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Yankees' 'torpedo' bats: A baseball revolution or an early season quirk?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

The New York Yankees captivated baseball fans over the weekend by defeating the Milwaukee Brewers with an astounding display of power, setting a single-game franchise record with nine home runs on Saturday and tying the MLB record with 15 in their first three games. But the buzz wasn’t solely about the team’s historic blast count. As highlighted by Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman in the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," attention quickly zoomed in on the unusually shaped bats that some Yankees players wielded — dubbed "torpedo bats."

These bats boast a distinct design with a bulbous, wider barrel reminiscent of a bowling pin, spurring many fans into debate about their legality and potential benefits. As Mintz explained, “These bats appear larger but within regulation. They redistribute weight and adjust the sweet spot, possibly aiding in better contact.”

The narrative quickly went viral, with some attributing the Yankees’ explosive performance to these torpedo bats. However, Shusterman was quick to point out the context: "Are these bats really magic, or were the Brewers’ pitchers just really bad?”

Aaron Judge, it should be noted, didn't use a torpedo bat, while teammates including Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt did. "I think my track record speaks for itself," Judge said after his own incredible, four-homer weekend at the plate.

Also, it wasn't just Yankees using these bats over the weekend. As the hosts pointed out, Francisco Lindor of the Mets, Ryan Jeffers of the Twins and Junior Caminero of the Rays all used the bats this weekend.

As Mintz said, "Even though the Yankees were getting all the hype, it does appear that this is more than just a Bronx situation."

Shusterman further speculated on whether these bats might represent a small shift away from pitching dominance in MLB. Pitchers have enjoyed a technological and tactical edge over hitters in recent years, leading to increased strikeouts and fewer balls in play. Could these uniquely designed bats help restore balance? Maybe, but both hosts advised caution.

“If a bat just helps players hit the ball more often and effectively, that’s a good thing for baseball,” Shusterman said. Yet, he added, “These aren’t turning every ball into a home run. It’s not the bat. It’s bigger than that.”

The Yankees might have ignited this latest trend, but Mintz suggested that other teams will likely experiment with such designs, if they aren't doing so already.

"It does sound like around the league this is something that other teams have already been experimenting with. But it seems like the Yankees were the first team to break through and give it a try, in terms of the players that are at the major-league level and willing to give it a shot," he said. “If the Yankees can get players to buy in to these changes, other teams won’t be far behind."

As the league moves forward, fans and analysts will be keenly watching whether these torpedo bats become a standard tool for MLB hitters or remain a quirky sidebar from the Yankees’ early season success.

To listen to the full episode and more, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Tomas Hertl Unavailable For The Golden Knights This Week

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (7), left, forward Tomas Hertl (48) and defenseman Shea Theodore (27) celebrate a goald during the third period against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl will be unavailable this week as he deals with an injury. 

The 31-year-old suffered a shoulder injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Mar. 23 after he was pushed from behind and crashed into the boards. The initial reaction was an unpleasant one, and the Golden Knights are yet to release any positive news about the injury.

Following the Golden Knights' practice, HC Bruce Cassidy confirmed that Hertl would remain out, forcing him to miss games against the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks and the Calgary Flames.

In 70 games, the skilled Czech forward has scored 31 goals and 59 points, tying him for the team lead in goals with linemate Pavel Dorofeyev. 

The Golden Knights are on the cusp of clinching a playoff spot and are inching closer to locking up first place in the Pacific Division, which is allowing them to be patient with Hertl's recovery, but nerves are beginning to settle in about his chances of being ready for the start of the playoffs. 

Alex Pietrangelo was a participant in practice today, taking line rushes alongside healthy scratch Ben Hutton, indicating that he isn't quite ready to hop back into the lineup. While things can change, and he hasn't been officially ruled out of tomorrow's fixture, all signs lead to Kaedan Korczak remaining in the lineup for Pietrangelo. 

Ilya Samsonov has also sustained an injury and has been announced day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Akira Schmid has been called up to replace him as the back-up goaltender. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

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'A Million Thanks To All': Hall Of Fame Hockey Writer Stan Fischler Turns 93 Years Old

Stan Fischler (Danny Wild-Imagn Images)

It’s been 70 years since Stan Fischler got his first paying job covering the NHL – and he’s still at it on his 93rd birthday.

‘The Maven,’ who turns 93 on March 31, got started writing about the New York Rangers in 1954-55. He began writing for The Hockey News not long after when co-founder Ken McKenzie reached out to him.

Since then, his career has earned him a place in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame, as well as the NHL’s Lester Patrick Trophy in 2007 for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. He also won seven Emmy Awards during his television broadcasting career of more than 40 years, covering the Hartford Whalers, New York Islanders, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.

The Islanders, in particular, named its press level at new UBS Arena after Fischler in October 2022, featuring a collection of his articles, equipment and photographs. Fischler has also gifted the Islanders his hockey library, featuring more than 90 books.

“Perhaps the most astonishing – at least to me – aspect of this personal saga is that I've never tired of talking or writing hockey,” Fischler wrote in his birthday column on The Hockey News’ Rangers site on Monday.

Fischler continues to cover the Rangers for The Hockey News, often writing multiple articles daily.

“This man is a phenomenon, plain and simple,” longtime New York Mets radio play-by-play commentator Howie Rose wrote on X. “However controversial and acerbic he might have been during his career (might have?) his love for hockey always shone through. Proud to call him a longtime friend who is worthy of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Elmer Ferguson award.”

Fischler thanked everyone for their birthday wishes as well.

“A million thanks to all for the happy birthday wishes,” he posted to X. “It’s on to 94, but gotta enjoy 93 for a dozen months.”

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Penguins Forward Emil Bemstrom Placed On Waivers

Mar 1, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Emil Bemstrom (52) moves the puck against the Boston Bruins during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made a move, seemingly, to clear up a spot on their active NHL roster.

On Monday, forward Emil Bemstrom was placed on waivers. In 13 NHL games with the Penguins this season, Bemstrom registered one point.

The 25-year-old Swedish forward was traded to Pittsburgh on Feb. 22, 2024, from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Alex Nylander and a conditional draft pick. He was re-signed on a one-year deal this summer by the Penguins, and he is set to become a restricted free agent (RFA) this summer.

In 37 total games with the Penguins since last year's deadline, he had three goals and six points. 

Since Bemstrom was on the roster for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins - Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - on deadline day, he is able to rejoin WBS for the team's Calder Cup run if he clears waivers on Tuesday. Waivers was required because he appeared in more than 10 NHL games.

WBS Penguins Lose 5-2, Split Weekend Series With CheckersWBS Penguins Lose 5-2, Split Weekend Series With CheckersThe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins' quest for 40 wins will have to wait another day, as the Charlotte Checkers avenged a 5-3 loss on Saturday by returning the favor in Sunday's rematch with a 5-2 victory.

In 43 AHL games this season, Bemstrom racked up 21 goals and 46 points in 43 games and was named an AHL All-Star.

Once Bemstrom either clears waivers or is claimed by another NHL club, the Penguins will have a roster spot opened up. With the NCAA season - aside from the Frozen Four - wrapped up, it remains to be seen whether or not the Penguins target a collegiate free agent.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

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Premier League is back: what remains at stake from top to bottom of table

When could the title and relegation be decided? How are European spots shaping up? We set out the top-flight latest

Liverpool’s 12-point lead means they need a maximum of 16 points from their nine games to put themselves out of Arsenal’s reach and secure the title. If Arsenal go on a winning run this could take Liverpool into May even without dropping any points, but if Mikel Arteta’s side lose their next three it could all be over as soon as 13 April, when Liverpool play West Ham at home. In the immediate future a couple of teams in particular could go a long way towards deciding things: Arsenal host Fulham and visit Everton in their fixtures this week, while Liverpool host Everton and visit Fulham. Even beyond those games the sides have comparable fixtures this month – neither will play a current top-half team – but Arsenal also have two Champions League fixtures against Real Madrid to deal with and must close the gap before the start of May.

Continue reading...
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Golden Knights Recall Akira Schmid Amid Injury Concern For Ilya Samsonov

Golden Knights goaltender Akira Schmid (40) warms up before a game against the Utah Hockey Club at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled goaltender Akira Schmid from the Henderson Silver Knights as they deal with a possible injury concern with Ilya Samsonov.

Samsonov was scheduled to start on Saturday against the Nashville Predators but was replaced by Adin Hill due to something "tightening up."

"Sammy just wasn't able to go," he said. "Something tightened up. So that was that. It was not going to be Hilly. We tend not to play a guy back-to-back, especially this time of year. But that was the choice we were left with, and good on him." HC Bruce Cassidy added he had "no idea ... because it's something we expected to play right up until 5:10, or something. So hopefully not. Once we get back, it'll be re-evaluated."

Hill stepped into the crease and was phenomenal, turning away 23 of the 24 shots he faced en route to a 3-1 win. 

Samsonov has played in 28 games during his first season with the Golden Knights, posting a 16-9-3 record, as well as a .892 SV% and a 2.78 GAA. Following Monday's practice, Cassidy stated that the 28-year-old is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury. 

Schmid has played in one NHL game this season, coming in relief of Adin Hill against the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 11, where he turned away all 12 shots he faced. In 30 AHL games with the Silver Knights, the 24-year-old has recorded a 9-18-4 record, including a .886 SV% and a 3.58 GAA. 

The Golden Knights return home from a three-game road trip to take on the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday before a highly anticipated matchup against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. The Golden Knights play a back-to-back against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, and the Calgary Flames on Sunday, and that could be when Schmid gets into NHL action if Samsonov remains out. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

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Braves' Jurickson Profar gets 80-game ban for PED violation

Braves' Jurickson Profar gets 80-game ban for PED violation originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar has been suspended for 80 games without pay for performance-enhancing drug use.

Major League Baseball announced Monday that Profar tested positive for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) in violation of the league’s joint drug prevention and treatment program.

The suspension of Profar is effective immediately. Barring postponed games, Profar would be eligible to return June 29 against Philadelphia and would lose $5,806,440 of his $12 million salary. He is also ineligible for the postseason.

Profar called it the “most difficult day of my baseball career” and said he would never knowingly cheat.

“This is especially painful for me because anyone who knows me and has seen me play knows I am deeply passionate about the game,” he said in a statement. “There is nothing I love more than competing with my teammates and being a fan favorite. I want to apologize to the entire Braves organization, my teammates and the fans.

“It is because of my deep love and respect for this game that I would never knowingly do anything to cheat it. I have been tested my entire career, including eight times last season alone, and have never tested positive. I would never willingly take a banned substance, but I take full responsibility and accept MLB’s decision.”

The 32-year-old Profar was an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger last season when he batted .280 and set career highs with 24 homers and 85 RBIs for San Diego. He then signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Braves in the offseason.

Profar is the fourth player who has been suspended this year for violating the performance-enhancing substance policy, with the others coming under the minor league program and the program for minor leaguers assigned outside the United States and Canada.

Two players were suspended last year under the major league drug program.

Noelvi Marté, a 22-year-old infielder who was considered Cincinnati’s top prospect, missed the first 80 games following a positive test for boldenone.

Toronto infielder Orelvis Martínez was suspended for 80 games on June 23 following a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug clomiphene, an announcement made two days after his major league debut.

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Jets Recall Forward And Goaltender From AHL

Jaret Anderson-Dolan. Photo courtesy of the Manitoba Moose

The Winnipeg Jets have recalled forward Jarret Anderson-Dolan and goaltender Chris Driedger from the Manitoba Moose.

Anderson-Dolan will provide the Jets with insurance on their upcoming three-game road trip. Rasmus Kupari suffered a setback in his recovery from a concussion and without him and Gabriel Vilardi, the Jets only have 12 healthy forwards. If they suffer another injury on the road trip, Anderson-Dolan can step into the lineup.

In 51 AHL games, the 25-year-old has scored seven goals and 19 points. He was selected in the second round of the 2017 NHL draft by the Los Angeles Kings but has never been able to cement his place on an NHL roster. 

Driedger was acquired by the Jets at the NHL trade deadline in a swap for Kaapo Kahkonen. Since joining the Moose, the 30-year-old has posted a 1-3-0 record in five games, including a .872SV% and a 3.30 GAA. 

According to Mike McIntrye, Eric Comrie's wife went into labour over the weekend. If Comrie is forced to miss time, Driedger will serve as the backup goaltender to Connor Hellebuyck. Driedger has accumulated 67 games of NHL experience throughout his career. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Jets stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

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Guardians at Padres Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for March 31

Its Monday, March 31 and the Cleveland Guardians (2-1) are on the West Coast to take on the San Diego Padres (4-0) in Game 1 of this series.

Luis L. Ortiz is slated to take the mound for Cleveland against Kyle Hart for San Diego

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Guardians at Padres

  • Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: Petco Park
  • City: San Diego, CA
  • Network/Streaming: Guardians.TV, Padres.TV

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Guardians at the Padres

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Cleveland Guardians (+114), San Diego Padres (-136)
  • Spread: Padres -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Guardians at Padres

  • Pitching matchup for March 31, 2025: Luis L. Ortiz vs. Kyle Hart
    • Guardians: Luis L. Ortiz (0-0)
      2024 - 37 GP, 135.2 IP, 7-6, 3.32 ERA, 107 Ks
    • Padres: Kyle Hart (0-0)
      Has not pitched in the majors since back in 2020 while he was a member of the Red Sox

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Guardians at Padres

  • The Guardians are 3-0 on the Run Line (ATS) this season
  • The Padres are 3-1 on the Run Line (ATS) this season
  • These teams met last July and San Diego won 2 of the 3 games in Cleveland.

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Guardians and the Padres

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Guardians and the Padres:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Diego Padres at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Phillies explode for 3 late homers to send 45,000 home happy in Game 1 at The Bank

Phillies explode for 3 late homers to send 45,000 home happy in Game 1 at The Bank originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It took two hours from first pitch, but with the weather cooperating and with just under 45,000 fans on hand for the home opener, the Phillies did not disappoint.

They trailed by a run entering the bottom of the seventh inning but again exploded vs. the opponent’s bullpen, scoring four in the seventh and two in the eighth of a 6-1 win.

Rockies starter German Marquez gained strength and confidence as the game progressed but departed after six scoreless innings with three lefties due up in the span of four batters in the seventh. Just like Opening Day, the Phillies quickly made the opposing bullpen pay.

Bryson Stott hit a lefty-on-lefty double off of Scott Alexander with two outs to bring up Brandon Marsh and manager Rob Thomson pinch-hit with Trea Turner. Turner was out of the lineup for a third straight game after feeling his back lock up pregame Saturday but he took grounders Monday afternoon and should return to the lineup Wednesday.

Though he didn’t start the home opener, Turner’s one plate appearance was extremely important, prolonging the seventh inning for Edmundo Sosa to hit a go-ahead two-run double and Kyle Schwarber to hit an absolute bomb off the ivy wall past center field.

In the eighth, Max Kepler and Nick Castellanos went back-to-back.

“It shows the depth of the lineup,” Schwarber said. “We always preach that it’s not gonna be one person, two people, three people. It takes a village to go where we need to go.”

The Phillies have hit .386 with 12 extra-base hits in 57 at-bats against relievers compared to .224 with five extra-base hits in 85 at-bats vs. starters.

“Going into my fourth year here, if we don’t score runs and we get into that bullpen, you feel like you’re one swing away,” Schwarber said.

Thomson’s enjoyed the late offense but quipped that he’d “like to get to a starter here pretty quick, getting a little anxious coming down to the end.”

Schwarber and Sosa are both off to scalding starts. Schwarber is 6-for-17 with three homers and six RBI. Sosa is 6-for-11 with three doubles and has multiple hits in each game he’s played. It certainly wasn’t ideal for Turner to miss a couple games so early, but it also afforded Sosa more at-bats than he would have otherwise received and a chance to find a groove at the plate.

“You saw it last year, too, when Trea went down,” Thomson said. “When Sosa gets a chance to get some consistent at-bats, he shows what he can do.

“He’s extremely important. You’re gonna have injuries over the course of the year and he can fill in almost anywhere. When he gets a chance to play, he plays well.”

Castellanos is also seeing the ball well. He singled and homered Monday after walking four times over the weekend in D.C., his most walks in any series as a Phillie.

The home opener was a pitchers’ duel for five innings with both Cristopher Sanchez and Marquez throwing up zeroes. The run Sanchez allowed came on a solo homer by catcher Hunter Goodman in the top of the sixth. One of Sanchez’ strengths is avoiding homers; the first he allowed last season came vs. the 111th hitter he faced.

Sanchez pitched well aside from that one at-bat and only added to the offseason hype by averaging 96.5 mph with his fastball, two full mph faster than last year. It probably won’t be a one-day fluke, either. He averaged 96.5 in the spring too after adding 20 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-6 frame. It took him a few innings Monday to find his bread-and-butter changeup but he had it working from the third inning-on, striking out five of six batters at one point.

Jose Alvarado, who also had an electric spring, struck out the side in the eighth after the Phillies took their three-run lead. Alvarado threw 16 sinkers and they averaged 100.0 mph on the dot.

Jordan Romano pitched a scoreless ninth to rebound from a two-run outing on Opening Day.

The Phillies pick back up on Wednesday against the Rockies, who they’ve beaten in 11 of the last 12 meetings at Citizens Bank Park. Zack Wheeler will be on the mound for that one. Good luck to Bud Black’s bats.

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MLB Team Power Rankings: Yankees torpedo Brewers with historic power outburst, Dodgers start season 5-0

Most teams have only played three or four games at this early point of the 2025 MLB season, so don’t look for any major changes since my MLB Opening Week Power Rankings were released last week. That would be silly.

And so, the Braves and Red Sox are still quite high here and teams like the Cardinals and the Marlins (obviously) have some work to do in order to get out of the bottom-third of the list.

With a full week of games awaiting us, let's get started!

MLB: Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Tyler Soderstrom, Jack Leiter open season strong
Eric Samulski breaks down his favorite waiver wire adds for the upcoming week of fantasy baseball.

1) Los Angeles Dodgers (5-0)

Last week: 1

Mookie Betts battled a mystery illness in recent weeks which brought his weight as low as 158 pounds. Fortunately, he’s regained some strength in recent days, as evidenced by his two-homer game including the walk-off blast against the Tigers on Friday night.

2) Philadelphia Phillies (2-1)

Last week: 3

Jesús Luzardo might have been the most overlooked impact move of the winter. After being limited to just 12 starts due to injury last year, he ripped off 11 strikeouts in his Phillies debut Saturday against the Nationals. He showed frontline potential before 2024, so the Philly rotation has the chance to be one of the scariest in the majors.

3) Atlanta Braves (0-4)

Last week: 2

The Braves aren’t making my job easy this week. Things should get much better from here, but Atlanta hit just .148 as a team during their season-opening sweep at the hands of the Padres.

4) Boston Red Sox (1-3)

Last week: 4

Coming off a shoulder injury and being moved to the DH spot, Rafael Devers had a series to forget against the Rangers by going 0-for-12 with 11 strikeouts. It’s a concern.

5) Arizona Diamondbacks (2-2)

Last week: 6

Eugenio Suárez looked to have his career at a crossroads during the first half last season, but he’s now amassed 28 home runs in his last 77 games, including four to open the 2025 season.

6) New York Yankees (3-0)

Last week: 7

If you blinked over the past few days, you might have missed another Yankees home run against the Brewers. Armed with their new torpedo bats, they tied an MLB record by hitting 15 homers through their first three games. How much of it was the Yankees (and their bats) and how much of it was the Brewers’ undermanned pitching staff? We’re about to find out.

7) New York Mets (1-2)

Last week: 5

Beautiful home run from Juan Soto aside, the offense was largely non-existent in their series against the Astros, but one positive was that their pitching staff allowed just six runs over three games.

8) Texas Rangers (3-1)

Last week: 8

A great sign for the Rangers? Jacob deGrom looked pretty much like himself in Sunday’s win over the Red Sox, spinning five scoreless innings with six strikeouts and 16 swinging strikes in his 73 pitches.

9) Houston Astros (2-1)

Last week: 9

Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, and Spencer Arrighetti combined to allow just four runs (three earned) through three games against the Mets.

10) Baltimore Orioles (2-2)

Last week: 10

The Orioles should get Gunnar Henderson back from the injured list this week, but they’ve already lost Colton Cowser due to a fractured left thumb. He's expected to miss around six weeks.

11) San Diego Padres (4-0)

Last week: 12

With Nick Pivetta dominating the Braves on Sunday, the Padres are now 4-0 for the second time in franchise history. The only other time came in 1984, when they won the NL pennant and went on to lose to the Tigers in the World Series.

12) Seattle Mariners (2-2)

Last week: 13

Concern about the Mariners’ offense remains a very real thing, but watching this massive go-ahead two-run home run from Julio Rodríguez on Sunday makes you forget about it for a minute.

13) Chicago Cubs (2-4)

Last week: 11

It’s bad enough to give up eight runs in an inning, which the Cubs’ bullpen did on Sunday, but they also allowed an RBI single to Ryne Nelson (yes, a pitcher) after the Diamondbacks ran out of position players. Oh, the indignity.

14) Kansas City Royals (1-2)

Last week: 16

Jonathan India is somehow in the lineup for the Royals on Monday after being hit in the head by a 99 mph fastball from Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase on Sunday. Great news for the Royals' key acquisition during the offseason.

15) Minnesota Twins (0-3)

Last week: 14

The mood of Twins’ fans was already on shaky ground, so a three-game sweep at the hands of the Cardinals to start the season isn’t helping matters. After dealing with an illness in recent days, Bailey Ober was blasted for eight runs and didn’t make it out of the third inning on Sunday.

16) Detroit Tigers (0-3)

Last week: 15

A sweep is a sweep, but the Tigers showed a good amount of fight during their series against the Dodgers. Maybe most encouraging was that Spencer Torkelson’s strong spring carried into the opening series.

17) Toronto Blue Jays (2-2)

Last week: 17

The excitement behind Max Scherzer’s season debut didn’t last long. The future Hall of Famer lasted just three innings against the Orioles on Saturday before leaving with lat soreness and landed on the IL on Sunday with right thumb inflammation. The issues are related and cast serious doubt on his outlook moving forward.

18) San Francisco Giants (2-1)

Last week: 19

Camilo Doval lost his closer job last season amid some control issues and even found himself in the minors, but he was called upon Sunday to close out a victory over the Reds with Ryan Walker unavailable due to back pain. It’s unclear if Walker will require a lengthy absence, but Doval rediscovering his All-Star form would be a big deal for this team.

19) Milwaukee Brewers (0-3)

Last week: 18

Woof. In getting swept (and demolished) by the Yankees, the Brewers became the first team since 1901 to allow at least 15 home runs through the first three games of a season. Aaron Civale was forced to exit Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, which is yet another test for a short-handed rotation.

20) Cincinnati Reds (1-2)

Last week: 20

The Reds have the talent to make things interesting in the NL Central, but the backend of their bullpen is a pain point. Alexis Díaz was on shaky ground even before his hamstring injury, but piecing it together in his absence will be a process.

21) Cleveland Guardians (2-1)

Last week: 21

Once again, I might be underestimating the Guardians in the AL Central. Tanner Bibee’s Chipotle regimen apparently backfired, with food poisoning pushing back his season debut to Sunday, but he looked strong with 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the Royals.

22) Tampa Bay Rays (2-1)

Last week: 22

How weird is to see the Rays playing outside as the home team? I will hereby refer to the 2025 home Rays as the “outie Rays.” On a serious note, it’s a bummer to see Josh Lowe already hit the injured list with an oblique strain.

23) St. Louis Cardinals (3-0)

Last week: 25

The outlook for the Cardinals might look a little bit different if Victor Scott II’s improvements are real. After a two-hit, two steal-game on Saturday, Scott slugged a three-run homer on Sunday to finish off a sweep against the Twins.

24) Athletics (2-2)

Last week: 24

Aaron Judge, not surprisingly, leads the majors with 20 total bases so far this season, but A’s first baseman Tyler Soderstrom ranks second with 17 through four games.

25) Pittsburgh Pirates (1-3)

Last week: 23

The Pirates made history over the weekend! Oh, it was the bad kind of history.

26) Washington Nationals (1-2)

Last week: 26

Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews was the consensus choice of the Rotoworld staff to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award, but great throw notwithstanding on Saturday, he’s had a rough start to the season. The 23-year-old is 0-for-11 and has struck out in each of his last eight at-bats. Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki, the other favorite for the NL ROY, has had his own struggles through his first two MLB starts.

27) Los Angeles Angels (2-1)

Last week: 27

Free agent pickup Kenley Jansen has two saves through the first three games of the season. He’s still getting it done at the age of 37 and finds himself 31 saves away from Lee Smith for third on the all-time list. It’s within reach seeing that he notched 27 saves last year and 29 the year before.

28) Miami Marlins (3-1)

Last week: 29

Three walk-off wins for the Marlins in their season-opening series against the Pirates. Fun! This is still likely where they’ll peak in this year’s rankings.

29) Colorado Rockies (1-2)

Last week: 28

The great thing about baseball is that you regularly see things that haven’t happened in 100 years. Take for instance Antonio Senzatela’s outing against the Rays on Saturday, as he navigated a small village of baserunners through 4 1/3 scoreless innings.

30) Chicago White Sox (1-2)

Last week: 30

It’s early but the White Sox are leading the league in tarp.

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Fantasy Basketball Week 22 Key Injuries

Welcome to championship week for those still competing in Yahoo! public and default leagues. A season of navigating the waiver wire and making shrewd trades comes down to seven days, with 22 of the league's 30 teams having four-game schedules. And there are some key injury situations to deal with before the week begins, most notably the sprained ankle Kevin Durant suffered during Sunday's loss to the Rockets.

SF/PF Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

Durant sprained his ankle during the third quarter of Sunday's blowout loss and did not return. He'll undergo an MRI on Monday and will not travel with the team as the Suns begin a three-game road trip in Milwaukee on Tuesday. That's followed by games against the Celtics (Friday) and Knicks (Sunday). One question to consider is whether or not Bradley Beal will be able to return from his hamstring injury during Week 22. If so, that would address who steps in as Durant's replacement in the starting lineup. If not, Royce O'Neale (13 percent rostered, Yahoo!) and Grayson Allen (11 percent) are potential replacements. O'Neale offers a slightly higher fantasy ceiling, if only because he's the superior rebounder.

PG/SG Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

Cunningham has missed Detroit's last four games with a calf injury, most recently sitting out Sunday's loss to the Timberwolves. Dennis Schroder (39 percent) has been the replacement, providing 12th-round value in nine-cat formats over the past week. Cunningham's absence has also resulted in rotation minutes for Marcus Sasser (four percent), whose productivity has swung wildly based on the competition. After scoring 47 points against the Pelicans and Spurs, Sasser scored seven on 2-of-12 shooting against the Cavaliers and Timberwolves. Schroder and Malik Beasley (39 percent) would be the players to target if Cunningham continues to miss time, but the Pistons won't play their first Week 22 game until Wednesday.

PG Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Brunson provided an update before Sunday's win over the Trail Blazers, saying he has been cleared to resume basketball activities. While he did not say what that entails, the All-Star point guard continues progressing in his recovery. With Miles McBride (groin) and Cameron Payne (ankle) considered day-to-day, the Knicks have relied on Delon Wright (one percent) and Tyler Kolek (one percent) to fill the void. While Wright has been the starter, Kolek has tallied 32 assists and two turnovers over the last five games. Neither Wright nor Kolek is a must-add, but the Knicks will play four games during Week 22.

SG/SF Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Due to a knee injury, Brown is questionable for Monday's game against the Grizzlies. This situation is pretty straightforward. Al Horford (30 percent) will be the likely replacement in the starting lineup, which raises his fantasy ceiling. A starter missing time also boosts the fantasy value of Payton Pritchard (50 percent), but he's already rostered in most standard leagues. The Celtics do not have a back-to-back during Week 22, but the team is also in a situation where it essentially knows its seed in the upcoming playoffs. Therefore, Brown's knee may not be the only issue that impacts the availability of Boston's most reliable fantasy options.

SF/PF Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets

Johnson has been ruled out for Monday's game in Dallas with a lower back contusion, the first of three games the Nets play during Week 22. Jalen Wilson (one percent) is a potential replacement in the starting lineup, but he has not done enough to merit being rostered in most leagues. However, with the Nets looking to improve their draft lottery odds, there may be more starts in Wilson's future. Tyrese Martin (two percent), who's stepped in when D'Angelo Russell has missed time, is another possibility moving forward. There's no need to consider adding Dariq Whitehead (zero percent), but this may be a good time for the Nets to see what they have in the 2023 first-round pick, given how little NBA basketball he's played due to injury.

C Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

With John Collins and Lauri Markkanen already out, Kessler has also been ruled out for Monday's game against Charlotte. This will be the second straight game he's missed due to an illness, with "return to competition conditioning" being the reason for Monday's absence. Oscar Tshiebwe (zero percent) replaced Kessler in the lineup the last time out and can provide value in the rebounding category. However, Kyle Filipowski (31 percent) remains the Jazz frontcourt player who should be targeted in fantasy leagues. Utah plays four games with no back-to-backs during Week 22, but that doesn't mean Kessler will be available for the three remaining contests.

C Daniel Gaffordand C Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks

At long last, the Mavericks' frontcourt rotation is expected to be whole at some point during Week 22. Gafford (knee) is probable for Monday's game against the Nets, while Lively (ankle) is considered questionable. With Anthony Davis also considered probable, there's a chance Dallas will have its top three interior options available on Monday. Kai Jones (14 percent) has been a solid replacement when he's been healthy, but his time as a streamable fantasy option may come to an end. Dallas' four-game Week 22 ends with a Friday/Saturday back-to-back, so Jones may have another opportunity as a streamer. Also of note in Dallas is that Brandon Williams (12 percent) has hit his 50-game max as a two-way contract player, so don't hold onto him for Week 22.

SF/PF Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons

Harris was cleared to play in Sunday's loss to the Timberwolves, but a lingering Achilles issue led to him being scratched just before tipoff. That was the second game he's missed, resulting in Malik Beasley (39 percent) making two starts. Beasley has been productive enough to be rostered regardless of Harris' availability. As noted above, the Pistons won't play their first Week 22 games until Wednesday in Oklahoma City, so that may be enough time to get Harris back to full strength.

SF/PF Andrew Wiggins, Miami Heat

Wiggins has been ruled out for Monday's game in Washington, the second game he has missed with a hamstring injury. With Duncan Robinson (back) also missing time, the Heat called on Alec Burks (one percent) and Pelle Larsson (zero percent) to fill the resulting voids in the starting lineup. While neither qualifies as a "safe" streaming option, Burks is better for deep-league managers seeking a higher floor. Also, Kel'el Ware is rostered in 55 percent of Yahoo! leagues, which is a bit low, given his importance to the Heat. Wiggins' availability does not directly impact Ware, but he's worth adding for managers needing a frontcourt player.

SF/PF Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

Having returned from an extended absence on March 13, Kuminga injured his right ankle during Sunday's win over the Spurs when he fell hard during the first half. Hopefully, this does not result in another extended absence for the Warriors forward. However, with Golden State's four-game week including a back-to-back, Kuminga could be capped at three appearances if he's available for Tuesday's game in Memphis. Gui Santos (zero percent) started the second half of Sunday's game, but Kuminga's absence also preserves some of Moses Moody's fantasy value, as does Gary Payton II's absence due to a left thumb injury. Moody is rostered in 13 percent of Yahoo! leagues and has remained in the starting lineup since Stephen Curry's return, with Draymond Green taking over as the starting center.

SF Khris Middleton and SG/SF Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards

Middleton (knee) and George (ankle) will remain out for Monday's game against the Heat, the first of four games the Wizards play during Week 22. And with the schedule including a Wednesday/Thursday back-to-back, Middleton may get in two games at the most (Marcus Smart's availability is also shaky due to the back-to-back). The good news is that there are young players worth targeting, beginning with Justin Champagnie (12 percent). He has provided top-100 value over the past week. AJ Johnson (two percent) has averaged nearly 33 minutes per game over the past week and is worth a look if Champagnie has already been claimed.

PF/C Noah Clowney and C Day'Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets

This was supposed to be "prime time" for Clowney and Sharpe from a playing time standpoint, as the Nets are focused on the draft lottery. Unfortunately, at a minimum, both players are hurt and will miss Monday's game in Dallas. Trendon Watford (four percent) would be the "safe" target, but Drew Timme (zero percent) recorded a double-double in his Nets (and NBA) debut on March 28 against the Clippers. He followed that up with a 19-point outing against the Wizards the following night.

PG Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic

Anthony has missed Orlando's last six games after aggravating a left big toe injury and is questionable for Monday's game against the Clippers. Cory Joseph (zero percent) has been his replacement in the starting lineup, but the veteran guard has offered little streaming value. Anthony Black (12 percent) is the superior option despite coming off the bench and has provided top-100 value in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. Orlando plays all three of its Week 22 games in the first four days, so this would be a case of streaming Black through Thursday and then dropping him if Anthony continues to miss time.