Ian Kennedy An Option For Saves In KC

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Ian Kennedy entered the regular season having started 277 straight games since his most recent relief outing in the majors. That run ended on Opening Day when he pitched the eighth inning for his first relief outing since Sept. 23, 2009. Kennedy then earned his first professional save on Saturday. […]

Evan Longoria Pulled With Calf Injury

San Francisco Giants third baseman Evan Longoria left the game early on Saturday because he fouled a ball off his calf and was feeling sore. He'll receive the day off on Sunday, but it doesn't sound like a serious injury. Longoria had a single, run, RBI and strikeout in three plate appearances and has four […]

Rich Hill To Throw Bullpen Next Week

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (knee) will throw a bullpen session next week. Hill threw off flat ground on Thursday and should be able to return in mid-April, barring any setbacks. The 39-year-old left-hander went 11-5 with a 3.66 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 150 strikeouts in 132 2/3 innings last year. He's certainly […]

Clayton Kershaw Throws Simulated Game

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) threw 50 pitches in a three-inning simulated game on Saturday and then a fourth inning in the bullpen. Manager Dave Roberts said the left-hander will throw his standard side session in a couple days before going to Triple-A Oklahoma City or Double-A Tulsa for a four- or […]

X-Rays Negative On Miguel Cabrera

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera was hit by an Aaron Sanchez fastball on the hand and suffered a contusion on Saturday after X-rays came back negative. Cabrera is considered day-to-day for now and the team will see how he feels on Sunday. The veteran slugger missed most of last year due to injury but […]

Carlos Correa Expected To Play Sunday

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (neck) is expected to make his season debut against the Rays on Sunday. Correa injured his neck in spring training last week and was held out of the lineup for the first three games of the regular season. It's not a serious ailment, but the Astros are being extra cautious […]

Daniel Murphy Has Fractured Finger

Colorado Rockies infielder Daniel Murphy's X-rays on Saturday revealed a fracture on the tip of his left index finger, and he will see a hand specialist on Monday before a timetable for his return is revealed. The soon-to-be 34-year-old could be out for an extended period of time, so his fantasy owners need to plan […]

Alex Cobb To Start Home Opener

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde confirmed that starting pitcher Alex Cobb (groin) will come off the injured list to start next week's home opener on Thursday. He reported no issues after throwing in a minor league game on Friday. A minor groin injury kept Cobb from starting on Opening Day against the Yankees, which was […]

Todd Frazier To Play In Games Soon

New York Mets corner infielder Todd Frazier (oblique) will start playing in minor league games in Florida in the next few days, according to manager Mickey Callaway. Frazier began the season on the injured list but should be able to join the team at some point in April, barring setbacks. The 33-year-old hit just .213/.303/.390 […]

Matt Kemp Making First Start In 2019

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Matt Kemp is making his season debut in left field and is hitting fifth in the lineup on Saturday against Pirates starter Trevor Williams. As a result, Jesse Winker will start the game on the bench. Kemp had a resurgent season in 2018, hitting .290 with 21 home runs and 85 RBI […]

Hunter Strickland Was Dealing With Tight Shoulder

Seattle Mariners closer Hunter Strickland said he "had some tightness in the back of the shoulder" during his blown save against the Red Sox on Friday night. "I was all over the place. Everybody saw it. It wasn’t good at all. I just wasn’t comfortable. But that’s no excuse, I still have to make pitches […]

Michael A. Taylor, Howie Kendrick Rehabbing In Florida

Washington Nationals outfielder Michael A. Taylor (hip, knee) and second baseman Howie Kendrick (hamstring) continue to rehab at the team's spring training complex in Florida. Kendrick has taken at-bats in a minor league game without running, while Taylor is taking part in light baseball activities such as hitting off a tee, soft toss, light throwing […]

Francisco Lindor Seeking Second Opinion

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (ankle) is seeking a second opinion on his acute left ankle sprain from Dr. Robert Anderson in Wisconsin before the team releases an official timetable for his return. Lindor suffered the ankle sprain on Tuesday in a minor league game and will miss more time now. The All-Star shortstop was […]

Jake Bauers, Tyler Naquin To Be Outfield Regulars

Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona has decided that outfielders Jake Bauers and Tyler Naquin will open the season as regulars in the corner outfield spots. Still, both left-handed bats could see time off occasionally against southpaw pitchers, and Naquin could see more time hitting in the No. 3 spot until the team is back to […]

Carlos Martinez Throwing More Aggressively

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez (shoulder) has been playing "more aggressive, longer catch" on flat ground this week, according to manager Mike Shildt. The right-hander's next step will to resume throwing off a mound. The Cardinals are expected to decide whether Martinez will return as a starter or reliever by mid-April. Martinez has […]

Jedd Gyorko Expected To Be Ready Next Thursday

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Jedd Gyorko (calf) has declared himself healthy and ready to return, but he isn't eligible to come off the injured list until next Thursday ahead of the home opener. Gyorko was out for the final three weeks of spring training but has been getting at-bats in minor league games in Florida. […]

Astros Targeting Sunday Return For Carlos Correa

The Houston Astros are targeting a Sunday return for shortstop Carlos Correa (neck) in the series finale against the Rays. The All-Star was out for the second straight regular season game on Friday due to a neck strain suffered a week ago. Correa did pre-game drills on Friday but didn't swing a bat. He will […]

Lorenzo Cain's Thumb Is Fine

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain jammed his left thumb when he was caught stealing in Friday's loss to the Cardinals, but he is OK and no X-rays were required. The injury doesn't seem serious at all, so Cain should be back in the lineup on Saturday. He's a must-start in all season-long leagues and is […]

Maikel Franco (3B, PHI) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues OWNED IN: 23% of leagues ANALYSIS: Franco hit .270/.314/.467 with 22 home runs and 68 RBI in 131 games for the Phillies in 2018. After a 25-homer, 88-RBI campaign in 2016, the young slugger was expected to take a step forward, but he has been stuck in neutral the last […]

Hunter Renfroe The Odd-Man Out?

San Diego Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe has remained on the bench for the team's first two games of the season against Giants left-handers Madison Bumgarner and Derek Holland, even though Renfroe has excellent career numbers against both southpaws. Wil Myers and Franmil Reyes have started at the corners, with Manuel Margot in center field. Manager […]

Giants Being Mindful Of Buster Posey's Workload

The San Francisco Giants are being mindful of catcher Buster Posey's early-season workload after he underwent major hip surgery last year. He didn't catch in back-to-back games in spring training, but manager Bruce Bochy said Posey has been cleared to do so. Posey caught all nine innings on Opening Day but was at first base […]

Raiders Sign Luke Willson

The Oakland Raiders signed free-agent tight end Luke Willson to an undisclosed deal on Friday. It's likely just a one-year deal. Wilson spent the 2018 season with the Lions after playing five seasons with the Seahawks as mostly a blocking tight end. He has 102 catches for 1,216 yards with 11 touchdowns in 86 career […]

Justin Upton Out 8-12 Weeks

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Justin Upton (toe) is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks, according to manager Brad Ausmus. Upton had previously been diagnosed with turf toe, but doctors deemed Upton needed to miss considerable time after further evaluation. Fantasy owners that took Upton as a top-25 outfielder in fantasy drafts will need to […]

Brandon Lowe (2B/OF, TB) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues OWNED IN: 11% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Rays clearly have plans to feature Lowe in their lineup moving forward after they signed him to a six-year, $24 million contract extension. Although he wasn't in the starting lineup for Game 2 of the regular season, he served as the designated hitter […]

Dallas Keuchel Throwing Simulated Games

Free-agent starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel is throwing 95-pitch simulated games every five days, according to his agent, Scott Boras. “We are in discussion with a number of clubs,” Boras said. Keuchel has been in discussions with several teams for a while it seems, but he's holding out for the right deal. His fantasy value obviously […]

Jarrod Dyson Leading Off, Adam Jones At Cleanup

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jarrod Dyson is starting in center field and is batting leadoff on Friday night against Dodgers starter Ross Stripling. Outfielder Adam Jones, the leadoff hitter on Opening Day, is hitting cleanup. With Dyson in center, Ketel Marte will move to second base, meaning Wilmer Flores has the night off. Lefty Jake Lamb […]

Max Muncy, Joc Pederson Sitting Against Lefty

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy and outfielder Joc Pederson are out of the lineup on Friday night against Diamondbacks left-handed starter Robbie Ray. Both Pederson and Muncy made a lot of noise on Opening Day with their sticks, but they'll likely ride the pine against southpaws again this year. David Freese is at […]

Mallex Smith Leading Off Friday Night

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mallex Smith is starting in center field and is hitting leadoff on Friday night against Red Sox starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. Smith should hit atop the team's lineup when they face a right-handed pitcher like this evening. The 25-year-old didn't play in the team's first two games in Tokyo last week but […]

Kendrys Morales Making A's Debut

Oakland Athletics first baseman Kendrys Morales is starting at first base and is batting fifth in his debut on Friday night against Angels starter Matt Harvey. Morales should be the team's regular first baseman while Matt Olson recovers from his hand injury suffered in Tokyo. The veteran switch-hitter batted only .249/.331/.438 with 21 home runs […]

Michael Reed Leading Off, Yangervis Solarte Hitting Third

San Francisco Giants outfielder Michael Reed is starting in right field and batting leadoff against Padres starter Joey Lucchesi on Friday night. Steven Duggar will be bumped down to seventh in the order against the left-hander. Infielder Yangervis Solarte also gets the start at second base over Joe Panik, and he's hitting third. First baseman […]