Brandon Waddell Optioned To Triple-A

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Brandon Waddell has been optioned to Triple-A Memphis, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Waddell has bounced between three teams this season, with most of his work coming with St. Louis where he posted a 4.15 ERA with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings of work. He's […]

Rapid Tests Come Back Negative For Tampa Bay All-Stars

COVID-19 rapid tests performed on Tampa Bay Rays players who were at the All-Star Game have come back negative, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. While there wasn't any direct evidence that pointed to a potential positive test among the Rays All-Stars, it's still good news as concern has spread across the […]

Tigers-Twins Postponed On Friday

The Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins had their scheduled doubleheader postponed on Friday due to inclement weather. Game 1 has been rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on Saturday, with games starting at 1:10 pm ET and 6:10 pm ET. Game 2 has been rescheduled for August 30, which was a shared off day […]

Aaron Bummer Activated, Reynaldo Lopez Recalled

The Chicago White Sox activated relief pitcher Aaron Bummer (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list and recalled right-hander Reynaldo Lopez from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday. In corresponding moves, relievers Jace Fry and Matt Foster were optioned to Charlotte. Bummer has been out all month with a strained hamstring, but he'll return to a late-inning setup […]

Closers and Saves Report - Waiver Wire and Trade Deadline Chatter

We here at RotoBaller's Closers and Saves Report believe that there should be something like the Home Run Derby, but for relief pitchers. Not a skills competition, or a strike throwing contest, or a velocity race. Just an actual Home Run Derby, but with relief pitchers. Our money is on Daniel Camarena. With the All-Star […]

Using K-BB% To Find Relievers to Add for the Second Half

A couple of weeks ago, I used June's K-BB% leaderboard to look at which starting pitchers might provide value in the second half. In that article, I explained why I loved the metric so much by stating: If a pitcher has a high strikeout rate (K%), then we know he is effective because we know […]

Ryan Thompson Will Throw Bullpen Session Friday Or Saturday

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ryan Thompson (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Friday or Saturday. The 29-year-old was shut down for a few days on July 8 after feeling shoulder discomfort. He will begin a rehab assignment soon and could return to the Rays bullpen later this month. The Rays right-hander owned a 2.38 ERA, […]

Oliver Drake Suffers Minor Setback

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Oliver Drake (elbow) is dealing with neck/back soreness and will have a couple of days off. He was expected to begin a rehab assignment with the Rays' Florida Complex League affiliate on Tuesday but suffered a minor setback. The 34-year-old is without a timetable for a return and remains day-to-day. Drake […]

Nick Anderson Will Throw Live BP On Friday

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Anderson (elbow) will throw live batting practice in Port Charlotte on Friday. He recently threw a bullpen session last Saturday and felt good afterward. The 31-year-old has been sidelined all season due to a partially torn UCL. Anderson will continue to ramp up his activity and is expected to return […]

Matt Strahm Expected Back By End Of Month

San Diego Padres reliever Matt Strahm (knee) is expected back by the end of this month. Recovering from offseason right knee surgery, the 29-year-old southpaw has been throwing in simulated games and his return would certainly bolster a beaten Friars pitching staff. Strahm has been an anchor in the bullpen the past three seasons, appearing […]

Pedro Baez Beginning His Rehab Assignment

Houston Astros relief pitcher Pedro Baez (shoulder) is starting a minor league rehab assignment on Thursday with Single-A Fayetteville. Baez was able to throw live batting practice last week and is progressing from a shoulder injury that has kept him out for all of this year so far. The 33-year-old right-hander spent the first seven […]

Jonathan Loaisiga One Of Three Yankees Positive Tests

Updating an ongoing story, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that relief pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga was one of three players -- pitchers Nestor Cortes and Wandy Peralta being the others -- with confirmed positive COVID-19 tests. Three more players have tested positive with rapid tests but are awaiting confirmation. It's the reason why […]

Three Yankees Players Have Tested Positive For COVID-19

Updating a previous report, the New York Yankees have three players who have tested positive for COVID-19. General manager Brian Cashman noted the three positive tests and that the club is awaiting results on three more tests, also believed to be positive. Jonathan Loaisiga, Wandy Peralta, and Nestor Cortes have all been placed on the […]

Yankees-Red Sox Postponed Thursday

Due to a major COVID-19 issue, the game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox scheduled for Thursday night has been postponed. The Yankees are the team with a major COVID-19 issue, so stay tuned for more details on whatever that entails. The Yankees-Red Sox game was the only game on the slate […]

Art Warren To The 10-Day Injured List

The Cincinnati Reds placed relief pitcher Art Warren (oblique) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left oblique strain. Warren injured his oblique in an outing last Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers. The right-hander has been excellent for the Reds out of the bullpen in 18 outings (14 1/3 innings), giving up just […]

Heath Hembree (RP, CIN) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 44% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Reds have used a variety of relievers in the ninth inning this year, as expected, but it's unlikely many anticipated Heath Hembree being one of them. The veteran has six saves on the season, nailing down five of the team's last six opportunities headed […]

Wandy Peralta, Nestor Cortes Placed On COVID-19 Injured List

New York Yankees pitchers Wandy Peralta and Nestor Cortes have been placed on the COVID-19 injured list on Thursday. It's not yet clear whether Peralta and Cortes have contracted the virus, though they'd be able to return sooner if they aren't dealing with positive tests. Peralta has struggled this season, pitching to a 5.26 ERA […]

Hector Santiago's Suspension Upheld

Seattle Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago's appeal of his 10-game suspension for using a foreign substance was denied Thursday, according to Jeff Passan. Santiago will serve the full suspension, and the Seattle Mariners will not be able to fill the roster spot while he is sidelined. Santiago is the first player to be suspended under the […]

Tanner Houck Will Join Red Sox For Second Half

Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck will be called up to the major leagues and join the Red Sox roster for the second half of the season. The right-hander figures to slot into a multi-inning role out of the bullpen, similar to how Boston has used Garrett Whitlock. Houck offers plenty of strikeout upside, as […]

Zack Britton Reinstated From Injured List

New York Yankees relief pitcher Zack Britton (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list on Thursday. Britton has been sidelined since June 25 with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, though he's ready to return to the Yankee bullpen after tossing a couple of live batting practice sessions last week. The veteran southpaw has […]

Anthony Castro Optioned To Triple-A On Wednesday

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Anthony Castro was optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday, according to Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic. Over 22 games this season, Castro is 1-2 with one save, a 5.31 ERA, 1.328 WHIP and 30.2 percent strikeout rate across 21 1/3 innings of work. Needless to say, Castro really doesn't have value […]

Josh James Makes Another Rehab Appearance

Houston Astros relief pitcher Josh James (hip) made another rehab appearance with Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday and tossed two scoreless innings in his fifth minor league outing. While rehabbing, James shortened his arm path, and it's led to good results so far, as he has a 1.42 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and six strikeouts in […]

Jordan Hicks Not A Lock To Return This Year

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said recently that relief pitcher Jordan Hicks' (elbow) return in 2021 "remains to be seen" after there was initial optimism that he could return in August. Hicks has only played light catch recently, with a return to more full baseball activities not especially close. How his body responds to […]

Nick Anderson Throws Another Bullpen Session

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Nick Anderson (elbow) threw a bullpen session on July 10 and felt good afterward. There isn't a timetable for Anderson's return or for the start of his rehab assignment, but manager Kevin Cash said that pitching coach Kyle Snyder has encouraged Anderson to "start stepping on it a little bit" […]

Ryan Thompson Unlikely To Return This Weekend

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Ryan Thompson (shoulder) is "progressing" but is unlikely to be ready for the first series after the All-Star break this weekend, according to manager Kevin Cash. However, the club is hopeful that Thompson will rejoin them early in the second half after he goes on a rehab assignment with Triple-A […]

Zack Britton Should Be Activated After All-Star Break

New York Yankees relief pitcher Zack Britton (hamstring) should be activated from the injured list after the All-Star break, according to manager Aaron Boone. Britton suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in the eighth inning on June 25 against the Boston Red Sox and has been out since then. The left-hander threw live batting […]

Tejay Antone Has Not Begun Throwing

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Tejay Antone (forearm) has not yet begun a throwing program after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection early in the month of July. Antone has been sidelined with a right forearm strain and hasn't appeared in a game since June 24. The lack of a throwing program thus far is not as ominous […]

Ben Kudma Drafted In Second By Kansas City

The Royals grabbed another high school pitcher in the second round, as they drafted right-hander Ben Kudma out of Blue Valley Southwest High School. The 6-foot-3 righty broke out last fall at the Area Code Games, where he showed a 92-95 mph fastball with an 82-85 mph slider and a low-80s changeup. His scouting reports […]

Pirates Take Anthony Solometo To Start Second Round

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted pitcher Anthony Solometo out of Bishop Eustace Prep School with the first pick of the second round of the 2021 Draft. After going with a college hitter with the first overall pick, the Pirates looked to bolster their pitching with a high school talent in the second round, as they have […]

Daniel Bard Picks Up Another Save On Sunday

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Daniel Bard earned the save on Sunday when he allowed one hit with two strikeouts over a scoreless ninth inning in a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres. Bard got two quick outs before allowing a single to Eric Hosmer in the bottom of the ninth inning. He then struck […]