About Joseph Barbati - RotoBaller
Blake Griffin Announces Retirement
Six-time All-Star forward Blake Griffin announced his retirement from the NBA on Instagram on Tuesday. Griffin was drafted No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2009 out of Oklahoma and made second-team All-NBA three times, third-team All-NBA twice, and won the 2011 Rookie of the Year award. He played his final season with... Read More
Bucks Expect Giannis Antetokounmpo To Miss Game 1
The Milwaukee Bucks are preparing to be without forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) for the start of their first-round series against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, but they are hopeful treatment on his strained left calf will allow him to return sometime later in the series. It coincides with Monday's report from The Athletic's Shams Charania... Read More
Matt Carpenter Progresses To Swinging
St. Louis Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter (oblique) is currently traveling with the team during their three-game series against the Oakland Athletics, and he took infield practice in Arizona this past weekend. Carpenter was put on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right oblique ahead of April 4's game against the Miami Marlins, and... Read More
J.D. Davis Hits Injured List, Esteury Ruiz Recalled
Oakland Athletics infielder J.D. Davis (groin) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday, and outfielder Esteury Ruiz was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Davis exited Sunday's 7-6 win over the Washington Nationals due to a strained right groin, and he'll need to spend some time on the shelf. The... Read More
Max Kepler Could Begin Rehab Assignment Soon
The plan is for Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (knee) to run the bases at Target Field on Tuesday or Wednesday, and a rehab assignment could come shortly thereafter. Kepler was placed on the injured list last Tuesday with a right knee contusion he sustained on Opening Day, as he was still experiencing soreness after... Read More
Sean Murphy Playing Catch
Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (oblique) has started to play catch and complete some conditioning drills. While he still may be at least a week away from being cleared to begin swinging a bat, it's a good sign that Murphy is progressing in his recovery from a Grade 1 left oblique strain that he suffered... Read More
DJ LeMahieu Could Begin Rehab Assignment Thursday
New York Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu (foot) is with the team on their current road trip in a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Manager Aaron Boone is encouraged by the veteran infielder's progress as he recovers from a non-displaced fracture of his right foot, and he said it's "very possible" LeMahieu will... Read More
Matthew Liberatore Rejoining Cardinals Monday
St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Matthew Liberatore (illness) was unavailable for this past weekend's three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks because of an illness, but manager Oliver Marmol said that the hurler will rejoin the team on Monday for the start of the three-game series against the Oakland Athletics. Having not pitched since last Tuesday,... Read More
Ja’Kobe Walter Declares For NBA Draft
Baylor freshman guard Ja'Kobe Walter, a potential top-10 pick, is declaring for the 2024 NBA draft. "I think I'm the best shooter in the draft," Walter believes, and he modeled his all-around scoring ability after the likes of Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, and Kawhi Leonard. The 19-year-old combo guard was named the Big 12 Rookie... Read More
Lonnie Walker IV Noncommittal On Future With Nets
Impending free-agent guard Lonnie Walker IV appears to be noncommittal on his future with the Brooklyn Nets. "I'm just looking for a home… Just looking for a team that finds me valuable. [I want to be] an important piece for a team that can consistently play… We'll see how things go", Walker told reporters following... Read More
Hawks Hope To Keep Vit Krejci This Offseason
The Atlanta Hawks are weighing the fact that guard Vit Krejci will be a restricted free agent in the offseason, which gives them the right to match any offer sheet. The hope is that they will be able to keep Krejci on a four-year deal that begins next season. After being waived by the Minnesota... Read More
Giannis Antetokounmpo “Up In The Air” For Game 1
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is rehabbing daily, but there's some real doubt for his status to begin the first-round series versus the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Although Antetokounmpo has rare recovery ability, he's very much up in the air for Game 1. Antetokounmpo sustained a strained left calf in last Tuesday's win over... Read More
Grayson Allen Lands Four-Year Extension With Suns
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen has agreed on a four-year, $70 million contract extension that includes a player option. The deal keeps Allen out of unrestricted free agency this summer and rewards him for a career-best season after joining the Suns as part of last offseason's blockbuster Damian Lillard trade. The 28-year-old three-and-D wing started... Read More
Daniel Bard Won't Return In 2024
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Daniel Bard (knee, elbow) had a setback rehabbing and will undergo season-ending right flexor tendon surgery. After recently throwing off a mound, the banged-up Bard's season suddenly ends before it even begins while also recovering from a cleanup procedure on his left knee. The 38-year-old veteran right-hander is a free agent... Read More
Robbie Ray Throws Bullpen Session Friday
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray (elbow) threw a bullpen session in Arizona on Friday. Ray has been pleased with his progress in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but he's still not likely to be a factor for the Giants until the second half of the 2024 season. After being acquired from the... Read More
Taj Bradley, Shane Baz Throw Live Batting Practice
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitchers Taj Bradley (pectoral) and Shane Baz (elbow) recently threw a two-inning live batting practice session, manager Kevin Cash said on Friday. Sidelined for the past month due to a strained right pectoral, Bradley still has to go through the process of rebuilding his stamina and increasing his pitch count before... Read More
Josh Lowe Nearing Rehab Assignment
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) played extended spring training games in Port Charlotte, Florida on Thursday and Friday. After a few more games there, he should join Triple-A Durham to begin a rehab assignment. Lowe only took three Grapefruit League at-bats this past spring, however, so he'll require a fairly lengthy rehab to... Read More
Jose Leclerc Temporarily Removed As Closer
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jose Leclerc will be working low-leverage situations temporarily, per manager Bruce Bochy. The Rangers were pleased with Leclerc's outing during Friday's 12-8 win over the division-rival Houston Astros after the right-hander struck out two batters, but it was an extremely low-leverage spot against the seventh, eighth, and ninth hitters with Texas... Read More
Yariel Rodriguez Starting Saturday
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodriguez is starting Saturday's game versus the visiting Colorado Rockies, says manager John Schneider. Rodriguez is all set to be called up from Triple-A Buffalo and make the first major-league start of his career on Saturday against the Rockies, as the Jays hope to get better results than Bowden... Read More
Eduardo Rodriguez's Rehab Stalled
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (lat) is having his rehab paused after recently experiencing more tightness in his shoulder following a bullpen session. An MRI showed that there is still an issue with the strained left lat of Rodriguez, who has been shut down from throwing. After bagging a four-year, $80 million with the... Read More
Nick Pivetta Will Resume Throwing Saturday
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (elbow) is going to test his arm and play catch on Saturday. After Pivetta was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow on Tuesday, it's encouraging to hear he's ready to resume throwing. The 31-year-old right-hander was off to a spectacular start before the Red Sox... Read More
Carlos Correa Likely Heading To Injured List
Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said following Friday's loss to the Detroit Tigers that shortstop Carlos Correa (oblique) is expected to wind up on the injured list. Correa is heading for imaging after suffering a strained right oblique on Friday against the Tigers, and the club will know more about his status on Saturday. It's... Read More
Walker Buehler Pulled From Rehab Start
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler's (elbow) third minor-league rehab start on Friday was cut short after he was struck in the right hand by a comebacker. Buehler threw only two innings before departing, but it sounds like his exit was a precautionary measure. This could have been Buehler's last rehab start on his... Read More
Ranger Suarez Keeps Dealing Thursday
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez struck out eight Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, launching six scoreless innings of two-hit ball with two walks en route to his second win during the 5-1 victory. Other than the free passes and a couple of innocuous singles, Suarez cruised through a formidable Pirates lineup that entered the day... Read More
Jared Jones Fans Eight More In Quality Start
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones logged a quality start on Thursday, taking the loss in the 5-1 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies after giving up three runs on six hits and striking out eight over 6 1/3 innings. Jones put together another great performance overall, with an Alec Bohm solo home run in the... Read More
John Means Improves In Rehab Start
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means (elbow) gave up two runs in three innings in Thursday's rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk, allowing two hits and two walks while fanning three. Means allowed one run in three innings in his last rehab appearance after getting blown up for seven runs back on March 31, so he's... Read More
TJ Friedl Will Be Re-Evaluated This Week
Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said on Tuesday that outfielder TJ Friedl (wrist) has a check-in MRI this week. Friedl fractured his right wrist on March 16 during a spring training game and was expected to miss six to eight weeks, but he was able to avoid the 60-day injured list to begin the season.... Read More
Astros Won't Rush Back Justin Verlander
The Houston Astros are still committed to Justin Verlander (shoulder) making another minor-league rehab start this weekend, manager Joe Espada said following Thursday's 13-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Even though Framber Valdez (elbow) is on the injured list and Hunter Brown couldn't make it through the first inning on Thursday, there's still no... Read More
Damian Lillard Doubtful Against Thunder
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (groin) is listed as doubtful for Friday's tilt against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lillard missed three games due to a strained right groin last week, and he's now dealing with soreness in his left adductor. With Giannis Antetokounmpo's (calf) regular season finished, the Bucks should have a ton of vacated... Read More
Dalano Banton Downgraded To Questionable
Portland Trail Blazers guard Dalano Banton (ankle) has been downgraded to questionable for Thursday's game versus the Golden State Warriors. A late addition to the injury report, Banton may need to sit out the front end of Portland's back-to-back on Thursday with a sprained left ankle. The 24-year-old point forward has taken on an expanded... Read More