James Karinchak Will Split Save Opportunities To Begin Season

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher James Karinchak will be splitting save opportunities between a trio of pitchers to begin the season. Cleveland will use a committee of Karinchak, Emmanuel Clase, and Nick Wittgren for save chances this season, manager Terry Francona told MLB.com. "The other thing we talked to them about is because there are so […]

Joe Jimenez Optioned To Triple-A

The Detroit Tigers have optioned relief pitcher Joe Jimenez to Triple-A Toledo. Jimenez had a rough spring. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed six hits, three walks and five runs (three earned) while striking out six. Jimenez had two solid years in a row for the Tigers in 2018 in 2019, earning an All-Star […]

Emmanuel Clase Will Be Part Of Closer Committee In Cleveland

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase will get save opportunities this season. The Indians will use a committee of Clase, James Karinchak, and Nick Wittgren for save chances this season, manager Terry Francona told MLB.com. Clase had a 4.32 ERA this spring with 11 strikeouts and no walks in 8.1 innings. Karinchak entered spring as […]

Bryan Garcia To Have Prominent Role In Tigers Bullpen

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Bryan Garcia figures to be one of the team's top set-up men to start the 2021 season. Gregory Soto is slated to be the Tigers' primary closer, but Garcia could be next in line if Soto falters. Garcia has pitched 6 1/3 innings this spring, posting a 4.26 ERA and 2.05 […]

Jesse Hahn Set For Prominent Bullpen Role

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Jesse Hahn had the best year of his career in 2020. Over 18 appearances and 17.1 innings, he posted a 0.52 ERA and 0.69 WHIP while averaging 9.9 K/9. Hahn was a starter over the first four years of his MLB career with the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics. […]

Scott Barlow Effective In Spring Action

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Scott Barlow has had a solid spring with the team. He's pitched 6 2/3 innings over seven appearances and has allowed three hits, five walks and two earned runs while striking out 11. Barlow yielded only 2.7 BB/9 in 2020, so hopefully the walks will go down once the season […]

Gregory Soto Eyes Closer's Role

Detroit Tigers pitcher Gregory Soto, a former starter, has embraced the bullpen but he wants to be the club's closer. However, manager A.J. Hinch stated that he would not announce a closer until at least opening day. Soto, a lefty, had a solid spring with just two runs allowed in 6.2 innings and a K-BB […]

Pete Fairbanks In Line For High-Leverage Innings

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks' spring got off to a terrible start thanks to a nasty case of food poisoning but he's in line for some key innings out of the bullpen in 2021. He was limited to just three games in the spring due to the illness but the long-term injury to Nick […]

Craig Kimbrel Finishes Strong, Looks For Bounce-Back Season

Chicago Cubs reliever Craig Kimbrel had a rough month as shown by his 12.15 ERA in seven games but he ended the spring on a high with two strikeouts over an inning of work on Monday. The right-hander allowed nine earned runs in his first three appearances but none over his final four. His fastball […]

Tejay Antone Makes Roster As A Key Reliever

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Tejay Antone (groin/hip) has made the team's Opening Day roster. Antone has missed the past few weeks with a groin and hip injury but he will be healthy enough to be a key piece of the bullpen when the regular season begins. Antone has not appeared in a Cactus League game since […]

Zach Pop Earns A Spot On The Opening Day Roster

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Zach Pop has earned a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. Pop was a Rule 5 selection by the Diamondbacks, then traded to the Marlins. Per Rule 5 draft rules, he'll need to be offered back to his original team, the Orioles, if he does not remain on the active roster […]

Paul Campbell Makes The Opening Day Roster

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Paul Campbell made it on the Marlins Opening Day roster. Campbell was a Rule 5 selection from the Tampa Bay Rays, so unless he gets hurt, he'll need to remain on the active 26-man roster all year or be offered back to the Rays. Campbell earned his spot by pitching to […]

James Hoyt Traded To The Angels

The Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a trade that will send relief pitcher James Hoyt to the Angels in exchange for cash considerations. Hoyt was great for the Marlins in 2020, posting a 1.23 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings. Underlying metrics show that regression could be coming, and […]

Daniel Hudson Could See High-Leverage Innings

Washington Nationals pitcher Daniel Hudson could see his fair share of high-leverage situations in 2021, although Brad Hand is the expected closer. The veteran right-hander has had a rough spring with an 11.12 ERA through six appearances but his K-BB of 5-1 in 5.2 innings gives some hope. Hudson's biggest issue has been the homers […]

Rafael Montero Bombed In Final Spring Outing

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Rafael Montero allowed four runs in 2/3 of an inning Monday, marking a difficult end to his Cactus League season. Before Monday, Montero hadn't allowed a run in five consecutive appearances. Montero finishes with a 7.04 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over eight innings. Without any obvious challengers for the closer role, […]

Vince Velasquez To Start Season In The Bullpen

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Vince Velasquez seems ticketed for the bullpen to start the 2021 season, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. Velasquez had been competing with Matt Moore and Chase Anderson who will start the season in the starting rotation. Velasquez has high upside in fantasy when he does start thanks to a swinging-strike rate that's […]

Adam Ottavino Could See Save Opportunities

Boston Red Sox pitcher Adam Ottavino battled with Matt Barnes this spring for the club's closer role. But when Matt Barnes tested positive for COVID-19, the race was left unfinished according to manager Alex Cora. With Barnes now cleared to return to action, he and Ottavino should both work high-leverage situations and both could see […]

T.J. Zeuch Makes Opening Day Roster

Toronto Blue Jays hurler T.J. Zeuch was informed on Monday that he had made the club's 26-man roster for opening day. Veteran pitcher Robbie Ray (elbow bruise) is expected to miss at least one start with an injury. Zeuch has seen his standing with the Jays improve this spring due to a mix of solid […]

Francisco Liriano Granted Release

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Francisco Liriano was granted his release on Monday. He had an opt-out clause in his minor-league contract which he chose to exercise after he learned he would not be making the club out of the spring. The veteran left-hander pitched well this spring and did not allow a run in 7.1 […]

Jairo Diaz Having A Rough Spring

Colorado Rockies reliever Jairo Diaz is having a horrible spring. He's put up a putrid 10.24 ERA, 2.17 WHIP, and 9:4 K/BB ratio over 9 2/3 innings of Cactus League play. The 29-year-old Diaz agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Rockies this offseason after spending part of 2020 as the team's closer. […]

Jose Leclerc To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jose Leclerc (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery and will miss the 2021 season, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Rangers general manager Chris Young made the announcement one week after Leclerc was shelved with soreness and discomfort in his right elbow. This is a big blow to Leclerc, who missed […]

Brad Hand Ready For Season

Washington Nationals closer Brad Hand told NBC Sports Washington that he is looking forward to pitching in a strong NL East this season. Hand saved 16 games for Cleveland last season while pitching to a 1.73 FIP. However, he allowed an obviously unsustainable zero home runs in 22 innings, leading to a 3.83 xFIP, his […]

Dustin May Hoping To Start Season In Rotation

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dustin May is in a battle to win the fifth spot in the rotation to start the 2021 season. One of May, Tony Gonsolin, or David Price will fill out that position, according to manager Dave Roberts. It is also possible that the team opts to use six starters at some […]

Kenley Jansen Looking Good In Spring

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has pitched well during Cactus League play to start 2021. The 33-year-old reliever has allowed a single run across 6 2/3 innings while striking out 12 batters. His fastball velocity has sat around 92 MPH, and he has only issued one walk. Jansen has been one of the best […]

Justin Wilson To Start The Season On The Injured List

New York Yankees relief pitcher Justin Wilson (shoulder) will start the season on the injured list after dealing with shoulder tightness this spring. Wilson is still expected to avoid surgery and rejoin the team a week or so into the season, but fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress. A solid reliever with a […]

Zack Britton To Return In May Or June

New York Yankees relief pitcher Zack Britton (elbow) is on track to rejoin the team in late May or early June, according to general manager Brian Cashman. Britton has been sidelined since early March due to a bone chip in his pitching elbow, and he'll miss the first two months of the season as a […]

Ryan Weathers Makes Padres Roster

San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler confirmed pitching prospect Ryan Weathers will make the Opening day roster. Despite a 7.11 ERA this spring, the 21-year-old was increasingly likely to crack the squad due to a plethora of injuries to the Friars bullpen. The team's No. 5 prospect will operate as a swingman but could earn […]

Matt Barnes Cleared To Return To Red Sox

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes (COVID-19) has been cleared to return to the team, according to MLB Network's Joel Sherman. Sherman reports that Barnes was ruled to have a "non-infectious positive" diagnosis for COVID-19, and he has been allowed to return to activities, along with the eight others who were held out due […]

Josh James Could Be Swingman On Astros Staff

Houston Astros pitcher Josh James could play multiple roles on the Astros pitching staff this season. James has enjoyed a solid spring and has experience as a starter and out of the bullpen. The 28-year-old struggled mightily last season but the right-hander will get a clean slate to start again. With pitchers like Cristian Javier […]

Tyler Chatwood Will Work Out Of Bullpen In 2021

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Tyler Chatwood is expected to work as a reliever with his new club this season. Chatwood began his career as a starter for the Colorado Rockies, but bounced between the starting rotation and bullpen over the past three seasons with the Chicago Cubs. The right-hander has pitched well this spring with […]