On the Rebound - Starters Coming Back from Injury in 2018

As owners prepare for draft day, one strategy many owners will use is drafting pitchers who are returning from significant injuries. These pitchers will likely be undervalued because of their injuries, and if they can return to their pre-injury norm they can end up being a steal in a draft. For the following starters working […]

Rays Release Dan Jennings

The Tampa Bay Rays released reliever Dan Jennings. They will only be responsible for a quarter of his $2.375 million salary. The southpaw posted a 3.45 ERA across 77 relief appearances for the White Sox and Rays last season. He is not much of a fantasy option at the moment, especially not until he finds […]

Brad Boxberger, Archie Bradley Still Battling for Closer Role

Arizona Diamondbacks relievers Brad Boxberger and Archie Bradley are still in the middle of their battle for the closer role. Boxberger has been much better this spring, posting a 1.80 ERA compared to a 4.32 ERA for Bradley. Manager Torey Lovullo says he is not ready to name the closer, as he still needs to […]

Carter Capps to Start the Year at Triple-A El Paso

The San Diego Padres announced Monday that reliever Carter Capps has been outrighted to Triple-A El Paso after recording a 7.71 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 4 2/3 innings this spring. It's been a rough couple of years for Capps, who had just returned from Tommy John surgery last year and then underwent thoracic outlet […]

Pedro Strop Feels Fine

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop (calf) will pitch on Tuesday and says he feels fine. Strop had dealt with a calf injury early this spring, but has been able to pitch over the past week. If everything goes well on Tuesday, Strop should be expected to be on the Opening Day roster. Aside from […]

Pirates Eight-Man Bullpen Appears Set

After a few days of speculation, the Pittsburgh Pirates all but made their eight-man bullpen official on Monday. In addition to sending first baseman Jose Osuna to Triple-A, the team also optioned reliever Kyle Crick and reassigned reliever Kevin Siegrist to minor league camp. Pittsburgh also placed Rule 5 pick Jordan Milbrath and Jack Leathersich […]

Predicting the Top 10 Finishers for Saves in 2018

Predicting the top 10 of anything is usually an exercise in futility. Trying to predict the top 10 finishers in saves is just silly because there is so much turnover at the back of every MLB bullpen every season. Last season, at least half of the teams in baseball had their Opening Day closer displaced […]

Three Tampa Bay Rays Named To The Roster For Multiple Inning Work

Tampa Bay Rays pitchers Yonny Chirinos, Andrew Kittredge and LHP Ryan Yarbrough were told they made the team as multi-inning relievers. They will likely play a pivotal role during the games designated as bullpen games by the Rays instead of having a fifth regular starting pitcher. None of them have much value outside of very […]

Austin Pruitt Optioned To The Minors

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Austin Pruitt has been optioned to Triple-A. He was in the running for a role in the bullpen but apparently lost out. He went 7-5 in his only major league season so far but with a terrible 5.31 ERA. He is currently just not much of a fantasy option.

Yasiel Puig May Bat Third

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig may regularly bat third in the lineup according to Dave Roberts. The vacancy created by Justin Turner's hand injury looked to be filled by a resurgent Matt Kemp, but giving it to Puig makes sense given the advances he made last season in his game. He had career highs […]

Adrian Sanchez, Matt Reynolds Finally Cut; Nationals To Carry Eight In Bullpen

Washington Nationals infielders Adrian Sanchez and Matt Reynolds were assigned to the team's Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse on Sunday. They were the final hitters left in camp and that means that the ball club will carry eight pitchers in the bullpen to start the season. There will be an even split of lefties and righties. […]

Jacob Barnes Will Pitch Out Of Bullpen

Milwaukee Brewers RHP Jacob Barnes will pitch out of the bullpen for the Milwaukee Brewers as confirmed by Brewers manager Craig Counsell. While Barnes will have very limited opportunities to get saves behind Corey Knebel and Josh Hader, he will look to improve from a 4.00 ERA in 72.0 IP last season. Expect to see […]

Kevin Quackenbush Makes Reds

The Cincinnati Reds informed right-hander Kevin Quackenbush on Sunday that he has made the team. The 29-year-old reliever will help round out the Reds' bullpen in 2018. Quackenbush struggled with the San Diego Padres in 2017, posting a 7.86 ERA in 26 1/3 innings of work. That being said, Quackenbush turned in a solid spring […]

Justin Nicolino Claimed By Reds

The Cincinnati Reds claimed left-hander Justin Nicolino from the Miami Marlins on Sunday. He will represent the 39th man on Cincinnati's 40-man roster as they gear up for the start of the regular season. Nicolino, a former second-round draft pick, has not lived up to his draft status in his three-year MLB career. Over 50 […]

Pirates May Be Leaning Toward Eight-Man Bullpen

After a flurry of moves on Saturday, the 25th spot on the Pittsburgh Pirates' roster will come down to first baseman Jose Osuna or an eighth reliever. MLB.com's Adam Berry believes the team is leaning toward another bullpen arm, but nothing is set in stone yet. Osuna has been one of Pittsburgh's best hitters this […]

Phillies Select Contract Of Drew Hutchison

After signing a minor league contract and reporting to Phillies camp this Spring Training, Drew Hutchison has earned a spot on the roster. The club made room for him today, designating veteran catcher Cameron Rupp for assignment. Hutchison, 27, has made six appearances for the Phillies this spring, starting three games and going 2-0 with […]

JB's 10 Bold Predictions for 2018

Opening Day is rapidly approaching and our experienced writers will be offering their most daring predictions for the 2018 fantasy baseball season. Nick Mariano, Rick Lucks, Pierre Camus, and Kyle Bishop all have given it their best shot at being bold so far. But it's all been child's play up to this point. Many people don't […]

Mike Mayers and John Brebbia Make the Opening Day Roster

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitchers Mike Mayers and John Brebbia were informed that they have made the Opening Day roster. Barring injury, the Cardinals 25-man roster is set for next week. Mayers and Brebbia will work in middle relief and won't have much fantasy value unless they move up the depth chart.

Dominic Leone and Tyler Lyons to Share Closer Duties to Start the Season

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitchers Dominic Leone and Tyler Lyons will split closer duties to kick off the season while Luke Gregerson (hamstring) starts the year on the disabled list. With Gregerson already having a less-than-solid grasp on the ninth inning, it wouldn't be a surprise to see either Lyons or Leone take over the […]

Luke Gregerson Will Begin the Season on the Disabled List

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Luke Gregerson (hamstring) will begin the season on the 10-day disabled list. Gregerson started out Spring Training with an oblique injury then suffered a hamstring injury once he returned. Manager Mike Matheny announced that Dominic Leone and Tyler Lyons would split closer duties while Gregerson was out. There's a decent […]

Carlos Torres Released

The Cleveland Indians released right handed pitcher Carlos Torres on Saturday. Torres was informed he would not make the Opening Day roster after posting a disappointing 6.10 ERA and 1.94 WHIP in Cactus League play. He struck out nine but walked six. Torres will try to catch on with another team, but may have to […]

Matt Belisle Makes the Team

Cleveland Indians pitcher Matt Belisle has been informed that he has made the Opening Day roster as a member of the bullpen. Belisle struggled in Cactus League play, putting up a 6.10 ERA and a 2.03 WHIP, but Cleveland must have seen some promise in his pitching to give him a spot in the bullpen. […]

Phil Hughes Could Start 2018 On Disabled List

Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes (oblique) could begin the season in the disabled list. Hughes has been dealing with mild left oblique strain. If Hughes were to begin the year on the disabled list, it would give him more time to rebuild his arm strength. Hughes is likely to operate out of the bullpen this […]

Francisco Rodriguez Granted Release

Veteran reliever Francisco Rodriguez, who was fighting for a bullpen spot with the Philadelphia Phillies this spring, has been granted his release by the organization. The 36-year-old who last pitched in the majors with the Detroit Tigers last season, made eight appearances with the Phillies this spring, posting a 5.40 ERA. He clearly wasn’t going […]

Nate Jones Likely To Close For White Sox

Daryl Van Schouwen of The Chicago Sun-Times reports that relief pitcher Nate Jones is likely to open the season as the White Sox closer. Jones underwent season-sending elbow surgery last July and appeared in just 11 games. Van Schouwen notes that the White Sox are unlikely to overuse Jones and reliever Joakim Soria could also […]

Jonathan Holder Wins Final Spot In Yankees Bullpen

The final spot in the New York Yankees bullpen was decided today, as the the club optioned Domingo German to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, leaving Jonathan Holder the winner. The 24-year-old has made sporadic appearances with the club the past two seasons, making a bigger impact in 2017. This year in Spring Training, he was solid, posting […]

Harris Yudin's 10 Bold Predictions for 2018

With Opening Day rapidly approaching, our experienced writers will be offering their most daring predictions for the 2018 fantasy baseball season. Many of my predictions over the years have been laughable at season’s end, but there have been several success stories, as well. Regardless, all predictions are based in trends and patterns, with just a […]

Ryan Merritt Will Start the Season on the Disabled List

Cleveland Indians left handed pitcher Ryan Merritt will start the 2018 season on the disabled list with a tired shoulder. Manager Terry Francona said the issue came from an earlier knee injury that Merritt suffered in the offseason. Merritt is out of options, so he would have had to pass through waivers if he wasn't […]

Tyler Glasnow, Steven Brault To Open Season In Bullpen

The Pittsburgh Pirates' starting rotation is seemingly settled now, as The Athletic's Rob Biertempfel reports that Tyler Glasnow and Steven Brault will start the year in the bullpen. That appears to pave the way for Joe Musgrove to be the team's fifth starter behind Ivan Nova, Trevor Williams, Chad Kuhl, and Jamison Taillon. Musgrove has […]

White Sox Reassign Robbie Ross Jr.

The Chicago White Sox announced on Friday that they have reassigned relief pitchers Robbie Ross Jr. and Xavier Cedeno as well as infielder Matt Skole to minor-league camp. Ross had a nice spring with a 2.70 ERA, but will function as organizational depth. None of the aforementioned players hold any value in fantasy leagues.