Fantasy News

• Cubs' Julian Merryweather: Goes to 60-day IL

  Rotowire Apr 17, 2024

  The Cubs transferred Merryweather (ribs/back) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. As a result of the move to the 60-day injured list, Merryweather won't be eligible to rejoin the Chicago bullpen until at least early June. The Cubs selected the contract of right-hander Colten Brewer from Triple-A Iowa to replace Merryweather on the 40-man roster. After being diagnosed last week with a stress fracture in his ribs and on the right side of his back, Merryweather isn't expected to resume throwing again for another three weeks.

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• Cubs' Julian Merryweather: Set to be shut down for four weeks

  Rotowire Apr 8, 2024

  Merryweather (ribs/back) underwent additional testing Monday and it was determined that he is dealing with a rib stress fracture in his back, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Merryweather was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right shoulder strain, but manager Craig Counsell announced his updated injury status Monday, stating that the right hander will be shut down from throwing for four weeks. Merryweather is now set to be on the shelf well past the minimum stay on the IL and in the meantime, Daniel Palencia will likely stick around the major-league bullpen.

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• Cubs' Julian Merryweather: Placed on IL

  Rotowire Apr 7, 2024

  Merryweather was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right shoulder strain, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports. Merryweather has seen the mound in four games this year, posting a 1.93 ERA and 6:2 K:BB through 4.2 innings for the Cubs, and the injury likely occurred in his most recent outing Friday against the Dodgers, when he struck out three while recording a hold. Due to the fifth-year pitcher's injury hiatus, Chicago has brought up Daniel Palencia from Triple-A Iowa. Merryweather will be eligible to return before the end of April but has no official timeline for his return.

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• Cubs' Julian Merryweather: Earns first hold Friday

  Rotowire Apr 6, 2024

  Merryweather tossed 1.1 scoreless innings to earn a hold in Friday's 9-7 win over the Dodgers. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out three. Merryweather helped bridge the gap to closer Adbert Alzolay after starter Kyle Hendricks only lasted four innings, and he picked up his first 2024 hold in the process. The righty had a solid 2023, logging a 3.38 ERA along with 17 holds and two saves across 72 innings while striking out 98. Merryweather could improve on those numbers in 2024 as a key reliever for the Cubs.

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• Cubs' Julian Merryweather: Avoids arbitration

  Rotowire Jan 11, 2024

  Merryweather signed a $1.175 million contract with the Cubs on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports. In his first season with the Cubs, Merryweather turned in the best year of his career with a 3.38 ERA and 1.31 WHIP through 72 innings while picking up two saves and 17 holds. The 32-year-old earns a $438,000 raise in his first arbitration year, and he appears in position to continue serving in a setup role for Adbert Alzolay.

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• Cubs' Julian Merryweather: Possible waiver wire pickups

  Rotowire Sep 18, 2023

  If you play in the sort of league where relievers with a clearer claim to the closer role -- Tanner Scott, Ryan Helsley or Aroldis Chapman, for instance -- are still available, then there's no reason to bother with Julian Merryweather, a speculative fill-in for what may turn out to be a short-term injury. But for however long Adbert Alzolay is sidelined by a forearm strain (and he reportedly did begin playing catch this weekend), the hard-throwing Merryweather seems like the best bet to replace him on a Cubs team still fighting for a playoff spot. It's true Mark Leiter has been Alzolay's setup man most of the year, but he hasn't been getting as many whiffs lately and has seen his usage plummet. Merryweather, meanwhile, has a 1.42 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 12.4 K/9 in his past 23 appearances, collecting 10 holds and one save during that span.

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• Cubs' Julian Merryweather: Records first save of 2023

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2023

  Merryweather worked around a walk to pitch a clean ninth inning and record the save in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks. He struck out two. Regular closer Adbert Alzolay pitched each of the last two days, so the Cubs turned to Merryweather instead Sunday. The righty did the job, recording his first save since he earned two of them with the Blue Jays back in 2021. Merryweather has been a pleasant surprise this season with a 3.18 ERA and 90 strikeouts across 65 innings out of Chicago's bullpen after he posted a 6.75 ERA for Toronto last year.

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• Cubs' Julian Merryweather: Earns fourth win

  Rotowire Aug 13, 2023

  Merryweather (4-0) tossed a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win Saturday against the Blue Jays. He walked one and struck out two. Through his first five appearances of the season, Merryweather had an unsightly 12.71 ERA. Since then, the righty has managed a 2.31 ERA across 46 appearances (46.2 innings). The strong, consistent play has made Merryweather a reliable relief option who typically pitches in front of closer Adbert Alzolay.

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• Cubs' Julian Merryweather: Off to rough start

  Rotowire Apr 12, 2023

  Merryweather, who allowed two runs in an inning of work during Wednesday's loss to the Mariners, now has a 12.71 ERA this season. Merryweather started the season with a dud, allowing five earned runs in his first appearance, and he's been scored on in two of his four outings since then. The righty should remain in a low-leverage role, and that plus his poor performance to date are keeping his fantasy value to a minimum.

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• Cubs' Julian Merryweather: May have inside track on MLB role

  Rotowire Mar 2, 2023

  Merryweather stands a decent chance of securing an Opening Day bullpen role with the Cubs, particularly because he's out of minor-league options, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. Merryweather was claimed off waivers back in January, and he's now competing for a role with the Cubs in spring training. The righty struggled last season with a 6.75 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 26 games with the Blue Jays, so he'd likely slot in as a low-leverage option if he makes the team, putting him off the fantasy radar for the time being.

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• Cubs' Julian Merryweather: Scooped up by Cubs

  Rotowire Jan 17, 2023

  The Cubs claimed Merryweather off waivers from the Blue Jays on Tuesday. Merryweather lost his spot on the Blue Jays' 40-man roster last week, when the team required a spot for the newly signed Brandon Belt. The right-hander struggled to a 6.75 ERA over 26.2 innings in 26 appearances last season while missing time with an oblique strain. He should battle for a spot in the Cubs' bullpen this spring.

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• Blue Jays' Julian Merryweather: Sent back to Buffalo

  Rotowire Sep 21, 2022

  The Blue Jays optioned Merryweather to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. Since returning to the active roster Sept. 5 after a stint on the 60-day injured list due to an oblique strain, Merryweather turned in a 7.56 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 8.1 innings across his six appearances. The brunt of the damage came in Tuesday's 18-11 win in Philadelphia, where he recorded just two outs while surrendering five earned runs. The Blue Jays called up Foster Griffin from Triple-A to replace Merryweather in the bullpen.

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• Blue Jays' Julian Merryweather: Will open Game 1 of twin bill

  Rotowire Sep 13, 2022

  Merryweather will work as an opener in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rays, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports. Alek Manoah was scheduled to start Tuesday's opener, but for a yet-to-be-announced reason, Merryweather will get the ball instead. Merryweather almost certainly will not be out there long enough to qualify for a win, but he could work more than a lone frame, as he recorded at least five outs in both of his last two appearances out of the bullpen.

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• Blue Jays' Julian Merryweather: Comes off IL

  Rotowire Sep 5, 2022

  Merryweather (oblique) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Monday, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports. Merryweather was sidelined since June 13 due to a left oblique strain and spent the last month in the minors on a rehab assignment. The right-hander gave up a run (zero earned) on three hits and five walks while striking out 15 in 10.2 innings over 10 rehab appearances and will be available out of the bullpen for the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Orioles.

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• Blue Jays' Julian Merryweather: Transferred to 60-day IL

  Rotowire Jul 2, 2022

  Merryweather (oblique) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports. Merryweather was placed on the injured list June 14 and labeled as week-to-week. The right-hander doesn't yet have a timetable to rejoin the Blue Jays, but he'll be unavailable until at least mid-August after shifting to the 60-day IL.

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• Blue Jays' Julian Merryweather: Deemed week-to-week

  Rotowire Jun 15, 2022

  Merryweather was diagnosed Wednesday with a left oblique strain and is considered week-to-week, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports. Merryweather's injury was characterized as an abdominal strain when he was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, but the new diagnosis likely foreshadows a longer-term absence for the right-hander. After notching a pair of saves early in the 2021 campaign, Merryweather suffered a significant oblique strain that April and hasn't resembled the same dominant pitcher at any point since. Given that he's dealing with another side injury, the Blue Jays are likely to proceed slowly with his rehab program.

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• Blue Jays' Julian Merryweather: Back in big leagues

  Rotowire May 23, 2022

  Merryweather was recalled by the Blue Jays on Monday. Merryweather was optioned in early May after posting a 6.94 ERA in 11.2 innings, though his 12:1 K:BB and 2.41 FIP told a very different story about his performance. He'll probably handle lower-leverage innings for now, but if his results start to reflect his underlying numbers he could move into a more important role.

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• Blue Jays' Julian Merryweather: Optioned to Triple-A

  Rotowire May 7, 2022

  Merryweather was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports. Merryweather threw two scoreless innings in the afternoon portion of Saturday's doubleheader but will make way on the roster as the Blue Jays activate Ryan Borucki (finger) ahead of the nightcap. Merryweather had struggled prior to Saturday's outing, which was only enough to cut his season ERA to 6.94.

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• Blue Jays' Julian Merryweather: Pitching through knee issue

  Rotowire Apr 19, 2022

  Merryweather is dealing with right knee discomfort but has been cleared to continue pitching, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. Merryweather has picked up a pair of losses while giving up four earned runs in 4.2 innings so far this season. It's possible his knee is partly to blame for that performance. He'll continue pitching through it while wearing a brace.

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• Blue Jays' Julian Merryweather: Takes loss Sunday

  Rotowire Apr 11, 2022

  Merryweather (0-1) took the loss Sunday against the Rangers, giving up one run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two. The Blue Jays headed into the fourth inning with a 6-1 lead, but Hyun-Jin Ryu (hamstring) struggled and eventually got lifted after being struck by a comebacker off the bat of Jonah Heim. Merryweather came in and gave up a double to Brad Miller to tie the game -- runs which went on Ryu's ledger -- and then a single to Corey Seager for what proved to be the winning run. The right-hander worked the sixth inning in his first appearance this season, and while he has significant strikeout upside, it appears as though Merryweather is not in the late-inning mix for Toronto right now.

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