Matt Barnes Linked To Nationals

Free-agent reliever Matt Barnes' market is heating up, as the Washington Nationals are one club that is linked to him. The right-hander underwent offseason surgery on his hip but threw for interested clubs in late January and appears ready to join a big-league spring training camp soon. It was a tough 2023 season for the […]

Yuki Matsui Day-To-Day With Back Inflammation

San Diego Padres left-hander Yuki Matsui's (back) MRI exam showed inflammation but no structural damage in his back, according to manager Mike Shildt. Matsui is considered day-to-day. Matsui was scratched from spring training action over the weekend due to tightness in his back, but it appears the injury isn't very serious. It's unclear when the […]

Pitcher Statcast: Using Sabermetrics for 2024 Fantasy Baseball

Statcast metrics such as Barrels and Brls/BBE are great ways to evaluate a fantasy baseball batter's performance, so it is only natural to assume that the metrics would be predictive for pitchers as well. As much as batters want to hit a Barrel every time, pitchers want to avoid them at all costs. Yet, there […]

Craig Kimbrel Dealing With Quadriceps Tightness

Baltimore Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel (quadriceps) said he cut his live batting practice session in camp on Saturday shorty by around five pitches because he felt some tightness in his lower body. However, Kimbrel isn't concerned after getting treatment from trainers. He's scheduled to throw again on Monday. Manager Brandon Hyde later said Kimbrel was […]

Josh Taylor Tosses Scoreless Inning In Return

Kansas City Royals reliever Josh Taylor (back) was listed among the team's available pitchers prior to Saturday's Spring Training game. He ultimately entered the game and pitched one inning, allowing two hits but escaping after just five total pitches. All of this is a good sign for the Royals and their left-handed hurler after he […]

Forrest Whitley To Undergo Additional Testing

Houston Astros relief pitcher Forrest Whitley (finger) experienced middle finger soreness while warming up for a live bullpen session on Saturday, manager Joe Espada told members of the media, including The Athletic's Chandler Rome. Whitley ultimately skipped his bullpen session and is set to undergo additional evaluation with team doctors. Injuries have put a damper […]

Dylan Floro Sidelined With Shoulder Tightness

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Dylan Floro is experiencing shoulder tightness and will be sidelined for a little while, manager Dave Martinez told Andrew Golden of the Washington Post. Martinez noted that Floro typically deals with some soreness in Spring Training, so he's not too concerned. The 33-year-old inked a major league deal with Washington this […]

Ian Gibaut To Rest A Few Days

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Ian Gibaut will be shut down from throwing for 3-5 days because of a pronator strain. Manager David Bell stated it is "nothing serious." If that is the case for Gibaut, he shouldn't fall behind in the spring. The 30-year-old is a decent play in save+hold leagues after making 74 appearances […]

Barrels and Brls/BBE: Using Sabermetrics For 2024 Fantasy Baseball

Previously, we looked at how exit velocity is only one piece of the fantasy baseball analysis puzzle. Baseball broadcasts commonly cite Launch Angle (LA) to complement their EV figures, but it is given in terms of degrees. Are we trying to find the hypotenuse of an isosceles triangle? Launch angle is basically a fancy way […]

Top 150 Relief Pitcher and Closer Fantasy Baseball Rankings (February Updates)

Hey, RotoBallers! It's an exciting time for fantasy baseball, with spring training starting soon and Opening Day approaching. We are back with more fantasy baseball rankings. Saves are one of the most volatile categories in fantasy baseball. We are here to help you sort it all out and make those crucial draft decisions with our […]

Red Sox Sign Joely Rodriguez To Minors Deal

The Boston Red Sox have signed reliever Joely Rodriguez to a minor-league deal. The left-hander returns to the Red Sox after being limited to just 11 outings with the club in the 2023 season due to oblique, shoulder, and hip injuries. The 32-year-old struggled in his brief work a season ago, tossing a 6.55 ERA […]

Kris Bubic Moved To 60-Day Injured List

Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic has been moved to the 60-day injured list as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery last April. The 26-year-old was limited to just three starts before undergoing the knife last season, tossing a 3.94 ERA in that time. Bubic recently threw his first bullpen session of the […]

Brian Anderson, Trevor Kelley Sign Minors Deals With Mariners

The Seattle Mariners signed free-agent infielder Brian Anderson and right-hander Trevor Kelley to minor-league deals on Friday, according to sources. Both players will receive invites to major-league spring training. The 30-year-old Anderson really struggled in 96 games for the Milwaukee Brewers last year, slashing .226/.310/.368 with nine home runs, 40 RBI and 38 runs scored […]

Matt Brash Shut Down From Throwing

Seattle Mariners right-hander Matt Brash said he is "a little banged up" and has been shut down from throwing after his second bullpen session of spring training on Tuesday. General manager Justin Hollander said the team has scheduled the hard-throwing reliever to be "down" through the weekend. The hope is he can resume throwing next […]

Reynaldo Lopez Could Be Favorite For Final Rotation Spot

MLB's Mark Bowman writes that it feels like Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez might be the early favorite to start the year as Atlanta's fifth starter behind Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton and Chris Sale. However, how long Lopez remains a starter remains to be seen. He hasn't thrown more than 66 innings in […]

John Brebbia In A Walking Boot

Chicago White Sox relief pitcher John Brebbia (calf) said he strained his right calf walking back to the mound after moving toward first base on a grounder during a live batting practice session at camp the other day. Brebbia was able to finish the BP session and said his pitching is unaffected, even though he's […]

Carlos Hernandez Experiencing Shoulder Soreness

Kansas City Royals reliever Carlos Hernandez (shoulder) is dealing with right shoulder soreness and has not thrown off a mound in two weeks, president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo told MLB.com's Anne Rogers on Friday. With that said, the expectation is that Hernandez will throw his first bullpen soon and should get six or seven […]

Nathan Webb Throwing Bullpen Sessions

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Nathan Webb (elbow), who was signed to a minor-league deal in October, has thrown five bullpen sessions in camp and hopes to be available to pitch in games by the first week of May. "I haven't had a single issue so far," Webb said. "I'm in the bullpen phase. I feel really […]

Corey Knebel A Bit Behind Other Pitchers

Chicago White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz said that reliever Corey Knebel (shoulder), who didn't pitch at all last year while working his way back from right-shoulder surgery, is a bit behind the team's other relievers in camp. Knebel will need to throw a few more bullpen sessions before he's cleared to pitch in a […]

John Brebbia Dealing With Right-Calf Strain

Chicago White Sox relief pitcher John Brebbia (calf) suffered a right-calf strain in a live batting practice session that he threw on Wednesday. Manager Pedro Grifol said the team is hopeful Brebbia will be ready for Opening Day. An already weak White Sox's bullpen might have just lost their expected close for the start of […]

Fantasy Baseball Injury Reports for Pitchers - Updates for Kodai Senga, Brandon Woodruff, Graham Ashcraft, and Drew Rasmussen

Opening Day of the 2024 MLB season will be here before you know it, meaning it's time to check in on the latest injury development around the league. To start things off, let's take a look at injured pitchers Kodai Senga, Brandon Woodruff, Graham Ashcraft, and Drew Rasmussen. This is our weekly edition of fantasy […]

Exit Velocity (EV): Using Sabermetrics For 2024 Fantasy Baseball

If you've watched a baseball broadcast in the Statcast era, you have undoubtedly noticed the broadcasters commenting on a batted ball's exit velocity or EV. Many have taken to using stats like Hard% and Soft% to forecast how a player should be performing, expecting larger Hard% rates to produce larger BABIP and HR/FB figures. There […]

Derek Law Agrees With Nationals On Minor-League Deal

Free-agent reliever Derek Law agreed with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday on a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to sources. The deal would pay Law $1.5 million with $500,000 in incentives for games pitched if he's in the majors. The contract also includes three opt-out clauses. The 33-year-old veteran […]

Keynan Middleton To Throw Live Batting Practice Session

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Keynan Middleton (illness) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session at camp on Wednesday. Middleton is entering his first year with the Cardinals after signing with them in free agency for one year and $5 million, but he reported to camp late and was also held back last week […]

Ronel Blanco To Start Astros' Cactus League Opener

Houston Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco will start the team's Cactus League Opener on Feb. 24 versus the Washington Nationals, according to manager Joe Espada. Espada didn't reveal much about the rest of his plans for the spring opener but did mention Dylan Coleman will be one of the scheduled relievers to appear in the contest. […]

Tejay Antone Healthy In Camp

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Tejay Antone (elbow) is going through a normal spring training this year for the first time in three years. Antone had Tommy John surgery in 2021 and had multiple setbacks since, including one before last season. He also dealt with elbow tendinitis that put him on the injured list at the […]

Sam Moll Expects To Be Ready For Opener

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Sam Moll (shoulder) is the team's only pitcher in camp yet to throw a bullpen session due to shoulder soreness he experienced during his offseason throwing program, but the veteran southpaw has been playing catch and is expected to be ready for the start of the 2024 season. He was one of […]

Liam Hendriks Expects To Pitch By Trade Deadline

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Liam Hendriks (elbow) said Tuesday that he hopes to debut for his new team by the trade deadline. The 35-year-old veteran overcame non-Hodgkin's lymphoma last year but then underwent Tommy John surgery in August. Hendriks said, "That's my goal. That's 12 months-ish. ... Throwing has been going well." It remains […]

Brendan McKay Faces Live Hitters Tuesday

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Brendan McKay (elbow) successfully threw live batting practice Tuesday, the first time he had pitched to hitters since August of 2022. The former fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft has endured several injuries, the latest being Tommy John surgery in September of 2022. McKay is at camp as a non-roster […]

Yuki Matsui To Make Cactus League Debut Thursday

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said Tuesday that newly signed relief pitcher Yuki Matsui will make his Cactus League debut in Thursday's opening game against the Dodgers. The 27-year-old lefty signed a four-year, $21 million contract this off-season after spending the past decade pitching for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan. Matsui was a […]