John King Could Be Getting A Larger Role
Texas Rangers pitcher John King may be getting promoted. With some of the team's staff struggling, the veteran could be tasked with taking on a more prominent role within the rotation. King pitched three innings on Saturday, and it appears as if skipper Chris Woodward could be building him up for more work moving ahead.... Read More
Taylor Rogers Notches Seventh Save
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Taylor Rogers worked a fairly easy ninth to pick up his seventh save of the season in Saturday's win over the Texas Rangers. Rogers picked up a strikeout, allowed a single, then fanned another batter and got a quick out to end the inning. The southpaw lowered his ERA to 2.73... Read More
Randy Dobnak Limits The Damage In No-Decision
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Randy Dobnak rebounded nicely in Saturday's start against the Texas Rangers. Dobnak allowed 14 combined runs in his last two appearances but pitched five solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits against Texas. The 26-year-old righty induced 10 ground balls thanks to his sinker, which he threw nearly half the... Read More
Aroldis Chapman Allows Run, Picks Up Save
New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman was a bit shaky but got the job done in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Oakland Athletics. Chapman got a quick strikeout, allowed a walk, then got another out before surrendering two straight base hits, scoring a run for Oakland. The southpaw threw the fastest pitch in the... Read More
Chad Green Strikes Out The Side In Second Victory
New York Yankees relief pitcher Chad Green was filthy in Saturday's win over the Oakland Athletics. Green struck out the side on 13 pitches in the eighth inning, then was in line for the win when the Yankees took the lead in the bottom half of the inning. The veteran righty generated five whiffs between... Read More
Tejay Antone Likely To Be Activated On Tuesday
Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Tejay Antone (forearm) is likely to be activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, according to Reds manager David Bell. Antone has been on the injured list since June 10 due to inflammation in his right forearm. He's been the Reds' best reliever by every measure this year, posting a... Read More
Pierce Johnson Placed On 10-Day Injured List
The San Diego Padres placed relief pitcher Pierce Johnson (triceps) on the 10-day injured list due to right triceps inflammation on Saturday. The move is retroactive to Friday, June 18. Johnson has had a solid year out of the pen, pitching to a 3.57 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a 34.8% strikeout rate that ranks... Read More
Robert Gsellman To Start Game 2 On Saturday
New York Mets pitcher Robert Gsellman has been named the starting pitcher for Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Washington Nationals. Gsellman has made 14 appearances this year (all in relief) and he has a 3.65 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with a 15:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He hasn't appeared in a game since June 8.... Read More
Drew Rasmussen Called Up On Saturday
The Tampa Bay Rays called up relief pitcher Drew Rasmussen from Triple-A on Saturday. Rasmussen was acquired by the Rays through a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers in May. It was the same trade in which they acquired fellow reliever J.P. Feyereisen, sending shortstop Willy Adames to Milwaukee. Rasmussen had a 4.24 ERA over 15... Read More
Cardinals-Braves Postponed Saturday
The Saturday game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves has been postponed because of inclement weather. The two National League franchises will make up the game on Sunday as part of a doubleheader. Fantasy managers will have to turn to their respective benches to replace the likes of Nolan Arenado, Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies and... Read More
Miguel Diaz Starting On Saturday
San Diego Padres relief pitcher Miguel Diaz will be the opener for Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. It sounds like it's going to be a bullpen day for the Padres. Diaz has been fantastic out of the bullpen, posting a 2.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 23/10 K/BB ratio over 20 2/3 innings. It's uncertain... Read More
Rookie Report: Prospect Risers and Fallers for Week 12
Welcome to the latest edition of RotoBaller’s Recently Promoted Prospects series for fantasy baseball! Here I discuss some recently promoted MLB prospects and rookies , making note of what I think their upside could be for fantasy baseball managers, and whether they are potential risers or fallers. We have seen 125 rookies make their MLB... Read More
Fantasy Baseball Injury Updates - Week 13
We are now almost three months into the 2021 season. We have passed the 60-game mark, the length of the 2020 MLB season. There continues to be an uptick in injuries this year especially because of the broken/unusual offseason the players had, the stopping and going from last year and the return to the daily... Read More
Bullpen Report: New Closers and Elite Ratio Relievers
MLB is cracking down on sticky substances used by pitchers starting next week. If you are a fan of baseball or fantasy baseball, you have heard this topic discussed pretty much nonstop the last couple of weeks. We have seen spin rates decline for pitchers, especially for starting pitchers, which is going to lead to... Read More
The Baller Ranks: Weekly Top 101 Relief Pitcher Rankings
We are days away from the official start of summer, and that means baseball's halfway mark approaches! Bullpens remain volatile monsters and the trade deadline draws closer so be sure you have the closer heirs on the roster and/or watch list. In the meantime, my top 101 RP Baller Ranks are geared towards traditional 5x5... Read More
Closers and Saves Report - Week 13 Waiver Wire
Quite a sticky situation in baseball this week, huh? That's just in reference to some of the bullpen issues, why, what did you think I meant? As usual, some committees shuffled around, some injuries created new committees, and some healed players ended committees. The word of the day is committee. There's only one division in... Read More
Joey Lucchesi With Another Strong Start On Friday
New York Mets starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi had another solid outing on Friday against the Nationals pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings in the Mets 1-0 loss. Lucchesi struck out five while allowing just four hits and two walks. It was his fifth solid outing in a row, though he has not pitched beyond 5 1/3... Read More
Edwin Diaz Tagged With Loss On Friday
New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz picked up his second loss of the season on Friday in the Mets 1-0 loss to the Nationals. Diaz failed to record an out in the ninth inning. Called on to preserve a 0-0 tie, Diaz (1-2) allowed a walk, two singles, and one earned run giving the... Read More
Tyler Duffey Records Second Save
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Tyler Duffey notched his second save of the season In Friday's 7-5 win over the Texas Rangers. Manager Rocco Baldelli utilized each of Taylor Rogers and Hansel Robles before the ninth, so he turned to Duffey to lock down the victory in the 10th. The 30-year-old righty allowed the auto-runner to... Read More
Hansel Robles Notches Third Win
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Hansel Robles picked up his third win of the season in Friday's victory over the Texas Rangers. Robles got the ball in the ninth after Taylor Rogers pitched the eighth, inducing a pair of groundball outs and a strikeout. He picked up the win when the Twins rallied in the top... Read More
Greg Holland Converts His Fourth Save On Friday
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Greg Holland closed out Friday's 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox to earn his fourth save of the year. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing no hits or walks while striking out one. The Royals have been going through a dreadful stretch the past few weeks as they'd... Read More
Daniel Bard Charged With The Blown Save Friday
Colorado Rockies pitcher Daniel Bard allowed one run on a walk and two hits while striking out one across one inning during Friday's win over the Brewers. He was charged with his fourth blown save of the season. The 35-year-old entered the ninth inning with a 5-4 lead but surrendered an RBI double to Brewers... Read More
Kenley Jansen Continues Strong Season
Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen continued his impressive season by picking up his 17th save of the season versus the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. Jansen worked a perfect 1-2-3 inning, but didn't record a strikeout on the evening. Jansen has continued to have an impressive season and he has shown no signs of slowing... Read More
Wandy Peralta Takes Loss Friday
New York Yankees relief pitcher Wandy Peralta took his first loss of the season in Friday's 5-3 defeat to the Oakland Athletics. Peralta entered in the fifth inning and got a quick out, though the wheels fell off in the following frame. The southpaw seemed to be close to a perfect relief outing after inducing... Read More
Chaz Roe Pulled From Minor League Rehab Assignment
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chaz Roe was pulled from his rehab outing with Triple-A Durham on Thursday with right shoulder discomfort. He received an injection in his biceps and the timeline will be updated in two to three days. The Rays pitcher has been sidelined since the end of April with a shoulder strain. Roe... Read More
The Bigger Picture - Substance Ban Makes Things Worse (For Now)
It only took 118 years, but Major League Baseball is finally taking a hard stance on the illegal use of foreign substances by pitchers. Better late than never! The ethical issues surrounding both sides of the debate will be left for another space. The intention here is to get into the logistics of the on-field... Read More
Chad Green Records First Win Of Season
New York Yankees relief pitcher Chad Green earned the win in Thursday's victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Green allowed a run to cross the plate in the sixth inning, though it was charged to fellow relieve Lucas Luetge. The 30-year-old righty allowed one baserunner in the following frame but struck out a pair. Green... Read More
Michael King Allows Three Runs In No-Decision
New York Yankees starting pitcher Michael King allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings of work in Thursday's win over the Toronto Blue Jays. King allowed five hits and walked a pair of batters while striking out one. He didn't factor into the decision. King worked himself into a first-inning jam but was the beneficiary... Read More
Mark Melancon Blows Save In Epic Fashion
San Diego Padres closer Mark Melancon suffered a ninth-inning collapse Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds, coughing up four earned runs and blowing his third save. Spotted a two-run lead, Melancon allowed three knocks to tie the game, then permitted a two-run blast by second baseman Jonathan India to put the Friars behind 4-2. He was... Read More
Vinny Nittoli Called Up Friday
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Vinny Nittoli will be called up ahead of Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 30-year-old reliever will reach the big league level for the first time in his career. Throughout his career, Nittoli has pitched for a handful of different organizations and some independent ball as well. Nittoli has... Read More