Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Ends exhibition season well
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Velasquez allowed one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out seven across five innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles.
Velasquez has had an inconsistent exhibition season, and he ended Grapefruit League action with a 5.79 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. While the majority of those runs came in one outing, he also walked a troubling nine batters across 14 innings of work. Velasquez will start the season in the Pirates' rotation, but he's worked primarily out of the bullpen for the last few seasons and will likely return to that role at some point in 2023.
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Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Sharp in spring outing
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Velasquez allowed one hit and stuck out three while walking none across three scoreless innings Wednesday against the Orioles in Grapefruit League action.
Velasquez made his second appearance as a Pirate, and he's now allowed only one earned run across five innings. He did surrender two free passes in his opening start, but he showed improved control against the Orioles. Velasquez signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh this offseason and is expected to open the campaign in the rotation.
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Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Deal becomes official
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The Pirates announced Tuesday that Velasquez signed a one-year, $3.15 million contract with the team.
Velasquez operated in a swingman role for the White Sox last season, but he's likely to open 2023 in the Pirates' rotation. As far as his fantasy outlook for the upcoming season, Velasquez is likely best left to NL-only leagues.
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Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Joins Pirates on one-year deal
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Velasquez signed a one-year, $3.15 million deal with the Pirates on Tuesday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
The 30-year-old righty stumbled to a 4.78 ERA as a swingman for the White Sox last season. He'll get to call one of the league's best pitchers' parks home in 2023, but the Pirates probably shouldn't expect a much better ERA, as Velasquez hasn't beaten that mark since all the way back in 2016. Those looking for signs of optimism could point to the fact that he managed a career-best 7.8 percent walk rate last season, but he also tied his career low with a 21.6 percent strikeout rate. His odds of securing a starting role may not become clear until the offseason is over, though the Pittsburgh rotation isn't exactly full of established arms.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Appears in relief
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Velasquez allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.1 innings in Wednesday's 10-1 loss to the Twins.
Starter Davis Martin was pulled from the game early due to biceps tightness after surrendering seven runs over 1.2 innings, and Velasquez was called upon to relieve him. Velasquez allowed two inherited runners to score but settled in after that, allowing just one earned run over 3.1 innings. Over 75.1 innings working mostly out of the bullpen this season, Velasquez owned a 4.78 ERA with 69 strikeouts.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Lasts four innings in no-decision
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Velasquez allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four in four innings during Sunday's win over the Tigers. He didn't factor into the decision.
Although the White Sox planned for a bullpen game Sunday, Velazquez gave the team decent length by tossing 62 pitches (42 strikes) over four innings. However, he was forced to settle for the no-decision since most of the team's offensive production came after his departure. Over five appearances (one start) since the start of September, the right-hander has posted a 6.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in nine innings. Velazquez will likely head back to the bullpen following Sunday's outing.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Starting bullpen game Sunday
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Velasquez is starting Sunday's game against the Tigers, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Tanner Banks, who was recalled from Triple-A, should provide length out of the bullpen in what amounts to a bullpen game. Velasquez has thrown four innings once in the last few months and has generally thrown fewer than three innings recently, so he probably won't go deep enough to qualify for the win.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Reinstated from injured list
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Velasquez (finger) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Monday.
Velasquez sustained a finger injury in early July but spent the last two weeks on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte and posted a 4.76 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 5.2 innings over four appearances. While he's worked as a starter and reliever in the majors this year, he'll pitch out of the bullpen now that he's healthy.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Likely to return as reliever
Rotowire
Velasquez (finger) is likely to return as a multi-inning reliever once he is activated from the injured list, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Velasquez has served as both a starter and reliever for the White Sox this season, though he was appearing out of the bullpen prior to suffering a finger injury. He is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte in the coming days and could be back quickly if he is only being asked to work a couple innings per appearance.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Ready for rehab assignment
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Velasquez (finger) is on the verge of beginning a rehab assignment, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Velasquez has missed nearly a month with his injury, but he is just about to enter the final stage of his recovery. It's unclear how many times Velasquez will throw in the minors before rejoining the big club, but he should do so at some point this month.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Velasquez was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a blister on his right index finger.
Velasquez's move to the IL will keep him on the shelf through the All-Star break, but he should be fully healed from the blister when the White Sox open their second-half schedule. Jimmy Lambert was called up from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday to take Velasquez's spot in the bullpen.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Working out of bullpen
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Velasquez has made his last three appearances out of the White Sox bullpen, striking out five and picking up a win across six innings while allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk.
After coming off the 15-day injured list June 15, Velasquez made a 2.2-inning start against the Tigers that same day, but he was moved to the bullpen just a few days later when Michael Kopech was cleared to rejoin the rotation following a brief absence due to a knee injury. Velasquez should be the next man up to enter the rotation when the White Sox next require an additional starter, but he'll serve in a multi-inning relief role until then.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Short outing in return
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Velasquez didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 13-0 romp over the Tigers, giving up only one hit over 2.2 scoreless innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.
The right-hander was dominant the first time through the Detroit order, but that was about as far as Velasquez was allowed to go in his return from a groin injury that had sidelined him since May 24. Including the game against Boston in which he got hurt, he's tossed 5.2 scoreless, one-hit frames with an 8:1 K:BB over his last two appearances. However, Velasquez's 4.93 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 36:14 K:BB through 38.1 innings on the season are a better reflection of his reliability.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Reinstated prior to start
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Velasquez (groin) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Wednesday's start against the Tigers.
Velasquez hasn't pitched since May 24 due to his left groin strain, but he'll return to the mound to start Wednesday's series finale in Detroit. Over his five outings prior to his absence, the right-hander posted a 4.56 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 23.2 innings. Since Velasquez didn't head out on a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being activated, he may not be capable of giving the White Sox extensive length Wednesday.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: On track to return Wednesday
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Velasquez (groin) is expected to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Tigers, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Velasquez has been sidelined since late May due to a left groin strain, but his injury was considered minor, and he'll rejoin the rotation following a relatively minimal stay on the injured list. The right-hander had mixed results prior to his absence, as he posted a 5.30 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 35.2 innings over eight appearances (seven starts) to begin the year.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Injury considered minor
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Velasquez's groin injury appears to be minor, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Although Velasquez landed on the 15-day injured list with a left groin strain Friday, it doesn't appear as though his injury is a significant concern. The right-hander played catch Friday and plans to throw a bullpen session in the coming days. It seems likely that Velasquez will be able to rejoin the White Sox following a relatively minimal IL stint, but it's not yet clear whether a rotation spot will be open since Lance Lynn (knee) is nearing a return.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Velasquez was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left groin strain Friday, retroactive to May 31.
The 29-year-old was slated to start Friday's game against the Rays, but Davis Martin will step in as the starter after he was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte. It's not yet clear how much time Velasquez will miss, but it's possible he'll take on a bullpen role once he returns to action since Lance Lynn (knee) is closing in on a return.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Reclaims starting role
Rotowire
Velasquez will start Friday's game against the Rays in Tampa Bay, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Velasquez shifted to the bullpen last week after he turned in an unsightly 5.79 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in his first seven starts of the season, but the White Sox determined he was a better option at the back end of the rotation than Dallas Keuchel, who was recently designated for assignment and released. Lance Lynn (knee) initiated a rehab assignment last weekend and may only need a couple more starts in the minors before he's ready to return from the 60-day injured list and make his season debut, so Velasquez likely won't be in store for a long-term appointment in the rotation if the team's other four starters stay healthy over the next two weeks.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Could rejoin rotation
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General manager Rick Hahn said Saturday that Velasquez could rejoin the rotation after Dallas Keuchel was designated for assignment, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Velasquez's first seven appearances of the season came as a starter, but he tossed three relief innings against the Red Sox on Tuesday. Even if the right-hander rejoins the rotation next week, he'll likely return to the bullpen once Lance Lynn (knee) returns from the injured list. Velasquez hasn't been particularly effective early in the season, as he's posted a 5.30 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 35.2 innings over eight appearances (seven starts). Davis Martin is also in the mix to take Keuchel's spot in the rotation.
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White Sox's Vince Velasquez: Appears out of bullpen
Rotowire
Velasquez allowed one walk and struck out five across three scoreless innings in Tuesday's loss to Boston.
Velasquez made his first appearance out of the bullpen this season, and he delivered some needed length in the blowout loss. He struggled mightily as a starter earlier in the campaign, particularly in his two most recent outings, when he allowed 11 earned runs across 10 innings. As a result, he has likely lost his grip on a consistent rotation spot, with Johnny Cueto taking over in his place. Even if Velasquez continues to make spot starts for the time being, he is almost certainly headed for a relief role once Lance Lynn (knee) is able to return.
