Andrew Heaney to Throw Bullpen Friday

Los Angeles Angels starter Andrew Heaney (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Friday. He is recovering from elbow inflammation but is not expected to miss much time. He could start in mid-April when the team needs a sixth starter. However, his 7.06 ERA from 2017 is cause for concern. Leave him on the […]

Nicholas Castellanos Batting Cleanup Friday

Detroit Tigers outfielder Nicholas Castellanos will assume the cleanup spot in the lineup Friday against Pittsburgh's Ivan Nova, against whom he has two hits in four career at-bats. Castellanos had a career-best 26 homers and 101 RBI last year and followed it up with five homers during spring training. Castellanos is a safe bet to […]

Bruce Bochy Optimistic That Mark Melancon Can Return Soon

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy said on Thursday that he is hoping that closer Mark Melancon (elbow) will be able to return in a couple of weeks. Bochy also noted that until Melancon starts throwing, it will be hard to have a firm timeline. Hunter Strickland was announced as the Giants closer and picked […]

Cam Bedrosian Pitches in Seventh Inning

Los Angeles Angels reliever Cam Bedrosian entered in the seventh inning on Opening Day. He only recorded one out, giving up three hits and an earned run before ceding to Jose Alvarez. This is pretty solid proof that Blake Parker is the closer for now in LA, although manager Mike Scioscia is not always easy […]

Tyler Flowers Leaves Opening Day Game With Oblique Discomfort

It's a good thing that the Atlanta Braves decided to carry three catchers on their Opening Day roster. Tyler Flowers left Thursday's game against the Phillies with oblique discomfort. He's likely to land on the disabled list, and Kurt Suzuki will get the starting nod and Chris Stewart will be the backup. Suzuki could be […]

Albert Pujols Connects on Fifth Career Opening Day HR

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols hit his fifth career Opening Day home run in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the A's. The home run was the 615th of his storied career. Coming off far and away the worst season of his career, Pujols can still provide home run and RBI production in a fantasy […]

Kole Calhoun Homers, Scores Twice

Los Angeles Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun went 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored in LA's 6-5 loss in extra innings. Calhoun got off to a strong start, batting fifth behind Albert Pujols. Calhoun had a strong spring as well, a good indication that he is putting his ugly 2017 (.244) behind […]

Jesse Winker Leading Off Opener, Adam Duvall On Bench

The Cincinnati Reds have outfielder Jesse Winker leading off on Opening Day. Veteran Adam Duvall finds himself on the bench while 2017 leadoff man Billy Hamilton will bat ninth. Winker will draw a tough matchup as he will be the first Red to take his cuts against 2017 National League Cy Young winner Max Scherzer. […]

Mike Trout Goes 0-For-6 in Debut

Los Angeles Angels superstar outfielder Mike Trout did something he'd never done in a major league game on Opening Day -- he did not record a hit in six at-bats. While the 0-for-6 start is certainly disappointing, it obviously does not represent any real cause for concern for the superstar. Hitting second between second baseman Ian […]

Nolan Arenado Homers In Arizona

Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado hit a long bomb on Opening Day as he looks to continue his dominance in 2018. Arenado is coming off an MVP-caliber season last year, and it looks like he'll pick up right where he left off once again. Expect Arenado to continue to be a fantasy stalwart across […]

Shohei Ohtani Singles in First At-Bat

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani went 1-for-5 in his hitting debut, singling in his first ever big league at-bat. The Angels have indicated that they want Ohtani to DH a handful of times per week when he is not pitching. Despite Ohtani's poor (4-for-30) hitting this spring, that still appears to be the […]

Jon Gray Struggles In Day One Start

Colorado Rockies ace Jon Gray mixed the good and the bad on the first day of the season, but an early exit resulted when he dealt with a second bases loaded situation. Gray got touched up early by loading the bases and giving up a double to Jake Lamb that arguably would have been a […]

Trevor Story Strikes Out Three Times

Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story picked up right where he left off in 2017 by striking out three times on Opening Day. Last season, Story struck out a massive 34% of the time, and he was nearly unownable for the first two months of the season as he couldn't stay above the Mendoza Line. His […]

Garrett Richards Roughed up on Opening Day

Los Angeles Angels starter Garrett Richards started off strong, but a pair of home runs in the fifth inning saw his start unravel. He finished with four earned runs on seven hits, with three walks and four strikeouts in five innings. A disappointing start for Richards, who hung a couple pitches to Khris Davis and […]

DJ LeMahieu Homers On Opening Day

Colorado Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu smacked his first homer in his first at-bat of the season. LaMahieu's never hit more than 11 in a year, so this is likely just the first of a few this season, but his elite contact rate and the lack of depth at second base makes the possibility of […]

Freddie Freeman Hits Two-Run Blast In Opening Day Win

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman showed why we love him so much on Opening Day. He hit a two-run homer on Thursday. He went 1-for-2 on the day thanks to three walks -- opposing pitchers don't love him that much. He's likely going to get another crack at the Phillies on Friday night.

Zack Cozart Hits Homer in Debut

Los Angeles Angels infielder Zack Cozart, batting leadoff and playing second base in Ian Kinsler's absence, went 3-for-6 with a home run in his Angels debut. Cozart will transition back to third base and move down in the order when Kinsler (groin) returns. Still, it was nice to see Cozart get off to a hot […]

Chris Iannetta Gathers Three Hits

Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta was on a roll against Arizona on Opening Day, smacking three hits in four at-bats. All three were singles, but hits are always few and far between for catchers who were late draft picks. Iannetta's coming off one of the best seasons of his career, and he's returning to the […]

Lucas Duda Homers In First KC At-Bat

Newly acquired Kansas City Royals first baseman Lucas Duda showed off his pop on Opening Day by homering in his very first at-bat with the team. The shot allowed the Royals to jump out to an early lead, but that would eventually be left in the dust as the team lost 14-7. Duda would finish […]

Danny Duffy Rocked By White Sox

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy will need to put a rough Opening Day behind him after getting lit up by Chicago. After rolling through three innings, Duffy's fourth inning included surrendering three home runs to the south siders. He wouldn't return for the fifth inning, and the White Sox continued to dismantle the […]

Brad Brach Blows Save Against Twins

Baltimore Orioles interim closer Brad Brach didn't help his case on Thursday to be the main guy in Zach Britton's absence. He entered the game and gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Walking two hitters definitely did NOT help. Manager Buck Showalter may see how reliever Darren O'Day does or he may give […]

Robinson Chirinos with Four K's in Opener

Texas Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos went hitless across four at-bats on Opening Day, striking out each time. It wasn't exactly a banner opener for the veteran, who should spend the majority of the season as the Rangers starter. Chirinos brings good power, but plenty of swing and miss as well, especially against right-handed pitching. Fantasy […]

Matt Olson Hits HR On Birthday

Oakland Athletics outfielder Matt Olson went 1-for-5 on Opening Day, which was also his birthday. Olson's one hit was apart of back-to-back homers with Khris Davis in the fifth against Garrett Richards. Olson hit 24 homers in only 59 games in 2017. Expect Olson to reach nearly 30 home runs in 2018, but it might […]

Khris Davis Drives In Four Against Angels

Oakland Athletics outfielder Khris Davis went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run, ending the day with four RBI. He has hit at least 42 home runs and collected 102 RBI the last two seasons. Crush Davis is determined to make it three years in a row with at least 40 home runs, but it comes […]

Denard Span Is Tampa Bay Rays Opening Game Hero

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Denard Span was the hero of the first game of the regular season Thursday versus Boston. He came up with the bases loaded in the eighth inning with Tampa Bay losing 4-2. He would hit a bases-clearing triple to give them the lead before getting knocked in by the next hitter […]

Matt Duffy With A Solid Season Opener

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Matt Duffy drove in the first run of the season for Tampa Bay Thursday versus Boston. He would also come around to score in the decisive six-run eighth inning of the 6-4 victory. It was his first regular season game in 570 days. Also of note, manager Kevin Cash's last […]

Nathan Eovaldi With Further Good News For Rays On Opening Day

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) received good news Thursday ahead of the team's season opener. He will have elbow surgery Friday but the issue is three loose pieces of cartilage which is a solvable issue. The news moved the narrative from merely a best-case scenario being Eovaldi stepping on a mound in […]

Chris Archer With No-Decision In Season Opener

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer went six innings Thursday versus Boston in the regular season opener. He allowed four runs with six strikeouts. He left trailing 4-0 but the Rays rallied to win 6-4 to spare him the loss. He pitched well outside of a rough second inning where he gave up three […]

Paul Goldschmidt Walks Three Times On Opening Day

Diamondbacks star Paul Goldschmidt went 0-for-2 with three walks and a run scored in Arizona’s 8-2 win over the Rockies. As per usual, Goldschmidt’s excellent on base skills helped owners despite the hitless day. It wasn’t a banner day for Goldy, but getting on base three times in five at-bats is a good day for […]

David Peralta Has Three Hits From Leadoff Spot

Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI double in Arizona’s 8-2 win over the Rockies. The minor hand injury Peralta suffered at the end of spring training did not affect him at all. Peralta is two seasons removed from his breakout, but the contact and line drive skills remain despite […]