Fantasy News

• Red Sox's Cooper Criswell: Takes loss in bulk role

  Rotowire Apr 18, 2024

  Criswell (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the Guardians, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk over 2.1 innings. While Criswell didn't miss many bats in his brief outing, the Red Sox defense didn't do him any favors, as they committed a pair of errors behind the right-hander resulting in three unearned runs. The 27-year-old Criswell sports a 4.26 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 4:2 K:BB through his first 6.1 innings this season. He'll likely continue to work in a bulk role while Nick Pivetta (elbow) and Garrett Whitlock (oblique) are sidelined.

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• Red Sox's Cooper Criswell: Ticketed for bulk relief

  Rotowire Apr 18, 2024

  Criswell is slated to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Brennan Bernardino in Thursday's game against the Guardians, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. Criswell joined the Boston rotation last weekend against the Angels as a replacement for Nick Pivetta (elbow) and gave up two earned runs over four innings in his Red Sox debut. The right-hander will remain in the rotation for the foreseeable future, but he'll be deployed in bulk relief with the hope that the arrangement generates more favorable results. Expect Bernardino to work no more than an inning or two before giving way to Criswell.

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• Red Sox's Cooper Criswell: Optioned to Triple-A

  Rotowire Mar 22, 2024

  The Red Sox optioned Criswell to Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Chad Jennings of The Athletic reports. Criswell put his best foot forward in competing for a rotation spot this spring, collecting a 2.95 ERA and 17:3 K:BB across 18.1 innings of work. However, Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock also pitched well and they were ultimately given the fourth and fifth slots. Criswell will stay stretched out in Worcester's rotation.

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• Red Sox's Cooper Criswell: Works four scoreless

  Rotowire Mar 22, 2024

  Criswell allowed two hits and struck out four over four scoreless innings in Thursday's spring start against Baltimore. Criswell emerged as a starting candidate following Lucas Giolito's elbow injury and made his fourth Grapefruit League start Thursday. The right-hander has a 3.14 ERA with 13 strikeouts and two walks across 14.1 innings in his four starts and sports a 2.95 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 18.1 innings overall.

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• Red Sox's Cooper Criswell: Sharp in start

  Rotowire Mar 12, 2024

  Criswell allowed two hits and struck out four over 3.2 scoreless innings in Monday's spring start against Pittsburgh. Criswell was added to the rotation competition after an elbow injury to Lucas Giolito will require him to undergo surgery Tuesday. "We see [Criswell] as a starter until he's not," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "Whatever decision we make, I'm intrigued." With two open rotation spots following Giolito's injury, Criswell joins a mix that includes Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock and Josh Winckowski. Criswell had a 5.97 ERA over 12 games with the Angels and Rays from 2021-23, but the Red Sox felt he could benefit from a personalized plan for improvement, which included changing the grip on his slider and improving his fastball. The right-hander has allowed four runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out 10 over 10.1 spring innings.

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• Red Sox's Cooper Criswell: Added to starter mix

  Rotowire Mar 6, 2024

  Criswell allowed three runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 2.2 innings in Wednesday's spring start against Minnesota. The Red Sox cited Criswell as a potential starter in the wake of Lucas Giolito's elbow injury, per Ian Browne of MLB.com. The right-hander made his first spring start Wednesday and threw a pair of 1-2-3 innings before sputtering in the third. Criswell's not overpowering -- his fastball topped out at 89.3 mph Wednesday -- but the Red Sox will need length and possibly a sixth starter early when the team plays 23 games in the first 25 days of the season.

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• Cooper Criswell: Non-tendered after DFA

  Rotowire Nov 17, 2023

  Criswell was non-tendered by the Rays on Friday. Criswell was designated for assignment by Tampa Bay earlier this week and is now officially a free agent. The 27-year-old posted a 5.73 ERA over 33 big-league innings in 2023.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: Bumped off 40-man roster

  Rotowire Nov 14, 2023

  Criswell was designated for assignment by the Rays on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Criswell struggled to a 5.73 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 27:11 K:BB over 33 major-league innings in 2023. The 27-year-old right-hander no longer holds a 40-man roster spot.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: Returns to Triple-A

  Rotowire Oct 1, 2023

  Criswell was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The 27-year-old was called up Saturday and gave up four runs (three earned) over three innings against the Blue Jays, so he'll be sent down in favor of a fresh arm. Criswell will finish the regular season with a 5.73 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 27:11 K:BB over 33 innings out of the bullpen for Tampa Bay.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: Returns to Triple-A

  Rotowire Aug 12, 2023

  Criswell was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Saturday. Criswell's latest stint on the active roster lasted just two days. He tossed three innings of relief Thursday against the Cardinals in his lone appearance, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits without recording a strikeout or walk. Josh Fleming (elbow) returned from the 60-day injured list to take his place on the roster.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: Recalled from Durham

  Rotowire Aug 10, 2023

  Criswell was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Criswell has posted a 5.04 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 25 innings this season at the major-league level, but he'll give the Rays a fresh bullpen arm as Wednesday's opener Jalen Beeks heads back to the farm.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: Reclaims starting gig at Triple-A

  Rotowire Aug 1, 2023

  Criswell has made two starts for Triple-A Durham since being optioned to the affiliate July 16, allowing two unearned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six over nine innings. Despite the pair of strong outings, Criswell is still holding down a 4.63 ERA and 1.46 WHIP while striking out 51 over 56.1 innings at Triple-A this season. Though his numbers don't jump off the page, Criswell may still find himself as the next man up to join the big club if the Rays require a starter or bulk reliever at any point in August. The Rays optioned the struggling Taj Bradley to Triple-A on Monday and appear set to give Zack Littell a look as their new No. 5 starter, though Littell likely won't have a long leash.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: Coming up Saturday for spot start

  Rotowire Jul 14, 2023

  Criswell will be recalled from Triple-A Durham to serve as the starter or bulk reliever in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. With Friday's game getting postponed and the Rays not having any off days until July 24, they'll need to patch something together as part of Saturday's doubleheader. Criswell has a 5.14 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 22 strikeouts in 21 innings across six MLB appearances this season.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: Recalled from Triple-A

  Rotowire Jun 6, 2023

  Criswell was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Criswell is expected to be used as a bulk reliever behind a yet-to-be-announced opener in Wednesday's game against the Twins. The 26-year-old has made five bulk-relief appearances for the Rays this season, holding a 6.11 ERA.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: Called up for doubleheader

  Rotowire Jun 3, 2023

  Criswell was called up to serve as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader against the Red Sox. Criswell has worked as a bulk reliever four times this season, struggling to a 6.46 ERA across 15.1 innings of work. He could be called on to fill a similar role behind opener Trevor Kelley in the first half of Saturday's twin bill.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: In line for bulk duty Friday

  Rotowire May 22, 2023

  Criswell is expected to serve as a bulk reliever Friday versus the Dodgers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Criswell didn't pitch all that well as a bulk reliever Sunday against the Brewers, but he'll stick around and be used again later this week. He will then likely be sent down when Tyler Glasnow (oblique) makes his season debut Saturday.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: Sent back to minors

  Rotowire Apr 22, 2023

  Criswell was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. Criswell allowed five runs in 6.2 innings since getting his contract selected Monday, though that did come with a 10:2 K:BB. He could return in a low-leverage role later this season, but for now it will be Hector Perez who takes his spot.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: Reassigned to MiLB camp

  Rotowire Mar 27, 2023

  Criswell was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Rays on Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. Criswell pitched exceptionally well in the Grapefruit League with a 0.79 ERA and 0.62 WHIP over six appearances and 11.1 innings, but he falls victim to the depth of pitching in the Tampa Bay system. He's likely to be up at some point in a middle-innings role for the Rays in 2023.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: Optioned to Triple-A

  Rotowire Sep 13, 2022

  Criswell was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He gave up one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four in 3.1 innings in Monday's spot start against the Blue Jays. Josh Fleming is up to take Criswell's spot on the active roster.

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• Rays' Cooper Criswell: In line to start Monday

  Rotowire Sep 12, 2022

  The Rays plan to select Criswell's contract from Triple-A Durham to have him start Monday's game in Toronto, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Monday likely would have been Ryan Yarbrough's day to pitch, but he was needed to cover five innings in long relief during Sunday's 10-4 loss to the Yankees after starter Luis Patino coughed up nine earned runs while recording just four outs before departing the contest. As a result, the Rays will turn to Criswell to make his team debut Monday in what could end up being a brief stint in the big leagues. Since being claimed off waivers from the Angels in mid-July and outrighted off the 40-man roster a few days later, Criswell has been pitching 3-to-4 innings in his starts with Durham. Over 27.1 total innings with the affiliate this season, Criswell has produced a 3.95 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 22:5 K:BB.

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