Rookie Report: Recent MLB Prospect Call-Ups (Week 19)

This week was a particularly slow week in the world of prospects; just eight rookies have debuted since the publishing of last week's column. With that being said, there are still a handful of newcomers worth highlighting and a bunch of returners still cooking with gas. As we come up on the end of the […]

Sergio Romo Takes The Loss Wednesday Versus Baltimore

Tampa Bay Rays closer Sergio Romo had a rough outing Wednesday versus the Orioles. He came into the ninth inning with a one-run lead. He would not record an out and allowed three straight hits, with the last one driving in two runs. He would take the loss, a day after earning a win. Romo […]

Cody Allen Blows a Save but Gets a Win on Wednesday

Cleveland Indians closer Cody Allen blew a save on Wednesday but ended up with the win. He pitched an inning, allowing a run on two hits and a walk. He struck out two, but one of the hits he allowed was a home run to Miguel Sano that tied the game. Allen has been far […]

Blaine Hardy Roughed Up Over Five Innings

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Blaine Hardy did not have his best stuff on Wednesday afternoon against the Los Angeles Angels, taking the loss after allowing five earned runs and seven hits over five innings. He struck out three, walked one, and surrendered home runs to Kole Calhoun, Justin Upton, and Albert Pujols. The disappointing outing […]

No Structural Damage For Kelvin Herrera

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera's (shoulder) MRI exam showed inflammation and no structural damage. He will be shut down for three to four days, but the hope is that he can resume throwing next week. It's good news for Herrera, but he still may be out for a few weeks. […]

Ryan Madson To Close For Nats

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Ryan Madson will move into the closer's role, but the team will watch his workload like usual. Koda Glover, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, could also be used in high-leverage situations. Madson has a 4.32 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings this year and […]

Sean Doolittle Throwing Off Flat Ground Wednesday

Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle (foot) threw off flat ground without a boot on Wednesday and was encouraged with how he felt. However, he is aware that he cannot rush himself back. Doolittle was one of the best closers in baseball before his injury, sporting a 1.45 ERA, 0.54 WHIP, 11.8 K/9 and 22 saves. […]

Kelvin Herrera Placed On DL

The Washington Nationals placed relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera (shoulder) on the disabled list on Wednesday with a right rotator cuff impingement. In a corresponding move, reliever Koda Glove has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse after two years of shoulder problems. Herrera blew the save in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Braves on Tuesday […]

Kenley Jansen Earns 32nd Save Of Season Tuesday

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen pitched a clean ninth inning for his 32nd save of the season in Tuesday's 4-2 game against the A's. Jansen allowed no runs on no hits or walks with two strikeouts. The fantasy stud now has a 2.15 ERA and a 10.10 K/9 rate in 54 1/3 innings pitched […]

Craig Kimbrel Blows Save, Picks Up Win on Tuesday

Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel blew his fourth save of the season on Tuesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays. Luckily, the Red Sox managed to put up five runs in the top of the tenth inning and allowed Kimbrel to pick up the win. Kimbrel has been struggling mightily as of late as […]

Kelvin Herrera To Undergo MRI

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera (shoulder), who has been filling in as the closer in Sean Doolittle's absence, left his outing early on Tuesday with right shoulder tightness and will undergo an MRI exam on Wednesday. Herrera entered a 1-1 game and allowed three hits and two earned runs in just one-third of an […]

Sergio Romo Earns A Win Tuesday Versus Baltimore

Tampa Bay Rays closer Sergio Romo earned the win Tuesday versus the Orioles. He came into the ninth inning with one out and recorded the last two outs on just six pitches. The Rays would win in the bottom of the ninth and earn Romo his second win of the season. He has 13 saves […]

Zach Britton Blows Save In Extra Innings

After New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton delivered a two-run home run to put the Yankees ahead Tuesday night in Chicago, manager Aaron Boone opted for Zach Britton to record the save. Coming off a pair of scoreless appearances at Fenway Park, the 30-year-old recorded two outs before surrendering a game-tying two-run home run to Jose […]

Sonny Gray Picks Up Win Out Of Bullpen

After 10 innings, the New York Yankees went to Sonny Gray out of the bullpen, his first appearance since a disastrous start against Baltimore spelled the end of his time in the starting rotation. The 28-year-old would emerge with a win on Tuesday, going three innings and allowing just one hit and one walk. He […]

Pat Neshek Picks Up Second Save Of Season

After Philadelphia Phillies closer Seranthony Dominguez failed to secure the save Monday night in Arizona, manager Gabe Kapler turned to Pat Neshek to secure the result on Tuesday night. With the club up by three runs following a big eighth inning, the 37-year-old had his first save opportunity since mid-July and would retire the side in […]

Bud Norris Saves His 22nd Game on Tuesday

St. Louis Cardinals closer Bud Norris recorded his 22nd save of the season on Tuesday. He tossed a scoreless inning, allowing a walk and striking out one batter. Norris lowered his ERA to 2.87. He's been somewhat streaky this season, but has overall been a solid closer for most formats.

Kyle Barraclough Removed From Closer Role

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly said that closer Kyle Barraclough will be removed from the closer's role in order to regroup. The Marlins will use a committee in the ninth inning. Barraclough has allowed 12 earned runs on 12 hits (three home runs) in his last six outings covering 4 2/3 innings, including three straight […]

Seung Hwan Oh Is Untouchable For Colorado

Since the Colorado Rockies have acquired relief pitcher Seung Hwan Oh, he's been outstanding. Oh threw another scoreless inning on Monday night to protect the shutout and bridge the gap between starter Kyle Freeland and closer Wade Davis. That now gives him six innings with the Rockies, and he's yet to give up a run. […]

Wade Davis Finishes Off Pirates

After a horrendous couple of days on the road, Colorado Rockies closer Wade Davis casually shut down the Pirates on Monday night to close out his 32nd save of the season. Davis looked steady and confident on the mound even though he'd blown back-to-back saves in two straight days while the team was on the […]

Kyle Barraclough Losing Grip On Closer's Role

Miami Marlins closer Kyle Barraclough lasted just one-third of an inning in a save situation against the Cardinals on Monday, giving up two hits, two walks and one earned run before reliever Javy Guerra was brought in to put out the fire with the bases loaded. Manager Don Mattingly said he wouldn't make any immediate […]

Seranthony Dominguez Blows Save Against Diamondbacks

After the Philadelphia Phillies managed to score two runs, backing up Jake Arrieta’s masterful start, the club turned to closer Seranthony Dominguez to finish off a victory in Arizona against the Diamondbacks. The rookie’s outing was disastrous almost from the start, as he allowed a home run to the second batter he faced. Allowing a […]

Brandon Morrow Plays Catch Monday

Chicago Cubs closer Brandon Morrow (biceps) played catch on Monday and will do so again on Wednesday. He has been slowly rehabbing from right biceps inflammation. Morrow will need to resume throwing off a mound before he can think about rejoining the team. He should jump right back into the closer's role when he's ready […]

Relief Pitchers Deeper Dive - Week 19

Today and every Tuesday moving forward throughout the 2018 MLB season, we will take a deep dive into some of the lesser-owned relief pitchers on the market that are worth keeping tabs on. This can be a good tool for those in deeper holds leagues, although any pitcher in a position to make a move on […]

Nationals Sign Relief Pitcher Greg Holland

The Washington Nationals signed relief pitcher Greg Holland on Tuesday to help bolster their bullpen. Holland struggled mightily in the pen this season in his stint with the St. Louis Cardinals, posting a 7.92 ERA in 25 innings pitched. It is unlikely that Holland will immediately see any high-leverage situations, making him only a speculative […]

NL-Only Waiver Wire Team of the Week: MLB Week 19 September Call-Up Edition

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to […]

Eddie Butler Takes Loss Monday

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Eddie Butler took the loss in Monday's game against the Seattle Mariners. Butler pitched the 12th innings, and gave up an earned run on two hits and a walk. Butler now has a 4.56 ERA on the season, with 13 strikeouts in 23 2/3 relief innings. The Rangers are looking to […]

Brent Suter Aiming For Mid-2019 Return

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brent Suter (elbow) is aiming to return halfway through the 2019 season from his Tommy John surgery. While this is just a goal he's set for himself, it's often very tough to predict how long a player will be gone after Tommy John surgery, but it's safe to say he will […]

Tyson Ross To Pitch Out Of Bullpen

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Tyson Ross, who was claimed off waivers on Sunday from the Padres, is expected to join the active roster on Tuesday, but he will initially pitch out of the bullpen. His last relief appearance came back in 2013. Ross was having a pretty decent season with the Friars, going 6-9 with […]

Hunter Strickland Throws In Arizona League

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Hunter Strickland (hand) tossed an inning for the team's rookie level Arizona team on Sunday, but he must wait two more weeks before he can be activated from the 60-day disabled list. Strickland was solid before his injury, posting a 2.84 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 8.2 K/9 and 13 saves. However, […]

Mychal Givens Earns Second Save Of Season Sunday

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Mychal Givens picked up his second save of the season in Sunday's 9-6 game against the Rangers. Givens came on to get the final out in the eighth inning and then pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing no hits or walks with a strikeout. The 28-year-old appears to be the O's […]