Clarke Schmidt Lurking As Rotation Replacement

New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt could be an option for the Yankees rotation in 2020 after he pitched the best ball of his career down the stretch in Double-A in 2019. Schmidt was also shining in spring training and during summer camp before being reassigned to the alternate training site. The 24-year-old right-hander […]

Ian Anderson Has Better Chance To Debut In 2020

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Soroka's torn Achilles has increased the chances that pitching prospect Ian Anderson will make his debut this year. Anderson needs to refine his control to have success at the highest level, but he misses plenty of bats with a three-pitch repertoire. The 22-year-old right-hander has been working on his secondary […]

Alex Kirilloff Raking At Alternate Site

Minnesota Twins outfielder Alex Kirilloff has been raking at the team's alternate training site and could get a call-up soon to provide a useful bat off the bench for the first-place team in the American League Central. Kirilloff is unlikely to be a must-own in mixed leagues until 2021 or beyond, especially because there isn't […]

Brendan Rodgers Could Get A Shot At Second Base

Colorado Rockies middle infielder Brendan Rodgers could get a shot at the keystone in the big leagues with Ryan McMahon slumping and Chris Owings (hamstring) injured. Colorado has been using Garrett Hampson to shore up their outfield, which may allow Rodgers to see meaningful at-bats if he's called up. The 24-year-old is the club's best […]

Matt Manning An Option If Tigers Decide To Bolster Rotation

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Manning could make his major league debut in 2020 if the Tigers want to upgrade their starting rotation. Casey Mize, the team's top pitching prospect, should get the call first, but Manning could be right behind him, as well as lefty Tarik Skubal and Alex Faedo. All of the team's […]

Joey Bart May Force The Giants' Hand

The San Francisco Giants have been going with a Tyler Heineman/Chadwick Tromp tandem behind the plate with Buster Posey opting out of the 2020 season, but Giants players and fans are clamoring for Joey Bart, the No. 2 overall pick in 2018. Bart has drawn praise from the big league pitching staff and has shown […]

Cristian Pache Could Offer Braves A Defensive Upgrade

Atlanta Braves outfielder Cristian Pache (ankle) is fully recovered from a sprained ankle that he suffered in summer camp and could offer the team an upgrade both on offense and in center field over the struggling Ender Inciarte. The 21-year-old is the consensus best defender in the minors, but his bat is certainly behind his […]

Tigers Could Consider Adding Casey Mize

The Detroit Tigers are in contention to begin the season with a 9-7 record after losing 114 games last year, but they have just one pitcher who has made multiple starts while posting an ERA better than 5.74. Casey Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, could be an option to join the starting […]

Mackenzie Gore Ready For Rotation Spot?

San Diego Padres starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore battled his control and command in summer camp, which is likely why pitching prospect Luis Patino got the call first, but the young left-hander has looked better at the team's alternate training site and is the best pitching prospect in baseball. Gore is MLB Pipeline's No. 5 overall […]

Gavin Lux Could Get A Look In The Near Future

Los Angeles Dodgers middle infielder Gavin Lux, baseball's No. 2 prospect, could get a call to the big leagues in the near future with shortstop Corey Seager (back) missing the last six games and with the Dodgers not getting much production out of their other left-handed hitters. Lux was the preseason favorite to win the […]

Jacob deGrom Scratched With Tight Neck

Updating a previous report, New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (neck) was scratched from his scheduled start on Friday against the Phillies with a tight neck. The good news is that he doesn't have any structural issues with his neck and he plans to throw a bullpen session on Sunday or Monday. The right-hander […]

Baker Mayfield Getting Back To The Basics

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said he's "finding out how to get back to the basics" after a disappointing sophomore campaign in 2019. "I lost myself in that and I wasn't able to be who I am for these guys on the team. I told them that," Mayfield continued. "I told them that if I'm […]

Dalvin Cook Not Planning On Holdout

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook plans to be a full participant at training camp while he seeks a long-term contract extension. "I'm out there full go, 1,000 percent," Cook said. The RB1 in fantasy should be present for workouts on Monday for the start of camp. The 25-year-old second-rounder was a top-five running back […]

Marcus Mariota Making An Impression On Jon Gruden

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said that quarterback Marcus Mariota "really fired me up today" at training camp on Friday. “He has turned a corner with his ankle (injury) and he is a dazzling playmaker. He had a very nice day.” It might just be coach speak, and we all know that Gruden […]

Clayton Kershaw Throws Bullpen Session Sunday

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (back) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session on Sunday and will throw another one on Tuesday, according to manager Dave Roberts. Kershaw went on the injured list last Thursday with back stiffness, which is the fourth time in his career he's dealt with this injury. The All-Star left-hander said […]

Ryan Pressly, Astros 'Pen Beat Up

Houston Astros relief pitchers Ryan Pressly (elbow) and Chris Devenski (elbow) are both dealing with soreness in their elbows and are day-to-day. Long reliever Austin Pruitt (elbow) is also being shut down with elbow inflammation. Roberto Osuna was a late arrival to summer camp but made his season debut on Saturday against Seattle, giving up […]

Stephen Strasburg Throws Lightly Monday

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (hand) threw "very lightly" on Monday, according to manager Dave Martinez. Strasburg is feeling less of a tingling feeling in his thumb after being scratched from his first start of the season on Saturday, but the Nationals haven't determined a timeline for his return. It's a disappointing start to […]

Juan Soto Has One Negative Test

Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto has received one negative test for COVID-19 after being put on the injured list last Thursday. There's no minimum stay on the COVID-19 injured list, but he'll need another negative test within 24 hours to return to play. Manager Dave Martinez said that Soto is feeling fine and trying to […]

Nationals Sign Josh Harrison

The Washington Nationals signed second baseman Josh Harrison to a one-year deal on Monday after he was recently released by the Phillies. Catcher Raudy Read was optioned to the alternate training site in a corresponding move. Harrison spent the first eight years of his career with Pittsburgh, earning an All-Star selection in 2014. He played […]

Mike Foltynewicz Designated For Assignment

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz was designated for assignment on Monday after he once again showed decreased velocity in a 14-5 drubbing by the Rays. Folty's velocity was also down during exhibition and intrasquad games in summer camp. He allowed Tampa to score six earned runs (three home runs) in just 3 1/3 innings, […]

Nick Burdi Looks To Be Back

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Nick Burdi looked dominant in his first outing of the 2020 season on Sunday when he struck out all three hitters he faced, including Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and shortstop Paul DeJong. The 27-year-old hard-throwing right-hander missed all of the 2019 season after undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, which […]

Postseason Expanded To 16 Teams For 2020

Major League Baseball and the Players Association announced on Thursday that the 2020 playoffs will expand to 16 teams, beginning with eight best-of-three wild-card series preceding the Division Series. The higher seeds in the wild-card series will host all three games, which will be scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29 through Friday, Oct. 2. The entire […]

Kyle Wright Makes Braves Rotation

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kyle Wright will serve as the No. 5 in the Opening Day starting rotation. Mike Soroka will start on Opening Day on Friday against the Rays, followed by left-hander Max Fried, lefty Sean Newcomb, Mike Foltynewicz and Wright. Wright, 24, is listed by MLB Pipeline as the team's No. 4 prospect. […]

Dylan Carlson Disappointed He's Not On Opening Day Roster

St. Louis Cardinals top outfield prospect Dylan Carlson was not included on the team's Opening Day roster, and he admitted that he was "disappointed" with the decision after a strong spring and a standout 2019 season in the minors. The five outfielders on the roster are Harrison Bader, Dexter Fowler, Tyler O'Neill, Lane Thomas and […]

Andrew Heaney Headlines Halos Rotation

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney will start on Opening Day against the A's on Friday, followed by Dylan Bundy on Saturday, Shohei Ohtani on Sunday and Griffin Canning on Monday. The Angels will go with a six-man rotation this year, but the team's fifth and sixth starters remain to be determined. Ohtani, coming […]

Juan Soto Might Not Be Out Long

Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto, who tested positive for COVID-19, took multiple instant-result coronavirus tests on Thursday -- both saliva and nasal -- and the results were negative, according to sources. This doesn't clear Soto to play Thursday or in the coming days, as he'll need to receive back-to-back negative results through the labs MLB […]

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 […]