RADIO
Jonathan Loaisiga "Looks Outstanding"
New York Yankees right-handed reliever Jonathan Loaisiga "looks outstanding" this spring, according to manager Aaron Boone. Loaisiga had the distinction of being the slowest pitcher in baseball last year with nobody on base, but this year he'll be forced to speed up with the new pitch clock in play. He had a 7.02 ERA over... Read More
Hunter Brown Struggles With Command
Houston Astros starting pitcher prospect Hunter Brown struggled in his second start of the spring on Monday. The teams top prospect got through the first inning with just a single allowed, but opened the second frame with three walks and was yanked for reliever Ty Buttrey. Buttrey would in turn allow all three inherited runners... Read More
Tink Hence Strikes Out Two In Relief
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Tink Hence worked a scoreless frame in Monday's victory versus the Houston Astros. The right-hander allowed a free pass, but also struck out two on the afternoon. Hence, 20, has rapidly climbed Top-100 boards over the past year and for good reason. Hence was 0-1 with a shiny 1.38 ERA... Read More
Joely Rodriguez To Pitch This Week
Boston Red Sox left-hander Joely Rodriguez (shoulder) will pitch in a Grapefruit League game this week. Rodriguez isn't behind in camp, he's just being careful after having shoulder surgery in the offseason. The 31-year-old southpaw reliever had a 4.47 ERA (3.23 FIP), 1.35 WHIP and career-high 57 strikeouts in 50 1/3 relief innings over 55... Read More
Steven Okert Makes Third Spring Appearance Sunday
Miami Marlins relief pitcher Steven Okert (triceps) made his third Grapefruit League outing on Sunday in a 4-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox, striking out one in a scoreless inning of work. So far in spring training action, the 31-year-old left-hander hasn't allowed a run in his three innings of work while striking out... Read More
Ryan Thompson Makes Spring Debut
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Ryan Thompson (triceps) made his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles and walked one in a scoreless inning of work in relief. Thompson ended the 2022 season on the 60-day injured list due to right triceps inflammation, but he's healthy now and should be just fine for the... Read More
Three Picks At Each Position - Expensive, Value and Cheap Players for Fantasy Baseball
If I had the time and approval, I could come here every single day and give you hard-hitting data analysis. We could learn all kinds of stuff and do all kinds of speculating and projecting, getting very into the granular data. I do that from time to time on here, but I'm not so egg-headed... Read More
Tommy Kahnle Shut Down From Throwing
New York Yankees relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle (biceps) has been shut down from throwing, according to manager Aaron Boone. The 33-year-old is dealing with right biceps tendinitis, so the team will have him take time off and hope the issue goes away. The right-hander has thrown in a total of 13 games over the last... Read More
Statcast xStats: Using Sabermetrics for 2023 Fantasy Baseball
Statcast is a valuable tool for fantasy baseball analysis, and it can be easy to look at a stat called "Expected Batting Average" and blindly use it as your projection moving forward. Of course, proper use of these metrics is a little bit more nuanced than that. First, a disclaimer: This article is about the... Read More
Tigers Sign Trevor Rosenthal To Minor-League Deal
The Detroit Tigers have agreed to terms on a minor-league deal with right-hander Trevor Rosenthal. The 32-year-old will receive an invitation to Spring Training and a chance to earn a roster spot in Detroit. Rosenthal hasn't pitched since 2020, but he was solid during that season. He posted a 1.90 ERA with 38 strikeouts and... Read More
Brad Hand Signs With Rockies
The Colorado Rockies have reached an agreement with free agent relief pitcher Brad Hand. The two sides have agreed on a one-year deal worth $2 million for the 2023 season. This deal also includes a $7 million club option for the 2024 campaign. The left-hander posted a 2.80 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 38/23 K/BB... Read More
Rangers Sign Will Smith
The Texas Rangers signed free-agent left-hander Will Smith to an undisclosed one-year major-league contract on Saturday. Smith will join the team's spring training workouts on Saturday. The 33-year-old reliever pitched for the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros in 2022, posting a 3.97 ERA (4.26 FIP), 1.41 WHIP, five saves and 65 strikeouts in 59 relief... Read More
A.J. Puk, Tanner Scott Throwing Off A Mound
Miami Marlins relief pitchers A.J. Puk (groin) and Tanner Scott (biceps) have resumed throwing off a mound in camp on Friday. Puk is dealing with left adductor tightness in spring training after being acquired in a trade from the Oakland Athletics, while Scott is dealing with a left biceps injury. The Marlins aren't naming a... Read More
Jose Cisnero Day-To-Day With Illness
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Jose Cisnero (illness) is being listed as day-to-day in camp with a non-COVID illness. Cisnero also dealt with a neck injury earlier in spring training, so he's only made one Grapefruit League appearance to this point. The 33-year-old should be ready to go again in a day or two. He put... Read More
Padres Open To Extending Josh Hader
Even after the San Diego Padres gave third baseman Manny Machado a new 11-year, $350 million deal, the team is open to having contract-extension discussions with closer Josh Hader. The Padres are expected to reach out soon to Hader, who will be a free agent after this season. "It's a great place to be, but... Read More
Statcast Pitch Tracking: Using Sabermetrics for 2023 Fantasy Baseball
When you're evaluating a pitcher by Pitch Info on FanGraphs, sometimes you see pitches that don't seem to accomplish anything. If Pitch X is seldom a strike, rarely chased outside of the zone, and not generating whiffs or a favorable batted line against, why doesn't the pitcher scrap it entirely? Some pitchers could improve by... Read More
Aaron Bummer On Track For Opening Day
Chicago White Sox reliever Aaron Bummer (shoulder) is expected to be ready for Opening Day. Bummer arrived at White Sox camp with soreness in his left shoulder and lat area. Bummer was limited to just 32 appearances in 2022 due to similar shoulder soreness. He is on track for a healthy 2023 campaign, which should... Read More
Daniel Hudson Might Not Be Ready For Opening Day
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson (ankle, knee) is progressing, but he might not be ready for Opening Day, according to manager Dave Roberts. Hudson has been throwing full-intensity bullpen sessions at spring training, but he's still nursing ankle tendinitis that he picked up while rehabbing from a torn left ACL that he suffered... Read More
Edwin Diaz Won't Pitch Back-To-Back Days In WBC
New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz said that he "won't pitch back-to-back days" in this year's World Baseball Classic for Team Puerto Rico. Diaz won't overexert himself before the start of the 2023 season, which is music to the ears of the Mets and fantasy managers alike. The 28-year-old right-hander is one of the most... Read More
Jose Leclerc Bows Out Of World Baseball Classic
Texas Rangers closer Jose Leclerc (neck) has officially dropped out of this year's World Baseball Classic for Team Dominican Republic, according to manager Bruce Bochy. General manager Chris Young said on Wednesday that LeClerc is dealing with some neck tightness. It remains to be seen when the 29-year-old will make his Cactus League debut in... Read More
Lucas Gilbreath May Need Tommy John Surgery
Colorado Rockies southpaw Lucas Gilbreath (elbow) may need Tommy John surgery after undergoing an MRI exam. Gilbreath's 2022 campaign finished with a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow, and it appears that surgery could be the next step. In a recent report, the 26-year-old said, "We're still looking into different options," but all signs are... Read More
Garrett Whitlock To Throw Live BP Friday
Boston Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock (hip) will throw live batting practice on Friday. He is expected to go two innings and hopes to return before the season starts. We can't rule out a stint on the injured list to begin the season, but Whitlock still has some time to be ready for Opening Day.... Read More
Daniel Hudson Progressing, Alex Reyes Not Throwing Off Mound
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson (ankle, knee) tore his left ACL last June but was expected to be fully recovered for the start of the 2023 season. However, he experienced right ankle tendinitis that set him back a few weeks. He's throwing bullpens in camp and is feeling healthy, but it's unclear if... Read More
Jose Leclerc Dealing With Neck Tightness
Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young said that relief pitcher Jose Leclerc (neck) is dealing with some neck tightness in camp, and the staff is evaluating how it might affect his participation in this year's World Baseball Classic for Team Dominican Republic. Leclerc had a strong 2.83 ERA (3.72 FIP), 1.13 WHIP, seven saves and... Read More
Sam Hentges Week-To-Week With Shoulder Inflammation
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Sam Hentges (shoulder) is dealing with shoulder inflammation and will be re-evaluated on a week-to-week basis. The 26-year-old left-hander had a strong 2.32 ERA (2.48 FIP), 0.97 WHIP, one save and 72 strikeouts in 62 relief innings in just his second major-league season in 2022, but he could be forced to... Read More
Nick Anderson To Make Spring Debut Wednesday
Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Nick Anderson (foot) is set to make his Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Anderson didn't pitch at all in the big leagues in 2022 and finished the season on the 60-day injured list due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot. The 32-year-old right-handed reliever should... Read More
Felix Bautista To Throw Another Bullpen Session Saturday
Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista (knee, shoulder) said he threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and will throw another one on Saturday. At this point, Bautista is feeling good and remains on track to be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback with his knee and shoulder soreness. The 27-year-old right-hander's next step in spring... Read More
Spin Rate: Using Sabermetrics for 2023 Fantasy Baseball
Spin rate has become one of the most recognizable Statcast metrics, with supporters of a given pitcher highlighting his spin rates to make their case. It has also become controversial due to allegations of pitchers using foreign substances to increase their spin. Unfortunately, the baseball world has done a lousy job of conveying what spin... Read More
A.J. Puk, Tommy Nance Dealing With Injuries
Miami Marlins left-hander A.J. Puk (groin) has some minor left adductor tightness but is scheduled to play catch on Tuesday. Right-hander Tommy Nance (shoulder) is dealing with slight shoulder discomfort and will be re-evaluated soon. Puk was acquired in a trade with the Oakland Athletics in the offseason, and given the depth at starting pitcher... Read More
Marlins Agree With Richard Rodriguez On Minor-League Deal
The Miami Marlins agreed with free-agent right-hander Richard Rodriguez on a minor-league deal on Tuesday that includes a non-roster invite to major-league spring training. Rodriguez is trying to make an MLB comeback after serving an 80-game suspension in 2022 for performance-enhancing drugs. The 32-year-old Dominican had a nice 2.94 ERA (4.04 FIP), 0.93 WHIP, career-high... Read More
