Fantasy News

• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Not currently closer

  Rotowire Apr 21, 2024

  Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated Sunday that Alzolay isn't currently the club's closer, and the skipper said he'll treat the role as a "day-to-day thing," Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The right-hander blew his second straight save, and fourth of the season, during Saturday's doubleheader, so it appears he'll get a break from the ninth inning. Alzolay has a 4.50 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB across 10 innings and is now set to fill a lower-leverage role, at least temporarily. Hector Neris and Mark Leiter are now the top candidates for the ninth inning, though Counsell didn't indicate if he'll go with one reliever or utilize a committee approach.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Blows another save

  Rotowire Apr 21, 2024

  Alzolay (1-2) was charged with the loss and a blown save in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against Miami. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings. The Cubs closer entered with two outs in the eighth inning and walked a batter before he stranded the bases loaded, but a single and two-run homer in the ninth put Miami ahead 3-2. It's the second straight outing with a blown save for Alzolay, who is now 3-for-7 in save chances on the season. He's given up five runs with a 9:4 K:BB across 10 innings. Hector Neris picked up the save in Game 2 and could see more chances in the ninth inning if Alzolay's struggles persist.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Blows save

  Rotowire Apr 17, 2024

  Alzolay blew the save Tuesday against Arizona, allowing one run on one hit and two walks across one inning. He didn't generate a strikeout. Alzolay toed the rubber with a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and surrendered the game-tying home run to Ketel Marte. Following the long ball, Alzolay dished out back-to-back walks but avoided disaster by retiring Christian Walker to end the inning. He's converted on three of his six save opportunities this season. However, he's only allowed three runs in 8.2 innings -- all solo homers -- and still has a firm grip on ninth-inning duties.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Notches save Sunday

  Rotowire Apr 14, 2024

  Alzolay worked around a hit to pitch a scoreless inning and record the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Mariners. He struck out two. Alzolay allowed a run and blew a save in his first appearance of the season, but he's been pretty locked in since then, recording a 1.35 ERA and striking out nine across 6.2 innings. He's also converted three saves in that time, and the righty should stay slotted in as Chicago's closer, with Hector Neris working in a setup role.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Notches second save

  Rotowire Apr 14, 2024

  Alzolay earned a save against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in a scoreless inning. Alzolay entered in the ninth frame staked to a three-run lead. He surrendered a two-out single but nothing more to pick up his second save this season. Alzolay has also blown two save opportunities, but he's pitched pretty well overall with a 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB over 6.2 innings.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Blows save and takes loss Monday

  Rotowire Apr 9, 2024

  Alzolay (1-1) was tagged with a blown save and a loss against the Padres on Monday, allowing one run on one hit while striking out one batter over two-thirds of an inning. Chicago built what looked to be an insurmountable 8-0 lead by the midpoint of the fourth inning, but San Diego came storming back with seven runs in the sixth. The Cubs' bullpen was able to hold onto the one-run lead until the eighth, and Alzolay was brought in with one out and one runner on base in that frame, possibly to try to complete a multi-inning save. He struck out Xander Bogaerts to begin his outing before surrendering a two-run homer to Fernando Tatis that provided the winning margin for San Diego. The blown save was the second of the season for Alzolay, who also failed to convert a save chance Opening Day.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Credited with first win Wednesday

  Rotowire Apr 3, 2024

  Alzolay pitched a scoreless ninth inning and was awarded the win in Wednesday's 9-8 victory over the Rockies. He allowed one hit and struck out two. Though Alzolay entered the contest in the top of the ninth while the Cubs held a 9-8 lead in what would normally represent a save opportunity, he ended up getting credited with the win by the official scorer due to what transpired beforehand. The Cubs held a commanding 8-2 lead after six innings, only for the Rockies to rally over the ensuing two innings to tie the score. Setup man Hector Neris recorded the final two outs of the top of the eighth inning before the Cubs scored a go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame, but he was denied the win since he had given up two earned runs on three hits to allow the Rockies to make it an 8-8 game. While Alzolay ended up missing out on notching his first save of the season after getting awarded the win instead, fantasy managers should be heartened by the fact that he might have built some job security as the team's closer by turning in a relatively drama-free inning compared to Neris, Yency Almonte (0.1 innings, three earned runs allowed) and Julian Merryweather (one inning, one earned run allowed).

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Struggles in 2024 debut

  Rotowire Mar 28, 2024

  Alzolay allowed a run on a hit and a walk to blow the save in Thursday's 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Rangers. Alzolay entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning staked to a 3-2 lead but promptly allowed a tying home run to pinch-hitter Travis Jankowski. He walked another hitter before escaping the frame. Alzolay only blew three saves in 25 opportunities last season and posted a strong 2.67 ERA, so he should have some leeway in the early going. However, veteran Hector Neris is now on the roster, and he could push Alzolay for closing duties at some point this year if the struggles persist.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Counsell not committed to closer

  Rotowire Mar 15, 2024

  Cubs manager Craig Counsell isn't ready to hand out defined roles for Alzolay or any other member of the bullpen, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports. Counsell said Thursday that "every bullpen has to evolve" and that the role of his relievers is simply "to get outs." Alzolay certainly seems likely to get first dibs after saving 22 games while posting a 2.67 ERA and 67:13 K:BB over 64 innings for the Cubs last season. However, Hector Neris is also a candidate to be in the mix, along with Julian Merryweather and Mark Leiter. Counsell has often had go-to closers during his time with the Brewers and one might very well emerge sooner rather than later with the Cubs, but for now there's some uncertainty.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Dealing with illness

  Rotowire Mar 1, 2024

  Alzolay did not play in Friday's spring training game against the White Sox due to an illness, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Alzolay picked up the illness Thursday and was scratched from Friday's game and noted that his schedule will be pushed back by two days. He agreed to a one-year, $2.11 million contract in January after going to arbitration with the Cubs. Alzolay posted a 2-5 record and 22 saves last season with a 2.67 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 67:13 K:BB over 64 innings.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Gets possible competition for saves

  Rotowire Feb 4, 2024

  Alzolay will likely begin the year as the Cubs' closer, though new addition Hector Neris gives manager Craig Counsell a possible alternative for the late innings, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. Alzolay excelled as Chicago's closer last season, converting 22 of 25 save opportunities and posting a strong 2.67 ERA across 64 innings. However, Neris posted an even better 1.71 ERA over 68.1 innings for Houston in 2023, and he has 89 career saves in 10 MLB seasons. At the very least, the veteran should serve as a solid setup option, and he could emerge as a candidate for saves if Alzolay struggles.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Settles at $2.11 million

  Rotowire Jan 11, 2024

  The Cubs and Alzolay avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.11 million contract Thursday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. It's a nice little raise for Alzolay, who was arbitration-eligible for the first time. The 28-year-old emerged as the Cubs' closer in 2023, saving 22 games while posting a 2.67 ERA and 67:13 K:BB over 64 innings. Provided Chicago doesn't add a closer from outside the organization, Alzolay is in line to serve in that role again in 2024.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Bullpen goes well

  Rotowire Sep 23, 2023

  Alzolay (forearm) will play catch Saturday after his bullpen session Friday went well, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. Alzolay will be eligible to return from a forearm strain as soon as Tuesday, and given his steady progress, a return on or around that date would seem to be in play. The Cubs enter play Saturday with a one-game lead for the third and final NL Wild Card spot, so they'll want to have Alzolay available for as much of the final week as possible if he is indeed cleared to return.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Touch-and-feel bullpen session

  Rotowire Sep 22, 2023

  Alzolay (forearm) will throw a touch-and-feel bullpen session Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports. While not a regular bullpen session, Alzolay getting on a mound in any fashion still looks to be a notable step forward. The Cubs' closer is working his way back from a right forearm strain and is still hopeful he can make it back before the end of the regular season. Alzolay is eligible for activation Sept. 26, although he could need a little more time than that even if all goes well.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Advances to long toss

  Rotowire Sep 19, 2023

  Alzolay (forearm) threw long toss Tuesday at Wrigley Field, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. On the shelf since Sept. 10 due to a right forearm strain, Alzolay resumed playing catch over the weekend and has now advanced to long-distance throwing. There is still an outside chance that the 28-year-old could return to the Cubs' bullpen before the end of the regular season, but he'll have to move on to mound workouts rather soon. He had tallied 22 saves with a 2.71 ERA and 66:12 K:BB in 63 innings prior to the IL stint.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Plays catch

  Rotowire Sep 16, 2023

  Alzolay (forearm) played catch Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Alzolay hit the injured list Monday with a right forearm strain, an injury that's potentially quite worrisome for a pitcher. The righty, who's saved 22 games for the Cubs this season, certainly isn't out of the woods yet, but the fact that he's already throwing again so soon after the injury is an encouraging sign. Julian Merryweather and Michael Fulmer have each earned a save in Alzolay's absence, but Fulmer is now on the injured list with a forearm strain of his own.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Lands on injured list

  Rotowire Sep 11, 2023

  Alzolay was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday retroactive to Sept. 10 with a right forearm strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. Alzolay was bothered by an unspecified injury earlier this month and was not particularly sharp over his last few outings, and it turns out he is dealing with an issue that will cost him at least a couple weeks of action. The Cubs turned to Julian Merryweather for the save Sunday, so he is seemingly the favorite to work as the closer during Alzolay's absence.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Available to pitch Wednesday

  Rotowire Sep 6, 2023

  Cubs manager David Ross said Alzolay is available to pitch Wednesday versus the Giants after overcoming an undisclosed minor injury, Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com reports. Ross declined to offer any specifics on Alzolay's injury, but whatever it was appears to have abated enough for the closer to be ready to pitch. "When guys are dealing with stuff, you've just got to give a little bit of a rest," Ross said. "Sometimes, four days is better than 15."

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Blows save in nightcap

  Rotowire Sep 2, 2023

  Alzolay (2-5) blew his third save of the season and took the loss in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Reds, giving up two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two. The right-hander's rough outing was kicked off by a Nick Martini solo shot. Alzolay has blown his last two save chances, and since the beginning of August he has a 4.30 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB through 14.2 innings. The first-year closer likely isn't in any danger of losing his job just yet, but with the Cubs in a dogfight to secure a playoff spot, manager David Ross may not have the luxury of patience. Mark Leiter (2.08 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 18:4 K:BB in 13 IP over the last month) or Julian Merryweather (1.80 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 21:5 K:BB in 15 IP during that stretch) could get looks in the ninth if Alzolay continues to fade.

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• Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Earns win Wednesday

  Rotowire Aug 30, 2023

  Alzolay (2-4) worked around a walk and a hit batsman to toss 1.1 scoreless innings and earn the win Wednesday against the Brewers. The Cubs turned to Alzolay with the bases loaded and two out in the top of the eighth inning. The righty proceeded to hit Mark Canha, which allowed Milwaukee to tie the game at 2-2 and saddled Alzolay with just his second blown save this season. However, Chicago scored in the bottom half of the frame, and Alzolay pitched a clean ninth to earn the win. The Cubs' closer has pitched each of the last two days, but he will get to rest Thursday during a team off day, so he should be ready if needed Friday against the Reds.

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