Josh Hader Blows Save, Takes Loss Tuesday

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader blew his first save opportunity of the season and fell to 0-2 in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays. Hader came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up 1-0. He allowed a leadoff single, induced a groundball double play, allowed a walk, gave up a two-run... Read More

Michael Kopech Earns Multi-Inning Save Tuesday

Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Michael Kopech earned his first save of the season in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Braves. Kopech came in to pitch the top of the eighth inning up by one with one out and runners on first and second. He got a groundball double play to end the half-inning and... Read More

Mets-Tigers Postponed Tuesday

Tuesday's game between the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers has been postponed due to inclement weather. The contest will be rescheduled for Thursday, which is an off-day for both clubs. Adrian Houser was set to get the ball for the Mets, while Casey Mize was going to toe the slab for the Tigers, and... Read More

Brusdar Graterol Moved To 60-Day Injured List

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Tuesday that they have moved right-hander Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list and acquired left-handed reliever Nick Ramirez from the New York Yankees in a corresponding move in exchange for cash considerations. Graterol was cleared to throw off a mound on Tuesday for the first time since... Read More

Yankees Sign Phil Bickford To Minor-League Deal

The New York Yankees signed free-agent right-hander Phil Bickford to a minor-league deal on Tuesday. Bickford was a first-round pick (18th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2015 out of Southern Nevada. He became a free agent after the Mets released him after spring training. Bickford pitched for the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers... Read More

Paul Sewald Resumes Throwing

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald (oblique) threw up to 60 feet on Tuesday and was asymptomatic, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The skipper called the session a good sign in Sewald's progression as he tries to recover from a Grade 2 oblique strain that he suffered late in spring training. The injury landed the 33-year-old... Read More

Jordan Romano Throws Successful Side Session

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano (elbow) threw a successful side session in Florida on Tuesday, an important step towards his return to the big-league bullpen. It was the first time that Romano threw off a mound since being diagnosed with right-elbow inflammation during spring training. Both he and Erik Swanson (forearm) opened the regular... Read More

Ryan Brasier Named As Tuesday's Opener

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Ryan Brasier will take the ball as the opener for Tuesday's game against the San Francisco Giants. The right-hander will get the starting nod in what appears to be a bullpen game for the Dodgers. The expectation is that Brasier will pitch one or two innings before handing it off... Read More

Genesis Cabrera's Suspension Dropped To Two Games

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Genesis Cabrera's appeal has been settled on a two-game suspension, according to the team. He will begin serving his two-game suspension on Tuesday when the team takes on the Houston Astros. The league initially suspended the 27-year-old for three games for pushing Tampa Bay Rays infielder Jose Caballero during a... Read More

Florio's Bullpen Report: Figuring Out Early-Season Usage

We are back! For those who have read this article in the past, you know the deal. For those new, welcome. Every week, I write about bullpens that are changing their late-inning usage, and give some relievers you can speculate on that are trending toward save opportunities and elite strikeout and ratio relievers in fantasy... Read More

Who Is The Pirates' Closer? Fantasy Baseball Saves Outlooks

David Bednar had an absolutely stellar 2023. Despite the Pirates winning only 76 games, Bednar logged 39 saves backed by a solid 2.53 FIP and 28.9% K%. Bednar was the clear favorite coming into 2024, arguably a top-five closer given the dwindling "traditional" closer roles across the MLB. With a back (latissimus) injury popping up... Read More

Who Is The Tigers' Closer? Fantasy Baseball Saves Outlooks

Looking at the Detroit Tigers' depth chart for 2024, the bullpen can seem overwhelming. Unlike prior years, there is closer experience and strong pitching overall amongst the Detroit bullpen arms, mixed in with early-career guys who have shown flashes of brilliance. Andrew Chafin has previous closing experience, particularly during his time with the Diamondbacks. Shelby... Read More

Week 2 Waiver Wire Rankings: Jared Jones, Abner Uribe, Jason Foley, Jake Fraley, Jose Siri, Leody Taveras, Jack Flaherty, Garrett Crochet

There are so many things happening in the first few games of the MLB season, and it's important to stay on top of all of them -- the latest injuries and players that need to be picked up. New closers will emerge, prospects will surge, and players will break out. With an extra-busy first few... Read More

Victor Gonzalez Earns Save Monday

New York Yankees relief pitcher Victor Gonzalez earned his first save of the season in Monday's 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks. Gonzalez came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first out on a fly-out, gave up a ground-rule double, got the second out on a fly-out,... Read More

Ryne Stanek Earns Save Monday

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Ryne Stanek picked up his first save of the season in Monday's 5-4 win over the Guardians. Stanek came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by one and delivered a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout. Andres Munoz would typically see save opportunities for the Mariners, but he... Read More

Craig Kimbrel Blows Save, Earns Win Monday

Baltimore Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel blew his first save of the season but earned a win in Monday's 6-4 game against the Royals. Kimbrel came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by one. He got the first out on a strikeout, allowed a single, allowed the runner to advance to third... Read More

Carlos Estevez Earns Second Consecutive Save Monday

Los Angeles Angels closer Carlos Estevez picked up his second save of the season in Monday's 7-4 win over the Marlins. Estevez came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth up by three. He allowed a leadoff single but then induced a ground-ball double play and got a fly-out to end the game. The... Read More

Aroldis Chapman Earns One-Out Save Monday

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman earned his first save of the season in Monday's 8-4 win over the Nationals. The 36-year-old entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning up by four with two outs and runners on first and second and ended things with a fly-out. This was not a typical... Read More

Dodgers Call Up Dinelson Lamet

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected right-hander Dinelson Lamet's contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday and designated right-handed reliever Nabil Crismatt for assignment in a corresponding move. Lamet will be making his season debut when he gets into a game, as he hadn't appeared at all for Oklahoma City. The 31-year-old veteran will provide the... Read More

Brusdar Graterol Set To Throw Off A Mound

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) says he feels "great" and is scheduled to throw off a mound on Tuesday. Graterol started the season on the 15-day injured list with a sore right shoulder, and he'll look to progress to bullpen sessions sometime in the near future if all continues to go well... Read More

Kenley Jansen Available From Boston's Bullpen

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora says closer Kenley Jansen (back) is available on Monday for the start of a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics. "He had a great day yesterday," Cora said. Jansen was unavailable out of Boston's bullpen for Saturday's extra-inning defeat to the Seattle Mariners due to back tightness, but he's... Read More

Matt Brash, Gregory Santos Making Progress

Seattle Mariners right-hander Matt Brash (elbow) threw a bullpen session in Arizona on Monday and mixed in some sliders. He hasn't started throwing at maximum effort yet but is making steady progress. Meanwhile, righty Gregory Santos' (lat) MRI exam came back clean and he began light baseball activities on Monday. There aren't any specific timetables... Read More

Josh Hader, Bryan Abreu Unavailable Monday Night

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader and right-handed reliever Bryan Abreu are both unavailable on Monday night against the Toronto Blue Jays, according to manager Joe Espada. Hader pitched three of the first four games of the season against the New York Yankees over the weekend, and Abreu threw on Saturday and Sunday during the team's... Read More

Jordan Romano To Get Back Off The Mound Tuesday

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Jordan Romano (elbow) is slated to get back off a mound on Tuesday as he continues to recover from an elbow issue. While the ailment isn't expected to keep the closer out long, it still cost him an injured list stint to begin the season. The 30-year-old has been one of... Read More

Erik Swanson Throws Bullpen Monday

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Erik Swanson (forearm) threw a bullpen session on Monday and felt good, according to manager John Schneider. Swanson has been sidelined by a forearm issue recently that forced him to the injured list to begin the season. The injury is a tough blow, as Swanson could have been in line for... Read More

Spotlight on MLB Spring Training Pitcher Fundamentals

If ever there was a time to ignore runs and hits and shift attention more directly onto pitching fundamentals at the core level, MLB spring training just might be it. Blinding sun and skies and stadium-unobstructed winds can turn sure outs into hits. Arizona infield surfaces tend to play rock-hard relative to Florida ones. Minor... Read More

Jose Leclerc Takes Loss Sunday

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jose Leclerc got demolished on Sunday, leading to a 9-5 loss at the hands of the Chicago Cubs. Leclerc entered into a 5-5 game in the ninth, but things unraveled for him quickly. He walked three and allowed a hit before being pulled. All four of those runners ended up scoring,... Read More

Clay Holmes Knocks Down Third Save

New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes collected his league-leading third save of the season in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Houston Astros. Holmes allowed a pair of hits but managed to escape unscathed to solidify the Yankees sweep. The 31-year-old has been a bit shaky in his appearances so far this season, allowing five hits... Read More

Jason Foley Picks Up Another Save On Sunday

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Jason Foley collected his second save of the season on Sunday, helping the team to a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. Foley didn't allow a baserunner and didn't strike out anyone either in his two-thirds of an inning. The closer job in Detroit may be Foley's to lose, as... Read More

Kyle Finnegan Falls Apart On Sunday

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan had a tough outing on Sunday, blowing a two-run lead and taking both the blown save and the loss in a 6-5 defeat against the Cincinnati Reds. Finnegan allowed three hits, including two homers, which did him in. After a solid performance on Saturday and Hunter Harvey giving up... Read More