Outlook Maxwell Muncy
Maxwell Muncy remains sidelined with a hand fracture but approaches a mid-June return window
Maxwell Muncy has not played recently while recovering from a fractured fifth metacarpal in his left hand, an injury that has kept him out since late April. The third-place Athletics (31-34) have had to adapt, deploying Zack Gelof as the primary option at third base in Muncy's absence.
Prior to landing on the injured list, the 23-year-old infielder was batting .239 with two home runs over 26 games. Our models project a solid .250 average with eight home runs and five steals the rest of the way, which would represent a nice step forward from his .214 rookie campaign in 2025.
The Athletics are scheduled for six home games this week against the Brewers and Rockies. However, because Muncy is still completing his rehabilitation and targets a mid-June return, fantasy managers must leave him on the bench or in an IL slot for now. Verdict: Sit.
Updated 1 day ago
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Outlook Manny Machado
Manny Machado Slumping Amid Velocity Woes, But Soft Week Ahead Offers Rebound Chance
Manny Machado is locked in a brutal slump, batting just .134 over his last 30 days and .125 over the past week. Despite his struggles, he remains the everyday starter at third base for the 33-31 Padres, who sit third in the NL West. His slump is compounded by injuries to key teammates like Jake Cronenworth, placing more pressure on the veteran.
Under the hood, Machado's current .173 batting average is a far cry from his .272 mark last season. While he is seeing the highest average fastball velocity in the league, our models expect positive regression toward a .267 average and 25 home runs. Given his elite track record, this cold streak is likely a temporary hurdle rather than a permanent decline.
The Padres face a six-game slate this week, starting at home against Cincinnati before heading to Baltimore. Machado will face a mix of tough arms like Chase Burns (2.05 ERA) and highly vulnerable targets like Brady Singer (5.89 ERA) and Trevor Rogers (6.58 ERA). Trust the bounce-back potential and lock him in as a weekly Start.
Updated 1 day ago
