TAP FOR 6 MONTHS OF PREMIUM FREE 💰
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Today’s MLB Daily Fantasy Best Ball Picks, Values, and Sleepers for RIVAL (5/15/2024)

Juan Soto - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Shaun Evans' MLB Best Ball picks for RIVAL Fantasy MLB Best Ball contests for Wednesday, 5/15. See who he is liking to target in drafts and why.

Happy Wednesday, RotoBallers, and welcome to our new series covering RIVAL Fantasy Best Ball daily action for the MLB season! We will be covering some of our favorite value players and sleepers that can help you win your league.

MLB best ball is similar to your everyday normal fantasy baseball leagues except you draft your team and don't have to worry about setting lineups. There is no need to stress over free-agent pickups or trying to make a trade with one of your league mates. You just draft your team, kick back, and enjoy the season.

RIVAL Fantasy does take a 10% rake but each draft type is snake and your timer is 45 seconds. There's no reason to have to wait 7 hours and 22 minutes for Billy to take his first pitcher finally. It's quick and easy draft to get through, which ultimately means more drafts to do. Check here for the updated rules and scoring.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

RIVAL Fantasy MLB Best Ball Infielder Plays

Elly De La Cruz, SS - Cincinatti Reds

Elly De La Cruz and the Cincinnati Reds will finish the road trip against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Brandon Pfaadt on the mound Wednesday. This matchup favors De La Cruz and the Reds lineup.  The Reds shortstop is hitting .262 (38-for-145) this season with seven doubles, one triple, nine homers, 21 RBI, 32 runs, 22 walks, 54 strikeouts, and 25 stolen bases. His ceiling remains high because of his power and ability to steal bases. De La Cruz is projected near 12 fantasy points and makes for a top infield candidate for Best Ball Drafts.

Michael Massey, 2B - Kansas City Royals

Michael Massey and the Kansas City Royals will be finishing off their road trip against Bryan Woo and the Seattle Mariners. Woo made his first start last week and showed upside pitching 4 1/3 innings with three strikeouts and one walk against the Oakland A's. However, the Royals provide a more dangerous lineup. Massey will most likely go overlooked in drafts but has had back-to-back games with a hit. He's batting .247 (18-for-73) with four doubles, three homers, 16 RBI, 9 runs, one walk, and 12 strikeouts in 21 games.

 

Featured Promo: Our friends at RIVAL Fantasy are hooking you up. Get a risk-free deposit match up to $50 using promo code BALLER with your first deposit, and also a free year of RotoBaller Premium access ($199 value)!

SIGN UP NOW!

 

RIVAL Fantasy MLB Best Ball Outfielder Plays

Juan Soto, RF - New York Yankees

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto should be targeted as a first-round pick with his matchup against Pablo Lopez of the Minnesota Twins. Using the RotoBaller tools, he has a matchup rating of 121.2 for Wednesday which isn't even the highest for this series overall. Soto has been dominating all season long for the Yankees, batting .314 (50-for-159) with seven doubles, one triple, nine homers, 27 runs, 34 RBI, 28 walks, and 24 strikeouts.

Tyler O'Neill, LF - Boston Red Sox

There shouldn't be much discussion or convincing needed for Tyler O'Neill. O'Neill has had a solid start to the season for the Boston Red Sox and is currently hitting .265 (30-for-113). He has hit 10 homers with 24 runs, 16 RBI, and seven stolen bases. The only concern is that he has struck out 40 times in 32 games. Taj Bradley is the projected starter for the Tampa Bay Rays and pitched a six-inning, seven-strikeout game versus the New York Yankees in his debut. This could make a challenging matchup for O'Neill but he has proven he can reach his ceiling in similar situations.

 

RIVAL Fantasy MLB Best Ball Starting Pitcher Plays

Ranger Suarez, SP - Philadelphia Phillies

Juan Soto and Ranger Suarez should be your first two picks in Best Ball drafts. Suarez is 7-0 in eight starts, pitching 54 innings with a 1.50 ERA. He has 55 strikeouts, and eight walks while allowing nine runs, 31 hits, and four homers. The New York Mets have a .224 (73-for-326) batting average against left-handed pitchers and have struck out 69 times.

Alec Marsh, SP - Kansas City Royals

Alec Marsh should be the next targeted pitcher if you can't draft Ranger Suarez. Marsh will be facing the Seattle Mariners who continue to struggle against righties. He has a 3-0 record in six starts while pitching 32 innings with 24 strikeouts, nine walks, nine runs, and just two homers. He is also coming off a season-high seven strikeouts against the Los Angeles Angels and will look to continue his consistent play.

 

Play MLB Best Ball Now on RIVAL Fantasy



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Advice

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Stephen Halliday

Injured Sunday
Jack St. Ivany

Exits With Upper-Body Injury Sunday
Brock Boeser

Takes Hit to the Head
Evgeni Malkin

Suffers Apparent Injury in Sunday's Win
Sam Merrill

Still Uncertain to Play Monday
Deni Avdija

Could Miss Second Straight Game Monday
Zaccharie Risacher

Misses Ninth Straight Game Monday
Kristaps Porzingis

Still Out Monday Against Pacers
Austin Reaves

Not Ready to Return Monday
Kris Dunn

Exits Early Sunday with Ankle Injury
Cason Wallace

Sidelined Midgame by Groin Issue
Paul George

Resting Versus Charlotte
Joel Embiid

Won't Play on Monday Night
Kawhi Leonard

Will Face Brooklyn on Sunday
Norman Powell

is Cleared for Sunday's Contest
Kasparas Jakucionis

Upgraded to Available
Jalen Green

is Ruled Out for Sunday's Game
Aaron Wiggins

to Suit up on Sunday
Jose Alvarado

is Making his Return on Sunday
Trey Murphy III

is Available for Sunday's Game
Ja'Kobe Walter

is Returning on Sunday
Immanuel Quickley

is Cleared for Sunday's Game
Norman Powell

is Upgraded to Probable on Sunday
Davion Mitchell

is Downgraded to Out
Philipp Kurashev

Joins Sharks for Road Trip
Charle-Edouard D'Astous

Placed on Injured Reserve
William Nylander

Doesn't Have Timeline for Return
Teuvo Teravainen

Remains Out Sunday
David Kampf

Scratched on Sunday
Kris Letang

Expected to Return Sunday
Linus Ullmark

Dresses as Backup Sunday
Matthew Stafford

Plans to Return in 2026
Jonathan Kuminga

is Dealing with Bone Bruise
CFB

Arthur Smith to Become Ohio State's Offensive Coordinator
Bo Nix

Sidelined for 12 Weeks With Broken Ankle
Jose Altuve

to Mainly Play Second Base
Nicolas Hague

Out Week-to-Week
Yu Darvish

Considering Retirement
Simon Edvinsson

Misses Second Straight Game
Alexandre Texier

Cleared for Original Six Matchup
Anze Kopitar

Still Out Saturday
Drew Doughty

Set to Rejoin Kings Lineup Saturday
Matt Boldy

Expected to Return Saturday Night
Brad Marchand

Available Saturday
Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers Finalizing Deal to Make Mike McCarthy Their Head Coach
José Ramírez

Jose Ramirez Signs Seven-Year Extension With Guardians
Gunnar Henderson

is Fully Healthy Heading into Spring Training
Bo Horvat

Rejoining Islanders Lineup Saturday
Dylan Holloway

Out Friday
Ross Colton

Won't Play Friday
Tyreek Hill

Dolphins Expected to Release Tyreek Hill
Paddy Pimblett

Set For Interim Lightweight Title Fight
Justin Gaethje

An Underdog At UFC 324
Song Yadong

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Sean O'Malley Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Derrick Lewis

Returns At UFC 324
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Philip Rivers

Interviewing for Bills Head-Coaching Job
NFL

Fernando Mendoza Officially Declares for NFL Draft
CFB

Arch Manning Undergoes Foot Surgery
Dalton Kincaid

Played Through Torn PCL
CFB

College Football Playoff Expected to Remain a 12-Team Field in 2026
Baltimore Ravens

Ravens Hire Jesse Minter as Their Head Coach
Indianapolis Colts

FBI Investigating the Death of Colts Owner Jim Irsay
MacKenzie Gore

Rangers Acquire MacKenzie Gore From the Nationals
Brandon Sproat

Dealt to Brewers in Four-Player Trade
Jett Williams

Brewers Acquire Jett Williams From Mets
Freddy Peralta

Mets Acquire Freddy Peralta From Brewers
Kyle Tucker

Expected to Bat Second or Third in Dodgers' Lineup
Brandon Aiyuk

has "Played his Last Snap as a Niner"
Cody Bellinger

Signs Five-Year, $162.5 Million Contract With Yankees
Adam Scott

Looks to Overcome Putting Woes at American Express
Billy Horschel

Looking to Rebound at The American Express
Josh Allen

Might Need Foot Surgery
Russell Henley

Looks to Build on Strong Start at The American Express
Jason Day

Looking to Start 2026 Strong at The American Express
Wyndham Clark

Looking to Regain Form at The American Express
Sam Burns

Looks to Continue Success at The American Express
Akshay Bhatia

Looking to Flip the Script at The American Express
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looking to Build on Strong Fall in Season Debut
Kurt Kitayama

Hopes To Continue Strong Start to 2026 Season at American Express
CFB

Princewill Umanmielen Expected to Sign with LSU
Scottie Scheffler

Returns To American Express After Missing Last Year's Edition
Robert MacIntyre

Keeps Momentum Rolling Heading Into American Express
Brian Harman

Can Challenge at American Express if His Putter Stays Hot
Ben Griffin

Outstanding Form Continues Heading Into American Express
Matt Fitzpatrick

Continues Playing Well Following Outstanding Finish to 2025 Season
Patrick Cantlay

Looks to Get a Jump Start on His 2026 Season
Blades Brown

Set to Make First PGA Tour Appearance of 2026
Kevin Roy

Has Some Confidence Heading to Southern California
Min Woo Lee

Poised to Make Bigger Impact in 2026
Max Homa

Needs a Better Start for 2026
Tony Finau

Trying to Reverse Disturbing Trend
Cam Davis

Aims for More Accuracy at American Express
Luisangel Acuña

Luisangel Acuna Sent to White Sox in Trade
Luis Robert Jr.

Mets Acquire Luis Robert Jr. from White Sox
Los Angeles Chargers

Mike McDaniel Expected to Become Chargers Offensive Coordinator
Carlos Beltran

Andruw Jones Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
CFB

Alberto Mendoza Expected to Land at Georgia Tech
Malik Nabers

Giants Hope Malik Nabers Will be Back for Start of Training Camp
CFB

Duke Suing Quarterback Darian Mensah
Cam Skattebo

Should be Ready by OTAs
George Kittle

Expects to Return "Well Before November"
CFB

Alberto Mendoza Entering Transfer Portal
Mookie Betts

Plans to Retire at the End of his Current Contract

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP