Byron Buxton Wants Contract Extension From Twins

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton wants a contract extension, though it might make more sense for the deal to wait until after the 2021 season. The Twins have reportedly approached Buxton's representatives about an extension- though the two sides might not see eye-to-eye on his value, given the upside he's flashed- 16 homers and 29 […]

Michael Pineda Fans Four In Spring Debut

Minnesota Twins starter Michael Pineda looked crisp in his spring debut on Saturday against the Red Sox, despite the game being called due to rain. Pineda retired all six batters he faced in two scoreless innings, recording four strikeouts before the rain started coming down hard. The 32-year-old right-hander's fastball was clocked at 91-92 MPH, […]

Max Scherzer Feeling Healthy After Start On Friday

Washington Nationals starter Max Scherzer felt healthy during his first start of the spring on Friday. Scherzer was dealing with a left ankle sprain but navigated through his first spring start without any health complaints, pitching 1 2/3 frames while allowing a pair of walks and runs, one hit, and striking out two batters. The […]

Sixto Sanchez Could Make Spring Debut Next Week

Miami Marlins starter Sixto Sanchez could make his spring debut sometime next week. Sanchez has had multiple setbacks to his training, as he was delayed to camp due to visa issues, then had a false COVID-19 test come back positive. The top prospect will throw a bullpen session on Sunday followed by a live batting […]

Alex Bregman Still Sidelined, Looking "Pretty Good"

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (hamstring) has yet to take the field for spring game action after tweaking his hamstring. Bregman has been hitting on the field this spring and actually tweeted that he would be playing if this were the regular season, with manager Dusty Baker seeming to back up that sentiment by […]

Gerrit Cole's Saturday Start Scratched Due To Weather

New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole was slated to start on Saturday against his former team, the Pirates, though his start was scratched due to weather concerns. The Yankees will play in Bradenton, where a quarter-to-half of rainfall is expected on Saturday. The team understandably didn't want to risk the weather nixing Cole's second start- […]

Javier Baez Avoided Serious Injury After Being Hit By Pitch

Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez (forearm) avoided serious injury after being hit by a pitch in the third inning of Friday's Cactus League loss to the Indians. Baez winced in pain and didn't come out to play defense in the top of the fourth, though the Cubs said that it's a soft-tissue injury. The 28-year-old […]

Randy Dobnak Looks Good In Spring Debut

Minnesota Twins pitcher Randy Dobnak looked impressive in his spring debut on Friday against the Braves. Dobnak tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out two batters. The 26-year-old pitched to a 4.05 ERA in 46 2/3 innings of work during the shortened 2020 season, posting a 62.1 percent groundball rate, which […]

Andrelton Simmons Arrives At Twins Camp

Minnesota Twins shortstop Andrelton Simmons has arrived at camp after having issues obtaining his visa. Simmons isn't the only player who had such an issue, though the Curacao native seemed to have more trouble than most in getting the appointment for his issued visa. Manager Rocco Baldelli said that Simmons was able to put in […]

J.T. Realmuto Has Cast Removed Friday

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (thumb) had the cast on his thumb removed Friday. Realmuto will now be wearing a splint on his broken thumb, which will allow for more mobility, though he'll still be unable to hit or throw. It's still some measure of progress for the 29-year-old backstop, who is still slated to […]

Shohei Ohtani To Pitch On Normal Turn In Rotation This Year

Los Angeles Angels outfielder/pitcher Shohei Ohtani will pitch every fifth day this year, barring a rest day. The Japanese right-hander was originally locked-in to pitch on a specific day, though the Angels plan to use him similarly to their other starters in a six-man rotation. Health-willing, Ohtani is looking to be a two-way player this […]

Astros Interested In Jake Odorizzi

Free-agent starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi is drawing interest from the Houston Astros. Odorizzi has piqued the interest of as many as seven teams, though the Astros make a lot of sense after the potential loss of up-and-coming starter Framber Valdez (finger) for the 2021 season. Odorizzi struggled to keep runs off the board in 2020 […]

Adalberto Mondesi To Make Spring Debut Friday

Kansas City Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi (foot) will make his spring debut on Friday against the Dodgers. Mondesi has been eased into action as he continues to deal with a sore foot after being hit by a pitch. The 25-year-old was able to take batting practice and run the bases on Wednesday, so it was […]

Mike Trout Batting Second On Friday Against Athletics

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout will make his third start of the spring and bat second against the Athletics on Friday. Trout has one walk and one hit in four plate appearances so far, though this will be his first appearance in the two-hole after batting cleanup in his first two games. The three-time […]

Luis Castillo Predicted As Potential Strikeout King In 2021

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Luis Castillo was tabbed by MLB.com's David Adler as a potential dark-horse candidate to lead the majors in strikeouts in 2021. Castillo has placed in the top-20 in strikeouts in each of the last two seasons while pitching to a 3.35 ERA in 260 2/3 innings. The key to his success […]

Freddie Freeman To Make Spring Debut Friday

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman will make his 2021 spring training debut on Friday against the Twins. Freeman is slotted into the three-hole in the Braves lineup, a place he's quite familiar with, having batted 1002 career games at that spot. The 2020 National League MVP slashed .341/.462/.640 in the shortened season, clubbing 13 […]

Jorge Polanco Struggles In The Field Thursday

Minnesota Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco struggled in the field during Thursday's loss to the Rays. Polanco collected two walks and a hit but committed a throwing error in the first inning, then had a wild throw on a potential double-play ball that cost the Twins a run. The former shortstop did make a nice […]

Hansel Robles Showing Improved Velocity On Fastball

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Hansel Robles had a bit of a rough day in Thursday's loss to the Rays. Robles was saddled with the loss, as he pitched one inning, allowing four hits and three runs, two of them earned. However, the 30-year-old reliever showed some improved velocity on his four-seam fastball, touching 96 on […]

Domantas Sabonis Notches Triple-Double With Four Steals

Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis notched his fourth triple-double of the year in a loss to the Nuggets. Sabonis was held to just 10 points but racked up 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and four steals in 38 minutes of action. The All-Star big man played through a sore ankle for the second straight game, as […]

Myles Turner Delivers Productive Line In Loss To Denver

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner drew a tough player matchup against MVP candidate Nikola Jokic on Thursday- and lived to tell the tale, despite his team's loss. Turner contributed 22 points, 12 boards, three triples, three blocks, and a steal in 38 minutes of action. The 24-year-old continues to be a shot-blocking menace for Indiana […]

Michael Porter Jr. Records Double-Double With Full Line

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. had an excellent game in a win over the Pacers on Thursday. Porter scored 24 points with 11 rebounds, five triples, two steals, and a block in 38 minutes. The 22-year-old slumped through the first half of February but has turned it on recently, perhaps motivated by head coach […]

Bo Bichette Has Tough Day In Loss To Tigers

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette had a tough day in Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Tigers. Bichette went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and made a throwing error in the field. The 22-year-old shortstop has played three games so far in the spring and is 0-for-7 with three walks, though he still has plenty of […]

Kelly Oubre Jr. Listed As Questionable Thursday

Golden State Warriors forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (wrist) has been listed as questionable Thursday against the Suns. Oubre was held out of Wednesday's game with the left wrist issue- and is probably going to sit out another with the All-Star break coming up. With Stephen Curry (rest) and Draymond Green (rest) already out, Oubre could […]

Al Horford To Rest Against San Antonio

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Al Horford (rest) won't suit up Thursday against the Spurs. Horford will get his usual rest on the second night of a back-to-back. Isaiah Roby will likely get the start at the four in a pretty tricky matchup with San Antonio- though he had a nice 15-9-7 line two games ago […]

Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb Playing Against Nuggets

Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis (ankle) and guard Jeremy Lamb (knee) will be on the court for Thursday's matchup with the Nuggets. Sabonis looked good playing on the ankle Wednesday and could be poised to exploit the Nuggets' small-ball four lineups. Lamb only played 19 minutes but racked up some nice stats, though Denver has […]

Zion Williamson Doubtful Thursday With Toe Injury

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (toe) is considered doubtful for Thursday's matchup with Miami. There was no word on when or if Williamson suffered an injury to his pinky toe- so this seems like a sneaky way for the team to get the second-year pro some additional rest ahead of his first All-Star game. […]

Jimmy Butler Will Play, Bam Adebayo Ruled Out Against Pelicans

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (knee) will play Thursday while Bam Adebayo (knee) has been ruled out against the Pelicans. Butler missed the last two games with some inflammation in his right knee- but returns just in time for an excellent matchup with the Pelicans, who have allowed the seventh-most FanDuel points to small forwards. […]

Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb Expected To Play Thursday

Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis (ankle) and guard Jeremy Lamb (knee) are both expected to play on Thursday against the Nuggets. Sabonis was on the court for the first half of the back-to-back on Wednesday, producing an 18-6-5 line with a block and a steal. He should be in line for another good outing against […]

Kawhi Leonard Available, Paul George A Late Scratch

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (back) is available Thursday, while forward Paul George (dizziness) won't play against the Wizards. Leonard needed just one game on the sidelines after being a late scratch himself with back spasms during the shootaround before Tuesday's game. He should be good to go with no restrictions in an excellent […]

Derrick Rose Won't Play, Elfrid Payton Available Against Pistons

New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (health and safety protocols) won't suit up on Thursday against the Pistons. Rose missed Tuesday's game because of an inconclusive COVID-19 test, though he reportedly has since tested negative. Some teams are opting to hold out players who were in the protocols for conditioning reasons, so perhaps that's the […]