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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 lineup 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)!

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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.

 

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Trendon Watford

Won't Return to NBA Cup Meeting with Orlando
Corey Kispert

Suffers Thumb Injury on Tuesday Night
DeVonta Smith

Listed as DNP on Tuesday
Vinnie Hinostroza

to Miss 4-6 Weeks
Pyotr Kochetkov

Dealing With Undisclosed Injury
Tristan Jarry

Expected to Be Available Wednesday
Evgenii Dadonov

Doubtful for Wednesday
J.T. Miller

Joins Team for Road Trip
Joel Kiviranta

Ready to Return Wednesday
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Expected to Return on Saturday
Marvin Bagley III

Ruled Out Versus Atlanta
Luke Kennard

Available on Tuesday Night
RJ Barrett

Unavailable Wednesday
Landry Shamet

Out for Wednesday
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Questionable for Wednesday's Matchup With Milwaukee
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic Considered Questionable for Tuesday
Jauan Jennings

Won't be Suspended
Draymond Green

Will be Questionable for Wednesday Against the Rockets
Goga Bitadze

Downgraded to Questionable
Dereck Lively II

Will Miss At Least 7-10 Days
Paul George

Will Not Play Tuesday against the Magic
Tyrese Maxey

Will Play Tuesday Against the Magic
Omarion Hampton

Chargers Open Omarion Hampton's Practice Window
Joel Embiid

Ruled Out Against Orlando
Lamar Jackson

Returns to Practice
DK Metcalf

D.K. Metcalf Will Be Limited Early in the Week
Isiah Pacheco

Set to Return on Thursday
J.T. Realmuto

Red Sox Showing Interest in J.T. Realmuto
Sonny Gray

Red Sox Acquire Sonny Gray From the Cardinals
Brian Thomas Jr.

Expected to Make his Return in Week 13
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Have "Great Optimism" Aaron Rodgers Will Play in Week 13
CFB

Jeremiah Smith, Makai Lemon, Skyler Bell Named Biletnikoff Award Finalists
Jayden Daniels

has Been Throwing, Return Timeline Unclear
NFL

As Many as Three NFL Teams Could Have Interest in Hiring Bill Belichick
Tre Johnson

Out Indefinitely With Hip-Flexor Strain
Goga Bitadze

Active Tuesday in Philadelphia
Wendell Carter Jr.

Cleared To Play Against 76ers
Jalen Suggs

Ready to Return Tuesday in Philadelphia
Luke Kennard

Uncertain For Tuesday's Game Against Wizards
Adem Bona

Will Not Play Tuesday Against the Magic
Marvin Bagley III

Listed as Questionable vs. Hawks
Sam Reinhart

Extends Scoring Streak With Three-Point Effort
Adam Fox

Delivers Two Assists in Monday's Win
Brandon Hagel

Tallies Three Points Against Flyers
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Extends Winning Streak With Shutout Performance
Logan Cooley

Erupts for Five Points in Monday's Win
Mathieu Olivier

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Monday
Zach Werenski

Hurt Against Capitals
Isiah Pacheco

Targeting a Return on Thursday
Shohei Ohtani

to Play for Team Japan in 2026 World Baseball Classic
Lamar Jackson

Now Dealing With a Toe Injury
Jake Walman

to Remain Out Tuesday
Ridly Greig

Still Out Monday
Baker Mayfield

Dealing With Low-Grade Shoulder Sprain
Thomas Chabot

Misses Monday's Matchup
Kirill Marchenko

Out Monday
J.T. Miller

Unavailable Monday
Brayden Point

Out Against Flyers
Nikita Kucherov

Good to Go Monday
Chris Godwin

Buccaneers Plan to "Ramp Up" Chris Godwin's Usage
Colorado Rockies

Warren Schaeffer to Stick Around as Rockies Manager in 2026
Ashton Jeanty

Ankle Injury isn't Severe
Jayden Daniels

to Practice This Week, Considered a Long Shot for Week 13
C.J. Stroud

Remains in Concussion Protocol
Mike Evans

Could Return Before End of Regular Season
J.J. McCarthy

in Concussion Protocol
Tyrod Taylor

to Remain the Jets' Starting QB
Shedeur Sanders

to Make Another Start for Browns in Week 13
CFB

Chris Bell Out for Rivalry Matchup Against Kentucky
Ryan Helsley

Tigers Eyeing Ryan Helsley as a Starter
Dan Hooker

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Marcus Semien

Shipped to the Mets on Sunday
Arman Tsarukyan

Gets Submission Win
Brandon Nimmo

Traded to Texas
Belal Muhammad

Loses Back-to-Back Fights
Belal Muhammad

Ian Machado Garry Outpoints Belal Muhammad
Alonzo Menifield

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Volkan Oezdemir

Gets Back In The Win Column
Jack Hermansson

Gets Knocked Out
Jack Hermansson

Myktybek Orolbai Knocks Out Jack Hermansson
Shamil Gaziev

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Shines At UFC Qatar
Tagir Ulanbekov

Suffers Third-Round Submission Loss
Kyoji Horiguchi

Makes Triumphant UFC Return
Adolis García

Rangers Non-Tender Adolis Garcia on Friday
CFB

Beau Pribula Expected to Start Against Oklahoma
Dan Hooker

An Underdog At UFC Qatar
Arman Tsarukyan

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Ian Machado Garry

A Favorite At UFC Qatar
Belal Muhammad

Looks To Bounce Back
Alonzo Menifield

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Volkan Oezdemir

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Myktybek Orolbai

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Jack Hermansson

Makes His Welterweight Debut
Kyoji Horiguchi

Returns To The UFC
Elly De La Cruz

Played Through Partially Torn Quad to End 2025
Tarik Skubal

Tigers "Doubtful" to Trade Tarik Skubal

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