailable for a third consecutive game after the team downgraded Williams' status from questionable to out. The big man has been battling a left foot injury since the Play-In Tournament. Due to Williams' absence, the Suns have been forced to lean more on Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach at the center position. Ighodaro had a mixed performance in Game 1, grabbing a game-high nine rebounds but going scoreless in 26 minutes. Maluach also failed to score in 15 minutes but contributed three rebounds. It's a very tough matchup for the youngsters against Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Ja'Kobe Walter Could Miss Pivotal Game 3
Toronto Raptors guard Ja'Kobe Walter (illness) is questionable for Thursday's Eastern Conference first-round Game 3 against Cleveland as the series shifts back to Toronto. He logged 28 minutes in each of the first two games with Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) sidelined, including 14 points and three three-pointers in Game 2. If Walter sits, Jamal Shead could again push toward 38 minutes after posting three points, four assists, and two steals, while A.J. Lawson may enter the rotation. Walter carries DFS appeal if active, though his role is sensitive to Quickley's status.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Peyton Watson Remains Out for Game 3
Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (hamstring) is out for Thursday's Western Conference first-round Game 3 against Minnesota, extending his absence to eight straight games. He has yet to appear in this series and remains without a clear return timeline. Watson averaged 14.6 points and 1.5 three-pointers during the regular season, but Denver has adjusted without him. Christian Braun logged 16 points, five assists, and two steals in 35 minutes in Game 2, while Cameron Johnson added 13 points in 28 minutes. Both remain viable DFS options with stable roles.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Enyel De Los Santos Picks Up Third Save, the Clear-Cut Closer in Houston?
Houston Astros right-hander Enyel De Los Santos could be emerging as the preferred closer in Houston while left-handed reliever Josh Hader (biceps) remains on the 15-day injured list. De Los Santos picked up his third save of the 2026 season in Wednesday's 2-0 shutout win over the hosting Cleveland Guardians, allowing one hit, walking one, and striking out one in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Right-hander Bryan Abreu failed with his season-opening chance to be the Astros' primary closer, and Bryan King has also received an opportunity, but right now, the Astros' preferred choice in the ninth inning appears to be De Los Santos. The 30-year-old has a 3.86 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with eight strikeouts and three walks in his 9 1/3 innings out of the bullpen so far this year. The back end of Houston's bullpen is pretty fluid at the moment, so although De Los Santos' fantasy value is on the rise, it may not last. He's currently rostered in only 13% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Aaron Gordon Likely to Play in Game 3
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) is probable for Thursday's Western Conference first-round Game 3 against Minnesota and is expected to play through left calf tightness. He has averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 33.0 minutes this series, though he managed just eight points with seven rebounds and four assists across 37 minutes in Game 2. Gordon remains a secondary DFS option tied to peripheral stats, while Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray continue to dominate usage. Bruce Brown would see a slight bump only if Gordon is limited.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Coby Mayo Hits Another Long Ball, Worthy of Speculative Pickup?
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo hit his second home run of the season, going 1-for-4 with three RBI and a strikeout in the team's 8-6 victory over the hosting Kansas City Royals on Wednesday in the series finale. Mayo entered the game on Wednesday with a .158 batting average (9-for-57) with eight walks and 18 strikeouts in 19 games played to start the 2026 campaign. The former fourth-rounder's numbers still don't stand out much in the first couple of weeks of the season, but he might be worth a speculative look in deeper fantasy leagues with a regular role at the hot corner in Baltimore with Jordan Westburg (elbow) out for the foreseeable future. Mayo has yet to really break out in his first 122 major-league games since debuting in 2024, but his power upside remains intriguing if he can stay healthy and earn regular playing time. In Yahoo leagues, Mayo is widely available and is only rostered right now in 2% of leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Anthony Edwards' Status Uncertain for Game 3
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (knee) is questionable for Thursday's Western Conference first-round Game 3 against Denver due to right knee injury maintenance after being listed with the same tag in the first two games. He still played 39.0 minutes per game in the series, averaging 26.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks, including a 30-point, 10-rebound effort in Game 2. If active, he remains a top DFS anchor. If not, Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland would see expanded roles, with Dosunmu offering safer minutes and Hyland bringing scoring upside.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
