Shohei Ohtani Wins World Baseball Classic MVP Award

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani shined bright Tuesday as Team Japan defeated Team USA 3-2 to win the World Baseball Classic. Ohtani served as the team's closer to protect a one-run lead. He allowed a leadoff walk to Jeff McNeil before getting Mookie Betts to ground into a double play. In one […]

Brandon Nimmo Tests His Ankle/Knee

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (ankle, knee) tested his sprained ankle/knee on Tuesday at camp. Team officials liked what they saw from him and said that Nimmo is progressing, although it's unclear what that means for his availability on Opening Day on March 30. The 29-year-old is dealing with low-grade sprains in both his […]

Noah Syndergaard Pitches Through Blister Issue Tuesday

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (hand) said he wasn't able to really get much footing in the rain on Tuesday during his Cactus League start against the San Francisco Giants, which explains some of his inconsistent velocity. Syndergaard has been dealing with a blister off and on for the last few months, and […]

Drew Pomeranz Unlikely To Be Ready For Opening Day

San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin said there has been a "mild setback" for relief pitcher Drew Pomeranz (elbow). He has been throwing on flat ground but likely will not appear in a Cactus League game and will not be ready for Opening Day. The 34-year-old southpaw is dealing with more pain and inflammation in […]

Julio Urias Likely To Start Opening Day For Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias is likely to make the start on Opening Day on March 30 at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Urias was the Dodgers best starter in 2022 and went 17-7 with a league-best 2.16 ERA (3.71 FIP), 0.96 WHIP and 24.1 percent strikeout rate in 175 innings and 31 starts. […]

Matthew Liberatore, Dakota Hudson Optioned Tuesday

The St. Louis Cardinals optioned left-hander Matthew Liberatore and right-hander Dakota Hudson to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday. The Cardinals will roll with Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas, Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty and Steven Matz in their five-man starting rotation to begin the 2023 regular season, so Liberatore and Hudson will begin in the minors. Liberatore is […]

Rockies Reassign Zac Veen To Minor-League Camp

The Colorado Rockies announced on Tuesday that they reassigned outfielder Zac Veen and catcher Drew Romo to minor-league camp. The Rockies have 44 players remaining in major-league spring training, including 10 non-roster players and one player on the 60-day injured list. The 21-year-old Veen, the team's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was never expected […]

Juan Soto Getting An MRI On Tuesday

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (oblique) is getting an MRI exam on Tuesday, according to manager Bob Melvin. "We're thinking it's fairly mild, which hopefully is the case." Soto suffered a strained left oblique while playing in a minor-league game on Sunday, but the team is still hoping that he'll be ready to go […]

Kevin Gausman Dominating Spring Training Foes

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman has yet to allow a run this spring. Through four games and 13 2/3 innings, Gausman has been nearly perfect. He has 18 strikeouts and a 0.80 WHIP. Gausman obviously can't keep up this pace, but it's nice to see a top pitching option showing he's ready for […]

Kyle Schwarber A Mixed Bag In WBC

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber has been hit or miss in the World Baseball Classic thus far. Schwarber is 2-for-11 but has four walks. One of his hits was a home run and he has three RBI and three runs in the tournament. He has played in four games heading into Tuesday's finals matchup against […]

Randy Arozarena Has Blistering WBC

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena had a great World Baseball Classic for Team Mexico. Arozarena had nine hits, seven of which went for extra bases, six doubles and a home run. He had a .450/.607/.900 slash line in six games for Mexico. Before heading out for the WBC, he hit two home runs for […]

Emmanuel Clase Having Below-Average Spring

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has pitched to a 4.50 ERA during six spring games. He has a 1.33 WHIP and four strikeouts over six innings pitched. It's not a great start for Clase, but it's nothing to worry about here. As with most spring stats, don't look too much into them. The 2022 Mariano […]

J.T. Realmuto Wielding Hot Bat In WBC

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto is 5-for-8 with a double and two RBI during the World Baseball Classic. Realmuto has also walked once without a strikeout in his three games behind the dish. Realmuto was hitting .500 in eight spring at-bats before heading to the WBC, so he's been in midseason form all spring. He […]

Carson Kelly To Miss Time With Fractured Forearm

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Carson Kelly (forearm) has a fractured right forearm, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Kelly will obviously miss time, but the Diamondbacks haven't given a timetable for his return in 2023. He fractured his arm when he was hit by a pitch in a Cactus League game on Monday against the Chicago White […]

Brandon Crawford, Mitch Haniger Improving

San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (knee) will return to the Cactus League lineup this week. Meanwhile, outfielder Mitch Haniger (oblique) has started throwing and hitting in camp. Outfielder Austin Slater (hamstring) isn't doing any baseball activities with nine days until Opening Day. Crawford received a cortisone injection in his left knee last week and […]

Eloy Jimenez Scheduled To Play Wednesday

Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez (calf) is fine and did some running on Tuesday. He's scheduled to play in one of the team's split-squad Cactus League games on Wednesday. Jimenez was pulled from Monday's game due to a right calf injury, but it just cramping and nothing serious. The 26-year-old Dominican outfielder hit a […]

Tyler O'Neill Hopes To Play Wednesday

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O'Neill (illness) was back with his teammates on Tuesday after getting over a stomach virus, and he was able to take batting practice and shag fly balls. O'Neill hasn't playing since returning from the World Baseball Classic but hopes to play in a Grapefruit League game on Wednesday, according to […]

Shohei Ohtani Available To Pitch In WBC Final

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Shohei Ohtani is available to pitch one inning of relief for Team Japan on Tuesday night against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic final, according to Angels manager Phil Nevin. If Ohtani pitches on Tuesday evening, it won't affect his availability to make the team's Opening Day start on March […]

Byron Buxton Making Spring Debut Tuesday

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (knee) is making his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays and left-hander Josh Fleming. Buxton is serving as the designated hitter and is batting leadoff for the Twins. While this will be Buxton's first Grapefruit League game, he has already picked up a good amount of […]

Gabriel Moreno Hitting Ninth Against Angels

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (hand) is back in the team's Cactus League lineup on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Tyler Anderson. Moreno is behind the plate and is batting ninth in the lineup. The 23-year-old backstop will return to the spring lineup after being hit by a pitch in the hand […]

Brandon Drury Back In Tuesday's Lineup

Los Angeles Angels corner infielder Brandon Drury (calf) is back in the team's Cactus League lineup on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Zach Davies. Drury is starting at first base and is hitting second in the batting order. It's his first spring game since injuring his calf while fouling a ball off his […]

J.D. Martinez (UT, LAD) - 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 190 CURRENT ADP: ~215 overall ANALYSIS: Martinez was still a good hitter in 2022, with a barrel rate of 12.2% and a wOBA of .342, but he did seem to take a step back. Martinez had a three-mph decrease in average exit velocity in 2022 with only 16 HRs as […]

Michael Lorenzen Has Mild Groin Strain

Detroit Tigers right-hander Michael Lorenzen (groin), who was scratched from his Grapefruit League start on Monday, is dealing with a mild left groin strain. He will progress to baseball activities in camp as his symptoms allow, but it doesn't sound like Lorenzen will need to begin the 2023 regular season on the injured list. The […]

Bryce Harper Won't Open Season On 60-Day Injured List

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper (elbow) will not open the 2023 regular season on the 60-day injured list, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. The Phillies can put Harper on the 60-day IL at any time, if needed, retroactive to Opening Day. It doesn't mean that he'll be back earlier than anticipated around […]

David Robertson Likely To Be Mets Closer

With New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz (knee) likely to miss all of the 2023 season, reliever David Robertson will likely serve as the fill-in closer this year. It's also possible that the Mets look to trade for another closer-worthy reliever, but big trades are rare this time of year and the Mets guard their […]

Michael Brantley Not Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker all but confirmed on Tuesday that outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) will start the 2023 season on the injured list. Brantley had surgery on his right shoulder last August and has been taking it slow during spring training. He also missed some valuable time in camp while he was away from […]

Yordan Alvarez To Make Spring Debut On Thursday

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday, according to manager Dusty Baker. Alvarez has yet to play in a spring game while battling through left hand soreness in camp, but he's ready to go now and should be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback […]

Merrill Kelly Starting WBC Final For Team USA

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly has been confirmed as the starter for Team USA against Team Japan on Tuesday night in the World Baseball Classic final. Kelly's last outing in the WBC came last Wednesday against Team Colombia, when he allowed two runs in three innings of work. The 34-year-old right-hander will draw another […]

Yu Darvish Won't Start WBC Final Against Team USA

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish, who was originally scheduled to start against Team USA in Tuesday night's World Baseball Classic championship game, will no longer get the nod. Instead, it will be left-hander Shoto Imanaga toeing the rubber for Japan. Even though Darvish won't get the start, he could be available for an inning […]

Triston Casas Day-To-Day With Finger Pain

Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (finger) was scratched from Tuesday's Grapefruit League game with left fifth finger pain and is considered day-to-day. The injury isn't too serious, and the Red Sox expect Casas to return to spring action in a day or two. Fantasy managers won't need to worry about the 23-year-old not […]