
Articles

Pablo Sandoval's Weight Not An Issue
San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that corner infielder Pablo Sandoval's weight and conditioning isn't an issue, and the Giants expect Kung Fu Panda to be in game shape by Opening Day later this month even though he's noticeably heavier than he was during spring training in Arizona almost five months ago. Sandoval had […]
Keith Hernandez
Tom Murphy To Sit Out Monday
Seattle Mariners catcher Tom Murphy (foot) is likely to sit out of Monday's workouts after fouling a ball off his foot on Sunday, but manager Scott Servais said it's just a bruise. Consider Murphy day-to-day for now, and he should be completely fine for the regular season opener later this month. The power-hitting backstop was […]
Keith Hernandez
Astros Cancel Workout On Monday
The Houston Astros canceled their workout on Monday because they are still awaiting the results from Friday's COVID-19 tests, according to sources. The Washington Nationals also canceled their Monday workout for the same reason. Teams are emphasizing the priority of player health and safety, but the Astros are "optimistic that this process will be ironed […]
Keith Hernandez
Nationals Cancel Workouts On Monday
The Washington Nationals have canceled their workouts on Monday because the results from their Friday coronavirus tests have still not shown up, according to sources. The Oakland Athletics also canceled a workout on Sunday because they hadn't received the results of their COVID-19 tests. MLB testers didn't show up to Angels camp on Sunday either. […]
Keith Hernandez
Luis Urias, Angel Perdomo Test Positive For COVID-19
Milwaukee Brewers infielder Luis Urias and pitcher Angel Perdomo tested positive for COVID-19 prior to their intake at summer camp and are now in the protocol, according to manager Craig Counsell. Urias is recovered from an injured hamate bone in his hand, but now he'll need to quarantine until he tests negative for the virus. […]
Keith Hernandez
Nick Markakis Elects To Sit Out 2020 Season
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker announced on Monday that outfielder Nick Markakis has elected to skip the 2020 season due to concerns around COVID-19. Markakis makes the decision after Atlanta announced that four players tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday, including first baseman Freddie Freeman. Markakis, 36, is a .288/.358/.424 hitter with 188 home […]
Keith Hernandez
Byron Buxton Away From Camp For Birth Of Son
Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (shoulder) has not arrived to summer camp yet because he just welcomed his second child into the world. Buxton underwent shoulder surgery last September and hadn't played in any games when spring training was shut down in March. He should be ready for the start of the season in late […]
Keith Hernandez
Jose Berrios In Midseason Form
Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said that starting pitcher Jose Berrios hit 95-96 mph in his first inning of live batting practice on Friday. Berrios threw around 45 pitches overall. "He couldn't look any better. He looks like a bulldog," Baldelli said. The 26-year-old had a career-low 3.68 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 8.8 K/9 in […]
Keith Hernandez
Red Sox Planning To Use Five-Man Rotation
The Boston Red Sox are planning to use a five-man rotation to begin the 2020 season, with Ryan Weber positioned to claim the No. 4 spot behind Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez. New pitching coach Dave Bush said Rodriguez, Eovaldi and Perez should be able to go five or six innings when the […]
Keith Hernandez
Cowboys Pump Brakes On David Njoku Rumor
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku demanded a trade on Friday, per his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Soon after, reports surfaced that the Dallas Cowboys were a "potential suitor" for Njoku. "That," one source said Friday as the news broke, "sounds like an agent creation." The Cowboys made a commitment to Blake Jarwin and also signed […]
Keith Hernandez
Shohei Ohtani "Doing Great"
Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon said that starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) is fully healthy and will be ready to serve as a two-way player to begin the 2020 season. Ohtani threw a bullpen session on Friday and will continue to take batting practice to prepare for his role as the DH. "He’s […]
Keith Hernandez
Dillon Peters Won't Be Fully Healthy Until July
Los Angeles Angels left-handed pitcher Dillon Peters (oblique) isn't expected to be fully healthy until mid-July after straining his oblique muscle in spring training. It means that Peters might not be ready for Opening Day in late July. The 27-year-old southpaw went 4-4 with a 5.38 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 55 strikeouts in 72 innings […]
Keith Hernandez
Jed Lowrie Still Using Knee Brace
New York Mets infielder Jed Lowrie (knee), who played nine games last September because of knee issues, worked out with his knee brace tucked underneath his uniform on Friday. It sounds like he's in no better position than when spring training was shut down in March. The Mets are unsure if Lowrie will be full-go […]
Keith Hernandez
Jose Martinez Not Present Friday
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman/outfielder Jose Martinez was not present for the team's first summer camp workout on Friday, and it wasn't because of a travel issue. Martinez has been working out at Tropicana Field for most of the shutdown, so this brings in speculation that he may have tested positive for COVID-19. Pitchers Yonny […]
Keith Hernandez
Willians Astudillo Tests Positive For COVID-19
Minnesota Twins catcher Willians Astudillo is one of the Twins players to test positive for COVID-19 upon his arrival to summer camp. Astudillo has been quarantined and is asymptomatic. Minor leaguers Edwar Colina and Nick Gordon tested positive before arriving, so they are not in camp. Colina is the team's No. 16 prospect, while Gordon […]
Keith Hernandez
Rich Hill Fully Recovered From Elbow Surgery
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Rich Hill (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Friday and is fully recovered from offseason elbow surgery. "It didn't look like he was holding anything back," president Derek Falvey said. "He feels good." The 40-year-old southpaw is one of the players that really benefited from the season being delayed, as he […]
Keith Hernandez
Lance McCullers Jr. To Throw Batting Practice Saturday
Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (elbow), who missed all of 2019 after having Tommy John surgery, will throw batting practice on Saturday. McCullers will simulate three innings, which is something similar to what he did a few days ago. He made three Grapefruit League starts before spring training was suspended and hopes to […]
Keith Hernandez
Madison Bumgarner Doesn't Work Out Friday
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner was one of the eight to 10 players who did not work out at Chase Field on the first day of summer camp on Friday. Bumgarner is waiting for clearance from the COVID-19 test protocols. MadBum doesn't necessarily have coronavirus, and he could be cleared to join workouts as […]
Keith Hernandez
Charlie Blackmon Won't Be Available For Start Of Camp
Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon will not be available for the start of summer camp on Saturday after testing positive for COVID-19, according to manager Bud Black. Pitchers Phil Diehl and Ryan Castellani have already returned after testing negative. It's unclear how long Blackmon will be out or if it'll have an effect on his […]
Keith Hernandez
Kirby Yates Not Yet In Camp
San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates is not in summer camp due to a non-COVID-related family issue, according to general manager A.J. Preller. Yates is likely to report to San Diego later this weekend and go through the subsequent testing protocols. The 33-year-old right-handed reliever was lights-out for the Friars as a first-time All-Star, posting […]
Keith Hernandez
Tommy Pham Tests Positive For COVID-19
San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller said that outfielder Tommy Pham tested positive for COVID-19, but he is asymptomatic. It means that Pham will get a late start to summer camp. A top-20 fantasy outfielder because of his mix of power and speed, the 32-year-old hit .273/.369/.450 with 21 home runs, 68 RBI, 77 […]
Keith Hernandez
DJ Stewart A Full-Go For Camp
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that outfielder DJ Stewart (ankle), who had right ankle surgery last fall, is "full-go" for summer camp. Stewart should have a good chance to win the Opening Day job in right field. Before his injury in 2019, he was hitting .238/.317/.381 with four home runs and 15 RBI in […]
Keith Hernandez
Jon Duplantier Behind In Camp
Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said that starting pitcher Jon Duplantier (elbow), who was shut down in April with right-elbow soreness, is a bit behind the other pitchers at the start of summer camp this weekend. Duplantier was working as a starter when things were shut down this spring and was ticketed to start […]
Keith Hernandez
Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood, Ross Stripling Ramping Up
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood and Ross Stripling have already thrown three-inning simulated games at summer camp, indicating that they could pitch deeper into games when the regular season begins at the end of July. The Dodgers have hinted that they may not go with a traditional five-man rotation to begin […]
Keith Hernandez
Joe Musgrove Feeling Better
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (shoulder) threw a five-inning simulated game on Friday and said that he feels better now than he did in March. Musgrove was battling shoulder fatigue before spring training was shut down earlier this year, and his results weren't pretty. The 27-year-old right-hander showed an uptick in strikeouts towards the […]
Keith Hernandez
Luis Robert Expected To Be Starting Center Fielder
Coming off a 32-homer, 36-steal, 1.001-OPS season in the minors, Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert is expected to open the year as the team's starting center fielder in his rookie season. Robert is the team's top prospect and comes in at No. 3 overall, per MLB Pipeline. There's massive power/speed potential with the 22-year-old, […]
Keith Hernandez
Wander Franco Could Make Big League Debut This Year
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, MLB's top prospect, could find his way onto the big league roster later this year despite being just 19 years old and not playing at a level beyond High-A. Franco is the second prospect ever to receive an 80-grade hit tool (the other being Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) and has […]
Keith Hernandez
Alec Bohm, Spencer Howard Could Be Options For Phillies
If Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Jay Bruce, who has a .219/.287/.445 slash line since 2018, struggles, the Phillies could turn to third baseman Alec Bohm at designated hitter. Baseball's No. 30 prospect could also see playing time if center fielder Adam Haseley doesn't hit enough, which would cause the Phillies to use either Scott Kingery or […]
Keith Hernandez
Cade Cavalli Joining 60-Man Roster
Washington Nationals first-rounder Cade Cavalli will join the team's 60-man summer camp roster. Cavalli was the 22nd overall pick in last month's draft. The 6-foot-4, 226-pounder produces easy velocity (92-96 mph) and tops out at 98 mph with minimal effort. The right-hander out of Oklahoma also gets hitters off-balance with a low-80s curveball and a […]
Keith Hernandez
Max Scherzer Throws 65 Pitches On Friday
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer threw 65 pitches to live hitters on the first day of summer camp on Friday. Scherzer was battling through an injury to his right side back in March, but it looks as though he's past that and ready for the start of the regular season later this month. The […]
Keith Hernandez