Lucas Sims Fantasy Stats

Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Lucas Sims is set to throw live batting practice on Sunday. Sims signed a one-year $3 million contract with the Nationals earlier this week and is slightly behind schedule. However, seeing him set to take the mound on Sunday should put him in a good position to be ready for Opening Day. Last season, the 30-year-old held a 4.38 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP across 49 1/3 innings. He split time with the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox. During the 2023 campaign, the 30-year-old held a 3.10 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP across 61 innings. During that season, he tallied an impressive 72 punchouts. Fantasy managers should expect Sims to compete for a high-leverage role in the Washington bullpen. In addition, with the team lacking a true closer, he could eventually earn save opportunities.

Free-agent right-hander Lucas Sims officially signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. In a corresponding move, the Nationals placed right-hander Mason Thompson (elbow) on the 60-day injured list to open up room on the 40-man roster. Sims, a former first-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2012, is a bit behind the other pitchers in camp but is confident he'll be ready for Opening Day in late March. While Jorge Lopez is considered the favorite for saves in 2025, the Nationals could go with a closer committee, potentially giving Sims a chance to factor into the late innings with his new team. The 30-year-old has a career 26.9% strikeout rate, 4.50 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, 12 saves and a 12.1% walk rate in 306 career major-league innings. Washington is hoping to return Sims to his earlier form, but he's going to need to limit the free passes to secure a trusted high-leverage spot at the back of the bullpen. UPDATE: Sims' one-year deal is worth $3 million.

Former Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Lucas Sims is nearing an agreement with the Washington Nationals, sources told Mass Live's Chris Cotillo. Sims opened last year with the Cincinnati Reds and finished the year in Boston, going a combined 1-6 with a 4.38 ERA (5.23 FIP), 1.44 WHIP, one save, 49 strikeouts and 30 walks in 49 1/3 relief innings over 58 appearances out of the bullpen. The 30-year-old veteran would give the Nationals another option for high-leverage innings out of the bullpen, and he could even be in the mix for saves with Jorge Lopez, Derek Law and Jose Ferrer. Still, Sims wouldn't have much fantasy appeal outside of deeper NL-only leagues. In his eight years in the majors after being drafted by the Atlanta Braves 21st overall in 2012, Sims has a 4.50 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 12 saves and a 353:159 K:BB in 306 innings pitched.

Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Lucas Sims (lat), who has been inconsistent since joining the Red Sox last month, was shut down on Aug. 27 with a right-lat strain. Manager Alex Cora said the team will have a better idea if the righty will return this year in around 10 days. "He's moving, he's working out and all that stuff," said Cora. "Obviously it bothers him when he reaches out. Hopefully [we'll] re-evaluate in 10 days and see where we're at." The 30-year-old was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. Since the Red Sox acquired him from the Cincinnati Reds at the trade deadline, he has allowed nine runs while walking seven and striking out seven in 10 innings of work. In 54 relief outings in 2024, Sims is 1-6 with a bloated 4.57 ERA, a 1.46 WHIP, one save and a 47:27 K:BB in 45 1/3 innings. Sims hasn't ben on the fantasy radar at all.

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Lucas Sims is being traded to the Boston Red Sox, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Sims has logged 35 innings of relief in Cincinnati this season with a 3.57 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and a 20:40 BB:K ratio with one save. The right-hander has typically operated in a set-up role, pitching in the eighth inning. Under the hood, he holds a 26.0% K rate and 34.4% hard-hit rate, which are both above average among qualified pitchers. Current Boston closer Kenley Jansen, has struggled across his last five appearances with a 9.00 ERA and 2.17 WHIP, which could open the door for Sims to earn an occasional save opportunity.

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Lucas Sims picked up his first save of the season in Monday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals. Sims came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by two and delivered a 1-2-3 outing with a strikeout. Closer Alexis Diaz had pitched the last two days, so Sims got the call to close things out. The 30-year-old has had a middling season, going 1-1 with seven holds as well as a 4.15 ERA, a 9.87 K/9 rate, and a 5.19 BB/9 rate in 17 1/3 IP. He has only seen two save opportunities all season, so his fantasy value is very low except in deeper saves-plus-holds leagues at this time.

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Lucas Sims (back) and starting pitcher Justin Dunn (shoulder), who both missed time with injuries in 2022, have been throwing and should be ready for spring training. Meanwhile, reliever Tejay Antone's (forearm) throwing program has been slowed this offseason by a forearm issue, but it's unrelated to his elbow issue that required Tommy John surgery in 2021. He'll be eased in as camp opens. When healthy, Sims and Antone figure to be important high-leverage arms in Cincy's bullpen in front of expected closer Alexis Diaz. Dunn started seven games for the Reds in 2022 but had an unsavory 6.10 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with only 21 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched.

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that closer Lucas Sims (back) has a "bulging disc" in his back. "He started some light exercises today, core strengthening. I can't tell you how long. From all of my experience, I still don't have a prediction on that. I haven't heard anyone talk about it being long term," Bell said. Sims was placed on the injured list on Thursday with what was initially announced as lower back spasms. The bulging disc is worse, but it remains to be seen what kind of timeline the 28-year-old right-hander will have. Sims started the year on the IL with an elbow issue and has only one win and a 9.45 ERA in 6 2/3 innings for a bad Reds team. Chasing saves among Art Warren, Alexis Diaz and Jeff Hoffman probably won't give fantasy managers much of a reward.

The Cincinnati Reds placed closer Lucas Sims (back) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with lower back spasms. The move is retroactive to May 11. In corresponding moves, the team selected the contract of right-hander Robert Dugger from Triple-A Louisville, recalled right-hander Jared Solomon from Louisville and optioned right-hander Dauri Moreta to Louisville. This will be the second trip to the IL for Sims, who opened the season on the shelf with an elbow issue. Sims hasn't been very good when healthy over 6 2/3 innings, picking up one save while allowing seven earned runs and walking six. There isn't a ton of fantasy value in chasing saves for one of the worst teams in baseball, but if you're desperate, Art Warren, Alexis Diaz and Jeff Hoffman are likely to share save chances until Sims is ready to return.

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Lucas Sims earned his first save of the year on Sunday as he closed out the team's 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. He retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning, needing just 11 pitches to get through the inning. Sims spent the first two weeks of the season on the injured list, before being activated on Friday. He made his first appearance on Saturday in a non-save situation. He struggled in the outing, giving up two earned runs in an inning. Tony Santillan and Art Warren, who have a save each this year, were used in the seventh and eighth innings of Sunday's game. There's a chance their windows for saves has closed for now. Sims was the frontrunner for saves in Cincinnati prior to his injury and it looks like he could be back in the driver's seat. Make sure he's added in all formats.