Brad Brach Gets Roughed Up Sunday

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Brad Brach turned in an ugly outing in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays. Brach entered the game in the eighth inning with a 4-1 lead but proceeded to surrender a single, a two-run home run, and another single around two outs before getting pulled. Bullpen mate Tanner Scott then […]

Jordan Hicks (SP/RP, STL) - Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: Jordan Hicks doesn't have a ton of value right now for saves, but he has great value in leagues that count holds. Hicks has 12 thus far. He has been the setup man as Bud Norris usually gets the save opportunities for […]

Phillies Option Aaron Altherr, Mark Leiter Jr.

The Philadelphia Phillies optioned outfielder Aaron Altherr and relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday. Altherr is batting a measly .171 in 248 plate appearances this year and can be dropped in all redraft leagues if he wasn't already. Leiter hasn't been much better in 2018 as a reliever, sporting a […]

Blaine Hardy Struggles In Spot Start

Unsurprisingly, Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Blaine Hardy struggled to contain the potent Boston Red Sox lineup in his spot start on Sunday afternoon. Hardy allowed five hits and four earned runs in just three innings while striking out three and walking no one. He did have a limited pitch count of 50-60 pitches and was […]

Kirby Yates (RP, SDP) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 38% of leagues ANALYSIS: With Brad Hand shipped off to Cleveland, Kirby Yates figures to be first in line for saves in San Diego. The 31-year-old has been exceptional this year, with sparkling ratios (1.43 ERA, 0.88 WHIP) and 48 strikeouts in 38 innings. Yates had previously shown an […]

Edubray Ramos Lands On DL

The Philadelphia Phillies are putting relief pitcher Edubray Ramos (knee) on the disabled list before Game 2 of their doubleheader against the Padres on Sunday. Ramos tweaked his left knee in Game 1 and will miss some time. He's been great for the Phils this year with a 1.93 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 33 strikeouts […]

Edubray Ramos Leaves With Injury

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Edubray Ramos (knee) left the game early during his appearance in the first game of a doubleheader against the Padres on Sunday with an apparent left knee injury. Coming into the outing, Ramos had been fantastic this year, sporting a 1.93 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 33 K's and one save in 32 […]

Sean Doolittle Has Stress Reaction In Foot

Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle (foot) had an MRI exam reveal a "stress reaction" in the bridge of his foot, which is comparable to a bone bruise. There is no timetable for his return, but he was told he'd be out for "weeks, not months." Doolittle has been one of the best fantasy closers this […]

Royals Acquire Brian Goodwin From Nationals

The Kansas City Royals have acquired outfielder Brian Goodwin from the Washington Nationals in exchange for minor league pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan, per the Washington Nationals. The 27-year-old had posted a .200/.321/.354 slash line with three home runs, 12 RBI, and three steals in79 plate appearances with the Nationals this season. While Goodwin will likely see […]

Nationals Acquire Jacob Condra-Bogan From Royals

The Washington Nationals have acquired minor league pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for outfielder Brian Goodwin, per the Washington Nationals. The 23-year-old flamethrower went 1-1 with five saves and a 3.00 ERA, 40 strikeouts, and just three walks in 27 IP between Single-A Lexington and Single-A Wilmington. Condra-Bogan is not […]

Inclement Weather Predicted, Tarp Rolled Out At Nationals Park

With showers and thunderstorms predicted for Sunday afternoon's Washington Nationals-Atlanta Braves game, the tarp has just been rolled out at Nationals Park, per Braves' radio station 680 The Fan. The game is scheduled to start at 1:35 ET, so fantasy owners of players on those teams should stay alert to further updates regarding rain delays […]

Orioles Prospects Analysis - The Manny Machado Trade

Welp, it happened. After months and months and months and months, Baltimore finally traded their franchise shortstop to the Dodgers for a cache of prospects. He’ll be a huge upgrade for a club that has struggled to replace Corey Seager’s production, and an already strong squad gets stronger. In a lot of ways, L.A. lucked […]

The Cut List (Week 17): Time to Let Go?

Welcome to Week 17 of the Cut List. This week I took a peek at Ender Inciarte, Jake Lamb, Carlos Santana, and Jurickson Profar. All four players should be cut in all shallow standard leagues. Each player listed in the “better options” section will serve you better in the long run, so don’t gloss over […]

Orioles Want To Trade Zach Britton By Early Next Week

The Baltimore Orioles would reportedly like to have closer Zach Britton traded by early next week. After seeing deals for Brad Hand and Jeurys Familia, the Orioles and interested parties are looking to move quickly on a deal for Britton. The Dodgers and Cubs have already been named as suitors while ESPN's Jerry Crasnick lists […]

Nate Jones Shut Down With Arm Injury

Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Nate Jones (arm) has been shut down for two weeks after suffering a setback during his throwing program. Jones is suffering from a muscle strain in his right arm that has kept him out of action since June 12. When healthy he has pitched to an impressive 2.22 ERA with […]

Cubs Heavily Interested In Zach Britton

It was recently reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers remain interested in acquiring Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton. According to The Athletic's Patrick Mooney, the Chicago Cubs are also highly involved on Britton and are deeply interested in acquiring him. In Chicago it's unkown if he would become the closer or if he would work […]

Dodgers Remain Active In Zach Britton Trade Talks

Despite already acquiring Manny Machado from the Orioles, the Los Angeles Dodgers remain interested in Baltimore closer Zach Britton. The Dodgers want Britton to be their setup man to Kenley Jansen, giving them one of the most potent 1-2 punches in recent memory. If Britton were to be traded to the Dodgers, he would lose […]

Yankees Demote Domingo Acevedo To Double-A

The New York Yankees have demoted pitcher Domingo Acevedo to Double-A. He was recalled prior to the team's game on Saturday but he did not make an appearance before being sent down. Acevedo is currently ranked as the Yankees eighth best prospect by MLB Pipeline and he has shown massive potential in the past. In […]

Hunter Strickland Confident He'll Return When First Eligible

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Hunter Strickland (hand) was able to throw weighted balls on Friday and is confident he'll be ready to return when first eligible on Aug. 19. Strickland suffered a broken right hand and has been out of action since June 18. When healthy, Strickland has worked as San Francisco's closer, pitching […]

Wade Davis Available On Saturday

Colorado Rockies closer Wade Davis told reporters that he's available to pitch on Saturday. Davis stated he had food poisoning on Friday and is feeling much better now. Adam Ottavino should return to his regular setup role while Davis takes over the ninth inning unless any surprises happen during the game. Davis is second in […]

Alex Claudio Activated From Disabled List

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Alex Claudio (ankle) has been activated from the disabled list. He ended up just missing the minimum amount of time with a left ankle sprain. Claudio has pitched to a 4.32 ERA and a 23/7 K/BB ratio in 2018. For now, Claudio's fantasy value is limited as a middle reliever. However, […]

Austin Bibens-Dirkx Recalled From Triple-A

Texas Rangers pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx has been recalled from Triple-A prior to the team's game on Saturday. Bibens-Dirkx holds a 2-2 record with a 3.71 ERA and a 26/9 K/BB ratio in six starts for the Rangers in 2018. However, it is being speculated that he will be used as a reliever for the time […]

Mets Acquire Bobby Wahl and William Toffey

The A's and the Mets have finalized the deal for relief pitcher Jeurys Familia. Along with the prospects Bobby Wahl and William Toffey, the Mets received international slot money to use for a future signing. Only Toffey is in the Oakland A's top 30 prospects list according to MiLB Pipeline, but for an expiring deal […]

Mets Reportedly Receiving Low-Level Prospects for Jeurys Familia

The New York Mets are presumably in the final stages of completing a deal that will send closer Jeurys Familia to Oakland in exchange for a couple of low-level prospects. Familia has been consistently closing games for the Mets since 2015, but with the state of their season in 2018, they figured it to be […]

A's, Mets Close To Finalizing Jeurys Familia Deal

The Oakland Athletics and New York Mets are down to medical reviews in the trade for closer Jeurys Familia, according to sources. Once that is done, a deal should be official. As a result, Familia is unavailable for the Mets for the second straight day. In his absence Friday night, reliever Robert Gsellman picked up […]

Wily Peralta Knocked Around By Twins

Kansas City Royals reliever Wily Peralta had a rough go in a non-save situation on Friday and eventually got pulled after giving up three earned runs in the top of the ninth inning. Peralta was handed the ball with a four-run lead, but he quickly gave up a leadoff double, walked a man, and then […]

Blaine Hardy To Enter Rotation

Detroit Tigers pitcher Blaine Hardy will take over the rotation spot of the injured Michael Fulmer (oblique), according to manager Ron Gardenhire. Hardy has been working out of the bullpen since June 26 and has only pitched two full innings one time, so he's unlikely to be able to go deep into games. For that […]

Kenley Jansen Escapes With 28th Save Friday

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen managed to earn his 28th save of the season in Friday's 6-4 game against the Brewers. Jansen came into the game up four with runners on first and second and no outs. After getting two straight outs, Jansen gave up a two-run triple to Christian Yelich to make it […]

Adam Ottavino Closes Out Rocky Save

Colorado Rockies setup man Adam Ottavino got the chance to finish a game on Friday due to closer Wade Davis' illness, and he got the job done, although he had to navigate some rough waters. Ottavino shot himself in the foot to start the inning by making a poor throw that allowed the leadoff man […]

Wade Davis Misses Friday Due To Illness

Colorado Rockies closer Wade Davis spent Friday's game at the team hotel with a stomach bug, so setup man Adam Ottavino stepped in to close out the game with Arizona. It's the best possible news from a fantasy perspective since such an illness would be expected to pass quickly, but it does mean Davis will […]