News
Nick Kurtz went 1-for-4 with an RBI to help the Athletics to a 5-2 win over the Rangers on Wednesday.
Donovan Mitchell (ankle) is available for Game 5 against the Pacers on Tuesday.
Mitchell did not play in the second half of Sunday’s Game 4 blowout loss after aggravating a left ankle injury. The good news is that he’ll be available for Tuesday’s game, and the Cavaliers will need all hands on deck as they trail three games to one. Cleveland will go with its regular starting lineup, with Darius Garland, Max Strus, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen joining Mitchell. According to TNT, an MRI on Monday revealed a sprain and showed that Mitchell did not suffer any additional damage.
Sam Merrill (neck) is questionable for Game 5 against the Pacers on Tuesday.
Absent from the Cavaliers’ initial injury report for Game 5, Merrill has been added due to a strained neck. With Donovan Mitchell (ankle) a game-time decision, Cleveland could be down two rotation players with their season on the line. They would require more production from Darius Garland, Max Strus and Ty Jerome to keep their season alive.
Cade Povich could potentially start the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Twins.
Povich might wind up taking the ball for Wednesday’s nightcap, but that’s up in the air at the moment. The 25-year-old lefty was slated to start Tuesday’s contest before it was postponed due to rain. It’ll be Dean Kremer drawing the starting assignment for the opening contest of the twin bill.
Max Muncy is not in the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Athletics.
Muncy takes a seat with lefty Jeffrey Springs drawing the starting assignment for the Athletics. He’s been a non-factor this season for fantasy purposes, hitting .190 with one homer, nine RBI and one steal over 39 games. It’ll be Enrique Hernández getting an opportunity at the hot corner on Tuesday night.
Sam Hauser (ankle) is probable for Game 5 against the Knicks on Wednesday.
Hauser has been out of the Celtics’ lineup since spraining his ankle during Game 1. His likely return will give Boston another rotation player to call upon, as Jayson Tatum (Achilles) is out for the foreseeable future. With Kristaps Porzingis (illness) still not back to full strength, Hauser will play rotation minutes if cleared, potentially as a starter.
Chiefs signed fourth-round WR Jalen Royals to a four-year contract.
Royals doesn’t have an obvious and open spot in the receiving corps to build short-term fantasy value with Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, and Rashee Rice operating in the opening 11-personnel package. He may or may not play his way into WR4 duties depending on how the team feels about JuJu Smith-Schuster. Royals has plenty of talent and Brown is on a one-year deal, so there is a future where Royals is more than a bit player for the Chiefs. It likely won’t happen in his first season without injuries in front of him.