Jose Leclerc Bows Out Of World Baseball Classic

Texas Rangers closer Jose Leclerc (neck) has officially dropped out of this year's World Baseball Classic for Team Dominican Republic, according to manager Bruce Bochy. General manager Chris Young said on Wednesday that LeClerc is dealing with some neck tightness. It remains to be seen when the 29-year-old will make his Cactus League debut in […]

Lucas Gilbreath May Need Tommy John Surgery

Colorado Rockies southpaw Lucas Gilbreath (elbow) may need Tommy John surgery after undergoing an MRI exam. Gilbreath's 2022 campaign finished with a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow, and it appears that surgery could be the next step. In a recent report, the 26-year-old said, "We're still looking into different options," but all signs are […]

Garrett Whitlock To Throw Live BP Friday

Boston Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock (hip) will throw live batting practice on Friday. He is expected to go two innings and hopes to return before the season starts. We can't rule out a stint on the injured list to begin the season, but Whitlock still has some time to be ready for Opening Day. […]

Daniel Hudson Progressing, Alex Reyes Not Throwing Off Mound

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson (ankle, knee) tore his left ACL last June but was expected to be fully recovered for the start of the 2023 season. However, he experienced right ankle tendinitis that set him back a few weeks. He's throwing bullpens in camp and is feeling healthy, but it's unclear if […]

Jose Leclerc Dealing With Neck Tightness

Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young said that relief pitcher Jose Leclerc (neck) is dealing with some neck tightness in camp, and the staff is evaluating how it might affect his participation in this year's World Baseball Classic for Team Dominican Republic. Leclerc had a strong 2.83 ERA (3.72 FIP), 1.13 WHIP, seven saves and […]

Sam Hentges Week-To-Week With Shoulder Inflammation

Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Sam Hentges (shoulder) is dealing with shoulder inflammation and will be re-evaluated on a week-to-week basis. The 26-year-old left-hander had a strong 2.32 ERA (2.48 FIP), 0.97 WHIP, one save and 72 strikeouts in 62 relief innings in just his second major-league season in 2022, but he could be forced to […]

Nick Anderson To Make Spring Debut Wednesday

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Nick Anderson (foot) is set to make his Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Anderson didn't pitch at all in the big leagues in 2022 and finished the season on the 60-day injured list due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot. The 32-year-old right-handed reliever should […]

Felix Bautista To Throw Another Bullpen Session Saturday

Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista (knee, shoulder) said he threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and will throw another one on Saturday. At this point, Bautista is feeling good and remains on track to be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback with his knee and shoulder soreness. The 27-year-old right-hander's next step in spring […]

Spin Rate: Using Sabermetrics for 2023 Fantasy Baseball

Spin rate has become one of the most recognizable Statcast metrics, with supporters of a given pitcher highlighting his spin rates to make their case. It has also become controversial due to allegations of pitchers using foreign substances to increase their spin. Unfortunately, the baseball world has done a lousy job of conveying what spin […]

A.J. Puk, Tommy Nance Dealing With Injuries

Miami Marlins left-hander A.J. Puk (groin) has some minor left adductor tightness but is scheduled to play catch on Tuesday. Right-hander Tommy Nance (shoulder) is dealing with slight shoulder discomfort and will be re-evaluated soon. Puk was acquired in a trade with the Oakland Athletics in the offseason, and given the depth at starting pitcher […]

Marlins Agree With Richard Rodriguez On Minor-League Deal

The Miami Marlins agreed with free-agent right-hander Richard Rodriguez on a minor-league deal on Tuesday that includes a non-roster invite to major-league spring training. Rodriguez is trying to make an MLB comeback after serving an 80-game suspension in 2022 for performance-enhancing drugs. The 32-year-old Dominican had a nice 2.94 ERA (4.04 FIP), 0.93 WHIP, career-high […]

Drew Pomeranz Hopeful To Be Ready By End Of March

San Diego Padres pitcher Drew Pomeranz (elbow) is currently eight bullpen sessions into his latest rehab stint, with the team aiming to have him healthy by the end of March, per the Athletic's Dennis Lin. Pomeranz last pitched for the Padres in 2021 before suffering a torn flexor tendon in his left forearm. He had […]

White Sox Won't Use Traditional Closer

Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said on Monday that the organization doesn't plan to use a set closer to begin the season. The team is still without right-hander Liam Hendriks who continues to undergo treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The organization doesn't have a timetable for his return, but hopefully he'll be able to pitch […]

Aroldis Chapman Cracks Tooth During Fall

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (lip, tooth) fell at his house on Saturday night and cracked a tooth and split his lip open, which required stitches. He is still pretty swollen, but he'll attempt to play catch on Monday while throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday. Chapman said he's feeling OK and hopes […]

Garrett Whitlock May Not Be Ready For Opening Day

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora admitted on Monday that right-hander Garrett Whitlock (hip) may not be ready for Opening Day. "He's throwing the ball well, he's moving well. Not yet doing PFPs. We're not concerned. We've got a plan. We'll see where we're at in the upcoming weeks. If he's ready for opening day […]

Pitcher Statcast: Using Sabermetrics for 2023 Fantasy Baseball

Statcast metrics such as Barrels and Brls/BBE are great ways to evaluate a fantasy baseball batter's performance, so it is only natural to assume that the metrics would be predictive for pitchers as well. As much as batters want to hit a Barrel every time, pitchers want to avoid them at all costs. Yet, there […]

Felix Bautista Throws Bullpen Session Sunday

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Felix Bautista (knee, shoulder) completed a bullpen session on Sunday. O's manager Brandon Hyde noted that Bautista is right on track, and his session was quite promising. Bautista had been dealing with knee and shoulder soreness late last season and is slowly ramping things up as the season approaches. The 27-year-old was […]

Joe Harvey Lands With Braves

Free agent right-hander Joe Harvey signed with the Atlanta Braves on a minor-league deal. Harvey has been assigned to the Braves Triple-A camp, the Gwinnett Stripers, and hopes to get promoted at some point this season. The 31-year-old didn't pitch at all in 2022 after electing free agency at the end of 2021 and has […]

Jeff Hoffman Signs With Twins

Former Cincinnati Reds right-hander Jeff Hoffman signed with the Minnesota Twins on a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training. If Hoffman makes the majors, he will earn $1.3 million, and the deal also includes three opt-outs throughout the season. The 30-year-old spent his 2022 campaign with the Reds and molded a 3.83 ERA […]

Who Is The Dodgers Closer? Fantasy Baseball Saves Candidates for 2023

The Dodger bullpen spent most of 2022 in flux and the offseason left fantasy drafters with more questions than answers regarding who to draft for saves in L.A. Craig Kimbrel recorded 22 of the team's 43 saves despite struggling to a 3.75 ERA and a ghastly 1.32 WHIP. Kimbrel is now in Philadelphia and manager […]

Corbin Martin To Work Exclusively As Reliever

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Martin will work exclusively as a reliever heading into the 2023 season, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The 27-year-old has been working as both a reliever and starter throughout his career. Last season, Martin made seven appearances (two starts) with the Diamondbacks, but the results weren't favorable. Now, Martin is working […]

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 […]

Ken Giles Auditions For Padres

Free-agent relief pitcher Ken Giles threw a bullpen session for the San Diego Padres on Friday at their spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz. He will continue to throw bullpens every Tuesday and Friday for interested teams until he gets signed. Giles also threw for interested clubs at Arizona State on Feb. 8, but nothing […]

Nate Pearson Preparing For Bulk Role

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson has missed most of the last two seasons due to injury, which is why he isn't being stretched out as a starter in spring training this year, but instead he's preparing for a bulk role. Pearson was sitting at 96-97 mph during live batting practice this week, and pitching […]

Ronny Henriquez To Be Sidelined One Week

Minnesota Twins pitcher Ronny Henriquez (elbow) is set to miss at least a week of action. The organization plans to shut down the 22-year-old for about a week before they re-evaluate his elbow soreness. He was already a long shot to make the roster, but this certainly isn't going to help. Henriquez allowed three earned […]

Cole Waites Hopes To Resume Throwing Monday

San Francisco Giants right-hander Cole Waites (lat) said he will be re-evaluated on Sunday and hopes to begin throwing again in camp on Monday. Waites is recovering from a right lat strain that he suffered before spring training, so he's a bit behind the other starters in camp. The 24-year-old made his MLB debut in […]

Rony Garcia Working As Reliever This Spring

Detroit Tigers right-hander Rony Garcia will be working out of the bullpen this spring, but the door isn't closed forever for him in a starting role. "His best route to this team will be in that bridge role of being stretched out to two and three innings," manager A.J. Hinch said. In his third MLB […]

Yerry Rodriguez Looking For Permanent Bullpen Spot

Texas Rangers right-hander Yerry Rodriguez is looking for a permanent bullpen job with the Rangers in spring training this year. The Dominican product signed for $60,000 in 2015 and made his major-league debut with a scoreless inning on the final day of the 2022 season. He has a running fastball that reaches 100 mph and […]

Clay Holmes To See Most Of Save Opportunities

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that relief pitcher Clay Holmes is expected to close out the majority of the games for the team in 2023. "I would expect [Holmes] to close a lot of games for us. Probably most games, and hopefully a lot of games. But I do see a number of […]

Giovanny Gallegos Won't Make Spring Debut Saturday

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos will not make his spring training debut in Saturday's Grapefruit League game as he continues to adjust to MLB's new pitch-clock timer in 2023. Last year, Gallegos averaged 25.8 seconds between pitches with nobody on base, which tied Yankees pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga for the slowest tempo. Per MLB's […]