Fantasy News

• Pirates' Josh Fleming: Three-inning save Friday

  Rotowire Mar 30, 2024

  Fleming gave up one run on two hits and a walk over three relief innings Friday to record his first save of the season in a 7-2 win over the Marlins. He struck out three. The 27-year-old southpaw entered the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with the Pirates ahead by four runs already, and he never gave manager Derek Shelton a reason to turn to another pitcher. Fleming tossed 58 pitches (33 strikes) in the appearance and likely won't be available for a few days, which could prompt Pittsburgh to option him to Triple-A Indianapolis in favor of a fresh arm. The save was the second of his career, and his first back in 2021 for the Rays was also of the three-inning variety, so he's not a late-inning option for the Pirates.

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• Pirates' Josh Fleming: Signs one-year deal with Pittsburgh

  Rotowire Feb 14, 2024

  Fleming signed a one-year, split contract with the Pirates on Wednesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. The 27-year-old will earn $850,000 if he's in the majors. Murray writes that the Pirates plan to use Fleming as a long reliever who could occasionally make a spot start. The left-hander holds a career 4.88 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 144:69 K:BB across 223.1 major-league innings covering parts of four seasons.

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• Josh Fleming: Non-tendered after waiver claim

  Rotowire Nov 17, 2023

  Fleming was non-tendered by the Phillies on Friday, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Fleming was just claimed off waivers from the Rays on Nov. 6, but the Phillies ultimately decided they didn't want to pay his arbitration price. The 27-year-old left-hander holds a career 4.88 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 144:69 K:BB in 223.1 major-league innings.

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• Phillies' Josh Fleming: Catches on with Philadelphia

  Rotowire Nov 6, 2023

  The Phillies claimed Fleming off waivers from the Rays on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. With Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen ticketed for free agency, Fleming gives the Phillies some added starting pitching depth to kick off the offseason, though he's far from a lock to come of spring training as a member of the Opening Day rotation. Even while the Rays dealt with numerous injuries to their rotation in 2023, Fleming wasn't able to earn a long-term stay in the big leagues, as he made just one appearance for Tampa Bay from June onward. The southpaw finished his final season in Tampa Bay with a 4.70 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 25:19 K:BB in 51.2 big-league innings.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Removed from 40-man

  Rotowire Nov 4, 2023

  The Rays placed Fleming on outright waivers Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Fleming put up a 4.70 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 51.2 innings with the Rays in 2023, and he'll join five other teammates on the waiver wire as he loses his place on Tampa Bay's 40-man roster.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Optioned to Durham

  Rotowire Aug 13, 2023

  The Rays optioned Fleming to Triple-A Durham on Sunday. Fleming came off the 60-day injured list Saturday and surrendered two runs on five hits over three innings during his return. He'll now head back to the minors to clear a spot for Osleivis Basabe's promotion. Fleming holds a 4.70 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 51.2 innings this season and could return to the Rays' bullpen down the line.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Returns from injured list

  Rotowire Aug 12, 2023

  Fleming (elbow) was activated off the 60-day injured list Saturday. Fleming had been sideliend since early June with elbow issues, but he avoided surgery and has been pitching in rehab games for three weeks. He struck out only six batters in 11 innings across his four rehab appearances, but that's par for the course for a player who had an 11.6 percent strikeout rate prior to his injury. He'll likely factor into the mix as a bulk reliever or back-end starter, though that lack of whiffs limits his fantasy appeal, as does his career 4.86 ERA.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Works 2.1 innings

  Rotowire Jul 29, 2023

  Fleming (elbow) allowed two earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two across 2.1 innings in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Thursday. Fleming has been out since late May but has now made two rehab appearances. He threw 43 pitches in his latest outing and will still likely require a couple more appearances before potentially being activated. There is no formal timeline for Fleming's return, but a decision on his status will be required by mid-August.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Nearing rehab outings

  Rotowire Jul 18, 2023

  Fleming (elbow) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend in the Florida Complex League, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He'll go around two innings the first time out and build up from there. On the shelf since early June due to a nagging left elbow issue, Fleming looks poised to return to a swingman role with the Rays before the end of July.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Playing catch again

  Rotowire Jun 27, 2023

  Fleming (elbow) resumed playing catch last week, MLB.com reports. When Fleming initially landed on the 15-day injured list June 2 with left elbow soreness, the Rays had feared that the southpaw could be a candidate for season-ending surgery. Fortunately for Fleming, a follow-up MRI revealed only cartilage damage and inflammation, as his left elbow was deemed to be structurally sound. He'll ultimately be sidelined until at least late July after he was moved to the 60-day IL, but since he's already throwing again, Fleming looks as though he'll have a chance at being ready for activation when first eligible.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Shifts to 60-day injured list

  Rotowire Jun 10, 2023

  Tampa Bay transferred Fleming (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Saturday. Fleming hit the IL on June 2 with what was initially called left elbow soreness, but an MRI revealed cartilage buildup on his elbow bone as well as inflammation, issues from which it will take at least two months to recover. He'll visit a specialist next week to get some additional clarity, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Fleming wasn't all that impressive prior to his injury, recording a 4.62 ERA and an 11.6 percent strikeout rate, but his 48.2 innings ranked third on the team, so the Rays will have to fill those innings somehow.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Placed on IL with elbow soreness

  Rotowire Jun 2, 2023

  Fleming was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with left elbow soreness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Fleming was scheduled to start one of the two games of Tampa Bay's doubleheader against the Red Sox on Saturday, but that won't happen now. The left-hander will miss at least two weeks while recovering, and the Rays will announce a corresponding move before Saturday's twin bill. Trevor Kelley will be deployed as an opener in Fleming's place Saturday.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Hit hard in no-decision

  Rotowire May 28, 2023

  Fleming did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing 10 runs (eight earned) on 12 hits and two walks over six innings against the Dodgers. He struck out three. The home run ball was Fleming's downfall against the Dodgers -- five out of the 12 hits he surrendered left the yard. The 27-year-old southpaw had been pitching well coming into Sunday's matchup, allowing just three earned runs over 15 innings in his last three starts. Fleming's ERA is up to 4.62 with a 1.44 WHIP and 24:19 K:BB across 48.2 innings this season. He'll look to get back on track in his next start, tentatively scheduled for next week against the Red Sox in Fenway Park.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Fires six innings

  Rotowire May 23, 2023

  Fleming (1-0) yielded two runs on five hits and a walk over six innings Monday, striking out two and earning a win over the Blue Jays. Fleming entered the game after a pair of scoreless innings from opener Trevor Kelley and looked solid aside from the two-run homer he allowed to Whit Merrifield in the fourth frame. After getting rocked for six runs May 7, Fleming has allowed three runs over his last 15 innings, lowering his season ERA to 3.59. He's recorded two or fewer strikeouts in six straight outings and now owns a 21:17 K:BB through 42.2 innings this season.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Filling bulk-relief role Monday

  Rotowire May 22, 2023

  Fleming is expected to work in bulk relief behind opener Trevor Kelley in Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Despite working as a traditional starter in his last turn through the rotation May 17 and tossing five scoreless frames, Fleming will return to the bulk-relief role that he's typically filled over the past few weeks. Kelley is slated to open Monday's game and will presumably work 1-to-2 innings before giving way to Fleming, who should be the Rays pitcher most likely to qualify for a win. Even so, Fleming has yet to factor into a decision in any of his nine appearances on the campaign, despite working three or more innings on every occasion.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Tosses five scoreless frames

  Rotowire May 18, 2023

  Fleming did not factor in the decision against the Mets on Wednesday, pitching five scoreless innings during which he allowed three hits and two walks while striking out two batters. Fleming worked in a traditional starting role for just the second time this season and delivered five shutout frames to counteract a strong start by opposing hurler Kodai Senga. Fleming's approach was the opposite of Senga's -- he notched just four whiffs and two strikeouts to Senga's 18 and 12 -- but the efficiency helped him get through five frames on a modest 67 pitches. Fleming doesn't have the strikeout stuff to be a popular option in fantasy, though he's posted a decent 3.68 ERA through 36.2 innings on the campaign.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Solid as primary pitcher Friday

  Rotowire May 13, 2023

  Fleming didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Yankees, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over four relief innings. He struck out two. Entering the game in the third inning after Trevor Kelley was deployed as the opener, Fleming was handed a 2-1 lead but eventually gave up the tying run before exiting after 52 pitches (29 strikes). The southpaw has been erratic this season -- 11 of his 15 earned runs allowed have come in just two of his eight appearances -- and his 4.26 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 17:14 K:BB through 31.2 innings are far from enticing for fantasy GMs. Nonetheless, he'll continue to factor into the rotation mix, either as a traditional starter or bulk reliever, due to all the injuries on the Rays' staff. His next turn is likely to come on the road next week against the Mets.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Gives up six runs in five innings

  Rotowire May 7, 2023

  Fleming allowed six runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out one over five innings during Sunday's 8-7 win over the Yankees in extras. As expected, Fleming served as a bulk reliever after Javy Guerra handled the first inning. Fleming was able to complete five frames, his second most this year, but he surrendered a season-high six runs, including his first two home runs, and saw his ERA balloon from 3.18 to 4.55. Tyler Glasnow (oblique) recently completed his first of three rehab outings, so Fleming should handle a similar long-relief role for at least one more turn through the rotation.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: Cleared for Sunday

  Rotowire May 5, 2023

  Fleming (foot) has been cleared to pitch Sunday versus the Yankees after getting through a 15-20 pitch bullpen session Friday with no issues, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Fleming had to leave an appearance Tuesday against the Pirates after being hit by a liner in the left foot, but he's progressed well since then and will be fine. It's not clear whether he'll serve as a traditional starter Sunday or bulk reliever.

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• Rays' Josh Fleming: MRI, CT scan are clean

  Rotowire May 3, 2023

  An MRI and CT scan taken of Fleming's left foot Wednesday came back negative, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The MRI and CT results confirm that Fleming escaped with merely a bruise when he had to leave an appearance Tuesday against the Pirates after being hit by a liner. He will try to play catch Thursday as a gauge for whether he'll be ready for his next turn through the rotation. At this stage, Fleming appears likely to avoid a stint on the injured list.

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