Brad Boxberger
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MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Nov 3 2023The Cubs declined their part of a $5 million mutual option with Boxberger (forearm) on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger will get an $800,000 buyout as he moves into free agency. The veteran reliever logged only 5.1 major-league innings in the second half of the 2023 season due to nagging forearm issues, but he compiled a 3.15 ERA in 141 appearances between 2021-22 and could be viewed as a potential bounceback candidate among the long list of teams seeking bullpen help.
Oct 19 2023Boxberger (forearm) is expected to resume throwing in mid-November, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger made only five relief appearances with the Cubs in the second half of the 2023 campaign because of forearm troubles, but he should be able to enjoy a relatively normal offseason. The veteran right-hander carries a $5 million mutual option (or $800,000 buyout) for 2024.
Sep 23 2023The Cubs placed Boxberger on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right forearm strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger already missed nearly four months earlier this year due to a forearm injury, and his latest trip to the injured list will keep him out for the rest of the regular season and the first part of a potential Cubs playoff run. Keegan Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to fill Boxberger's spot in the bullpen.
Sep 8 2023Boxberger (forearm) was activated from the 60-day injured list Friday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger has been sidelined since mid-May with a right forearm strain but is finally ready to rejoin the Cubs' bullpen after making eight rehab appearances, the last four of which were scoreless. He could be eased back into a high-leverage role but eventually should work as a setup man.
Aug 30 2023Boxberger (forearm) is scheduled to make another rehab appearance Wednesday with Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The appearance will be the seventh overall of Boxberger's rehab assignment and his fourth in a row for Iowa, with whom he's given up two earned runs on three hits and two walks across two innings through his first three outings. If Boxberger checks out fine following Wednesday's appearance, the Cubs could look to bring him back from the 60-day injured list when the active roster expands to 28 players Friday. Once activated, Boxberger will likely handle a middle-innings role out of the Cubs' bullpen.
Aug 13 2023Boxberger (forearm) will start a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He has faced hitters in live batting practice and is ready to begin pitching in games. Boxberger has been on the shelf with a forearm strain since mid-May, so he could require a longer rehab stint than the typical reliever, but he will likely make it back before the end of the month if he avoids setbacks.
Aug 7 2023Boxberger (forearm) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger threw several bullpen sessions in late July, and he will get back up on the mound Tuesday. It's unclear how many more sessions he will need before heading out on a rehab assignment, but it may not be many.
Jul 27 2023Boxberger (forearm) is set to throw another bullpen session Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger could advance to live batting practice or perhaps even a minor-league rehab assignment if Friday's workout goes smoothly. He originally landed on the injured list in mid-May because of a right forearm strain and then suffered a setback in late June. The veteran reliever is trending toward returning to the Cubs' bullpen around mid-August.
Jul 25 2023Boxberger (forearm) is throwing a bullpen session Tuesday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is his first mound workout since he suffered a setback in late June. On the shelf since mid-May, Boxberger could be an option again for the Cubs' bullpen sometime in August if he is able to avoid further complications.
Jul 23 2023Boxberger (forearm) is expected to begin throwing bullpen sessions during the upcoming week, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger started up his throwing program at the Cubs' spring training facility in Arizona earlier this month and has been in the process of gradually stretching out his long-toss distance off flat ground over the past three weeks. He now looks like he's ready to move on to the next phase of his rehab by stepping back on the mound. After a week of throwing off the mound, Boxberger could then be cleared to face hitters in live batting practice before he heads out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Boxberger has been on the shelf since May 15 with a strained right forearm.
Jul 5 2023Boxberger (forearm) resumed throwing Tuesday in Arizona, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger was recently transferred to the 60-day injured list, but he's finally making progress in his recovery from the right forearm strain that originally sent him to the 15-day injured list in mid-May. The veteran reliever could be an option again for the Cubs' bullpen mix around the end of July.
Jul 4 2023Boxberger (forearm) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster. It doesn't change Boxberger's timetable, as he'll be eligible to return at the start of the second half. Whether he is activated at that time isn't clear.
Jun 13 2023Boxberger (forearm) threw live batting practice Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger is currently working out at the Cubs' spring training complex in Arizona and could soon be cleared to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment. The reliever has been sidelined since mid-May due to a right forearm strain.
Jun 8 2023Boxberger (forearm) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger will head to the Cubs' spring training facility to throw his second bullpen session in the last week. It's unclear how much longer he'll need to ramp up before returning to game action, though he is expected to go on at least a brief rehab assignment before being activated.
Jun 6 2023Boxberger (forearm) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger has been cleared to begin throwing off a mound as he works his way back from a mid-May diagnosis of a right forearm strain. He could be ready to return to the Cubs' bullpen around mid-to-late June if all goes well from this point forward.
May 29 2023Boxberger (forearm) will play catch again Monday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Tests on Boxberger's right forearm came back negative for structural damage and he's slowly ramping things back up with a game of catch for the second day in a row. He'll progress to the mound and will probably need a rehab appearance or two before rejoining the Cubs' bullpen.
May 23 2023Cubs manager David Ross said Tuesday that imaging scans showed no structural damage in Boxberger's right arm, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "I don't think it's going to be a super long thing or have to deal with surgery as of now," said Ross. Boxberger will be shut down from throwing for a bit, but he should be an option again for the Cubs' bullpen within the next month or so. He was placed on the injured list last week with what was originally called a right forearm strain.
May 15 2023Boxberger was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Cubs on Monday with a strained right forearm, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The move is considered precautionary, manager David Ross told Jordan Bastian of MLB.com on Monday. Boxberger will undergo further testing just in case, though.
May 4 2023Boxberger (0-1) was charged with the loss Thursday against the Nationals after he gave up a walkoff home run to the first batter he faced. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran right-hander entered for the bottom of the ninth inning with the game tied 3-3, and Alex Call took him deep on the first pitch to end the game. It's just the third time in 13 outings that Boxberger has been scored upon, and he has a 4.09 ERA and a 9:6 K:BB in 11 frames. He's tallied just two saves but should still have a clear leg up on Michael Fulmer for closing duties.
Apr 27 2023Boxberger worked around a walk to pitch a clean ninth inning and earn the save in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Outside of allowing three runs in a rough appearance Saturday, Boxberger has been pretty solid, and he now has a 3.60 ERA and a team-leading two saves. Michael Fulmer has struggled with a 7.84 ERA and 1.84 WHIP, so it seems like Boxberger could be pulling away in the battle for closing duties. The veteran righty is certainly the Chicago reliever to target in fantasy at the moment, and he gets a boost with the Cubs playing well at 14-10.
Mar 14 2023Boxberger and Michael Fulmer are viewed by the Cubs as the primary options at closer, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger was brought in on a one-year, $2.8 million contract in December, and Fulmer was signed to a one-year, $4 million deal in February. Those two could get the bulk of ninth-inning opportunities out of the gate, though Brandon Hughes, Rowan Wick and Adbert Alzolay also remain in the fold as high-leverage options on the North Side of Chicago. It could be a tricky situation for fantasy managers to navigate.
Mar 7 2023Boxberger pitched a scoreless inning with a walk and a strikeout to record a hold in Monday's Cactus League game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger has made three appearances this spring, and each one has been a scoreless inning with a strikeout. He's also recorded two holds. The veteran's spot in the bullpen is secure and he could emerge as the closer if he continues to impress. Holdovers Rowan Wick and Brandon Hughes are also in the mix to close, along with fellow newcomer Michael Fulmer. It might be a committee situation, at least to begin the regular season.
Dec 15 2022Boxberger signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Cubs on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The deal contains a $5 million mutual option or $800,000 buyout for 2024. The Brewers somewhat surprisingly declined Boxberger's $3 million option last month, but between the $750,000 buyout and his new deal the reliever comes out ahead. Boxberger held a 2.95 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 68:27 K:BB across 64 innings in 2022. It's possible he could be in the mix to close some games for a Cubs team which has a murky late-inning situation.
Nov 10 2022The Brewers declined Boxberger's $3 million team option for 2023 on Thursday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran right-hander recorded 29 holds with a 2.95 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 68:27 K:BB across 64 innings for the Brewers in 2022, so it's a bit of a surprise to see the modest club option turned down. Boxberger had a 3.15 ERA in 141 appearances over the past two years, so he shouldn't have any issues finding a new deal in free agency.
Sep 11 2022Boxberger tossed a clean ninth inning in the Brewers' 5-1 victory over the Reds on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the Brewers up by four runs, manager Craig Counsell used Boxberger to close out Saturday's contest rather than going to closer Devin Williams in a non-save situation. Boxberger has been a bit shaky of late, but he retired all three batters he faced Saturday and secured the win for his club. Boxberger remains part of the Brewers' late-inning mix, but he is presumably behind all of Devin Williams, Taylor Rogers and Matt Bush in the pecking order for saves.
Aug 17 2022Boxberger threw a scoreless sixth inning in Tuesday's victory over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger was unofficially shut down for a few days after pitching 10 times in the first 20 days out of the All-Star break, and the rest appeared to have done him well, as he retired all three batters he faced and punched out two of them. Boxberger remains part of Milwaukee's late-inning mix, but even with Josh Hader's departure, he may have been bumped down a spot in the pecking order -- trade deadline acquisitions Matt Bush and Taylor Rogers both followed him in Tuesday's contest.
Jul 27 2022Boxberger tossed a scoreless seventh inning in Tuesday's victory over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger allowed a hit and walked a batter, but he also struck out two batters, and when it was all said and done he prevented anyone from crossing home plate. Boxberger has struggled a bit of late, allowing five earned runs (7.11 ERA) and posting a 2.37 WHIP in 6.1 innings over his last seven appearances, but he remains the top option ahead of setup man Devin Williams and closer Josh Hader.
Jun 17 2022Boxberger allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning to earn a save over the Reds on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger allowed a leadoff single to Kyle Farmer before issuing a one-out walk to Nick Senzel. He was able to maintain the 5-4 lead and secure his first save of the year. He's now sporting a 2.49 ERA with a 23:8 K:BB through 26 games.
May 11 2022Boxberger tossed a scoreless seventh inning and picked up his eighth hold of the season in Tuesday's victory over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger needed just nine pitches to get through his inning of relief and put the Brewers in position to come away with the win. Both runs he has allowed this season came in the same outing, and he owns a sparkling 1.59 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 10:1 K:BB over 11.1 innings across 13 appearances.
Apr 10 2022Boxberger (1-0) gave up a hit and no walks while striking out one in a scoreless seventh inning to earn the win over the Cubs on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger made a career-high 71 relief appearances during his first year with the Brewers in 2021, and he began the 2022 season on a high note by picking up a win in his first outing. Josh Hader is firmly entrenched as Milwaukee's closer, but Boxberger picked up 23 holds last year while converting four of nine save chances. He'll continue to serve as a setup man alongside Devin Williams in 2022.
Mar 13 2022Boxberger agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Brewers on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Coming off a strong season and with 81 career saves under his belt, Boxberger could have been a closer had he landed on a different team in free agency. However, he should reprise his role as a setup man in Milwaukee, barring any trades or injuries to Josh Hader and/or Devin Williams. Boxberger logged a 3.34 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 21.8 K-BB% in 64.2 innings. He also chipped in five wins and four saves across 71 appearances.
Sep 20 2021Boxberger (5-4) took the loss in relief Sunday against the Cubs after allowing three runs on two hits and a walk. He didn't record a single out. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger couldn't retire a single batter Sunday and delivered one of his worst outings of the campaign, though it's worth noting he's now given up runs in three of his last six appearances. He owns a ballooned 17.36 ERA in just 4.2 innings through seven outings in September.
Sep 2 2021Boxberger tossed a clean seventh inning and picked up his 21st hold in Wednesday's victory over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger was tasked with facing the top three batters in the Giants' order after the Brewers took the lead in the seventh, and as he has done regularly, he came through with a clean frame. Boxberger has been brilliant for the Brewers, tossing 10 straight scoreless appearances and allowing an earned run only two times -- while posting a 0.74 ERA and 0.95 WHIP -- over his last 25 trips to the mound.
Aug 8 2021Boxberger (4-3) allowed a run on two hits and struck out one in one inning, taking the loss Sunday versus San Francisco. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 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 innings overall.
Aug 3 2021Boxberger picked up his fourth save of the season Monday against the Pirates after tossing a scoreless outing, allowing one walk and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger entered the game after John Axford allowed two runs on two hits and a walk across one-third of an inning to begin the ninth, and while he walked Wilmer Difo, he closed things out by striking out Phillip Evans. This was Boxberger's fourth save of the season, but he has gone 4-for-6 in save chances this year and only got the nod since Josh Hader is out on COVID-19 protocols.
Jul 30 2021Boxberger (4-2) pitched two perfect innings and struck out one to earn the win over Atlanta on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Starter Corbin Burnes wasn't at his best, and Boxberger entered with two on and no outs in the fifth inning. The 33-year-old reliever escaped the jam without trouble and ended up with his first win since June 26. The right-hander has a 2.74 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 52:20 K:BB through 42.2 innings this season. He's added three saves and 13 holds, indicating he typically enters games later than he did Friday.
Jul 21 2021Boxberger (shoulder) is expected to be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's game against the Royals after he checked out fine following a throwing session Tuesday, afdas ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Brewers have stayed away from Boxberger for their past two games while he's dealt with a stiff right shoulder, but his ability to throw Tuesday without discomfort seemingly clears up any threat of him landing on the injured list. With 12 holds and three saves to go with a 3.03 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 42 appearances this season, Boxberger has become a trusted late-inning arm for manager Craig Counsell.
Jul 20 2021Boxberger (shoulder) said following his Tuesday throwing session that he's confident he'll avoid a trip to the injured list, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger exited Saturday's game after experiencing stiffness in his throwing shoulder. The right-hander threw Tuesday for the first time since the issue arose, and it sounds like he's trending toward remaining on the active roster. The right-hander seems very unlikely to pitch in Tuesday's game against Kansas City, but assuming he does indeed avoid the IL, a Wednesday return to the mound could be in the realm of possibility.
Jul 17 2021Manager Craig Counsell said following Saturday's win over the Reds that Boxberger exited with right shoulder stiffness, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger exited after allowing a game-tying homer to Jonathan India in the bottom of the eighth inning. His velocity appeared to be down, which makes sense given that he is dealing with a shoulder issue. The skipper labeled the right-hander day-to-day, so it remains to be seen if he'll be available for Sunday's series finale.
Jun 20 2021Boxberger allowed one hit over a scoreless ninth inning Sunday and picked up a save against Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger worked around a two-out single by Trevor Story to finish off the 7-6 win Sunday. The 33-year-old has now converted all three of his save chances this season, including two in June. He owns a 3.03 ERA and a 31:8 K:BB through 29.2 innings.
Jun 6 2021Boxberger allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning Friday, striking out one batter and earning a save over Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger gave up a leadoff single to Carson Kelly but quickly finished off the next three batters to earn his first save since April 7. He's converted his only two save chances this season and has seven holds alongside a 3.04 ERA. He won't get regular looks in the ninth inning as long as Josh Hader is healthy and dealing.
Jun 1 2021Boxberger threw a scoreless 10th frame and picked up the win in Monday's extra-inning victory over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger spent the early portion of May working in middle relief, but he has played a more prominent role since the Brewers traded J.P. Feyereisen to the Rays on May 21, and that has resulted in him picking up two wins since that date. The veteran righty has allowed just one hit and posted a 6:2 K:BB in five scoreless innings over his last six appearances, so expect him to remain in the late-inning mix for the time being.
May 24 2021Boxberger (1-1) earned the win Sunday against the Reds, recording one strikeout and hitting one batter in one-third of an inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger recorded the final out of the fifth inning after striking out Eugenio Suarez, though he had previously loaded the bases when he hit Tucker Barnhart with a pitch. This was Boxberger's first win of the campaign and continues to pitch well even though he's given up runs in two of his last seven appearances. He owns a 4.41 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP across 16.1 innings on the season.
Apr 7 2021Boxberger retired the only batter he faced to earn the save in Wednesday's 4-2 extra-inning win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger relieved J.P. Feyereisen with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning. The 32-year-old Boxberger got Ian Happ to fly out on six pitches to secure the Brewers' win. This was Boxberger's first save since the 2019 season when he played for the Royals. He has not allowed a baserunner nor recorded a strikeout in his first 1.1 innings this year. As long as Josh Hader is healthy, Boxberger shouldn't be expected to see many save chances.
Apr 6 2021The Brewers selected Boxberger's contract from their alternate site Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Milwaukee created a spot for him on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster, respectively, by transferring Justin Topa (elbow) to the 60-day injured list and trading Orlando Arcia to Atlanta. Boxberger appeared to have made a strong push for the Brewers' Opening Day roster coming out of spring training, but Milwaukee instead had him bide his time at the alternate site for a few days before a roster spot opened up. Though he has 77 career saves on his resume, Boxberger is expected to work in a middle-relief role for Milwaukee initially.
Mar 28 2021Boxberger re-signed Sunday with the Brewers on a minor-league contract. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Milwaukee released Boxberger earlier in the weekend after he was informed he wouldn't break camp with the big club, but he seemingly has renewed hope of making the Opening Day bullpen after reliever Justin Topa experienced elbow discomfort during his appearance in a "B" game Saturday. With manager Craig Counsell confirming that Topa would begin the season on the injured list, Boxberger would be a logical candidate to join the active roster if the Brewers decide to fill Topa's spot with another reliever.
Mar 26 2021Boxberger was released by the Brewers on Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 32-year-old was unable to secure a spot on the big-league roster to open the season, though Milwaukee apparently hopes to re-sign him to a minor-league deal. Boxberger had a 3.00 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 18:8 K:BB over 18 innings for the Marlins last season.
Mar 25 2021Boxberger struck out three batters over a perfect inning of relief in Wednesday's spring game. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's been an up-and-down spring for Boxberger, who has looked sharp in five of his eight appearances but was tagged for eight earned runs in his other three. Despite the rough outings, he remains in the mix for a spot in the Brewers' bullpen.
Feb 14 2021Boxberger signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Sunday as a non-roster invitee, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger made 23 relief appearances for the Marlins in 2020, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.39 WHIP over 18.0 innings. He'll now join his fifth team in as many seasons and will compete for a major-league roster spot with the Brewers during spring training.
Sep 26 2020Boxberger (1-0) walked one in a scoreless ninth inning and earned the win against the Yankees on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger walked Giancarlo Stanton to open the ninth but was able to induce a 6-4-3 double play and another groundout to send the game into extras. The Marlins would end up taking the lead in the top half of the 10th, which put Boxberger in line for his first win of 2020. The 32-year-old has a 3.00 ERA and an 18:8 K:BB across 18 innings and has become a reliable late-inning bullpen option for Miami.
Aug 22 2020Boxberger struck out one in a perfect eighth inning to record his second hold of the season in a win over the Nationals on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran right-hander has emerged as a reliable bridge to closer Brandon Kintzler. Boxberger has only been scored upon once in nine appearances, posting a 2.35 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB over 7.2 innings, and his fastball velocity has returned -- he topped out at 94.4 mph in Friday's outing. If anything were to remove Kintzler from the saves picture, Boxberger appears to be the likely next man up in the ninth for the Marlins.
Jul 23 2020Boxberger has made the Marlins' 30-man roster, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was added to the 40-man roster with this move. Frisaro notes that Boxberger is expected to pitch as a setup man. The 32-year-old righty saved 32 games for the Diamondbacks in 2018. If Brandon Kintzler struggles as the closer, or if manager Don Mattingly goes with a committee, Boxberger could add to his 77 career saves this season.
Jun 29 2020Boxberger is part of the Marlins' 60-man player pool, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran reliever was in camp on a minor-league deal, but he was in line to make the club prior to the shutdown, so this comes as no surprise. Brandon Kintzler, Ryne Stanek (back) and Yimi Garcia are better bets to get saves this year, but it wouldn't be that surprising if Boxberger got enough late-inning opportunities to record a couple saves in the condensed season.
Mar 11 2020Boxberger is expected to break camp with the Marlins, Craig Mish of SportsGrid reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran is in camp as a non-roster invitee, but he's shown increased velocity and owns a strong 6:0 K:BB in 5.1 innings this spring while allowing just a single hit and a single run. With 77 career saves to his name, he has a shot to earn high-leverage work in Miami this season, though Brandon Kintzler is expected to open the year as the closer.
Mar 3 2020Boxberger has looked good to begin spring training and is sitting 93-94 mph with his fastball, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The last time the right-hander had that kind of giddyup on his heater, he was racking up 41 saves for the Rays in 2015. Boxberger has yet to give up a run through 3.1 innings this spring with a 4:0 K:BB, and if he continues to demonstrate he still has some gas left in his tank, the 31-year-old could begin the season in a high-leverage role for the Marlins.
Feb 13 2020Boxberger agreed Thursday with the Marlins on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger arrives in Miami with two 30-save seasons on his resume, but he's unlikely to factor into the Marlins' closer competition this spring. The 31-year-old may not even be a viable setup option at this stage of his career, as he's coming off a rough 2019 season with Kansas City in which he posted a 5.40 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 27:17 K:BB in 26.2 innings before being waived in July. He went on to land minor-league deals from Washington and Cincinnati later in the summer, but both organizations released him when he was unable to earn a promotion back to the big leagues. Boxberger will get another opportunity in Miami to compete for a bullpen job, though he'll remain well off the fantasy radar unless he somehow finds himself back in a high-leverage role.
Aug 23 2019Boxberger was released by the Reds on Friday, Andersen Pickard of MLBDailyDish.com reports.
Aug 6 2019Boxberger agreed to a minor-league contract with Cincinnati on Tuesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Jul 12 2019Boxberger agreed to a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 1 2019Boxberger was placed<\/a> on unconditional release waivers by the Royals on Monday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 26 2019The Royals designated Boxberger for assignment<\/a> Wednesday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 7 2019Boxberger (1-3) picked up the win Friday against the White Sox after allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout through one inning of work.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 25 2018Boxberger retired all three hitters he faced via strikeout Tuesday in the Diamondbacks' 5-1 win over the Cubs.Boxberger hasn't been afforded any save chances since prior to the All-Star break, but he's continued to display dominant form while making two lower-leverage appearances in the second half. The closer has yet to allow a run over eight innings in July and has given up one hit while posting a 13:3 K:BB.
Jul 14 2018Boxberger struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Friday to pick up his 23rd save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Braves.He's now converted seven straight save chances, posting a 1.13 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB in eight innings over that stretch. After failing to record a single save over his last two seasons in Tampa Bay, Boxberger has returned to the form that saw him rack up 41 in 2015.
Jul 14 2018Boxberger gave up a hit but struck out the side in a scoreless inning Saturday to save the Diamondbacks' victory over the Braves.Boxberger continued his excellent campaign as Arizona's closer and has converted each of his last eight save opportunities. He's 24-for-28 in that category on the year and has established a firm grasp on this job. He's complemented that solid success rate with a 3.06 ERA and 12.5 K/9, even with his shaky 4.6 BB/9.
Jul 7 2018Boxberger worked a perfect ninth inning to claim his 21st save of the season Friday in the Diamondbacks' 3-1 victory over the Padres.After blowing saves in back-to-back appearances in late June, Boxberger has burnished his job security as the team's closer by converting his last five chances while allowing only one run on two hits and two walks over five innings. The 30-year-old's 4.6 BB/9 is still somewhat of an eyesore and may continue to inflate his WHIP, but it will likely take a prolonged string of hiccups in the ninth inning before Boxberger cedes closing duties to Archie Bradley or Yoshihisa Hirano.
Jul 4 2018Boxberger pitched a hitless ninth inning to earn the save against the Cardinals on Tuesday, striking out two while walking one.Pitching for the first time in six days, Boxberger retired the Cardinals to pick up his 20th save of the season. The right-hander now has 41 strikeouts in 30.1 innings but has also issued 16 walks in the process, accounting for the relatively high 1.32 WHIP. Boxberger blew three saves in nine chances in the month of June, and he'll look to right the ship and assert himself as the trusted closer for the Diamondbacks going forward.
Jun 27 2018Boxberger struck out one in a scoreless inning of work to earn his 18th save of the season Tuesday against the Marlins.Boxberger worked efficiently in this one, throwing seven of 11 pitches for strikes as he sat down the side in order. He blew consecutive save opportunities last week, but he's bounced back with a pair of scoreless outings. Boxberger still has a 3.49 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP, meaning he'll need to enjoy some sustained success to hang on to his job title.
Jun 24 2018Boxberger worked around a hit in a scoreless inning of work to earn his 17th save of the season Sunday against the Pirates.Boxberger allowed Austin Meadows to reach base with one out, only to induce a double-play ball two pitches later to close things out. The veteran had blown each of his last two save opportunities, so this was a nice bounce-back effort. His ERA now sits at 3.62 to go along with a 1.35 WHIP, but there's been nothing to indicate that he won't be the top option in save situations for the time being.
Jun 22 2018Boxberger allowed one run in the 11th inning to blow the save chance Friday, though the Diamondbacks eventual defeated the Pirates 2-1 in 13 innings.Starting the 11th with a 1-0 lead, Boxberger walked Gregory Polanco and Josh Bell. He was ordered to intentionally walk Austin Meadows after a sacrifice bunt by Josh Harrison. A force attempt and throwing error on the next batter scored the tying run. The blame was mixed in this one, but it still marked Boxberger's second straight failed conversion. Yoshihisa Hirano might work his way into the saves picture should Boxberger's issues continue, though the stopper still has some leash left.
Jun 17 2018Boxberger (1-3) allowed four earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two to blow the save and take the loss Sunday against the Mets.Things began according to plan for Boxberger, as he entered the game in the ninth inning with a two-run lead and struck out the first two batters he faced. However, he allowed the next four batters to reach base, including back-to-back home runs by Brandon Nimmo and Asdrubal Cabrera. This marked his third blown save of the season, though he still ranks fifth in the National League with 16 saves.
Jun 16 2018Boxberger retired the only batter he faced to bag his 16th save of the season in Friday's 7-3 victory for the Diamondbacks over the Mets.It was the second straight save for the right-hander since he blew his second opportunity of the season back on June 6. Overall, he's now sporting a 2.55 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in his 24.2 innings, and he's 16-for-18 in his save chances on the season, making him a safe closer option for fantasy purposes.
Jun 14 2018Boxberger struck out two in the ninth inning to record his 15th save of the season Thursday against the Mets.Boxberger appeared in a save situation for the first time since he blew his second save of the season on June 6. However, he looked sharp, striking out two of the three batters he faced. He has now converted 15 of his 17 save chances on the season.
Jun 6 2018Boxberger allowed two earned runs on a hit and a walk to blow the save chance Wednesday against the Giants.Boxberger entered the game in the ninth inning with a two-run lead but could not secure his 15th save of the season after allowing a two-run home run to Alen Hanson. He has now blown two saves this season and has also allowed at least one earned run in consecutive appearances. His numbers for the season are still strong, so his role as closer should be safe for the time being.
Jun 6 2018Boxberger pitched the ninth to pick up the save Tuesday against the Giants, allowing one run on three hits while striking out one and walking zero.Boxberger gave up a double to Alen Hanson and then allowed Hanson to score on a single by Buster Posey. After allowing another single to Andrew McCutchen, Boxberger got Evan Longoria to ground out to end the game. This was the first time in 13 outings that Boxberger allowed multiple hits in an appearance, yet he's still sporting an excellent .210 batting average against. The 30-year-old is 14-for-15 in save chances and carries a 29:9 K:BB in 21.1 innings.
May 30 2018Boxberger struck out one in a clean ninth inning to earn the save Tuesday against the Reds.Boxberger retired the Reds on 11 pitches (nine strikes) to pick up his 13th save of the season. Boxberger has now allowed just four hits over his last 11 innings of work, striking out 15 and walking five in that span. The right-hander is 13-for-14 in save chances and carries a 1.80 ERA and 1.15 WHIP while holding opponents to a .189 batting average.
May 24 2018Boxberger tossed a scoreless eighth inning Wednesday in the Diamondbacks' 9-2 loss to the Brewers, allowing a walk and striking out two.The mop-up appearance was Boxberger's first since May 15, amounting to the closer's largest break of the season. With the Diamondbacks dropping 13 of their last 14 games, it's not surprising that Boxberger has been collecting dust of late with few save situations being presented to the struggling club.
May 15 2018Boxberger locked down his 12th save Tuesday, striking out two in a scoreless inning against the Brewers.A runner reached with one out via an error, but Boxberger quickly retired the next two batters to lock down the save in his first attempt since taking his first blown save of the season last week. Outside of that one slip up, the 29-year-old has been very reliable. He's now got 24 strikeouts in 18 innings to go along with the 12 saves and a 2.00 ERA.
May 9 2018Boxberger gave up a game-tying home run in the ninth for a blown save Tuesday, striking out two and walking zero in the extra-innings affair.Boxberger came on with a one-run lead, and after striking out Chase Utley, he served up a solo shot to Enrique Hernandez. It was the first blown save on the year for Boxberger, and the second home run he's surrendered through 16 innings. The right-hander maintains a solid 2.25 ERA and .217 batting average against, although the eight walks are slightly high. Boxberger's 11 saves are good for No. 3 in the majors.
May 6 2018Boxberger allowed one hit and one walk while striking out three Sunday as he picked up the save against Houston.Boxberger allowed two baserunners in the ninth inning, but he was able to work out of it to preserve a 3-1 win over the Atros. He's a perfect 11-for-11 in save opportunities following Sunday's game and has been rock solid out of the closer's role in 2018, sporting a 1.80 ERA with 20 strikeouts across 15 innings.
May 2 2018Boxberger worked around a walk to turn in a scoreless ninth inning en route to his 10th save of the season in the Diamondbacks' 4-3 win over the Dodgers on Tuesday.Since conceding three runs (one earned) while failing to record an out in a loss against the Padres on April 20, Boxberger has been outstanding over his last four outings, recording saves each time out while giving up only one hit. All four of those appearances have come within the last five days, so it wouldn't be surprising if Boxberger was unavailable for Wednesday should another save opportunity arise. Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano would be the top candidates to handle ninth-inning duties if manager Torey Lovullo opts to give Boxberger a breather.
Apr 30 2018Boxberger struck out a batter in a clean ninth inning for his ninth save Monday against the Dodgers.Boxberger remains perfect in save opportunities, but he has taken a pair of losses in non-save situations, the only two of his 13 outings in which he has allowed runs. His ERA is down to 2.25 as Boxberger looks to post a sub-3.00 ERA for the first time since 2014 with the Rays, when he struck out 104 batters against just 20 walks over 64.2 innings of brilliant relief work.
Apr 28 2018Boxberger notched his eighth save of the season Saturday against the Nationals, allowing two walks and a hit across a scoreless inning while striking out one.Boxberger retired the first two batters he faced before a double and a pair of walks (one intentional) loaded up the bases, but he was able to get Michael Taylor to ground out to stay a perfect eight-for-eight on save chances this season. He's been shaky at times, as was evident in Saturday's outing, but the veteran still owns a solid 2.45 ERA and 14:6 K:BB through 11 innings this season.
Apr 27 2018Boxberger struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his seventh save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Nationals.He has yet to blow a save this season, but Boxberger hasn't been completely lights out recently, coughing up five runs over his three prior appearances heading into Friday. The right-hander still has a 2.70 ERA and 13:4 K:BB in 10 innings on the year, but if his struggles grow worse, Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano are both pitching extremely well and appear ready to step into the closer role if necessary.
Apr 21 2018Boxberger failed to retire any of the three batters he faced in the ninth inning and was charged with three runs (one earned) on three hits to take the loss Friday against the Padres.Though the box-score line paints an ugly picture, Boxberger wasn't quite as disastrous as the results indicate, as all three of the hits he surrendered were groundball singles. Nonetheless, the three consecutive hits late in a tied ball game were all the Padres needed to pull away, resulting in Boxberger dropping to 0-2 on the season. With Friday's appearance, marking Boxberger's third in as many days -- the first time he has pitched on three consecutive days since the 2015 season -- expect the right-hander to be unavailable for the second game of the series Saturday. If that's the case, Archie Bradley or Yoshihisa Hirano would likely be deployed as closer for the day.
Apr 19 2018Boxberger was handed the loss in relief Wednesday against the Giants after yielding two runs on two hits in his one-inning appearance.Boxberger looked as though he would escape the top of the 10th inning unscathed after retiring two of the first three batters, but he paid the price for misplacing a pitch against Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, who clobbered the offering for a tie-breaking two-run home run. The pair of runs were the first Boxberger has allowed in his eight appearances this season, so the right-hander should still maintain a firm hold on the closing gig. Boxberger has converted all five of his save chances to date and owns a solid 11:4 K:BB and 1.13 WHIP over eight frames.
Apr 19 2018Boxberger got the save against the Giants on Thursday, working around two hits and striking out a batter to close out Arizona's 3-1 victory with a scoreless ninth inning.After giving up two earned runs and taking the loss in his last appearance, Boxberger bounced back and got his sixth save of the season against San Francisco despite giving up a couple of hits. He's now converted all six save opportunities he's had this season and is firmly entrenched as the go-to option for the closer role in Arizona.
Apr 14 2018Boxberger gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to collect his fifth save of the season in an 8-7 win over the Dodgers.The Diamondbacks already have four one-run wins on the season, giving their new closer plenty of early opportunities to prove himself. Boxberger's risen to the challenge and has yet to give up a run in seven innings while posting a 10:4 K:BB, and his job security is rising with every outing.
Apr 8 2018Boxberger pitched a scoreless ninth inning while allowing one hit and recording a strikeout Sunday in the win over the Cardinals.Boxberger has tossed 5.0 innings without allowing a run, and he managed to log his fourth save of the young season Sunday. The 29-year-old is set to see ample save opportunities this season if he can stay healthy and limit walks.
Apr 6 2018Boxberger tallied his third save of the season in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals, striking out one without allowing a base runner in a scoreless ninth inning.Boxberger still has yet to allow a run this season but the most encouraging aspect of this outing was the lack of walks after he issued four in his first three innings of the season -- resulting in a 1.67 WHIP that stood in contrast to the immaculate ERA. If he continues to pitch like that and rack up the saves, Boxberger's role as the ninth-inning man in Arizona should remain a secure one.
Apr 4 2018Boxberger earned his second save of the season in Wednesday's 3-0 triumph over the Dodgers. He walked and struck out two batters as part of a scoreless ninth inning.With the Diamondbacks holding a three-run lead entering the final frame, Boxberger's save chance was less pressure packed than his first of the season against the Rockies back on March 30, but the right-hander's erratic control made things more interesting than anticipated. In addition to the two walks, Boxberger also uncorked a wild pitch before settling down and ending the game with a strikeout of Enrique Hernandez. While he has yet to let in a run this season, Boxberger has needed at least 20 pitches to get through all three of his innings. He'll need to improve his efficiency if he's to build up more job security at the back of the Arizona bullpen.
Mar 31 2018Boxberger tossed a scoreless ninth inning and got the save in Arizona's win over Colorado on Friday, walking one and striking out two.Boxberger was named the Diamondbacks' closer over Archie Bradley just prior to the start of the regular season and manager Torey Lovullo did indeed turn to the 29-year-old righty for ninth-inning duty in Friday's win. Bradley's presence could make Boxberger's leash shorter than usual should he run into any struggles but for now, he's the reliever to own in the Arizona bullpen.
Mar 27 2018Manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday that Boxberger will be the Diamondbacks' closer to open the season, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.With Opening Day just days away, Lovullo has finally picked his ninth-inning man, going with Boxberger over the likes of Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano. Boxberger has plenty of experience as an end-gamer, notching 41 saves for the Rays back in 2015. While he's struggled to stay healthy over the past two seasons, he seemed to find his form in September of last year, posting a 0.96 ERA and 17:2 K:BB across 9.1 innings.
Mar 19 2018Boxberger has given up one run on four hits and a walk over four frames while striking out three batters through four Cactus League appearances.Boxberger was briefly shelved earlier this month with arm soreness, but the 29-year-old is in no danger of missing the start of the season after completing three outings without incident since being cleared to face hitters. At this point, the main storyline surrounding Boxberger is if he'll open the season as the Diamondbacks' closer or if Archie Bradley or Yoshihisa Hirano will handle those duties. None of the three pitchers have earned a save opportunity or finished a game this spring, making it difficult to handicap who will emerge with the role.
Mar 8 2018Boxberger (arm) threw a scoreless inning in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Brewers, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.Boxberger missed some time this spring with general soreness in his throwing arm but was able to throw an effective bullpen session earlier this week and ultimately made his return to the field Thursday. The reliever's fastball was reportedly sitting in the 91-to-93 MPH range, which is roughly in line with his average velocity from last season. The 29-year-old is firmly in the mix for the Diamondbacks' closer role heading into the season.
Mar 5 2018Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that Boxberger (arm) was "very aggressive and looked good" during a 25-pitch bullpen session Sunday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.Since making his Cactus League (and Diamondbacks) debut with a scoreless inning Feb. 23 against the Rockies, Boxberger has been unavailable in exhibition play after coming out of that outing with general arm soreness. Boxberger has since thrown multiple bullpen sessions, and with his latest one Sunday seemingly going without a hitch, there's a good chance the right-hander will be cleared to pitch in a game this week. Though Boxberger has been sidelined for more than a week with the injury, Lovullo reiterated that Boxberger remains in contention along with Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano for the Diamondbacks' vacancy at closer.
Mar 3 2018Manager Torey Lovullo said Boxberger (arm) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.Boxberger is getting back into a throwing program after a bout of arm soreness forced him to back off of throwing for a little bit. Barring any setbacks in his upcoming bullpen session, the 29-year-old will likely progress to facing live hitters from there before ultimately making his return to Cactus League action. Once healthy, Boxberger will continue to compete with the likes of Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano for the D-backs' closer role.
Feb 8 2018Boxberger will compete with Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano for the D-backs' closer role this spring, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.Acquired from the Rays in November, Boxberger offers past experience as a closer, and his struggles with injury in each of the last two seasons may lead the D-backs to limit him mostly to three-out appearances. It's not unreasonable to think that Boxberger might be the early favorite to take on the job, as using him as the closer gives manager Torey Lovullo more flexibility with Archie Bradley, who can be tasked with multiple innings as needed. Nevertheless, it's expected that the D-backs will make their plans for the ninth inning known at some point near the end of spring training.
Jan 12 2018Boxberger agreed to a one-year, $1.85 million deal with the Diamondbacks on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanRagSports.com reports.Boxberger, who was dealt to Arizona in November from Tampa Bay, receives a slight raise over the $1.6 million he made last year in his first arbitration season. The key for the 29-year-old righty is health, as he has missed a good chunk of time in each of the last two seasons. When healthy, he should act as a bridge to presumed closer Archie Bradley, and could even get into the ninth inning mix if Bradley struggles.
Nov 30 2017Boxberger was traded to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Curtis Taylor on Thursday.Boxberger will provide an immediate boost to Arizona's bullpen after accumulating a 3.38 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 29.1 innings with the Rays last season. The right-hander missed the first half of this past year with an back injury, but didn't seem to be bothered by the ailment once he returned to the mound in late June. Looking ahead, it remains to be seen how the Diamondbacks will utilize Boxberger, but he's expected to appear in high-leverage situations for the club in 2018.
Sep 30 2017Boxberger (4-4) picked up the win in Friday's 7-0 victory over the Orioles, firing a scoreless fifth inning in which he recorded a strikeout.The hard-throwing reliever now has six straight scoreless efforts and is closing out the season on a high note. Factoring in Friday's outing, Boxberger's ERA for the month is down to 1.08, as he's allowed just one earned run in 8.1 innings across eight appearances in September.
Sep 27 2017Boxberger fired a scoreless fifth inning in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Yankees, allowing a hit and recording a strikeout.Boxberger has been perfect save for one outing in September, and he's now compiled five consecutive scoreless efforts. The 29-year-old right-hander has been reasonably effective after a late start to his season due to a back injury, although a trio of outings in which he's surrendered multiple earned runs has helped lead to a somewhat bloated 3.62 ERA. Boxberger's ability to miss bats remains intact, however, as he's compiled 37 whiffs over 27.1 innings.
Aug 30 2017Boxberger gave up two earned runs on a hit and a walk over two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Royals. He also recorded a strikeout.The right-handed reliever was charged with two of the runs that crossed the plate on Eric Hosmer's three-run shot off Dan Jennings after Boxberger had exited. It marked the second consecutive outing in which Boxberger has surrendered two earned runs. The pair of stumbles have caused the 29-year-old's ERA to balloon from 2.84 to 4.50, but his 23 strikeouts over 20 innings are helping to keep him as a viable fantasy asset.
Aug 25 2017Boxberger notched his fourth hold in Thursday's 2-0 win over the Blue Jays, allowing a hit over 1.2 scoreless innings.Boxberger bounced back from having allowed a solo home run in his most recent outing against the Mariners last Friday. That run represents the only one surrendered by Boxberger over his last eight appearances, and he now sports a 1.04 ERA and 10:1 K:BB over 8.2 innings across seven August outings.
Aug 14 2017Boxberger struck out all four batters he faced in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Indians.Boxberger impressively disposed of Yan Gomes, Bradley Zimmer, Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor on 16 pitches, 13 of which he threw for strikes. The dominant outing was an extension of a strong stretch for the right-hander, one that's seen him post five consecutive scoreless appearances while compiling a 9:0 K:BB and lowering his ERA to 2.87.
Aug 4 2017Boxberger (3-3) fired two scoreless innings in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Astros, recording three strikeouts.Boxberger breezed through his pair of frames in just 22 pitches, 15 of which he threw for strikes. The veteran reliever hit a brief rough patch in late July during which he gave up four earned runs over two outings, but he's subsequently turned in scoreless efforts in four of the next five outings. Boxberger continues to rack up the strikeouts as well, as he's now notched multiple whiffs in five appearances and sports a 15:7 K:BB over 12.1 innings.
Jul 27 2017Boxberger fired a scoreless ninth inning in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the Orioles, allowing a hit and recording two strikeouts.Boxberger fired 11 of his 14 pitches for strikes while erasing the bad taste of his two most recent appearances, outings in which he'd given up a combined four earned runs over two innings. The 29-year-old right-hander is likely to continue seeing plenty of eighth-inning work in games where the Rays have a lead, allowing him to serve as a bridge to closer Alex Colome. However, given that he compiled plenty of ninth-inning experience in his own right prior to this season, Boxberger could also see the occasional save opportunity in games where Colome isn't available.
Jul 24 2017Boxberger (2-2) allowed three earned runs on two home runs in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Rangers. He also issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts.Boxberger has gone backwards over his last two appearances after a strong start, and Sunday's result was particularly crushing. Asked to preserve a 5-3 lead in the eighth, the right-handed reliever allowed a game-tying two-run shot to Rougned Odor and a go-ahead solo blast to the very next batter, Carlos Gomez. The outing resulted in Boxberger's first blown save opportunity of the season and also served to raise his ERA from 1.42 to 4.91. Despite the recent pair of stumbles, Boxberger's performance over his first six appearances (six scoreless innings) and his past body of work provide plenty of reason for optimism moving forward.
Jul 22 2017Boxberger (2-1) gave up an earned run on one hit and two walks over an inning in Friday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Rangers.The veteran reliever was asked to preserve a 3-3 tie after closer Alex Colome worked the ninth, but surrendered a go-ahead infield single to Elvis Andrus that marked the first run he'd given up this season. Boxberger had otherwise been excellent through his first six outings of the season, so Friday's hiccup notwithstanding, he remains one of the more trusted late-inning options for manager Kevin Cash.
Jul 15 2017Boxberger (2-0) fired a scoreless ninth inning in Friday's 2-1 extra-inning victory over the Angels.Boxberger looked sharp once again in what was his fifth straight scoreless effort since making his season debut on June 30. The 29-year-old right-hander showed excellent control over his one frame, firing eight of his 12 pitches for strikes. Manager Kevin Cash appears to have thorough confidence that his former closer is at full health, as he deployed him in a considerably high-leverage scenario Friday.
Jul 10 2017Boxberger (1-0) fired a scoreless eighth inning in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Red Sox, issuing two walks and recording a strikeout.Boxberger wasn't as sharp as he'd been in his first three outings, but was able to wiggle out of trouble after issuing a pair of free passes by mowing down Christian Vazquez. The 29-year-old then nabbed his first victory of the season courtesy of Brad Miller's two-run home run in the home half of the frame, and he's now rung up seven strikeouts over his first four innings of 2017. Boxberger was notably deployed as a set-up option Sunday, his first instance of eighth-inning work over his first four appearances. Given his solid efforts thus far -- as well as his extensive experience in high-leverage scenarios -- this could well be the role that Boxberger opens the second half of the season in.
Jul 7 2017Boxberger logged his second hold in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Red Sox, recording two strikeouts.Making his second appearance in the last three days, Boxberger was dominant once again, firing nine of his 13 pitches for strikes and ringing up multiple strikeouts for the second time in his trio of his 2017 outings. The former closer has yet to allow a hit over his three innings, and manager Kevin Cash hasn't hesitated to afford him a normal workload now that Boxberger is finally healthy.
Jul 5 2017Boxberger notched his first hold of the season in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Cubs, firing a scoreless inning while allowing a walk and recording a strikeout.So far, so good for the 29-year-old former closer, who finally made his 2017 debut last Friday against the Orioles. Boxberger also fired a scoreless inning in that contest, striking out the side on 13 pitches. He disposed of the potent trio of Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist and Ian Happ after giving up a leadoff walk to Kris Bryant on Tuesday, so he's certainly proving himself against a quality hitters thus far. If the veteran right-hander can continue turning in efforts of similar caliber, the Rays will potentially have one of the stronger late-inning 1-2 punches in baseball in the form of Boxberger and closer Alex Colome.
Jul 1 2017Boxberger excelled in his 2017 debut, striking out the side in his only inning of work in Friday's 6-4 extra-inning win over the Orioles.The veteran reliever couldn't have dialed up a better performance for his first appearance of 2017, firing 10 of his 13 pitches for strikes while mowing down Ruben Tejeda, Joey Rickard and Seth Smith. If Boxberger can provide something close to this caliber of effort on a regular basis, it will naturally go a long way toward stabilizing what has at times been a shaky seventh-and-eighth-inning bullpen situation for the Rays. Furthermore, it certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility for the former closer to see some save chances on days when Alex Colome is unavailable.
Jun 29 2017Boxberger (back) was activated from the 10-day disabled list Thursday.As expected, Boxberger will be back with the Rays for Thursday's series finale against the Pirates. The team designated Danny Farquhar for assignment following Wednesday's game in order to clear room on the roster for the reliever. Seeing as Boxberger has only pitched in 24.1 innings since the start of 2016, he'll likely be eased back into regular action before eventually working back into the setup mix ahead of closer Alex Colome.
Jun 29 2017Boxberger (back) will be activated from the DL prior to Thursday's game.The Rays have already made room for Boxberger, designating Danny Farquhar for assignment following Wednesday's game. Boxberger gave up six runs on eight hits and seven walks in eight minor-league rehab appearances, but he also fanned 13 in 7.2 innings. The former closer may be eased back into regular action, but Boxberger figures to eventually work into the setup mix in front of Alex Colome.
Jun 28 2017Boxberger (back) could be activated from the disabled list as early as Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger came through his last rehab appearance with no issues, and as long as there is no lingering soreness come Thursday, it sounds like the 29-year-old could rejoin the Rays' bullpen for their series finale with the Pirates.
Jun 27 2017Boxberger (back) gave up an earned run on a hit and a walk over an inning in High-A Charlotte's 8-4 loss to Tampa on Tuesday. He also recorded two strikeouts.Boxberger fired 20 pitches overall, 13 of which he threw for strikes, in what is supposed to be his final rehab outing before being activated by the Rays. The former closer had been sent back down to the Stone Crabs for Tuesday's appearance in order to get him one final tune-up, following an appearance for Triple-A Durham last Wednesday that led to some residual soreness.
Jun 25 2017Boxberger (back) was able to throw a pain-free bullpen session Sunday morning but is being sent back to High-A Charlotte for one more rehab outing, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.That appearance is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, after which the Rays will presumably activate Boxberger. Residual soreness after a Wednesday appearance with Triple-A Durham put a wrench into the plans to activate the veteran reliever at some point during the just-concluded weekend series versus the Orioles. However, with Sunday's bullpen going well, it appears that Boxberger just needs to come out of Tuesday's outing setback-free to make his long-awaited 2017 big-league debut.
Jun 24 2017Boxberger (back) is expected to return from the disabled Tuesday in Pittsburgh, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He reportedly felt some soreness in his oblique following Wednesday's outing and will throw a side session Sunday to ensure it's okay.Boxberger believes the soreness isn't anything to worry about, so unless something pops up following Sunday's side session, it seems he will be ready to rejoin the bullpen Tuesday. He will likely be eased back into duties in the bullpen initially, but could figure into the late-inning mix for the Rays if he rounds into form.
Jun 23 2017Boxberger (back) will be activated by the Rays sometime this weekend, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger was expected to be back with the club Friday, but will likely come back from the 60-day disabled list Saturday. He has made six relief appearances in the minors over the course of this month, and seems to be at or near 100 percent physically after dealing with a strained lat muscle since the beginning of this season.
Jun 23 2017Boxberger (back) is expected to rejoin the Rays on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The right-hander scuffled a bit in his Wednesday rehab appearance for Triple-A Durham (one run on four walks in two-thirds of an innings). Boxberger is not in a position to steal saves away from the reliable Alex Colome but may eventually climb back into an important setup role. The Rays probably will install him into low-leverage spots initially, though.
Jun 22 2017Boxberger (back), who is expected to be activated Friday from the disabled list, gave up an earned run on four walks in two-thirds of an inning in Triple-A Durham's win over Norfolk on Wednesday.Boxberger uncharacteristically had trouble finding the plate after having issued only a pair of free passes in the six innings he'd pitched during his rehab prior to Wednesday's outing. The 29-year-old threw a total of 31 pitches while working less than a full inning for the first time in his minor-league appearances, but he remains on track for his planned Friday activation.
Jun 18 2017Boxberger (back) fired a scoreless inning for Triple-A Durham on Sunday versus Toledo, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two.The 22-year-old worked up to 22 pitches, equaling the most he's thrown in any rehab appearance this season. Boxberger has turned in a trio of scoreless efforts for the Bulls, with Sunday's outing particularly noteworthy since it was the first time he'd pitched consecutive days in his rehab. As per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Boxberger is slated to pitch again Wednesday and could rejoin the team on Friday.
Jun 15 2017Boxberger (back) is likely to pitch for Triple-A Durham again Saturday after emerging from Wednesday's outing without setbacks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger was impressive while mowing down the side on 15 pitches, and he consistently hit 92-94 mph on the radar gun. The veteran reliever appears to be on target for a return before the end of June.
Jun 14 2017Boxberger (back) struck out the side in the seventh in his rehab appearance for Triple-A Durham against Columbus on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The outing marked the second time that Boxberger has struck out the side in his minor-league rehab appearances, although the first occasion came against a lower level of competition while pitching for High-A Charlotte. The 29-year-old right-hander needed only 15 pitches to get through his one frame and will likely take the mound again by the weekend.
Jun 13 2017Boxberger (back) is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger gave up four earned runs on five hits and a walk across three innings in three appearances for High-A Charlotte and now makes the move up to the Triple-A level. The 29-year-old appears close to making his 2017 debut with the big-league club, but will likely see multiple outings with the Bulls before a final decision on his return date is reached.
Jun 6 2017Boxberger (back) will make his second rehab appearance with High-A Charlotte on Thursday, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger noted that his arm felt fine Tuesday after he tossed one inning for Charlotte a night earlier in what his first appearance in affiliated ball this season. In light of Boxberger's extended layoff along with the fact that he missed nearly half of last season due to injury, he may need the entire 20-day rehab window to build up his arm before being activated from the disabled list.
Jun 5 2017Boxberger (back) emerged from an impressive one-inning outing for High-A Charlotte declaring that his arm felt "great", Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The veteran reliever struck out the side on 14 pitches, 11 of which he threw for strikes. It was Boxberger's long-awaited first rehab outing, and he'll report to the trainers Tuesday for confirmation on his next step. The plan remains for Boxberger to see action in multiple games in the minors before his 2017 big-league debut.
Jun 2 2017Boxberger (back) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Charlotte on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger is scheduled for roughly six rehab outings over the next three weeks as he recovers from a right flexor strain, so it will take some time before the right-hander is able to return to the Rays' bullpen. It's already been a strenuous journey back for the reliever, who has yet to pitch this season after posting a 4.81 ERA over 27 games in an injury-marred 2016 campaign.
May 29 2017Boxberger (back) threw a 20-pitch batting practice session Monday and is likely to throw another Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The veteran reliever got through his session without a hitch and if he's able to enjoy a successful encore Thursday, he could start a rehab assignment at some point next week. That pace would keep Boxberger on track for his stated goal of making his 2017 big-league debut by mid-June.
May 25 2017Boxberger (back) is scheduled to throw batting practice sessions next Monday and Thursday at High-A Charlotte, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger's bullpens have gone well, allowing him to take the next step in his rehab. If the pair of batting practice sessions also go off without a hitch, the veteran reliever would presumably be slated for some rehab appearances as the final step before his 2017 debut with the big-league club.
May 21 2017Boxberger (back) threw his second bullpen session Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger is slated to throw at least one more bullpen before advancing to batting practice sessions. The veteran reliever continues to target a mid-June return to action.
May 16 2017Boxberger (back) threw 15 fastballs in his first bullpen session Tuesday and emerged setback-free, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.It was a modest but important step for the right-hander, as it marked his first time throwing off a mound since suffering his injury in spring training. Boxberger will presumably take at least a day off before attempting another session, with the likelihood that he'll push his pitch count and intensity up a notch or two.
May 12 2017Boxberger (back) is aiming to throw off a mound Tuesday for the first time since straining a flexor muscle in spring training, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The right-hander is hoping to return sometime in mid-June, so this is an productive step in the right direction. Expect Boxberger to face live hitters as the next step in his recovery program before moving on to pitch in a couple minor league rehab games.
May 6 2017Boxberger (back) played catch Saturday at Tropicana Field, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger is rehabbing from a right flexor strain in his back and projected to return sometime in June, but appears to be on the right track. He figures to compete for a setup role upon his return to action.
Apr 14 2017The Rays moved Boxberger (back) to the 60-day disabled list Friday.The right-hander needs more time to work through his rehab program. Boxberger will be an option to return to the club in June and make a case to regain his former role as the top setup man.
Apr 13 2017Boxberger (back) is working out daily at Tropicana Field as part of his ongoing rehabilitation, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The veteran reliever resumed a throwing program on April 5, but he isn't expected back before the end of the month. When active, Boxberger is likely to slot in as an eighth-inning option for manager Kevin Cash that can also close out games on days when Alex Colome is unavailable.
Apr 6 2017Boxberger is dealing with a strain in his right flexor muscle and remains without a timetable for his return, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Contrary to what was reported earlier, Boxberger is actually being held back because of a right flexor strain and not the lat strain that had bothered him earlier in camp. He resumed a throwing program Wednesday, though he remains without a firm timetable for return. Given that the 28-year-old will need time to build up his arm, it seems likely he'll be out until sometime in May.
Apr 5 2017Boxberger (back) has been cleared to throw and is working toward starting a throwing program, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The veteran reliever in on the disabled list to start a season for the second consecutive year, and he's yet to take the mound in any type of official game action in 2017 after missing all of spring training. The latest news is naturally another step in the right direction for Boxberger, who figures to be relieved on heavily as a set-up man to closer Alex Colome in 2017.
Apr 2 2017Boxberger (back) is listed on the Rays' 10-day disabled list.Boxberger is still trying to get over a strained lat muscle and was unable to get on the mound during Grapefruit League play, so the Rays will stash him on the DL until he's deemed ready to go. Once healthy, Boxberger could settle in as the top setup man to closer Jesus Colome, but in the meantime, look for Xavier Cedeno, Erasmo Ramirez and Danny Farquhar to help provide a bridge to the ninth inning.
Mar 23 2017Boxberger (back) is scheduled to take a week off throwing before building back up, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.It was announced Monday that Boxberger would unlikely be ready prior to Opening Day, as he continues do deal with a strained lat muscle that has plagued him since early-March. The penciled-in set-up man won't be ready for the opener, but still aims to return to the Rays at some point in April. Until then, the Rays will have to mix and match with the likes of Xavier Cedeno, Erasmo Ramirez and Danny Farquhar in the seventh and eighth innings.
Mar 20 2017Manager Kevin Cash said Monday that it's unlikely Boxberger (back) will be ready to pitch by Opening Day, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "I just don't see how [Boxberger being ready for Opening Day] is going to happen. I'm not saying it won't, but it's very tough for me -- where are we at, the 20th?" Cash said. "Realistically, key piece in our bullpen, we're going to do right by him and want him to get his innings and reps. It's going to be very difficult to do that.''Boxberger's strained lat muscle hasn't responded to treatment as well as the Rays had hoped, and after the team scratched him from his scheduled Grapefruit League appearance Tuesday, it's become increasingly clear that the reliever may be forced to hit the DL. The Rays were counting on Boxberger to solidify himself as the top setup man to closer Alex Colome this spring, but it now appears that Cash will be forced to experiment with multiple different options in the seventh and eighth inning to begin the campaign.
Mar 19 2017Boxberger (lat/back) pitched a strong and setback-free batting practice session Saturday, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger was reportedly a bit off on his first 10 or so pitches but then finished the session strong and emerged healthy. He's still shooting to pitch in a minor league game Tuesday, but manager Kevin Cash maintains that the team will not push Boxberger to be ready for Opening Day, particularly after the Rays had to endure long stretches without him last season.
Mar 17 2017Boxberger (lat/back) will throw a live batting practice on Saturday and could pitch in a minor league game as soon as Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin reports.He threw a bullpen session earlier this week, and this latest news indicates that everything is going quite well in his recovery. Boxberger is firmly behind Alex Colome in the Rays' bullpen, but he could be next in line for saves if Colome gets hurt or traded.
Mar 14 2017Boxberger (back) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.After his bullpen session Monday went well, Boxberger will toss another as he aims to progress to his first appearance of the spring. The Rays don't have a firm target date for his Grapefruit League debut, but the right-handed reliever indicated that he will "definitely" be ready for Opening Day.
Mar 13 2017Boxberger (oblique) is slated to ramp up his activity this week, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The 28-year-old, who'd suffered a setback with his lat muscle during a workout last week, will try test himself with an uptick in his activity in the coming days. Boxberger has yet to make his spring debut, as his current injury occurred in the midst of the former closer's preparation for his first taste of game action, which likely would have transpired last week absent the hiccup.
Mar 13 2017Boxberger (back) doesn't seem to have any concern about his availability for Opening Day, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "I'll definitely be ready April 2," Boxberger said.The right-hander is feeling better after tweaked a late muscle in a workout last week, and is set to toss a bullpen session Monday to test things out. He'll likely need to complete multiple sessions and face hitters in batting practice or a simulated game before he's cleared to make his Grapefruit League debut, perhaps at some point next week.
Mar 8 2017Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Boxberger (oblique) suffered a setback in his recovery and won't make his Grapefruit League debut for another week or so, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.More specifically, Boxberger tweaked his lat muscle in a recent workout, but the Rays don't fear that it's anything that will dramatically delay him during spring training. The team has been taking it easy with Boxberger this spring after abdominal and oblique issues limited him to just 27 appearances with the big club in 2016. The 28-year-old has shown the ability to induce plenty of strikeouts in the past, but until he overcomes the health woes that have plagued him for the last year, he won't attract much interest outside of AL-only leagues.
Mar 8 2017Boxberger, who's yet to make his spring debut, is inching closer to game action, the Tampa Bay Times reports. "Box is doing fine, we're just kind of holding him out, we want to make sure with the injuries that he had last year (core muscle repair, oblique) we want to make sure he's ready to go, and then when he is, get him a pretty healthy workload leading up to opening day," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.The 28-year-old reliever is being handled with extra caution this spring after an injury-marred 2016 that saw him sidelined for an extended period with an abdominal injury suffered in spring training. Boxberger also was felled by an oblique injury after just one appearance upon his return, so the team is intent on making sure he's ready to pitch without restrictions before throwing him into live action. The former closer will play on a one-year, $1.6 million contract this season and presumably be primarily deployed as an eighth-inning option after losing the ninth-inning role to Alex Colome last season.
Feb 22 2017Boxberger caught the eye of manager Kevin Cash in Tuesday's batting practice session, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports. "You saw the depth on his changeup, which was great to see. The ball's coming out of his hand really well."The former closer would already be ahead of the game if he escapes spring training with his health intact, considering an abdominal injury during last year's exhibition slate set the stage for a season that would see him pitch just 24.1 innings and lose his ninth-inning role to Alex Colome. Boxberger could reinvent himself as a dominant setup option this season, and will look to significantly improve on the career-high 4.81 ERA and 1.73 WHIP he generated in 2016.
Jan 13 2017Boxberger agreed to a one-year, $1.6 million deal with the Rays on Friday, avoiding arbitration, FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reports.Poor health limited Boxberger to just 24.1 innings last year and he lost the closer job to Alex Colome, so it was a year to forget, and as a result he was treated to a relatively small figure in negotiations. He will enter the year as the Rays' setup man, but could start saving games again if Tampa Bay decides to flip Colome for prospects this summer.
Sep 16 2016Boxberger (4-1) bounced back from giving up a game-winning homer against the Blue Jays on Monday by pitching a clean two-thirds of an inning against the Orioles in Thursday's victory.The former closer redeemed himself at a relatively early but critical juncture in Thursday's contest, as he was called on in relief of Blake Snell with two men on and only one out in the fifth. Boxberger got a huge out when he induced Mark Trumbo into a foul pop, and followed that up by eliciting an inning-ending RBI groundout back to the mound from Chris Davis. The effort helped preserve what was a 7-4 Rays lead at the time. Boxberger has given up an earned run apiece in two outings against Toronto in September, but has otherwise pitched scoreless ball in five other trips to the mound during the month. The 28-year-old is 2-1 with a hold and a blown save over that span, and brought his ERA back down to 2.89 with Thursday's performance.
Sep 13 2016Boxberger, who entered in the eighth inning with the scored tied, took the loss Monday in Toronto after allowing two hits, including a solo homer.Boxberger, who has spent most of the season on the DL, suffered his first loss of the campaign with Monday's slip-up. Through 19 games this year, the right-hander owns a 3.00 ERA -- the second-worst mark of his career -- and a career-worst 1.61 WHIP over 18 innings. After notching 41 saves a year ago, Boxberger's injury-plagued 2016 has kept him from finding a groove, limiting his fantasy value in most formats.
Aug 25 2016Boxberger (2-0) pitched a scoreless 11th inning in Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Red Sox, walking one and striking out the side.The former closer continues to thrive in his new role, although due to the extra innings Wednesday he was actually the last pitcher to take the mound for the Rays. Boxberger impressively mowed down David Ortiz, Jackie Bradley, Jr. and Sandy Leon in the 11th after closer Alex Colome had pitched the previous 1.2 innings, marking Boxberger's 10th consecutive scoreless effort. He now has nine whiffs in nine August frames and has allowed just a pair of earned runs in 11 appearances in his injury-shortened 2016 campaign.
Aug 22 2016Boxberger garnered his third hold of the season in Sunday's 8-4 victory over the Rangers, firing 1.1 innings of scoreless, one-hit ball. He also recorded a strikeout.The former closer continues to thrive in his new set-up role, firing 18 of his 29 pitches for strikes Sunday and posting his eighth straight scoreless appearance. Boxberger has tallied eight scoreless innings since his latest DL stint and appears to finally be hitting a stride in his first stretch of extended action in 2016. While he doesn't appear to have any chance of reclaiming his former closer's role from Alex Colome during the last several weeks of the season, the 28-year-old may have an opportunity to start with a clean slate and bill of health heading into 2017.
Aug 5 2016Boxberger pitched a scoreless eighth inning to pick up the win in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Royals, giving up two hits and a walk. He also struck out two.For the third straight appearance since coming off his latest DL stint, Boxberger pitched a scoreless inning in which he gave up two hits. He needed 22 pitches to work through the eighth Thursday but managed to get out of trouble by whiffing Salvador Perez and Alex Gordon after giving up back-to-back singles to Alcides Escobar and Cheslor Cuthbert. Manager Kevin Cash's deployment of Boxberger as the set-up man for Alex Colome is further confirmation that the former has been supplanted as the closer for the foreseeable future.
Aug 5 2016Boxberger (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth inning in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Royals, giving up two hits and a walk. He also struck out two.For the third straight appearance since coming off his latest DL stint, Boxberger pitched a scoreless inning in which he gave up two hits. He needed 22 pitches to work through the eighth Thursday, but managed to get out of trouble by whiffing Salvador Perez and Alex Gordon after giving up back-to-back singles to Alcides Escobar and Cheslor Cuthbert to open the inning. Manager Kevin Cash's deployment of Boxberger as the set-up man for Alex Colome is further confirmation that the former has been supplanted as the closer for the foreseeable future.
Jul 29 2016Boxberger (oblique) was activated from the 15-day disabled list Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The right-handed reliever has battled oblique issues for most of the season, but his recent rehab assignment gives optimism that those problems are behind him now. He made it through four separate appearances and even ramped up to 18 pitches on Tuesday. Provided he can stay healthy, he'll be a much-needed stopper in the back end of what has been a bottom tier bullpen this season. That said, Alex Colome will remain as the Rays' closer in all likelihood.
Jul 27 2016Boxberger (oblique) pitched a scoreless inning for High-A Charlotte on Tuesday, allowing two hits and a walk.The rehabbing reliever fired 18 pitches, half of which went for strikes. Boxberger has now allowed two earned runs on five hits and a walk over four innings in four appearances for the Stone Crabs. He's scheduled for another short appearance Wednesday and absent any setbacks, will rejoin the big league club this weekend.
Jul 24 2016Boxberger (oblique) isn't expected to return from the disabled list until the end of next week at the earliest, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger has already made three rehab appearances with High-A Charlotte during his current DL stint, but the Rays want him to put together an extended stretch of quality outings in the minors before bringing him back to the big-league bullpen. Even though he saved 41 games for the Rays a season ago, Boxberger has missed too much time in 2016 to pose a serious threat to Alex Colome's standing as the club's top closer.
Jul 19 2016Boxberger (oblique) will pitch again Thursday after throwing in his first rehab game Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger went down at the beginning of June and was expected to miss 4-to-8 weeks with the injury. He seems to be progressing well, even though he has taken awhile to get back, but should be set to return very soon for Tampa Bay. He could see another rehab appearance after Thursday, but has faced hitters in batting practice and thrown successful bullpens in the last few weeks.
Jul 17 2016Boxberger (oblique) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Monday at High-A Charlotte, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger looks to trending toward the latter end of the four-to-eight week recovery timetable he was handed down back in early June, but his recent activity has been encouraging. He was able to throw face hitters in batting practice prior to the All-Star break, and after enduring no further setbacks with his oblique, he'll be cleared to test himself out in game action. Given that Boxberger has made all of one appearance this season along with the fact that Alex Colome has been solid in a ninth-inning role, it doesn't seem likely that Boxberger will reclaim the closer gig for the Rays upon his eventual activation.
Jul 7 2016Boxberger (oblique) threw batting practice to fellow rehabber Kevin Kiermaier (wrist) on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.It was another step in the right direction for Boxberger, who's been progressively moving through the rehab process over the last several weeks. The 28-year-old closer was originally given a recovery timetable of 4-to-8 weeks, with the early end of that window having just recently passed. Boxberger remains without a more concrete return time frame, but he's at least emerged from each successive step in his recovery without setbacks.
Jul 1 2016Boxberger (oblique) had a successful 15-pitch bullpen session Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The 28-year-old closer suffered no setbacks in the brief session, which came on the heels of him playing catch on Monday for the first time since his latest injury. Already on his second DL stint in 2016, the veteran pitcher was cautiously optimistic following the latest development. "Everything was feeling well," Boxberger said. "I'll progress from there."
Jun 28 2016Boxberger (oblique) is tentatively scheduled to throw off a mound Thursday, the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger played catch Monday for the first time since May 31, the date of his last appearance in a game. His recovery timetable was initially estimated at four-to-eight weeks, and while it's now clear he won't hit the low end of that range, it's still possible he could fall in the middle. The Rays likely hope to have him back either shortly before or after the All-Star break.
Jun 20 2016Boxberger (oblique) is scheduled to play catch Monday, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.It will mark Boxberger's first activity since May 31, when he aggravated his oblique injury and landed back on the disabled list. Boxberger's four-to-eight week recovery timetable means he probably won't be back until around the All-Star break, however, but the fact that he's throwing again suggests he's making sound progress.
Jun 1 2016Boxberger was placed on the 15-day DL on Wednesday with a left oblique injury.This is unfortunate but expected news for Boxberger as the the reliever aggravated his abdomen in his first appearance of the season Tuesday. He was on the shelf for the first two months of the season as he recovered from offseason surgery to repair a core muscle injury, and he is again having trouble with his midsection. With Boxberger back on the DL, Alex Colome figures to see most of the save opportunities for the foreseeable future.
Jun 1 2016Boxberger could miss at least a month if his injury is indeed to his left oblique, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger re-aggravated his surgically repaired abdomen Tuesday and was placed on the 15-day DL Wednesday. It's not yet known what the doctor's diagnosis is for his midsection but the Rays are saying that if it's an oblique strain, like they think, he will be out for at least a month.
Jun 1 2016Boxberger has been diagnosed with a strained left oblique and will be out 4-to-8 weeks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.After re-aggravating his surgically repaired abdomen on Tuesday, Boxberger was subsequently placed on the disabled list Wednesday. Following a session with team doctors it was determined he strained his left oblique. He has been given a rather vague time frame of 4-to-8 weeks before returning, but the team should have a much better sense of his recovery after the first week or so.
May 31 2016Boxberger (abdomen) will progressively be worked back into the closer role according to manager Kevin Cash, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "I think it's fair to say we would probably work Boxy back into the closer's role than stick him right into it," Cash said.Cash goes on to explain that in a "perfect world" the Rays would like to find a "soft landing spot" for Boxberger to get back into major league action. That opportunity almost presented itself Monday night in the eighth inning, but was short-circuited by the Rays tying the score in the top half of the frame. The 28-year-old will continue to go through pregame conditioning and maintenance work for the time being, and is open to however the team wants to deploy him as he's eased back into action. "I don't have any expectations right now," he said. "I'm just expecting myself to go out there every day and take the ball in whatever situation it is. If that's the ninth, great. And if not, we'll go from there, and just take every day as a new day and be able to help my team in any situation I can."
May 31 2016The Rays will wait until they have further evaluated Boxberger (abdomen) on Wednesday before announcing anything definitive, but he is likely headed to the DL, the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin reports.The initial diagnosis was a left side muscle strain, essentially re-injuring the core muscle he had surgery on in March. It sounds like a brief DL stint would be the best-case scenario here, and a lengthy stay on the DL has not been ruled out. Alex Colome, who has been dominant this season to the tune of a 1.23 ERA and 29:4 K:BB in 22 innings, figures to be the closer going forward.
May 30 2016Boxberger (abdomen) was activated from the 15-day DL Monday.Boxberger appears open to whatever role manager Kevin Cash plans to use him in, so it's unclear whether or not he will pick up right where he left off with the closer's job. Alex Colome has done an admirable job in Boxberger's stead, as he now has 11 straight scoreless appearances to his name. Boxberger did collect an impressive 41 saves in 2015, however, so both men seem to have rightful claim to the job. It will be an intriguing battle to monitor over the coming weeks.
May 29 2016Boxberger (abdomen) will be activated from the disabled list Monday, freelance Rays writer Roger Mooney reports.Boxberger made his final rehab appearance Friday at Triple-A Durham and came out of it feeling fine, so the 28-year-old will now be cleared to rejoin the Rays' active roster for the first time this season. While he saved 41 games for the Rays in 2015, Boxberger doesn't have much tenure as the team's closer, so it's not a given that he'll regain that role immediately upon returning. Alex Colome has been magnificent as the Rays' ninth-inning man this season, logging a 1.23 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 22 innings.
May 28 2016Boxberger (abdomen) could be activated from the disabled list Monday, Rays beat writer Roger Mooney reports.Boxberger potential return Monday hinges on how he's feeling after his minor league appearance Friday according to Mooney. If there is no lingering soreness, Boxberger will likely be activated Monday when the Rays head out to Kansas City to begin a 10-game road swing.
May 27 2016Boxberger (abdomen) surrendered one hit in an otherwise clean inning in Double-A Montgomery's 5-4 victory over the Jackson Generals on Wednesday night. He also struck out a batter.The hard-throwing closer was actually credited with the hold as well, coming in to the game in the eighth inning and successfully preserving a 3-2 lead. While the outing was certainly another step in the right direction, it remains to be seen if it will be sufficient to warrant Boxberger's return to the major league club without an additional rehab appearance.
May 25 2016Boxberger (abdomen) is expected to make his fifth rehab appearance with Double-A Montgomery on Wednesday night, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The 27-year-old reliever will take his act to a new setting, and could be in line for at least one more appearance over the weekend with the Biscuits. Boxberger has generated mixed results to date in his four prior trips to the mound with High-A Charlotte and Triple-A Durham, giving up two runs over 3.2 innings, but also striking out six. If the Rays are satisfied with Wednesday's performance, there's a chance that it could be the final rehab outing for the closer before rejoining the big league club.
May 23 2016Boxberger needed just nine pitches to complete his one inning on the mound Sunday for High-A Charlotte, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.What made the outing particularly noteworthy was that it was Boxberger's first attempt during the rehab process of pitching in back-to-back nights. He needed only nine pitches to get through the outing, and struck out two batters in the process. It was also a nice rebound effort for the Rays closer, who'd surrendered two hits and a pair of earned runs in a Saturday night appearance against the same Rochester Red Wings squad he mowed down Sunday.
May 19 2016Boxberger surrendered a hit and a walk over an inning in High-A Charlotte's 4-3 loss to Daytona on Wednesday. He also notched a strikeout.The rehabbing reliever threw 21 pitches overall to five hitters, with 11 of those offerings hitting the strike zone. It was Boxberger's third appearance with the Stone Crabs, and he's likely to pitch again at some point over the weekend, absent any setbacks from Wednesday's outing.
May 18 2016Boxberger (abdomen) will make his second rehab appearance Wednesday for High-A Charlotte, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The 27-year-old closer was able to complete an inning Sunday in his initial appearance, and topped out at 92mph on his fastball. He continues to target a late May return to the big league club, with Wednesday's outing serving as another step in that direction.
May 14 2016Boxberger (abdomen) will need 4-to-5 outings on his rehab assignment before being activated from the 15-day disabled list, Rays beat writer Roger Mooney reports.An abdominal injury that required surgery has kept Boxberger on the shelf since spring training, but he's been upping his activity of late and he's set to begin his rehab assignment Sunday at High-A Port Charlotte. He told reporters that he'll need at least four outings on that stint before coming off the DL, so a return early next week could be on the horizon.
May 13 2016Boxberger (abdomen) felt good after throwing Thursday, and his next step is likely a rehab assignment, Steve Carney of 620 WDAE Tampa reports.Boxberger has made steady progress in his recovery from the abdominal injury he suffered during spring training, and he is on the verge of pitching in a game scenario again. It's not clear how many rehab outings Boxberger will need before he rejoins the Rays, but whenever he does, he is expected to step right into the closer's role currently held by Alex Colome.
May 13 2016Boxberger (abdomen) will begin a rehab assignment Sunday at High-A Port Charlotte, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune reports.The Rays did not immediately provide a fixed number of appearances for Boxberger, but he may only need a handful of innings before he's cleared to rejoin the Tampa Bay bullpen as the team's closer.
May 12 2016Boxberger (abdomen) allowed two hits and a walk while retiring just two batters on 22 pitches in Thursday's appearance at extended spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Although the results were unimpressive, Boxberger took a big step forward by pitching in a game for the first time since undergoing core muscle repair surgery in mid-March. He did strike out two batters, and he's still expected to replace Alex Colome as the closer once he rejoins the Rays. Boxberger should be available in late May or early June.
May 10 2016Rays manager Kevin Cash said Boxberger (abdomen) will serve as the team's closer when he returns from the disabled list, the Tampa Bay Times reports.Despite converting each of his nine save opportunities so far, Alex Colome will move to a setup role once Boxberger returns, which should happen some time between mid-May and early June. Boxberger led the American League with 41 saves last season.
May 10 2016Boxberger (abdomen) will throw an inning in an extended spring training game Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The Rays checked up on Boxberger's health Tuesday, a day after he threw another live batting practice session, and it seems all test on his abdominal area were normal. If he makes it through a couple extended spring appearances unscathed, Boxberger should be cleared for a minor league rehab assignment. Manager Kevin Cash has already said that Boxberger will return to the closer role upon activation.
May 10 2016Boxberger (abdomen), whose closer job has already been guaranteed by manager Kevin Cash when he's ready to return, threw another batting practice session Monday, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports.The session unfolded in the Rays' spring training home of Port Charlotte, and depending on how Boxberger feels Tuesday, could lead to an extended spring camp game appearance. Boxberger would then potentially move on to his official rehab assignment, and eventually return to his late-inning closer role that has been capably held down by Alex Colome to date this season.
Apr 27 2016Boxberger (abdomen) threw a 25-pitch bullpen Wednesday, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune reports.According to Mooney, the Rays plan on having Boxberger throw one more bullpen session before moving up to throwing live batting practice. Boxberger's session reportedly went off without a hitch Wednesday, and he is still targeting a return sometime in mid-May.
Apr 21 2016Boxberger (abdomen) is slated to advance to throwing from halfway up the mound this coming weekend, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The Rays closer has been progressing through his rehab without any hiccups so far, and thus will progress towards the next step as scheduled. The progress keeps Boxberger on target for a mid-May return. Alex Colome has served as the de facto closer in Boxberger's stead, recording the only two saves (in two opportunities) that Tampa has to its credit in 2016.
Apr 5 2016Boxberger (abdomen) remains on target for a mid-May return, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports.The Rays closer played catch for the second time in his rehab on Sunday, and is satisfied with his progress to date. "Feeling stronger and stronger every day," he said. "Feeling better each day, so the progression is going well. So we're on target for where we ought to be right now." The 27-year-old may go through a rehab assignment before returning, but that won't be determined until he's closer to getting back on the field.
Apr 2 2016Boxberger (abdomen) has been placed on the 15-day DL.Boxberger remains on a timeline to return sometime around mid-May, at which point he's expected to reclaim the closing role he held in 2015. In the interim, Rays manager Kevin Cash has intimated that the team will employ a closer-by-committee approach with Alex Colome likely being the top option.
Mar 25 2016Boxberger has begun light tossing as part of his rehabilitation from abdominal surgery, Greg Zeck of MLB.com reports.The Rays closer, still on an eight-week timetable for a return to the field, said he recently started doing light tossing and will be focused on strengthening his core muscles throughout the process. "Just to be back here, to be back with the team, is a great feeling and [getting] back in the swing of things," Boxberger said. "From what the doctors said, it's based on how I feel with how it progresses. The better I feel, the faster it goes." The 27-year old tallied 41 saves for Tampa last season, and is expected to resume his closer's role upon his anticipated mid-May return. Rays manager Kevin Cash has indicated that a closer-by-committee approach will most likely be utlized in the interim, with hard-throwing Alex Colome likely to be the preferred option on many nights.
Mar 18 2016Boxberger will be out at least eight weeks after he underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn abdominal abductor muscle, Roger Mooney of The Tampa Tribune reports.While manager Kevin Cash believes the Rays will likely have more of a firm timetable for the injury in the coming weeks, this diagnosis comes as bit of a surprise considering the team initially considered it just a tight hamstring. Barring any sort of trade, the Rays are expected to use a closer by committee approach until Boxberger returns healthy, as the club has a plethora of bullpen arms including Alex Colome, Xavier Cedeno and Steve Geltz that could take the role over for the short term.
Sep 29 2015Boxberger notched his 39th save with a scoreless ninth inning to secure a 4-2 victory over the Marlins on Tuesday. He also struck out a batter.It was the fifth consecutive save for the hard-throwing Boxberger, who had started September by faltering in two of his first three save opportunities. Boxberger has now posted four consecutive scoreless outings and has enjoyed a breakout season in the closer role, generating an impressive 10.77 K/9 rate in the process. While he has had his share of hiccups out of the bullpen over the course of the year, the 27-year-old appears to have the ability to take his game up another notch with some offseason refinements.
Sep 18 2015Boxberger allowed a run on one hit, he did not walk a batter and struck out one in an inning of work to log his 35th save against the Orioles on Friday night.He has struggled mightily of late and while he picked up a save in this one, he allowed a home run to Steve Pearce, and saw his ERA drift even higher to 3.90 on the year. The Rays don't have a lot of viable options other than perhaps Jake McGee when he returns, so Boxberger could finish out the year as their closer despite his poor performance.
Sep 5 2015Boxberger worked a perfect ninth inning Saturday to notch his 34th save of the season.He'd been scored upon in four of his previous seven appearances, but Rays manager Kevin Cash has stood by Boxberger as his closer and got rewarded for his faith Saturday. The right-hander should remain a reasonably steady source of saves down the stretch.
Sep 4 2015Boxberger still has the public confidence of his manager to remain the closer going forward, the Tampa Tribune's Roger Mooney reports.Alex Colome's excellent performance recently and Boxberger's recent struggles have led to speculation that a change could be coming at the back of the Rays bullpen. However, for now it seems Boxberger will continue to close games.
Sep 2 2015Boxberger blew Wednesday's save chance in Baltimore, giving up a two-run homer to Jonathan Schoop in the bottom of the ninth.As they so often do, a leadoff walk came back to bite Boxberger, as he promptly served up the blast after issuing a base on balls to Matt Wieters. Those five blown saves and that hideous 1.40 WHIP take a lot of the shine off Boxberger's still-decent 3.40 ERA and 33 successful closeouts.
Aug 30 2015Boxberger tossed a perfect ninth inning to earn his 32nd save of the season Sunday against the Royals.The right-hander had blown three saves and earned a pair of losses in his last eight appearances, but has bounced back with saves in three straignt appearances. Boxberger is the man to own in the Rays bullpen because of his propensity to amass saves and strikeouts, but his 3.18 ERA and 1.41 WHIP leave a little to be desired.
Aug 27 2015Boxberger struck out the side in a perfect ninth Thursday against the Twins for his 31st save.He'd given up runs in three consecutive appearances, followed by five days off, and Boxberger returned from the short break looking about as good as he has at any point this year. The fireballing reliever has had his share of struggles this season, but he's still blown just four saves in 35 opportunities while striking out 63 in 50 innings. Walks have been his bugaboo, as his control has come and gone at times; he'll need to rein those issues in to ascend to the upper echelon of closers.
Aug 21 2015Boxberger picked up his 30th save on Saturday, allowing a run on three hits in a 2-1 win over the A's.Boxberger made it far from easy, finishing off the game by leaving runners on second and third after allowing a run to make it 2-1 in a 33 pitch effort. He appears to be struggling a bit as he's allowed runs in three straight outings. Luckily for him, Jake McGee is on the DL now and no one will be taking his save opportunities barring a complete collapse.
Aug 12 2015Boxberger struck out two in an inning of work for his 29th save of the season Wednesday against Atlanta.Boxberger didn't allow a run, but he walked two and has a shaky 1.39 WHIP for the season. Nonetheless, his 29 saves is second best in the AL.
Aug 9 2015Boxberger worked a perfect ninth inning Saturday to pick up his 28th save of the season.He's had a couple of stumbles recently, but Boxberger still seems to have a firm hold on the Rays' closer job. Jake McGee struck out the side working the eighth on Saturday and has been the better pitcher since he came off the DL however, so Boxberger will need to stay reasonably sharp to avoid giving the team an excuse to switch things up.
Aug 7 2015Boxberger allowed two runs (both unearned) on three hits while recording just two outs, blowing a save, as the Rays dropped a 4-3 decision to the Mets on Friday night.Boxberger (4-8, 3.02 ERA) was his own worst enemy, allowing the three hits, hurling a wild pitch, and committing a throwing error that made the two runs unearned. He has converted 26-of-29 save chances, but those eight losses stand out. He remains fairly entrenched as the Rays closer, but there are times when his performance can be a bit erratic.
Aug 2 2015Boxberger struck out the side in a scoreless inning of work to earn his 26th save of the season Sunday against the Red Sox.The 27-year-old has been extremely reliable this season, as he has blown just two save opportunities and now has a 2.95 ERA. Boxberger is secure in his role as the Rays' closer and will continue to provide saves and strikeouts in abundance, as he has an 11.8 K/9 as well.
Jul 24 2015Boxberger could be in line to be traded even if the Rays stay in contention, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Despite Jake McGee's return, Boxberger has held onto the lion's share of Tampa Bay's save opportunities and seen his value (and future salary in arbitration) massively inflated as a result. With several options to replace the closer if he's dealt, the Rays couldn't be blamed if they wanted to sell at peak value in the event of a good offer.
Jul 12 2015Boxberger picked up his 22nd save of the season Saturday, walking one in a scoreless ninth inning.He's bounced back with two clean outings following his implosion against the Royals on July 7, and with Jake McGee working the seventh inning Saturday it looks like Boxberger's spot as the Rays' closer is still secure.
Jul 10 2015Boxberger logged his 21st save with a perfect inning against the Astros on Friday night. He fanned two batters.He was scuffling earlier this month, but felt he was tipping his pitches, and made adjustments to compensate for that possibility. He appears to be back to the front of the line for save chances as long as he performs as Jake McGee entered this game in the seventh inning, and hasn't pitched the ninth inning since mid-June.
Jul 9 2015Boxberger believes his recent struggles stemmed from tipping his pitches and that he has fixed it, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger's last two blown saves came after five straight converted save opportunities, so he's likely being proactive in dealing with a recent development. However, any further struggles could see him lose save opportunities to Jake McGee, who hasn't seen the ninth inning since June 13 and hasn't given up a run since May 26.
Jul 7 2015Boxberger recorded just one out in the ninth inning of Game 1 in Tuesday's doubleheader against the Royals before giving up a walk-off grand slam to Paulo Orlando.After a two-day layoff, Boxberger was brought in to pitch the bottom of the ninth in a tie game Tuesday. Kendrys Morales grounded out to begin the frame, but Boxberger allowed a pair of singles before walking Omar Infante, loading the bases for Orlando in the process. The blow-up Tuesday added more than a full run to Boxberger's ERA, which now stands at 3.55 over 33 innings for the Rays this season.
Jul 5 2015Boxberger took the loss Saturday, failing to record an out in the ninth inning and bringing home the winning run with a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt.The run is officially unearned at least, if entirely deserved. Boxberger's 2.48 ERA and 45:16 K:BB ratio in 32.2 innings still leave him as an integral part of the Rays' bullpen and the current top choice as closer, but more stumbles like these could tip the balance back to Jake McGee when it comes to save opportunities.
Jul 5 2015Boxberger has appeared on three straight days, throwing 38 pitches over that span.Boxberger was able to successfully limit his pitch count in those appearances, but the 27-year-old has yet to take the mound four days in a row this season. Although nothing is certain, it's possible manager Kevin Cash could consider using Jake McGee or Kevin Jepsen if a save situation arises Sunday afternoon against the Yankees.
Jun 23 2015Boxberger gave up a solo home run to Edwin Encarnacion but recorded two strikeouts Tuesday en route to his 19th save of the season.The home run to Encarnacion was the only hit Boxberger allowed, and his ERA still sits at 2.93, so it would appear that he remains the guy to own in the Rays' bullpen. Of course, Jake McGee makes for an awful nice second option if the Rays want to mix things up, as was the case earlier in the month. In most roto formats, however, Boxberger and McGee should already be owned, as both are excellent pitchers and this situation might be a bit more fluid than typical eighth and ninth inning arrangements.
Jun 21 2015Boxberger pitched around two hits and a walk to throw a scoreless ninth inning and record save No. 18 in Saturday's 4-1 victory over the Indians.Boxberger has now recorded a save on three consecutive days, throwing a shutout inning each time out. The right-hander has thrown a total of 64 pitches over that three-day span, so it remains unclear if he'll be available for Sunday's afternoon contest. If Boxberger is unavailable, look for manager Kevin Cash to turn back to Jake McGee, who did not pitch in Saturday's contest.
Jun 19 2015Boxberger pitched around a pair of walks in a scoreless ninth inning to record his 17th save. He struck out one.Jake McGee logged the last three Rays' save opportunities, but he pitched the eighth inning in this one, leaving the ninth to Boxberger. He was suffering from a minor triceps strain which might have tilted the scales in McGee's favor for awhile, but it appears Tampa Bay may be back to a closer by committee scenario, at least over the short term.
Jun 9 2015Boxberger is "100 percent" certain he will be available for the Rays' next weekend series, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.While that's good to hear from Boxberger, the other question is what the story is for the Rays' series against the Angels this week. Boxberger had previously told Roger Mooney of The Tampa Tribune that he would be ready Tuesday, so it's a little confusing to hear that he's now eyeing the series against the White Sox. Don't fully expect him to close until this weekend.
Jun 9 2015Boxberger (triceps) is available for Tuesday's game against the Angels, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune reports.Boxberger and Rays manager Kevin Cash have both indicated the right-hander's triceps injury was minor, with the expectation all along that he'd return for Tuesday's game. A previous report suggesting otherwise may have just been mistaken, but either way, Boxberger is available Tuesday night.
Jun 7 2015Boxberger is dealing with tightness in his triceps, but Rays manager Kevin Cash expects the right-hander to be available for Tuesday's game against the Angels, reports Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune.Boxberger blew a save for the first time this season Wednesday against the Angels, and Kevin Jepsen then picked up saves Thursday, Friday and Sunday. While Jepsen's having a nice season, Boxberger is in no real danger of losing the closer's role, assuming his injury isn't too serious.
Jun 4 2015Boxberger blew his first save of the season Wednesday against the Angels, giving up a run on two hits and two walks.Boxberger entered in the eighth looking for his first four-out save in the majors. He struck out Matt Joyce to strand a runner on third, but gave up the tying run in the ninth off Erick Aybar's sacrifice fly after getting ahead in the count 0-2. The Rays scored on Angels closer Huston Street in the subsequent inning, giving Boxberger the win.
May 30 2015Boxberger notched his 14th save of the season Saturday, working a perfect inning and striking out one.After a couple of rough appearances that nearly tripled his ERA on the season (sending it from 1.10 to 2.95), Boxberger was back in form on Saturday. The Rays haven't yet started working Jake McGee back into the closer mix, so for now Boxberger should continue to have ninth inning duties to himself.
May 27 2015Boxberger (2-3) entered Wednesday's game against Seattle with the score tied 0-0 in the ninth inning, but gave up a pair of walks and then a three-run homer to take the loss.Chris Archer had delivered eight dominant innings for the Rays, helping them keep pace with Felix Hernandez, who threw a complete-game gem on the other end. It was looking like a run might never be scored in this one after Boxberger struck out the first two batters he faced in the ninth, but then he issued consecutive walks and finally the game-deciding long ball. He's now given up homers on consecutive days against Seattle following three days of rest; with Jake McGee back in the fold, Boxberger will need to be sharper than that to maintain his grip on the Rays' closing duties.
May 26 2015Boxberger scattered three hits and gave up one earned run in one inning against the Mariners on Tuesday.Boxberger earned the loss in to bring his record to 2-2 with a 1.56 ERA. He has 13 saves and has been one of the best closers in the game up to this point. Despite the tough outing Tuesday, there is no reason to be concerned about Boxberger in regards to ninth-inning work for the Rays.
May 22 2015Boxberger gave up two hits and struck out two in a scoreless ninth against the A's on Thursday to pick up his 12th save of the season.Boxberger is now 12-for-12 in save opportunities this season and sports a 1.13 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. He also has an impressive 23:6 K:BB ratio in 16 innings.
May 20 2015Boxberger pitched a perfect ninth inning Tuesday against Atlanta en route to his 11th save of the season.Boxberger went three up and three down in the ninth to close out the Braves, striking out one batter. He now holds a 1.20 ERA and 0.87 WHIP through 15 innings with a 21:6 K:BB ratio.
May 1 2015Boxberger struck out the side over a perfect ninth inning, to record his sixth save of the season on Friday.The Rays shutout the Orioles on the road 2-0 and Boxberger closed it out in smooth fashion. He now holds an ERA of 1.74 on the young season which includes 16 strikeouts. He's been one of the better options at the closer position so far this year.
Apr 16 2015Boxberger walked one and gave up an RBI double in the ninth but still finished the Blue Jays on Thursday to pick up his fourth save of the season.Despite another shaky outing, Boxberger still managed to convert the save. With Jake McGee (elbow) sidelined, Boxberger will continue to close games for the Rays.
Apr 14 2015Boxberger picked up his third save of the season in Monday's win over the Blue Jays.While the final line will show a walk and a strikeout with no hits allowed in a scoreless inning, it was an eventful frame for Boxberger. Jose Bautista drew a leadoff walk, and Edwin Encarnacion battled through a long at-bat before Boxberger struck him out with a fastball and Rene Rivera threw out Bautista in an attempt to steal second base. The final out came via a long flyball from Josh Donaldson, which was only a few feet away from clearing the right field wall for an opposite field home run. Nevertheless, Boxberger should remain in the closer role for the Rays at least until Jake McGee (elbow) returns from the disabled list.
Apr 10 2015Boxberger took the loss allowing one run on two hits while recording just one out in a 10-9 loss to Miami on Friday night.He remains the Rays' closer, at least until Jake McGee comes off the disabled list, but he was pushed into service in the 10th inning of a tie game as Tampa Bay had already used seven pitchers in a bullpen game for their pitching staff. He struck out the first hitter he faced, but a double by Dee Gordon was followed by a walk-off single by Christian Yelich that sent everyone home.
Apr 9 2015As expected, Boxberger was the first man up for a save chance Wednesday against Baltimore, and he struck out the side while allowing one hit to preserve the win.Through two innings this year, Boxberger's allowed one baserunner and struck out four. He projects to be one of the game's best setup men once usual closer Jake McGee returns, but until then, it looks like he might be one of the finer closing options around.
Mar 29 2015Rays manager Kevin Cash hinted Sunday that Boxberger will likely get a significant chunk of the save opportunities until Jake McGee (elbow) is available, the Tampa Bay Times reports. "[Boxberger] will be in a lot of meaningful situations," Cash said. "With some other guys, but for what Box did last year and the confidence we have in him, I would definitely anticipate him pitching in those leverage situations."Boxberger is a clear favorite to lead the Rays in saves over the season's first month, with Jake McGee (elbow) not expected back any earlier than late April. However, Boxberger probably needs a dominant month to have any shot at keeping the job long term, and he may have some saves poached by Kevin Jepsen or others.
Mar 18 2015Boxberger, who is a leading candidate to close out games while Jake McGee recovers from elbow surgery, has tossed three scoreless innings this spring.The Rays haven't provided a clear blueprint for their plans to finish games in McGee's absence, but Boxberger's dominance in a setup role last season should put him near the top of the list to handle early-season save situations for the Rays.
Dec 16 2014Boxberger appears in line to open 2015 as the Rays' closer, with Jake McGee (elbow) set to begin the season on the DL.Boxberger's first season with the Rays was a rousing success, as he posted a 2.37 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and .155 BAA in 64.2 innings. He finished third in strikeout percentage among relievers with at least 50 innings (42.1%), only behind Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, while also trimming his walk rate nearly in half and notching 18 holds. McGee, who underwent arthroscopic surgery last week, said he expects to return by late April or early May, but it's at least possible Boxberger could hold onto the job upon McGee's return if he gets off to another strong start.
Sep 20 2014Boxberger (personal) will be back with the Rays on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger has been unavailable for the Rays since Friday as he was away for the birth of his child. Since his absence wasn't health related, Boxberger will be a viable option out of the bullpen Sunday.
Sep 19 2014Boxberger will be unavailable to pitch Friday, as his wife had a child Thursday. Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times reportsBoxberger has been outstanding this season, taking over the ninth inning recently and compiling a 2.29 ERA over 61 appearances for the Rays. The Rays will look elsewhere if a save situation arises in his absence, which may come to an end during the weekend series with the White Sox.
Sep 6 2014Boxberger struck out a pair while tossing a scoreless ninth inning to earn his fifth win of the season Saturday.The breakthrough season continues for Boxberger, who should be positioned for a prominent role in the 2015 version of the Rays' bullpen. He's fanned 41.9 percent of the batters he's faced this season, picking up right where he left off at Triple-A Durham (48.7 percent) during his limited time there.
Aug 24 2014Boxberger picked up his second save of the season after pitching a scoreless inning in the Rays' 2-1 win over Toronto on Sunday afternoon.He worked around a couple of hits, while striking out one. Boxberger (two save, 2.09 ERA) has worked his way up the food chain in the Rays' pen, but received the save chance after closer Jake McGee had already worked two innings in the game. He may pick up the odd save going forward, but his value continues to reside in leagues that count holds as a scoring category.
Aug 3 2014Boxberger struck out a pair and walked a pair during a scoreless eighth inning against the Angels on Saturday night.With an ERA that now sits at 2.06 for the season, Boxberger has been an important part of the rebuild Tampa Bay bullpen this season. He's also become an asset in leagues that rewards holds, as he now has 13 on the year after picking up another Saturday night.
Jul 2 2014Boxberger struck out a pair of batters during a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to pick up his first save of the season.The committee approach continues for the Rays, as manager Joe Maddon jokingly cited good karma with Grant Balfour as the reason for Balfour's opportunity to close out Tuesday's game (Maddon spotted Balfour walking his grandmother to a New York hotel earlier in the day Tuesday). If the Rays were to land on a primary closer again, Boxberger has the skills necessary to lock down the job, but Balfour's contract and the Rays' willingness to simply make matchup-based decisions could ultimately prevent Boxberger from getting the opportunity.
Jun 2 2014Boxberger struck out all three batters he faced in a relief appearance Monday.Boxberger has been stellar this season, collecting a 1.40 ERA and 28 strikeouts in his 19.1 innings of work. With strikeout results like he's been having, Boxberger should quickly find himself in high-leverage situations.
May 5 2014Boxberger is expected to rejoin the Rays' bullpen prior to Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The stint will mark Boxberger's third in the majors this year, but despite impressive marks -- 0.00 ERA and 1.167 WHIP -- he's posted a 7:5 K:BB and 0.29 GO:AO in six frames. Thus, his numbers are a bit deceiving.
May 1 2014Boxberger has been recalled for the second game of Thursday's double-header against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger will provide the Rays with an extra arm in relief, serving as the 26th man before likely being sent back down to Triple-A Durham following the game.
Apr 18 2014Boxberger has been optioned back to Triple-A Durham, reports Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune.Boxberger will head back down to the minors after turning in four scoreless innings across three appearances this week for the Rays. The right-handed reliever now has a sub-3.00 ERA over 45 big league outings since 2012 and is likely to find his way back to Tampa at some point this summer.
Apr 14 2014The Rays recalled Boxberger from Triple-A Durham on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger was called up to take the roster spot of starting pitcher Alex Cobb (oblique), but he will pitch out of the bullpen for the Rays. Boxberger gave up just one earned run and posted a 13:2 K:BB ratio over 6.2 innings with Durham.
Mar 20 2014Boxberger was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Boxberger will open 2014 in the minors but should be one of the first options should the Rays need another arm in the bullpen. The right-hander allowed just one run and struck out seven batters over seven Cactus League innings this spring, but he also surrendered five walks. Control has always been an issue, but his strikeout numbers in both the minors and 49.2 big-league innings (10.3 K/) hint at a potential late-inning arm.
Jan 22 2014Boxberger was officially traded to the Rays on Wednesday. He'll join Logan Forsythe, Matt Andriese, Matt Lollis and Maxx Tissenbaum in the package to Tampa, with the Padres receiving Alex Torres and Jesse Hahn in the deal.The Rays will get a quality righty arm in Boxberger, who owns a 2.72 ERA across 42 major league appearances to this point. His fastball is not overpowering (91.6 mph average), but he's proven to be a handful for opposing hitters (10.3 career K/9) thanks to a quality changeup. Chances are, he'll carve out a role working near the back end of the bullpen this spring.
Jan 22 2014Boxberger is likely headed to the Rays as part of a six-player trade, Keith Law of ESPN.com reports.The deal isn't done just yet, but Boxberger is expected to head to Tampa along with Logan Forsythe, Matt Andriese and Matt Lollis, in exchange for Alex Torres and Jesse Hahn. Boxberger sports a low-90s fastball, but he's struck batters out at a 10.3 K/9 clip in two seasons with the Padres, resulting in a 2.72 ERA.
Sep 3 2013Boxberger was recalled from Triple-A Tucson on Tuesday.In his 10 outings in the majors this year, Boxberger has tallied one save with a 0-1 record, 3.07 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 16:7 K:BB ratio in 14.2 innings. He'll supply yet another fresh right arm to the Padres' bullpen.
Aug 28 2013Boxberger was optioned to Triple-A Tucson on Wednesday, MLB.com reports.The Padres made the move to clear a spot on the active roster for Robbie Erlin, who will start Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. Boxberger will be back in September when rosters expand.
Aug 19 2013Boxberger was recalled from Triple-A Tucson on Monday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Boxberger appeared in six games for the Padres earlier this season, allowing four earned runs over 9.0 total innings. In 41 Triple-A relief appearances (56.1 innings), the 25-year-old posted a 3.67 ERA and allowed just three home runs. He'll take the spot of Sean O'Sullivan, who was optioned Monday.
Jun 23 2013Boxberger was optioned to Triple-A Tucson on Sunday, MLB.com reports.The Padres were in need of some fresh relief arms after Boxberger and Anthony Bass both threw 29 pitches Saturday since the bullpen had been overworked the night before when Clayton Richard exited in the first inning with a shoulder injury. Both Boxberger and Bass were shipped back to Tucson to make room for relievers Brad Brach and Miles Mikolas.
Jun 8 2013Boxberger was optioned to Triple-A Tucson on Saturday, Corey Brock of MLB.com reports.Boxberger just tossed two shutout innings against the Rockies on Friday, so the Padres went ahead and swapped him out a fresh arm in Burch Smith, who's a starter but will work in long relief for the time being.
Jun 2 2013Boxberger will be called up from Triple-A Tucson on Sunday, the Associated Press reports.Boxberger will provide support to a Padres' bullpen without Huston Street (calf) for at least the next two weeks. In two previous relief appearances for the team this season, Boxberger tossed 3.2 scoreless innings with a 5:0 K:BB ratio, which is a far cry from his line at Tucson in 2013 (5.73 ERA, 1.636 WHIP, and 31:10 K:BB ratio in 22 frames). As a corresponding move, Robbie Erlin will be optioned to Triple-A, after an effective spot start.
May 11 2013Boxberger was demoted to Triple-A Tucson on Saturday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Boxberger, who has tossed 3.2 scoreless innings for the Padres this season, is being sent down to free up a roster spot for Saturday's starting pitcher, Burch Smith. Boxberger could be back with the Padres soon.
May 2 2013The Padres recalled Boxberger from Triple-A Tucson on Thursday.Boxberger will replace Robbie Erlin, who was sent to Tucson after pitching the last two days. Boxberger struck out 33 batters and posted a 2.60 ERA in 27.2 innings a year ago, so though he did not open year with the big club, he could secure his spot in the bullpen if he pitches the way he did last season.
Sep 5 2012Boxberger was be recalled from Triple-A Tuscon on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.Boxberger, who will begin his second stint with the big club, posted a 3.52 ERA and 1.89 WHIP in the 15 innings he pitched with the Padres last month.
Aug 23 2012Boxberger was recalled from Triple-A Tucson Thursday, Jeff Sanders of the North County Times reports.Boxberger is back with the big league squad after a brief trip down to the minors. He has a 3.52 ERA and 1.89 WHIP on the season, wit ha 20:13 K:BB ration over 15.1 innings.
Jul 30 2012Boxberger was called up to the Padres, Corey Brock of MLB.com reports.Boxberger is taking the place of the injured Joe Thatcher in the bullpen. The 24-year-old has appeared in five games for the Padres this season, posting a 1.42 ERA with eight strikeouts.
Jun 10 2012Boxberger was recalled Sunday, Corey Brock of MLB.com reports.The 24-year-old joined the Padres in Milwaukee, and it looks like he'll make his major league debut out of the bullpen at some point in the coming days. Boxberger's ERA at the Triple-A level this season is 4.70, but he's struck out 35 batters in 23 innings of work. Tim Stauffer (elbow) was moved to the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man roster for Boxberger, while Andrew Cashner was optioned to Double-A San Antonio to free space for Boxberger on the 25-man roster.
Mar 26 2012Boxberger has been reassigned to minor league camp, the Padres' official Twitter feed reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger is primed to start the season at Triple-A. Look for him to eventually make his way up to the majors as a potential closer, but for now with options like Huston Street, Luke Gregerson and Andrew Cashner available, the Padres will let him develop in the minors.
Mar 18 2012Boxberger retired the only batter he faced Saturday, but has given up eight runs on six hits over 3.2 innings in five appearances this spring. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As one of the pieces of the Mat Latos deal, Boxberger projects as an eventual late-inning reliever. The sample size is small, but the concern with targeting him in a re-draft league is two-fold. First, the Padres have plenty of alternatives available, so he could begin the season at Triple-A. Second, Huston Street was acquired over the winter as well to close, while Andrew Cashner and Luke Gregerson appear to be ahead of him in the pecking order for saves at the present time. Long term, he could certainly make a move toward the ninth-inning role, but it's likely a year or so away from happening.
Jan 14 2012The Padres will give Boxberger every chance to make the Opening Day roster, according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 23-year old split his time between Double- and Triple-A for the Reds a year ago, saving 11 games while striking out 93 in 62 innings of relief. Boxberger had a 3.32 SO/BB ratio in 2011, and if he can build on that, San Diego may be able to trust him to bridge later innings.
Dec 17 2011Boxberger was traded to the Padres on Saturday as part of a deal for Mat Latos, according to the team's official website. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boxberger had an impressive 2011 season, posting a 2.03 record and 93:28 K:BB ratio in 62 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. It's not clear what level Boxberger will open at in 2012, but with 203 strikeouts in 153.2 minor league innings, he has the look of a future closer.