About Joseph Barbati - RotoBaller
Josiah Gray Increasing Throwing Distance
Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said before Friday's game versus the Houston Astros that starting pitcher Josiah Gray (elbow/forearm) was able to increase his throwing distance up to 60 feet on Thursday and Friday. Gray has been on the 15-day injured list since April 9 due to a right elbow/forearm flexor strain, and while he's... Read More
Keibert Ruiz Feeling Better
Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said before Friday's game versus the Houston Astros that catcher Keibert Ruiz (influenza) is feeling a lot better after he recently played catch and took batting practice. Martinez said the backstop lost 20 pounds while battling the flu, so Ruiz still needs to build his strength back up. With that... Read More
Francisco Alvarez Suffers Apparent Thumb Injury
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (thumb) departed Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning with an apparent injury to his left thumb. The injury occurred while Alvarez was hustling to second base on an errant Yoshinobu Yamamoto throw to first base, and he went 0-for-1 with a run scored before... Read More
Braxton Garrett Could Throw Bullpen Soon
Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said on Friday that starting pitcher Braxton Garrett (shoulder) is playing catch at 90 feet. Braxton could next advance to a bullpen session, but the Marlins will first re-evaluate him after the catch session before he moves ahead in his progression. Working his way back from a left shoulder impingement,... Read More
Gavin Williams Nearing Rehab Assignment
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said before Friday's game versus the Oakland Athletics that starting pitcher Gavin Williams (elbow) will pitch on Friday in Arizona. After throwing his first simulated game on Monday, Williams appears to be closing in on a minor-league rehab assignment if all continues to go smoothly in his recovery from right... Read More
Walker Buehler Doesn't Reach Pitch Goal In Rehab Start
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (elbow) was only able to throw 68 pitches in 2 2/3 innings during Thursday's minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Buehler allowed two runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts, so he wasn't particularly sharp in this one. More importantly, the Dodgers' goal was... Read More
Blake Snell Ready To Get Back On Track
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Blake Snell could be poised to kick-start his 2024 season when he takes the hill in Friday's start versus the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks. After a long stay in free agency this past offseason, Snell's Giants tenure is off to a rocky start with a 12.86 ERA and 1.85 WHIP while... Read More
Triston McKenzie Reportedly Pitching Through Torn Ligament
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie is reportedly pitching through a torn ligament in his right elbow. Last year, a right teres major strain and elbow sprain limited McKenzie to just four starts (16 innings), and the hurler bypassed a potential Tommy John surgery in favor of rest and rehabilitation to heal his arm. His... Read More
Vaughn Grissom Taking Defensive Reps
Boston Red Sox second baseman/shortstop Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) is continuing his minor-league rehab assignment for Triple-A Worcester, playing second base in back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday. Grissom served as the designated hitter in his first three outings, so it's a good sign in his recovery from a strained right hamstring. Since the 23-year-old infielder... Read More
Taj Bradley Inching Toward Rehab Assignment
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley (pectoral) threw a three-inning simulated game on Wednesday. Bradley will pitch four innings in an extended spring training game before potentially starting a minor-league rehab assignment, as he still has to go through the process of rebuilding his stamina and upping his pitch count before he's ready to... Read More
Alex Cobb Now Dealing With Shoulder Irritation
The San Francisco Giants announced on Thursday that starting pitcher Alex Cobb (hip, shoulder) is now dealing with mild shoulder irritation amid his recovery from offseason surgery on his left hip. Cobb says his arm is just still a little "cranky" as he ramps back up, but he doesn't believe his timetable has changed much.... Read More
Cubs Activate Jameson Taillon For Friday's Start
The Chicago Cubs activated starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (back) from the 15-day injured list on Thursday, optioning right-hander Hayden Wesneski to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Taillon was set to make his 2024 regular-season debut before Thursday's series opener versus the Miami Marlins was postponed, so he'll instead get the ball in Friday's contest... Read More
Trea Turner Extends Hitting Streak To Seven Games
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to seven games as his team held on for a 7-6 win over the Colorado Rockies, going 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored. Turner went back-to-back with teammate Kyle Schwarber with a long ball as the Phils ambushed Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner... Read More
Mike Trout Hits American League-High Eighth Homer
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout continued his strong start to the 2024 campaign with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, also drawing an intentional walk in the ninth inning. Trout homered to deep right center in the first inning to get the Halos into the scoring column,... Read More
Tanner Houck Makes Quick Work Of Guardians
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck spun a complete-game shutout in Wednesday's 2-0 victory over the visiting Cleveland Guardians, going the distance on just 94 pitches while giving up only three singles. This one wrapped up in just one hour and 49 minutes, which should give you an idea as to just how efficient... Read More
Cristopher Sanchez Cruises Past Rockies
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez fanned 10 Colorado Rockies en route to his first win of the 2024 campaign on Wednesday, firing six scoreless innings on five hits and one walk in the 7-6 victory. Spotted to an early four-run lead, Sanchez mostly cruised through Colorado's lineup on Wednesday. Brenton Doyle reached on Alec... Read More
Bryce Miller Dazzles Against Reds
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller shut down the Cincinnati Reds while tallying a win in Wednesday's 5-1 victory, tossing six innings of one-run ball on one hit with seven strikeouts. Reds star Elly De La Cruz may have taken Miller deep in the second inning, but the hurler was perfect for his other five... Read More
Erick Fedde Solid In First Win
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Erick Fedde recorded the win in the second game of Wednesday's twin bill against the division-rival Kansas City Royals, striking out five over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the 2-1 victory. Fedde gave up three hits and three walks, and the ChiSox scratched a run during the fourth inning to... Read More
Kyle Schwarber Raps Two Home Runs
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber bashed two home runs to help complete a series sweep of the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, gathering three RBI in the 7-6 win. In a four-run first inning against Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner, Schwarber homered to deep right before greeting Peter Lambert in the sixth frame with a two-run... Read More
Chad Green Managing Shoulder Soreness
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Chad Green (shoulder) was unavailable during Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the division-rival New York Yankees due to shoulder soreness he felt following Monday's appearance against the Yankees. Manager John Schneider hopes Green is good to go by Friday for the start of a three-game weekend set on the road against... Read More
Robert Stephenson To Miss Rest Of 2024
The Los Angeles Angels announced on Wednesday that relief pitcher Robert Stephenson (shoulder, elbow) will miss the rest of the 2024 season due to an elbow injury, and they'll have more details on his setback on Thursday. Working his way back from discomfort in his right shoulder, Stephenson was removed from his first rehab minor-league... Read More
Daulton Varsho's Two Homers Not Enough In Loss
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho belted two home runs in Wednesday's game versus the division-rival New York Yankees, but it wasn't enough as his team fell 6-4. Varsho's first homer was a two-run shot that went 373 feet to right center field to score Davis Schneider in the second inning, and his second blast... Read More
Esteury Ruiz Goes Yard In Lineup Return
Oakland Athletics outfielder Esteury Ruiz went yard in his first start from the leadoff spot since March in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, smashing a two-run jack in the third inning and also stealing a base. Ruiz's homer was a 412-foot two-run shot that brought Max Schuemann around to score. The A's... Read More
Mason Miller Solidifying Himself As Closer
Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller continued to solidify himself as the team's go-to ninth-inning option in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, picking up his fourth save of the season to protect the victory. Miller allowed a leadoff walk to Ivan Herrera but quickly settled in to retire the next three batters,... Read More
Juan Soto Totals Seven Bases In Comeback Win
New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto enjoyed a massive day at the dish in Wednesday's 6-4 comeback win over the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBI, and two walks. Soto collected seven total bases on Wednesday, doubling during the fifth inning to bring home Oswaldo Cabrera and... Read More
Ronald Acuna Jr. Finally Homers Wednesday
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. finally got on the board in the home run department during Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Houston Astros, going 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the fifth inning. Fantasy managers who spent the No. 1 overall pick on the reigning National League MVP this spring will certainly... Read More
Michael Massey Could Return Friday
Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (back), who was placed on the injured list back on Opening Day due to lower back tightness, is closing in on returning to the major-league lineup and making his 2024 debut. Entering Wednesday's action, Massey is batting .407 (11-for-27) with six extra-base hits and eight RBI over six... Read More
Kodai Senga Throws First Bullpen Session
New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (shoulder) threw his first bullpen session on Tuesday. It's a significant step forward for Senga, who is recovering from a right posterior shoulder capsule strain. With the Mets having him pitch every six days instead of every five however, Senga's ramp-up process could extend a bit longer than... Read More
Gerrit Cole Plays Catch On Back-To-Back Days
New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (elbow) is playing catch again on Wednesday in New York, which is his first time doing so on back-to-back days after increasing his throwing distance to 75 feet on Tuesday. Manager Aaron Boone said there is no set date for Cole to get on a mound, though. The... Read More
Jontay Porter Banned For Violating Gambling Policy
The NBA announced on Wednesday that forward Jontay Porter, a two-way player recently under contract with the Toronto Raptors, has been banned from the league. A league investigation found that Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on... Read More