Fantasy News

• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Should face live hitters this month

  Rotowire Apr 16, 2024

  Nationals manager Dave Martinez said April 6 that Cavalli (elbow) is expected to begin facing live hitters at some point this month, MLB.com reports. Throwing live batting practice sessions would mark a step forward in Cavalli's recovery from his March 2023 Tommy John surgery, as the right-hander had been limited to tossing bullpen sessions during spring training. Cavalli will likely face live hitters in controlled settings for a few weeks before eventually heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment that will likely last for most of the 30-day rehab window. Cavalli opened the season on the 60-day injured list and isn't on track to make his 2024 debut until at least late May, though a June return is probably more realistic.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Placed on 60-day IL

  Rotowire Mar 26, 2024

  The Nationals placed Cavalli (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Derek Law. Cavalli hopes to return in June from Tommy John surgery.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Throwing bullpens to begin camp

  Rotowire Feb 15, 2024

  Cavalli threw a bullpen session Monday and got back on the mound again Wednesday as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports. The Nationals are targeting a June return for Cavalli, but at least to begin the spring he doesn't appear to be significantly behind the other arms in camp. The right-hander will throw off a mound three times a week until he gets clearance to face live hitters, but he's not expected to see any game action during spring training. Cavalli, a first-round pick in 2020, posted a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 104:39 K:BB across 97 Triple-A innings in 2022 and was expected to be part of last season's rotation for the Nats before getting injured in spring training.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Won't face hitters this spring

  Rotowire Feb 12, 2024

  Cavalli (elbow) isn't expected to see game action this spring or face hitters as the Nationals take a cautious approach to his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. The 25-year-old right-hander is almost 12 months removed from the surgery, but the Nats have little reason to push him to get back on a mound as they plan for another rebuilding year. Cavalli is likely to remain in extended spring training after camp breaks, and he could join the big-league rotation in June if everything goes smoothly. He made his big-league debut in 2022 after posting a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 104:39 K:BB through 97 innings at Triple-A Rochester, and the 2020 first-round pick remains the organization's top pitching prospect despite the setback with his elbow.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Begins throwing program

  Rotowire Sep 19, 2023

  Cavalli (elbow) played catch Tuesday and said he "felt awesome," Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. It was his first throwing workout of any kind since he underwent Tommy John surgery this past March. Cavalli is targeting next June for a return to live games and could be an intriguing rotation option for the Nationals in the second half of the 2024 campaign. A first-round draft pick in 2020, the right-hander holds a 3.51 ERA with 279 strikeouts in 220.1 career minor-league innings.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Could throw this week

  Rotowire Sep 18, 2023

  Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Monday that Cavalli (elbow) could begin a throwing program this week, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports. Cavalli has been focused on rehabbing and strengthening work since undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery in March, but starting a throwing program would represent a major step in his recovery process. If Cavalli is able to play catch before the Nationals close out their regular season, he'll likely gradually increase his throwing distance during the offseason before eventually moving on to mound work. Given the typically timeline for pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery, Cavalli probably won't be available for Grapefruit League action in spring training, but he could face hitters in simulated games before Nationals camp comes to a close. If all continues to go smoothly in his recovery, Cavalli could be ready to make his 2024 big-league debut at some point early next summer.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: On track in recovery

  Rotowire Aug 4, 2023

  Cavalli has begun lifting weights and working on his flexibility as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery in March, Damon Brooks Jr. of The Washington Post reports. "I've been doing a little bit of bench presses, biceps and triceps extensions and curls, just developing that muscle back and adding strength," Cavalli said this week. The right-hander only recently regained full range of motion in his arm, and he remains on track to get back on a mound in 2024. The rebuilding Nationals will have little incentive to rush Cavalli back into action, but he figures to join the big-league rotation at some point in the first half next season. The 24-year-old got hit hard in his first career MLB start in August 2022, but he posted a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 104:39 K:BB through 97 innings for Triple-A Rochester last year and is still viewed as a future pillar of the pitching staff alongside Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Lands on 60-day IL

  Rotowire Mar 30, 2023

  The Nationals placed Cavalli (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports. The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster. Cavalli will likely be out until around midseason next year following Tommy John surgery.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Needs Tommy John surgery

  Rotowire Mar 16, 2023

  Cavalli was diagnosed Thursday with a Grade 3 sprain of his right ulnar collateral ligament and will require Tommy John surgery, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. Cavalli injured his elbow during his most recent Grapefruit League outing and an MRI revealed the bad news. The top prospect had been set to open the 2023 campaign in the Nationals' rotation but now figures to be sidelined until around midseason next year. Chad Kuhl appears likely to slide into the rotation spot vacated by Cavalli.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: MRI coming up

  Rotowire Mar 14, 2023

  Cavalli is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his right elbow Wednesday, Andrew Golden of the Washington Post reports. This comes after Cavalli felt discomfort in the back of his elbow in the third inning of a Grapefruit League start Tuesday afternoon against the Mets. It's a concerning situation for the 24-year-old right-hander, who ranks as a consensus top-100 prospect and might have been in line to open the 2023 season as the No. 5 starter for the Nationals. Even if the MRI shows no structural damage, Cavalli figures to be looking at a lengthy absence from live competition.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Leaves start with apparent injury

  Rotowire Mar 14, 2023

  Cavalli was removed from Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets with an apparent injury, Andrew Golden of the Washington Post reports. Cavalli shook his right arm in discomfort after delivering a 1-1 pitch to Brandon Nimmo in the bottom of the third inning. He then departed following a short chat with Nationals manager Dave Martinez and head trainer Paul Lessard. The 24-year-old had been in the running for the final spot in Washington's season-opening starting rotation but now may be facing an extended absence.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Whiffs five in spring outing

  Rotowire Mar 5, 2023

  Cavalli gave up a run on two hits and a walk over two innings while striking out five in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. Entering the game in the third inning, Cavalli served up a solo shot to Jordan Walker but was otherwise dominant against a St. Louis lineup that was missing big bats like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. The 24-year-old right-hander was limited to 101.1 innings last year while dealing with shoulder issues, but Cavalli is healthy to begin camp and has a 6:1 K:BB through his first three spring frames. The Nationals are counting on their top pitching prospect to seize a rotation spot in 2023, a decision he will make a lot easier if he keeps racking up strikeouts.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Faces live batters

  Rotowire Feb 19, 2023

  Cavalli (shoulder) threw a session of live batting practice Sunday. Cavalli was shut down in mid-September due to shoulder discomfort but appears to be at full strength for the start of spring training. The 24-year-old is one of the Nationals' top prospects, but manager Dave Martinez recently said the right-hander isn't guaranteed a spot in the Opening Day rotation.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Not assured of rotation spot

  Rotowire Feb 15, 2023

  Nationals manager Dave Martinez noted Wednesday that Cavalli (shoulder) is not guaranteed to make the Opening Day rotation, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports. "There's nothing really set in stone," said Martinez. "Everything's wide open." Cavalli is the team's top pitching prospect, but he has struggled with command issues in the minor leagues and got lit up by the lowly Reds in his MLB debut last summer. He then went down with a shoulder injury, though that doesn't seem to be a lingering issue. Martinez wants to see the 24-year-old right-hander "pound the strike zone" on a consistent basis this spring.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Expected to open year in rotation

  Rotowire Dec 6, 2022

  Cavalli (shoulder) is penciled into an Opening Day rotation role, Kyle Glaser of Baseball America reports. The 2020 first-round pick made his big-league debut in late August but was knocked around in his lone start before missing the rest of the year with shoulder inflammation. He was able to resume throwing before the end of the season, and the Nationals are seemingly confident in both his health and his ability heading into next season. A secure rotation spot boosts Cavalli's appeal as a fantasy lottery ticket, and he has a fair amount of prospect pedigree, but he'll have to sort out his control before becoming an effective starter. He walked 10.7 percent of the batters he faced across 44 career starts in the minors.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Returns to throwing

  Rotowire Sep 30, 2022

  Cavalli (shoulder) played catch from 60 feet Friday and said he felt no pain, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. The 24-year-old was shut down with shoulder discomfort in mid-September and received a cortisone injection, but he's now resumed a throwing program. Cavalli obviously won't return during the final week of the season but is on track to be healthy for spring training in February, when he'll compete for a spot in Washington's 2023 rotation.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Shut down with shoulder discomfort

  Rotowire Sep 16, 2022

  Cavalli experienced shoulder discomfort when throwing Wednesday and will be shut down from throwing for 3-7 days as a precaution, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports. He resumed a throwing program Wednesday and quickly re-aggravated his shoulder injury, after which Cavalli received a cortisone shot, per Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports. The right-hander won't return to game action this season, but he will compete for a rotation spot next year in spring training if he is healthy.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Throwing, but likely done for 2022

  Rotowire Sep 14, 2022

  Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Wednesday that Cavalli (shoulder) has been cleared to resume a throwing program but isn't expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list before season's end, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports. Cavalli is scheduled to play catch Wednesday and is expected to gradually stretch out his throwing distance off flat ground over the next couple of weeks. If his right shoulder provides no complications while he takes part in long-toss sessions, Cavalli should get back on a mound by the end of September or the first week of October, but he likely won't have enough time to get his arm in condition for pitching in games. Cavalli should still be on tap for a normal offseason, and the 24-year-old righty will likely get every opportunity to stake his claim to a spot in the big-league rotation during spring training.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Goes on IL

  Rotowire Aug 31, 2022

  The Nationals placed Cavalli (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. The rookie's move to the IL was fully expected after manager Dave Martinez said Tuesday that Cavalli was diagnosed with inflammation in his right shoulder after experiencing discomfort while playing catch a few days ago. Cavalli will be shut down from throwing for at least the next two weeks, and if he fails to show much meaningful improvement during the idle period, his 2022 season could be over. Even if Cavalli is able to start ramping up again by mid-September, he likely won't have enough time to get stretched back out for a starting role and could end up pitching out of the Washington bullpen.

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• Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Sidelined with inflamed shoulder

  Rotowire Aug 30, 2022

  Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Tuesday that Cavalli is headed to the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports. Washington may wait until Wednesday before making the transaction official, but Martinez said that Cavalli will be shut down from throwing for at least two weeks after experiencing discomfort in his shoulder while playing catch following his MLB debut Saturday against the Reds. Though the skipper wasn't willing to admit that Cavalli's season is over since an MRI revealed no damage to his rotator cuff or labrum, the rookie right-hander's impending two-week shutdown means he's unlikely to have enough time to build back up for a starting role if he does make it back from the IL in late September or early October. The Nationals haven't announced a replacement in the rotation for Cavalli, but Cory Abbott was scratched from his scheduled start at Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday and seems likely to join the big club when Cavalli's next turn comes up Thursday against the Athletics, per Dougherty.

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