Michael Brantley Back At Camp

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (personal, shoulder) is back with the team in spring training on Monday. Brantley was away from the team due to personal reasons, but he has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut while recovering from surgery he had on his right labrum last August. The Astros aren't ruling out Opening […]

Charlie Blackmon In No Rush To Return

Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon (back) is improving after sustaining a back injury on Friday. Blackmon was removed in the first inning of Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants, which was ruled as back stiffness. Manager Bud Black added that the Rockies are in no rush to reinstate Blackmon as Opening Day approaches. The 36-year-old is […]

Justin Turner Could Resume Baseball Activities Monday

Boston Red Sox third baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner (face), who had his stitches removed this weekend, could resume baseball activities on Monday. Turner was hit in the face by a pitch in a Grapefruit League game last Monday and needed 16 stitches after being taken to a local hospital. He's been feeling good and is […]

Yordan Alvarez Hits Again Sunday

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) hit soft toss again on Sunday and felt good. Alvarez resumed swinging on Saturday and is expected to be ready for Opening Day, barring any setbacks with his sore left hand. It's been a little concerning for Alvarez, considering he dealt with soreness in both of his hands […]

Yordan Alvarez Plans To Play Opening Day

Houston Astros designated hitter/outfielder Yordan Alvarez (hand) said Saturday he still plans to be ready for Opening Day. Alvarez started swinging a bat on Friday and took fly balls on Saturday to start to ramp up for the beginning of the season. After suffering from inflammation in his hands last season, Alvarez dealt with continued soreness in […]

Justin Turner Could Take Batting Practice Sunday

Boston Red Sox third baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner (face) is making big improvements and could take batting practice on Sunday while also getting his stitches removed. Turner was hit in the face by a pitch in a Grapefruit League game earlier this week, and he wasn't expected to have his stitches removed for another couple […]

Brandon Belt Making Spring Debut As DH

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Brandon Belt (knee) is making his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Austin Voth, serving as the designated hitter while batting third in the lineup. Belt has been delayed in camp this spring after having surgery on his right knee last September. He limped to […]

Justin Turner Has A Shot To Be Ready For Opening Day

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the team is "shooting" for Opening Day with third baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner (face). Turner was hit in the face by a pitch during Grapefruit League play and required stitches. He will not return to on-field workouts in camp until he has his stitches removed, which isn't expected […]

Yordan Alvarez Begins Swinging In Cages

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker said that outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) began swinging a bat in the batting cages on Friday at spring training. Alvarez suffered from inflammation in both of his hands last year and hadn't swung a bat to this point in camp because of more soreness in his left hand. But […]

Bryce Harper Hits Off Tee

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder/designated hitter Bryce Harper (elbow) hit off a tee in camp on Thursday, according to manager Rob Thomson. Harper will hit off a tee every other day for now as he progresses in his rehab from Tommy John surgery. The expectation is that Harper will be able to join the Phillies as their […]

Bryce Harper Unsure If He'll Play Outfield In 2023

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper (elbow) said he misses playing right field but has no idea if he'll be able to play in the outfield in 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He'll know more about his timeline for a return after he has a physical on Thursday. Harper is just now reporting to spring […]

Justin Turner Could Miss Two Weeks

Boston Red Sox third baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner (face) will get the stitches out of his face in around two weeks, so it's too early to say if he'll be ready for Opening Day. Turner was hit by a pitch in Grapefruit League play earlier this week, but even if he's not ready for the […]

Pirates Acquire Mark Mathias From Rangers

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired infielder/outfielder Mark Mathias from the Texas Rangers on Wednesday in exchange for a player to be named later. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Pirates moved right-hander Max Kranick to the 60-day injured list. Mathias, 28, played 30 games in the big leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers and Rangers […]

Yordan Alvarez Hopes To Start Swinging Next Week

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) said that he hopes to start swinging a bat next week at spring training. General manager Dana Brown recently said that he was hoping Alvarez would be swinging by this weekend, so it appears the 25-year-old left-handed slugger is getting close. He's been held back in camp due […]

Ben Rosener's Fantasy Baseball Beat: Mike Moustakas and Will Smith News Updates

The offseason is officially no more, but Spring training is here, and with it comes the daily influx of baseball news that fantasy managers have missed in the last few months. Lineup news, actual games happening, constant waiver wire moves, pitching assignments, and bullpen usage. Baseball is back and so too is fantasy baseball, with […]

Marcell Ozuna The Favorite For DH Job

Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna remains the favorite for primary designated hitter duties for the team in 2023. Ozuna is playing often in the Grapefruit League in spring training and is strictly being used as a DH, despite saying before arriving to camp that his throwing arm was stronger after rehab work in the winter. […]

Andrew McCutchen Playing Against Blue Jays

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen (hand) is back in the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, and he's serving as the designated hitter and batting third in the lineup. McCutchen left Sunday's game early against the Minnesota Twins due to hand soreness, but it was merely […]

Shohei Ohtani Hits Two Homers In Team Japan Exhibition

Los Angeles Angels star designated hitter/starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani got the pre-World Baseball Classic festivities off to a strong start in Monday's exhibition game between Team Japan and the Hanshin Tigers. After striking out in his first at-bat, Ohtani proceeded to hit a pair of three-run home runs in his next two at-bats, including one […]

Yordan Alvarez Could Swing By The Weekend

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said on the team's radio broadcast on Sunday that outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) will take some swings "maybe by next weekend." Soreness in Alvarez's left hand, which is also something he dealt with last year, has prevented him from swinging the bat in spring training to this point. […]

Justin Turner Hit In Face By Pitch Monday

Boston Red Sox third baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner (face) was hit in the face by a pitch from Detroit Tigers pitcher Matt Manning in Grapefruit League play on Monday. Turner was immediately gushing blood while going down onto the dirt, but he was able to stand up and walk off the field while being escorted […]

Dylan Carlson Serving As DH On Monday

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (arm) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting second in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Houston Astros and right-handed starter Hunter Brown. Carlson is on a no-throw program through at least Monday after suffering from arm fatigue in spring training recently. The 24-year-old switch-hitter could be […]

Michael Brantley To Hit Second In Houston's Lineup

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder, personal) will hit second in the lineup, according to manager Dusty Baker. The 35-year-old underwent an arthroscopic labral repair on his right shoulder last August and should be ready for Opening Day. The Astros brought Brantley back on a one-year, $12 million deal. Brantley made just 277 plate appearances before suffering […]

Yordan Alvarez Still Not Swinging

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) still isn't swinging a bat at spring training, according to manager Dusty Baker. General manager Dana Brown said on Tuesday that Alvarez "should definitely be back for Opening Day," but the longer he goes without swinging, the greater the chance that he might need an injured list stint […]

Dodgers The Early Favorites For Shohei Ohtani?

Some folks around major-league baseball see the Los Angeles Dodgers as the very early favorite to sign Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani if he reaches free agency after the 2023 season. The Dodgers are perennial winners in a geographically desirable area for Ohtani, and they also cut up to $40 million out of […]

Brandon Belt A Week Away From Spring Debut

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Brandon Belt (knee) is a week away from making his spring training debut. Belt underwent season-ending knee surgery last September and is hoping to put together a healthy 2023 season. The 34-year-old was one of the offseason additions for the Blue Jays and signed to a one-year, $9.3 million deal. […]

Yordan Alvarez Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said that outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) "should definitely be back for Opening Day." "We feel totally confident that he'll be in games sometime midway through (spring training)," Brown said. Alvarez has been unable to swing a bat in spring training due to renewed left hand soreness, which was […]

Trey Mancini, Patrick Wisdom The Main Right Field Backups

Chicago Cubs manager David Ross said Monday that Trey Mancini and Patrick Wisdom (groin) are "the first guys that come to mind" as fill-ins for right field if Seiya Suzuki (oblique) ends up having to miss time with a left oblique injury. Mancini, who was signed this off-season, has played outfield throughout his career in […]

Yordan Alvarez Still Not Swinging A Bat

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) sill isn't swinging a bat in spring training, according to manager Dusty Baker. Alvarez is dealing with left hand soreness in camp, which is something he also dealt with in 2022, so it's certainly something to keep a close eye on for one of the best all-around hitters […]

RotoBaller Staff Mock Draft Analysis: 12-Team Roto League Draft

Mock drafts remain an integral piece of fantasy baseball prep in 2023. Some of RotoBaller’s top minds joined up for a 12-team 5x5 Roto mock draft over on Fantrax. I’ll be delivering a round-by-round breakdown of the draft and highlighting some noteworthy picks along the way. Then I'll point out some trends, including how third […]

Brandon Belt To Be Eased In At Spring Training

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Brandon Belt (knee) has played in seven spring training games in the last two years while managing a knee issue. The Blue Jays and the 34-year-old agreed to a plan to ease him into camp this year as a precautionary measure after he had knee surgery last September. Belt said […]