Zach Plesac Sent Home Following Violation Of Team Rules

Cleveland Indians right-handed pitcher Zach Plesac reportedly went out from his hotel Saturday night, which is a violation of team rules as the league attempts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Plesac has gotten off to a splendid start in 2020, striking out 31.2% of batters he has faced, amassing a 1.29 ERA in his first […]

Scott Barlow Records First Save Of Season Sunday

Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Scott Barlow notched his second career save and first of the season Sunday against Minnesota. While the outing was impressive for Barlow, it’s actually more noteworthy that he got the ball in front of Ian Kennedy, who seems to have been officially supplanted in the ninth-inning role by Trevor Rosenthal. […]

Stephen Strasburg Has No Long-Term Concern For Hand Issue

Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg looked excellent through his first four innings Sunday against Baltimore before the wheels fell off in the fifth. Strasburg finished with five runs allowed across 4 ⅓ frames in his season debut, having been continually bumped back due to a nerve issue in his pitching hand. After the game, […]

Pirates-Cardinals Series Cancelled Due To COVID-19 Concerns

The upcoming series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals that was scheduled for Monday-Wednesday has been officially cancelled as the Cardinals continue to work through the positive COVID-19 tests that have dismantled their 2020 season. Monday’s contest had already been wiped out, but now the whole series will be tabled, making it at […]

Hunter Dozier Activated From IL, Hitting Cleanup Sunday

Kansas City Royals first baseman/designated hitter Hunter Dozier was placed on the active roster for Sunday’s contest against the Twins, set to make his season debut after having missed the early part of the year after a positive COVID-19 test. While Kansas City signed Maikel Franco to become the third baseman, Dozier moves over to […]

Sean Manaea Eyes First Quality Start Of 2020 On Monday

Oakland Athletics left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea entered the 2020 season with considerable pomp after a terrific five-start conclusion (4-0, 1.21 ERA) to last season. But things have gone completely sideways to begin the new year, with Manaea having yielded 13 runs (11 earned) in 12 ⅓ innings in three starts. The starkest difference is how […]

Charlie Morton Not Concerned About Early Exit Sunday

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton was removed from Sunday’s game against the Yankees after throwing only two innings due to tightness. But after the contest, Morton stated that he was “not worried about it” and was confident that he wouldn’t miss much time. Whether that means he will make his scheduled start next […]

Reynaldo Lopez, Carlos Rodon Progressing In Rehab

Chicago White Sox right-handed pitcher Reynaldo Lopez and left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon are both currently absent from the team’s starting rotation, but are building towards their respective returns as of Sunday. Lopez threw a side session, per manager Rick Renteria, while Rodon played catch Saturday. Lopez has made just one start in 2020, recording two […]

Yordan Alvarez Cranks Home Run In Intrasquad Game

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez continues to make his path back toward the big league roster after getting a delayed start to 2020. On Sunday, he mashed a home run during an intrasquad game, just a day after collecting a pair of doubles. Manager Dusty Baker has reiterated that he isn’t sure when Alvarez […]

Tim Anderson To Travel For Next Series, Activation Likely

Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson has been out of the lineup since July 31 with a right groin strain. Anderson will make the trip with the club to Detroit for the series that begins Monday, which lends credence to the idea that he would be activated and ready to man shortstop again. In his […]

Ian Happ Backed To Be Everyday Centerfielder

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ now has a stranglehold on the center field job, per manager David Ross, who said that even with the impressive play of rookie Nico Hoerner, Happ remains the team’s primary center fielder, no matter the opposing starting pitcher. Despite having hit ninth in seven of his 10 starts this season, […]

Henderson Alvarez Inks Deal To Join Pirates

Right-handed pitcher Henderson Alvarez has signed a deal to join Pittsburgh, who has seen many notable members of their staff already hit the injured list in 2020. Alvarez is best known for the no-hitter that he tossed on the final day of the 2013 regular season, before becoming the Marlins’ Opening Day starter in ‘14. […]

George Springer Absent Sunday, Day To Day For Return

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer is out of the starting lineup again Sunday against A’s left-hander Jesus Luzardo as he continues to battle a wrist ailment. Manager Dusty Baker noted that Springer is able to hit in the batting cage, but the team is taking his absence one day at a time moving forward. Myles […]

Phillip Evans Out For 2020 After Scary Collision

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Phillip Evans will miss the remainder of the 2020 season after sustaining a concussion and fractured jaw during a collision with outfielder Gregory Polanco on Saturday. Evans is expected to make a full recovery, which is the best news possible after having been carted off the field. Jose Osuna was recalled […]

Jarlin Garcia Activated From Injured List, Available Sunday

San Francisco Giants left-handed pitcher Jarlin Garcia has been reinstated off of the 60-day injured list ahead of Sunday’s contest against the Dodgers. Garcia made 53 appearances last season out of relief for Miami, producing a 3.02 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP. He was particularly difficult to hit at pitcher’s friendly Marlins Park, where he […]

Nolan Arenado Gets First Day Off Of 2020 Sunday

Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado played every inning of every game across his club’s first 14 contests of 2020, but he’ll get his first rest of the year Sunday against the Mariners and left-hander Justus Sheffield. Manager Bud Black wanted to give Arenado a day off after noting that he looked “a little overaggressive” […]

Rays Put Oliver Drake On IL, Activate Manuel Margot

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Oliver Drake landed on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to biceps tendinitis in his throwing arm. With Drake down, outfielder Manuel Margot was cleared to return from the bereavement list, entering the starting lineup and playing center field in his first game back. Drake has served as the Rays’ […]

Mike Moustakas Lands On 10-Day Injured List

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Mike Moustakas has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a bruised left quad, putting him on the shelf for at least the next week. The Reds have been rotating a cast of players at the keystone in his stead, including Kyle Farmer and Christian Colon, although neither holds […]

Kyle Schwarber Mashing Ball At Elite Rate This Year

Chicago Cubs outfielder/designated hitter Kyle Schwarber has little to show for his elite Statcast metrics to begin 2020. Schwarber is hitting just .222 with two home runs and 18 total bases to his credit, despite ranking 9th in the Majors in average exit velocity (94.3 MPH). Clobbering the ball has become Schwarber’s M.O., but the […]

Andrew Heaney Eyes Continued Success Sunday

Los Angeles Angels left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney has gotten off to a strong start to the 2020 year with a 2.35 ERA across his first three starts. But a deeper Statcast dig indicates that unless he begins limiting hard contact, his ERA might begin to trend more toward the 4.37 career mark that he has […]

Johnny Cueto Developed Blister On Foot Saturday

San Francisco Giants right-handed pitcher Johnny Cueto had a no-hitter through five innings Saturday against the Dodgers before having it end in a unique fashion. But the biggest news moving forward is that the righty is dealing with a blister on the big toe of his right foot, which could be another blow to a […]

German Marquez Displaying Ace Form To Begin 2020

Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher German Marquez has had all of the makings of an ace through his first three starts of the 2020 year. With walks and home runs normally serving as his bugaboo, Marquez has been stingy about both early on, due in large part to the fact that his breaking pitches have been […]

Didi Gregorius Excelling At Dish To Begin 2020

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorius has collected a hit in seven of his first eight contests with the club following a two-hit performance Saturday. The .902 OPS that he has compiled puts him on pace for the highest mark of his career, and while his game total has been stunted due to COVID-19 cancellations, he […]

Madison Bumgarner Hit Hard Through First Three Starts

When the Arizona Diamondbacks inked left-hander Madison Bumgarner to an $85 million deal during the off-season, the expectation was that he would anchor the starting staff. Through his first three games, Bumgarner has been hit, and hit hard, posting a 7.55 xERA, with a .630 xSLG that puts him in the bottom eight percent of […]

Josh Bell Battling Power Outage Through Quarter Of Season

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell finally had his breakout campaign in 2019, mashing 37 doubles and 37 home runs en route to a .936 OPS. Fast forward to the first 15 games of 2020 and he has just one double and two home runs to his credit with a .579 OPS. Bell is whiffing […]

Marcell Ozuna Swinging Hot Bat To Start Braves Tenure

Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna ranks third in the Majors in average exit velocity (95.3 MPH), immediately paying dividends to kick off the 2020 year. Entering play Saturday, he was on pace to set new career bests with a .955 OPS and 155 OPS+, anchoring the middle of the Atlanta order and providing Freddie Freeman […]

Ryan Castellani Tosses Four No-Hit Innings In Debut

Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Ryan Castellani did not allow a hit in his first Major League start Saturday against Seattle. Unfortunately for Castellani, he only worked four innings, tossing 60 pitches and not qualifying for the win. His performance marked the second Rockies pitcher to retire the first 12 batters of his big league debut, […]

Trea Turner Remains Steal-less Through Rough Start To 2020

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner came off the board as a first-round pick in many fantasy drafts in 2020. Through his first 11 games, he has performed vastly below expectations, yet to record a stolen base while leading the Majors with three times caught stealing. It’s not just his legs that have been slumping, it’s […]

Keston Hiura’s 2020 Start Marred By Strikeout Totals

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Keston Hiura was lauded as a Top 50 fantasy asset coming into the 2020 year after a 104-game debut last season that saw him deliver a .938 OPS as a 22-year-old. But while the power numbers were exciting, the fact that he struck out in 30.7% of his plate appearances was […]

Rafael Montero Delivers Second Straight Save

Texas Rangers right-hander Rafael Montero has now reeled off saves in back-to-back contests, seemingly having taken over the closer’s role with Jose Leclerc on the injured list. Prior to Friday, Montero had never recorded a save in his career, but he has retired all six batters that he has faced in the ninth. After being […]