Cedric Mullins DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins (illness) is starting in center field and is hitting cleanup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival New York Yankees at Camden Yards. Mullins will face Yankees right-hander Will Warren, who he has never faced in his career. The 30-year-old outfielder didn't play in Sunday's series finale against the Detroit Tigers because he didn't feel well, but he's back in action a day later. Since being moved to the leadoff spot by the O's on April 18, Mullins has gone 8-for-31 (.258) with two home runs, three RBI, two steals and five runs scored in 37 trips to the plate. Overall, he's hitting a solid .279/.421/.547 with six home runs, 20 RBI, five steals and 17 runs scored in the first month of the season. Mullins has added DFS appeal against righties as long as he's in the leadoff spot. Return him to your fantasy lineups to begin the week.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins (illness) is out of the team's lineup for their series finale against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. The 30-year-old has reportedly been battling an illness over the last few days, though he did play all 18 innings across the team's doubleheader on Saturday, so it seems like just some extra rest for him. Mullins has been excellent this season, slashing .279/.421/.547 with six long balls, five doubles, and five steals. Perhaps even more impressive, he's raised his walk rate to a robust 17.1%. If it stands, that'd be the highest figure of his career by far. Dylan Carlson is covering center field, batting sixth for the O's in their series finale with the Tigers.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins smashes his sixth home run of the season on Saturday afternoon in the Orioles' 9-5 win over the Reds. Mullins greeted Reds' starting pitcher Hunter Greene by smashing a 2-2 fastball over the right-center field wall to tie the game after the Reds got a run in the top of the first. The Orioles added another run in the first on a Gunnar Henderson home run and didn't look back on their way to a 9-5 win in a high-scoring game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mullins is off to a great start to the season, hitting .290 with six home runs and a vastly improved 19.0% walk rate. He hit leadoff in this contest and seems to be securing that spot against right-handed pitchers, which boosts his potential fantasy value significantly. He's a great waiver wire add if available, and he definitely can be a starter in standard-sized mixed leagues after his hot start to the season.