Spring Training Daily: ST Daily: Dodger Damage

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What an awful Tuesday at Dodgers camp.

Mike Bolsinger, expected to open the 2016 season as the club’s No. 5 starter, was diagnosed with a right oblique strain and will miss at least the first week of April.

Yasmani Grandal, power-hitting catcher in his physical prime, is off for tests concerning discomfort in his right forearm. It’s a situation manager Dave Roberts called “disconcerting.”

And then there’s the broken right tibia that will put left fielder Andre Ethier on the shelf for the entire first half.

You can’t buy health.

Bolsinger’s injury clears a lane of opportunity for somebody like Zach Lee, Carlos Frias, or Brandon Beachy. If it’s indeed only a one-week absence there won’t be much to exploit from a fantasy perspective right out of the gate, but it’s not like Bolsinger has his rotation spot on lockdown and there are some other question marks in the Los Angeles rotation behind Clayton Kershaw. There will be opportunities for these down-depth-chart options.

Beachy hasn’t been the same since developing arm troubles in Atlanta in 2012, and there’s not much to get excited about with Frias. Lee, however, might be somebody to monitor. The former first-round pick and 2014 top-100 prospect registered a 2.63 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 85/20 K/BB ratio in 123 1/3 innings last year between three different levels of the Dodgers’ minor league system. You’ll find yourself using him as a streamer at some point.

Will this Bolsinger injury push along the debut of top-flight pitching prospect Julio Urias? Probably not. But he’s coming this year at some point. It’s happening.

There isn’t much to say about Grandal until the test results are revealed, though let’s acknowledge that forearm discomfort often leads to sad announcements.

Ethier’s case is already sad. He was coming off an .852 OPS (136 OPS+) season and starting to win back some haters of his $95.5 million deal. Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke will share time in left field for the Dodgers over the next 10-14 weeks, maybe inspiring a bit of NL-only fantasy intrigue. Ethier was owned in most mixed fantasy leagues by the end of 2015.

For player projections, mock drafts, strategy articles, hundreds of individual profiles, and much more, purchase the 2016 Rotoworld Baseball Draft Guide today. And keep it locked on the constantly-updated MLB player news page all spring for reports out of camps in Arizona and Florida.

Maurer Dropped From Rotation Race

Brandon Maurer has been excellent since converting from the rotation to the bullpen in 2014 with the Mariners, so we got all excited around these parts when the Padres announced in January that they were going to give the 25-year-old right-hander another chance to start. But the experiment is over.

Maurer allowed 16 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings (three Cactus League starts), and the Padres informed the media on Tuesday that his next outing will come in relief. So too will the rest of his outings this spring and summer.

As a reliever, Maurer owns a career 3.40 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 7.9 K/9. He has a 6.62 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and 6.1 K/9 when he starts. The larger sample sizes and the more recent spring sample size both agree: Maurer belongs in the bullpen for the time being.

There could be save opportunities available if veteran closer Joaquin Benoit falters. And he’s a 39-year-old coming off a 4.74 ERA. We still have reason to like Maurer as a late-round flier in mixed fantasy leagues; it’s just a different reason.

Fernandez Gets On The Right Track

Marlins ace Jose Fernandez inspired some crooked looks last week when he gave up six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Mets. But he roared back with a vengeance on Tuesday, firing five hitless frames versus the Red Sox.

It was the same day his native country hosted the Tampa Bay Rays for a historic exhibition game. You’ll want to hear Fernandez’s take on that trip if you haven’t already. He offers a unique perspective.

The filthy 23-year-old right-hander has the goods to post the numbers of a top-tier fantasy starter if he can stay healthy in 2016. Even with a workload limit, Fernandez should challenge for the ERA title while offering more than a strikeout per inning.

Quick Hits: Red Sox setup man Carson Smith has been diagnosed with a strained flexor muscle in his elbow and is out indefinitely … Matt Moore tossed six scoreless innings Tuesday as the Rays beat the Cuban National Team 4-1 in Havana … Phillies closer candidate Andrew Bailey had his first hiccup of the spring Tuesday, giving up three runs and four hits in his inning against the Twins … Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Tuesday that Anibal Sanchez (triceps) could start the second game of the regular season … Troy Tulowitzki had a three-run homer as part of a five-RBI day as the Blue Jays crushed the Tigers 15-1 on Tuesday … Daniel Norris will undergo tests on his lower back after aggravating an injury on Tuesday … Joe Mauer hit his first spring homer Tuesday as a Twins split-squad topped the Orioles … The Giants have met with Brandon Belt‘s representatives about a multi-year deal … Joba Chamberlain is expected to make the Indians’ Opening Day roster … Carlos Correa went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk Tuesday against the Braves … Wilson Ramos said Monday that his recent Lasik eye surgery is already helping him at the plate … Jimmy Paredes (wrist) suffered a setback on Tuesday and is likely to open the season on the disabled list … Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (finger) plans to return to game action by the weekend … Delino DeShields had to exit Tuesday’s game versus the Padres with mild right biceps tendinitis … Making his Cactus League and Whit Sox debut, Mat Latos was lit up for seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings Tuesday by the Giants … Kevin Gausman (shoulder) said Tuesday that he is aiming to be ready for the first or second week of the regular season … Josh Donaldson went 3-for-4 on Tuesday, raising his spring average to .357. … Astros setup man Luke Gregerson (intercostal) will throw in a minor league game on Wednesday … Jimmy Rollins finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI versus the Giants on Tuesday … A’s outfielder Sam Fuld flew to Los Angeles on Tuesday to get a second opinion on his injured shoulder … Rockies starter Jon Gray will undergo an MRI after exiting Tuesday’s start with tightness in his abdomen area … Cody Asche (oblique) took batting practice on Tuesday … Padres catcher Derek Norris went 2-for-4 with four RBI in Tuesday’s 17-5 Cactus League rout of the Rangers … Free agent Kyle Lohse will hold a showcase in the Phoenix area on Wednesday … Matt Bush is expected to pitch in the Rangers’ Cactus League game against the Cubs on Wednesday.

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