Heath Hembree Picks Up Second Straight Save

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Heath Hembree tossed a scoreless ninth inning to save a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Hembree struck out two and allowed one hit in the frame. The veteran reliever has been busy of late, having picked up a save on consecutive nights. Hembree now has a 2-3 record, 5.06 […]

Rookie Report: Prospect Risers and Fallers for Week 14

Welcome to the latest edition of RotoBaller’s Recently Promoted Prospects series for fantasy baseball! Here I discuss some recently promoted MLB prospects and rookies , making note of what I think their upside could be for fantasy baseball managers, and whether they are potential risers or fallers. We have seen 150 rookies make their MLB […]

Fantasy Baseball Injury Updates - Week 15

As we move past the July 4th weekend and make our way to the All-Star game, there continues to be an increase in injuries this year compared to prior years, particularly of the soft tissue variety. These injuries include oblique, groin, hamstring, and back injuries. Not all of the injuries are the same for each player […]

Yimi Garcia Picks Up Save Number 13 On Saturday

Miami Marlins closer Yimi Garcia saved his 13th game of the season in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves. Garcia was asked to deliver the one-run win for the Marlins and did just that, allowing only an infield hit in a scoreless ninth inning that included a strikeout of Ronald Acuña, who represented the […]

Jordan Romano’s Scoreless Streak Snapped On Saturday

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Jordan Romano gave up two runs to the Rays on Saturday in a non-save situation as his club went on to a 6-3 victory. The right-hander walked the first two batters of the inning and both came around to score on a two-out single by Kevin Kiermaier, snapping his 18-inning scoreless […]

Jose Mujica Recalled From Triple-A

Colorado Rockies right-hander Jose Mujica has been recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque. Reliever Antonio Santos was optioned in a corresponding move. Mujica put up a 6.91 ERA in nine starts (43 innings) at the Triple-A level but will likely work as a reliever with the big league club. He put up a 12.46 ERA over 4 […]

Anthony Bender Strikes Out All Six On Friday

Miami Marlins rookie relief pitcher Anthony Bender struck out all six batters he faced in Friday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Coming off the first actual poor outing of his major league career, Bender was impeccable in this one, throwing 29 pitches (21 strikes) in his two innings of work. Bender has a 0.74 ERA […]

David Hess Acquired By Marlins

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher David Hess was traded to the Miami Marlins for right-handed pitching prospect Justin Sterner and cash considerations, according to the Miami Herald. Hess was impressive at Triple-A Durham this season, earning a 2.81 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP and 37 strikeouts to just five walks across 32 innings, including two […]

Yency Almonte Implodes On Friday

Colorado Rockies reliever Yency Almonte was destroyed on Friday night when he allowed six runs (five earned) on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in a 9-3 loss to the Cardinals. The Rockies held a narrow 3-2 lead heading into the ninth inning before reliever Justin Lawrence blew the save, prompting the game […]

Michael Fulmer Could Return After All-Star Break

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Michael Fulmer's (neck) visit with Dr. Keith Meister confirmed a previous diagnosis of no shoulder issues, according to MLB.com. Fulmer, who was placed on the 10-day injured list last weekend with a right cervical spine strain, is headed to Low-A Lakeland and is not expected to back until after the All-Star […]

Closers and Saves Report - Week 15 Waiver Wire

There's a very important holiday coming up this weekend and you will see fireworks lighting up the sky in celebration: the mid-point of the Major League Baseball season. Some teams have already played their 81st game, but most clubs will reach that number at some point this weekend. After the 2020 season, nothing else can […]

The Baller Ranks: Weekly Top 101 Relief Pitcher Rankings

We're onto July, meaning it's the second half of the season and our time to gripe about the All-Star Game selections. Pitchers are still adjusting to life with sticky checks and all we can do is put on a brave face. Hit the All-Star break in stride with my top 101 RP Baller Ranks, which […]

The Bigger Picture - Where We've Gone Wrong This Year

Expectations are a dangerous thing. They can dictate our decision-making processes well into the future and prevent us from seeing things as they truly are. The baseball season is the longest of any professional team sport, spanning eight full months including spring training. That means a lot will change throughout the course of the season […]

Ryan Pressly Locks Down 13th Save Friday

Houston Astros relief pitcher Ryan Pressly nailed down his 13th save of the season Friday in a 6-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians. The 32-year-old gave up a leadoff single to start the ninth but rebounded to close out the game with two strikeouts. The 2019 All-Star has been stellar during the 2021 campaign, converting […]

Ranger Suarez Earns Win In Relief On Friday

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Ranger Suarez pitched 1 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run to pick up the win when the home team walked off in the 10th inning. Suarez was called on in the ninth when Jose Alvarado ran into trouble. Two of Alvarado's baserunners scored on Suarez's watch, so Suarez was tagged […]

Jose Alvarado Allows Three Runs To Blow Save Friday

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado allowed three runs in 2/3 of an inning to blow a save versus the Padres on Friday. The hard-throwing righty was called on for a four-out save; he got out of the eighth inning, but ran into trouble in the ninth starting with, as usual, a leadoff walk. Alvarado […]

Scott Barlow Earns His Third Save On Friday

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Scott Barlow was called upon to close out the team's 7-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday. Barlow pitched a perfect ninth inning, allowing no hits or walks while striking out one. He earned his third save of the year. Save opportunities have been tough to come by lately […]

Heath Hembree Picks Up Second Save

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Heath Hembree threw a scoreless ninth inning to preserve a 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Hembree struck out two and allowed one hit to pick up his second save of the season. The veteran reliever is trending up after a rough start to the season, having allowed three earned […]

Will Smith Collects Save Against Miami

Atlanta Braves closer Will Smith continues to rack up saves picking up his 17th of the season. After a blown save opportunity on July 1st against the Mets, Smith almost picked up another loss giving up one hit and two walks. He was able to get out of the jam to earn the save. The […]

Adam Ottavino Records Sixth Save Friday

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Adam Ottavino pitched the bottom of the 10th inning Friday against the Oakland Athletics, allowing one hit on route to his sixth save of the year. As long as Matt Barnes is around, Ottavino will always be the second choice in save situations, but should an injury arise, he would […]

Matt Barnes Blows Fourth Save Friday

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes blew his fourth save of the year against the Oakland Athletics Friday, allowing one run on an Elvis Andrus home run in the bottom of the ninth. He went on to earn the cheap relief win when the Red Sox won in 10 innings, improving his season record […]

Josh Hader Named NL Reliever Of The Month For June

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Josh Hader was named June's National League Reliever of the Month on Friday. He was nothing short of dominant on the mound this past month, allowing three hits and four walks over 11 scoreless innings of work while striking out 18 and recording eight saves. After this past month, Hader is […]

Alec Mills Pitches Well In Loss

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Alec Mills picked up a tough loss on Friday versus the Cincinnati Reds. Mills went 5 2/3 innings and allowed two hits, two runs, one walk and nine strikeouts. Mills was cruising for most of his outing and left with two runners on two out in the bottom of the sixth […]

Emilio Pagan Dealing With Neck Tightness

San Diego Padres pitcher Emilio Pagan (neck) hasn't pitched since Tuesday due to neck tightness. He has a tight neck from sleeping on it. According to manager Jayce Tingler, Pagan could be available for Saturday's game against the Phillies. He owns a 3.51 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 41:10 K; BB across 33 1/3 innings […]

Yankees-Mets Game Postponed Friday

Friday's game between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday, July 4. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly and remove any players in this contest. Mets right-hander Taijuan Walker and Yankees left-hander […]

Travis Lakins Sr. Has Significant Elbow Injury

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Travis Lakins Sr. (elbow) is dealing with a significant elbow injury, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Lakins was forced to leave his first start of the season on Tuesday against the Houston Astros after he allowed one run while walking three of the six hitters he faced in just 1 2/3 innings. […]

Hunter Harvey Expected To Miss A Month

The Baltimore Orioles placed right-hander Hunter Harvey (lat) on the 10-day injured list on Friday, and manager Brandon Hyde said that he expects Harvey to miss around a month of action. In a corresponding move, left-hander Zac Lowther was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. The 26-year-old Harvey felt pain in his lat when he was warming […]

Jeurys Familia Activated From Injured List

New York Mets relief pitcher Jeurys Familia (hip) was activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday. Familia suffered a right hip impingement on June 21 but had a very successful rehab assignment and was activated on the first day he was eligible. The 31-year-old right-hander has a 3.63 ERA and one save on the […]

Josiah Gray Won't Be An Option Anytime Soon

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander Josiah Gray (shoulder) is "progressing" from a shoulder impingement, but he won't be an option in the near future to help the team's rotation or bullpen. Gray, the team's No. 2 prospect behind catcher Keibert Ruiz, is being brought along slowly. Because of his shoulder issues, […]

Brusdar Graterol Back With The Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol has been recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City and will take the roster spot of starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, who was placed on administrative leave by the league on Friday. Graterol is an intriguing hard-throwing reliever who had a nice 3.09 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 23 1/3 regular […]