Relief pitcher Brad Boxberger had his $5 million mutual option declined by the Cubs. He will receive an $800,000 buyout. Boxberger got into just 22 games as he dealt with multiple injuries. The 35-year-old pitched to a 4.95 ERA in 20 innings.

Chicago Cubs reliever Brad Boxberger (forearm) has pitched a few bullpen sessions recently and will throw another on Friday, according to MLB.com. It's been a long stint on the injured list for the right-hander, who hasn't appeared in a game since May 13 after sustaining a right forearm strain. Boxberger began the season in the closer mix, picking up a pair of saves, but after posting a 5.52 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and 20.0% strikeout rate, the Cubs started to use Adbert Alzolay and Mark Leiter Jr. in the ninth inning. There's still no timetable for his return, but he'll be fantasy irrelevant when he's finally back.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Brad Boxberger was tagged with the loss in Thursday's contest with the Washington Nationals. He came into the game trying to maintain a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth inning but gave up a leadoff walk-off homer to Alex Call. Boxberger owns a 4.09 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP with nine strikeouts and two saves across 11 innings and has been much better than Michael Fulmer, who has posted a 6.57 ERA and was the other closer candidate coming into 2023. So, despite the 34-year-old's performance Thursday, fantasy managers shouldn't be worried about his role and should expect him to receive the majority of save opportunities.

Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher Brad Boxberger secured his second save of the season by shutting down the San Diego Padres on Thursday, closing out a 5-2 victory. Boxberger came in for the ninth and walked the leadoff hitter, but then coaxed a double play ball and a fly out to end the game. Boxberger has been mostly solid for the Cubs, and now holds a 3.60 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. They are not elite numbers, but they're good enough that he should continue to see save opportunities with Michael Fulmer now clearly out of the picture. He should be added in any leagues where saves are valuable.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Brad Boxberger was asked to shut the door in the ninth inning versus the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. This comes one day after fellow relief pitcher Michael Fulmer blew the game. Boxberger did excellent with three strikeouts and only allowing one hit while securing the one-run victory for Chicago. He holds a 1.42 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 7/2 K/BB ratio over 6 1/3 innings this season. Boxberger could very well see more save chances if Fulmer continues to struggle.

The Chicago Cubs view relievers Michael Fulmer and Brad Boxberger as their primary closing options in 2023 for the ninth inning. Boxberger has 82 career saves and a long track record of durability and reliability. Fulmer won the American League Rookie of the Year in 2016 and was an All-Star in 2017 as a starter, but he moved to a full-time relief role after having Tommy John surgery in 2019. He saved 14 games for the Tigers in 2021 and had a 2.97 ERA in almost 70 innings. The Cubs also could use the likes of Brandon Hughes, Rowan Wick and Adbert Alzolay in closing situations, which makes Chicago's closing situation more of a committee approach. But if you're speculating on saves in deeper leagues, Fulmer and Boxberger could be decent options.

The Chicago Cubs and right-handed relief pitcher Brad Boxberger agreed to a one-year deal worth $2 million on Thursday, according to sources familiar with the deal. The deal includes a $5 million mutual option for the 2024 season that comes with an $800,000 buyout. The 34-year-old became a free agent when the Milwaukee Brewers declined his $3 million option in November. Boxberger was solid for the Brewers in 2022, posting a 2.95 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, one save and 68 strikeouts in 64 relief innings over 70 appearances. He has 82 career saves in 11 major-league seasons, and there's a chance he could enter the saves picture in Chicago next year along with names like Brandon Hughes and Manuel Rodriguez.

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Brad Boxberger was asked to take the ball in the ninth inning during Friday's contest against the Cincinnati Reds. The Brewers were forced to use someone else in the ninth inning with Josh Hader out on the paternity list. Right-hander Devin Williams was expected to get the nod in the ninth, but instead pitched the eighth inning. Boxberger was a little shaky, but was able to convert the save on Friday. The right-hander does have closer experience, but is expected to slide back into a setup role once Hader returns.

The Milwaukee Brewers signed free-agent pitcher Brad Boxberger to a one-year, $2.5 million contract on Sunday. He returns to Milwaukee in 2022, where he will reprise his role as one of Milwaukee's top setup man for star closer Josh Hader. The 33-year-old posted a 5-4 record with a 3.34 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and an 83:24 K: BB over 64 2/3 innings in 2021. He also chipped in 23 holds and four saves. Boxberger will provide solid ratios and mainly has fantasy appeal in league formats with the category solds (saves and holds).

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Brad Boxberger (4-3) allowed a run on two hits and struck out one in one inning, taking the loss Sunday versus the Giants. The right-hander allowed an RBI single to Tommy La Stella in the eighth inning, and that was the decisive play in the game. Boxberger's scoreless streak came to an end at 7 2/3 innings. He's seen a more significant role lately with Josh Hader on the COVID-19 injured list. Boxberger has a 2.66 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 58:21 K: BB with four saves, 15 holds, and two blown saves in 47 1/3 innings on the season.

NEW YORK (AP) — Joey Votto homered for the seventh straight game, one shy of a major league record, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 6-2 on Friday night. Jonathan India went deep twice for the Reds, including a leadoff shot that came on Carlos Carrasco’s first pitch with the Mets. Acquired from Cleveland in January, the veteran right-hander finally made his New York debut after recovering from a hamstring injury. It was an up-and-down day for the Mets, who made a big deal to get Javier Báez from the Chicago Cubs before baseball’s trade deadline — and then revealed injured ace Jacob deGrom will be shut down for two more weeks because of inflammation in his pitching elbow, making it unlikely he’ll rejoin the NL East leaders before September. Báez was acquired from the Cubs along with right-hander Trevor Williams for outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Mets’ first-round pick in the 2020 amateur draft. Báez is expected to join the Mets on Saturday and will play shortstop... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Joey Votto homered for the seventh straight game, one shy of a major league record, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 6-2 on Friday night. Jonathan India went deep twice for the Reds, including a leadoff shot that came on Carlos Carrasco’s first pitch with the Mets. Acquired from Cleveland in January, the veteran right-hander finally made his New York debut after recovering from a hamstring injury. It was an up-and-down day for the Mets, who made a big deal to get Javier Báez from the Chicago Cubs before baseball’s trade deadline — and then revealed injured ace Jacob deGrom will be shut down for two more weeks because of inflammation in his pitching elbow, making it unlikely he’ll rejoin the NL East leaders before September. Báez was acquired from the Cubs along with right-hander Trevor Williams for outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Mets’ first-round pick in the 2020 amateur draft. Báez is expected to join the Mets on Saturday and will play shortstop... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Joey Votto homered for the seventh straight game, one shy of a major league record, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 6-2 on Friday night. Jonathan India went deep twice for the Reds, including a leadoff shot that came on Carlos Carrasco’s first pitch with the Mets. Acquired from Cleveland in January, the veteran right-hander finally made his New York debut after recovering from a hamstring injury. It was an up-and-down day for the Mets, who made a big deal to get Javier Báez from the Chicago Cubs before baseball’s trade deadline — and then revealed injured ace Jacob deGrom will be shut down for two more weeks because of inflammation in his pitching elbow, making it unlikely he’ll rejoin the NL East leaders before September. Báez was acquired from the Cubs along with right-hander Trevor Williams for outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Mets’ first-round pick in the 2020 amateur draft. Báez is expected to join the Mets on Saturday and will play shortstop... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Joey Votto homered for the seventh straight game, one shy of a major league record, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 6-2 on Friday night. Jonathan India went deep twice for the Reds, including a leadoff shot that came on Carlos Carrasco’s first pitch with the Mets. Acquired from Cleveland in January, the veteran right-hander finally made his New York debut after recovering from a hamstring injury. It was an up-and-down day for the Mets, who made a big deal to get Javier Báez from the Chicago Cubs before baseball’s trade deadline — and then revealed injured ace Jacob deGrom will be shut down for two more weeks because of inflammation in his pitching elbow, making it unlikely he’ll rejoin the NL East leaders before September. Báez was acquired from the Cubs along with right-hander Trevor Williams for outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Mets’ first-round pick in the 2020 amateur draft. Báez is expected to join the Mets on Saturday and will play shortstop... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Joey Votto homered for the seventh straight game, one shy of a major league record, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 6-2 on Friday night. Jonathan India went deep twice for the Reds, including a leadoff shot that came on Carlos Carrasco’s first pitch with the Mets. Acquired from Cleveland in January, the veteran right-hander finally made his New York debut after recovering from a hamstring injury. It was an up-and-down day for the Mets, who made a big deal to get Javier Báez from the Chicago Cubs before baseball’s trade deadline — and then revealed injured ace Jacob deGrom will be shut down for two more weeks because of inflammation in his pitching elbow, making it unlikely he’ll rejoin the NL East leaders before September. Báez was acquired from the Cubs along with right-hander Trevor Williams for outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Mets’ first-round pick in the 2020 amateur draft. Báez is expected to join the Mets on Saturday and will play shortstop... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Joey Votto homered for the seventh straight game, one shy of a major league record, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 6-2 on Friday night. Jonathan India went deep twice for the Reds, including a leadoff shot that came on Carlos Carrasco’s first pitch with the Mets. Acquired from Cleveland in January, the veteran right-hander finally made his New York debut after recovering from a hamstring injury. It was an up-and-down day for the Mets, who made a big deal to get Javier Báez from the Chicago Cubs before baseball’s trade deadline — and then revealed injured ace Jacob deGrom will be shut down for two more weeks because of inflammation in his pitching elbow, making it unlikely he’ll rejoin the NL East leaders before September. Báez was acquired from the Cubs along with right-hander Trevor Williams for outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Mets’ first-round pick in the 2020 amateur draft. Báez is expected to join the Mets on Saturday and will play shortstop... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks snapped their record 24-game road losing streak by routing the San Diego Padres 10-1 on Saturday night, getting six scoreless innings from Merrill Kelly and four hits and five RBIs from Eduardo Escobar. Escobar and Christian Walker homered for the Diamondbacks, who hadn’t won away from Chase Field since April 25, when Madison Bumgarner pitched seven no-hit innings at Atlanta. The Diamondbacks had dropped 20 of 21 games and 34 of 37 overall. Escobar connected for a two-run homer, and drove in runs with a double, a single and a groundout. He finished a triple shy of the cycle. Kelly (4-7) allowed five hits, struck out five and walked none. Dinelson Lamet (2-3) took the loss, allowing four runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings. METS 4, PHILLIES 3 NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom gave up two runs for the first time this season and New York rallied after he exited, beating Philadelphia on Michael Conforto’s sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. DeGrom’s bid to... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets ace Jacob deGrom gave up two runs for the first time this season and New York rallied after he exited, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 Saturday on Michael Conforto’s sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. DeGrom’s bid to set the Mets record for the longest scoreless-inning streak fell just short. His run ended at 31 innings on rookie Nick Maton’s RBI single in the second — R.A. Dickey set the team shutout mark of 32 2/3 innings in 2012. DeGrom allowed three hits in six innings, striking out five and walking one while throwing 88 pitches, his most since tossing 93 against Boston on April 28 in a 1-0 loss. Edwin Diaz (2-1) earned the victory. Héctor Neris (1-5) took the loss. BLUE JAYS 12, ORIOLES 4 BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his major league-leading 26th home run, Teoscar Hernández and Randal Grichuk also connected and Toronto rolled past Baltimore. Guerrero homered during a four-run burst in the third inning that also included Bo Bichette’s RBI... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets ace Jacob deGrom gave up two runs for the first time this season and New York rallied after he exited, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 Saturday on Michael Conforto’s sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. DeGrom’s bid to set the Mets record for the longest scoreless-inning streak fell just short. His run ended at 31 innings on rookie Nick Maton’s RBI single in the second — R.A. Dickey set the team shutout mark of 32 2/3 innings in 2012. DeGrom allowed three hits in six innings, striking out five and walking one while throwing 88 pitches, his most since tossing 93 against Boston on April 28 in a 1-0 loss. Edwin Diaz (2-1) earned the victory. Héctor Neris (1-5) took the loss. BLUE JAYS 12, ORIOLES 4 BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his major league-leading 26th home run, Teoscar Hernández and Randal Grichuk also connected and Toronto rolled past Baltimore. Guerrero homered during a four-run burst in the third inning that also included Bo Bichette’s RBI... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees turned their record-tying third triple play this season to strand the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, bailing out closer Aroldis Chapman and closing down a 2-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Gary Sánchez spoiled Sean Manaea’s gem with a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning, and Jonathan Loaisiga (7-2) and Lucas Luetge turned a 2-1 lead over to Chapman. Jed Lowrie and Chad Pinder walked, and Sean Murphy grounded to Gio Urshela, who stepped on third and threw to DJ LeMahieu. The second baseman relayed the ball to first to get Murphy by a step. New York also turned a triple play Thursday in Buffalo against the Blue Jays and also had one May 21 against the Chicago White Sox. Chapman’s 16th save sent Oakland to its first road series loss this season after eight wins and a split. BLUE JAYS 7, ORIOLES 4 BALTIMORE (AP) — Reese McGuire had three doubles during a four-hit performance. Hyun Jin Ryu (6-4) gave up one run and three hits in seven... [More]