Chris Stratton A Sleeper Option For Holds, Saves

Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Chris Stratton doesn't have a defined role entering 2021 but he's a favorite to pitch high-leverage innings for the club. Richard Rodriguez is expected to see a healthy number of the save opportunities but Stratton has been a reliable arm for the Pirates. He threw 30 innings for the club in 2020 […]

Buck Farmer To Perform Multiple Roles

Detroit Tigers pitcher Buck Farmer could be a useful man this year for manager A.J. Hinch. The 30-year-old pitcher will see time in various roles this year and could be a source of wins, saves, and holds if the plan stays true. Last season, Farmer provided a 3.80 ERA in 23 games. Over the past […]

Robbie Ray Officially Placed on IL

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Robbie Ray (bruised elbow) was officially placed on the injured list. He fell at his home earlier this spring and hasn't appeared in a game since March 19. Ray was having an excellent spring for the Jays with just six hits allowed in 13.2 innings. He also had a K-BB of […]

George Springer To IL With Oblique Strain

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer (oblique) will open the year on the injured list. The outfielder recently underwent a second MRI to gauge how well the Grade 2 oblique injury was healing and, while it showed the injury was moving in the right direction, the Jays chose to take a cautious approach with their […]

Mike Mayers Could Settle Into Setup Role

Los Angeles Angels reliever Mike Mayers had a bit of a rough spring but he'll open the year with a chance to settle into a high-leverage role behind closer Raisel Iglesias and rack up some holds with the odd save. The 29-year-old allowed five runs on nine hits over 8.1 spring innings but his K-BB […]

Diego Castillo A Favorite For Saves But Whiffs Are Down

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Diego Castillo is set to see an increase in high-leverage opportunities with the injury to Nick Anderson (elbow). The right-hander will now be one of the favorites to acquire saves on a regular basis, although Pete Fairbanks, Ryan Thompson, and Chaz Roe could also see time in the later innings. Castillo […]

Updated Top 250 Dynasty Prospects Rankings

In just a few short days, the 2021 Major League Baseball season will get underway. Fans of Minor League Baseball will have to wait a little longer with clubs operating their alternate training sites for at least the first month of the 2021 season. As we saw in 2020, prospects can develop and thrive at […]

William Smith In Line For Save Opportunities

Atlanta Braves pitcher William Smith could see a healthy number of save opportunities for the club in 2021 — if he can solve his long-ball issues. The veteran left-hander had an encouraging spring with a K-BB of 12-2 in 5.2 innings but he also did not allow a home run. Last season in 18 games, […]

Cesar Valdez To Provide Multiple Innings As Reliever

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cesar Valdez ended last year saving games for the club but he's been moved to a multi-inning relief role this year. The veteran of numerous Mexican League seasons appeared in nine games for the Orioles last season and saved three games while racking up a K-BB of 12-3 in 14.1 innings. The […]

Tanner Scott Could Rack Up Saves, Strikeouts

The Baltimore Orioles won't name an official closer for 2021 but pitcher Tanner Scott could see his fair share of opportunities. The hard-throwing lefty will need to find the strike zone more consistently than he did in the spring (five walks in 6.1 innings) but he's averaged a strikeout rate near 30% averaged out over […]

Anthony Bass To See Early Save Opportunities

Miami Marlins pitcher Anthony Bass will get the ball with the game on the line — at least early on in 2021. The veteran journeyman hurler had a strong spring with a K-BB of 8-3 in 8.1 innings and he allowed just two runs (2.16 ERA). Bass spent last season with the Toronto Blue Jays […]

Greg Holland In Line For High-Leverage Innings

Kansas City Royals pitcher Greg Holland doesn't have a clear path to saves in 2021 but he's among a group of four arms that are the favorites for high-leverage innings to begin the season. Other names in the closer conversation include Scott Barlow, Jesse Hahn, and Josh Staumont. Manager Mike Matheny advised there would be […]

Gregory Soto Eyes Closer's Role

Detroit Tigers pitcher Gregory Soto, a former starter, has embraced the bullpen but he wants to be the club's closer. However, manager A.J. Hinch stated that he would not announce a closer until at least opening day. Soto, a lefty, had a solid spring with just two runs allowed in 6.2 innings and a K-BB […]

Pete Fairbanks In Line For High-Leverage Innings

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks' spring got off to a terrible start thanks to a nasty case of food poisoning but he's in line for some key innings out of the bullpen in 2021. He was limited to just three games in the spring due to the illness but the long-term injury to Nick […]

Craig Kimbrel Finishes Strong, Looks For Bounce-Back Season

Chicago Cubs reliever Craig Kimbrel had a rough month as shown by his 12.15 ERA in seven games but he ended the spring on a high with two strikeouts over an inning of work on Monday. The right-hander allowed nine earned runs in his first three appearances but none over his final four. His fastball […]

Daniel Hudson Could See High-Leverage Innings

Washington Nationals pitcher Daniel Hudson could see his fair share of high-leverage situations in 2021, although Brad Hand is the expected closer. The veteran right-hander has had a rough spring with an 11.12 ERA through six appearances but his K-BB of 5-1 in 5.2 innings gives some hope. Hudson's biggest issue has been the homers […]

Adam Ottavino Could See Save Opportunities

Boston Red Sox pitcher Adam Ottavino battled with Matt Barnes this spring for the club's closer role. But when Matt Barnes tested positive for COVID-19, the race was left unfinished according to manager Alex Cora. With Barnes now cleared to return to action, he and Ottavino should both work high-leverage situations and both could see […]

T.J. Zeuch Makes Opening Day Roster

Toronto Blue Jays hurler T.J. Zeuch was informed on Monday that he had made the club's 26-man roster for opening day. Veteran pitcher Robbie Ray (elbow bruise) is expected to miss at least one start with an injury. Zeuch has seen his standing with the Jays improve this spring due to a mix of solid […]

Francisco Liriano Granted Release

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Francisco Liriano was granted his release on Monday. He had an opt-out clause in his minor-league contract which he chose to exercise after he learned he would not be making the club out of the spring. The veteran left-hander pitched well this spring and did not allow a run in 7.1 […]

Jose Trevino To Open Season As Rangers Starting Catcher

Texas Rangers catcher Jose Trevino will open the 2021 season as the No. 1 catcher for the club but he will likely be pushed all season long by a pair of young backstops. Jonah Heim, acquired from Oakland in the offseason, and Sam Huff both have the potential to be bat-first contributors at the MLB […]

Anderson Tejeda To Get More Minor League Seasoning

Texas Rangers infielder Anderson Tejeda was a surprise contributor to the club in 2020 but he'll open this year at the alternate training site. He had a solid showing in spring training by hitting 8-for-20 (.400) with three doubles and a BB-K of 3-8 but with Nick Solak at second base and Isiah Kiner-Falefa at […]

Sam Huff Has Powerful Future

Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff will open the year at the alternate training site but that doesn't mean that he won't make a big impact in the majors in 2021 and beyond. Huff had a rough spring with just one hit in 12 at-bats and he also struck out six times. The 23-year-old rookie spent […]

Ronald Guzman Could See Time At DH

Texas Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman lost his starting role at the position to Nate Lowe but the injury to Khris Davis (quad) could allow Guzman to see regular playing time. He actually outperformed Lowe this spring (OPS of 1.001 vs .646) but he finds himself without a guaranteed home in the everyday lineup. Along […]

Rowdy Tellez May Not Play Every Day

Despite a modest spring performance, Toronto Blue Jays infielder Rowdy Tellez will see time at first base and designated hitter. However, he may not play regularly. He hit the ball hard during the spring but had very little to show for his efforts. He was 10-for-51 (.196) with four extra-base hits. Tellez had a very […]

Danny Jansen Could See Reduced Role

Toronto Blue Jays starting catcher Danny Jansen could see his playing time reduced with the presence of rookie backstop Alejandro Kirk. The club recently announced it would be carrying Kirk and will likely not want the young player spending most of his time on the bench. The club has yet to announce a plan for […]

Randal Grichuk Could Be In Line For More At-Bats

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk could see more action than expected early this season due to the injury to center-fielder George Springer (oblique). Originally, Grichuk looked like the odd man out with the starting outfield expected to be Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Teoscar Hernandez, and Springer. While the Jays have not announced a plan for […]

Rafael Dolis To See High-Leverage Situations

Toronto Blue Jays hurler Rafael Dolis (back) is expected to help fill in some of the high-leverage innings that need to be covered in the wake of Kirby Yates' Tommy John surgery. Dolis has been slowed this spring by back spasms and has thrown in just three official spring games but he's been pitching on […]

Jordan Romano A Favorite For Saves

The Toronto Blue Jays won't officially name a closer but pitcher Jordan Romano is expected to pitch in a lot of high-leverage situations in 2021. Veteran free-agent acquisition Kirby Yates was originally named as the Jays' closer but he will miss the full season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Romano allowed just one run this […]

Updated Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Redraft Prospects for 2021

Opening day is just around the corner. So what better way to celebrate the occasion than to refresh the Top 50 prospects list for 2021 redraft leagues. If you're a habitual prospect watcher then you could have a leg up on your fantasy competition in 2021. Managers around baseball will heavily rely on rookies like […]

Rougned Odor Not Guaranteed A Role

Texas Rangers infielder Rougned Odor's spot on the opening day roster is not a guarantee. Manager Chris Woodward was asked about the infielder's status on Sunday and he declined to confirm that Odor's inclusion on the team was guaranteed. With Nick Solak earmarked for second base this year, it was expected that the second base […]