The Big Picture - Closer Committees Are Here to Stay

The fireman has morphed into a fire department. We've seen this trend coming in recent years but it appears that the days of a Major League team having a single definitive closer are all but over. The instability that came with the 2020 season brought an increased reliance on middle relievers to spread out innings. […]

Red Sox - White Sox Game Postponed Friday

Friday's game between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox has been postponed due to snow in Boston. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday. The team's will now begin their three-game series on Saturday with Dylan Cease on the mound for the White Sox and Nick Pivetta […]

Mets - Rockies Game Postponed Friday

The Friday evening game between the New York Mets and Colorado Rockies has been postponed due to inclement weather. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday. Fantasy managers in DFS and in season-long leagues with daily lineups should act accordingly. The Mets have been one of the most unlucky teams in 2021 when […]

Camilo Doval Called Up By Giants

The San Francisco Giants have called up relief pitcher Camilo Doval. He will be taking the roster spot of Johnny Cueto (lat), who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 1 lat strain on Friday. This is Doval's first call-up to the Majors. He has a 100 mph fastball and has shown […]

Emmanuel Clase Throwing Gas

Cleveland Indians right-handed reliever Emmanuel Clase is the hardest-throwing pitcher in baseball. He has averaged 100.1 mph on his cutter, making him the only Major Leaguer to average triple digits through the first two weeks of the 2021 season. Clase missed all of last year after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, but he's […]

Michael Kopech Good At Avoiding Contact

Chicago White Sox rookie right-hander Michael Kopech has generated a 23.7 percent swing-and-miss rate early this season. The mark is seventh-best among the 391 pitchers with at least 50 pitches thrown so far this season. Kopech averages 97 mph with his fastball and pairs it with a dirty slider that hitters have a tough time […]

Nick Nelson Starting For Yankees On Friday

The New York Yankees are going with pitcher Nick Nelson as an opener in Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Michael King will follow Nelson in relief. Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated that he wanted to give the team's starters an extra day of rest. Jordan Montgomery will take the mound on Saturday with […]

Yency Almonte Takes The Loss On Thursday

Colorado Rockies right-hander Yency Almonte took the loss on Thursday against the Dodgers when he surrendered three runs on one hit with two walks and a strikeout in just two-thirds of an inning. Almonte entered the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with the Rockies clinging to a 7-5 lead. He struck out […]

Hansel Robles Struggles Against Red Sox

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Hansel Robles struggled mightily in Thursday's outing against the Red Sox. Robles entered the game in an attempt to preserve starting pitcher Michael Pineda's seven-inning gem, but the results weren't pretty. He didn't have command of the strike zone, as he hit a batter, walked two, and was charged with three […]

Scott Barlow Records Two-Inning Save On Thursday

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Scott Barlow became the latest Royals reliever to earn a save on Thursday. Barlow came on in the eighth inning of Thursday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays and went on to pitch two innings, allowing two hits, no walks and no runs while striking out one. He earned his […]

David Price Earns Rare Save On Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price found himself in an unfamiliar position on Thursday night against the Colorado Rockies. Price was called upon in the ninth inning of the game to preserve a 7-5 lead for the team and he came through. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing two hits while striking out two. […]

Jordan Romano Placed On Injured List With Ulnar Neuritis

The Toronto Blue Jays have placed relief pitcher Jordan Romano (arm) on the 10-day injured list with right ulnar neuritis. Romano had reportedly felt off after Tuesday's outing against the New York Yankees and he hadn't gotten any better by Thursday, leading to the move to the injured list. Joel Payamps was called back up […]

Lewis Thorpe To Start Friday's Game

Minnesota Twins pitcher Lewis Thorpe is slated to make a start on Friday against the Angels. Relief pitcher Shaun Anderson was sent down to the alternate site to make room for Thorpe, who will make his regular-season debut after an impressive spring. The 25-year-old southpaw had a rough 2020 season but looked impressive this spring, […]

Ryan Tepera Suspended Three Games

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Ryan Tepera has been suspended three games for throwing behind Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff on Tuesday. Tepera is appealing the suspension and will be able to remain active at the moment. The middle reliever has a 3.86 ERA in 4 2/3 innings this season and doesn't pitch in a […]

Keynan Middleton Gets A Save

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Keynan Middleton got a turn to close out a game Thursday, finishing off the second half of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles with an easy seventh inning. This is Middleton's second save of the year, but he is not currently a favorite to continue to receive those opportunities. Rafael Montero […]

Emmanuel Clase Locks Down Third Save

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase recorded his third save of the season as he allowed one hit and one unearned run while striking out one in the ninth of Thursday's 4-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. Clase allowed two runners in this one, but neither were really his fault as Luis Robert got […]

James Karinchak Throws Eighth Inning Thursday

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher James Karinchak pitched a scoreless eighth inning while striking out two in Thursday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The Indians opted to use Emmanuel Clase for the save once again. It is anyone's guess who will eventually be the closer for the Indians, but it should be noted that Clase […]

Dylan Floro Struggles In A Save Opportunity

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Dylan Floro struggled in the ninth inning of Thursday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Floro was called upon for the save after Yimi Garcia threw 25 pitches on Wednesday night and was not available on Thursday. Floro came into a 6-5 game and allowed two singles followed by a walk to […]

Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox - Yesterday's Recap

Welcome to the April 14th edition of Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox. Discussing baseball is as fun as the game itself. It has a way of bringing people together to share different opinions about the sport we all love. A similar action can be done with fantasy baseball where we not only discuss topics […]

Rafael Montero Does Not Receive The Save Opportunity Thursday

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Rafael Montero has blown three saves in the opening weeks of the 2021 season, and on Thursday he did not receive another opportunity in the first game of the doubleheader. Montero was brought into the game in the sixth inning, and threw a scoreless frame as the set-up man for Kendall […]

Kendall Graveman Gets Another Save

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Kendall Graveman threw a clean inning in the first half of a doubleheader against the Orioles to collect his second save of the season. Graveman has been outstanding in the early part of the year, and this save is most notable because Rafael Montero entered in the sixth inning ahead of […]

Mets-Phillies Thursday Matinee Postponed

The Thursday afternoon game between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies has been postponed due to weather after a brief rain delay. It will be made up on June 25 as part of a doubleheader. Managers in daily fantasy leagues should make adjustments as necessary if lineups did not lock prior to the game […]

Daniel Bard Struggles In Non-Save Situation

Colorado Rockies right-hander Daniel Bard allowed one run on a pair of hits with a walk and a strikeout in the Rockies 4-2 loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday. Bard entered the game in the eighth inning with the Rockies trailing 3-2. He served up a solo home run to second baseman Zach McKinstry to […]

Edwin Diaz Makes Quick Work Of The Phillies

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz worked a clean ninth inning on Wednesday to preserve the Mets' 5-1 win over the Phillies. Though it was not a save situation, Diaz was called upon to get the final three outs of the contest. Diaz struck out two batters and allowed no hits or walks in his […]

Jake McGee Earns Sixth Save Of Season Wednesday

San Francisco Giants closer Jake McGee earned his league-leading sixth save of the season in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Reds. McGee came on to pitch the ninth inning up by three and pitched a scoreless inning, allowing just a two-out single and recording a strikeout for the final out. McGee has been stellar for […]

Tyler Rogers Earns Sixth Hold Of Season Wednesday

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers picked up his sixth hold of the season in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Reds. Rogers pitched a scoreless eighth inning, giving up no hits and a walk with no strikeouts. The side-armer has pitched well this season, compiling a 1.13 ERA with seven strikeouts over eight innings […]

Logan Webb Pitches Scoreless Inning Out Of Bullpen Wednesday

San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning with a strikeout in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Reds. The 24-year-old has spent his career with the Giants as a starter and has made two starts this season, but had a 5.23 ERA to show at the end of them. Per manager Gabe […]

Bryan Garcia Records Second Save On Wednesday

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Bryan Garcia was thrust into a tough position in Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros. Garcia came in during the ninth inning with the bases loaded and no outs as the Tigers held a 6-3 lead. Jose Cisnero, who began the ninth inning, had loaded the bases without recording an out. […]

Yimi Garcia Locks Down A Tough Save On Wednesday

Miami Marlins closer Yimi Garcia locked down a tough save in Wednesday's extra-inning win over the Atlanta Braves. Garcia pitched a perfect 10th inning. With a one-run lead, Garcia retired Ronald Acuna Jr., Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna in order to lead the Marlins to a series win over the Braves with a chance for the […]

Jose De Leon Heading To Bullpen

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Jose De Leon will be shifted to the bullpen this week to accommodate the return of Sonny Gray (back) from the injured list. Gray will be activated to start against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday. Gray was placed on the injured list at the beginning of the season after developing back spasms […]