After a rough start to the Spring Training campaign, the Washington Nationals decided to release relief pitcher Hunter Strickland over the weekend.

Strickland made seven appearances prior to the the Grapefruit League’s cancellation, posting a bloated 10.80 ERA.

The 31-year-old righty, a long-time member of the San Francisco Giants’ bullpen, started off the 2019 season as a member of the Seattle Mariners. He was traded to the eventual World Series champions just before the Trade Deadline in exchange for pitching prospect Aaron Fletcher after making only 4 appearances for the team.

Strickland was meant to help a struggling Nationals bullpen, but struggled himself, posting a 5.14 ERA in 24 appearances for the team. He did make the team’s National League Division Series roster, but got roughed up in two appearances, allowing four runs.

He was subsequently left off of the team’s NL Championship Series and World Series rosters.

Now, Strickland, the owner of a career 3.14 ERA over six Major League seasons, will look to stick on another team’s roster. The big righty is the owner of a big fastball, but has struggled with his secondary pitches and command at times.

Expect the Georgia native to sign for a new team before the 2020 season starts.

The post Nationals Release RP Hunter Strickland appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Clayton Kershaw has spent the last decade as one of the top pitchers in baseball, and has proven his elite status in the game by making his appearance on Opening Day for the Dodgers for a grand total of eight seasons.

In 2020, Kershaw will make that number nine.

Dave Roberts announced on Monday that Kershaw has been named the Opening Day starter for the team, a distinction that he has held every year since 2011, with the exception of last season.

Kershaw’s eight-start Opening Day streak was snapped after a shoulder injury delayed his start to the season.

The future Hall of Fame left-hander will return to his customary position on the bump to kick off the season for Los Angeles on March 26th at Dodger Stadium against the rival San Francisco Giants.

Kershaw has a reputation for good performances in the first game of the season. In his career, the Texas native has accumulated a 5-1 record with a 1.05 ERA on Opening Day.

The eight-time All-Star and three-time NL Cy Young Award winner will look to continue his good work for the Dodgers. Kershaw went 16-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 29 starts for the team last season, proving that he is still one of the top pitchers in the game.

He’ll be counted on once again in 2020 at the age of 32 to help propel the Dodgers to World Series contention.

The post Clayton Kershaw Named Dodgers Opening Day Starter appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a tumultuous off-season and beginning to Spring Training that has seen the Astros deal with the fallout from a cheating scandal that has rocked baseball, a new problem has popped up for Dusty Baker’s team.

Justin Verlander was forced to leave his second Spring Training start of the year early after experiencing soreness in his right triceps, sounding alarm bells for the defending American League Champions.

Verlander, the winner of the 2018 AL Cy Young Award and the runner-up for last year’s trophy, left after pitching two innings against the Mets, allowing three hits and striking out one.

Manager Dusty Baker announced after the game that Verlander left before his scheduled four innings due to a sore right triceps muscle, a problem that could be problematic for the righty starter.

Further tests will be performed on Verlander to determine the extent and nature of the injury. Particular attention will be paid to the pitcher’s elbow ligaments, as triceps injuries are sometimes related to a more serious problem with this crucial part of a pitcher’s arm.

At this point, all the Astros can do is wait to see what the tests show and hope for the best. If the news is bad, however, the team’s rotation will be severely weakened heading into 2020.

The post Justin Verlander Pulled From Spring Training Start With Sore Triceps appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Boston Red Sox made a move to shore up their pitching staff on Thursday morning, inking free agent Collin McHugh to a one-year contract.

McHugh became a free agent at conclusion of last season after spending the past six seasons of his big league career with the Houston Astros, where he served as a key member of the team’s staff as both a reliever and a starter.

The Illinois native was drafted by the New York Mets in 2008 and made his MLB debut with the same team in 2012. After short stints with the Mets and Rockies in 2012 and 2013, he joined the Astros as a waiver claim in 2014.

McHugh’s career took off in Houston, where he became a reliable right-handed member of the team’s staff. He took off in 2014, winning 11 games and posting the best mark on the team with a 2.73 ERA.

The Berry College alum was a key member of the team’s starting rotation from 2014 to 2016, posting a total of 43 wins in 90 starts. After an injury-plagued 2017, he moved to the bullpen for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Now, McHugh will have the opportunity to audition to be a crucial member of the Red Sox’s pitching staff, where he could serves as both a starting pitcher and a reliever.

The post Red Sox Agree to One-Year Deal With P Collin McHugh appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Milwaukee Brewers are on the verge of locking up one of the best players in baseball that will keep him with the franchise until the end of the decade at a cost of over $200 million.

Christian Yelich, who was acquired by the Brewers in a trade with the Miami Marlins prior to the 2018 season, has reportedly reached a deal with the team for a nine-year contract extension that will reportedly be worth $215 million.

The 28-year-old outfielder, who won the 2018 NL Most Valuable Player award and finished second in last season’s voting, has blossomed into one of baseball’s top stars since joining the Brewers.

Over the past two seasons, after showing potential as a young outfielder in Miami, but without becoming a star, Yelich has dominated pitching all over the league. He has hit .327 with 80 home runs and 207 RBI over the past two seasons, leading the Brewers to a playoff berth and two consecutive winning seasons.

The California native has been the NL batting champion in each of the past two seasons, establishing his status as one of the best hitters in the game.

Now, Yelich will have the chance to stay in Milwaukee in the long run and establish himself as one of the most legendary players in the history of the franchise.

The post Brewers, Christian Yelich Reportedly Nearing 9-Year, $215 Million Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale has given his team the worst possible news as they head into the second month of Spring Training, experiencing elbow trouble that has the entire organization worried.

Sale, who reported to Spring Training with pneumonia and was already expected to be delayed in his preparations for the 2020 regular season, experienced left elbow soreness after throwing a live batting practice session on Monday.

The elbow is the same one that gave the lanky lefty problems near the end of last season, with his team shutting him down in August. Despite rumors that he would need Tommy John Surgery, Sale ultimately only received a platelet-rich plasma injection that the team thought had fixed the problem.

Considering Monday’s surprising development, perhaps this assumption was erroneous.

Sale is expected to anchor the Red Sox’s rotation if healthy in 2020, which now seems like a big question mark. The Florida native signed a five-year, $145 million contract extension with Boston before last season which got off to a bad start after a disappointing year that was cut short by injury.

Sale is a seven-time All-Star, and his 2019 season was the first one since 2011 in which he was not named to the team.

For now, all Boston fans can do is sit back and wait to see if their star pitcher makes a quick recovery, or if he might be headed to the operating room.

The post Red Sox SP Chris Sale Sidelined With Elbow Irritation appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After missing the entire 2019 season due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, long-time Royals catcher Salvador Perez made his return to the diamond in the Royals’ Friday Spring Training game against the San Francisco Giants.

Perez started the Friday afternoon game, registering two at-bats and playing five innings behind the plate. He had already gotten some at-bats as a pinch-hitter and designated hitter during the spring slate, but this was his first action behind the plate.

Asked about how he felt on Friday, he said, “I was super excited to be back behind the home plate.” He went on to add, “I feel great. I feel good. I wasn’t nervous.”

The Royals are hoping that Perez will be able to serve as the team’s primary catcher in the 2020 season, providing valuable veteran leadership and catching know-how behind the plate for a young team that is looking to develop its pitching.

Perez, a Venezuela native, was a six-time consecutive AL All-Star between 2013 and 2018, the last season he played before his injury. He is best known for his defensive expertise, as he has collected five Gold Gloves during his strong career.

The 29-year-old appears to have completely recovered from his elbow surgery, and will provide a big boost to the Royals in his return to the diamond this season.

The post Royals C Salvador Perez Makes Return From Tommy John Surgery appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Atlanta Braves first baseman was scratched from his team’s lineup in a Tuesday exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins after suffering right elbow discomfort.

Freeman struggled with bone spurs in the elbow last season, eventually undergoing surgery to remedy the problem after the conclusion of the postseason. The October 18th surgery removed three fragmented loose bodies as well as multiple bone spur formations from his right elbow joint.

Despite reporting to Spring Training “feeling 100%,” Freeman now appears to have suffered a setback in his battle against elbow problems.

Braves manager Brian Snitker tried to downplay the news, saying, “The doctor said it’s not an uncommon thing.(…) We’re glad it’s now rather than later.”

Freeman, a four-time All Star who batted .295/.389/.549 with 38 home runs and 121 RBI for the NL East Champions last season, is expected to sit out at least a few days to attempt to reduce the inflammation and discomfort in his troublesome elbow.

The Braves hope that their star first baseman will make a quick recovery and be ready to go for the start of the season. He is expected to be the #3 hitter in the Braves’ lineup, one of the most fearsome in the league.

In the meantime, Yonder Alonso is expected to fill in for the 30-year-old in the Spring Training lineups until Freeman is ready to go again.

The post Braves 1B Freddie Freeman to Miss Time With Elbow Discomfort appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Houston Astros’ 2020 season looks like it is going to be filled with controversy after the revelation of sign-stealing scandal that rocked baseball during the offseason.

In Houston’s first away game of Spring Training, they got a taste of what is sure to await them throughout the season as the shockwaves from the scandal reverberate throughout the game, frustrating and angering teams and fans alike.

Jose Altuve, one of the stars of the team and a vocal defender of his teammates and the franchise in the wake of the scandal, was booed loudly in Houston’s visit to Joker Marchant Stadium to take on the Detroit Tigers on Monday afternoon.

Fans cheered loudly when Altuve struck out in his first at-bat, showing how the diminutive second baseman and former MVP has quickly gone from one of the game’s most beloved and respected players to a villain.

The Venezuela native doubled in his second plate appearance, but things got quite interesting the third time he stepped to the plate.

Tigers reliever Nick Ramirez grazed Altuve with a pitch, hitting him on the foot. Many have theorized that teams could exact their revenge on the Astros by hitting them with pitches.

Nothing more came of the incident on Tuesday, but it seems inevitable that this scene will repeat itself throughout the 2020 season every time the Astros show up to the park.

The post Jose Altuve Hit By Pitch in Astros Spring Training Debut appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ Spring Training has gotten off to a rough start on the injury side of things, with expected rotation member Miles Mikolas already ruled out for the beginning of the season due to arm troubles.

Mikolas, who is entering his third season with the NL Central team, complained of discomfort in his right forearm early in camp. He was diagnosed with flexor tendon soreness, and the team decided that the best course of action to treat the problem was a platelet-rich plasma injection.

Unfortunately for the Redbirds, this procedure means that Mikolas must sit out and not participating in any throwing activities for the next 3-4 weeks. This will put him significantly behind schedule for the beginning of the season, which starts up in late March.

The 31-year-old righty has been a solid performer over the past two seasons for St. Louis, posting a 31-24 record with a 3.82 ERA. After his excellent debut season in 2018, after signing with the club following a stint in Japan, he was given a four-year, $64 million contract extension.

His performance dipped slightly in 2019, but he was still a key member of the NL Central-winning Cardinals’ squad.

The Cardinals hope that their veteran starter won’t experience any more setbacks and that he will be on track to return earlier rather than later in the season.

The post Cardinals SP Miles Mikolas to Miss Start of Season With Forearm Soreness appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a rough start to the Spring Training campaign, the Washington Nationals decided to release relief pitcher Hunter Strickland over the weekend.

Strickland made seven appearances prior to the the Grapefruit League’s cancellation, posting a bloated 10.80 ERA.

The 31-year-old righty, a long-time member of the San Francisco Giants’ bullpen, started off the 2019 season as a member of the Seattle Mariners. He was traded to the eventual World Series champions just before the Trade Deadline in exchange for pitching prospect Aaron Fletcher after making only 4 appearances for the team.

Strickland was meant to help a struggling Nationals bullpen, but struggled himself, posting a 5.14 ERA in 24 appearances for the team. He did make the team’s National League Division Series roster, but got roughed up in two appearances, allowing four runs.

He was subsequently left off of the team’s NL Championship Series and World Series rosters.

Now, Strickland, the owner of a career 3.14 ERA over six Major League seasons, will look to stick on another team’s roster. The big righty is the owner of a big fastball, but has struggled with his secondary pitches and command at times.

Expect the Georgia native to sign for a new team before the 2020 season starts.

The post Nationals Release RP Hunter Strickland appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Clayton Kershaw has spent the last decade as one of the top pitchers in baseball, and has proven his elite status in the game by making his appearance on Opening Day for the Dodgers for a grand total of eight seasons.

In 2020, Kershaw will make that number nine.

Dave Roberts announced on Monday that Kershaw has been named the Opening Day starter for the team, a distinction that he has held every year since 2011, with the exception of last season.

Kershaw’s eight-start Opening Day streak was snapped after a shoulder injury delayed his start to the season.

The future Hall of Fame left-hander will return to his customary position on the bump to kick off the season for Los Angeles on March 26th at Dodger Stadium against the rival San Francisco Giants.

Kershaw has a reputation for good performances in the first game of the season. In his career, the Texas native has accumulated a 5-1 record with a 1.05 ERA on Opening Day.

The eight-time All-Star and three-time NL Cy Young Award winner will look to continue his good work for the Dodgers. Kershaw went 16-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 29 starts for the team last season, proving that he is still one of the top pitchers in the game.

He’ll be counted on once again in 2020 at the age of 32 to help propel the Dodgers to World Series contention.

The post Clayton Kershaw Named Dodgers Opening Day Starter appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a tumultuous off-season and beginning to Spring Training that has seen the Astros deal with the fallout from a cheating scandal that has rocked baseball, a new problem has popped up for Dusty Baker’s team.

Justin Verlander was forced to leave his second Spring Training start of the year early after experiencing soreness in his right triceps, sounding alarm bells for the defending American League Champions.

Verlander, the winner of the 2018 AL Cy Young Award and the runner-up for last year’s trophy, left after pitching two innings against the Mets, allowing three hits and striking out one.

Manager Dusty Baker announced after the game that Verlander left before his scheduled four innings due to a sore right triceps muscle, a problem that could be problematic for the righty starter.

Further tests will be performed on Verlander to determine the extent and nature of the injury. Particular attention will be paid to the pitcher’s elbow ligaments, as triceps injuries are sometimes related to a more serious problem with this crucial part of a pitcher’s arm.

At this point, all the Astros can do is wait to see what the tests show and hope for the best. If the news is bad, however, the team’s rotation will be severely weakened heading into 2020.

The post Justin Verlander Pulled From Spring Training Start With Sore Triceps appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Boston Red Sox made a move to shore up their pitching staff on Thursday morning, inking free agent Collin McHugh to a one-year contract.

McHugh became a free agent at conclusion of last season after spending the past six seasons of his big league career with the Houston Astros, where he served as a key member of the team’s staff as both a reliever and a starter.

The Illinois native was drafted by the New York Mets in 2008 and made his MLB debut with the same team in 2012. After short stints with the Mets and Rockies in 2012 and 2013, he joined the Astros as a waiver claim in 2014.

McHugh’s career took off in Houston, where he became a reliable right-handed member of the team’s staff. He took off in 2014, winning 11 games and posting the best mark on the team with a 2.73 ERA.

The Berry College alum was a key member of the team’s starting rotation from 2014 to 2016, posting a total of 43 wins in 90 starts. After an injury-plagued 2017, he moved to the bullpen for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Now, McHugh will have the opportunity to audition to be a crucial member of the Red Sox’s pitching staff, where he could serves as both a starting pitcher and a reliever.

The post Red Sox Agree to One-Year Deal With P Collin McHugh appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Milwaukee Brewers are on the verge of locking up one of the best players in baseball that will keep him with the franchise until the end of the decade at a cost of over $200 million.

Christian Yelich, who was acquired by the Brewers in a trade with the Miami Marlins prior to the 2018 season, has reportedly reached a deal with the team for a nine-year contract extension that will reportedly be worth $215 million.

The 28-year-old outfielder, who won the 2018 NL Most Valuable Player award and finished second in last season’s voting, has blossomed into one of baseball’s top stars since joining the Brewers.

Over the past two seasons, after showing potential as a young outfielder in Miami, but without becoming a star, Yelich has dominated pitching all over the league. He has hit .327 with 80 home runs and 207 RBI over the past two seasons, leading the Brewers to a playoff berth and two consecutive winning seasons.

The California native has been the NL batting champion in each of the past two seasons, establishing his status as one of the best hitters in the game.

Now, Yelich will have the chance to stay in Milwaukee in the long run and establish himself as one of the most legendary players in the history of the franchise.

The post Brewers, Christian Yelich Reportedly Nearing 9-Year, $215 Million Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale has given his team the worst possible news as they head into the second month of Spring Training, experiencing elbow trouble that has the entire organization worried.

Sale, who reported to Spring Training with pneumonia and was already expected to be delayed in his preparations for the 2020 regular season, experienced left elbow soreness after throwing a live batting practice session on Monday.

The elbow is the same one that gave the lanky lefty problems near the end of last season, with his team shutting him down in August. Despite rumors that he would need Tommy John Surgery, Sale ultimately only received a platelet-rich plasma injection that the team thought had fixed the problem.

Considering Monday’s surprising development, perhaps this assumption was erroneous.

Sale is expected to anchor the Red Sox’s rotation if healthy in 2020, which now seems like a big question mark. The Florida native signed a five-year, $145 million contract extension with Boston before last season which got off to a bad start after a disappointing year that was cut short by injury.

Sale is a seven-time All-Star, and his 2019 season was the first one since 2011 in which he was not named to the team.

For now, all Boston fans can do is sit back and wait to see if their star pitcher makes a quick recovery, or if he might be headed to the operating room.

The post Red Sox SP Chris Sale Sidelined With Elbow Irritation appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After missing the entire 2019 season due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, long-time Royals catcher Salvador Perez made his return to the diamond in the Royals’ Friday Spring Training game against the San Francisco Giants.

Perez started the Friday afternoon game, registering two at-bats and playing five innings behind the plate. He had already gotten some at-bats as a pinch-hitter and designated hitter during the spring slate, but this was his first action behind the plate.

Asked about how he felt on Friday, he said, “I was super excited to be back behind the home plate.” He went on to add, “I feel great. I feel good. I wasn’t nervous.”

The Royals are hoping that Perez will be able to serve as the team’s primary catcher in the 2020 season, providing valuable veteran leadership and catching know-how behind the plate for a young team that is looking to develop its pitching.

Perez, a Venezuela native, was a six-time consecutive AL All-Star between 2013 and 2018, the last season he played before his injury. He is best known for his defensive expertise, as he has collected five Gold Gloves during his strong career.

The 29-year-old appears to have completely recovered from his elbow surgery, and will provide a big boost to the Royals in his return to the diamond this season.

The post Royals C Salvador Perez Makes Return From Tommy John Surgery appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Atlanta Braves first baseman was scratched from his team’s lineup in a Tuesday exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins after suffering right elbow discomfort.

Freeman struggled with bone spurs in the elbow last season, eventually undergoing surgery to remedy the problem after the conclusion of the postseason. The October 18th surgery removed three fragmented loose bodies as well as multiple bone spur formations from his right elbow joint.

Despite reporting to Spring Training “feeling 100%,” Freeman now appears to have suffered a setback in his battle against elbow problems.

Braves manager Brian Snitker tried to downplay the news, saying, “The doctor said it’s not an uncommon thing.(…) We’re glad it’s now rather than later.”

Freeman, a four-time All Star who batted .295/.389/.549 with 38 home runs and 121 RBI for the NL East Champions last season, is expected to sit out at least a few days to attempt to reduce the inflammation and discomfort in his troublesome elbow.

The Braves hope that their star first baseman will make a quick recovery and be ready to go for the start of the season. He is expected to be the #3 hitter in the Braves’ lineup, one of the most fearsome in the league.

In the meantime, Yonder Alonso is expected to fill in for the 30-year-old in the Spring Training lineups until Freeman is ready to go again.

The post Braves 1B Freddie Freeman to Miss Time With Elbow Discomfort appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Houston Astros’ 2020 season looks like it is going to be filled with controversy after the revelation of sign-stealing scandal that rocked baseball during the offseason.

In Houston’s first away game of Spring Training, they got a taste of what is sure to await them throughout the season as the shockwaves from the scandal reverberate throughout the game, frustrating and angering teams and fans alike.

Jose Altuve, one of the stars of the team and a vocal defender of his teammates and the franchise in the wake of the scandal, was booed loudly in Houston’s visit to Joker Marchant Stadium to take on the Detroit Tigers on Monday afternoon.

Fans cheered loudly when Altuve struck out in his first at-bat, showing how the diminutive second baseman and former MVP has quickly gone from one of the game’s most beloved and respected players to a villain.

The Venezuela native doubled in his second plate appearance, but things got quite interesting the third time he stepped to the plate.

Tigers reliever Nick Ramirez grazed Altuve with a pitch, hitting him on the foot. Many have theorized that teams could exact their revenge on the Astros by hitting them with pitches.

Nothing more came of the incident on Tuesday, but it seems inevitable that this scene will repeat itself throughout the 2020 season every time the Astros show up to the park.

The post Jose Altuve Hit By Pitch in Astros Spring Training Debut appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ Spring Training has gotten off to a rough start on the injury side of things, with expected rotation member Miles Mikolas already ruled out for the beginning of the season due to arm troubles.

Mikolas, who is entering his third season with the NL Central team, complained of discomfort in his right forearm early in camp. He was diagnosed with flexor tendon soreness, and the team decided that the best course of action to treat the problem was a platelet-rich plasma injection.

Unfortunately for the Redbirds, this procedure means that Mikolas must sit out and not participating in any throwing activities for the next 3-4 weeks. This will put him significantly behind schedule for the beginning of the season, which starts up in late March.

The 31-year-old righty has been a solid performer over the past two seasons for St. Louis, posting a 31-24 record with a 3.82 ERA. After his excellent debut season in 2018, after signing with the club following a stint in Japan, he was given a four-year, $64 million contract extension.

His performance dipped slightly in 2019, but he was still a key member of the NL Central-winning Cardinals’ squad.

The Cardinals hope that their veteran starter won’t experience any more setbacks and that he will be on track to return earlier rather than later in the season.

The post Cardinals SP Miles Mikolas to Miss Start of Season With Forearm Soreness appeared first on SportzBonanza.