March 22, 2025
Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher
Derek Law (elbow) is not expected to be ready for Opening Day. According to Spencer Nusbaum of the Washington Post, Law believes he will be placed on the 15-day injured list to begin the season. Law has been slowly increasing his workload during camp after battling an elbow injury last season that has continued to linger. Last season, the 24-year-old held a 2.60 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. Across this stint, Law tallied just 76 strikeouts but showed strong command as he served up walks at a solid 6.6 percent rate. He also generated an elite 3.8 percent barrel rate and a 35.2 percent hard-hit rate. When Law returns to action, fantasy managers should expect him to be a reliable source of holds, as he tallied 17 last season while typically pitching in the seventh inning.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Spencer Nusbaum
March 10, 2025
In 2025, Washington Nationals relief pitcher
Derek Law has his sights set on breaking the team's innings pitched record for a reliever. As such, the 34-year-old is just starting to ramp up, throwing to live batters for the first time this spring despite being fully healthy. The intent is to not put any unnecessary stress on his arm before the season begins, especially after throwing 90 innings in 2024, the second-most for a relief pitcher in all of baseball last season. To beat the record, the righty will have to surpass 93 innings pitched to pass the current record-holder, Saul Rivera. The veteran posted a good 2.60 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP on the way to setting a career high in holds with 17, but isn't known for having strikeout stuff like many relievers of today, logging a 7.6 K/9 and a 14.2 percent K-BB%. With that being the case, Law is really only worthy of a roster spot in leagues that reward holds or NL-only formats.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Mark Zuckerman - MASN
February 21, 2024
Free-agent reliever
Derek Law agreed with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday on a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to sources. The deal would pay Law $1.5 million with $500,000 in incentives for games pitched if he's in the majors. The contract also includes three opt-out clauses. The 33-year-old veteran right-hander has seven years of big-league experience and had a 3.60 ERA (4.62 FIP) and 1.38 WHIP with two saves, 26 walks and 45 strikeouts in 55 innings over 54 appearances (three starts) for the Cincinnati Reds last year. If Law makes the Nationals roster out of spring training, he'd likely serve in a middle-relief bullpen role. Fantasy managers can ignore him.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
May 13, 2023
Cincinnati Reds left-hander
Nick Lodolo (calf) has been scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday against the Miami Marlins and has returned to Cincinnati for examination of his sore left calf. In his place, right-hander
Derek Law will get the start as the opener. The 25-year-old Lodolo has dealt with a calf issue since spring training, so the Reds want to get this figured out before they go any further. There's a good chance he'll need to go on the injured list, so fantasy managers should be prepared. If Lodolo has to miss extended time,
Levi Stoudt figures to be a favorite to take his place in the Reds' rotation in the short term. Lodolo has struggled so far in his second MLB season, posting a 6.29 ERA (5.83 FIP), 1.75 WHIP, 10 walks and 47 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings over his seven starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
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