The Chicago Cubs selected left-hander Steven Brault's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday and sent Mark Leiter Jr. to Iowa in a corresponding move. The Cubs also designated Matt Swarmer for assignment and added Anderson Espinoza to the roster as the 27th man for their doubleheader against the New York Mets on Saturday. Brault last pitched in the big leagues in 2021 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, going 0-3 with a 5.86 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with 19 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings over seven starts. He missed almost three months this year with a left triceps strain, but he should pitch at some point on Saturday as a middle reliever for the Cubbies.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Steven Brault will receive a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. The 29-year-old is currently dealing with an injury setback, so the deal changed from a major league deal to minor league. Brault will make $1.5 million with incentives to make additional money, assuming he makes the big league roster. He also has an option to opt-out in July if the team doesn't call him up. Brault struggled with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season. Hopefully, Brault can turn it around on the North Side.
Free-agent pitcher Steven Brault has signed an undisclosed deal with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the situation. Brault will give the Cubs some starting rotation insurance after it was announced on Tuesday that Adbert Alzolay (lat) will miss at least two months with a lat strain. The 29-year-old left-hander should battle with Justin Steele and Keegan Thompson for the final rotation spot in Chicago to begin the season. Brault made only seven starts (27 2/3 innings) for the Pittsburgh Pirates last year due to a lat strain and had a career-high 5.86 ERA and 1.63 WHIP. He has a 4.77 career ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 7.6 K/9 in 107 outings (52 starts) over six major league seasons, all with the Pirates. Brault's experience could give him a leg up, but he has very little fantasy upside.
Pirates Designate Colin Moran And Steven Brault For Assignment
The Pittsburgh Pirates have removed two notable players from their roster, designating first baseman Colin Moran and pitcher Steven Brault for assignment. The moves make room on the 40-man roster for pitcher Jose Quintana and the recently re-signed first baseman Yoshi Tsutsugo. Moran was the last remaining piece of the Gerrit Cole trade on Pittsburgh's roster. He's slashed .267/.329/.418 for his career, spending the past four seasons as a starter for the Pirates. He has had deep-league fantasy value at times and figures to play a role wherever he catches on. Tsutsugo should garner the vacated at-bats, and could be a late-round option in fantasy drafts.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Steven Brault (arm) was removed after two innings during his start on Friday. It appears Brault has suffered a left lat strain. The organization has not given a timetable for his return to the mound. In the meantime, Connor Overton has been recalled from the minors. Brault hasn't been able to contribute much this season and his 2021 campaign might be over. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore him.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Steven Brault (arm) exited his start on Friday due to left arm discomfort, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Brault pitched just two innings before leaving the game, and allowed two runs on two hits and two walks with one strikeout. Brault had already missed most of the season due to a lat injury, so while he should be considered day to day for now, it wouldn't be too surprising if the Pirates opt to shut him down for the year.
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Steven Brault (0-3) allowed five earned runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out four across four innings during Friday's 6-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He was tagged with his third loss of the season. The 29-year-old yielded five runs, including a solo blast to Michael Hermosillo in the fourth frame. He exited after 80 pitches. Brault has now surrendered 12 earned runs and six walks over his last two starts. The Pirates right-hander owns a 5.61 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and 18:10 K: BB in 25 2/3 innings in 2021. Brault is scheduled for a home start versus the Washington Nationals next week, but with his recent struggles, fantasy managers can avoid using him as a streamer.
Steven Brault Activated From IL, Starting Wednesday
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Steven Brault (lat) has been activated from the 60-day injured list and will start Wednesday against the Brewers, according to Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Brault has been sidelined for the entirety of the season at this point due to a moderate lat strain he suffered during Spring Training. The 29-year-old left-hander is coming off the best season of his career in 2020, where he went 1-3 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.195 WHIP and 21.3 percent strikeout rate over 42 2/3 innings of work. To make room for him on the active roster, the Pirates optioned Max Kranick to Triple-A, and transferred Chase De Jong from the 10-day injured list to 60-day injured list. Depending on how he looks in this start against the Brewers, he could be a decent streaming option going forward.
Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Steven Brault (lat) will throw another bullpen session in the next few days and will receive another minor league rehab start. Brault has given up a run through 4 2/3 innings over two rehab starts for Low-A Bradenton and Triple-A Indianapolis, but the Pirates are bringing him along slowly and stretching him out before the consider having him rejoin the major league rotation. The 29-year-old southpaw has been out all season with a lat strain, so it makes sense why the Bucs are slow-playing his return. Brault isn't a high-strikeout pitcher with a career strikeout rate of 19.1 percent in five big league seasons, but he induces a lot of weak contact and could be a successful streaming option in deeper leagues after he posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 38/22 K/BB in 42 2/3 innings and 10 starts in 2020.
Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Steven Brault (lat) will begin a minor league rehab assignment with Low-A Bradenton on Sunday. Brault has been out since late March with a left lat strain and should be an option to upgrade the team's starting rotation in the second half of the season. Brault isn't a big strikeout guy (career 19.1 percent strikeout rate), and combined with a shaky 11.5 percent career walk rate, he won't be the most attractive in-season pickup off the waiver wire unless you're desperate for pitching help in deeper leagues. The crafty southpaw did have a 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 38/22 K/BB in 11 outings (10 starts) over 42 2/3 innings last year, though, so he could be in the mix as a deep-league streamer eventually.