Trim those sideburns

The Indians were given quite a scare when Carlos Carrasco was struck by a line drive in his start Wednesday against the Royals. But fear not, for Terry Francona comes bearing good news.

“He was fine last night,” the Indians manager confirmed on Thursday. Francona went on to explain that Carrasco was already at 71 pitches when he took a line drive off his left foot and probably wouldn’t have gone much longer anyway.  Phew.

What a relief—am I right, Tribe fans? . Flash back to 2016 when Carrasco couldn’t get out of the way of a line drive (guess he must have forgotten Patches O’Houlihan’s five D’s of dodge ball) hit by Ian Kinsler. Carrasco wound up breaking his hand and missed Cleveland’s entire postseason run. The Indians did fine without him—they won the American League pennant before falling to the Cubs in a thrilling, seven-game World Series. Maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference but I’m sure if the Tribe could do it over, they would have swapped out Josh Tomlin (two World Series starts) for Carrasco in a heartbeat.


Wednesday proved that Carrasco’s dodgeball skills haven’t improved much since 2016, but the Indians have to be ecstatic that his injury wasn’t more serious. Carrasco and his bruised foot should be just fine for Cleveland’s season-opening series against the Mariners next week. Obviously two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber is still the alpha in Cleveland’s starting rotation but Carrasco was nearly as good last year, matching Kluber’s team-leading (edit: major-league leading) 18 wins while also setting career-highs in strikeouts (226) and innings pitched (200).

It’s true that Carrasco reaped the benefits of Cleveland’s high-powered offense—only Robbie Ray and Jon Lester received more run support among big league hurlers last year. But let’s not forget that the hard-throwing right-hander (I’m not kidding about that part … his average fastball clocked in at 94.3 mph last season) also ranked fifth in K to walk ratio (4.91) and eighth in WHIP (1.10).

In fantasy, the big four of Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, Chris Sale and Kluber stand tall above the rest. But Carrasco is certainly deserving of second-tier status along with Madison Bumgarner, Stephen Strasburg and Noah Syndergaard. While many would classify 2017 as Carrasco’s breakout season, the reality is, he’s been doing this for years now. The last time Carrasco finished with an ERA higher than four was all the way back in 2013. That was three Fast and Furious movies ago. Consistency, strikeouts, wins, innings—the only thing the 31-year-old seems to struggle with is evading line drives. Luckily most fantasy leagues don’t keep track of that statistic.

In other rotation news, Danny Salazar advanced to throwing off a mound on Thursday. The right-hander has been slow to recover from rotator cuff inflammation but is finally trending in the right direction. Salazar’s 2017 campaign wasn’t quite what the doctor ordered. He slumped to a career-worst 4.28 ERA and was even demoted to the bullpen for a stretch. But even during a down year, Salazar still contributed an astounding 12.67 K/9, which would have ranked second in the majors had he had enough innings to qualify. When healthy, he’ll serve as the Tribe’s fourth or fifth starter but it will be at least a few more weeks until the Indians deem the right-hander game-ready. In the meantime, Mike Clevinger and Josh Tomlin will hold down the back end of Cleveland’s starting rotation. Tomlin will likely be the odd man out once Salazar returns but that will be a bridge for the Tribe to cross later.

The Indians occupy an interesting space in the current baseball hierarchy. Cleveland led the AL with 102 wins a year ago, yet most prognosticators are predicting either the Yankees or Astros to win the pennant. The Indians’ first-round exit last year was certainly a letdown and could be why such skepticism exists. But keep in mind that most of the pieces that led Cleveland to the World Series two years ago are still intact. And that team didn’t include rising star Bradley Zimmer or Francisco Mejia, the game’s top catching prospect. My advice: watch out for the Tribe.

Bundy Draws Opening Day Assignment

It may not look like it on the East Coast with all the snow on the ground, but the MLB regular season is just days away. That means Dylan Bundy is open for business. The right-hander will be on display next Thursday in Baltimore’s season opener against the Twins. Nothing about Bundy jumped off the page last year (13-9, 4.28 ERA) but manager Buck Showalter is probably correct in his assessment that he’s the best Baltimore has right now. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement and years of pitching mediocrity have taught us never to get too attached to any hurler that calls Camden Yards home.

But for Bundy this IS a big deal. It’s probably gotten swept under the rug with so many other narratives taking center stage, but Bundy’s unusual path to Baltimore is worth revisiting. A transcendent high school player out of Oklahoma, Bundy seemed destined for big league success when he arrived in Baltimore as the fourth overall pick in the 2011 Draft. The right-hander predictably breezed through the minor leagues, making his Orioles debut just a year after being drafted. But then the injury bug hit. Tommy John surgery cost Bundy all of 2013 and most of the year after. Then the following season a shoulder issue limited Bundy to just eight starts, all of them at Double-A Bowie. At that point, most of the league had forgotten about Bundy and the few who hadn’t probably assumed his big-league dream was over.

But in 2016, the right-hander parlayed an excellent spring training into an Opening Day roster spot and he’s never looked back. The Orioles mostly employed Bundy as a reliever that year before finally taking off the training wheels in 2017. Bundy’s first full year as a starter was full of peaks and valleys but mostly, the good outweighed the bad. Two years ago, Bundy was just happy to be back after a 1,290-day gap between major league appearances. Now the Orioles are asking him to be their ace. Soon we’ll see if he’s up for the task.

AL Quick Hits: Jake Odorizzi has been tapped as Minnesota’s Opening Day starter. He’ll be followed in the rotation by Kyle Gibson, Jose Berrios and Lance Lynn with Phil Hughes working in long relief until the Twins need a fifth starter … The Indians released Mike Napoli on Thursday. The veteran slugger struggled to a .208 average this spring but could return to Cleveland on a minor league deal if he fails to generate interest elsewhere … Rajai Davis has made the Indians’ Opening Day roster. Davis spent last year with the A’s and Red Sox but famously hit a game-tying two-run homer in Game 7 of the World Series while playing for Cleveland in 2016 … Bradley Zimmer returned to Grapefruit League action Thursday after missing time with a strained left groin. He went hitless in three at-bats in a loss to San Diego … Tim Lincecum was expected to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Padres. Instead, he’s been scratched due to a blister on his right middle finger. Already off to a late start after signing on March 6, the Rangers right-hander is a long shot for Opening Day … Tim Beckham left Thursday’s Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox with a minor groin injury. Beckham won’t play Friday but manager Buck Showalter hopes to have him back before the Orioles leave Florida on Sunday … Paul Blackburn will be shut down for at least 10 days while he recovers from a strained forearm. Luckily the right hander’s MRI cleared him of any structural damage … Parker Bridwell led all American League rookies with 10 wins last season but still failed to make the Angels’ Opening Day roster. He’s been optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake along with 2B Kaleb Cowart, INF Nolan Fontana, C Juan Graterol and RHP Nick Tropeano … David Phelps will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on Monday. The operation will be performed by renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews … Nelson Cruz returned to Cactus League action on Thursday after missing time with a strained right quad. He went 0-for-2 with a walk in the Mariners’ win over Texas.

NL Quick Hits: Steven Souza has been diagnosed with a strained right pectoral muscle and will begin the year on the disabled list. The 28-year-old suffered the injury on a diving play Wednesday against the Giants … Wade Miley will be out 2-4 weeks after suffering a torn left groin in Wednesday’s Cactus League start against the Athletics. The left-hander had been hoping to nail down one of the Brewers’ final rotation spots. Teammate Boone Logan injured himself in the same game, bowing out with a strained left triceps. Barring a miraculous recovery, he’ll open the year on the 10-day disabled list … Michael Conforto will make his Grapefruit League debut as a DH Friday against the Cardinals. Conforto has missed most of camp while recovering from shoulder surgery but hit for the cycle in a minor league game on Thursday. Conforto was expected to miss the entire opening month but now he’s trending toward a mid-April return … Rafael Montero will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery after being diagnosed with a torn UCL in his throwing elbow. The Mets right-hander pitched to an underwhelming 5.52 ERA over 34 major league appearances including 18 starts last season … Jeff Samardzija received an MRI after injuring his shoulder in a minor league game on Wednesday and has been diagnosed with a strained pectoral muscle. With Samardzija headed to the disabled list for the first time in his career, Derek Holland will likely fill his place in the Giants’ starting rotation … The Reds claimed 1B Kennys Vargas off waivers on Thursday. The 27-year-old first baseman was waived by the Twins earlier this week. With All-Star Joey Votto occupying first base, Vargas will probably be limited to a pinch-hitting role in Cincinnati … Cardinals president John Mozeliak suggested the team may open the year without a set closer. If St. Louis doesn’t add All-Star closer Greg Holland, who remains unsigned, save opportunities will likely be shared between Luke Gregerson, Dominic Leone and Tyler Lyons.

.... and Mattingly, I said trim those side burns !!

Daniel in the lion's den

The bible tells the story of Daniel entering the lion's den. He was brave and fearless. The bible unfortunately did not mention tripping over a pebble and getting a micro fracture.


In news that hardly qualified as a shocker, Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy acknowledged Wednesday morning that he will begin the season on the disabled list as he rehabs from October micro fracture surgery on his right knee.

With the season just one week away, the prospect of Murphy suiting up on Opening Day has been unrealistic for quite a while, but an exact timetable remains uncertain as we move into late-March. According to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, Murphy has been limited to fielding balls hit directly at him and has yet to face live pitching. Still in the process of strengthening his knee, he hasn’t progressed beyond running on a treadmill.

Obviously Opening Day isn’t the be-all and end-all for a team with World Series aspirations, but Murphy’s season debut doesn’t sound imminent. It’s a tricky situation for fantasy owners. His ADP (average draft position) in Yahoo leagues sits at 60.4, which is a bit early given the uncertainty, not just for this type of procedure but also for someone going into his age-33 season. Jonathan Schoop, DJ LeMahieu, Whit Merrifield, Rougned Odor, and Javier Baez are among the second-base eligible players who are being drafted later in Yahoo.

Fortunately for the Nationals, Howie Kendrick is a capable fill-in option at second base. The 34-year-old was brought back this winter on a two-year, $7 million contract after batting .315/.368/.475 with nine homers, 41 RBI, and 12 steals over 91 games last season. He could be worth a look in some deeper mixed fantasy leagues.

Brantley Homers in Cactus Debut

Michael Brantley announced his return with authority on Wednesday against the Royals, homering in his first at-bat in his Cactus League debut. He went 1-for-3 on the night and also played five innings in left field.

Brantley is coming off surgery in October to stabilize the ligaments in his right ankle. While the Indians eased him into running before clearing him for game action, he has been hitting without restrictions all spring. As a result, he’s still holding out hope to be ready for Opening Day, but it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if he needed a little more time.

Rehabbing from surgery is nothing new for Brantley. The 30-year-old was limited to 11 games in 2016 following shoulder surgery and was in rehab mode from biceps surgery last spring. He ended up dealing with ankle issues for most of 2017 while batting .299/.357/.444 with nine homers, 52 RBI, and 11 steals over 90 games.

The injuries have understandably taken a toll on Brantley’s fantasy stock, as his ADP checks in at 238.8 on Yahoo, right in the same area as fellow veteran outfielders Curtis Granderson, Nick Markakis, and Josh Reddick. He’s a worthy flier given the minimal price tag.

Conforto Making Progress

The Mets have been targeting May 1 for Michael Conforto’s return from surgery to repair a torn posterior capsule in his left shoulder, but he’s doing his best to beat that timetable.

In his latest encouraging step forward, Conforto clubbed a pair of homers in 10 at-bats during a minor league scrimmage in Mets camp on Wednesday. The first was against 2017 Mets first-round pick David Peterson before he later took minor league left-hander Daniel Zamora deep.

Conforto said last week that he was confident that he would get into a Grapefruit League game before the end of spring training, but new Mets manager Mickey Callaway has ruled out that scenario. Still, he’s made enough progress to suggest that he could return at some point in April.

Conforto, 25, batted .279/.384/.555 with 27 homers and 68 RBI over 109 games last season prior to injuring his shoulder. It’s fair to wonder how his production could be impacted by the surgery, at least in the short-term, but those in mixed fantasy leagues should be willing to take a chance in the later rounds. He could turn out to be one of the better bargains for a second straight year.

With Jay Bruce back in the fold, Conforto is expected to play center field upon his return. Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares will cover center field duties until the time comes.





Quick Hits: Carlos Carrasco exited his start on Wednesday after suffering a left foot contusion on a comebacker … Steven Souza left Wednesday’s Cactus League game after suffering an apparent arm injury while attempting a diving catch … Aaron Judge continued his dominance of the Orioles with a two-homer day on Wednesday … Mike Zunino slugged three home runs in Wednesday’s Cactus League game against the Brewers … Jose Abreu (hamstring) hopes to return to Cactus League action on Friday  … Robinson Cano (hamstring) and Ichiro Suzuki (calf) returned to the Mariners’ lineup on Wednesday … Drew Pomeranz (forearm) is expected to begin the season on the disabled list … … Randal Grichuk (ribs) returned to the Blue Jays’ Grapefruit League lineup on Wednesday … Joe Frisaro of MLB.com writes that Dan Straily (forearm) still has a chance to avoid the disabled list if he is cleared to throw by around Sunday … Athletics prospect left-hander A.J. Puk has been shut down with biceps soreness … Jharel Cotton (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery on Wednesday … Carlos Rodon (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a side session on Thursday in White Sox camp … Wade Miley left Wednesday’s Cactus League game with an apparent groin injury … Mariners reliever David Phelps suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow and will require Tommy John surgery … Twins manager Paul Molitor said Wednesday that Eduardo Escobar will be the primary fill-in at shortstop during Jorge Polanco’s PED suspension … Erasmo Ramirez will throw a bullpen session Saturday for the first time since suffering his lat strain … Johan Camargo (side, back) will begin the season on the disabled list,  with Rio Ruiz likely to pick up most of the starts at third base … White Sox manager Rick Renteria indicated Wednesday that Carson Fulmer is likely to begin the season as the team’s fifth starter … The Phillies released left-handed reliever Fernando Abad … Joaquin Benoit will miss the start of the season with a forearm strain …

Jose Pirela

San Diego Padres OF Jose Pirela might be in for a huge year for his fantasy owners. While one should never put a lot of stock into spring numbers, Pirela is simply picking up where he left off last summer. The Padres gave him a chance to play regularly around the middle of the season and he took the ball and ran with it. Or hit it. And threw it. Well, you get the picture.

After toiling in relative obscurity for a few years, and failing to break into the bigs on a regular basis, he finally staked his claim in his 27-year-old campaign, hitting .288 with 25 doubles, four triples, 10 homers and 40 RBI while posting a solid .837 OPS in just 312 at-bats across 83 games. He has kicked it up a notch, tearing the ball off the cover in Cactus League play, leading all of baseball with a .436 average with six extra-base hits, including two homers, and eight RBI over 16 games while sizzling with a .718 slugging percentage and gaudy 1.229 OPS.

Pirela sits atop the depth chart in left field, and the Padres surprisingly have a logjam in the outfield. Manuel Margot will be in center field, with Wil Myers in right field. While Hunter Renfroe is breathing down Pirela's neck with five homers, Pirela is not showing any signs of letting up. It's a nice problem to have for manager Andy Green. Pirela might not necessarily be locked into left field every day, but he will be in the lineup somewhere. You can count on that.

Cobb Finds A Job

The Baltimore Orioles is probably best known for taking a line drive in the head off the bat of then Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer just under five years ago. It was an awful scene, and he was forced to miss two months after suffering a concussion and a cut to the ear. But it wasn't as bad as it could have been, thankfully. Now, he will begin a new chapter in his career after spending parts of six seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The O's decided if you can't beat him, then have him join you. Plus, they're in dire need of experience rotation depth. While Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman are proven commodities, and Andrew Cashner and Chris Tillman are serviceable middle of the rotation guys, the O's were apparently not comfortable with the prospect of Miguel Castro, Nestor Cortes or Mike Wright serving as their No. 5 starter. So Cobb is likely in for a rotation spot once he is stretched out. He'll go to the minor-league camp to get stretched out.

Cobb rolled up a career-best 179 1/3 innings last season while logging 12 victories with a 3.66 ERA. It was his first full season back in the majors after working his way back from reconstructive elbow surgery. He looked better than ever, and he reportedly fetched a four-year deal between $56 and $60 million, so he'll certainly be a big part of things in Charm City. The O's probably like what they saw from Cobb against the Red Sox over the past few years, going 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA across five starts since the start of the 2015 season. He held them in check with a .241 batting average, too. He wasn't as hard on the Yankees during the span, going 1-2 with a 6.64 ERA and .318 opponent batting average, and that's before adding Giancarlo Stanton.

Dan The Man

Daniel Vogelbach is making life awfully difficult for manager Scott Servais. He has rolled up huge numbers this spring, posting a .400 average with six doubles, five home runs and 11 RBI while posting a ridiculous 1.385 OPS. The 6-foot, 250-pound brickhouse first baseman from Orlando was a former second-round pick of the Chicago Cubs during the 2011 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. He made his debut in 2016 for eight games, and he saw 16 more games of action in 2017 for the M's. However, he has managed to hit just .175 across 24 games (40 at-bats) with one double, no homers and two RBI in regular-season action.

So is Vogelbach ready to be the next stud to come out of nowhere and emerge as a fantasy stud? Or will he be the next Brennan Boesch, John Bowker, Matt Hague, Dann Howitt, etc. You know, guys who tore up spring pitchers with huge homer totals only to flame out early and often when the games started to come for real. Well, Vogelbach has a major obstacle in his way, as the team has Ryon Healy, who is now healthy and expected to be ready for Opening Day after recovering from a hand injury. Servais is on record saying that first base is Healy's, and only Healy's, so there will be no platoon.

Vogelbach might have done enough to force his way onto the Opening Day roster, but then what? The team is likely to have an extra spot on the bench with no need for a fifth starter at least two weeks into the season. So he could see a few at-bats early in April, perhaps even an occasional start. But those people drafting Vogelbach with a valuable pick outside of the final round or two are likely wasting the spot. There are no guarantees he will be in Seattle, and not Tacoma, by the end of the first month.

American League Quick Hits: Lucas Giolito looked awfully impressive in his Cactus League spring start against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. He twirled 6 1/3 scoreless innings while yielding just two hits with four punchouts. He was considered a huge prospect when he was in the Washington Nationals organization, and might be the most talented starter for the Pale Hose. The 6-foot-6 hurler finished up strong last September, and posting a 3-3 record with a 2.38 ERA across his final seven starts. Remember, he is just 23. He is a nice addition when doing some last-minute shopping. … Speaking of the ChiSox, Jose Abreu suffered a strained hamstring on Tuesday. For now, he's considered day to day, but a hamstring issue makes him a question mark for the opener now. … Kendall Graveman will take the baseball on Opening Day for the A's. That's not terribly favorable for his fantasy appeal, as he'll be matched up against some pretty strong opposing pitchers, at least early on. … Whit Merrifield had a pair of clouts on Tuesday, driving in three. For those scoring at home, he's hitting .465 with four bombs in Cactus League play. He'll be an outstanding CI option if he can maintain a decent power pace. ... Khris Davis (illness) is set to return to action on Wednesday after being under the weather a bit.

National League Quick Hits: Michael Conforto (shoulder) was able to play in a minor-league game, working four innings in center field. He is working his way back from shoulder surgery last September and he appears to be well ahead of schedule. Conforto is expected to start on the 10-day disabled list still, but instead of a May return, he might only miss a couple of weeks of the regular season. … Eric Hosmer roped a pair of doubles with an RBI in Tuesday's spring tie with Cincinnati. He is started to look a lot more comfortable in his new surroundings after a bit of a slow start. ... Sam Dyson was socked around in a relief appearance, coughing up three runs while retiring just one better. Remember how bad he was last April for Texas? Yeah, it's looking that bad again, and then some. He isn't a lock to work in a setup role at this rate. ... The Dodgers farmed out Alex Verdugo to Triple-A Las Vegas. He has plenty of upside, but the Dodgers likely need an injury or two in their stacked outfield before he sees time with the parent club. ... There are apparently no guarantees Billy Hamilton will be the leadoff hitter for Cincinnati, as manager Bryan Price has not yet committed to the idea. He said that the team is still trying to figure out the best spot for the speedster. Hmm.

Ronald Acuna

Though it was highly-anticipated, baseball fans everywhere let out a collective groan on Monday when the Braves reassigned top prospect Ronald Acuna to minor league camp. Far from fact.

From a business perspective, sure it makes all the sense in the world for the team to send him down. By keeping him at Triple-A Gwinnett for two weeks to begin the season, they’ll gain an extra season of team control of the budding superstar.

Braves’ general manager Alex Anthopoulos can’t publicly admit as much, but that’s clearly the reason that Acuna isn’t going to be in the team’s Opening Day lineup after lighting the world on fire this spring. The 20-year-old hit .432/.519/.727 with four homers, 11 RBI and four stolen bases in 52 plate appearances over 16 Grapefruit League contests. Once again, starting the clock.

 

Here’s what Anthopoulos had to say on the record about it, "We don't set time frames or anything like that… I know a lot gets made of that. Right now, it's just go down and play and get in a routine. He's obviously looked very good. We just want him to get into the flow, keep doing what he was doing and he'll find his way back here, hopefully very soon."

Had he made the Opening Day on the roster and remained at the big league level throughout his career, Acuna would be eligible for free agency following the 2022 season. By simply keeping him in the minor leagues until April 13, they keep him under team control through the 2023 campaign.

The Braves and Anthopoulos can try to spin it all they want how it’s best for the player’s development to get a little more seasoning at the minor league level, but the fact of the matter is that the system is flawed and is clearly being manipulated. Acuna belongs in the major leagues and would certainly help the Braves win games right out of the gate. Here's hoping for an early return.

Down goes Turner

The Dodgers were dealt a major blow on Monday when Justin Turner was diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist. He suffered the injury when he was drilled by a pitch by A’s right-hander Kendall Graveman during Monday night’s Cactus League contest.

Turner will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list. As of now, there’s no clear timetable for a possible return. Turner will visit with a local hand specialist on Tuesday do determine the course of action and to shed some light on how much time he stands to miss.

Dodgers’ general manager Farhan Zaidi said late Monday that this type of injury is “usually on the order of weeks” and that surgery usually isn’t necessary. Zaidi also noted that the club isn’t exploring any external options to cover for Turner as they are confident in their internal depth.

Zaidi noted, "But the next thought, practically, is what it means for the team, and as far as that goes, we have some very capable guys who are going to be given a chance to seize an opportunity. We feel very confident staying in-house with this one and the hope is we're not missing him too long."

Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts said that his initial thought was to shift Logan Forsythe over to third base while having Chase Utley and Kike Hernandez platoon at second. The club could also utilize backup catcher Austin Barnes at second base on occasion.

Turner, who was drilled by a team-high 19 pitches during the 2017 season, was extremely disappointed after hearing the diagnosis. The 33-year-old told reporters, "It didn't feel good," he said. "Definitely not what I wanted to hear. It started to feel better getting the X-ray and I was hoping it would come back negative. Then you get the news, it's tough.”

For at least the first few weeks of the regular season, the Dodgers and Turner’s fantasy owners alike, will have to rely on their depth and manage without their star third baseman.

National League Quick Hits: Trea Turner had to sit out Monday’s Grapefruit League game due to an ingrown toenail… Marlins’ catcher J.T. Realmuto (back) said he was confident that he’ll be ready for Opening Day… Julio Teheran was named as the Braves’ Opening Day starter… Mark Leiter Jr. was sent back to Philadelphia to undergo tests for forearm tightness… Marlins’ manager Don Mattingly admitted that he’s considering using Lewis Brinson out of the leadoff spot in his lineup… The Reds reassigned top prospect Nick Senzel to minor league camp… Steven Matz fanned nine over six innings of two-run ball against the Astros...Jon Gray punched out nine over 6 ⅓ innings of shutout baseball against the Rangers.

American League Quick Hits: Angels’ hurler Andrew Heaney will miss his next scheduled start due to elbow inflammation. He has already undergone an MRI which ruled out any ligament damage...Tigers’ top prospect Franklin Perez will be sidelined for at least 12 weeks due to a right lat strain...The Rangers claimed Tommy Joseph off of waivers from the Phillies, but general manager Jon Daniels indicated that it was unlikely he would crack the Opening Day roster… The Indians released struggling outfielder Melvin Upton Jr… Bradley Zimmer was scratched from Monday’s Cactus League contest due to a mild left groin strain...Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique) will not be ready in time for Opening Day… Tigers’ skipper Ron Gardenhire tabbed Michael Fulmer for the second game of the regular season… Santiago Casilla has been sidelined for the past week due to tightness in his right shoulder...The Athletics finalized their one-year, $1.5 million contract with Trevor Cahill… Felix Hernandez (forearm) threw 40 pitches over three innings in a minor league game and could still make his Opening Day start… The Royals inked Clay Buchholz to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. He’ll earn $1.5 if he makes the big league roster… Mallex Smith (hamstring) will return to action in a minor league game on Tuesday… Justin Verlander fired seven shutout innings against the Mets… Yonder Alonso went 3-for-3 and clubbed a homer in a victory over the Giants.

Caught !

The Twins made an unexpected run to the Wild Card Game last fall, fueled in part by a torrid final two months of the season from Jorge Polanco. The shortstop batted .316/.377/.553 from the beginning of August until the end of the regular season, then batted third in the postseason game against the Yankees, finishing with a hit and two runs scored in the loss.

If Polanco is going to lead the Twins back to the postseason he'll have to do it with another strong second half, and if the Twins get to October they'll have to survive and advance without the 24-year-old after he was suspended 80 games Sunday for testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug stanozolol.

The ban will begin at the start of the regular season, meaning Polanco won't be eligible to return to the team until late June or early July at the earliest. In a statement issued Sunday, Polanco said he has opted not to pursue an appeal and will begin serving the suspension immediately.

“To be clear, I did not intentionally consume this steroid,” he said. “I now know, however, that my intention alone is not a good enough excuse and I will pay the price for my error in judgment. I take full responsibility for what is in my body.” Sure you do.

Thanks in large part to his productive second half, Polanco was a surprise fantasy contributor last season, finishing with a .256/.313/.410 line with 13 homers and 13 steals from the shortstop position. Even more was expected of him this year, with optimistic projections hoping for a higher average and a few more counting stats to boot.

Now, the Twins will have to figure out how to piece together three months without their starting shortstop, and fantasy players will have to figure out who to target in place of Polanco. The answers aren't the same; the Twins could possibly turn to interesting prospect Nick Gordon or less interesting utility infielders Eduardo Escobar and Ehire Adrianza, while guys with similar skillsets being drafted around the same time, per NFBC ADP, include Tim Anderson (191.4 ADP), Andrelton Simmons (222.5) and personal favorite Marcus Semien (225.2).

Syndergaard Shining In Spring

Perhaps feeling like he needed to carry a little extra weight with Jason Vargas now sidelined, Noah Syndergaard, the man affectionately called Thor, did his best Hercules impression Sunday.

Syndergaard, rounding into form after missing virtually all of 2017, threw 86 pitches over seven stout innings in a Grapefruit League start against the Orioles. He gave up a lone run on eight hits while striking out five in the effort.

“His pitch count was so low, he did such a good job of keeping it down that we sent him back out there,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said about letting Syndergaard throw seven innings in a spring training outing. “He still didn’t get to the pitches we wanted him to get to, but up and down made up for that for sure.”

Syndergaard now has a 1.35 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 20 innings this spring, and he's set to be the team's Opening Day starter in a matter of days.

The big right-hander is showing few effects of the partially torn lat muscle suffered last season that cost him all but 30 1/3 innings of work. Syndergaard sustained the injury in late April 2017 and was able to work back to the point that he made two appearances, on September 23 and October 1, before the end of the season.

Now healthy, the 25-year-old should once again be a workhorse, preferably in games that count next time.

National League Quick Hits: Christian Yelich reached all four times he came to the plate Sunday, going 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored, also walking twice, in a win over the Dodgers. Yelich led off the game with his first homer as a member of the Brew Crew, then delivered a two-run single in the fourth inning. The Brewers' big offseason acquisition is primed for a huge year in Milwaukee, moving to a hitter-friendly park with an arguably better lineup than the one he left in Miami ... Amir Garrett spun four near-perfect innings Sunday en route to a win over the Diamondbacks in Cactus League play. Garrett yielded just one hit and one walk while striking out four in the outing. The southpaw now has a 1.38 ERA 0.69 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings this spring as he battles for a rotation spot. It will continue to be a camp battle worth monitoring as we inch closer to Opening Day ... Hunter Renfroe hit his fifth home run of Cactus League play in a win over the Dodgers on Sunday. Renfroe has now homered in back to back games and is rounding into form as Opening Day approaches. The outfielder has always had mammoth power and swatted 26 dingers in 2017. His contact ability will be what determines how far he'll go, but the pop makes him worth a late-round pick in most mixed leagues ... Madison Bumgarner was in midseason form against the Rockies, holding them scoreless over six innings in a 13-0 skunking Sunday. Bumgarner served up just one hit, a double, and walked two while striking out five in the contest. For good measure, he also hit a solo homer in the seventh inning.

American League Quick Hits: Ichiro Suzuki was expected to play in a minor league game Sunday but wasn't anticipated to run as he rests his sore calf. Suzuki was pulled from the game on Wednesday after feeling tightness in his right calf, and hasn't played since. Assuming their are no setbacks, though, he should be fine by Opening Day ... Nick Tropeano struck out nine Rangers over 5 1/3 scoreless innings Sunday, leading the Angels to a victory. Dominant is a word, one of many that could be used to describe Tropeano on this afternoon. He yielded just two hits, both singles, and walked two while fanning the nine hitters. The right-hander has a 3.12 ERA in 8 2/3 Cactus League innings in his bid for a spot in the Angels' six-man rotation. Sunday surely helped, and he'll have at least one more opportunity to make an impression before camp breaks ... On the other side, Martin Perez limited the Angels to one run on three hits over five innings in a Cactus League start Sunday. Perez allowed three hits and a walk while striking out one in what was his spring debut. He'd been sidelined after offseason surgery to repair a fracture in his non-throwing elbow. Assuming he continues to show well, the southpaw should earn a spot in the Rangers' rotation to start the year ... Matt Joyce clobbered a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, as the Athletics routed the White Sox on Sunday. Joyce got the A's on the board in a hurry in this one, leading off with a solo shot off of White Sox' starter James Shields. He then broke the game open with a grand slam off of top prospect Michael Kopech in the fourth inning. The long balls were the first two homers for Joyce who is having a rough spring, hitting just .179 ... Yan Gomes went 2-for-4 with five RBI, including a grand slam, as a split-squad Indians team took it to the Mariners on Sunday. In his return from minor arm soreness, Gomes knocked an RBI double in the first inning before hitting the big fly in the third. The backstop has had some health issues in recent years but should be the bigger half of a timeshare with Roberto Perez behind the plate if healthy.

Clippard's Progression

If you only watched Tyler Clippard pitch for playoff teams last year, you might not have been too impressed when the Blue Jays inked the 33-year-old righty to a minor league deal a couple of weeks ago. He’s coming off a season where he posted his worst ERA (4.77), walk rate (11.7 percent), and home run rate (1.5/9 innings) of any full season at the big league level, and while he had a brief run of midseason success after being traded by the Yankees to the White Sox, his August and September with the Astros went so poorly that he was left off their postseason roster. But Clippard was one of baseball’s best relievers from 2010-2015 and was still very useful in 2016, leaving one in search of possible causes for his struggles last season.
The first thing many people would point to as a reason for Clippard’s 2017 decline was the one that is most often tied to pitcher success: fastball velocity.

That graph looks a little bit worse than it is, with a total velocity band of less than 2.5 mph, but the drop over the last two years is pretty clear. While Clippard’s fastball was mostly in the 92.5 mph range from 2013-2015, it averaged only 91.2 mph last year.
When it comes to relievers, that’s usually all you need to know to figure out why they struggled. But when you look at Clippard’s underlying performance, his strikeout rate in 2017 was actually slightly higher than his career levels. So he clearly still has the stuff to miss bats. The home run rate can be explained away somewhat by an increase in his HR/FB rate (12.5 percent the last two years with a career average of 9 percent), but he is still giving up more of them and walking more hitters than usual.
There must have been something else going on:

One thing that sticks out that is that Clippard has been throwing the splitter more over the last couple of years, which is uncommon for a pitcher who also throws a change up. Here’s Clippard’s take on why he throws both:
“If you’re a hitter and you go up there and [a pitcher] has a change-up and a split, how different are those pitches? It can be difficult to decipher between the straight change – it’s going to stay in the zone – and next thing you know it drops out of the zone like a split…they play off each other nicely. But it goes back to having a good fourseamer.”
Ah, yes. The four-seam fastball. Let’s look at that last graph a different way:

Last year Clippard threw more change-ups and splitters than fastballs by a wide margin, whereas the relative rates have been almost equal the last few years. Interestingly, Clippard describes this as “something that just happened,” as opposed to an intentional switch. When a pitcher makes this kind of change to their repertoire, there’s typically some intent behind it. In Clippard’s case, though, it seems like it just ended up that way either thanks to his own subconscious or the plans of the various catchers he threw to last year.
Regardless of how or why this change occured, Clippard knows that it’s not the way for him to succeed:
“It was pointed out to me…as a player you have to look at the good and the bad and kind of assess and that was part of the assessment of my season last year that I found.
“I need to get back to throwing more fastballs. It’s something I realized and something I’m trying to get back to because when I had the success that I’ve had throughout my career I was throwing over 55% fastballs. And last year I don’t think it was there.”
He hasn’t actually been quite at 55 percent the last few years, but Clippard was definitely throwing a lot more fastballs in the past. So why does this matter? As a guy who is only throwing 91.5 mph, using more off-speed pitches can be a good thing, but not when your primary off speed pitch is a change up/split. Those pitches rely on a hitter thinking a fastball is coming in order to be successful.

“It’s kind of pitching 101. It’s not rocket science, it’s just getting back to basics.”

Clippard agreed with that assessment, calling it “100 percent right,” and the numbers would agree as well. Last year, batters chased fewer of Clippard’s change-ups (29 percent vs 32.3 percent for his career) and made more contact against them than ever (75.7 percent vs 69.5 percent career). What might be even more important is that hitters also made considerably more contact when they did chase (68.5 percent vs 61.2 percent career). That suggests that hitters were not nearly as fooled by the speed of the pitches, even if they were fooled by location and movement.
However, increased fastball usage isn’t just about speed deception. It’s also about consistency and being able to throw strikes, things which eluded Clippard last year:
“As pitchers in general, your fastball is your no. 1 pitch. At least it should be unless you have an awesome cutter or something like that. So for me, if I throw more fastballs the command of that pitch will be better. And if I’m able to command that pitch, then everything else falls into place. It’s kind of pitching 101. It’s not rocket science, it’s just getting back to the basics and sometimes in this game that’s what you have to do.”
It sounds simple enough. Throw your fastballs for strikes and people will chase your non-fastballs. But it helps when you also truly understand the profile of your pitches. Because he pays attention to spin rates and movement profiles, Clippard is fully aware of the fact that, like many other Blue Jays pitchers, he possess an outlier fastball. In this case, it’s one with the ability to fight gravity at elevated levels: His 11.15″ of “rise” is tied for the 12^th highest among 295 right-handed relievers in 2017 and ranks behind only four starters.
“I always tell my catchers that I’m a little bit different as far as – I’m not necessarily trying to paint down and away with fastballs. I’m just trying to get it on a half of the plate…I’m not too worried about height, I’m worried about strikes and pitching towards the corner because I know that if I do miss up it can be effective. So it’s kind of a nice leniency to have because as long as I’m getting it out there (outside), even if it’s elevated, it’s OK.”
So Tyler Clippard is a guy who knows he has a high “rising” fastball and features a swing-and-miss change up as his primary off speed pitch. If that sounds like another Blue Jays pitcher to you, you’re not alone. Clippard has already sought out Marco Estrada to discuss pitching styles.
Clippard specifically asked Estrada about how the latter uses his cutter to complement the fastball/change up combo. Estrada, who called the two pitchers “very, very, very similar,” gave Clippard some ideal situations on when to use it, but also mentioned that Clippard has “a fastball and change up that are unhittable,” and that “as a reliever, [Clippard] can use those for [his] entire career and be just fine.” Clippard seemed to be aware of that last bit on his own, but hearing it from his starting pitcher doppelgänger would certainly help convince him that he’s on the right track. And given Estrada’s success over the past few years and the quality of Clippard’s career performance, a meeting of these two minds can’t be considered anything other than a good thing.
It will be very interesting to see how Clippard approaches this season. If he can get back to his typical pitch mix as planned, he could be this year’s Joe Smith. He has already taken the first steps in identifying the problem, so he’s off to a good start.
It’s not rocket science. It’s pitching 101.

Brawn over Brains for Braun

The Brewers made two of the biggest moves of the offseason to improve their lineup in 2018; signing Lorenzo Cain to a five-year deal and trading for former Marlin Christian Yelich to give Milwaukee one of the more complete lineups in the National League.

As good as those additions are, the Brewers lineup has plenty of other solid pieces, and it seems people are forgetting about the player who has carried Milwaukee over the past decade: Ryan Braun.

Braun launched two homers on Wednesday -- one of them a grand slam -- helping the Brewers beat the White Sox 11-3 in the Cactus League. He’s now hitting a robust .400/.526/.857 in his time in the Cactus League, impressive even in limited playing time this spring.

Now 34, Braun is coming off his worst season as a member of the Milwaukee organization, and he was limited to just 104 games due to injuries to his wrist and calf. Before you go predicting his downfall, let's keep a couple of things in mind. First, his BABIP of .277 was the lowest of his career, so while there may have been slightly more weak contact, it’s fair to say that he did not have the best of luck. On the contrary, in fact. Second, Braun was tearing the cover off the ball to begin the year, so it’s fair to say the injuries -- which clearly haven’t slowed him at all in Arizona -- played a major factor.

Most importantly, however, is the fact that Braun is going to be hitting in a very good lineup. Say what you will about lineup protection being real or not, there’s no doubt that he’s going to have more of a chance to produce runs with guys like Yelich and Cain hitting in front of him, and players like Eric Thames, Domingo Santana and Travis Shaw hitting behind him.

He’s certainly not in his prime, but there’s a lot to like about Braun’s fantasy upside in 2018, and you might be able to acquire his services later than ever. You should take advantage.

More injury woes for Mariners

Last year, you didn’t have to wait very long to hear about a Mariner transaction, and unfortunately, many of them involved putting players on the disabled list.

This spring, it’s been more of the same for Seattle, and two hitters that could be hitting near the top of the order were the victims on Wednesday.

Ichiro Suzuki left in the bottom of the first inning with tightness in his right calf. Just a few innings later, Jean Segura exited the contest against the Giants with tightness in his hamstring.

Simply put, the Mariners have been ravaged with injuries in the Cactus League. Seattle has now seen Felix Hernandez (contusion), Nelson Cruz (quad), Robinson Cano (hamstring), Ben Gamel (oblique) and several others go down at some point this spring.

While much of this is just bad fortune -- and none of the injuries is deemed to be serious at this point -- it does illustrate that the Mariners have several players that are difficult to trust in fantasy in 2018. Outside of Kyle Seager and Mike Zunino, we’ve seen long-term injuries to the core players in the Mariner lineup at some point recently, and Zunino isn’t exactly a beacon of consistency. Add in the concerns that seem to follow James Paxton every year, and you have one of the most frustratingly untrustworthy 25-man roster.

The Mariners have plenty of talent that’s worth going after in fantasy. You just better have a backup plan with anyone you acquire.

Quick hits: Marlins 3B Martin Prado (knee) had a setback while running and will not be ready for the start of the 2018 regular season … Dodgers SS Corey Seager told reporters that his right elbow feels good and that he has "no doubt" he'll be ready for Opening Day. Seager was able to make a couple of throws in a minor league game on Monday, and reportedly had no setbacks afterward … An MRI taken Wednesday on Mariners DH Nelson Cruz's right quad showed a Grade 1 strain. That's the least-severe type of strain and Cruz is hoping to return to Cactus League action relatively soon, after taking a few days off from baseball activities …Twins OF  Eddie Rosario (triceps) resumed throwing Wednesday in Twins camp. Rosario made two sets of 20 throws from a distance of 60 feet and reported feeling strong … Angels SS Andrelton Simmons (shoulder) is expected to return to Cactus League action on Thursday … Mets RHP Anthony Swarzak (calf) threw two innings in a simulated game Wednesday morning in Mets camp. Swarzak suffered a left calf strain in late February, but he is almost fully recovered and should be ready for the start of the 2018 regular season … Indians RHP Corey Kluber continued his dominant Cactus League campaign on Wednesday, limiting the Angels to just one hit and a walk over five scoreless innings. He now boasts a 1.98 ERA and 19/3 K/BB ratio in 13 2/3 Cactus League innings … A second doctor confirmed Wednesday that Brewers C Stephen Vogt has a right shoulder strain … Mariners 2B Robinson Cano (hamstring) is expected to return to Cactus League games next week. That should give him enough time to prepare for Opening Day … Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that free agent RHP J.R. Graham will throw for scouts on Friday in Florida. Graham  was released by the Yankees in February after compiling a 4.55 ERA and 1.62 WHIP at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre … C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic Cincinnati reports that the Reds have hired former Red Sox manager John Farrell as a scout. He'll be in camp starting Thursday, and that his first action will be scouting the Reds' organization … White Sox reassigned OF prospect Eloy Jimenez to Double-A Birmingham … Giants prospect Gustavo Cabrera announced his retirement from baseball. Cabrera, 22, was signed to a $1.3 million bonus out of the Dominican Republic in the summer of 2012. Not long after, he suffered a devastating wrist injury after falling on a piece of glass that nearly cost him his hand … Orioles LHP Zach Britton (Achilles) will remove the walking boot on his landing foot on Saturday and ease into throwing activities … Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports that the Rockies signing of OF Carlos Gonzalez could mean OF David Dahl opens the season in the minors … Matt Ehalt of The Bergen record reports that the Mets are "intrigued" by what Zack Wheeler can do out of the bullpen. He also mentions that the Mets do not want to use Steven Matz in a relief role, so if he's going to be on the 25-man roster, he's going to be in the rotation.