New York Yankees veteran right-hander Gerrit Cole is quickly making up for lost time in 2026 after getting a late start to the season while recovering from right-elbow surgery last March. In just his second start for the Yankees this year on Wednesday night on the road against the Kansas City Royals, Cole threw 6 2/3 shutout innings while allowing four hits, walking none, and striking out a season-high 10 batters. The 35-year-old former American League Cy Young winner built on his impressive season debut on May 22 against the first-place Tampa Bay Rays, in which he threw six shutout innings with two hits allowed, three walks, and two strikeouts. Cole induced 15 whiffs in the contest, and his fastball sat around 97 mph. It's exactly what fantasy managers were hoping for when they stashed the former first overall pick to begin the 2026 season. He might just be getting started, too, as he has yet to exceed 80 pitches in his first two starts. Cole should have a longer leash going forward, and he'll be a must-start in all fantasy leagues for his third start, which is scheduled to come next week against the Cleveland Guardians.

It's been rough sledding of late for Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, but he was able to turn things around at the plate on Wednesday in the 10-4 win over the hosting Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Happ went 2-for-6 at the plate with a home run and a season-high five RBI to boost his season average to .215 and his OPS to .782. It was the 31-year-old veteran's third career game with at least five RBI, and it also snapped a nine-game homerless drought. Happ came into Wednesday's contest in Pittsburgh hitting .122 (6-for-49) with a homer, two doubles, three RBI, four runs, nine walks, and 26 strikeouts in his last 14 games since May 9, which included just two multi-hit games. Fantasy managers are hoping that Wednesday's turnaround will be the start of more consistent production from Happ and the Cubs, who snapped a 10-game losing streak in the win over the Bucs. Happ now has a .346 on-base percentage, .436 slugging percentage, 11 homers, 26 RBI, 36 runs scored, and two steals across 52 games in his 10th year in the big leagues.

In a cruel twist of fate on Wednesday against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers on the road, St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Dustin May took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, but he and the Cards ultimately fell by a score of 2-1 on the road. May was outstanding, allowing two runs (one earned) on just two hits while walking none and striking out a season-high nine batters in seven innings pitched. Despite the valiant effort, the 28-year-old took his sixth loss of the season. Garrett Mitchell broke up the no-no in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead off the frame with a double to left-center field, and then he allowed a bunt single to Luis Rengifo. Both runners came around to score, and that's all it took. May has pitched much better over his last 53 2/3 innings, posting a 3.02 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 44:14 K:BB, but he hasn't won in his last six outings. His strong showing on Wednesday lowered his season ERA to 4.57. May is only rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues, but after his near no-hitter, and with an upcoming matchup against the Texas Rangers, that number should be on the rise.

Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez is having a year. The 28-year-old left-handed Cuban slugger went 3-for-4 at the plate on Wednesday night in the team's 4-3 victory over the hosting Texas Rangers with two home runs, a walk, and a strikeout to raise his season batting average to .312 and his OPS to 1.085. It was the second straight night that Alvarez hit two home runs, and he has now hit five home runs in the last three games. He now has 20 homers on the season in 56 games. Alvarez has slashed a modest .250/.366/.560 in May, but it has come with eight round-trippers, which is the second-most of any player in the month. It's safe to say that the back injury that kept Alvarez out of Sunday's game is quickly a thing of the past. The three-time All-Star only played in 48 games in 2025 due to injuries, but he has bounced back rather nicely so far in 2026 as one of the best all-around hitters in the game. Alvarez obviously is a must-start in all fantasy lineups anytime he's active.