Jimmy Lambert, Joe Barlow Dealing With Shoulder Soreness

Chicago White Sox relief pitchers Jimmy Lambert and Joe Barlow are both dealing with shoulder soreness in camp. Lambert will be sideline for 10 to 14 days, while Barlow could be out even longer. Lambert has not pitched since making his Cactus League debut on Feb. 25 and is going to be out for some […]

Andrew Wantz Moving Into Starting Role

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Andrew Wantz has moved into a starting role, at least for now, according to skipper Ron Washington. Washington said the reason for it is the team's need for depth in the starting rotation. Wantz hasn't been a starter since the 2019 season in the minor leagues, but he'll remain stretched out […]

Robert Stephenson Unsure If He'll Be Ready By Opening Day

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Robert Stephenson (shoulder) said he's confident he'll be pitching in spring training games, but he's not sure it will be enough games for him to be active on Opening Day in late March. Stephenson is working his way back from right-shoulder soreness in camp and was able to play catch on […]

Sean Hjelle A Possibility For Giants Rotation

With San Francisco Giants right-hander Tristan Beck (arm) now facing a potentially lengthy absence due to an aneurysm in his arm, manager Bob Melvin mentioned 26-year-old Sean Hjelle as a candidate to enter the starting rotation for the beginning of the 2024 season with Alex Cobb (hip) and Robbie Ray (elbow) to open the year […]

Fantasy Baseball Injury Reports for Pitchers - Updates for Justin Verlander, Walker Buehler, Matt Brash, Robert Stephenson, and more

The 2024 MLB season hasn't started yet, but there are already injury concerns for top hurlers ahead of the new campaign. With fantasy baseball drafts in full swing, these bumps and bruises are sure to have an impact on a few stud pitchers' ADPs. Let's take a look at injured pitchers Justin Verlander, Walker Buehler, […]

Spin Rate: Using Sabermetrics For 2024 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. Unfortunately, the baseball world has done a lousy job of conveying what spin rate really means. The result has been a ton of fantasy managers who know spin rate exists, […]

Camilo Doval Efficient In First Outing This Spring

San Francisco Giants closer Camilo Doval was very efficient during Monday's Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Angels. He pitched one full inning but required just eight pitches, all of which were strikes. He surrendered one hit and struck out two batters along the way. Doval has emerged as a very effective relief arm, […]

Pablo Lopez, Jhoan Duran Beat Up Wednesday

Minnesota Twins Opening Day starter Pablo Lopez and closer Jhoan Duran were beat up in the team's 12-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. In total, Twins pitchers allowed 17 hits. Lopez, who struck out two and gave up three hits in his two innings of work, surrendered a two-run homer to […]

A's To Ease Mason Miller Into Closer's Role?

Oakland Athletics right-hander Mason Miller, along with Dany Jimenez and Trevor Gott, could get an opportunity to close out games this season. However, when asked about the possibility of Miller seeing save chances, manager Mark Kotsay indicated he'd like to see Miller succeed in high-leverage spots and gradually move up the ladder rather than anoint […]

Trevor Stephan Shut Down For Three Weeks

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Trevor Stephan (elbow) has a deep bone bruise in his throwing elbow and will be shut down for three weeks. There won't be enough time for Stephan to recover in time to be ready for Opening Day at the end of March, so he'll be forced to open the 2024 season on […]

Angels Confirm That Carlos Estevez Is The Closer

Los Angeles Angels skipper Ron Washington confirmed that right-hander Carlos Estevez is the team's closer to open the season. "Right now, we've got him as a closer," Washington said. "So we don't need to talk about that." The 31-year-old is coming off a season that saw him register a 3.90 ERA with 78 strikeouts in […]

Robert Stephenson Dealing With Shoulder Soreness

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Robert Stephenson (shoulder) is dealing with some right-shoulder soreness in camp but is playing catch on Wednesday. It's the reason why Stephenson hasn't appeared in a Cactus League game yet, although it's a good sign that he's playing catch in Wednesday, and he still has enough time to get ready for […]

Matt Brash Could Miss Significant Time

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Matt Brash (elbow) could be sidelined for a significant amount of time with a serious right-elbow injury. Brash and the Mariners are in the process of trying to determine exactly what is wrong with his elbow, but there's the possibility that he could have to sit out the entire 2024 season. […]

Top 300 Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings: AL-Only Leagues (February 2024 Update)

Welcome back to more fantasy baseball rankings! It's an exciting time for baseball fans as spring training begins and Opening Day is around the corner. For fantasy managers who still play in old-school leagues such as AL-Only or NL-Only formats, we've got you covered. Today, we will look at our 2024 AL-Only fantasy baseball roto rankings. […]

Jesse Scholtens Done For Season With Torn UCL

Chicago White Sox right-hander Jesse Scholtens (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday and is scheduled to have surgery to fix a torn UCL in his right elbow on Friday. The 29-year-old will in turn miss all of the 2024 season. The move to place Scholtens on the 60-day IL was made […]

Tristan Beck Dealing With Hand Discomfort

The San Francisco Giants said that right-hander Tristan Beck (hand) went back to San Francisco to see doctors because of right-hand discomfort. Beck and Keaton Winn (elbow) were the favorites to round out San Fran's starting rotation to begin the year with Alex Cobb (hip) and Robbie Ray (elbow) not ready, but now both Beck […]

Craig Kimbrel Expects To Make Spring Debut Thursday

Baltimore Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel (quadriceps) threw a live batting practice session on Monday at camp and said he felt great. Kimbrel expects to make his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday. Kimbrel dealt with quadriceps soreness over the weekend and was shut down for a few days as a precaution. The 35-year-old veteran reliever is […]

Five Breakout Outfielders For Fantasy Baseball Drafts - NL Edition (2024)

The term "breakout" always gets the juices flowing, so to speak, in our fantasy baseball world. Everyone loves a good breakout. So much in fact, that we decided to do two whole articles on breakout outfielders here on RotoBaller. Today I'll be discussing five National League outfielders that I'm expecting to break out offensively this […]

Top 100 FYPD Prospects for Fantasy Baseball First-Year Player Drafts (February 2024)

The final update of the First-Year Player Draft rankings is just in time for peak FYPD draft season. This update adds in a half-dozen signees from the January 15 international class along with updating the teams for a few former Japanese players who signed this offseason with an MLB club and a player who was […]

Liam Hendriks Throws On Flat Ground Monday

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Liam Hendriks (elbow) threw on flat grass from about 60 feet on Monday, per the Boston Globe's Pete Abraham. He was throwing to a catcher standing up and "threw with a pretty decent amount of zip". The 35-year-old is recovering from Tommy John surgery and hopes to make his season […]

Shawn Dubin Dealing With Shoulder Inflammation

Houston Astros right-hander Shawn Dubin (shoulder) is dealing with right-shoulder inflammation in camp and will be shut down from throwing for three days. The injury, although it may not be very serious, is going to make it more difficult for Dubin to win a spot in the team's Opening Day bullpen out of spring training. […]

Sam Bachman, Jose Quijada Continue Their Throwing Programs

Los Angeles Angels pitchers Sam Bachman (shoulder) and Jose Quijada (elbow) have continued their throwing programs in spring training. Bachman is recovering from right-shoulder surgery last September and was planning to throw from 75 to 90 feet on Monday. Quijada, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow last May, was planning […]

John McMillon Throws Live Batting Practice

Kansas City Royals right-hander John McMillon (forearm) was scheduled to throw a live batting practice session in camp on Monday. Barring a setback, McMillon could soon make his Cactus League debut. The 26-year-old made his major-league debut in 2023 for the Royals and allowed just one earned run on a solo home run while walking […]

Mason Thompson To Be Re-Evaluated This Week

Washington Nationals right-hander Mason Thompson (elbow) is set to be re-examined by team doctors this week after being shut down the last two weeks of camp with a sore elbow. Thompson had Tommy John surgery nine years ago as a junior in high school. He's avoided major injuries since then, but he did miss three […]

Gregory Santos To Begin Throwing Program Tuesday

Seattle Mariners right-hander Gregory Santos (lat) will begin his throwing program on Tuesday. The 24-year-old was acquired this offseason in a trade with the Chicago White Sox after he impressed in 60 appearances on the south side in his rookie campaign in 2023. Santos worked to a 3.39 ERA in his 66 1/3 innings of […]

Matt Barnes Linked To Nationals

Free-agent reliever Matt Barnes' market is heating up, as the Washington Nationals are one club that is linked to him. The right-hander underwent offseason surgery on his hip but threw for interested clubs in late January and appears ready to join a big-league spring training camp soon. It was a tough 2023 season for the […]

Yuki Matsui Day-To-Day With Back Inflammation

San Diego Padres left-hander Yuki Matsui's (back) MRI exam showed inflammation but no structural damage in his back, according to manager Mike Shildt. Matsui is considered day-to-day. Matsui was scratched from spring training action over the weekend due to tightness in his back, but it appears the injury isn't very serious. It's unclear when the […]

Pitcher Statcast: Using Sabermetrics for 2024 Fantasy Baseball

Statcast metrics such as Barrels and Brls/BBE are great ways to evaluate a fantasy baseball batter's performance, so it is only natural to assume that the metrics would be predictive for pitchers as well. As much as batters want to hit a Barrel every time, pitchers want to avoid them at all costs. Yet, there […]

Craig Kimbrel Dealing With Quadriceps Tightness

Baltimore Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel (quadriceps) said he cut his live batting practice session in camp on Saturday shorty by around five pitches because he felt some tightness in his lower body. However, Kimbrel isn't concerned after getting treatment from trainers. He's scheduled to throw again on Monday. Manager Brandon Hyde later said Kimbrel was […]

Josh Taylor Tosses Scoreless Inning In Return

Kansas City Royals reliever Josh Taylor (back) was listed among the team's available pitchers prior to Saturday's Spring Training game. He ultimately entered the game and pitched one inning, allowing two hits but escaping after just five total pitches. All of this is a good sign for the Royals and their left-handed hurler after he […]