Fantasy News

• Giants' Jordan Hicks: No-decision vs. Marlins

  Rotowire Apr 16, 2024

  Hicks didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks over five innings in a loss to the Marlins. He struck out six. Hicks was solid for the most part Tuesday, holding the Marlins scoreless through his first three innings before Miami scored twice in the fourth to tie the game. It's the first time Hicks has allowed more than a single run in a start this year -- he's 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB through his first four outings (23 innings). Hicks will look to get back in the win column in his next start, currently lined up for Sunday versus the Diamondbacks.

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• Giants' Jordan Hicks: Stifles Nats for second win

  Rotowire Apr 11, 2024

  Hicks (2-0) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over six innings in a 7-1 victory over the Nationals. He struck out two. The right-hander wasn't dominant, managing only seven swinging strikes among his 79 pitches, but Hicks didn't give up much hard contact aside from a Joey Gallo solo shot in the second inning. Hicks has produced two straight quality starts, and through three outings and 18 innings to begin the season he's delivered a sparkling 1.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which lines up for a road tilt in Miami early next week.

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• Giants' Jordan Hicks: Sharp in no-decision Friday

  Rotowire Apr 5, 2024

  Hicks came away with a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 win over the Padres, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits over seven innings. He struck out five without walking a batter. The 27-year-old right-hander produced the first quality start of his career, as he lasted more than five innings for the first time in 10 career big-league starts. Hicks tossed 91 pitches (61 strikes) in an efficient outing, and the Giants' decision to deploy him in the rotation rather than a high-leverage relief role is beginning to look like it might pay dividends. Hicks will take a 0.75 ERA and 11:1 K:BB through his first 12 innings of 2024 into his next start, which lines up for a favorable home matchup against the Nationals next week.

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• Giants' Jordan Hicks: Five scoreless in first start

  Rotowire Mar 30, 2024

  Hicks (1-0) picked up the victory Saturday in San Diego, yielding three hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch over five frames. He struck out six. It was Hicks' first-ever win as a starting pitcher (in his ninth career start), as he carried over his strong spring with a terrific season debut. All three of the hits the Padres tallied off the hard-throwing righty were singles, and Hicks also enjoyed some stellar infield defense behind him. It will be a real test for Hicks holding up over a full season as he converts to being a starter, but the early returns are promising.

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• Giants' Jordan Hicks: Old problems surfacing in spring

  Rotowire Mar 4, 2024

  Hicks has allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six over 4.1 innings across two Cactus League starts. The Giants are committed to letting Hicks begin 2024 as a starter, as they lack rotation depth. The numbers so far are not encouraging -- Hicks is struggling with walks and loud contact. Oracle Park should help limit the damage on flyballs, and his elite velocity will lead to plenty of strikeouts. Hicks will need to prove his durability in a starting role, as a return to the bullpen will linger over him if his performance slips or an injury costs him a large chunk of the season.

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• Giants' Jordan Hicks: Will be conventional starter

  Rotowire Jan 18, 2024

  The Giants plan to use Hicks as a conventional starter this season, Danny Emerman of KNBR 680 San Francisco reports. The goal is for the right-hander to be ready to throw five innings and/or 75 pitches at the start of the season. Hicks totaled just 66.2 frames between the regular and postseason in 2023 and his professional high is 105, which came back in 2017 when he was last used as a regular starter. Therefore, his workload will almost surely have to be managed at some point. The Giants could always reverse course and put Hicks in the bullpen if starting doesn't work out, but for now they're committed to him being a member of their rotation.

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• Blue Jays' Jordan Hicks: Earns save Monday

  Rotowire Aug 29, 2023

  Hicks picked up the save Monday against Washington. He allowed one walk in a scoreless inning. After Jordan Romano threw 36 pitches in Sunday's extra-inning loss, the Blue Jays turned to Hicks in the ninth inning Monday. He worked around a two-out walk to close out a 6-3 win, earning his fourth save with Toronto and his 12th of the year. Hicks had been somewhat shaky since returning to a setup role behind Romano, allowing three runs and two homers in his prior 5.2 innings. Overall, he sports a 3.74 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 69:27 K:BB across 53 innings this season.

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• Blue Jays' Jordan Hicks: Records another save

  Rotowire Aug 10, 2023

  Hicks earned a save against the Guardians on Wednesday by retiring the only batter he faced. With Toronto clinging to a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth frame, it was Tim Mayza who got the call from the bullpen to close things out. The southpaw retired two of the three batters he faced, but the right-handed Hicks was called upon to finish the job against righty Oscar Gonzalez with two outs and a runner on first. Hicks needed just two pitches to do so, getting Gonzalez to pop out to second base. In doing so, the hurler recorded his third save in the past five days. Hicks appears to be the favorite for save opportunities among Blue Jays relievers for the time being, though Jordan Romano (back) tossed another bullpen session Wednesday and will almost certainly resume closer duties upon his return.

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• Blue Jays' Jordan Hicks: Notches 10th save

  Rotowire Aug 8, 2023

  Hicks earned a save against Cleveland on Monday, allowing one hit and one walk in one scoreless inning. Hicks got the call from the bullpen with the Blue Jays up 3-1 in the ninth frame. The right-hander quickly found himself in trouble after hitting the first batter he faced and then yielding a single to Jose Ramirez. However, Hicks was able to retire the next two hitters, and after loading the bases by walking Gabriel Arias, he got Brayan Rocchio to ground out to escape the jam. It wasn't a smooth conversion by any means, but Hicks has been successful in both his save chances since joining Toronto and may get another opportunity or two before Jordan Romano (back) returns to reclaim the ninth-inning job.

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• Blue Jays' Jordan Hicks: Notches first save with new club

  Rotowire Aug 5, 2023

  Hicks struck out one in 1.1 perfect innings of relief Friday to record his ninth save of the season, and first as a Blue Jay, in a 7-3 win over the Red Sox. The Jays held a three-run lead when Hicks took the mound in the bottom of the eighth, and the insurance run they tacked on in the ninth didn't cause him to take his foot off the gas -- the right-hander needed only nine pitches, all strikes, to get the four outs and he topped out at 99.9 mph with his power sinker. Toronto is using a closing committee with Jordan Romano (back) on the shelf, and while Hicks will likely continue to split save chances with Yimi Garcia and Erik Swanson depending on availability and matchups, performances like this will make manager John Schneider very comfortable deploying his newest high-leverage option at the end of games.

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• Blue Jays' Jordan Hicks: Shipped to Toronto

  Rotowire Jul 30, 2023

  The Cardinals agreed to trade Hicks to the Blue Jays on Sunday for an unspecified return, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports. The trade return remains unclear, but Toronto wasted little time bolstering the back end of its bullpen after closer Jordan Romano (back) landed on the injured list Saturday. Hicks had a rough start to the season with 11 earned runs allowed in his first 14 outings, but he has a 1.88 ERA over 28.2 innings since May 8 and has been effective as St. Louis' closer over the past six weeks. The flame-throwing righty should be the favorite for save opportunities in Toronto while Romano is sidelined, though Erik Swanson and Yimi Garcia could also be in the mix.

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• Cardinals' Jordan Hicks: Secures eighth save

  Rotowire Jul 18, 2023

  Hicks earned a save against the Marlins on Monday, allowing three hits over one scoreless inning. Hicks was called upon in the ninth inning to protect a two-run lead and quickly surrendered a leadoff single. That was erased when Luis Arraez followed by grounding into a double play, but Hicks soon found himself in trouble again when each of the next two batters notched a hit off him. However, the righty reliever managed to recover and induced a groundout to close the contest. Hicks has yielded nine hits and two walks over his past 6.1 innings but has been able to record three saves in four chances while giving up just two earned runs across six appearances over that span.

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• Cardinals' Jordan Hicks: Takes extra-inning loss

  Rotowire Jul 16, 2023

  Hicks (1-6) took the extra-inning loss in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Nationals, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out one over two innings. The game was resumed after getting suspended Friday due to weather. Hicks got through the ninth inning without much trouble but gave up a pair of runs in the 10th to take the loss. He's now at a 3.93 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 56:23 K:BB through 38.2 innings overall while adding seven saves, six holds and three blown saves. Hicks had a strong June, but he's now given up five runs (three earned) over his last seven outings.

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• Cardinals' Jordan Hicks: Nails down seventh save

  Rotowire Jul 8, 2023

  Hicks gave up two hits and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his seventh save of the season in a 3-0 win over the White Sox. The right-hander continues to thrive since his move back into the closer role. Over his last nine appearances, Hicks has converted seven of eight save chances while posting a 2.16 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB through 8.1 innings. Ryan Helsley (forearm) appears to be on track to return to the St. Louis bullpen before the end of July, but if Hicks keeps performing at this level, he could well retain at least a share of the team's ninth-inning duties -- although he could also find himself traded to a contender by then, before he reaches free agency next offseason.

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• Cardinals' Jordan Hicks: Snares sixth save

  Rotowire Jul 6, 2023

  Hicks picked up the save in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Marlins. He struck out one over a perfect inning. Hicks grabbed his sixth save of the campaign Thursday, each of which has come since No. 1 closer Ryan Helsley (forearm) was placed on the 15-day IL on June 12. Since Helsley's injury, Hicks has handled closing duties and owns a 2.00 ERA and 12:2 K:BB through nine appearances (nine innings).

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• Cardinals' Jordan Hicks: Notches fifth save

  Rotowire Jun 28, 2023

  Hicks struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Astros. The right-hander topped out at 99.5 mph with his final pitch as he caught Jeremy Pena looking. Hicks has converted saves in five straight appearances since taking over the closer role from Ryan Helsley (forearm), relegating Giovanny Gallegos to setup duties. The notoriously wild Hicks, who has a 13.5 percent walk rate for his career, also hasn't issued a free pass in six straight games, and over the last month he sports a 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 19:4 K:BB through 12.2 innings. If he can maintain that kind of control, he might well hang onto ninth-inning duties the rest of the year.

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• Cardinals' Jordan Hicks: Secures fourth save

  Rotowire Jun 25, 2023

  Hicks (illness) picked up the save in Sunday's 7-5 win over the Cubs, allowing one run on one hit over one inning. He struck out two and didn't record a walk. Hicks was deemed unavailable for the first contest in London due to an illness, but he was cleared ahead of Sunday's matchup and was called upon in the ninth inning with a three-run lead. Hicks worked around a leadoff double from Nick Madrigal to record his fourth save over the past eight days, running away with the closing job since Ryan Helsley (forearm) hit the injured list. Helsley isn't close to returning, so Hicks, who owns a 14.3 K/9 through 30 appearances, is a must-roster player in all fantasy formats moving forward.

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• Cardinals' Jordan Hicks: Available Sunday

  Rotowire Jun 25, 2023

  Hicks (illness) is available for Sunday's game versus the Cubs in London, John Denton of MLB.com reports. The flame-throwing righty was unavailable for Saturday's contest due to an illness, but he likely wouldn't have pitched regardless with St. Louis losing 9-1. Hicks has recorded the Cardinals' past three saves and appears to be the club's primary closing option with Ryan Helsley (forearm) on the shelf and not close to being activated, per John Denton of MLB.com. Giovanny Gallegos could also be a factor in the ninth-inning mix.

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• Cardinals' Jordan Hicks: Unavailable due to illness

  Rotowire Jun 24, 2023

  Hicks will not be available for Saturday's game against the Cubs due to illness, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. Jordan Walker was forced out of the lineup with an illness Wednesday, and Hicks is now facing a similar issue. Any save opportunity would likely be handled by Giovanny Gallegos on Saturday.

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• Cardinals' Jordan Hicks: Possible waiver wire pickups

  Rotowire Jun 22, 2023

  Jordan Hicks hasn't appeared in a game since Monday, but well, the Cardinals haven't had a save chance since then. The correlation is notable because Monday marked a third straight day that Hicks pitched, and each time was for a save. Prior to then, he hadn't even worked two straight days all year. It's a pretty clear tipoff that manager Oliver Marmol views him as the closer with Ryan Helsley sidelined by a forearm injury. Another is that Giovanny Gallegos, who had been splitting saves with Helsley, set up for Hicks in two of those three games. Hicks has some closing experience and a fastball that regular tops triple digits, but he hasn't exactly been nails this season. Still, it wouldn't be surprising to see him rise to the occasion if the Cardinals keep going back to him.

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