Brandon Belt Logs Batting Practice Session Friday

San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (heel, illness) got back into the swing of spring camp Friday, taking batting practice on the field. Belt has yet to appear in a Cactus League contest as he attempts to ramp up in time for Opening Day. The left-handed hitter is coming off a career year in […]

Jonathan India Remains In Big League Camp Through Cuts

Cincinnati Reds infielder Jonathan India got the green light to stick with the Major League squad after the team announced its first round of cuts Friday. With Joey Votto (COVID-19) sidelined, the Reds' infield picture could shift, with Mike Moustakas potentially moving over to first, opening a slot for India to make his Major League […]

DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (3/12/21): NBA DFS Lineups

Storylines are aplenty Friday, beginning with Jimmy Butler returning back to Chicago in the midst of a stretch that has reestablished him as an elite DFS commodity. Elsewhere around the league, Washington’s much-maligned interior defense will try to figure out how to slow Joel Embiid, the Rockets will attempt to stitch enough healthy and/or eligible […]

Gleyber Torres Eyes Bounce-Back Campaign In 2021

New York Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres saw his production crater during 2020. But checking out his Grapefruit League numbers through Friday, fantasy managers that have pressed pause for the past 365 days could be convinced that he hasn't missed a beat. Torres said that he feels "really well" this spring and he eyes potentially playing […]

Chris Archer Ready To Start Season With Solid Workload

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Chris Archer hasn't pitched in a big league game since Aug. 20, 2019, having worked his way back from the dreaded thoracic outlet syndrome. Archer has come along during the spring and he anticipates being able to throw 4-5 innings in his first start of the year, enough for aggressive […]

Yordan Alvarez Set For Spring Debut Sunday

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (knee) has been pegged to serve as the DH in Sunday's Grapefruit League outing against Washington, marking his spring debut. Alvarez has worked his way back from double arthroscopic knee surgery, which limited him to just two games during the 2020 year. When healthy, his power is unquestioned. Currently […]

Wade Miley Eyes Return To Mound Next Week

Cincinnati Reds left-handed pitcher Wade Miley (hamstring) departed his first Cactus League outing early Thursday night, but he said Friday that the move was largely precautionary, not wanting to aggravate the ailment so close to the start of the year. Miley is planning on getting back on the hill next week in an attempt to […]

Hunter Harvey Exits Friday With Oblique Injury

Baltimore Orioles right-handed relief pitcher Hunter Harvey (oblique) made it just one pitch through his appearance Friday before departing with a left oblique injury. While Harvey appears to be fortunate in having escaped another shoulder/arm ailment, obliques can be finicky and take extended periods to heal. After having been a heralded prospect coming up through […]

David Nwaba Earns Questionable Tag For Friday

Houston Rockets shooting guard/small forward David Nwaba (wrist) was expected to miss upwards of six weeks after undergoing wrist surgery, but in a turn of events, he has been deemed questionable to play in Friday's game against Utah. The move seems perfunctory at this stage, as the Rockets are extremely unlikely to thrust Nwaba into […]

Victor Oladipo, John Wall Ruled Out For Friday’s Game

Houston Rockets point/shooting guard Victor Oladipo (rest) and point guard John Wall (knee) have both been deemed unavailable to suit up for Friday's contest against the Jazz, leaving the team heavily short-handed. Kevin Porter Jr., Jae'sean Tate, Sterling Brown, and Ben McLemore all stand to see increased offensive roles without Oladipo, Wall, and Eric Gordon […]

Bradley Beal Picks Up Questionable Tag For Friday

Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal (knee) has been listed as questionable for Friday's game Philadelphia due to a sore left knee. Should Beal ultimately be held out, Russell Westbrook would presumably stand to see an increased offensive role, while Raul Neto and Troy Brown could also see an uptick in usage. Beal scuffled from the […]

Taurean Prince Will Miss Friday’s Contest

Cleveland Cavaliers small/power forward Taurean Prince (shoulder) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Pelicans due to a left shoulder ailment. Prince has played just twice in the team's past nine contests, severely slipping in the pecking order with Larry Nance Jr. back in the mix and Kevin Love nearing a return. Shooting […]

Joel Embiid On Track To Return For Friday’s Game

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been deemed probable to get back into action for Friday's contest against the Wizards as he works his way through the league's health and safety protocols. After being deemed a COVID-19 close contact, Embiid missed both the All-Star Game this past weekend and Thursday's game versus Chicago, which allowed […]

Aaron Gordon, Terrence Ross Will Miss Friday’s Game

Orlando Magic point guard/power forward Aaron Gordon (ankle) and shooting guard/small forward Terrence Ross (knee) have been ruled out for Friday's contest against the Spurs. Orlando will be down numerous key contributors again, paving the way for Nikola Vucevic and Michael Carter-Williams to see enormous offensive roles. The Magic's second unit figures to be wide […]

Caris Levert Cleared For Return Saturday

Indiana Pacers shooting guard Caris Levert (kidney) has been given the green light to get back into action for Saturday's contest against Phoenix. LeVert will be making his team debut when he takes the floor, having been out of action since he was dealt to the Pacers in January, when a cancerous mass was found […]

Trent Grisham Set To Miss One Week With Hamstring Strain

San Diego Padres outfielder Trent Grisham (hamstring) has been determined to have a Grade 1 left hamstring strain stemming from Thursday's Cactus League contest. The team hopes that Grisham will need to miss only a week of action due to the ailment, which gives him some leeway as it pertains to being ready for Opening […]

Antonio Senzatela Tosses Sim Game Friday

Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Antonio Senzatela (hamstring) has been slated to work two innings during a simulated game Friday. Beforehand, manager Bud Black was optimistic that Senzatela would be able to open the year in the Rockies' starting rotation, forgoing a previously expected stint on the injured list. While Senzatela excelled across 12 starts last […]

Sean Murphy Closes In On Return To Game Action

Oakland Athletics catcher Sean Murphy (lung) has resumed taking batting practice in anticipation of making his Cactus League debut in the near future. Murphy has been working his way back from a collapsed lung, but manager Bob Melvin stated Thursday that the backstop was "progressing" toward a return to the field. How quickly Murphy is […]

Max Kepler Exits Thursday With Thigh Bruise

Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (thigh) departed Thursday's Grapefruit League contest versus Boston after he fouled a ball off of his left thigh. Manager Rocco Baldelli indicated that the outfielder figured to have a sizable bruise on the spot, but that there was little long-term concern. Kepler has gotten off to a slow start this […]

Yasmani Grandal Logs At-Bats During Sim Game

Chicago White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal (knee) was able to get into the box during a simulated game Wednesday, but manager Tony La Russa has still not provided a timeline as to when the catcher could get into Cactus League action. Grandal sustained a knee injury at the end of February and the team has […]

Andrelton Simmons Set For Spring, Twins Debut Friday

Minnesota Twins shortstop Andrelton Simmons is on track to appear in his first game with his new team Friday against Atlanta. Simmons has been delayed in his arrival due to visa issues, as he'll have fewer than three weeks to ramp up for regular-season play. While he's expected to serve as Minnesota's everyday shortstop beginning […]

Cole Tucker Returns To Hitting Activities

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop/outfielder Cole Tucker (hand) is back to hitting after having appeared in just one Grapefruit League game this spring, in which he went 0-for-3. Competition remains relatively open for the rebuilding Pirates with Tucker in the mix to earn at-bats both at short or in center field, where Anthony Alford stands out as […]

Xander Bogaerts Set To Serve As DH For Friday’s Game

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (shoulder) has been given the green light to make his Grapefruit League debut Friday against Tampa Bay, serving as the designated hitter. The Red Sox do not yet appear comfortable having Bogaerts make throws from short, but placing him among the starting nine is an indication that they expect […]

Mike Fiers Battles Back Ailment Early In Camp

Oakland Athletics right-handed pitcher Mike Fiers (back) has not yet appeared in a Cactus League game, which manager Bob Melvin confirmed Wednesday has been due to a lingering back ailment. Fiers has been pitching in sim games, but Melvin did state that Fiers would be behind the rest of the team's projected starting staff as […]

Kansas City Scratches Michael Taylor From Thursday’s Lineup

Kansas City Royals outfielder Michael Taylor (back) was removed from Thursday's starting nine against Milwaukee due to back tightness, manager Mike Matheny confirmed. Taylor has gotten off to a scorching hot start in Cactus League play, having gone 6-for-14 with two home runs and two doubles, driving in four runs. Taylor has the inside track […]

DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (3/10/21): NBA DFS Lineups

The NBA All-Star break encapsulated six days, but managed to feel infinitely longer. Now the league returns just a day shy of its one-year anniversary of the first cancellation due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. It’s a brief two-game pocket, but with the past year in the rearview mirror, those two games feel precious. In […]

Brendan McKay Progresses In Return To Game Action

Tampa Bay Rays left-handed pitcher/designated hitter Brendan McKay (shoulder) is scheduled to begin throwing off the mound by the conclusion of March, with the hope that he can hit in Grapefruit League games as soon as next week. McKay underwent shoulder surgery on his throwing arm in August 2020, having the start of his year […]

Yordan Alvarez On Track For Spring Debut Next Week

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (knee) is nearing a return to game action and could be in the lineup for Grapefruit League games as soon as next week. Alvarez's 2020 campaign was torpedoed by a positive COVID-19 test, followed by surgeries on both of his knees. Playing in just two games, Alvarez was unable […]

Franchy Cordero Remains Unavailable Under COVID-19 Protocol

Boston Red Sox outfielder Franchy Cordero has still not been cleared to participate in Grapefruit League contests as he works through COVID-19 protocol. Acquired by the Red Sox in a three-team swap during February, Cordero figures to be a regular in the Boston outfield, provided that he is able to ramp up adequately by Opening […]

Mickey Moniak Makes Bid For CF Job With Hot Spring

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Mickey Moniak has been presented with a feast or famine option surrounding his Grapefruit League outcome, and so far, he's mostly feasted. Moniak has begun play 5-for-9 with a pair of home runs, a triple, and a double all to his name. Manager Joe Girardi made it clear Tuesday that if Moniak […]