The Nationals activated Law (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Monday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Law has been shelved since mid-August with ulnar nerve irritation in his pitching elbow but recently faced hitters with no issues, clearing the way for his return. The veteran reliever will return to a middle-relief role for the Nationals.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Derek Law: Throwing live BP
Rotowire
Law (elbow) will throw to live hitters Saturday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
The right-hander has been sidelined since Aug. 17 with ulnar nerve irritation in his right elbow. It's unclear if Law will need a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the IL.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Derek Law: MRI comes back clean
Rotowire
The MRI on Law's right elbow revealed only ulnar nerve irritation, but he hasn't been cleared to throw yet, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Law was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a strained right elbow, and Tuesday's MRI confirmed he isn't dealing with any structural damage. The 33-year-old took part in fielding drills Tuesday but hasn't been cleared to throw. A timeline for his return hasn't been announced.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Derek Law: Seeing massive workload
Rotowire
Law leads all big-league relievers with 72.1 innings pitched so far this season, posting a 2.99 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 60:18 K:BB with six wins, 11 holds and a save in 58 appearances.
The veteran right-hander has worked more than an inning in four of his last five appearances as the Nationals' rotation struggles to provide consistent length, putting additional pressure on the bullpen. Per Mark Zuckerman of MASN, Law is on pace to become the first reliever in Nats history to toss more than 100 innings in a season -- Saul Rivera holds the record with 93 innings in 2007. Law has already set new career highs in innings and wins, and he's closing in on his personal bests in holds (14) and strikeouts (67).
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Derek Law: Picks up first save
Rotowire
Law threw a scoreless ninth inning to get his first save of the season in Thursday's 1-0 win over the Mets.
The Nationals' regular closer, Kyle Finnegan, had thrown in each of their last three games, which explains Law getting the save opportunity Thursday. The 33-year-old has been serviceable this season with a 3.18 ERA in 51 innings but doesn't offer much fantasy upside while primarily working as a middle reliever.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Derek Law: Records win Sunday
Rotowire
Law (2-1) picked up the win in Sunday's comeback victory over the Marlins, pitching two scoreless innings and allowing two hits. He struck out three without walking a batter.
Patrick Corbin got chased after coughing up seven runs (four earned) in four innings, but Law steadied the ship in the fifth and sixth and watched the Nationals offense come to life, erasing a 7-0 deficit. The 33-year-old right-hander remains in a low-leverage role, but he's pitched reasonable well to begin the season with a 3.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB through 18 innings.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Derek Law: Added to roster
Rotowire
The Nationals selected Law's contract from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Law made the team as a non-roster invitee after tossing 9.1 scoreless innings this spring. The 33-year-old reliever should operate in a middle-relief role for the Nats.
... See More... See Less
Derek Law: Cut loose by Reds
Rotowire
Law was non-tendered by Cincinnati on Friday.
Law posted a solid 3.60 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 55 innings this past year for the Reds, but they have opted to avoid paying him a raise in salary arbitration. The veteran reliever was projected to command around $1.4 million in 2024. He is now a free agent.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Derek Law: Notches second save
Rotowire
Law gave up two hits in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his second save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Mets.
With Alexis Diaz having pitched three of the prior four days, Reds manager David Bell had to get creative to protect a late lead, and Fernando Cruz worked the seventh and eighth innings before handing the ball off to Law. The right-hander made things interesting, serving up singles to Daniel Vogelbach and Francisco Alvarez, but he got Pete Alonso to ground out to escape the jam. Law has been struggling lately, posting a 10.80 ERA and 2.52 WHIP over his last 10 appearances, and his last hold or save prior to Saturday came July 3, so he's unlikely to see regular high-leverage duty down the stretch.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Derek Law: Saves bullpen in loss
Rotowire
Law allowed one hit over 2.1 scoreless innings in Saturday's 7-3 loss to Washington.
Law, who entered with the Reds down 6-0, ate up seven outs between the sixth and eighth innings. The right-hander has worked largely in middle relief for the Reds and has posted a 3.68 ERA in 14.2 innings since his return from the injured list in early July. Control has been an issue, as it has been throughout his career; Law's issued 20 free passes over 35.2 innings (5.0 BB/9) this season.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Derek Law: Makes return from IL
Rotowire
The Reds reinstated Law (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Sunday.
Law will rejoin the Reds ahead of their series finale against the Padres after he had been on the shelf for the past six weeks with a mild flexor mass strain. Cincinnati gave Law the green light to rejoin its bullpen after he struck out four batters over three scoreless innings across his three rehab appearances in the minors.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Derek Law: Moves rehab to Triple-A
Rotowire
Law (elbow) had his rehab assignment transferred Wednesday to Triple-A Louisville.
Law is one step away from returning to the Reds' bullpen following what has already been a five-week absence for a right elbow flexor mass strain. He had pitched to a 2.57 ERA in 21 innings for the Reds prior to the IL stint and worked a perfect rehab frame on 14 pitches this past Sunday at High-A Dayton.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Derek Law: Lands on IL with elbow sprain
Rotowire
Cincinnati placed Law on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to May 17, with a right elbow sprain.
Law has delivered an impressive 2.57 ERA through 21 innings this season, at times working as an opener, so this is a fairly significant blow to the Reds' staff. It's unclear how long he might be sidelined.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Derek Law: To work as opener Thursday
Rotowire
Law will work as the Reds' opening pitcher Thursday against the Mets, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Law has a 3.00 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 18 strikeouts in 18 innings this season. He has recorded four or more outs in five of his 17 appearances. Ben Lively will likely work as the primary pitcher after Law covers an inning or two, per Sheldon.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Derek Law: Falls to 0-2
Rotowire
Law (0-2) was charged with a loss and a blown save against Atlanta on Monday. He did not record an out.
The 32-year-old had the chance to save a 4-3 game in the 10th inning but promptly gave up a two-run shot to Sean Murphy on his first pitch. Law had a save and a hold through three scoreless appearances but has now been tagged with four runs and a pair of losses in his last two games. Alexis Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth inning Monday.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Derek Law: Added to Opening Day roster
Rotowire
The Reds selected Law's contract Thursday.
Law won an Opening Day bullpen spot in Cincinnati and could quickly rise into a prominent setup role. Alexis Diaz is of course the clear frontrunner for saves.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Derek Law: Pitches way on to Opening Day squad
Rotowire
The Reds informed Law on Sunday that he has won a spot on the Opening Day roster, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Since Law had been attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee, the Reds will have to open up room for him on the 40-man roster prior to Thursday's season opener versus the Pirates. The 32-year-old journeyman right-hander likely entered spring training on the outside looking in for a spot in Cincinnati's Opening Day bullpen, but he earned a roster berth after striking out 10 while churning out a 1.23 ERA and 0.68 WHIP in 7.1 innings. Law may start the season in a middle-relief role, but if he carries over his strong run of form from spring training into April, he could quickly settle in as one of the top setup men for closer Alexis Diaz.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Derek Law: Back with Cincinnati
Rotowire
Law re-signed Monday with the Reds on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to MLB spring training.
Law elected free agency in November after the Reds dropped him from their 40-man roster, but he'll be rejoining the organization in 2023 and will get the chance to battle for a spot in the big club's Opening Day bullpen. The 32-year-old right-hander made 17 appearances in the majors in 2022 between Cincinnati and Detroit, logging a 4.12 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB across 19.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Derek Law: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Law was designated for assignment by the Reds on Tuesday.
Splitting time between Detroit and Cincinnati last season, Law was dominant out of the bullpen, recording a 1.13 ERA through his first 13 appearances. His ERA then shot up to 17.18 over his final four appearances. Should Law clear waivers, he will have to regroup in Triple-A before the Reds bring him back into their bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Derek Law: Loses roster spot
Rotowire
Law was designated for assignment Thursday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Law has made two appearances out of the bullpen since being promoted to Detroit on July 30. He'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster in favor of Bryan Garcia, who will start Friday against the Rays.
