Cory Sandhagen (18-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) got the job done three weeks ago in devastating fashion. During the May 3 UFC Des Moines card inside Wells Fargo Arena, Sandhagen took top-billing on the evening as he was booked to fight former UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figuereido (24-5-1 MMA, 13-5-1 UFC) in the headlining contest.

During the second round of an advertised five in the Iowa Barnstormers’ home arena, Sandhagen unleashed a burst of ground and pound shots. Although Figuereido attempted to secure a submission, the former was quick to reverse the script.

With under a minute remaining on the second-round clock, Cory Sandhagen began to land another surge of ground and pound before the referee intervened after Figueiredo tapped out of the fight due to sustaining a knee injury. Sandhagen, who came into the first week of May with the No. 4 ranking in the bantamweight division, scored a resume-building victory.

Cory Sandhagen Makes Intentions to Fight for Title Known

In his interview on the UFC Des Moines Post-Fight Show on ESPN+ later that evening, Cory Sandhagen made it clear that he’s hungry for a shot at the UFC Bantamweight Championship.

“I don’t care who it’s against,” Cory Sandhagen began. “I just want to fight for the belt, man. I want my fair crack at the belt. [Petr] Yan is the only other guy really in the conversation and he went all five rounds with [Figuereido]”.

Regardless of adversary in his next fight, Sandhagen sent a message to both UFC CEO Dana White and Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell.

“I think I stamped my shot, man,” he said that night. “I’m going to give Dana and Hunter a call right after this.”

Cory Sandhagen Doubles Down on Title Fight Aspirations

Cory Sandhagen only needs to wait another two weeks to find out who he could potentially face in his bid for the UFC Bantamweight Championship. On June 7, UFC 316 will take place inside Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

That night’s headliner in The Garden State will see No. 1 contender Sean O’Malley (18-2, 1 NC MMA, 10-2, 1 NC UFC) attempt to wrest the title away from current champion Merab Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) in a rematch of their fight from Noche UFC, also known as UFC 306, from inside the Vegas Sphere.  In that first contest, O’Malley dropped the title by way of unanimous decision after 25 minutes of action.

During an appearance on the latest episode of The Overdogs Podcast, Cory Sandhagen was interviewed by host Mike Perry and took time out to say that he has his target set on Sean O’Malley.

“I think that when me and O’Malley fight, I’ll get to show that I’m a lot better than him,” he said on the podcast. “Unless I get that opportunity, I don’t really feel like arguing with the ether of the Internet about who’s better at what.”

Sandhagen Rips Into Sean O’Malley’s Resume

In the same interview with Mike Perry, Cory Sandhagen compared his resume with that of “Suga” Sean O’Malley.

“I mean, when you think about O’Malley, man, he’s had a good run at stuff,” Cory Sandhagen continued, “but I think if you fight tough guys for long enough, there [are] going to be nights where you just don’t win, you know what I mean? All of these guys are really good, and I fought the best guys in the division for a really long time.”

When a fighter of Cory Sandhagen’s caliber takes on and defeats a former champion in the UFC, like he did against Deiveson Figuereido earlier this month, and the fighter scores the victory in devastating fashion, the fighter deserves the chance to call his shot. Sandhagen did so in the immediate aftermath of his victory and has repeated his request again just this weekend.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

While the one nicknamed “Sandman” wants a shot at gold at 135 lbs, he actually owns fewer victories by way of stoppage than Sean O’Malley. Statistically speaking, Cory Sandhagen has 18 career wins since turning pro in MMA.

Of those 18 wins, he’s scored 11 of them inside the distance, with eight coming by way of knockout and three via submission. On the other hand, although Sean O’Malley has the identical number of wins as a professional in the sport, he has 13 total finishes, with 11 of them being scored by knockout.

Final Thoughts

Regardless of who Cory Sandhagen fights up next, a potential contest between him and Sean O’Malley would no doubt be among one of 2025’s most tantalizing bouts as this year moves toward its second half. When the UFC 316 main event begins on June 7, there will be one certainty:

Cory Sandhagen will be watching the five rounds (or less) of action like a hawk.

Drew McIntyre came up short at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, and it may be a while before fans see him back on television.

According to a report from Pwinsider, McIntyre is expected to be off WWE programming for the foreseeable future following his Steel Cage match loss to Damian Priest. The bout ended in brutal fashion, with Priest delivering a Con-Chair-To before casually walking out of the cage, leaving McIntyre unconscious in the ring.

Sources say McIntyre has been “working hurt for some time,” and Saturday’s match marked the end of his current run with WWE. Backstage reports suggest that he’ll be taking an extended break to recover, with no immediate plans for his return.

McIntyre also took a significant beating at WWE Backlash: St. Louis, prompting Triple H to issue a post-show update on his condition.

Additionally, you can check out a list of the producers for WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event below:

* CM Punk & Sami Zayn vs. Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker: Adam Pearce & Bobby Roode
* Zelina Vega vs. Chelsea Green: Jason Jordan & Molly Holly
* R-Truth vs. John Cena: Kenn Doane & Jamie Noble
* Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre: Nick Aldis & Chris Park
* Jey Uso vs. Logan Paul: Shane Helms

The MLB Breakdown offers data-driven analysis using the FantasyLabs Tools and predictive metrics to highlight notable players within our MLB Player Models.

MLB DFS Pitching Picks

MLB DFS Stud Pick

Chris Sale ($9,400) Atlanta Braves (-180) vs. San Diego Padres

There are a bunch of good pitchers on Friday’s slate, but no one checks all of the boxes for DFS purposes. Zack Wheeler is the most expensive pitcher, but he has an opponent implied team total of 4.2 runs against a solid Athletics’ lineup. Nick Pivetta’s Vegas data is even worse, while Pablo Lopez has a mediocre K Prediction against a Royals’ lineup that is tough to strike out. All three players have some potential on most slates, but they don’t stand out as truly exciting on Friday.

Sale is probably the closest thing to a stud pitcher on Friday. His matchup vs. the Padres isn’t ideal, but their 95 wRC+ vs. southpaws makes them a bit less formidable than they are against righties. Their 3.3 implied run total is the lowest mark on the slate, while Sale’s -180 moneyline odds make him the fifth-largest favorite.

Sale is also a better pitcher than his current salary indicates. He won the NL Triple Crown last season, leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. His numbers are down this season, but that stems primarily from a tough stretch to start the year. He’s been much better of late, allowing two earned runs or fewer in six straight starts. He’s added at least eight strikeouts in five of them, and he’s cracked double-digit strikeouts in two.

The strikeout upside is really what sets Sale apart from his peers. He ranks in the 90th percentile for strikeout rate, and his 6.98 K Prediction ranks first among Friday’s starters. Historically, pitchers with comparable K Predictions and Vegas data have averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.76 (per the Trends tool).

Ultimately, Sale is a pitcher who should clearly be priced above $10,000 at this point, but we’re still getting him at a slight discount thanks to his slow start. 

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MLB DFS Value Pick

Clarke Schmidt ($7,200) New York Yankees (-295) at Colorado Rockies

Pitching in Coors Field is never fun, but the Rockies have been so bad this season that it hasn’t really mattered. They’re still merely 22nd in the league in runs per game when playing at home, and they’re 28th in wRC+ when facing a right-hander in Coors Field.

Outside of the location, Schmidt has a lot of things working for him. Most importantly, he plays for one of the best teams in the league. The Yankees have an elite offense, and they’re currently implied for 7.5 runs in this matchup. That gives Schmidt massive win potential. He checks in as a -295 moneyline favorite, and no other pitcher is currently above -194.

It’s rare to get such a large favorite at just a $7,200 price tag. There have only been 28 previous instances in our Trends database of pitchers with comparable moneyline odds and K Predictions, and those starters have averaged a Plus/Minus of +6.48. That’s tough to ignore.

Schmidt also stands out as one of the best pure values at the position on DraftKings. His price tag comes with a 98% Bargain Rating, and he leads all starters in projected Plus/Minus. He’s a viable SP2 in all formats.

Now available: our MLB DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.

MLB DFS GPP Picks

Yusei Kikuchi ($8,200) Los Angeles Angels (-152) vs. Miami Marlins

Kikuchi is the definition of a mediocre pitcher, and he’s been even more mediocre than usual in 2025. His 3.50 ERA is a slight improvement compared to last season, but his 4.72 xERA is significantly worse. He’s also had one of the worst strikeout seasons of his career, ranking in just the 45th percentile for strikeout rate. However, that shouldn’t matter too much vs. the Marlins. They’ve been well below average against left-handers this season, and Kikuchi has pretty solid Vegas marks for his price tag. He checks in near the top of the projected Plus/Minus leaderboards in both the Fantasy Labs and BAT X projections.

Pablo Lopez ($9,900) Minnesota Twins (-190) vs. Kansas City Royals

The matchup vs. the Royals is far from ideal for Lopez. They have the lowest strikeout rate in the league vs. right-handers, and Lopez isn’t exactly a strikeout artist to begin with. That said, Lopez is just a really good pitcher. He’s posted a 2.40 ERA this season, and his 2.81 xERA puts him in the 85th percentile. He also grades out as well above average in most batted-ball metrics, while his strikeout numbers are slightly up in 2025. Like Sale, this is a pitcher who simply shouldn’t be available at a sub-$10k price tag. Sale also figures to soak up most of the ownership in this price range, making Lopez an intriguing pivot for tournaments.

Sandy Alcantara ($7,700) Miami Marlins (+128) at Los Angeles Angels

It has been sad to watch Alcantara’s return to the bump this season. He hasn’t looked like nearly the same pitcher that he was in his prime, posting a dreadful 7.99 ERA with terrible underlying metrics. Alcantara has allowed at least four earned runs in six of his past seven starts, but he’s had to navigate a bear of a schedule. He’s already faced the Dodgers twice, the Mets, and the Phillies this season, all of which grade out as high-end MLB offenses. He hasn’t exactly thrived in his “easy” matchups, either, but perhaps he can turn things around moving forward. He’s in a great spot to do that on Friday, with the Angels ranking 23rd in wRC+ with the highest strikeout rate in the league against right-handed pitchers.

If you’re craving more MLB DFS or betting tools, be sure to check out one of our most powerful tools on the site—PlateIQ.

MLB DFS Hitters and Stacks

Notable Stack

With the Lineup Builder, it’s easy to incorporate stacks into DFS rosters.

Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups.

The top DraftKings stack in the FantasyLabs MLB Player Model when generated by projected points belongs to the New York Yankees:

The Yankees’ offense stands out as the clear top target on this slate. They’re already one of the best offenses in baseball, ranking third in the league in runs per game, and now they get to play in the most hitter-friendly environment in baseball.

They’re also facing an extremely hittable pitcher in Tanner Gordon. Chase Dollander will not make his scheduled start after landing on the IL with forearm tightness, and Gordon pitched to an 8.65 ERA in eight starts with the Rockies last season. He’s at 5.68 through one start this year, so the Yankees have massive potential.

The more interesting question is, what is the best way to stack the Yankees? It starts with Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham. Judge is the best hitter in the world at the moment, and he and Grisham have both demolished right-handers so far this season (via Plate IQ):

The big wrinkle is that it’s impossible to stack the top five in the Yankees’ order. Four of those players are eligible only in the outfield, so you’ll need to get a little bit creative. That makes Austin Wells an interesting option as the projected No. 7 hitter. Not only has he fared well against right-handers this season, but he fills the tricky catcher spot in your lineup.

The big downside with the Yankees is their price tag. Judge alone will set you back $7,000, and their top stack costs more than $28,000. That makes pairing them with a stud pitcher virtually impossible, and you’ll likely need to utilize a few punt plays to round out your lineup. That’s still doable, and if the Yankees go off, it could be well worth it.

Not interested in messing around with optimizer settings? No worries, you can use our MLB DFS Simulations and let it find the best way to control your stacks, exposure, correlations, and more!

Click here to find out how SimLabs can elevate your MLB DFS game and watch the video below.

Other MLB DFS Hitter Picks

One of the great features of being a FantasyLabs Pro member is the option to purchase additional items in the FantasyLabs Marketplace.

In addition to our in-house MLB projections,  THE BAT X from Derek Carty of RotoGrinders is available in our marketplace. With this purchase, you can use his projections alone or create aggregate projections within our Player Models.

For this example, we created a 50/50 blend with THE BAT X and the FantasyLabs projections to pinpoint some hitters that stand out.

Joc Pederson 1B ($2,400) Texas Rangers at Chicago White Sox (Sean Burke)

Pederson got off to a ridiculously slow start for the Rangers this season, and his numbers for the year still look pretty dismal. However, he has at least shown some signs of life recently. He’s homered in two of his past eight starts, and Pederson has a long track record of success at the MLB level. He was a well-above-average hitter for the Diamondbacks last season, posting a 151 wRC+, so there’s no reason he should continue to struggle forever.

Pederson will be in a very favorable spot Friday vs. Burke. His 4.69 ERA doesn’t jump off the page as disastrous, but his 6.55 xERA is significantly worse. He’s also allowed some of the loudest contact in baseball this season, ranking in the 16th percentile for barrel rate while allowing 1.69 homers per nine innings. Ultimately, Pederson has far more upside than his current salary suggests, and he has the top projected Plus/Minus among non-Yankees using the blended projections.

Jordan Lawlar ($2,000) Arizona Diamondbacks at St. Louis Cardinals (Miles Mikolas)

Lawlar is priced at the absolute minimum on DraftKings, and he’s expected to bat ninth for the Diamondbacks on Friday. That’s not the most appealing combination, but Lawlar is not your typical No. 9 batter. He entered this season as one of the top prospects in baseball, and he has the potential to be a future star.

He tore up Triple-A to begin the year, posting a 143 wRC+ with six homers and 13 steals in just 37 games. He’s yet to have that kind of production at the major league level, but there’s no reason why it can’t come sooner rather than later.

Mikolas is definitely not a pitcher that we need to fear. He owns a 4.45 xERA for the year, and he’s been one of the worst strikeout pitchers in baseball. Lawlar should be able to put the bat on the ball in this matchup, and with his talent, that could lead to a breakout performance.

Ronald Acuna Jr. OF ($5,500) Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres (Nick Pivetta)

Acuna will suit up for the first time in 2025 when the Braves host the Padres on Friday. Just in case you need a reminder, Acuna is really freaking good. The last time we saw him for a full season, he became the first player in MLB history with more than 40 homers and 70 steals in 2023. He’s capable of stuffing the stat sheet, and he should move right into his usual spot atop the Braves’ lineup.

$5,500 could be the cheapest that we see Acuna all year. He’s also not going to garner a ton of attention in his first game back, so he’s a very interesting pivot for those who aren’t stacking the Yankees.

Interested in more MLB action? Check out Fanatics Sportsbook and use our Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

Pictured: Aaron Judge
Photo Credit: Getty Images

May 23, 2025 | 00:05:55

Infielder/outfielder Ryan Noda has been traded from the Angels to the Red Sox, according to announcements from both clubs. The Halos, who designated Noda for assignment a few days ago, receive cash considerations in return. The Red Sox optioned Noda to Triple-A Worcester and transferred outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man roster spot.

Noda, 29, was a Rule 5 success story just over a year ago. Going into 2023, the Athletics plucked him from the Dodgers and put him at first base almost every day, in addition to occasional time in the outfield corners. He stepped to the plate 495 times that year and posted an awful 34.3% strikeout rate but he also drew walks at a 15.6% clip and hit 16 home runs. Despite all those punchouts, he was on-base enough and had enough power to produce a .229/.364/.406 line and 122 wRC+.

That was generally in line with his previous minor league performance. In Triple-A with the Dodgers the year prior, he had a 16% walk rate, 28.2% strikeout rate and 25 home runs, leading to a .259/.395/.474 line and 125 wRC+.

But Noda got out to a slow start in 2024. He had a .128/.242/.198 line on May 2nd when the A’s sent him down to the minors. From then on, he did his usual thing. He had 447 Triple-A plate appearances last year with 22 home runs, a 19.9% walk rate and a 30% strikeout rate.

The A’s put him on waivers in November and the Angels claimed him. The Halos kept him in Triple-A to start the year, where he continued in his particular fashion, though with some apparent bad luck. He has a 20.1% walk rate and 34.4% strikeout rate so far this year with four home runs but a .224 batting average on balls in play, leading to a .148/.364/.270 line and 81 wRC+.

For the Red Sox, first base is an obvious target area. Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury a few weeks ago. Designated hitter Rafael Devers was approached about trying to learn the position but he didn’t take well to that request. Second baseman/outfielder Kristian Campbell has been doing first base drills but hasn’t yet appeared there in a game. Romy González took over the position for a few days before landing on the IL with a a left quad contusion. Glove-first utility guys like Abraham Toro and Nick Sogard have been covering the position in recent weeks.

Noda is a proper first baseman with a bit of major league success and options, so he’s a logical depth add for the Sox. They can get a close-up look at him in Worcester and decide whether they want to call him up for major league at-bats at some point.

As for Yoshida, this doesn’t change anything about his timeline. He has been on the 10-day IL all season, struggling to get his shoulder healthy after last year’s surgery. His 60-day count is retroactive to his initial IL placement, so he’ll be eligible for activation in about a week. He has not begun a rehab assignment, so a return in the near future doesn’t seem likely. As of yesterday, manager Alex Cora said Yoshida would be restarting his throwing program after receiving a cortisone shot, per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.

Photo courtesy of Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images