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About Nick Ritrivi - RotoBaller
A lifelong NY Mets and NY Giants fan. NJ native, married with two children. A fantasy baseball veteran for well over two decades, I cover the New York Mets desk for RotoBaller MLB.
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Nick Ritrivi - RotoBaller has written 997 articles so far, you can find them below.
Jacob deGrom Leaves Intrasquad Game After One Inning
New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom left the Mets' intrasquad game after just one inning on Tuesday. It is unclear whether this early departure was planned or if it was unexpected. Obviously, this bears monitoring if and when the Mets provide an update. The reigning National League Cy Young winner has been in midseason... Read More
Robinson Cano Back In Mets Camp Tuesday
New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano was back in Mets summer camp on Tuesday and was planning to practice with the team. Cano had been absent from camp over the past week. No reason for his absence has been provided by the Mets. During spring training, Cano had been strengthening his legs in an... Read More
Jed Lowrie Still Dealing With Leg Brace Issues
New York Mets infielder Jed Lowrie (leg) is still sporting a large brace on his left leg that will impact his ability to play for the Mets. Lowrie has been attempting to transition from a large brace to a smaller brace since spring training in March. The smaller brace would enable Lowrie to play in... Read More
Robinson Cano Remains Questionable For Opening Day
New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano has been absent from Mets summer camp over the past week. No reason for his absence has been provided by the Mets. During spring training back in March, Cano had been spending time strengthening his legs in an effort to avoid the quadriceps and hamstring issues that limited... Read More
Yoenis Cespedes Is Certain He Will Be Ready By Opening Day
On Saturday, New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (heel, ankle) stated that he "know[s] for certain I will be ready [for Opening Day]." It appears that Cespedes is well on the road to full health ahead of the MLB season opener in late July. He will likely serve as the Mets’ regular designated hitter during... Read More
Robinson Cano Has Been Absent From Mets Camp
New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano has missed Mets summer camp the past two days, according to a report on Friday. No reason for his absence has been provided by the Mets. During spring training back in March, Cano had been spending time strengthening his legs in an effort to avoid quadriceps and hamstring... Read More
Dellin Betances Making Slow Gains In Velocity
New York Mets relief pitcher Dellin Betances (shoulder, Achilles) still hasn’t reached the fastball velocity he exhibited when he was a lockdown reliever for the Yankees. Betances, who topped out at 90 mph in his Grapefruit League debut back in March, was only sitting at 92-93 mph in his first summer camp live batting practice... Read More
Michael Wacha Building Up To Work As A Starter
New York Mets starting pitcher Michael Wacha is currently building up to work as a regular rotation member. Heading into spring training, Wacha was primarily viewed as a spot starter and long relief option for the Mets. He was in competition with Steven Matz for the fifth rotation spot. However, with the season-ending injury to... Read More
Jared Hughes Remains Absent From Mets Camp
Recently signed New York Mets relief pitcher Jared Hughes, 35, has yet to appear in Mets' camp. The Mets have not provided any reason for Hughes' absence. Hughes posted a 4.04 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, one save, and 54 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings for the Reds and Phillies in 2019. Hughes will likely serve in... Read More
Brad Brach Has Yet To Appear In Mets Camp
New York Mets relief pitcher Brad Brach has not yet arrived in Mets camp. No reason for his absence has been provided by the Mets. In 2019, Brach posted a 5.47 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 54 1/3 innings pitched between both the Cubs and Mets. Provided he is healthy, Brach, 34, will primarily serve... Read More
Jacob deGrom Working Toward 100 Pitches On Opening Day
New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom said he expects to ramp up to 85 pitches in his last simulated game before the regular season begins. This would put deGrom in line for about 100 pitches on Opening Day. The reigning National League Cy Young winner appears to be in midseason form in camp and... Read More
Jacob deGrom Looks Dominant in Simulated Game
New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom looked dominant in a simulated game on Sunday. Facing the Mets everyday lineup, deGrom threw two shutout innings, allowing two hits, striking out three and walking none. deGrom is coming off of a National League Cy Young award season in which he posted an 11-8 record, 2.43 ERA... Read More
Mets Manager Non-Committal To Edwin Diaz At Closer
New York Mets manager Luis Rojas did not commit to reliever Edwin Diaz as the Mets closer on Sunday when asked about the Mets ninth inning bullpen situation. Rojas, instead, mentioned Diaz, Dellin Betances, Seth Lugo, and Jeurys Familia in the context of a possible closer-by-committee. This is a situation the bears monitoring as we... Read More
Amed Rosario Joins Mets Camp
Following up on an earlier report, New York Mets shortstop arrived at and participated in Mets' camp on Sunday afternoon. Rosario had previously been absent on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning. No reason for his absence has been provided by the Mets. Rosario is coming off a great sophomore season in which he slashed .287/.323/.432... Read More
Jed Lowrie Reportedly A Full Go
New York Mets infielder Jed Lowrie (knee) is reportedly a full go according to manager Luis Rojas and is expected to play in a simulated game on Sunday. Lowrie played just nine games in 2019 due to knee issues and has dealt with complications related to knee surgery since the spring. If Lowrie proves to... Read More
Amed Rosario Still Absent From Camp
New York Mets shortstop Amed Rosario remained absent from camp on Sunday. Manager Luis Rojas had speculated that he would be present, but that did not materialize. Andres Gimenez played shortstop in a sim game in Rosario's place. No explanation has been provided by the Mets regarding his absence from camp since Friday. In 2019,... Read More
Melky Cabrera May See Time At First Base
New York Mets outfielder Melky Cabrera will work out at first base in addition to the outfield, according to manager Luis Rojas. With Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith rostered, the decision to work Cabrera out at first base is strictly to provide the Mets versatility during the shortened season. Cabrera is more likely to see... Read More
Amed Rosario Expected To Participate In Camp Very Soon
Following up on a prior report, New York Mets shortstop Amed Rosario did not work out with the team on Friday or Saturday. Manager Luis Rojas indicated that Rosario is expected to join the club very soon, possibly on Sunday. No explanation has been provided by the Mets regarding his absence. In 2019, Rosario hit... Read More
Yoenis Cespedes Impresses In Camp
New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (heel, ankle) drew rave reviews from fellow outfielder Michael Conforto and manager Luis Rojas on Saturday. Conforto stated that Cespedes looks motivated, "like a monster," and praised his light defensive work. Although it appears that Cespedes is well on the road to full health ahead of the season opener... Read More
Marcus Stroman Expected To Work Out In Camp On Sunday
New York Mets starting pitcher Marcus Stroman did not work out in camp on Friday, but is expected to appear on Sunday. No reason was given for his absence on Friday. In 32 starts in 2019 between Toronto and New York, Stroman compiled 159 strikeouts in 184 1/3 IP while posting a 3.22 ERA and... Read More
Amed Rosario Did Not Work Out Friday
New York Mets shortstop Amed Rosario did not work out with the team on Friday. No explanation was provided by the Mets. In 2019, Rosario hit .287 with 75 runs, 15 home runs, 72 RBI, and 19 stolen bases. Hopefully, Friday's absence is not related to an undisclosed injury or the pandemic. If healthy, Rosario... Read More
Dellin Betances Looks Good During Bullpen Session
New York Mets relief pitcher Dellin Betances (shoulder, Achilles) looked "really good" during his bullpen session on Friday, according to manager Luis Rojas. Shoulder and Achilles injuries limited Betances to only one game last season for the Yankees. If Betances is in fact ready for the July start of the 2020 season, he and Seth... Read More
Jacob deGrom Appears To Be In Midseason Form
New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom appears to be in midseason form, according to Mets manager Luis Rojas. Rojas made those statements on Friday following a bullpen session thrown by deGrom. deGrom is coming off of a National League Cy Young award season in which he posted an 11-8 record, 2.43 ERA and 0.97... Read More
Yoenis Cespedes Ramps Up To Sprinting
New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (heel, ankle) was able to ramp up to sprinting speed while quarantined. Cespedes, named to the Mets 60-man player pool, is coming off of heel and ankle injuries that have kept him sidelined since July of 2018. The Mets have indicated that they want to see him in person... Read More
Drew Smith Throwing Off Mound Since March
New York Mets reliever Drew Smith (elbow) has been throwing off a mound since this past March. Smith, who was still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery during spring training, has made the Mets 60-man player pool and could see time with the team during the season. The 26-year-old last pitched in 2018 for the Mets... Read More
Rick Porcello Will Help Mets
Two talent evaluators with strong knowledge of the NL East have mentioned New York Mets starting pitcher Rick Porcello as a reason the Mets could emerge with the clear-cut second-best rotation in the division. The evaluators cited the fact that Porcello moved away from his sinker and two-seam fastball last season. They speculate that a... Read More
Dellin Betances Appears Ready To Go
The New York Mets are excited about where relief pitcher Dellin Betances (shoulder, Achilles) is physically. He has thrown live batting practice and sim games over the past two weeks and will be ready to go once summer camp opens. Shoulder and Achilles injuries limited Betances to only one game last season for the Yankees.... Read More
Mets Sign Gordon Beckham
The New York Mets signed infielder Gordon Beckham and added him to their 60-man player pool for the 2020 season on Monday. Beckham appeared in 83 games for the Detroit Tigers in 2019, posting just a .215 average and a .643 OPS to go with six home runs and 15 RBI across 240 plate appearances.... Read More
Hunter Strickland Signed By Mets
The New York Mets have signed relief pitcher Hunter Strickland and named him to their 60-man player pool for 2020. In 2019, Strickland appeared in 28 games between the Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals. He posted a 5.55 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 24 1/3 innings pitched and struck out just 18. Strickland was released... Read More
Mets Sign Melky Cabrera
The New York Mets signed outfielder Melky Cabrera on Monday and named him to their 60-man player pool for 2020. A career .285 hitter, Cabrera played in 133 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season and was productive, hitting .280/.313/.399 with seven home runs and 47 RBI in 378 at-bats. Although the Mets are quite... Read More
