Hunter Pence The DH On Opening Night

San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence (foot) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting fifth on Thursday night against Dodgers right-handed starter Dustin May. Pence was dealing with some foot inflammation in the last part of summer camp, but he's clearly fine to hit to open the regular season. The universal DH in […]

Dustin May Starting Opener For Dodgers

With Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (back) going on the injured list with back stiffness, the team recalled starter Dustin May, who will make the start against the Giants on Opening Night on Thursday. It will be May's first career Opening Day start, and he will become the first Dodger rookie to start […]

Ke'Bryan Hayes Sent To Altoona

The Pittsburgh Pirates optioned third base prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes to their alternate training site in Altoona on Wednesday. This doesn't come as a surprise, as Hayes missed most of summer camp after testing positive for COVID-19. The team's No. 2 prospect still has a decent shot at making his major league debut in 2020, but […]

Jose Martinez, Yonny Chirinos Expected To Be Ready

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said the team expects both first baseman/outfielder Jose Martinez and pitcher Yonny Chirinos to be ready to be on the Opening Day roster. Both players were out until this past weekend after testing positive for COVID-19. It remains to be seen how much either player will be able to […]

Ji-Man Choi Could Hit Leadoff Against Righties

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that the team could use Brandon Lowe, Ji-Man Choi or Yoshitomo Tsutsugo in the leadoff spot against right-handed pitchers this year, but Cash really likes the consistency of quality at-bats that the team gets from Choi, so he seems to be the favorite. The South Korean hitter probably […]

Dodgers, Mookie Betts Reach 12-Year Extension

The Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Mookie Betts agreed to a 12-year, $365 million contract extension on Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the deal. Combined with the one-year, $27 million deal Betts is currently on, the total comes out to 13 years and $392 million. The Dodgers will keep the former American League MVP […]

Kevan Smith To Serve As Third Catcher

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said the team is expected to carry three catchers on their Opening Day roster. The Rays selected the contract of catcher Kevan Smith and added him to the 40-man roster on Tuesday, so the team will carry Mike Zunino, Michael Perez and Smith on the roster. Chris Herrmann asked […]

Colin Poche Has Torn UCL

Tampa Bay Rays left-handed reliever Colin Poche (elbow) was put on the 45-day injured list on Tuesday with a torn left ulnar collateral ligament, and he'll miss the 2020 season. Tommy John surgery has been recommended, putting his 2021 season in jeopardy as well. Poche had a 4.08 FIP and struck out 72 hitters in […]

Trevor Williams Hopes To Use Curveball More

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Trevor Williams threw six curveballs during the exhibition game against the Indians on Monday. The right-hander used the pitch just six times in 2018 and 21 times last year, but he's hoping to use it more often and more effectively in 2020. Williams was charged with one run over 2 2/3 […]

Ke'Bryan Hayes Unlikely To Make Opening Day Roster

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, the team's No. 2 prospect, took part in a light workout on Monday after missing all of the summer camp workouts after testing positive for COVID-19. He tested negative twice and was cleared by doctors, but he likely missed too much time in camp to have a shot at […]

Cole Tucker Makes Outfield Debut

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Cole Tucker made his outfield debut in an exhibition game against the Indians on Monday and made a highlight-reel catch in center field. The former first-round pick figures he last played in the outfield when he was 14 or 15 years old. The Pirates told Tucker that shortstop remains his primary position, […]

John Ryan Murphy To Be Backup Catcher

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher John Ryan Murphy, who was added to the 40-man roster on Sunday, is primed to be the backup to Jacob Stallings after Luke Maile underwent season-ending surgery to fix a fractured right index finger last Friday. Murphy was a non-roster invitee at spring training on a minor league deal. The 29-year-old is […]

Kevin Cron With Team In L.A.

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Kevin Cron (hamstring), who is dealing with a sore left hamstring, traveled with the team to Los Angeles for their exhibition game. It doesn't sound like a very serious injury, so Cron should be on the club's Opening Day roster, barring a setback. The 27-year-old right-handed power hitter hit just .211 […]

Diamondbacks Hopeful On Christian Walker

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said the team is hopeful that first baseman Christian Walker (groin) will be ready for Opening Day on Friday. Walker is dealing with a strained right groin and worked out at Chase Field on Sunday. The 29-year-old was officially diagnosed with a Grade 1 right groin strain but is confident […]

NFL Won't Have Any Preseason Games In 2020

The NFL Players Association told its players on Tuesday that there will be zero preseason games in 2020, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport. The league wanted to play two preseason games this year, while the NFLPA was set on zero games amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The NFLPA is also […]

59 Players Have Tested Positive For COVID-19

The NFL Players Association said that 59 players have tested positive at some point during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, the NFLPA posted that 95 players had tested positive, but they updated the list to include only players. Eight of 24 teams have also approved the infectious disease emergency response plans for the 2020 season. "Our […]

Raiders Agree With Henry Ruggs III

The Las Vegas Raiders agreed to a deal worth $16.67 million over four years with their first-round pick (12th overall), wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, on Tuesday. Ruggs was the first receiver off the board in a stacked class this year after showing elite athleticism at the NFL combine in February. The speed demon was […]

Michael Bennett Retires From NFL

After an 11-year career with three Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl title to his name, defensive end Michael Bennett is calling it a career. "Retiring feels a little like death of self, but I'm looking forward to the rebirth -- the opportunity to reimagine my purpose," Bennett wrote on Instagram. Bennett considered retiring before […]

Yoenis Cespedes Expects To DH On Opening Day

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes said he expects to be the designated hitter on Friday, July 24, when the team opens the season against the Braves. Because of injuries to his feet and legs, Friday will be Cespedes' first major league game in more than two years. The right-handed slugger is feeling good and […]

Deivi Garcia, Clarke Schmidt Don't Make Opening Day Roster

New York Yankees pitching prospects Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt will start the season at the team's alternate training site. Manager Aaron Boone said the team thinks the 21-year-old Garcia needs more seasoning after his rough exhibition start on Monday against the Phillies. Schmidt's absence on the 40-man roster hurt his case for breaking camp […]

Michael King A Candidate To Open Third Game

New York Yankees starting pitcher Michael King earned a spot on the Opening Day roster as one of the standouts of summer camp, and the 25-year-old is a candidate to open the third game of the season against the Nationals, along with Chad Green and Jonathan Loaisiga. King is the team's No. 25 prospect, per […]

Dodgers Sign Jake McGee

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed relief pitcher Jake McGee on Tuesday. He'll provide left-handed bullpen depth for the Dodgers after he was released last week by the Rockies, who must pay the bulk of his pro-rated $9 million salary in 2020. The 33-year-old southpaw had a tough time pitching in the thin air of Colorado […]

Nick Castellanos Won't Play Saturday

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that outfielder Nick Castellanos (back) "is fine," but he won't play in the team's intrasquad on Saturday. Castellanos is "a little sore" and is expected to play on Sunday. He was hit by a pitch in his upper back on Friday and suffered something similar to a stinger. The […]

Braves Purchase Contracts Of Josh Tomlin, Yonder Alonso

The Atlanta Braves purchased the contracts of right-handed pitcher Josh Tomlin and first baseman Yonder Alonso to the major league roster on Saturday. Tomlin, 35, could be an option to begin the year as an opener or as a piggyback option in Atlanta's rotation with Cole Hamels unlikely to be ready. That likely won't translate […]

Michael Fulmer Ready To Pitch Out Of Rotation

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer (elbow) said that he's ready to pitch out of the team's starting rotation to begin the regular season. Detroit just placed Jordan Zimmermann (forearm) on the 45-day injured list and Daniel Norris might not be ready for Opening Day, so the Tigers are going to need innings from Fulmer […]

Jordan Zimmermann Heading To 45-Day Injured List

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (forearm) will be placed on the 45-day injured list with a right forearm strain, according to manager Ron Gardenhire. It's the same injury that sidelined the 34-year-old veteran hurler for a good chunk of time last season. With the season shortened to 60 games in 2020 because of the […]

Tony Gonsolin Optioned To Alternate Training Site

The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin to the team's alternate training site on Saturday. Gonsolin was an option to begin the season in the starting rotation with David Price opting out of the 2020 campaign, but it didn't help that the right-hander was a late arrival to summer camp for undisclosed reasons. […]

Alex Reyes, Genesis Cabrera Closer To Joining Team

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said that pitchers Alex Reyes and Genesis Cabrera are "getting closer" to joining the team for workouts at summer camp. Reyes has not been at camp for undisclosed reasons, while Cabrera tested positive for COVID-19 during intake testing at the beginning of camp. He was asymptomatic. With Opening Day […]

Jose Martinez Arrives At Rays Camp

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder/first baseman Jose Martinez is present at Rays summer camp for the first time on Saturday. Martinez tested positive for COVID-19 and just now has been cleared to join the team with less than a week until Opening Day, so there's a chance he might not be up to speed next week. […]

Charlie Morton Likely To Start On Opening Day

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that "in all likelihood," starting pitcher Charlie Morton will be the team's Opening Day starter on July 24 against the Blue Jays. Morton is 36 years old, but he's coming off a career year in 2019 with a 3.05 ERA and 240 strikeouts in 194 2/3 innings pitched. […]