Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Notes: How Can a Super Nova Go Unnoticed? Ivan Nova tossed two scoreless innings, inducing four groundball outs against the Twins on Tuesday. The former Yankee is going as the 72nd SP off the board in early

Philadelphia Phillies Spring Notes: Tommy Isn't a Regular Jo(seph) Assuming he is over the wrist tendinitis that plagued him over the winter (and all indications suggest that he is), Tommy Joseph is ready to destroy baseballs in 2017. After an

Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Notes: Just Like the GM Drew It Up Pirates GM Neil Huntington recently indicated that he sees Drew Hutchison breaking camp in the rotation unless Tyler Glasnow wows this spring. Knowing how the budget-conscious Pirates operate and

Archie Bradley (P-ARI): Archie Bradley won after allowing two runs on seven hits and no walks with 11 strikeouts over seven innings vs. the Padres. While his 5.02 masks it, Bradley has taken a huge step forward in his development

Ivan Nova (P-PIT): Ivan Nova took the no-decision after allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in a rain shortened affair vs. the Pirates. Nova finishes the year with a 3.71 xFIP and a

Carlos Rodon (P-CHW): Carlos Rodon won after allowing two hits and three walks with 11 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings vs. the Indians. Rodon threw 73 of his 108 pitches for strikes and induced eight groundball outs in an important

Robbie Ray (P-ARI): Robbie Ray lost after allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings vs. the Orioles. With the Orioles struggling against lefties and Ray thriving on the Road,

Daniel Norris (SP-DET): Daniel Norris won after allowing one earned run on five hits and one walk with six strikeouts over five innings vs. the Indians. Jon Gray better watch out, because there is a new man crush alert in

Jon Gray (SP-COL): Jon Gray struck out 16 in a four-hit, complete-game shutout at home vs. the Padres. What a breakout season 2016 has been for Gray, who now has a 172:53 K:BB ratio with a 3.57 xFIP through 158

James Paxton (SP-SEA): James Paxton, who pitched through a torn fingernail, allowed two runs one five hits and two walks with three strikeouts over six innings against the A's. While Paxton has been extremely inconsistent in 2016, his upside makes

Josh Bell (1B-PIT): Josh Bell went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, a RBI and two runs scored, but the Pirates fell short to the Reds. When the Pirates went way over slot to sign Bell away from his commitment

Jake Lamb (3B-ARI): Jake Lamb went 2-for-5, hitting his 27th homer to lead the D-backs. While Lamb's average and home run rate have fallen off in the second half, his peripherals suggest that he's been the victim of bad luck,

Corey Dickerson (OF-TB): Corey Dickerson went 2-for-4 with a homer, a double, a walk, three RBIs and two runs scored. Look for the effort as a sign of things to come, as Dickerson's .268 BABIP is 55 points below his

Anthony DeSclafani (SP-CIN): Anthony DeSclafani tossed a complete game, 4-hit shutout with nine strikeouts against the D-backs. The right-hander has pitched well since his activation from the DL, posting a 22 percent strikeout rate to go along with a 5

Robbie Ray (SP-ARI): Robbie Ray struck out 13 Padres over seven innings of one-run, one-hit, one-walk ball in earning the win. With the effort the lefty moved his K/9 rate to 11.19 over 140 innings, and although his ERA sits

Jake Arrieta (SP-CHC): Jake Arrieta allowed five earned runs in 5 2/3 innings, but picked up the win. While the surface stats have looked better in the second half, the underlying indicators tell a different story. Arrieta has been thriving

Paulo Orlando (OF-KC): Royals center fielder Paulo Orlando went 4-for-5 with a homer, a triple, a walk, three RBIs and three runs scored Sunday vs. the Twins. Orlando is seizing everyday at-bats for the Royals as they assess what they

Jung Ho Kang (INF-PIT): Jung Ho Kang hit a two-run homer as part of a 2-for-2 night. Since a respectable May and June, Kang has posted monthly wOBAs below .260. His .261 BABIP looks extremely underrepresented given his 41 percent

Andrew Miller (RP-CLE): The Yankees traded uber-reliever Andrew Miller to the Indians for a prospect haul that included Clint Frazier. Miller has allowed seven earned runs in 45 innings with a 77:7 K:BB ratio. He has allowed a miniscule 22

Jake Barrett (P-ARI): Jake Barrett picked up his third save, a four-out one, after allowing one earned run against the Dodgers. While Barrett has been hit hard at times as indicated by his 34 percent hard hit rate, he has

Hernan Perez (3B/OF-MIL): Hernan Perez, who has nabbed full time AB's since the Aaron Hill trade, went 2-for-4, drove in a run, and stole his 12th base. Perez has a 43% chase-rate and a 24% strikeout-rate to go with a

Ryan Schimpf (2B-SD): Ryan Schimpf went 1-for-3 with two runs and one walk as he continues to log regular playing time for the Padres. While Schimpf has displayed questionable contact and bat-to-ball skills throughout his MiLB career, he has done

Byron Buxton (OF-MIN): While the Twins bats squeaked out the win, Bryon Buxton continued to struggle, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. The former top-prospect now carries a 9:70 BB:K ratio in 182 plate appearances with one homer and seven steals.

Stephen Piscotty (OF-STL): Stephen Piscotty went 2-for-3, scored 1 run, drove in 2, and added 1 walk to lead the Cardinals. The super sophomore now carries a .374 wOBA and a 135 wRC+ and is establishing himself as one of

Ben Revere (OF-WAS): Ben Revere went 1-for-5 with 1 run and 1 RBI to help back Max Scherzer against the Mets. 2016 has been a nightmare for Revere, who carries a .225/.269/.303 line into today's contest. He's only 10 for

Lonnie Chisenhall (3B-CLE): Lonnie Chisenhall hit his 6th homer of the season to push his OPS to .829. He's posting career-highs in hard hit and line drive rates and is holding his own against lefties, upping his wOBA to over

Joe Ross (SP-WAS): Joe Ross allowed 4 earned runs on 10 hits in 5 and 1/3 innings against the Reds. The super sophomore continues to struggle and his 3.93 xFIP suggests more regression could be on the way. Despite an

Julio Teheran (SP-ATL): Julio Teheran tossed 8 scoreless innings and struck out 7 Mets, but the Braves' pen and bats let him down. While Teheran's 3.99 xFIP indicates he has been a bit fortunate, he has also made real strides

Tyler Flowers (C-ATL): Tyler Flowers hit his 4th homer of the season to spark the Braves to victory over the Mets. While Flowers continues to strike out at a 33% clip, he's made some quiet offensive gains across the board.

Francisco Liriano (SP-PIT): While Jake Arrieta did Jake Arrieta things to the Pirates, Francisco Liriano did Francisco Liriano things to the Cubs, walking 5 and allowing 4 earned runs in 5 and 2/3 innings. While Liriano has been unfortunate with

Kevin Pillar (OF-TOR): Kevin Pillar hit home run numbers 6 and 7 as part of a 3-for-5 night. Be careful about buying a second-half resurgence. While Pillar is on pace for a 15/15 season, his counting-stat upside is limited by

Jackie Bradley Jr. (OF-BOS): JBJ greeted Kyle Gibson with a 3-run homer, his 10th of the season, leading the Red Sox' 15-run assault. Bradley has posted a .410 wOBA and 158 wRC+ through 234 plate appearances with 10 homers, 5

Chris Sale (SP-CHW): Despite picking up his 10th win of the season, Chris Sale struggled yet again, allowing 5 earned runs on 11 hits in 6 innings against the Royals. I'm concerned. While he has kept the hard hit rate

Corey Ray (OF-MIL): While the night slate was beginning the Brewers took Louisville's Corey Ray with the #5 pick, a bat all keeper league players should keep in mind for 2017. While scouts continue to debate his defensive skills and

Robbie Ray (SP-ARI): RR continued to struggle at home and against righties, allowing 5 earned runs on 8 hits and 3 walks in 4 and 1/3 innings against the Rays. He has allowed a wOBA north of .400 against righties

Michael Wacha (SP-STL): The Giants roughed up Michael Wacha to the tune of 4 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings, but the Cardinal bats took him off the hook for a no-decision. Wacha has endured

Danny Duffy (SP-KC): Danny Duffy dominated the White Sox for 5 innings before coming unglued in a 6th inning that saw him allow 5 earned runs on a pair of homers. The former prospect has elicited divisive opinions across the

Sam Dyson (RP-TEX): Sam Dyson picked up his 3rd save of the season in his first attempt as the Rangers designated closer although he allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run in the process. While Dyson induces groundballs 69% of

Mark Foltynewicz (SP-ATL): The hard-throwing righty tossed 8 scoreless innings, striking out 4 without allowing a walk in a winning effort against the Royals. In fact, Folty hasn't allowed a free pass in his last two starts. While his 97%

Chase Utley (2B-LAD): While Kershaw was doing his thing, Chase Utley backed him with a 3-for-4 performance that included his 2nd homer of the season. Utley has been drinking from the Fountain of Youth in 2016, posting a 14:19 BB:K

Jon Gray (SP-COL): Gray painted the black yesterday, striking out 5 Giants and allowing only 3 baserunners through 7 scoreless in another masterful effort on the road that was once again fueled by a confidence in his curveball. For the

Michael Conforto (OF-NYM): Conforto went 3 for 4 with 2 runs and 3 RBI, hitting his 4th homer of the year to lead the Mets over the Giants. While there will be some regression from his current .365/.442/.676 line, don't

Dee Gordon (2B-MIA): Flash broke the internet with news of his testing positive for PED's and will immediately begin serving an 80-game suspension. Derek Dietrich figures to see the lion's share of duty at 2B, with Miguel Rojas also receiving

Mike Moustakas (3B-KC): Continuing to validate his 2015 power surge, Mike Moustakas hit his 6th homer of the year Friday as part of a 3-for-4 night to lead the Royals over the O's. In 67 plate appearances the Mouse has

Javier Baez (UTIL-CHC): Baez (thumb) returned to the lineup with a bang, knocking out 2 hits in 4 AB's and scoring 1 run to provide more than enough support to Jake Arrieta. Baez was 4 for 17 with 1 HR

Jeanmar Gomez (SP-PHI): Gomez preserved the W for the Phillies to earn his 2nd consecutive save, enticing fantasy players to spend those FAAB dollars. Three issues, however, led me to limit my bids to less than 5% of my total

Chris Archer (SP-TB): The Orioles torched Chris Archer for 6 earned runs while racking up 10 hits and 2 walks across his 5 innings. While he has been quite unfortunate through 2 starts (7.20 ERA/2.91 xFIP) and has struck out

Pittsburgh Pirates What a Juan-derful Spring for Nicasio Juan Nicasio is competing for one of the final two rotation spots with Jeff Locke and Ryan Vogelsong and is making the decision for the Pirates brass quite difficult. After dominating the

At Fantistics we love to look at a hitter's batted ball profile--the type of contact they are making--in order to project the trajectory of those surface statistics that matter in fantasy, such as batting average and home runs. After adding

Philadelphia Phillies My Cousin Vinny Vincent Velasquez, the centerpiece in the trade that sent Ken Giles to Houston, tossed 3 scoreless innings on Monday, getting off to a solid start in his bid to make the opening day rotation. He

Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Storylines: GP Are You With Me? Gregory Polanco is poised for a breakout season, and as the 96th player off the board on AVG in the NFBC so far, we see significant value here. His 2015 .256/.320/.381

Carlos Rodon (SP-CHW): The lefty posted a typical Carlos-Rodon start, allowing 2 earned runs in 6 innings in earning his 9th win while also walking 5 Yankees. His BB-rate, which is hovering around the 12% mark, continues to hold him

Julio Teheran (SP-ATL): Julio Teheran continued to thrive towards the season's finish line, allowing 1 earned run on 5 hits and 1 hit and striking out 8 across 8 and 1/3 innings against the Phillies. Teheran has been slightly unfortunate

Lorenzo Cain (OF-KC): Lorenzo Cain should be raising more eyebrows with his breakout 2015. The burgeoning star hit 2 homers in a losing effort, going 3 for 4 with 2 runs, 2 RBI, and 1 BB. With 16 homers, 27

Odubel Herrera (OF-PHI): Odubel Herrera, the Rule 5 pick from the Rangers, continued to impress with the Phillies, going 3 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 BB from the leadoff spot, although it wasn't enough to tame the red-hot

Blake Swihart (C-BOS): Blake Swihart went 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 1 RBI, hitting an inside-the-park homer to fuel the Red Sox to an extra-inning victory. While most catching prospects take several years to develop offensively, we may

Francisco Lindor (SS-CLE): Lindor continued to show that his "bat" is rapidly approaching his "glove," as the rookie went 3 for 4 with 1 run and 3 RBI to push his season line to .306/.341/.433. He is posting marks close

Raisel Iglesias (SP-CIN): While Chase Anderson picked up the win, Raisel Iglesias stole the show, striking out 13 and allowing 1 earned run in 7 strong innings against the Diamondbacks. Iglesias, who has posted 5 straight quality-starts, is demonstrating better

Adam Eaton (OF-CHW): Eaton continued his scorching second half, going 2 for 4 and hitting a 2-run homer, his 10th of the season. He has posted a .420 wOBA since the break and is starting to deliver on the promise

Jimmy Nelson (SP-MIL): While he earned the no-decision and allowed 4 earned runs, Jimmy Nelson continued to demonstrate development. He has improved his chase, swinging strike, and contact rates, and while his control has lagged behind, Nelson has shown flashes

Henry Owens (SP-BOS): Owens allowed 3 earned runs and struck out 5 in 5 innings in what was a respectable debut. While scouts love the stuff that he wields from his 6'6" frame, many are unsure if he'll ever develop

Matt Wisler (P-ATL): The rookie picked up his 5th win after allowing 2 earned runs and striking out 3 in 7 innings. While Wisler has plenty of long-term upside, temper expectations for the remainder of 2015. He isn't missing enough

J.D. Martinez (OF-DET): J.D. hit his 27th homer of the season as part of a 2-for-5, 3-run, 2-RBI effort. The league average speed off bat mark doesn't support Martinez' 23% HR/FB rate; additionally, his 16% swinging-strike rate, 70% contact rate,

Michael Conforto (OF-NYY): Conforto went 2 for 2 and scored a run in the Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game. Many Mets' fans are clamoring for his promotion, and given the injuries and struggles with the big club (sorry, Kirk Nieuwenhuis),

Carlos Correa (SS-HOU): The Astros, lead by rookie sensation Carlos Correa's 6th homer, dropped a 12-spot on the Red Sox. What an incredible start it has been for one of the game's top prospects; can it continue? His 3:20 BB:K

Curtis Granderson (OF-NYM): Curtis Granderson continued to drink from the fountain of youth, as the veteran went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI in game 2 of the doubleheader. What a resurgence 2015 has been for the Grandyman! The underlying numbers back

Mookie Betts (OF-BOS): Mookie Betts stayed hot, going 4 for 5 with 1 RBI and 1 SB to back Eduardo Rodriguez and lead the Red Sox' trouncing of the Royals. Betts has 19 hits in 16 June games, a run

Vincent Velasquez (SP-HOU): Velasquez didn't allow a run through 5 innings, but he walked 4 and was pulled after 89 pitches. The future is now in Houston and Velasquez likely bought himself some time to prove himself in the rotation.

Hector Santiago (SP-LAA): Santiago fell prey to the regression monster on Wednesday, as the lefty allowed 5 earned runs on 5 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings, only striking out 3 Rays. Interestingly enough, the monster left some meat

Carlos Martinez (SP-STL): Martinez--pitching with a heavy heart on Oscar Taveras Day--tossed 7 scoreless innings and struck out 8 to pick up the W against the Dodgers. He has been inconsistent, but after his recent hot streak Martinez has moved

Chris Archer (SP-TB): The Archer was pulled after an 8-inning, 2-hit, 12-K gem off his own, but the bullpen let him down. You want to talk about a young arm elevating his game to ace status right before our eyes!

Chris Young (SP-KC): The Chris Young train continued to roll on Friday night, as the lanky Royal tossed 6 scoreless innings to bring his ERA to a miniscule .78 in earning his 4th win. And with that, now is the

Cody Allen (RP-CLE): Allen saved his 5th game of the season by tossing a scoreless 9th, securing the win for Kluber as the beleaguered closer continues to search for his 2014 form. While he has been unfortunate with a 8.25

Jayson Werth (OF-WAS): Werth (shoulder) returned to the lineup with a bang, as the ailing veteran went 2 for 4 and hit his 1st homer of the season. Before the game, Werth told reporters from the Washington Post that the

Adrian Beltre (3B-TEX): The Rangers erupted for 11 runs against the Astros, and Adrian Beltre played a pivotal part in the process, going 3 for 5 with 2 runs. While the surface numbers aren't pretty--.236/.282/.382--and have many screaming age decline,

Austin Hedges (C-SD): Reports out of San Diego project that the Padres will call up Austin Hedges on Monday for part time duties to occasionally spell Derek Norris. While his bat has always lagged behind his prowess behind the

Devon Travis (2B-TOR): Devon Travis (ribs) returned to the lineup with a vengeance, as the rookie hit his 4th homer of the year and stole his 1st base to lead the Jays' humbling of Ubaldo Jimenez. You have to love

Wil Myers (OF-SD): Remember me, he said sardonically to a baseball world focused on the hype surrounding Kris Bryant. The he, in this case, is none other than Wil Myers, a forgotten former top prospect who hit a game-winning 3-run

Kris Bryant (3B-CHC): It's official: the Cubs are calling up Kris Bryant today, thus beginning a new era in the windy city. He only posted a 1.042 OPS in 7 AAA games with 3 homers to start the season, actually

With opening night rapidly approaching, the pictures with positional battles and injury concerns are slowly but surely growing more lucid. Devon Travis (2B-TOR): The Blue Jays officially named Devon Travis as their starting 2B on Tuesday. And the crowd goes

Archie Bradley and As The Diamonbacks' Rotation Turns A day after general manager Dave Stewart declared that Bradley wasn't "Major League Ready," the former top pitching prospect tossed 4 solid innings, allowing 2 unearned runs on 5 hits while striking

A frequent topic on the Fantistics Insider Baseball Show on Sirius XM Fantasy this spring--besides my love for Mookie Betts--has been the type of contact a batter makes. Knowing if linedrives, groundballs, and flyballs are being hit and at what

Pittsburgh Pirates: Should We Be "Jung Ho" About Kang? There is "zero intent" to start Jung Ho Kang in the minors. This is according to Pirates' General Manager Neil Huntington, who shared his thoughts about the KBO shortstop adjusting to

With the candles burning out from the Valentine's Day festivities (for me, it was because my power went out) and catchers and pitchers soon to be reporting to camp, we know that drafting season is about to accelerate. In other

Carlos Carrasco (SP-CLE): Despite taking the loss Carlos Carrasco continued to dominate the opposition, as he struck out 10 Rays and allowed only 1 earned run on 4 hits and 3 walks across 7 and 2/3 innings. Carrasco now has

A.J. Pollock (OF-ARI): Pollock went 1 for 4 and stole his 14th base. His season line now sits at .307/.353/.512. He makes for an intriguing breakout pick for 2015, and depending on where the ADP's move, could end up being

Steve Pearce (1B-BAL): Pearce hit his 17th homer of what has been a tremendous season for the veteran slugger. Even though the O's fell to the Yankees, they have to feel at ease even after losing Chris Davis for the

Jean Segura (SS-MIL): Jean Segura is quietly putting some things together to close 2014, as the beleaguered speedster went 1 for 3 with 2 runs and a stolen base. It's tough not to look at the disappointing numbers across the

Danny Salazar (SP-CLE): Salazar followed Miguel Gonzalez with his own CGSO, shutting down the Tigers in allowing 8 hits and striking out 9. Impressively, the frequently wild Salazar didn't walk a single batter in the effort as he outshined Justin

Aaron Sanchez (RP-TOR): tossed two scoreless innings of his own to pick up his first career save as the Jays bypassed Casey Janssen. A closer controversy could be brewing north of the border. After showing flashes of dominance in the

Zack Wheeler (SP-NYM): While Julio Teheran grabbed most of the headlines with his quality start and win, Zack Wheeler tossed yet another quality start of his own, allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits and 3 walks and adding 7

Ken Giles (RP-PHI): Ken Giles struck out the side in the 8th and picked up his 3rd win of the season. The man who many have dubbed as the closer of the future for the Phillies has now posted a

Tommy Medica (1B/OF-SD): Tommy Medica went 2 for 5 with 1 run and 1 RBI to spark the Padres to victory. Those scouts and evaluators who worried about his long swing looked at his power numbers in the minors--19 in

J.P. Arencibia (C/1B-TEX): J.P. Arencibia hit his 4th homer of the season to provide the lone spark for the punchless Rangers offense. With Geovany Soto likely out for a month, look for Arencibia to see regular playing time. Arencibia is

Ian Kennedy (SP-SD): Ian Kennedy picked up his 8th win after tossing another quality start, this time against the lowly Cubs lineup. He allowed 3 earned runs on 3 hits and 5 walks while adding 6 strikeouts. Many have raised

Michael Brantley (OF-CLE): In the middle of his breakout season, Michael Brantley logged a 2-for-4, 1-run, 2-RBI night to lead the Tribe over the Yankees. Brantley now has a .911 OPS and a .398 wOBA to go with 14 homers,

Jean Segura (SS-MIL): Jean Segura continued his 2014 struggles with another 0-for-4 night. There are a number of ways to capture Segura's ineptitude at the plate, but the fact that his wOBA has plummeted 74 points from last season says

Rick Porcello (SP-DET): Rick Porcello showed the upside that has teased us all for years, tossing a complete-game shutout against the Rangers. He allowed only 3 hits and 3 walks and added 6 strikeouts in the 115-pitch effort to pick

Tim Lincecum (SP-SF): Tim Lincecum no-hit the Padres yet again, striking out 6 and walking 1 in an incredibly masterful 113-pitch outing to pick up his 6th win of the season. While Lincecum can be maddening to own with his

Brock Holt (3B/OF-BOS): Brock Holt continued his impressive 2014 campaign with a 2 for 4, 2 RBI night to lead Jon Lester and the Red Sox over the Indians. Holt has posted a .336/.373/.466 line through 32 games with 17

Tanner Roark (SP-WAS): Tanner Roark tossed 6 strong innings and, thanks in large part to Jayson Werth, picked up the win against Matt Cain and the Giants. Roark allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits (0 walks) and added 4

Xander Bogaerts (SS-BOS): Xander Bogaerts continues to heat up at the plate. The Aruban sensation went 3 for 5 with 1 run and 1 RBI to lead the Red Sox to their 4th straight victory. He has pushed his season

Tommy LaStella (2B-ATL): Tommy LaStella made his Major League Debut for the Braves and was one of the lone bright spots against John Lackey, lacing 2 singles in 4 AB's. After the struggles with Dan Uggla and Tyler Pastornicky, the

Zach Britton (RP-BAL): Zach Britton pitched a 1-2-3 9th on Thursday to pick up his first career save. Even though Tommy Hunter warmed in the pen, Buck Showalter let Britton finish the job against two right-handed batters, a significant sign

Domonic Brown (OF-PHI): Garrett Richards shut down Domonic Brown and the Phillies' bats. Brown has looked awful at the plate this year, and after the 0-for-4, 2 k performance last night, his season line now sits at .221/.282/.294. Interestingly, Brown

Grant Balfour (RP-TB): Grant Balfour rebounded to post 2 saves in the doubleheader against Boston. Despite the 2-save special, I'm concerned. He allowed 3 more baserunners in the outings, and now has allowed 18 in 12 and 1/3 innings. He

Tony Cingrani (SP-CIN): The Cubs chased Tony Cingrani after 4 innings. The lefty allowed 3 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks in 4 innings, striking out only 2. While his velocity was down yesterday, the lefty said he

Phil Hughes (SP-MIN): Phil Hughes tossed 7 strong innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits. The unpredictable veteran struck out 6 Tigers without walking a single one to pick up his 2nd win of the season. His ERA of

Chris Colabello (1B-MIN): Chris Colabello had himself quite the doubleheader against the Blue Jays, going 5 for 7 with 1 run, 4 RBI, and 1 BB to push his season line to .357/.410/.571. Stories have emerged about Colabello's adjustments during

Ervin Santana (SP-ATL): Ervin Santana logged an impressive debut for the Braves, tossing 8 shutout innings of 3-hit, 6-strikeout baseball. The righty was quite efficient in the outing, only needing 88 pitches, inducing plenty of groundballs and working the whole

Marcus Semien (3B-CHW): Marcus Semien went 1 for 4, belting his 1st homer of the season. All totaled he scored 2 runs, drove in 2, and added a walk. This is a welcomed sight for Semien and his owners, and

B.J. Upton (OF-ATL): B.J. Upton went 1 for 4 with 2 K's and 1 SB. Through 3 games, Upton is 1 for 12 with 6 K's and 0 BB's and looks to be carrying over the extreme contact issues he

Detroit Tigers: Eyes on the Pen With Bruce Rondon undergoing Tommy John surgery, Joba Chamberlain appears to be the primary setup man and next-in-line to closer Joe Nathan. But keep your eyes on Al Alburquerque. While his control issues were

Detroit Tigers: Bruce Rondon Developing? Bruce Rondon, who failed to seize the closing reigns this time last spring, continues to make strides with his control. He cut his BB-rate down to 9% by season's end in 2013, and through 5

Pittsburgh Pirates: The Grilli Situation Jason Grilli, who missed time last season with a flexor strain in his right forearm, is taking things at a much slower pace than other Pirate pitchers during Spring Training. According to team sources, Grilli

Pittsburgh Pirates: The Battle for Right Field Whenever your rightfielders collectively produce an OBP less than .300 and OPS+ well below 100, most organizations might ponder a trade. But, that's just not the Pirates style. Normally, the fanbase might gripe

Victor Martinez (C/DH-DET): Martinez was out of the starting lineup with a scheduled night of rest, although he did log a 0-1 night after pinch-hitting in the late innings. VMart has incredibly moved his season line to a solid .301/.355/.430

Michael Wacha (SP-STL): Wacha was 1-out away from a no-hitter but Ryan Zimmerman broke it up with a single. The rookie finished with 9 K's and 2 BB's in 8 and 2/3 innings, picking up his 4th win of the

Jean Segura (SS-MIL): Segura (hamstring) did not play Thursday. While he is considered day-to-day, the Brewers are going to monitor him into the weekend and may shut him down if the hammy doesn't respond positively. It had already been a

Marcus Semien (2B/3B-CHW): Semien went 2 for 5 with 1 run and 1 SB. He has started 3 consecutive games, rotating between 2B and 3B, and has gone 4 for his last 8. Semien posted a .903 OPS at AA

Mark Melancon (RP-PIT): Melancon narrowly escaped with his 13th save, allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits in the process. His .85 ERA/2.16 xFIP coming in to the contest alluded to such regression popping up. With that being said, it's

Will Middlebrooks (3B-BOS): Middlebrooks hit his 14th homer of the season as part of a 2-for-5, 2-run night at the plate. He has definitely made some adjustments in the second half, posting a 8:18 BB:K ratio through 22 games compared

Lance Lynn (SP-STL): The Reds roughed up Lynn, blasting three homers and scoring 4 runs across 5 innings to serve him his 10th loss of the season. He allowed 7 hits and 4 walks, although he did strike out 6.

Jason Kubel (OF/DH-CLE): Kubel was traded to the Indians for a PTBNL and cash considerations. It has been a dreadful season so far for Kubel, who after hitting 30 homers last season with an .833 OPS, has hit only 5

Carlos Torres (SP-NYM): Torres allowed 1 earned run and struck out 6 across 6 and 2/3 innings in picking up the win. With the injuries to Jeremy Hefner and Matt Harvey and the struggles of Daisuke Matsuzaka, Torres is likely

Jonathon Niese (SP-NYM): Niese dominated the Phillies with a CGSO, allowing only 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 5 in picking up his 6th win of the season. Niese has now given up only 6 earned runs in

Torii Hunter (OF-DET): Hunter continued to swim in the fountain of youth, going 2-for-5 and hitting his 14th homer of the season. Hunter's .306/.341/.471 line with 66 RBI and 77 runs through 114 games puts him at 19th on ESPN's

Daisuke Matsuzaka (SP-NYM): Matsuzaka, who signed with the Mets on Thursday, is scheduled to start today against the Tigers. Dice-K sported a 95:39 K:BB ratio and a 3.92 ERA through 103 and 1/3 innings at AAA this season. He displayed

Kyle Seager (3B-SEA): Kyle Seager continued his solid 2013, belting a 2-run homer, his 18th of the year, to help lead the M's over the Rangers. His line now sits at .283/.353/.467 with 6 steals, 56 RBI, and 66 runs

Kolten Wong (INF-STL): The Cardinals announced they will call up Kolten Wong from AAA Memphis before Friday's game. Wong was hitting .303/.369/.466 with 10 homers and 20 steals in 107 games. While these numbers are inflated by the PCL, scouts

Justin Maxwell (OF-KC): Maxwell logged a 3-for-5, 2-RBI, 2-run night and hit his 5th homer of the year to help bail out Ervin Santana. Maxwell has been red hot since joining the Royals and while he was supposed to platoon

Christian Yelich (OF-MIA): Yelich hit his first major league homer as part of a 3-for-4, 2-RBI, 2-run night. This pushed his season line to .318/.366/.439 with 5 RBI and 9 runs through 16 games. He also carries .33 EYE, a

Tom Wilhelmsen (RP-SEA): A day after he allowed 4 earned runs without recording an out, Wilhelmsen finds himself out of the closer's role, as interim manager Robby Thompson announced on Friday. Despite no discernible loss in velocity and no reported

Ian Kennedy (SP-SD): The Diamondbacks traded Ian Kennedy to the Padres for some relief help. Many believe the change of scenery bolsters his value, and while I agree, I would also tempter my expectations. Kennedy has enjoyed PETCO Park, especially

Chris Archer (SP-TB): Chris Archer was right on target again, twirling a CGSO against the Yankees. The rookie allowed only 2 hits, didn't walk a batter, and struck out 6 in picking up his 6th win of the year. While

Nelson Cruz (OF-TEX): Nelson Cruz continued his fantastic 2013 with a 4-for-5, 1-RBI, 2-run night. The slugger has posted a .280/.338/.523 line with 22 homers, 69 RBI, 42 runs, and 5 steals through 91 games and is the 11th ranked

Jarred Cosart (SP-HOU): Jared Cosart had quite the debut last night, tossing 8 scoreless innings and outdueling David Price in picking up the win. The rookie allowed 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2. Cosart's prospect star had

Andrelton Simmons (SS-ATL): Andrelton Simmons hit his 7th homer of the year as part of a 3-for-5, 2-RBI, 3-run night. Simmons has been a disappointment thus far, posting a .251/.287/.357 line through 82 games. However, he has scored a solid

Matt Wieters (C-BAL): Matt Wieters hit a 2-run homer, his 11th of the season. Wieters has been a disappointment for fantasy owners, posting a .227/.285/.404 line with 42 RBI and 30 runs through 80 games, currently placing him 17th among

Wilson Ramos (C-WAS): Wilson Ramos (hamstring), playing in his first game since May 15th, hit a crucial 3-run homer to help lead the Nationals to victory over the Brewers. He totaled 3 hits and 5 RBI in the contest and

Brad Miller (SS-SEA): Brad Miller went 0 for 3 with a BB, an RBI, and a SB in his major league debut. Miller is a divisive prospect due to his unorthodox stance, with some evaluators seeing his ceiling as a

Zoilo Almonte (OF-NYY): Zoilo Almonte shined in his first start for the Yankees, going 3 for 5 with his first career homer to lead the Bronx Bombers to victory over the Rays. Almonte isn't a highly touted prospect but he

Starlin Castro (SS-CHC): Starlin Castro went 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts to lower his season line to .232/.266/.322. After showing signs of life towards the end of last week, Castro has gone 1 for his last 16 with 5

Justin Masterson (SP-CLE): Justin Masterson was masterful in a no-decision against the Nationals, striking out 10 and allowing only 1 earned run on 2 hits and 4 walks. The effort moved Masterson into a top-20 starting pitcher on ESPN's player

Eric Hosmer (1B-KC) Eric Hosmer went 2 for 4 with 2 runs to give the lefty back-to-back multi-hit games and a .333 AVG through 6 June games. The streak has moved his season line to .270/.324/.338...anytime your slugging is .014

Kris Bryant (3B-CHC): Widely expected to go with an arm, the Chicago Cubs surprised many by selecting Kris Bryant with the #2 pick in yesterday's MLB Draft. The University of San Diego junior leads the nation with 31 homers this

C.C. Sabathia (SP-NYY): C.C. Sabathia turned in his strongest performance of the season last night to lead the Yankees over Jon Lester and the Red Sox. Sabathia tossed 7 and 1/3 innings of 1 earned run, 6 hit, 0 walk,

Jim Henderson (RP-MIL): The Brewers' closer was pulled with 2 outs in the 9th and a 1-run lead against the Pirates with an apparent hamstring injury. Francisco Rodriguez (the reliever formerly known as K-Rod) recorded the final out to pick

Kevin Gausman (SP-BAL): Kevin Gausman produced mix-results in his major league debut last night against the Blue Jays. The highly touted prospect allowed 4 earned runs on 7 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings, adding in 5 strikeouts. The

Matt Cain (SP-SF): Matt Cain struggled through 6 1/3 innings against the Rockies, but the Giants offense bailed him out for the win. The righty allowed 6 earned runs on 8 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 6 to

Jeff Samardzija (SP-CHC): Jeff Samardzija struggled through 5 innings yesterday against the Nationals, allowing 5 earned runs on 8 hits and 2 walks. While he added 5 strikeouts, the Cubs ace is now 1-5 on the year with a 3.70

Scott Kazmir (SP-CLE): Scott Kazmir turned back the clock last night, tossing an absolute gem against the Athletics. The lefty allowed only 1 earned run on 5 hits in 6 innings of work, impressively striking out 10 without walking a

Jake Peavy (SP-CHW): The White Sox have scratched Jake Peavy from today's start, his 2nd consecutive start missed due to back spasms. The club had hoped Peavy's back would respond to treatment, but it looks increasingly likely that Peavy

Bryce Harper (OF-WAS): After leaving the game in the late innings on Wednesday, Bryce Harper returned on Thursday after X-Rays on his left side came back negative. He went 0 for 4 with a walk against the Braves and

Roy Halladay (SP-PHI): The Indians' absolutely torched Roy Halladay yesterday to the tune of 8 earned runs on 9 hits and 2 walks in 3 and 2/3 innings, pushing his season ERA back to 6.75. Despite averaging 91 MPH

Kyle Seager (3B-SEA). Kyle Seager continued his hot-hitting ways yesterday, going 3 for 4 with homer and 3 RBI. In his last 7 games, Seager is 13 for 25 with 3 homers, 7 RBI, 3 runs scored, and a

David Ortiz (DH-BOS): David Ortiz (heel) returned to the Red Sox lineup on Saturday, going 2 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 powerful f-bomb in his pre-game speech. John Farrell didn't hesitate in putting Ortiz back in the

Yovani Gallardo (SP-MIL). In his first start since his DUI arrest, Yovani Gallardo pitched 6 strong innings to pick up the win against the Giants on Thursday. He allowed 1 earned run on 5 hits and 1 walk with

Mark Reynolds (1B/DH-CLE): Reynolds hit his 5th homer of the year on Saturday, going 2 for 4 with a run scored, 5 RBI, and a stolen base against the White Sox. The grand slam gives the streaky righty 13

Zack Greinke (SP-LAD): Greinke broke his left collarbone during a benches clearing brawl Thursday night and is returning to LA for tests this morning. He could miss anywhere from two weeks to three months, depending on the nature and

Jose Bautista (OF-TOR): Bautista (ankle) sat for a second straight game on Saturday and continues to be day-to-day as the Jays are taking a cautious approach with the slugger. This is quite frustrating for fantasy owners, as Bautista looked

Jose Valverde (RP-DET): Valverde signed a minor league contract with the Tigers yesterday afternoon. The contract reportedly has no major league commitment and will have him report to extended spring training before moving to AAA Toledo. Also, if Valverde

Chris Davis (1B-BAL): Davis had a monster game on Wednesday, going 4 for 4 with a home run, 4 RBI, and 2 runs scored. He has homered in back-to-back games to start the season and is looking primed to

David Ortiz (DH-BOS): Reports out of Red Sox camp indicate that Big Papi's rehab of his sore Achilles heels is progressing favorably. If all continues to move in the right direction Ortiz could play in a few minor league

Angels Health Update #1: Tommy Hanson Tightness in his right triceps forced him to leave before the start of the 4th inning in Wednesday's spring training game. Please excuse me when I'm not too encouraged by this, even after

Storylines Out of Angels' Camp Trout's Extra Weight Leading to Extra Concerns? The short answer: hecks no! Reports out of Angels' camp have Trout at 241 lbs., 15 more than where he was for most of last year. What

The Pirates Outfield So we know Andrew McCutchen is a fantasy beast. And then? Many are assuming that Starling Marte is going to start in LF and Travis Snyder in RF for the Bucs in 2013. While it sure