Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Takes loss in relief Saturday
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Fulmer (0-4) allowed two runs while retiring only two batters to take the loss Saturday against the Reds. He gave up a hit and two walks while striking out two.
Fulmer was tagged for a two-run home run by Jonathan India in the fifth inning to ultimately get saddled with the loss in the 8-5 defeat, The veteran has struggled with his new team, as he now has a 7.84 ERA and has allowed two earned runs or more six times in 23 outings this year. Fulmer has lost his grip on a high-leverage role and has little fantasy appeal at the moment.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Struggles again Monday
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Fulmer (0-3) allowed two runs on two hits while retiring two batters to take the loss Monday against the Astros. He walked one and struck out one.
Fulmer came on in the seventh inning and struggled, serving up a two-run home to Alex Bregman before getting the hook. The veteran has allowed five earned runs across 1.1 innings in his last two appearances, and he's stuck with an ugly 7.50 ERA overall. Fulmer was better last year with a 3.39 ERA while splitting time between Detroit and Minnesota, so he could still rebound in 2023. However, he's worked his way out of closer mix for the time being and has little value in most fantasy formats.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Pitching better lately
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Fulmer worked around a hit to pitch a scoreless inning and record a hold in Friday's win over the Marlins.
Fulmer worked the eighth in the eventual 4-1 victory for his third hold of the season, and he's been pitching better lately. Since allowing six earned runs combined in consecutive outings on April 20 and 23, the veteran has now logged four straight scoreless appearances. Fulmer now has a 6.08 ERA and should continue to see high-leverage work for the Cubs if he looks like this version.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Gets hit hard Thursday
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Fulmer (0-2) allowed four runs on three hits and a walk while retiring only one batter to take the loss Thursday against the Dodgers.
Fulmer had a nightmare outing out of the bullpen, which pushed his ERA up to 7.56. He had an ERA of 3.38 coming into the night but will now need to string together some good performances to get back to a respectable level. Brad Boxberger has been more effective so far, and it wouldn't be shocking to see the Cubs look his way in the ninth instead of Fulmer, at least in the short term.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Earns first hold
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Fulmer pitched a scoreless inning of relief with one strikeout in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers.
After blowing a save chance in the ninth inning Saturday, Fulmer worked the eighth inning Sunday for his first hold of the season, while Brad Boxberger got the ninth. The two veterans were expected to split closing duties this year, though based on recent events, perhaps Boxberger has edged slightly ahead of Fulmer. The latter should still see plenty of high-leverage work, however, and is likely to maintain some fantasy appeal.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Blows another save
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Fulmer (0-1) took the loss and blew the save against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out one batter over two-thirds of an inning.
The Cubs carried a tenuous 1-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning and turned to Fulmer to close things out. The right-hander couldn't get the job done, surrendering a two-out, two-run walkoff single to David Peralta after allowing a pair of one-out hits. Fulmer converted his first save chance of the season against Texas on April 7, but he's since blown his next two opportunities and has allowed three earned runs across 2.2 frames over his past three outings.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Blows save Monday
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Fulmer allowed a run on two hits across an inning of work to blow the save Monday against the Mariners. He struck out one.
Tasked with protecting a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning, Fulmer allowed a solo home run to Jarred Kelenic to blow his first save of the year, but the Cubs would rally for the 3-2 win in 10 innings. The run was the first one allowed this season by Fulmer, who now has a 2.08 ERA and eight strikeouts across 4.1 innings. He should continue to see regular save chances, though Brad Boxberger remains in the mix as well.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Notches first save
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Fulmer gave up a hit and struck out four over two scoreless innings Friday to record his first save of the season in a 2-0 win over the Rangers.
Neither Brad Boxberger nor Adbert Alzolay had pitched since Tuesday, but Cubs manager David Ross still elected to use Fulmer for multiple innings to close out the shutout, and the right-hander ultimately threw 28 pitches (18 strikes) as he picked up the team's first save of the year. The usage suggests that Ross might view Fulmer as more of a fireman than a pure ninth-inning arm, but he remains the favorite to finish the season leading the team in saves.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Pitches ninth inning Thursday
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Fulmer pitched a scoreless inning with one hit allowed and two strikeouts in Thursday's 4-0 win over the Brewers.
Fulmer got the ninth inning while Brad Boxberger worked the eighth, but it was a non-save situation. Still, it's a promising sign for Fulmer that he was the last reliever used on Opening Day. He figures to split closer duties with Boxberger based on spring training reports, though Fulmer may be slightly ahead at this point.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Has less competition in bullpen
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With Rowan Wick outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Fulmer and Brad Boxberger should be the Cubs' primary options at the back end of games.
It was previously reported that Fulmer and Boxberger were viewed as the leading candidates to close, and this news should cement those two at the back of the bullpen. It remains to be seen if one of the pitchers will emerge as the primary closer. For now, fantasy managers should keep tabs on both of the veterans as the regular season approaches.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Could be primary closer option
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Fulmer and Brad Boxberger are viewed as the primary options at closer for the Cubs, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
It could ultimately wind up being more of a carousel, with Brandon Hughes, Rowan Wick and Adbert Alzolay also somewhere in the mix, but Fulmer has expressed a strong desire to claim the job and Boxberger boasts 82 career major-league saves. Fulmer, 29, signed a one-year, $4 million contract with Chicago in February after working to a 3.39 ERA with 61 strikeouts over 63.2 innings last season between the Tigers and Twins. He picked up three saves along the way.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Pitching well this spring
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Fulmer has yet to allow a run across three Cactus League appearances. He's struck out three.
Fulmer has been steady so far in spring training action, and he should be able to carry that over into the regular season after posting strong numbers out of the bullpen in 2021 and 2022. The veteran righty should have a high-leverage role with the Cubs, possibly even closing out games, though Brandon Hughes and Brad Boxberger are also in the mix at the end of games. Fulmer's fantasy value would obviously increase if he's seeing regular save opportunities.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Joining Cubs' bullpen
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Fulmer agreed to a contract with the Cubs on Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
The terms of the deal are not yet known. Fulmer's velocity and strikeouts were down a bit in 2022 but he remained mostly effective, posting a 3.39 ERA and 61:28 K:BB over 63.2 innings for the Tigers and Twins. The 29-year-old has some closing experience and could be in the mix to get some saves as part of a Cubs bullpen which lacks established high-leverage options.
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Twins' Michael Fulmer: Picks up third save
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Fulmer recorded the save Thursday against the Yankees, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning in a 4-3 win.
Fulmer entered the game in the ninth inning with one out and a runner on first. He allowed a double and an intentional walk to load the bases before retiring the final two batters without allowing a run to score. It was his third save of the season and first for Minnesota. Since being acquired by the Twins before the trade deadline, he's compiled a 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB in 16 innings across 18 appearances. Jorge Lopez was used earlier in the game in a high-leverage situation, and Fulmer will likely return to his setup role for future outings.
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Twins' Michael Fulmer: Moved to Minnesota
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Fulmer was traded from the Tigers to the Twins on Tuesday in exchange for right-handed pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Fulmer gave up multiple runs several times recently, but he otherwise shined for the Tigers prior to the All-Star break. He figures to join the late-inning mix with his new squad.
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Tigers' Michael Fulmer: Charged with blown save Monday
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Fulmer allowed two runs on four hits while retiring just one batter in Monday's extra-inning loss to the Twins.
Fulmer got the bottom of the eighth inning with Detroit up 2-0 and started the frame with a strikeout. It went downhill quickly from there, however, as the righty allowed four straight singles. The final hit from Jose Miranda brought home two runs and got Fulmer out of the game, saddling him with his fourth blown save of the year. Despite the setback, Fulmer has been mostly solid this season with a 3.20 ERA and 39 strikeouts across 39.1 innings.
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Tigers' Michael Fulmer: Earns win Wednesday
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Fulmer (3-4) pitched a scoreless inning of relief and earned the win Wednesday against the Padres.
Fulmer pitched the top of the ninth with the Tigers down 3-2, then earned his third win of the season when Detroit scored twice in the bottom of the inning. The righty has pitched well this season with a 2.84 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 38 innings, and he could be someone the rebuilding Tigers decide to move before the trade deadline next week. Fulmer is set to become a free agent after the season.
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Tigers' Michael Fulmer: Suffers fourth loss
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Fulmer (2-4) allowed two runs on two hits while retiring two batters and took the loss Friday against the Guardians. He walked two and struck out one.
Fulmer has been good this season but the righty didn't have his best stuff Friday, allowing an earned run for the first time in his last six outings. Fulmer actually made it through all of June without allowing an earned run, and he still has a strong 2.38 ERA for the year despite the hiccup. The 29-year-old should remain one of Detroit's better relief options in front of closer Gregory Soto.
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Tigers' Michael Fulmer: Takes tough-luck loss Sunday
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Fulmer (2-3) allowed two unearned runs while retiring two batters and took the loss in Sunday's contest against the White Sox.
Fulmer was on his way to three straight flyouts in the eighth inning, but Robbie Grossman misplayed a ball, allowing Luis Robert to get to second. The Tigers then intentionally walked Jose Abreu and called on Gregory Soto from the bullpen. Soto proceeded to allow both inherited runners to score, saddling Fulmer with a tough-luck loss. The righty has been solid this year despite the losing record, as he now has a 1.93 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 32 strikeouts across 32.2 innings. Fulmer also has two saves in four opportunities, though Soto seems to have a pretty firm grip on the closer role at the moment.
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Tigers' Michael Fulmer: Picks up save
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Fulmer earned a save with a scoreless inning in Friday's win over the White Sox. He gave up a hit and struck out one batter.
Fulmer plunked Tim Anderson and gave up a single to AJ Pollock but he was able to retire the next two batters to finish off the 7-5 win. He's allowed just one earned run over his last 16.2 frames, lowering his season ERA to 1.97 alongside two saves and 15 holds. Closer Gregory Soto didn't pitch Friday after throwing 21 pitches in Thursday's win over the White Sox.
