Anthony Rizzo Has Tightness In His Back

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (back) didn't take part in Tuesday night's intrasquad game because of tightness in his lower back. Rizzo's back has been a problem before for short periods of time at this time of the year, but the Cubs are just being cautious here with their All-Star first baseman. Consider him […]

Victor Caratini Could See At-Bats At DH

Chicago Cubs manager David Ross has raved about catcher Victor Caratini since spring training because of his ability to hit from both sides of the plate. With a universal designated hitter in play in 2020, it's another avenue for Caratini to get more at-bats. "He's always been a very calm, controlled hitter," Ross said. "You […]

Craig Kimbrel Looking Good

Chicago Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel went unsigned as a free agent until June 7 last year and didn't make his debut until June 27. The hard-throwing reliever had a 1.91 ERA over 542 games in his nine seasons, but he put up a 6.53 ERA in a 23-game showing that also featured injuries. Kimbrel allowed […]

Brad Keller, Ryan O'Hearn Test Positive For COVID-19

The Kansas City Royals announced on Tuesday that starting pitcher Brad Keller and first baseman Ryan O'Hearn tested positive for COVID-19. Keller said he has experienced mild symptoms, while O'Hearn is asymptomatic. Both players will need to return two negative tests within 24 hours in order to join the team's summer camp. Keller will now […]

Joey Gallo Tests Negative On Tuesday

Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo tested negative for COVID-19 on Tuesday via a nasal swab at a private lab in Dallas. Gallo must test negative again within 24 hours in order to be cleared to return to the field. The left-handed slugger has had two negatives on nasal swabs, but he also had a positive […]

Lance Lynn Dominates In Intrasquad Game

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Lance Lynn allowed two hits and no walks while striking out eight in six scoreless innings in an intrasquad game on Tuesday. Lynn threw 83 pitches in the outing and should be ready to go as the team's Opening Day starter at home against the Rockies on July 24. The 33-year-old […]

Seth Beer Tests Positive For COVID-19

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman/outfielder Seth Beer, the team's No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline, tested positive for COVID-19 after intake testing was completed. Beer is unlikely to be a realistic option for the D-Backs in 2020, but he was a beast of a hitter at Clemson and became a first-round pick of the Astros in […]

Giants Suspend Workouts Tuesday

The San Francisco Giants have suspended their workouts on Tuesday, pending the results of coronavirus tests that they sent in over the weekend. It's an ongoing issue for Major League Baseball, as a handful of teams have been forced to cancel or delay their workouts because their COVID-19 tests haven't come back. Teams and players […]

Trevor Bauer Wants To Pitch Regularly

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Trevor Bauer has been vocal about his desire to pitch every four days during the shortened 60-game season if the team goes with a four-man starting rotation. Pitching coach Derek Johnson said last weekend that that option was "100 percent on the table." "I'm really happy where I'm at, ready to […]

Nick Castellanos Doesn't Want To DH

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos has made it clear that he doesn't want to serve as the team's designated hitter with the universal DH in play in the National League this year. The Reds have five players -- Castellanos, Shogo Akiyama, Nick Senzel, Jesse Winker and Phillip Ervin -- for three outfield spots and the […]

Thomas Szapucki, Franklyn Kilome Added To Player Pool

The New York Mets added pitchers Thomas Szapucki, Franklyn Kilome, Jordan Humphreys and Stephen Gonsalves to their 60-player pool on Tuesday, according to a source. Per MLB Pipeline, Szapucki is the team's No. 7 prospect, while Kilome comes in at No. 12 and Humphreys at No. 14. Szapucki, a left-hander, returned from Tommy John in […]

Francisco Liriano Reporting To Camp

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Francisco Liriano will report to summer camp on Wednesday, according to a source with direct knowledge. Liriano has been absent from camp the last two days and has been evaluating whether he wants to play this season amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 36-year-old veteran left-hander could still change his mind later, but […]

Brewers Sign First-Rounder Garrett Mitchell

The Milwaukee Brewers signed first-rounder Garrett Mitchell (20th overall) on Tuesday for around slot value at $3.242 million, according to a source. The deal is pending a physical. The outfielder from UCLA slipped a bit in this year's draft, but the 21-year-old is extremely toolsy and has a nice frame at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. Mitchell […]

Steven Brault Could Piggy-Back Chad Kuhl's Starts

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Steven Brault said the team has discussed the possibility of having him piggy-back Chad Kuhl's starts this year. Brault was pretty good for most of last season in 25 appearances (19 starts) for the Bucs, but a poor September left him with a 5.16 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 100 strikeouts and 53 […]

Mason Denaburg Making Good Progress

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mason Denaburg (shoulder), the team's first-round pick in 2018, is making good progress from an arthroscopic shoulder surgery he had over the winter. Because he's rehabbing his shoulder, Denaburg is not in camp with some of the Nats' other top prospects, including Cade Cavalli, Jackson Rutledge and Seth Romero. The 20-year-old […]

Jesus Luzardo, Mike Fiers Not Attending Workouts

Oakland Athletics starting pitchers Jesus Luzardo and Mike Fiers haven't attended the team's summer-camp workouts yet, but general manager David Forst said he can't say if any players were not cleared to practice on Monday night. Luzardo and Fiers worked out together during the COVID-19 shutdown, but it's unclear if either pitcher has been cleared. […]

Nats-Yankees, Dodgers-Giants To Kick Off 2020 Season

Major League Baseball unveiled the 2020 regular season schedule on Monday night, and it will feature a two-game Opening Night on Thursday, July 23. The Washington Nationals will host the New York Yankees at 7:08 p.m. ET in a matchup featuring right-hander Gerrit Cole making his Yankees debut about three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer […]

Melvin Gordon III Hoping For Electric Backfield

Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon III thinks Denver's backfield in 2020 will be explosive with himself and Phillip Lindsay. Gordon realizes that both he and Lindsay will be fighting to be the No. 1 back, regardless of the balance in the play-calling. "I hope it's electric, man, just cause it's crazy that his numbers […]

Kole Calhoun Tests Positive For COVID-19

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Kole Calhoun has tested positive for COVID-19, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Calhoun is asymptomatic and is feeling great, however. The 32-year-old must return two negative tests in order to join the team's workouts at Chase Field. He had a career-high 33 home runs and 74 RBI in his final season with […]

High Expectations For Luis Robert

Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert, MLB Pipeline's No. 3 overall prospect this year, is one of the favorites for the American League Rookie of the Year in 2020. The 22-year-old has five-tool talent and is projected by some pundits to be one of the game's next superstars. Robert has the ability to hit 30 […]

Austin Meadows, Tyler Glasnow Not Present Monday

Tampa Bay Rays outfielders Austin Meadows, Jose Martinez and Randy Arozarena and pitchers Tyler Glasnow and Yonny Chirinos were not present at the workouts on Monday. Meadows attended Friday's workout, but he hasn't been on the field since. The others have yet to take the field during summer camp. Pitcher Chaz Roe took the field for […]

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo More Comfortable

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder/first baseman Yoshitomo Tsutsugo appears to be more comfortable as he adjusts to life in the major leagues after 205 career home runs and five All-Star nods in Japan. "His swing is what it is, and it’s really good," manager Kevin Cash said. "He has special power; he’s got special line-drive ability. […]

Yoan Moncada Held Out Of Workouts

Chicago White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada has not participated in any workouts, which began on Friday of last week, according to a source. The team announced on Sunday that two players tested positive for COVID-19, but they didn't release names. Both players are asymptomatic, however. The White Sox won't say if Moncada was one […]

David Peralta Cleared To Take Part In Workouts

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta has been cleared to participate in the team's summer camp on Monday after missing the first weekend of workouts for unknown reasons. Peralta admitted that he was feeling sick a week ago, but he tested negative for COVID-19 and should be ready to go for the regular season. The 32-year-old […]

Dustin May Expects To Be Stretched Out When Season Begins

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May (side), the team's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, said he threw three innings on Sunday and expects to be stretched out to five innings when the regular season starts. May had some soreness in his side in spring training earlier this year, but it looks like he'll […]

Jimmy Nelson To Have Back Surgery, Miss Entire Season

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson (back) will have surgery on his lower back on Tuesday and will miss the entire 2020 season. Dr. Robert Watkins will perform the lumbar procedure. Nelson signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers, and the team will hold a 2021 option on the right-hander. The 31-year-old had a […]

Austin Riley Could Be Moved To First Base

If Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who tested positive for COVID-19, isn't ready for the start of the regular season, third baseman/outfielder Austin Riley could fill in at first base. Either Riley or Johan Camargo will likely start the year at the hot corner. “Austin has looked really good [at first base],” manager Brian […]

Mike Soroka, Mike Foltynewicz, Sean Newcomb Looking Sharp

Atlanta Braves starting pitchers Mike Soroka, Mike Foltynewicz and Sean Newcomb spent the last few months working out together at a field in Atlanta, and manager Brian Snitker has noticed the work they've put in. “Some of the live [batting practices] we’ve had have been impressive,” Snitker said. “Newcomb and Folty were just nails. You […]

Two More Giants Test Positive For COVID-19

The San Francisco Giants said that two more individuals in the organization have tested positive for COVID-19. The Giants did not release their names. That brings the team's total positive coronavirus cases to four, with last year's first-round Hunter Bishop and minor league pitcher Luis Madero testing positive last week. Players must return two negative […]

Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes Agree On 10-Year Deal

The Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes agreed to a 10-year contract extension on Monday, according to a league source. The deal that ties Mahomes to Kansas City through the 2031 season will be the richest contract in NFL history. Last year's Super Bowl MVP had two years remaining on his contract, so it's […]