Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox - Yesterday's Recap

Welcome to the April 6th edition of Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox. Discussing baseball is as fun as the game itself. It has a way of bringing people together to share different opinions about the sport we all love. A similar action can be done with fantasy baseball where we not only discuss topics […]

Nick Mariano's Waiver Picks - Get 'Em While They're Hot (Premium Content)

All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Can you believe that baseball is back? There is a time for grievances over the NL not keeping the DH and we're still not out of the COVID-19 woods with the Mets-National series postponed, but we are (mostly) back. Let us be grateful and […]

Trevor May Disappoints In Mets Debut

New York Mets reliever Trevor May managed to only retire one batter when called upon to protect a 2-0 lead in the eighth inning in the Mets' 5-3 loss to the Phillies on Monday. May was pitching in his first game as a Met after signing with the team in the off-season. Unfortunately, May barely […]

Amir Garrett Picks Up Save On Monday

Cincinnati Reds closer Amir Garrett got the final three outs of a 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates to earn his first save of the season on Monday. It wasn't all smooth sailing for Garrett as he allowed two hits including a solo homer and walked a batter in the frame. That goes in the […]

Giovanny Gallegos Throws Two Scoreless Innings On Monday

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos threw two scoreless innings in Monday's win over the Miami Marlins. Gallegos came in to pitch the seventh inning, then stayed on for the eighth as well before Alex Reyes closed things out in the ninth. Gallegos allowed just one hit in his two innings of work, striking […]

Alex Reyes Collects His First Save Of The Season

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Alex Reyes picked up his first save of the season in Monday's win over the Miami Marlins. Reyes pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing just one hit in the process. All the talk this spring was about whether Giovanny Gallegos or Jordan Hicks would close for the Cardinals, but it […]

Aroldis Chapman Makes Season Debut On Monday

New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman made his season debut on Monday, striking out three batters and walking one over one inning of work. Monday's appearance was far from a save situation as the Yankees had a seven-run lead when Chapman entered in the ninth inning, and the team likely just wanted to get the […]

Alec Mills Picks Up First Save

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Alec Mills converted his first save of the season on Monday versus the Milwaukee Brewers. Mills was called upon after Craig Kimbrel pitched on Saturday and Sunday. Mills worked a 1-2-3 inning to earn the save and recorded one strikeout. Mills is a former starter, but lost his spot in the […]

A.J. Puk Recalled From Alternate Site Monday

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher A.J. Puk was recalled from the team's alternate site on Monday. With outfielder Chad Pinder (knee) headed to the Injured List, the Athletics filled his spot with Puk, who missed out on the Opening Day roster. The 25-year-old pitched to a 3.18 ERA in 11.1 innings with a 13-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio […]

Jairo Diaz Clears Waivers And Heads To Alt. Site

Colorado Rockies reliever Jairo Diaz, who was designated for assignment on Opening Day cleared waivers on Monday. He's now been assigned to the club's alternate site where he'll serve as bullpen depth. Diaz had a rough spring when he put up a 10.24 ERA, 2.17 WHIP, and 9:4 K/BB ratio over 9 2/3 innings of […]

Jesse Hahn Earns The Save On Monday

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Jesse Hahn closed out Monday's 3-0 win over the Cleveland Indians to earn his first save of the year. Hahn allowed a hit and a walk and didn't record any strikeouts while pitching the ninth inning. Hahn has been extremely active so far. This was his third appearance in four […]

Chaz Roe Placed On IL With Shoulder Strain

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Chaz Roe (shoulder) is heading to the injured list with a shoulder strain, according to MLB.com's Adam Berry. Roe will be shut down from throwing for four to six weeks, and he could be out for as long as 12 weeks. He has been a solid, high-strikeout middle reliever for […]

Cole Sulser Optioned To Alternate Site

The Baltimore Orioles have optioned relief pitcher Cole Sulser to the team's alternate training site at Double-A Bowie. Fellow relief pitcher Shawn Armstrong was activated off the COVID-19 injured list, leading to the Sulser demotion. Last year, Sulser was one of the team's primary closers, saving five games while posting a 5.56 ERA and 1.50 […]

Nick Neidert Called Up On Monday

Miami Marlins right-handed pitcher Nick Neidert was called up to the big league team on Monday. With starting pitcher Elieser Hernandez (bicep) placed on the 10-day injured list, the Marlins will need someone to take his place in the starting rotation. Neidert pitched well this spring and could be the one to slide into the […]

Adrian Morejon Kicks Off Two-Start Week

San Diego Padres starter Adrian Morejon faces off against the San Francisco Giants Monday night and lines up for a two-start week. With Dinelson Lamet (biceps) out. Morejon earned the vacant rotation spot with a 3.21 ERA this spring despite a 1.57 WHIP. The 22-year-old former prospect has tossed 27 ⅓ big league frames over […]

Adam Plutko Earns Win In Orioles Debut

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Adam Plutko made his debut for the team on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox. He came in after starting pitcher Matt Harvey and went on to pitch 2 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and no walks or runs while striking out two. Plutko was traded from the Cleveland Indians […]

Kyle McGowin, Sam Clay, Others Added To Nationals Roster

The Washington Nationals have added five players to their roster prior to their season opener, which is slated for Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves. The team had its weekend series against the New York Mets cancelled after four players tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, multiple players are in quarantine. The Nationals added pitchers […]

Nationals To Open Season On Tuesday Against Braves

The Washington Nationals will open up their 2021 season on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves. It will be a home game, scheduled for 4:05 EST. The Nationals were unable to play their opening series against the New York Mets this past weekend after four players on the team tested positive for COVID-19. On Sunday night, […]

Chris Devenski Earns Save Against Padres Sunday

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Chris Devenski earned the team's first save of 2021 on Sunday, allowing one run on one hit in one inning of work. Devenski's only mistake was a two-out Fernando Tatis Jr. home run, but otherwise he looked fine on the mound. While he earned the save, Arizona's closer situation is a […]

Stefan Crichton Used In Non-Save Situation Again

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Stefan Crichton tossed 2/3 scoreless innings on Sunday, allowing two hits while striking out one as he earned his second hold of the year. Crichton took over the closer role in 2020 after Archie Bradley was traded, but now in 2021 he has made three appearances — two of which came […]

Joakim Soria To Be Examined For Possible Calf Strain

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Joakim Soria (calf) will head to Phoenix during the team's off day on Monday to be examined for a possible strain in his left calf, according to The Athletic's Zach Buchanan. Soria left Sunday's game with a trainer after he appeared to tweak something during a groundout. He is the presumed […]

Joakim Soria Exits Game Sunday With Potential Injury

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Joakim Soria exited Sunday's game with the team's trainer after pitching 2/3 of an inning, according to Zach Buchanan of The Athletic. Buchanan says that Soria "seemed to tweak something" during a groundout earlier in the inning, and initially pitched through it before leaving the game. He allowed two walks before […]

Nationals-Braves Series Opener Postponed

The Washington Nationals will have to wait yet another day to start their season, as Monday's scheduled series opener with the Atlanta Braves has been postponed, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The Nationals have been dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, and have four players who tested positive and five more who are in quarantine […]

Michael King Great On Saturday

New York Yankees relief pitcher Michael King was excellent in six innings of relief on Saturday, holding the Blue Jays to just two baserunners with no runs. King probably won't get many more six-inning long relief appearances this season, but he may well hit his 100 inning target depending on how cautious the Yankees plan […]

Kyle Crick Tosses Scoreless Inning In Season Debut

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Kyle Crick made his season debut on Sunday, allowing one walk while striking out one in the 4-3 loss to the Cubs. Crick had just rejoined the team after completing intake protocols on Sunday to return from witnessing the birth of his child. Crick is one of several high-leverage, late-inning guys […]

Corey Knebel Earns Save On Sunday

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Corey Knebel earned the save in Sunday's finale against the Rockies, striking out one while allowing no baserunners in an inning of work. Kenley Jansen was unavailable Sunday after recording a five-out save on Saturday night, so the Dodgers turned to Knebel in just his second outing of the season. […]

Craig Kimbrel Picks Up First Save

Chicago Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel worked a perfect inning to pick up his first save of the season on Sunday versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kimbrel struck out two of the three batters he faced and his velocity and control looked stellar. The closer has now pitched back-to-back perfect innings and has struck out five of […]

Chris Martin Exits Sunday's Game Early

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Chris Martin recorded just two outs in the eighth inning before exiting the game after he said he felt something in his fingers, according to The Athletic's David O'Brien. Martin is one of the top, late-inning relievers in Atlanta's bullpen, and he is coming off a strong Spring Training in which […]

Julian Merryweather Earns Second Save Of Season

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Julian Merryweather earned his second save of the season on Sunday in a 3-1 victory over the Yankees. Pitching a perfect ninth inning, Merryweather struck out Gleyber Torres looking, got Jay Bruce to line out and then got Gary Sanchez to strike out swinging to end the game. After presumed […]

Garrett Whitlock Pitches Well In MLB Debut

The feel-good story of the spring, Boston Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock carried the momentum into the regular season, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings in Sunday's loss to the Orioles. Whitlock showcased both the elite control and swing-and-miss stuff that he showed all spring, striking out five while walking none. The former Rule 5 pick […]