Fantasy News

• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Moved up in rotation

  Rotowire May 1, 2024

  Cecconi will start Friday against the Padres instead of Saturday as previously scheduled, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports. The 24-year-old right-hander will take the mound a day earlier than expected with Zac Gallen still recovering from his hamstring injury. Cecconi has posted a 2.25 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 11:1 K:BB over 12 innings in his two-game stint in the major-league rotation.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Another strong outing

  Rotowire Apr 28, 2024

  Cecconi (1-1) took the loss Saturday against the Mariners, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings. Cecconi stifled Seattle's lineup for most of the contest, retiring 11 of the first 12 batters he faced, with seven of those batters going down on strikes. The 24-year-old right-hander would still get tagged with the loss after allowing an RBI single in the fifth, though he's now worked six solid innings in each of his first two starts to open the campaign. Cecconi's surrendered only three runs over that stretch while posting an 11:1 K:BB.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Secures first career big-league win

  Rotowire Apr 21, 2024

  Cecconi (1-0) earned the win after he pitched six innings, allowing two runs on two hits while hitting a batter and striking out three in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Giants. Cecconi was called up from Triple-A Reno ahead of Sunday's contest, securing his first career major-league win. The 24-year-old tossed 4.2 no-hit innings before Thairo Estrada notched a single and Mike Yastrzemski launched a two-run homer, accounting for all the damage on Cecconi's line. Cecconi may be asked to remain in Arizona's rotation for the time being with Merrill Kelly (shoulder) uncertain moving forward and if he gets another turn in the rotation, he tentatively lines up to pitch Saturday on the road versus Seattle.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Joins big club

  Rotowire Apr 21, 2024

  The Diamondbacks recalled Cecconi from Triple-A Reno on Sunday, and he will start against the Giants. Cecconi was unable to make the big-league roster out of spring training. He had a good outing in his last start with Reno on April 16, allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out six batters over six frames. Cecconi appeared in seven games for the Diamondbacks last season and posted a 4.33 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB over 27 innings. To make room for Cecconi, the Diamondbacks optioned right-hander Justin Martinez to Triple-A Reno. Cecconi will be thrown right into the fire, as he will start Sunday for Merrill Kelly (undisclosed).

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Could relieve in minors

  Rotowire Mar 19, 2024

  Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Cecconi will pitch "bulk innings" in the minors but stopped short of saying he would be a starter, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports. The Diamondbacks plan to have Cecconi, who was optioned to minor-league camp Monday, be as versatile as possible at Triple-A Reno. Whether that be as a piggyback starter or straight multi-inning reliever, the organization views him as someone that can help the parent club if needed. There were concerns last season about Cecconi going through an order a third time, which suggests his best fit going forward will be in a bulk-inning role.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Misses out on Opening Day rotation

  Rotowire Mar 18, 2024

  The Diamondbacks optioned Cecconi to Triple-A Reno on Monday. Cecconi's dismissal from big-league camp leaves Ryne Nelson, Tommy Henry and Bryce Jarvis as the likely candidates for the fifth and final spot in Arizona's Opening Day rotation. While making seven appearances (four starts) for the big club in 2023, Cecconi submitted a respectable 4.33 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB in 27 innings. He should open the upcoming season as a member of Reno's rotation and will likely be on the short list for a call-up if Arizona requires a spot starter or a pitcher capable of covering multiple innings out of the bullpen.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Makes second spring start

  Rotowire Mar 2, 2024

  Cecconi allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out one over two innings in Friday's spring start against the Reds. Cecconi, who is among the group battling for the fifth starter job, may have fallen behind his main competitors, Tommy Henry and Ryne Nelson. One so-so spring outing shouldn't be the deciding factor, but both Henry (five scoreless innings) and Nelson (one run, five innings, 10 strikeouts) have been impressive early.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Doesn't make World Series roster

  Rotowire Oct 27, 2023

  Cecconi is not part of the Diamondbacks' World Series roster that was submitted Friday. He took Jace Peterson's spot on the roster for the NLCS, but Arizona has decided to go back to 14 position players and 12 pitchers for the World Series. Cecconi threw two scoreless innings against the Phillies in the NLCS.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Heads back to Reno

  Rotowire Sep 25, 2023

  The Diamondbacks optioned Cecconi to Triple-A Reno on Monday. Unless the Diamondbacks place another pitcher on the injured list during the final week of the season and recall him from the minors, Cecconi's 2023 campaign will come to a close. Over multiple stints with the big club this season, Cecconi covered 27 innings over seven appearances (four starts), pitching to a 4.33 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Needed for bulk relief

  Rotowire Sep 23, 2023

  Cecconi allowed one run on three hits and struck out two over 2.2 innings in Friday's 7-1 loss to the Yankees. Starter Brandon Pfaadt lasted 13 outs and 81 pitches, so Arizona needed bulk relief from Cecconi, who was called up after Miguel Castro was placed on the paternity list. Both Cecconi and Pfaadt had one thing in common; each pitcher was taken deep by Aaron Judge. Pfaadt was tagged twice. Cecconi will pitch out of the bullpen and gives the Diamondbacks length. In a mixed role at the major-league level, the right-hander has a 4.33 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 27 innings.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Optioned to Triple-A

  Rotowire Sep 4, 2023

  Cecconi was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Monday. Cecconi was roughed up by the Orioles over the weekend and now finds himself back in the minors. It's not clear what the Diamondbacks plan to do with his rotation spot, but Arizona could look to bring back Ryne Nelson, who has pitched well over his last three starts at Reno. Cecconi holds a 4.44 ERA and 18:4 K:BB over 24.2 innings in the majors this season.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Roughed up by Orioles

  Rotowire Sep 3, 2023

  Cecconi (0-1) took the loss against Baltimore on Saturday, allowing six runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out four batters over 3.1 innings. Cecconi got through three frames without allowing a run but imploded in the fourth. Baltimore racked up seven straight one-out hits against the right-hander in the inning, including a pair of doubles and a Cedric Mullins three-run homer. Cecconi was tagged with six runs in the frame before he was pulled, equaling the amount of runs he had allowed over 21 major-league innings coming into the contest. His ERA jumped from 2.57 to 4.44 as a result, and this was also Cecconi's first defeat as a big leaguer. Assuming he sticks in the rotation, the rookie's next turn is tentatively lined up to come in Chicago against the Cubs next week.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Tosses five innings in bulk relief

  Rotowire Aug 22, 2023

  Cecconi allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out two batters over five innings while taking a no-decision as the primary pitcher against Texas on Monday. Cecconi was originally slated to start the contest, but Arizona instead opted to go with Joe Mantiply as an opener. Cecconi came on in a scoreless game in the third inning and pitched well for the next five frames, yielding just one run on an Adolis Garcia homer in the seventh. The right-hander wasn't overpowering, notching just six swinging strikes and two punchouts, but he logged his longest outing as a big-leaguer through four appearances and made another strong impression. Cecconi has a 2.93 ERA and 1.04 WHIP through 15.1 frames as he makes his case to remain with the big club, though it's uncertain if the Diamondbacks will deploy him as a traditional starter or as a bulk reliever if they do keep him on the roster.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Remains in rotation

  Rotowire Aug 21, 2023

  Cecconi will start Monday in the Diamondbacks' series opener versus the Rangers at Chase Field, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports. After making a one-inning appearance out of the bullpen in an Aug. 11 game against the Padres, Cecconi returned to the Arizona rotation Wednesday in Colorado. He navigated the unfavorable conditions at Coors Field well enough, striking out four over four innings while limiting the Rockies to two runs on four hits and three walks. Even so, Cecconi owns mostly underwhelming ratios (4.91 FIP, 5.14 SIERA, 6.8 K-BB%) through his limited sample of big-league action to date and wasn't especially impressive over a larger body of work at Triple-A Reno earlier this season, making it tough to recommend him as a streaming option while he faces off Monday against one of the American League's top lineups.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Selected for MLB debut

  Rotowire Aug 2, 2023

  Arizona selected Cecconi's contract from Triple-A Reno ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Giants. Cecconi has struggled to a 6.38 ERA in 103 innings (20 starts) this season in the Pacific Coast League, but the Diamondbacks need a fill-in for Tommy Henry, who landed on the injured list this past Sunday due to left elbow inflammation. Cecconi does have good control, so maybe he'll be able to work deep and rack up some strikeouts in what will be his major-league debut at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Could be rotation fill-in

  Rotowire Jul 31, 2023

  Cecconi is the most likely internal candidate to be called up from Triple-A Reno to fill the vacant spot in the Arizona rotation after the Diamondbacks placed Tommy Henry (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Sunday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports. Given the high asking price for starting pitching on the trade market ahead of Tuesday's deadline, the Diamondbacks may opt to use internal candidates to fill in for Henry, who will miss at least 15 days. Cecconi's overall numbers at Reno aren't exciting -- 6.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 2.0 HR/9 in 103 innings -- but the right-hander's ledger since the middle of June shows improvement in a notoriously tough environment for pitchers. He has a fastball that sits in the low-to-mid 90s and a pair of breaking balls in his slider and curveball. Another righty, Bryce Jarvis, is also being considered for a promotion, but he pitched out of the bullpen in his last two appearances.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Good start at Double-A

  Rotowire Apr 11, 2022

  Cecconi struck out six and gave up one run on four hits and zero walks in four innings in his debut for Double-A Amarillo. Cecconi was seen as a high-upside righty with an excellent 6-foot-4 frame coming out of Miami, but he had an uneven debut year in 2021. Wrist and elbow injuries limited him to 74 innings across High-A and the Arizona Fall League.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Turning in mixed results

  Rotowire Jul 16, 2021

  Cecconi pitched a season-high seven innings for High-A Hillsboro on Thursday, giving up four runs on seven hits while striking out six. Overall, he has a 4.70 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 47:19 K:BB across 10 starts (46 innings). He served up two homers Thursday, which actually doubled his season total, so the long ball hasn't really been an issue for him. Rather, Cecconi has just been too hittable and issued too many walks at times, plus he's had a little bad luck with his BABIP and strand rate to boot. He has impressive stuff -- particularly his fastball-slider combo -- but you'd still like to see better command from a 22-year-old pitcher, even if it is his first taste of pro ball due to last year's pandemic-canceled season. Of course, this isn't a lot of data to go on, so there's no reason to go dumping Cecconi in dynasty formats just yet, but he certainly doesn't appear to be on the fast track to the majors.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Returns from wrist injury

  Rotowire May 23, 2021

  Cecconi (wrist) has made two starts for High-A Hillsboro, giving up a run on three hits and three walks while striking out 10 over 7.2 innings. Cecconi's professional debut was delayed slightly after he suffered a minor injury to his non-throwing wrist during minor-league spring training, but he was cleared to join the Hillsboro rotation in mid-May. The 21-year-old has looked good through his first two turns in the rotation, holding opposing hitters to a lowly .125 average thus far.

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• Diamondbacks' Slade Cecconi: Delayed by minor wrist injury

  Rotowire Apr 21, 2021

  Cecconi sustained a minor wrist injury on his non-throwing hand and his minor-league debut will be delayed, William Boor of MLB.com reports. With the injury being to Cecconi's non-throwing hand, there is little cause for concern regarding his long-term prospects. Cecconi is Arizona's top pitching prospect, someone with the potential to develop into a No. 2 starter in the big leagues thanks to a prototypical 6-foot-4 frame and an impressive four-pitch mix, headlined by a mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider.

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