Adam Frazier Getting More Comfortable At Second Base

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier is still learning the nuances of playing the position full time. After serving in a utility role since debuting in 2016, the departure of Josh Harrison thrusted Frazier into a starting role. However, the Pirates are so confident in his bat after he made adjustments in 2018 that they're... Read More

Willians Astudillo To See Action Soon

Minnesota Twins catcher/utilityman Willians Astudillo will see action early in the season, said manager Rocco Baldelli. The team carries three catchers: Jason Castro, Mitch Garver and Astudillo. Castro started Opening Day and Garver is set to start on Saturday, but Baldelli didn't give an exact date as to when Astudillo will be in the lineup. As a... Read More

Tyler Flowers Starting Saturday, Batting Seventh

Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers is starting on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies and will be batting seventh. The 33-year-old hit just .184 with three home runs and 15 RBI against RHP in 2018. The Braves went with Brian McCann on Opening Day but with two aging veterans, the team is probably going to evenly... Read More

Danny Jansen Batting Fifth On Saturday

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen is batting fifth on Saturday against the Detroit Tigers and rookie starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull. Jansen batted eighth and went hitless on Opening Day and then received the day off on Friday. In just 72 plate appearances against right-handers in 2018, Jansen had a .226 ISO and a wOBA of... Read More

Alex Cobb Throws In Minor League Game

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Alex Cobb (groin) threw five innings in a minor league game on Friday. Cobb was positive about the outing and said he felt "great." If all goes as planned, he should be available to start Baltimore's home opener on Thursday. Cobb went 5-15 in his first season with the Orioles, housing... Read More

Matt Barnes Records First Save

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes netted his first save of the 2019 season in a 7-6 victory over the Mariners on Friday evening. He needed just 12 pitches to register the save while striking out two of the three batters he faced. Barnes' opportunity came after the Sox climbed out of a 6-1... Read More

Starling Marte Returns To Lineup On Saturday

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Starling Marte (migraine) makes his season debut on Saturday after missing Opening Day. The 30-year-old will man the two-spot in a Pirates lineup that faces Sonny Gray, who is making his Cincinnati Reds debut. This is a welcome addition back to the lineup as Marte is the team's best player. In... Read More

Nathan Eovaldi Labors Through Five Innings In Season Debut

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi went five innings and surrendered six runs in the comeback 7-6 win over the Mariners on Friday night. The righty allowed eight hits, including three home runs, while also striking out and walking three each. However, he was spared a loss thanks in part to Mitch Moreland's pinch-hit... Read More

Brandon Belt Sitting Friday, Buster Posey Batting Second

San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is sitting against lefty Joey Lucchesi, while catcher Buster Posey takes his place and will bat in the two spot. Third baseman Evan Longoria also steps into the cleanup spot, while utility-man Yangervis Solarte will play second base and bat third. The Giants are shaking up their Opening... Read More

Rafael Devers Batting Sixth, Sam Travis Playing First

Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers is hitting sixth, while first baseman Sam Travis is starting at first base and batting in the seven spot against southpaw Yusei Kikuchi on Friday night. Facing a lefty on the mound, Devers shifts down from the three spot where he hit on Opening Day, while Travis is... Read More

Corey Seager Batting Fifth On Friday

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager is batting fifth on Friday evening against the Diamondbacks. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts cited Seager's past struggles against Arizona southpaw Robbie Ray, whom Seager has 13 strikeouts in 26 career plate appearances against. Roberts also stated, "Outside of today, I don't see him anywhere outside of second or third,"... Read More

Nathan Eovaldi Hopes For Healthy Start To Season

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi makes his first start of the 2019 season on Friday against the Seattle Mariners. The 29-year-old has dealt with injuries and only has one season in his career where he's thrown more than 154 innings. Still, the Sox saw fit to award him with a four year, $68... Read More

Mookie Betts Has Three Base Knocks In Opening Tilt

Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts opened the season with a 3-for-5 performance while also scoring a run in the 12-4 loss to the Mariners on Thursday. Betts got the action started in the first for Boston, recording the team's first base knock and then coming around to score on a J.D. Martinez single.... Read More

Chris Sale Gets Shelled In Season Opener

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale made it just three innings in the Opening Day 12-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners. He allowed seven earned runs, six hits, including three home runs, while striking out four and walking two. This wasn't an ideal start for one of the premier arms in baseball as Sale's... Read More

Sandy Leon Accepts Assignment To Triple-A

Boston Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday after clearing waivers on Tuesday. The team may still look to trade Leon, as his $2.475 million contract is included in the Sox's Opening Day payroll. However, it may be tough to find suitors, as the defensive-minded catcher slashed .177/.232/.279... Read More

Lonnie Chisenhall Out 4-6 Weeks With Broken Hand

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall (hand) will be out four to six weeks with a broken hand, reports The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. He was hit-by-pitch in Monday’s spring training game against the Astros and was immediately pulled from the game. Chisenhall’s career has been marred by injuries but the Pirates are now forced to use... Read More

Melky Cabrera Batting Seventh On Opening Day

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Melky Cabrera will be the starting right fielder and bat seventh against the Reds on Opening Day on Thursday. Cabrera gets the nod after expected starter Lonnie Chisenhall (hand) was pulled from Monday’s spring game after being hit-by-pitch. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Thursday morning that Chisenhall has a broken... Read More

Jameson Taillon Eager For First Opening Day Start

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon will make his first career Opening Day start on Thursday on the road against the Cincinnati Reds. Taillon finished last season on a high note, reaching 14 wins in 32 starts. Over his final 22 starts, he never allowed more than three earned runs in an outing, compiling a... Read More

Nick Kingham Named To 25-Man Roster

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Nick Kingham was named to the Opening Day roster, the team announced on Tuesday. Also joining him on the season-opening 25-man roster are relief pitcher Nick Burdi, utilityman Pablo Reyes, and shortstop Kevin Newman. Kingham was fighting for the team's fifth rotation spot this spring but will instead start the season out... Read More

Mookie Betts Primed To Defend MVP Award

Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts cleaned up at the end of last season, winning a World Series, American League MVP, Silver Slugger, the AL batting title, and a Gold Glove. At age 26, Betts is in the heart of his prime and is one of the premier players MLB has to offer. In... Read More

Lonnie Chisenhall’s Opening Day Status In Question

Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall (hand) isn't available in the team's final spring training game against the Astros on Tuesday. He was hit by a pitch in Monday's contest and was immediately pulled from the game for precaution. Chisenhall had a history of injuries in his time with the Indians but was brought to... Read More

Rick Porcello Hit In Head During Start, Remains In Game

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Rick Porcello was struck in the head with a Willson Contreras line drive on Monday but was able to get up immediately and remained in the game. It was reported that all concussion tests came back negative. He finished four complete innings, allowing two earned runs, while striking out three,... Read More

Andrew Benintendi Ready For Leadoff Role

Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi has gone six for his last 12, including two home runs over his last three games. With Opening Day around the corner, the 24-year-old is shifting into the leadoff role for the Sox this year. In 2018, Benintendi had a slash line of .322/.381/.598 from the leadoff spot,... Read More

Dustin Pedroia Set To Play On Tuesday

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) will appear in the team's final spring training game against the Cubs on Tuesday. Pedroia will start the year on the IL to get back to full strength at extended Spring Training. However, the 35-year-old has played in six Grapefruit League games so far. He's tallied five... Read More

David Price Eyeing Opening Weekend Start

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher David Price will toe the rubber for one more spring appearance on Tuesday against the Cubs. Price hasn't pitched in a spring training game since March 12 after coming down with a norovirus; however, he has thrown bullpens on the side. How Price feels on Tuesday will determine if and... Read More

Steve Pearce's Opening Day Status Up In The Air

Boston Red Sox first baseman Steve Pearce (calf) may or may not be with the team come Opening Day on Thursday. When asked if the veteran would be ready for the season's opener, manager Alex Cora said "hoping so." The 35-year-old has two home runs in 17 at-bats this spring but hasn't appeared in a... Read More

Sandy Leon Placed On Waivers

Boston Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon has been placed on waivers, while fellow catchers Blake Swihart and Christian Vazquez have made the Opening Day roster. It's been an interesting three-way battle through the spring between Swihart, Leon, and Vazquez to see who the Sox would carry to Beantown with them. Out of minor-league options, it's... Read More

Blake Swihart Named to Opening Day Roster

Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart has made the Opening Day roster, according to Evan Drellich of WEEI. Subsequently, catcher Sandy Leon has been placed on waivers. He and Christian Vazquez will break camp as the teams' backstops to start the season. The 26-year-old has taken full advantage of his chance at the plate this... Read More

Colten Brewer, Hector Velazquez Round Out Red Sox Bullpen

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed on Saturday that relief pitchers Colten Brewer and Hector Velazquez will make the Opening Day roster as members of the Sox's bullpen. The 25-year-old Brewer was acquired from the Padres in November and threw 10 innings this spring, scattering nine hits, allowing four earned runs, while fanning 10... Read More

Chris Sale Fans Six in Final Spring Outing

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale went five innings, while allowing two hits, one walk, and striking out six in Saturday's 12-3 win over the Pirates. As the Opening Day starter for the Red Sox, this was the southpaw's final tuneup of spring training. He comes fresh-off signing a five-year, $145 million extension. Sale... Read More