Lourdes Gurriel Could See Reps At First Base
5 years agoToronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo stated Wednesday that outfielder Lourdes Gurriel may get some reps at first base this season versus left-handed pitchers. Travis Shaw will be the primary first baseman but has notably struggled versus these hurlers with a .225 career batting average. The Jays have plenty of outfield depth, so it would be wise to move the 26-year-old to this spot since he's new to the outfield position and has experience as an infielder. He broke into the majors as a middle infielder, but defensive woes pushed him into left field midway through last season where his bat simultaneously picked up speed. Gurriel finished the year slashing .277/.327/.541 with 20 homers in 84 games, and is worth targeting at his 157 ADP since he carries multi-positional eligibility and will bat in the middle of the team's lineup.
Source: Shi Davidi - Twitter
Source: Shi Davidi - Twitter
Yu Darvish Dealing With Fatigue
33 mins agoSan Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (fatigue) will have his scheduled bullpen session on Sunday pushed back for a day or two. That being said, Darvish won't take the mound for Tuesday's scheduled start. Right now, the Padres aren't too concerned and will just give Darvish some time to rest. The injury bug continues to hold back the right-hander who hasn't made 30 starts in a single season since 2022. It doesn't sound like the team is discussing placing Darvish on the injured list. For now, Darvish should be considered as day-to-day until the team re-evaluates the situation in a few days.
Source: Kevin Acee
Source: Kevin Acee
Clarke Schmidt Won't Start On Monday
40 mins agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) won't make his scheduled spring training start on Monday. The right-hander will have his start pushed back after Schmidt experienced shoulder soreness. It doesn't sound like the organization plans to do any testing. Instead, Schmidt will still throw on Monday, so they'll likely wait and see how he feels after that. The Yankees can't afford to lose another starting pitcher with Gerrit Cole (elbow) already done for the season. For now, Schmidt should be considered day-to-day, but shoulder problems are always a concern for pitchers.
Source: Bryan Hoch
Source: Bryan Hoch
Mark Leiter Jr. Should Be Ready For Opening Day
48 mins agoNew York Yankees relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. (back) is expected to be ready in time for Opening Day. The right-hander threw a bullpen session on Sunday. Leiter reportedly felt good as he continues to recover from a back issue that has slowed him down over the last week or so. The 34-year-old posted a 4.50 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 86/22 K/BB ratio across 60 games with the Chicago Cubs and Yankees last season. The expectation is that Leiter will be used in a high-leverage role. However, Leiter will lack fantasy value in most leagues because he won't see regular save chances.
Source: Bryan Hoch
Source: Bryan Hoch
David Bednar Not Officially Named Closer
59 mins agoPittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher David Bednar is expected to be the primary closing option for the team heading into the regular season. However, Pirates' manager Derek Shelton has made it clear that there isn't an official closer right now. The assumption is that Bednar will get the first crack at saves considering he's a two-time All-Star in that role. However, he struggled last season with a 5.77 ERA across 62 appearances. It hasn't gone any better for him in spring training with a 14.40 ERA across five outings. The right-hander could quickly be removed from high leverage spots if he continues to struggle early in the season. The team will likely use a committee approach if Bednar struggles, so there's no clear fantasy option right now.
Source: Noah Hiles
Source: Noah Hiles