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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.
Dellin Betances Bounces Back
New York Mets relief pitcher Dellin Betances (shoulder, Achilles) made his second Grapefruit League appearance on Wednesday against the Cardinals, with much better results than his first outing on Saturday. In one inning pitched, Betances allowed no hits and just one walk, inducing three flyouts. Of note, however, Betances' fastball sat at only 91 mph,... Read More
Jacob deGrom Solid Over Four Innings
New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom threw four solid innings on Wednesday against the Cardinals in Grapefruit League action. deGrom retired the first 10 batters he faced in order. He finished the day allowing just one hit, one earned run, and three strikeouts in his four innings of work, lowering his spring ERA to... Read More
J.D. Davis Hits First Spring Homer
New York Mets infielder/outfielder J.D. Davis hit his first home run of the spring on Wednesday in Grapefruit League action against the Cardinals. This past Sunday, Davis finally returned to the lineup from a jammed left shoulder suffered earlier in spring training. All signs now point to Davis being ready to go by Opening Day.... Read More
Michael Conforto Has Grade 1 Oblique Strain
Following up on a previous report, New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto (oblique) was diagnosed with a right oblique strain on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Mets confirmed that the oblique strain is categorized as a Grade 1 strain, the mildest type. Despite the relatively good news, no timeline for his recovery has been provided and... Read More
Jed Lowrie Still Without Timeline To Return
New York Mets infielder Jed Lowrie (leg) still has no timeline to appear in Grapefruit League games due to lingering left leg injuries. Although he has been fully participating in drills over the past couple of weeks, he is sporting a large brace on his left leg that is preventing him from getting into games.... Read More
Platoon Watch: Part-Time Outfielders Worth Rostering
As we head into the 2020 season, it should be no surprise that the deepest position in fantasy baseball remains the outfield. If you are in shallow leagues, you need not worry about selecting an outfielder with question marks regarding playing time. But, if you are in a deep mixed league, an AL-only league, or... Read More
Michael Conforto Diagnosed With Oblique Strain
New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto (oblique) was diagnosed with a right oblique strain on Tuesday. He was sent back to New York on Monday evening to meet with the team medical staff and he has now received his diagnosis. Conforto tweaked his side while making a catch in right field on Saturday. Conforto will... Read More
Michael Conforto To Meet With Team Medical Director In NY
New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto (side) is headed back to New York to meet with team medical director Dr. David Altchek. Conforto tweaked his side while making a catch in right field on Saturday. He did not play on Sunday or Monday and underwent an MRI, but reportedly he needs to be evaluated further. In... Read More
Yoenis Cespedes Continues To Progress Toward Return
New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (heel, ankle) has progressed to running to first base at full speed and hitting regularly in simulated games. While he cannot yet make turns at full speed, Cespedes continues to progress from the heel and ankle injuries that have kept him sidelined since mid-July 2018. The Mets are taking... Read More
Seth Lugo Scheduled To Make Debut Monday
New York Mets relief pitcher Seth Lugo (toe) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Monday against the Miami Marlins. Lugo has worked his way back from a fractured left pinkie toe suffered earlier this spring. Based on the progress he has made since the injury, it appears Lugo will be ready to... Read More
Matt Adams Returns Following Cardiac Testing
New York Mets first baseman Matt Adams has returned to Grapefruit League action after passing all of his additional cardiac testing. Adams is in the Mets lineup, batting cleanup as the designated hitter for Monday's game against the Miami Marlins. In 2019, Adams hit only .226 with a .741 OPS, 20 home runs and 56 RBI... Read More
J.D. Davis Returns To Mets Lineup On Sunday
New York Mets infielder/outfielder J.D. Davis (shoulder) is in the Mets lineup on Sunday for their Grapefruit League game against the Houston Astros. Davis is slated to bat cleanup and play left field. Davis is returning to the lineup from a jammed left shoulder he suffered earlier in spring training. Barring any setbacks, all signs... Read More
Dellin Betances Unimpressive In Mets Debut
New York Mets relief pitcher Dellin Betances (shoulder, Achilles) made his Grapefruit League and Mets debut on Saturday with unimpressive results. In 1/3 inning pitched, Betances threw 24 pitches, struck out one batter, walked two, and gave up a two-run single. Most worrisome, however, was the fact that Betances' fastball topped out at 90 mph.... Read More
Steven Matz Perfect Over Three Innings
New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz retired all nine Washington Nationals batters he faced on Saturday in Grapefruit League action. Matz struck out three in his three perfect innings of work. Despite the excellent outing, the competition for the Mets fifth rotation spot between Matz and Michael Wacha remains muddled. Both Matz and Wacha... Read More
Peter Alonso Still Looking For First Spring Homer
New York Mets first baseman Peter Alonso went 0-for-4 on Friday against the Astros in Grapefruit League play. He is homerless in 31 at-bats over 10 games and is batting just .194 so far this spring. Alonso broke out in 2019, with a line of .260-53-120-103-1. Despite this slow start to his spring, Alonso projects... Read More
Garrett Hampson (2B/OF, COL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper
BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~160s CURRENT ADP: ~175 overall ANALYSIS: Garrett Hampson had a disappointing 2019 campaign hitting just .247-8-27-40-15 in 299 at-bats, but the 25-year old seemed to figure things out late in the season. In September, Hampson hit .318 with five home runs and nine steals in just 88 at-bats. With elite speed... Read More
Rick Porcello With Another Strong Spring Outing
New York Mets starting pitcher Rick Porcello had a third straight solid outing in Grapefruit League play on Thursday. Porcello pitched three shutout innings against the Cardinals with two hits allowed, one walk and four strikeouts. Porcello is coming off of an abysmal 2019 season in which he pitched to a 5.52 ERA, but he... Read More
Seth Lugo Throws Simulated Game
New York Mets relief pitcher Seth Lugo (toe) threw 29 pitches in a simulated game on Thursday. Lugo is working his way back from a fractured left pinkie toe. Following the sim game on Thursday, Lugo indicated that he felt good. It is likely Lugo will next pitch in Grapefruit League games. Based on Lugo's... Read More
Dellin Betances To Make Debut Saturday
New York Mets relief pitcher Dellin Betances (shoulder, Achilles) is scheduled for his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday. Betances appeared in only one game last season for the Yankees due to a shoulder injury and subsequent Achilles tear. If Betances experiences no setbacks as he ramps up activity, he should be ready by Opening Day.... Read More
J.D. Davis Appears On Track For Opening Day
New York Mets infielder/outfielder J.D. Davis (shoulder) believes that he will be ready for Opening Day. Davis, who took full swings during batting practice on Wednesday, is ahead of schedule in his return from a jammed left shoulder. The Mets appear intent on getting Davis into the lineup as much as possible during the season.... Read More
Steven Matz To Pitch Saturday
New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz (illness) threw a side session on Wednesday, after being sent home early Tuesday due to an illness. Originally scheduled to pitch on Friday in Grapefruit League play, Matz will now start on Saturday. Matz is currently in a competition with Michael Wacha for the Mets fifth rotation spot.... Read More
Jed Lowrie Still With No Timeline To Appear In Games
New York Mets infielder Jed Lowrie (leg) still has no timeline to appear in Grapefruit League games due to lingering left leg injuries. Although he is fully participating in drills, he is sporting a large brace on his left leg that is preventing him from getting into games. Lowrie missed nearly all of last season... Read More
Matt Adams To Resume Baseball Activities
New York Mets first baseman Matt Adams has passed all of his additional cardiac testing. Adams will return to the Mets spring training facility on Thursday and resume full baseball activities on Friday. Adams hit just .226 with a .741 OPS, 20 home runs and 56 RBI in 111 games for the Nationals in 2019. If... Read More
Noah Syndergaard Working To Limit Steals
New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard is working this spring to curb base-stealing success against him. Syndergaard has been plagued by his inability to hold runners on first base throughout his career. For Syndergaard's career, base-stealers have been successful 89 percent of the time against him. In 2019, 42 of 45 (93 percent) of... Read More
Dellin Betances Not Throwing With Velocity He Wants
New York Mets relief pitcher Dellin Betances (shoulder, Achilles) said on Tuesday that he is not yet throwing with the velocity he wants. Betances appeared in only one game last season for the Yankees due to a shoulder injury and subsequent Achilles tear. Given the fact that Betances is coming off of a shoulder injury... Read More
Steven Matz Sent Home Early Tuesday Due To Illness
New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz was sent home early Tuesday due to an illness. He will miss a bullpen session today but expects to stay on schedule for a Grapefruit League start on Friday. Matz is currently in a competition with Michael Wacha for the Mets fifth rotation spot. Matz has started off... Read More
J.D. Davis Ahead Of Schedule
New York Mets infielder/outfielder J.D. Davis (shoulder) is ahead of schedule in his return from a jammed left shoulder. Davis has already been participating in baseball activities, including hitting in the batting cage. Barring a setback, it does not appear this injury will delay Davis for Opening Day. The Mets seem intent on getting Davis... Read More
Yankees Asking About Steven Matz
With the New York Yankees starting pitching staff decimated by injuries, the Yankees have reportedly reached out to the New York Mets about starting pitcher Steven Matz. According to the report, the Mets are willing to listen to offers, but any deal appears, at least in the immediate term, unlikely. The Mets are deep at... Read More
Marcus Stroman Allows Solo Homer In Spring Action
New York Mets starting pitcher Marcus Stroman allowed one run in two innings pitched against the Cardinals on Friday. In his second Grapefruit League outing of the season, Stroman walked one and struck out one. Although the lone run against Stroman came on a Paul Goldschmidt solo home run, he showed off a fastball that... Read More
Michael Conforto Hits First Spring Homer
New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto connected for his first home run of the spring on Sunday against the Nationals. He is now hitting .267 in Grapefruit League play. In 2019, Conforto had his best season as a major leaguer hitting .257 with 33 HR, 92 RBI, and seven steals. He is currently projected to... Read More
