The Philadelphia Phillies are building up right-hander Joe Ross as a starting pitcher in spring training in case he's needed to begin the 2025 regular season in the rotation due to an injury. But if pitchers Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and Ranger Suarez are all healthy heading into Opening Day in late March, Ross will begin the year in the bullpen pitching in a relief role. Manager Rob Thomson said he's comfortable using the 31-year-old veteran either in a multi-inning relief role or in a one-inning leverage role. The former first-rounder returned from Tommy John surgery last year to make 25 appearances (10 starts) for the Milwaukee Brewers, and he had a strong 1.67 ERA in 27 relief innings for the Brew Crew. However, he had an ERA just south of 5.00 with a wOBA of .321 in his 10 starts. Ross will only be a fantasy option in NL-only leagues in 2025.
The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a one-year deal worth $4 million with free-agent right-hander Joe Ross on Monday, according to sources. Ross is expected to serve in a swing role for the Phillies as both a starter and reliever in 2025 after he went 3-6 with a 3.77 ERA (3.83 FIP), a 1.36 WHIP and a 66:29 K:BB in 74 innings over 25 appearances (10 starts) with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. The 31-year-old veteran hurler essentially takes the place of Spencer Turnbull, who remains on the open market. Ross will only be worth considering as a fantasy streamer in deeper fantasy leagues and DFS contests if he's starting, but it will be more likely that most of his appearances in Philly will come in a relief role. He was better as a reliever last year with a 1.98 WHIP and 24.1% strikeout rate compared to an ERA just south of 5.00 with an 18.7% K rate as a starter.
The Milwaukee Brewers officially placed right-hander Joe Ross (back) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a lower-back strain and recalled right-hander Tobias Myers from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. It was reported that Ross was likely heading to the IL on Monday night after he was forced to leave his start against the Miami Marlins after just one inning due to back tightness. It's something that has been bothering the 31-year-old veteran for a while, so fantasy managers in deeper leagues shouldn't be expecting him to return from the IL when eligible. Myers should be the first option to hold Ross' rotation spot for however long he's sidelined. In his first nine starts of 2024, Ross is 2-4 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 16 walks and 35 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched.
It appears likely that Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Joe Ross (back) will land on the injured list after leaving his start on Monday against the Miami Marlins after just one inning due to lower-back tightness. After being looked at by doctors, it was determined that the 30-year-old veteran is dealing with a lower-back strain, which will almost certainly keep him out for at least a couple weeks. Ross entered his start on Monday with a 2-4 record, 4.61 ERA (3.88 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with 15 walks and 35 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched over his eight starts. Fantasy managers in shallower mixed leagues shouldn't feel compelled to hang onto Ross now that he's hurt. It remains to be seen who will Milwaukee will use to take Ross' spot in the rotation, but left-hander Aaron Ashby could be an option.
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Joe Ross (back) left his start after just 15 pitches in the first inning on Monday against the Miami Marlins with back tightness. Manager Pat Murphy said in the dugout that Ross was dealing with some back tightness before the game but felt good enough to continue after warming up. However, Ross' back tightness returned in the first inning. In his lone inning of work, Ross gave up a hit and allowed a walk to the Marlins in the bottom of the first inning. It's unclear exactly how serious the 30-year-old's back injury is, and we probably won't know more until Tuesday. But if you have been using Ross in deeper fantasy leagues, you may want to start preparing right now just in case he has to go on the injured list. Entering Monday's game, Ross was 2-4 with a 4.61 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 35 K's in 41 innings over his eight starts.
Free-agent pitcher Joe Ross has agreed to a major-league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, pending a physical. It's been some time since the right-hander saw a big-league mound, as Ross hasn't appeared since the 2021 campaign when he had a solid 4.17 ERA across 108 innings with the Washington Nationals, his only MLB team, while also producing a rather solid 16.3% K-BB%. Unfortunately, Ross underwent his second Tommy John surgery in June of 2022, which cost him his 2023 campaign as well. Through 98 MLB appearances, 76 of which were starts, Ross has worked to a 4.26 ERA and 13.7% K-BB% while going 26-28. His fantasy value is limited at the moment, but he could be a decent waiver-wire look should he replicate his work from the 2021 season.
The San Francisco Giants signed free-agent right-hander and Oakland native Joe Ross (elbow) to a minor-league deal on Monday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Ross underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time last May and is not expected to be ready for the start of the 2023 season. He opted out of the COVID-shortened 2020 season and made 20 appearances (19 starts) in 2021 for the Washington Nationals, going 5-9 with a 4.17 ERA (4.36 FIP), 1.22 WHIP and career-high 23.7 percent strikeout rate in a career-high 108 innings pitched. Ross will eventually serve as starting pitcher depth for the Giants, but he can be ignored in standard 12-team mixed leagues to begin the year.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Joe Ross (elbow) will be undergoing Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career. The 29-year-old had been rehabbing from a UCL tear in his right elbow prior to suffering a setback. This is tough news for Ross, who had his first Tommy John surgery back in 2017. Ross has played the entirety of his MLB career with the Nationals. Last year, he made 20 appearances (19 starts) and went 5-9 with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. If he's able to have a successful surgery and rehabilitation process, we could see him back in the majors late in 2023, but given his injury history, a 2024 return may be more likely.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Joe Ross (elbow), who had Tommy John surgery in 2017, sustained a sprained ligament in his right elbow during his first minor league rehab start on Tuesday with Double-A Harrisburg, and the team is awaiting the results of his second MRI exam that was taken on Friday. Ross left his outing on Tuesday after three innings when he experienced tightness. The 29-year-old right-hander also had surgery last year and had a bone spur removed from his elbow in March, so this doesn't look good. Depending on the results of his second MRI exam, there's a chance that we may not see Ross at all in Washington's starting rotation in 2022.
Stephen Strasburg, Joe Ross To Begin Rehab Assignments Tuesday
Washington Nationals starting pitchers Stephen Strasburg (neck, shoulder) and Joe Ross (elbow) will both begin minor league rehab assignments on Tuesday. Strasburg is headed to Single-A Fredericksburg while Ross's assignment will begin at Double-A Harrisburg. Both players will need several rehab appearances before making their respective 2022 debuts in the majors.
