Sam Howard Strikes Out Side, Earns Win Against Cubs

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Sam Howard struck out the side in a perfect inning of relief on Thursday, earning the win in a 5-3 Opening Day victory over the Cubs. This is Howard's second season with Pittsburgh, having posted a 3.86 ERA and 30 percent strikeout rate in 22 appearances in 2020. In SV/HLD leagues,... Read More

Gregory Soto Allows Two Runs, Earns Save

Detroit Tigers closer Gregory Soto narrowly avoided blowing the save opportunity on Opening Day, as he allowed two runs on two hits and one walk in one inning of work in a 3-2 Detroit win over Cleveland. Soto surrendered a two-run home run with one out in the top of the ninth to make it... Read More

Kolby Allard Late Add to 26-Man Roster

Despite optioning him off the active roster recently, the Texas Rangers added pitcher Kolby Allard to the big league roster for opening day. The lefty had a solid spring by allowing five earned runs in 11.2 innings. He also posted an impressive K-BB of 15-4. Allard wasn't as successful in 2020 at the MLB level,... Read More

Alex Reyes Expected To Be Cardinals' Primary Closer

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Alex Reyes is expected to open the year as the team's closer according to Cardinals beat writer Derrick Goold. Goold said that, "Even if they don't call him closer. He'll be the reliever they're going to call on to finish games." This take from Goold is a bit surprising as... Read More

Tony Gonsolin And David Price Won't Pitch Two Straight Days

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told media that relief pitchers Tony Gonsolin and David Price won't be utilized out of the bullpen on consecutive days. He also threw reliever Jimmy Nelson into the discussion. He said that he wouldn't inform the three pitchers which games they should expect to pitch, explaining that he has to, "watch... Read More

Ryan Brasier Placed On Injured List

Boston Red Sox reliever Ryan Brasier strained his left calf while fielding a ground ball on Monday, and will begin the season on the injured list. Brasier was already expected to start the season on the injured list with a right pinkie fracture, but is now expected to be out for longer, as manager Alex... Read More

Trevor Rosenthal Placed On IL With Shoulder Inflammation

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (shoulder) has been placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, according to Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle. Rosenthal had missed time earlier this spring with a groin strain, and now with this injury it is unclear just how long he will be out. With Rosenthal... Read More

RotoSurgeon's Bold Predictions for 2021

For more than one reason, 2020 sucked. Obvious reasons come to mind but specifically, for the fantasy sports world, there were dozens of random occurrences that could not have been predicted whatsoever due to COVID being so fresh and protocols so flimsy. Guys like Austin Meadows and Eduardo Rodriguez lost a potentially very good season... Read More

Joel Payamps Added To Opening Day Roster

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Joel Payamps earned the final spot on the club's 26-man roster. The rookie hurler had been bounced around on waivers — with both the Jays and the Boston Red Sox claiming him twice since late November — but he threw 5.1 shutout innings in the spring. Still, the right-hander struggled with... Read More

Julian Merryweather Earns Roster Spot

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Julian Merryweather will open the 2021 season with the major league club. The hard-throwing right-hander missed a good portion of the spring due to a back injury and he appeared in just two games. He did not allow a run during that stretch of two innings but had a K-BB of... Read More

Zack Britton Placed On 60-Day Injured List

New York Yankees relief pitcher Zack Britton (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday night. Britton hasn't been able to pitch since early March due to a bone chip in his left elbow- with the Yankees forced to look elsewhere for their bridge to the ninth inning until at least late May.... Read More

Gregory Soto Looking Like Team's Closer

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Gregory Soto earned the praise of manager AJ Hinch on Wednesday, who spoke about his pitcher's "closer stuff." Soto would seem to have the best arsenal of any hurler in the Tigers' bullpen, considering his blazing fastball, which he can touch 100 MPH with, and filthy slider, a pitch that registered... Read More

Andrew Miller To Bring Veteran Stability To Bullpen

St. Louis Cardinals reliever Andrew Miller doesn't throw as hard as some of the other arms in the club's bullpen but he has extensive experience in high-leverage situations which should come in handy this season. The southpaw had a rough introduction to the spring by allowing three runs in his first two games but he... Read More

Joe Smith A Name To Remember For Holds

Houston Astros pitcher Joe Smith has a chance to be a sneaky-good option for holds and the odd save this coming fantasy season. The veteran right-hander had a respectable spring by allowing two runs in 4.2 innings with a K-BB of 5-1. The 37-year-old might be a bit of a forgotten arm after he sat... Read More

Jhoulys Chacin Expected To Sign With Rockies

Free agent pitcher Jhoulys Chacin, who was seen playing catch in front of Rockies coaches earlier on Wednesday, is expected to sign with the club per beat writer Thomas Harding. Chacin was released by the Yankees just two days ago and said that the team should sign him to a Major League contract, which would... Read More

Matt Barnes Returns To The Red Sox

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes returned to the team facility on Monday after landing on the Covid IL following a positive test on Thursday. Barnes, who threw 5.1 scoreless innings this spring, was shocked to learn that he tested positive, but now is expected to be ready for the regular season. Barnes will... Read More

Nationals Call Up Two After Positive COVID-19 Test

Washington Nationals shortstop Luis García and relief pitcher Sam Clay have been called up to the Opening Day roster, according to Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post. The Nationals made the moves as they deal with one positive COVID-19 test on Wednesday, with four others in quarantine due to contact tracing. Until it is disclosed... Read More

Drew Steckenrider Has Made The Mariners

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Drew Steckenrider has made the big league team, and will be in the bullpen mix to start the year. While not expected to handle saves, or even be a primary set-up man, Steckenrider has a history of strong strikeout numbers with a career rate of 11.24 strikeouts per nine innings. He... Read More

Chris Stratton A Sleeper Option For Holds, Saves

Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Chris Stratton doesn't have a defined role entering 2021 but he's a favorite to pitch high-leverage innings for the club. Richard Rodriguez is expected to see a healthy number of the save opportunities but Stratton has been a reliable arm for the Pirates. He threw 30 innings for the club in 2020... Read More

Buck Farmer To Perform Multiple Roles

Detroit Tigers pitcher Buck Farmer could be a useful man this year for manager A.J. Hinch. The 30-year-old pitcher will see time in various roles this year and could be a source of wins, saves, and holds if the plan stays true. Last season, Farmer provided a 3.80 ERA in 23 games. Over the past... Read More

Mike Mayers Could Settle Into Setup Role

Los Angeles Angels reliever Mike Mayers had a bit of a rough spring but he'll open the year with a chance to settle into a high-leverage role behind closer Raisel Iglesias and rack up some holds with the odd save. The 29-year-old allowed five runs on nine hits over 8.1 spring innings but his K-BB... Read More

Later-Round Relief Pitchers and Closers - Targets and Avoids

Once you reach the middle-to-late rounds of drafts, everyone wants to draft some upside fliers that can provide a great return on value. You can take a risk or two on a variety of different players, including a prospect, forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even players with skills but have playing time concerns.... Read More

Aroldis Chapman To Serve Suspension For First Two Games

New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman will serve a suspension for the first two games of the season, according to manager Aaron Boone. Chapman was originally handed a three-game suspension for throwing at the head of Rays infielder Mike Brosseau last September, but Chapman appealed the suspension and had it reduced to two games. Chapman... Read More

Hector Neris Named Phillies Closer

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Hector Neris was named the team's closer by manager Joe Girardi. Neris is the longest-tenured reliever in the Philly bullpen and has had success in the role before racking up 26 saves in 2017 and 28 saves in 2019. Neris - along with the entire Phillies bullpen - struggled mightily in... Read More

Diego Castillo A Favorite For Saves But Whiffs Are Down

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Diego Castillo is set to see an increase in high-leverage opportunities with the injury to Nick Anderson (elbow). The right-hander will now be one of the favorites to acquire saves on a regular basis, although Pete Fairbanks, Ryan Thompson, and Chaz Roe could also see time in the later innings. Castillo... Read More

Tyler Beede, John Brebbia Recovering From Tommy John Surgery

San Francisco Giants pitchers Tyler Beede (elbow) and John Brebbia (elbow) have leaned on each other's experiences during their recoveries from Tommy John surgery. Beede had his surgery in March of 2020 and Brebbia had his in June of 2020. Both pitchers will likely be unavailable to pitch for the Giants until June, as both... Read More

Updated Top 250 Dynasty Prospects Rankings

In just a few short days, the 2021 Major League Baseball season will get underway. Fans of Minor League Baseball will have to wait a little longer with clubs operating their alternate training sites for at least the first month of the 2021 season. As we saw in 2020, prospects can develop and thrive at... Read More

William Smith In Line For Save Opportunities

Atlanta Braves pitcher William Smith could see a healthy number of save opportunities for the club in 2021 — if he can solve his long-ball issues. The veteran left-hander had an encouraging spring with a K-BB of 12-2 in 5.2 innings but he also did not allow a home run. Last season in 18 games,... Read More

Blake Treinen A Reliable Relief Option In 2021

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen will be a viable bullpen piece for fantasy managers again in 2021. Treinen recorded nine holds, a save, and a 22/8 K/BB rate in 2020. The 32-year-old will serve as the primary set-up man for Kenley Jansen, and would see a massive increase in value if he ever took... Read More

Michel Baez Undergoing Tommy John Surgery

San Diego Padres reliever Michel Baez (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the 2021 season. The surprise announcement came as the Friars revealed relievers Ryan Weathers and Nabil Crismatt will crack the Opening Day roster. A former prospect, Baez made a strong debut in 2019 with a 3.03 ERA over 24 appearances, but... Read More