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Articles
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Walker Buehler Believes Fastball Issues This Spring Are Temporary
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler told MLB.com's Juan Toribio earlier this week that he believes the struggles he has had with his fastball this spring are temporary, and that it shouldn't affect him much heading into the regular season. Toribio reports that Buehler's fastball has been sitting around 93-94 mph through most of […]
Michael Grennell
Spencer Howard Optioned To Minor League Camp
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Spencer Howard (back) was optioned to minor league camp on Friday, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Howard has been dealing with back spasms the past two weeks, and has been working his way back to pitching in live game action again. The move to minor league camp will allow Howard […]
Michael Grennell
Andrew Vaughn Could Be Opening Day Left Fielder
Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn could be used as the Opening Day left fielder, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports on Friday. According to Van Schouwen, manager Tony La Russa said, "If he's the best choice for Opening Day in left field, I'd play him," just one day after Vaughn got […]
Michael Grennell
Rafael Devers Slump Continues, Goes Hitless Thursday
Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers continued his recent cold streak on Thursday, going 0-for-2 in a 7-4 Red Sox loss. Over his last six games now, Devers is hitting 2-for-15 with one RBI, one walk and four strikeouts, as he lowers his spring triple slash line to .182/.234/.409 in 17 games. This sluggish […]
Michael Grennell
Manny Machado Goes Hitless In Padres Win Thursday
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado continued his spring slump on Thursday, going 0-for-2 with a walk, one RBI and a run scored in the Padres' 11-10 victory over the Rangers. Machado has gone hitless in his last three games now, as he has lowered his spring slash line to .235/.293/.324 with three doubles, […]
Michael Grennell
Cody Bellinger Snaps 0-For-8 Skid Thursday
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger snapped an 0-for-8 slump on Thursday, finishing 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in the Dodgers' 5-2 victory over the Cubs. He's only appeared in seven games this spring, but he has not looked as good as managers would have hoped to see, slashing .167/.211/.389 with a […]
Michael Grennell
Mookie Betts Goes 1-For-3 In Dodgers' Win Thursday
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts went 1-for-3 with a single in a 5-2 Dodgers victory on Thursday. While not bad, the bat has cooled off a little for Betts over his last five games, as he is hitting 3-for-12 with a double, two strikeouts and two runs scored in that span. Coming off a […]
Michael Grennell
Ronald Acuna Jr. Continues Slow Spring, Goes Hitless Thursday
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. continued what has been a sluggish start to the year on Thursday, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the Braves' 5-2 win over the Rays. Acuna is now 1-for-13 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored, two walks and five strikeouts over his last five games, as […]
Michael Grennell
Brandon Belt Hopeful He'll Be On Opening Day Roster
San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (heel) felt good in his start on Thursday, and is hopeful he'll be ready to be on the Opening Day roster, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Making just his second appearance of the spring as he recovers from offseason surgery to remove bone chips […]
Michael Grennell
Travis Shaw Fine After Early Exit Thursday
Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw (leg) was removed as a precaution on Thursday after being hit by a pitch, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. According to manager Craig Counsell, Shaw had a bruise after being hit by a pitch in his first plate appearance, and after it showed signs of swelling they removed him […]
Michael Grennell
Alec Bohm Day-To-Day After Early Exit Thursday
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (groin) is considered day-to-day after exiting Thursday's game early, according to Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Manager Joe Girardi said the move was "precautionary" as Bohm was removed in the fourth inning with tightness in his left groin. Bohm made his major league debut in 2020, where he […]
Michael Grennell
Richard Rodriguez Allows Run In Third Straight Appearance
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Richard Rodriguez allowed a run in his third straight appearance on Thursday, finishing with one run allowed on two hits while striking out one in 1 1/3 innings against the Orioles. After Thursday's appearance, Rodriguez has now allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk with two strikeouts in his […]
Michael Grennell
Michael Wacha Strikes Out Five On Thursday
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Michael Wacha allowed one run on four hits and one walk, while striking out five in five innings of work on Thursday. Continuing what has been a dominant spring, Wacha has now allowed just one run on six hits and two walks while striking out 10 in 12 innings of […]
Michael Grennell
Kole Calhoun Getting Closer To Facing Live Pitching
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Kole Calhoun (knee) is getting closer to facing live pitching in a simulated game, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Manager Torey Lovullo told Piecoro, "I think that's the next step after several days of BP (batting practice) to where he could stand in the box, take his normal at-bat, […]
Michael Grennell
Stefan Crichton Allows First Runs Of Spring
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Stefan Crichton allowed his first runs of the spring on Thursday, surrendering three runs — two earned — on two hits while striking out one in one inning of work against the Orioles. Crichton had looked solid this spring prior to Thursday's outing, having allowed just four hits and one walk […]
Michael Grennell
Nick Anderson To Miss First Half Of Season
Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Nick Anderson (elbow) will be out for at least the first half of the season with a partially torn ligament in his elbow, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The news comes after a rough outing from Anderson on Wednesday, in which his velocity was down by […]
Michael Grennell
Yu Darvish Named Opening Day Starter
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish was named the Opening Day starter on Thursday, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Darvish has been lights out in two appearances this spring, allowing just one hit while striking out seven in five innings of work. He'll take the mound for the opener against […]
Michael Grennell
Danny Duffy Uninjured After Early Exit Thursday
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy (leg) is not injured after being hit by a comebacker in his start on Thursday, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Duffy was hit in both legs by the comebacker with one out in the top of the fifth inning, and then exited the game with the trainer. […]
Michael Grennell
Kyle Freeland To Miss At Least A Month With Shoulder Strain
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland (shoulder) is expected to miss at least a month after suffering a left shoulder strain, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Freeland exited his start on Tuesday after throwing a pitch, and while manager Bud Black said Thursday that an MRI confirmed the strain, he added that the news […]
Michael Grennell
Jake Arrieta, Zach Davies To Start In Home Opening Series
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta will start the second game of the season against the Pirates, while starting pitcher Zach Davies will start the series finale, the Chicago Tribune's Meghan Montemurro reports. Arrieta will make his return to Chicago after playing in Philadelphia the last three seasons, as he looks to rebound from a […]
Michael Grennell
Frankie Montas Leaves Start Early With Finger Injury
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas (finger) left his start early on Thursday with a ripped cuticle on his right middle finger, Shayna Rubin of the Mercury News reports. It was a rough outing for Montas before his exit, as he allowed four runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two in […]
Michael Grennell
Cavan Biggio Returns To Blue Jays Lineup Thursday Night
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Cavan Biggio (finger) is back in the starting lineup on Thursday night, and will bat second. Biggio had jammed his pinky finger while receiving a throw earlier in the week, and was scratched from Wednesday's lineup with finger soreness. It's a sigh of relief for fantasy managers after a week […]
Michael Grennell
Wade LeBlanc Granted Request For Release From Orioles
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Wade LeBlanc was granted his request for release on Thursday and is now a free agent, according to Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun. LeBlanc had looked decent in three appearances this spring, allowing three runs — two earned — on three hits and five walks while striking out seven in eight […]
Michael Grennell
Chris Bassitt Named Opening Day Starter For Oakland
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Chris Bassitt has been named the Opening Day starter, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Bassitt has looked sharp this spring, allowing just two runs in 10 1/3 innings while striking out 12. He is coming off a 2020 campaign in which he finished eighth in the AL Cy Young race by […]
Michael Grennell
Eloy Jimenez To Miss 5-6 Months With Torn Pectoral
Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez (pectoral) will miss five to six months with a torn pectoral muscle, according to Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio. Jimenez left Wednesday's game after injuring himself while attempting to rob a home run. This is a significant loss to the White Sox lineup, as he slashed .296/.332/.559 with […]
Michael Grennell
First Basemen Set to Break Out in 2021
First base is typically one of the biggest sources of power in a fantasy lineup. First basemen hit more home runs than any other position in 2020, with their combined total of 342 homers accounting for nearly 15 percent of MLB's total. Power comes aplenty at first base, which often means managers will look to […]
Michael Grennell
Brandon Belt Scheduled To Get At-Bat Wednesday Night
San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (heel) is scheduled to receive an at-bat as a pinch-hitter on Wednesday night, MLB.com's Maria I. Guardado reports. Belt has missed all of Spring Training so far as he recovered from off-season heel surgery, as well as bouts with COVID-19 and mononucleosis. If he's healthy, Belt looks to […]
Michael Grennell
Tarik Skubal Makes Tigers' Opening Day Roster
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal was told Wednesday morning that he has made the Opening Day roster, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports. Skubal — the top left-handed pitching prospect in the Tigers' organization — made his major league debut last season, posting a 5.63 ERA in 32 innings of work, while also recording a 27.6 […]
Michael Grennell
Liam Hendriks Dealing With Kidney Stones
Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks (kidney stones) will look to make another appearance this weekend after missing the last week of action while dealing with kidney stones, reports Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Manager Tony La Russa said that the team is hopeful Hendriks will be able to get two or three […]
Michael Grennell
Tejay Antone "Most Likely" Will Start 2021 In Bullpen
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tejay Antone will "most likely" be used as a reliever to open the season, reports Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Antone has not pitched in a game since March 17, as he dealt with hip and groin injuries. He appears on track though to be ready for the start of the […]
Michael Grennell