Crowdsourcing: Beginning of Season Closers

The Mets have selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Blade Tidwell, who takes the 40-man roster spot of lefty Danny Young, now on the 60-day injured list due to an elbow issue requiring Tommy John surgery. Tidwell, a 2022 second-round draft pick, has struggled at Triple-A with a 5.93 ERA last season and a 5.00 ERA in six starts this year, although he boasts a 31.6% strikeout rate. To accommodate Tidwell, right-hander Austin Warren was...

Waiver Wire Watch offers weekly analysis of MLB waiver wire adds and drops, focusing on players under 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. This week highlights players like Tyler Stephenson (CIN) for power potential, Rhys Hoskins (MIL) for a hot streak, and Sal Frelick (MIL) for speed and everyday play. Additionally, it suggests dropping players like Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Jonathan India due to their declining performance and roster implications, while also providing a list of...

TAMPA, Fla. - At Driveline Baseball, I tested the FlexPro Grip device, designed to enhance grip strength and potentially prevent pitching injuries. Guided by Phillies minor-league pitcher Josh Hejka, who combines his pitching skills with computer science expertise, I learned how the device isolates finger muscles to improve performance and reduce injury risk. Hejka emphasizes the need for innovation in injury prevention, focusing on strengthening surrounding muscles since the ulnar collateral ligament itself cannot be...

Summary Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández have developed a close "big brother, little brother" relationship on the Dodgers, with Hernández mentoring the younger Pages after his call-up to the majors. Their bond has strengthened both players’ performances, as evidenced by a recent game where they both hit home runs, with Hernández celebrating Pages' achievement more enthusiastically than his own 200th career homer. As they continue to support each other through slumps and successes, their collaborative...

Aaron Nola overcame pregame neck tightness to pitch six scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks, showcasing strong performance despite initial concerns from the Phillies' management. His average velocity was notably up at 92.2 mph, and he effectively utilized his cutter and curveball, contributing to a 7-2 victory, while lowering his ERA from 6.43 to 4.61 over two starts. Nola expressed optimism about the neck issue, noting it was not severe and expected it to resolve quickly,...