Thursday, March 25, 2021

Pre-Draft Projected Lineups, Rotations

What the commishes think of all your roster decisions.

Here's a look at the projected rosters for NL teams this year, with starters, key reserves and closers. 

Injured players are in italics.

Braves

C: Travis d'Arnaud
1B: Freddie Freeman
2B: Ozzie Albies
3B: Austin Riley
SS: Dansby Swanson
OF: Marcell Ozuna, Cristian Pache, Ronald Acuna

Key reserves: Johan Camargo, Jake Lamb, Ender Inciarte

SP: Max Fried, Charlie Morton, Mike Soroka, Ian Anderson, Drew Smyly, Bryse Wilson
Closer: Will Smith

Brewers

C: Omar Narvaez
1B: Keston Hiura
2B: Kolten Wong
3B: Travis Shaw
SS: Luis Urias
OF: Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, Jackie Bradley Jr.

Key reserves: Orlando Arcia, Avisail Garcia

SP: Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes, Brett Anderson, Josh Lindblom, Freddy Peralta, Adrian Houser
Closer: Josh Hader

Cardinals

C: Yadier Molina
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
2B: Tommy Edman
3B: Nolan Arenado
SS: Paul DeJong
OF: Tyler O'Neill, Harrison Bader, Dylan Carlson

Key reserves: Matt Carpenter, Lane Thomas, Justin Williams

SP: Jack Flaherty, Kwang Hyun Kim, Miles Mikolas, Adam Wainwright, John Gant, Carlos Martinez
Closer: Jordan Hicks, Giovanny Gallegos

Cubs

C: Willson Contreras
1B: Anthony Rizzo
2B: David Bote
3B: Kris Bryant
SS: Javier Baez
OF: Joc Pederson, Ian Happ, Jason Heyward

Key reserves: Nico Hoerner, Jake Marisnick, Eric Sogard

SP: Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta, Zach Davies, Trevor Williams, Alec Mills, Adbert Alzolay
Closer: Craig Kimbrel

Diamondbacks

C: Carson Kelly
1B: Christian Walker
2B: Josh Rojas
3B: Eduardo Escobar
SS: Nick Ahmed
OF: David Peralta, Ketel Marte, Kole Calhoun

Key reserves: Tim Locastro, Asdrubal Cabrera, Pavin Smith

SP: Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Madison Bumgarner, Caleb Smith, Luke Weaver, Taylor Clarke
Closer: Joakim Soria, Stefan Crichton

Dodgers

C: Will Smith
1B: Max Muncy
2B: Gavin Lux
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
OF: AJ Pollock, Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts

Key reserves: Chris Taylor, Edwin Rios, Matt Beatty

SP: Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer, Walker Buehler, David Price, Julio Urias, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin
Closer: Kenley Jansen

Giants

C: Buster Posey
1B: Brandon Belt
2B: Tommy La Stella
3B: Evan Longoria
SS: Brandon Crawford
OF: Alex Dickerson, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater

Key reserves: Donovan Solano, Wilmer Flores, Darin Ruf

SP: Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto, Anthony DeSclafani, Aaron Sanchez, Logan Webb, Alex Wood
Closer: Jake McGee, Reyes Moronta

Marlins

C: Jorge Alfaro
1B: Jesus Aguilar
2B: Jazz Chisholm
3B: Brian Anderson
SS: Miguel Rojas
OF: Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte, Adam Duvall

Key reserves: Isan Diaz, Jon Berti, Garrett Cooper, Lewis Brinson

SP: Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez, Sixto Sanchez, Elieser Hernandez, Trevor Rogers
Closer: Anthony Bass

Mets

C: James McCann
1B: Pete Alonso
2B: Jeff McNeil
3B: JD Davis
SS: Francisco Lindor
OF: Dominic Smith, Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto

Key reserves: Kevin Pillar, Jonathan Villar, Albert Almora Jr

SP: Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker, David Peterson, Joey Lucchesi, Jordan Yamamoto
Closer: Edwin Diaz

Nationals

C: Yan Gomes
1B: Josh Bell
2B: Starlin Castro
3B: Carter Kieboom
SS: Trea Turner
OF: Kyle Schwarber, Victor Robles, Juan Soto

Key reserves: Andrew Stevenson, Ryan Zimmerman, Luis Garcia, Josh Harrison

SP: Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin, Jon Lester, Joe Ross, Austin Voth, Erick Fedde
Closer: Brad Hand

Padres

C: Austin Nola
1B: Eric Hosmer
2B: Ha-seong Kim
3B: Manny Machado
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr.
OF: Tommy Pham, Trent Grisham, Wil Myers

Key reserves: Jurickson Profar, Jake Cronenworth, Victor Caratini

SP: Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Dinelson Lamet, Joe Musgrove, Chris Paddack, Adrian Morejon
Closer: Mark Melancon, Emilio Pagan

Phillies

C: JT Realmuto
1B: Rhys Hoskins
2B: Jean Segura
3B: Alec Bohm
SS: Didi Gregorius
OF: Andrew McCutchen, Adam Haseley, Bryce Harper

Key reserves: Scott Kingery, Brad Miller, Odubel Herrera, Roman Quinn

SP: Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Zach Eflin, Matt Moore, Chase Anderson, Vince Velasquez
Closer: Hector Neris

Pirates

C: Jacob Stallings
1B: Colin Moran
2B: Adam Frazier
3B: Ke'Bryan Hayes
SS: Kevin Newman
OF: Bryan Reynolds, Anthony Alford, Gregory Polanco

Key reserves: Erik Gonzalez, Brian Goodwin, Todd Frazier

SP: Mitch Keller, Steven Brault, Chad Kuhl, Tyler Anderson, JT Brubaker, Trevor Cahill, Wil Crowe
Closer: Richard Rodriguez

Reds

C: Tucker Barnhart
1B: Joey Votto
2B: Jonathan India
3B: Mike Moustakas
SS: Eugenio Suarez
OF: Jesse Winker, Nick Senzel, Nick Castellanos

Key reserves: Shogo Akiyama, Dee Strange-Gordon, Kyle Farmer, Aristides Aquino

SP: Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, Tyler Mahle, Wade Miley, Jeff Hoffman, Michael Lorenzen
Closer: Amir Garrett

Rockies

C: Elias Diaz
1B: CJ Cron
2B: Ryan McMahon
3B: Josh Fuentes
SS: Trevor Story
OF: Raimel Tapia, Garrett Hampson, Charlie Blackmon

Key reserves: Brendan Rodgers, Greg Bird, Sam Hilliard

SP: German Marquez, Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela, Jon Gray, Austin Gomber, Peter Lambert
Closer: Daniel Bard

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Totally Premature Injury Report

Carlos Carrasco is one of many, many Mets who are hurt to start the season. Perhaps 2021 really WILL be a return to normal.

With just one week to go before our draft, we here at the Commissioners' Office thought it was a good time to dust off the old baseball encyclopedia and see who's facing health issues as opening day approaches. 

ARIZONA: RP Tyler Clippard has a capsule strain in his right shoulder, which isn't great for a right-handed pitcher; he won't pitch for six weeks. OF Kole Calhoun has a meniscus tear in his knee and hopes to return before May. 

ATLANTA: SP Mike Soroka is recovering from an Achilles injury and might not make a start this spring. He's expected to miss one or two regular-season starts. 

CHICAGO: RP Rowan Wick has missed time with an intercostal strain but has been throwing off a mound. 

CINCINNATI: SP/RP Michael Lorenzen is day to day with a shoulder strain. 1B Joey Votto has returned to camp after a bout with COVID. SP/RP Tejay Antone is day to day with a groin strain. SP Sonny Gray is day to day with a back injury. RP Lucas Sims also is day to day with a back injury.

COLORADO: SP Peter Lambert will miss most of the season after having elbow surgery. 2B Brendan Rogers will miss at least a month with a hamstring strain. CF Ian Desmond is opting out of the 2021 season (for now), robbing us of another year's worth of Ian Desmond jokes. 

LOS ANGELES: The Defending World Series Champions™ have a few injuries, but they're all to middle relievers and scrubs you weren't going to draft anyway. 

MIAMI: The Marlins also have no injuries to key players. Quick, somebody cover Starling Marte with bubble wrap! 

MILWAUKEE: 2B Jace Peterson aggravated a thumb injury and was told he wouldn't make the roster. Womp womp.  

Mike Clevinger will fit in
perfectly in San Diego, dude.

NEW YORK: Here comes the good stuff. Thanks, LOLMets. SP Noah Syndergaard will miss half the season while recovering from elbow surgery, but he hit 96 mph in a recent bullpen session. SP Carlos Carrasco might miss as many as eight weeks with a hamstring injury. 1B Jose Martinez, hilariously listed an a LF in some reports, has had knee surgery and will miss four months. 2B Robinson Cano (remember him?) will miss the 2021 season because he inherited Ryan Braun's stash of pharmaceuticals. 

PHILADELPHIA: C J.T. Realmuto is day to day with a sore thumb. SP Spencer Howard is day to day with a back problem. So is SP Zach Eflin. Both were scheduled to throw bullpen sessions Sunday. SP Vince Velasquez is day to day with an oblique injury. IF Brad Miller is day to day with a mild oblique injury. RP Seranthony Dominguez will miss half of the season after having elbow surgery. 

PITTSBURGH: 1B Todd Frazier is day to day with back tightness. Welcome to the club, Todd. RP Felipe "Vazquez" is out with ... um ... let's just call it legal problems.

SAN DIEGO:
OF Trent Grisham is day to day with a hamstring issue. RP Drew Pomeranz has a forearm problem but is playing catch from 100 feet. Call me when he's playing catch from 46 feet. C Austin Nola is day to day with a finger injury but is expected to try holding a bat within the next few days, which is apparently a new strategy for Padres catchers. 1B Eric Hosmer is day to day with a tummyache. RP Matt Strahm will miss the beginning of the season with a knee injury. Good grief, there's more? Get your shit together, Padres. SP Dinelson Lamet is day to day with an elbow injury and is likely to open the season on the DL. SP Mike Clevinger and his Lincecum-esque hair are out for the season after he had elbow surgery. Welcome to San Diego, Mike!

SAN FRANCISCO: 1B Brandon Belt is day to day with a heel problem. Rich has been calling him a heel for years. 3B Evan Longoria has a foot injury but could take the field by the middle of the week. Fortunately, the Giants have a low bar for their third basemen. Or is it a wide berth? Ahem — moving on... SP Alex Wood is day to day with a back injury. SP Tyler Beede will miss half the season while recovering from elbow surgery. RP Reyes Moronta is recovering from a labrum injury and came into camp out of shape. Seriously, where do the Giants FIND all these fat guys? 

ST. LOUIS: SP Miles Mikolas is day to day with a sore shoulder, which popped up while he was recovering from a flexor tendon strain. SP Kwang-Hyun Kim has a back problem but threw a bullpen session Saturday. SP Dakota Hudson is likely out for the season while recovering from elbow surgery. 

WASHINGTON: SP Stephen Strasburg — you don't say — has a calf issue but is allegedly on track to avoid the DL.