Fantasy News

• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Back in majors

  Rotowire Apr 20, 2024

  The Blue Jays recalled Pearson from Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports. Pearson has thrown 6.1 scoreless innings in the majors this season, and he'll get another opportunity to rejoin the Jays' bullpen as Chad Green (shoulder) moves to the injured list. The 27-year-old right-hander will presumably continue serving in middle relief while in Toronto.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Sent down to minors

  Rotowire Apr 16, 2024

  Pearson was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo by the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports. This is simply a case of the fact Pearson has options left working against him, as he's been outstanding this season with a 9:3 K:BB over 6.1 shutout innings out of Toronto's bullpen. He will be back soon enough.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Sharp in Sunday's win

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Pearson struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Sunday during a 5-0 win over the Rockies. It wasn't a high-leverage spot, but Pearson still mowed down the heart of Colorado's order on 16 pitches (10 strikes). The right-hander has been impressive to begin the season, posting a 0.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB through 6.1 innings as he adjusts to a relief role, but until he starts being entrusted with more responsibility, his fantasy value with be limited -- Pearson has zero wins, holds or saves in six appearances.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Part of Opening Day bullpen

  Rotowire Mar 28, 2024

  Pearson will begin the season on the Blue Jays' 26-man roster. The 27-year-old right-hander still has a big fastball, averaging 97.9 mph over 42.2 big-league innings last season, but Pearson only managed a 4.85 ERA and 43:18 K:BB. With Jordan Romano (elbow) and Erik Swanson (forearm) on the IL to kick off the campaign, there's a spot in the Opening Day bullpen for Pearson, but he hasn't been mentioned by manager John Schneider as a candidate to fill in for Romano in the ninth inning and will likely work in lower-leverage situations.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Could sneak onto Opening Day roster

  Rotowire Mar 20, 2024

  Pearson's chances of breaking camp on the big-league roster would improve significantly if Jordan Romano (elbow) or Erik Swanson (forearm) need to begin the season on the injured list, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. The one-time top prospect appeared to be on the outside looking in for a spot in the bullpen this spring, but the Blue Jays could have one or two unexpected vacancies to fill. Pearson still wouldn't be expected to handle a high-leverage role, but a hot start to the campaign could change his usage. The 27-year-old right-hander has posted a 9:3 K:BB through seven spring innings and has been working a splitter into his repertoire in camp as a complement to his premium fastball, but ultimately Pearson's control and command will determine if he can establish himself as a reliable big-league arm.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Working on splitter

  Rotowire Feb 19, 2024

  Pearson is attempting to add a split-finger fastball to his arsenal, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports. "We're still working on it, but he threw some really good ones today that could be really effective at the major-league level," pitching coach Pete Walker said Sunday. Injuries and control issues have prevented Pearson from reaching his ceiling, but the 27-year-old right-hander still features premium fastball velocity (96th percentile last season) and is trying to find himself as a high-leverage reliever. Toronto's bullpen picture is crowded and Pearson still has a minor-league option left, however, so he might need to dominate this spring to make the Opening Day roster.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Avoids arbitration

  Rotowire Jan 11, 2024

  Pearson agreed to a one-year, $800K deal with the Blue Jays on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports. He won't be getting a significant raise after logging a 4.85 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 43 strikeouts in 42.2 innings with the big club last season. Pearson still throws pretty hard, but he also gives up a lot of hard contact (47.5 percent last year). He should work in the middle innings this season.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Summoned to majors

  Rotowire Sep 15, 2023

  Pearson was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports. Pearson will give the Blue Jays' bullpen a much-needed fresh arm after its members were overused as the team got swept by the Rangers. The righty holds a 5.18 ERA and 41:16 K:BB over 40 innings during his time in the majors this season.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Sent back to Triple-A

  Rotowire Aug 15, 2023

  Pearson was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. Pearson tossed one scoreless inning during his most recent stint in the big leagues, which lasted only a few days. Although he has pitched well in spurts during his time with the Blue Jays this season, a few rocky appearances has led to the hard thrower posting a 5.18 ERA out of the bullpen.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Back in big leagues

  Rotowire Aug 12, 2023

  Pearson was recalled by the Blue Jays on Saturday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports. This will be Pearson's third separate stint in the majors this season. He's worked exclusively as a reliever, struggling to a 5.31 ERA in 39 innings. He's struck out 44.6 percent of the batters he's faced in 12 Triple-A innings this season but has seen that figure dip to 23.6 percent against big-league batters. Hagen Danner (oblique) landed on the injured list in a corresponding move.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Optioned to Buffalo

  Rotowire Aug 2, 2023

  Toronto optioned Pearson to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports. Pearson allowed four earned runs on one hit and three walks in a one-inning appearance Tuesday against the Orioles as his season ERA climbed to 5.31. Thomas Hatch is replacing him in the Blue Jays' bullpen.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Goes to Triple-A

  Rotowire Jul 23, 2023

  The Blue Jays optioned Pearson to Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday. Pearson will surrender his spot in the bullpen to left-hander Genesis Cabrera, whom the Blue Jays acquired from the Cardinals via trade Friday. The demotion comes after Pearson was roughed up for six earned runs across his last two appearances, which had been proceeded by a run of eight consecutive scoreless outings.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Secures first career save

  Rotowire Jul 7, 2023

  Pearson earned a save in the nightcap of Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox, allowing one hit in 1.1 scoreless innings. Game 1 of the twin bill went 11 innings, resulting in Toronto using five different pitchers, including closer Jordan Romano. As such, Pearson got the call late in the nightcap, entering with two outs in the bottom of the eighth frame. The right-hander allowed a single to Luis Robert before getting the final out in the inning, then stuck around for the bottom of the ninth, during which he induced three straight flyouts to notch the first save of his big-league career. Pearson isn't a threat to challenge Romano for save opportunities moving forward, but he's recorded five consecutive scoreless appearances, allowing just three hits and no walks over six frames during that span.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Notches another win

  Rotowire Jun 12, 2023

  Pearson (4-0) picked up the win Sunday over the Twins, allowing one hit and striking out three over two scoreless innings. The right-hander needed only 25 pitches (16 strikes) to knife through the Minnesota order, and he was still the pitcher of record when Cavan Biggio launched a game-winning homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. Pearson's four wins have come in only 16 appearances, including three in his last four games, and his 2.05 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 25:5 K:BB through 22 innings highlight how well he and his 98 mph fastball have adjusted to a high-leverage bullpen role.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Backs into win Sunday

  Rotowire Jun 5, 2023

  Pearson (3-0) blew a save but picked up a win in Sunday's victory over the Mets, giving up two solo home runs in an inning of relief. He struck out one. The right-hander came into the game having not allowed an earned run in five straight appearances while posting an 11:1 K:BB, but Pearson got taken deep by Starling Marte and Pete Alonso in the sixth inning to erase a 4-2 lead. Fortunately for Pearson and the Blue Jays, Brandon Belt answered back with a two-run shot in the top of the seventh. Pearson appears to be finding a home in the bullpen, delivering a 28.8 percent strikeout rate against a 6.8 walk rate in 18 innings since his promotion.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Call-up imminent

  Rotowire Apr 24, 2023

  Pearson is set to join the Blue Jays in Toronto on Monday and could be recalled from Triple-A Buffalo ahead of the big club's series opener versus the White Sox, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports. The Blue Jays appear to have abandoned developing Pearson as a starter due to injuries having cost him extensive time in each of the previous three seasons, but the power right-hander still possesses the type of premium velocity that could make him a major weapon near the back end of the bullpen. He's flashed that potential thus far at Buffalo, pitching to a 2.16 ERA and 16:5 K:BB across 8.1 innings over his eight appearances. Once he's formally activated, Pearson could start out in a lower-leverage role out of the bullpen, but it's not difficult to envision him emerging as one of the top setup men for closer Jordan Romano if he can stay healthy and keep his free passes in check.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Velocity still there

  Rotowire Feb 27, 2023

  Pearson topped out at 100.8 miles per hour with his fastball during his appearance in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Mike Wilner of The Toronto Star reports. The line in the box score was less impressive, as the right-hander allowed one run on two hits, two walks and a wild pitch over one inning, but Pearson struck out the side while tossing 18 of 31 pitches for strikes. The one-time top prospect has had his development derailed by multiple injuries and the Blue Jays might have given up on the idea of him holding up under a starter's workload, but Pearson still has a chance to make an impact in the majors as a high-leverage reliever if he can stay healthy in 2023.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Pitching coach impressed

  Rotowire Feb 23, 2023

  Pearson "looks really comfortable in his own skin right now" and "his stuff is outstanding," Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker told Keegan Matheson of MLB.com on Thursday. Pearson's career has been sidetracked by injury, most recently with his 2022 season being wiped out by mononucleosis and a lat strain. He's healthy now, though, and while his days of starting might be over, he has the potential to be a lockdown reliever for the Jays.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Activated and optioned

  Rotowire Oct 5, 2022

  The Blue Jays reinstated Pearson (lat) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports. Since Buffalo's season has already ended, Pearson won't report to the Triple-A affiliate and will instead stick around at the Blue Jays' spring facility in Florida, where he'll likely continue to stay sharp in case Toronto requires an extra bullpen arm during its upcoming postseason run, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca. Pearson never made any appearances at the big-league level in 2022 after opening the campaign on the shelf while recovering from mononucleosis before he suffered a lat strain in June during his rehab assignment.

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• Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Starting rehab stint

  Rotowire Sep 2, 2022

  Pearson (lat) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Sunday with Single-A Dunedin, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports. Pearson progressed to facing live batters earlier this week and has now been cleared for game action in the minors. The 26-year-old should make an appearance or two for Dunedin before moving the rehab assignment up to Triple-A Buffalo.

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