Pirates 3, Cubs 2 at Wrigley Field snapped Pittsburgh’s five-game skid as Braxton Ashcraft turned in five solid innings and allowed the Bucs’ offense to stay within reach. Jack Suwinski delivered the decisive blow, a go-ahead homer in the ninth that sealed the win and highlighted Pittsburgh’s late-game pop.

With the 3-2 victory, the Pirates improve to 52-71 while Chicago sits at 68-53, and the clubs head into Saturday’s rematch. For fantasy players, Suwinski’s power remains a reliable source of HR upside in the Pirates’ lineup, and Ashcraft’s five-inning quality start provides a plausible streaming option in deeper formats if he can sustain innings well into the late going.

Overall, the win underscores the Pirates’ ability to manufacture late-inning offense and gives fantasy managers a glimmer of upside from Pittsburgh during this stretch. The Cubs faced a close loss but remain formidable offensively, setting up an intriguing follow-up in the weekend set.

Milwaukee unleashed a 14-0 wallop of Pittsburgh, riding an early offensive onslaught to extend a blistering stretch that includes an 11-game win streak spanned across 38 days. The Brewers pinned the Pirates with a clinic at the plate and rode a confident start to slam the door all night.

Paul Skenes was unable to slow the surge, surrendering runs as Milwaukee built the big lead. Pirates manager Don Kelly was ejected after jawing with home-plate umpire Roberto Ortiz over a called strike on Suwinski. Suwinski took a borderline pitch off the outer edge for a called third strike, and Kelly sprinted from the dugout with a pointed “both ways” to make the point. The broadcast captured the moment, underscoring the night’s combustible mix of exponentials and emotions.

The scene underscored the Brewers’ current form and the Pirates’ rough night. For fantasy players, the night highlighted the value of chasing hot offenses and smart pitcher matchups, even in blowouts where bullpen usage can tilt outcomes. Milwaukee’s rhythm looks ready to fuel further fantasy value, while Pittsburgh will hope a quicker recovery in upcoming matchups proves the turning point.

The Reds exploded for 14 runs, stamping a decisive road win at Pittsburgh as Elly De La Cruz kicked things off with an RBI single and Miguel Andujar followed with a three‑run homer. Cincinnati never let up, with Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer padding the cushion and Steer delivering a two‑run double before later adding a two‑run homer for insurance. Pittsburgh battled back briefly, tying the game on timely hits and a Kasper-like run, but the Reds pulled away late with a multi‑run eighth. The slugfest underscored Cincinnati’s breakout push and highlighted several players fantasy managers will want to chase down the stretch.

Key contributors for Cincinnati: De La Cruz, Andujar, Marte, and Steer supplied the offense in waves, while Yohan Ramírez yielded early damage before the bullpen steadied. For Pittsburgh, Jack Suwinski and Bryan Reynolds contributed, Isiah Kiner-Falefa lined a two‑run double and Spencer Horwitz added a run‑scoring single, but the late surge by Cincinnati overwhelmed the Pirates. The final 14‑8 tilt leaves Cincinnati at 62‑57 and Pittsburgh at 51‑68, with the Reds asserting themselves as legitimate playoff hopefuls in this intraleague showdown.

Fantasy takeaway: buy into Reds bats now—De La Cruz, Marte, Andujar, and Steer have multi‑hitter upside, while the depth of Cincinnati’s lineup supports weekly streaming. For Pittsburgh, streaming opportunities are slimmer but situational plays like Suwinski and Reynolds can still help in deeper formats, especially when they face righty‑heavy matches. Target the Reds’ ongoing power surge and monitor bullpen usage as Cincinnati looks to push this run production trend forward.

Tommy Pham ended a troubling 0-for-17 streak with a dramatic walk-off hit, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-4 victory over the New York Yankees in 11 innings. Pham's decisive moment came as he connected with a pitch from Devin Williams, driving the ball deep into left field, scoring Jack Suwinski from second base. This notable performance was crucial, especially following the Pirates' collapse, where they squandered a three-run lead in the ninth inning.

The early April MLB DFS slate is shaping up to resemble midseason dynamics, with rotations rolling over to aces and some teams relying on fifth starters. This variation in matchups creates opportunities for savvy fantasy players. Pitchers like Logan Gilbert from Seattle, facing a struggling Detroit lineup, stand out, while Shane Smith offers value as a rookie against Minnesota.

Key hitters include Kyle Tucker of the Cubs, who benefits from favorable conditions in Sacramento, and Corbin Carroll, who is positioned well at Yankee Stadium against a less-than-proven pitcher. Bargain options like Jack Suwinski and Nick Maton could offer significant upside, especially when paired with high-potential stacks like the Cardinals against Kyle Hendricks.