My passion for fantasy baseball began to grow in 1992. After Sid Bream slid (allegedly) safely into home, sending my Pirates into a decades' long run of futility, I went into a deep-middle school depression. I couldn't even play kickball for months. I also was left without a relevant MLB team to cheer. Over the years, I naturally gravitated towards the fantasy game. And while taking statistics courses in Texas as I worked on my PhD, I lost my mind for statistical applications to baseball, and have no desire to get it back. I've competed in all types of formats and find myself intrigued by spotting value, especially when it comes to prospects and up-and-coming major leaguers. There's nothing quite like signing Craig Kimbrel and Mike Trout the year before they rose to superstardom, and watching your buy-low investments soar in value.
Kolten Wong(2B-STL): Kolten Wong went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk vs. the Rays. With all of his well-documented struggles, it's easy to forget that Wong was the 22nd overall pick in the 2011 First Year Player Draft....
Patrick Corbin(SP-ARI): Patrick Corbin won after allowing one run on four hits (one homer) and two walks with six strikeouts over eight innings against the Mets. Corbin induced 13 groundouts in another solid performance to even his mark at 11-11...
Blake Snell(SP-TB): Blake Snell won after allowing two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over seven shutout innings vs. the Mariners. Some day I believe Blake Snell will be a solid number two fantasy option, and he flashed that...
J.T. Realmuto(C-MIA): J.T. Realmuto went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer against the Mets. At catcher you have Sanchez, Posey, Contreras, and then? Maybe it's Realmuto, who moved his season line to .292/.351/.468 with 14 homers, six steals, 54 runs,...
Javier Baez(INF-CHC): Javier Baez went 2-for-4 with a 2-run homer and two runs against the D-backs. The 24-year-old has been picking up the pace, collection at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 games. With regular reps thanks...
Alex Bregman(3B/SS-HOU): Alex Bregman went 1-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs and two walks against the White Sox out of the leadoff spot. While Bregman has disappointed fantasy owners who drafted him with a top-10 round pick, the 23-year-old looks...
Lucas Duda(1B/DH-TB): Lucas Duda went 2-for-4 with a double a two runs against the Astros and has now hit in all five games he has played with the Rays. Duda should continue to see everyday at-bats at DH and 1B...
Andrew McCutchen(OF-PIT): Andrew McCutchen went 3-for-3 with three solo homers, four runs and two walks against the Padres. After posting a .317 wOBA in April and a .290 wOBA in May, Cutch has responded with .495 and .384 marks in...
Kevin Gausman(SP-BAL): Kevin Gausman won after allowing seven hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over 8 2/3 scoreless innings against the Rangers. The right-hander has been working on varying speeds more in his sequencing and it's paying off, as...
Nomar Mazara(OF-TEX): Nomar Mazara went 3-for-4 with three doubles, two runs and two RBIs vs. the Orioles. Development rarely follows a linear path, and it certainly isn't doing so in Mazara's case as the sophomore has seen a slight downtown...
Carlos Santana(1B/DH-CLE): Carlos Santana went 2-for-3 with two solo homers, three runs and a walk vs. the Reds. At 12 homers and a .182 ISO, Santana is well behind 2016's monster pace of 34 homers and a .239 ISO. Look...
Josh Bell(1B/OF-PIT): Bell went 4-for-6 with a double, one run and four RBIs against the Rockies. Bell has slugged .480, posting 17 homers and 52 RBIs through 95 games this season. And I think the best has yet to arrive...
Kris Bryant(3B-CHC): Kris Bryant went 4-for-5 with two homers, a triple, three runs and four RBI Friday vs. the Pirates. While Bryant's surface stats lag behind last year's, the peripherals suggest that positive regression has arrived and is here to...
Jeff Hoffman(SP-COL): Jeff Hoffman won after allowing three runs on four hits (two homers) and three walks with four strikeouts over seven innings vs. the Reds. The right-hander entered the contest having allowed 14 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings...
Gio Gonzalez(SP-WAS): Gonzalez lost after allowing one run on two hits (one homer) and five walks with eight strikeouts over six innings vs. the Cubs. While the surface stats looks great, the peripherals indicate that Gonzalez makes for a great...
Trey Mancini(1B/OF-BAL): Mancini went 1-for-4 with a solo homer against the Rays. I've been a believer in Mancini and see him as a must-start in all standard leagues. However, I also see regression coming in the BABIP (.396 currently) and...
Mike Foltynewicz(SP-ATL): Folty won after allowing one run on four hits (one homer) and three walks with nine strikeouts over five innings vs. the Brewers. The right-hander continues to show flashes of dominance, but overall, the indicators suggest a limited...
Hector Neris(RP-PHI): Neris blew his second save after allowing one run on two hits and one walk over one inning vs. the D-backs. The right-hander looked to have righted the ship in late-May, but he has allowed runs in three...
Daniel Norris(SP-DET): Norris won after allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over six innings vs. the Rays. The left-hander hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in a start since May 19, a time...
Sean Manaea(SP-OAK): Sean Manaea won after allowing two runs on four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over six innings Monday vs. the Blue Jays. He has arrived. The left-hander hasn't allowed more than two earned runs since May...
Elvis Andrus(SS-TEX): Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus went 3-for-5 with a homer, a double, two runs scored and five RBIs vs. the Rays. Andrus is the number one shortstop on most player rating systems so far thanks to the power spike...
Trea Turner(INF-WAS): Nationals shortstop Trea Turner went 0-for-5, moving his season line to .241/.270/.412 with five homers and 11 steals in 40 games. Pitchers are adjusting to Turner with deployment and sequencing, and as a result, the speedster has struggled...
Jimmy Nelson(SP-MIL): Jimmy Nelson won after allowing one run on seven hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts over seven innings vs. the D-backs. Nelson is limiting left-handers to a .310 wOBA. And he's posting a 2.56 BB/9 rate. In...
Vince Velasquez(SP-PHI): Vince Velazquez lost after allowing five runs on seven hits (one homer) and two walks with six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings Saturday against the Pirates. While VV's 5.98 ERA/4.11 xFIP indicate he's been unlucky, the right-hander has...
Scott Schebler(OF-CIN): Scott Schebler went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo homer vs. the Giants. Schebler is taking full advantage of a full-time gig and is making gains across the board. He has increased his fly ball rate, hard...
Ervin Santana(SP-MIN): Ervin Santana won after allowing two hits and five walks with four strikeouts over seven shutout innings vs. the Indians. While Santana continues to deliver elite fantasy value, his peripherals suggest a major course correction looms. The veteran...
Alex Cobb(P-TB): Cobb lost after allowing two runs on four hits (one homer) and two walks with three strikeouts over eight innings vs. the Jays. Cobb has shown some encouraging signs and has given us reasons for concern. On the...
Yuli Gurriel(1B/3B-HOU): Gurriel went 3-for-4 with a homer, a double, two RBI, and two runs scored vs. the A's. After getting off to a sluggish start, Gurriel has picked up the pace at the plate, moving his line to .347/.365/.514...
Kenta Maeda(SP-LAD): Maeda lost after allowing six runs on nine hits (four homers) and one walk with five strikeouts over five innings vs. the D-backs. Reports out of LA suggest Maeda may miss his next start to work out kinks...
Robbie Ray (SP-ARI): Ray took the no-decision after allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks with 10 strikeouts over six innings vs. the Dodgers. Outside of Vince Velasquez, is there a more frustrating pitcher to own...
Ryan Schimpf(3B-SD): Schimpf went 1-for-2 with a solo homer, two walks, and two runs scored. When it comes to OBP and points leagues, Schmipt could be one of fantasy's best-kept secrets. He is truly turning into a true three-outcome guy,...
Daniel Norris (SP-DET): Norris won after allowing two hits and four walks with five strikeouts across six scoreless innings. After experiencing dead arm during his last spring start, Norris has come out of the shoot looking like the breakout we...
Steven Souza (OF-TB): Steven Souza went 1-for-2 with a three-run homer, two walks, and two runs scored. Sign me up for the Souza train! The Rays gave up quite a haul to acquire Souza's services before the 2015 season, but...
Michael Saunders (OF-PHI): Saunders went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, two RBI, and three runs scored on Saturday vs. the Nats. Saunders was off to a 1-10 start before the breakout performance and even sat against a lefty earlier...
Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Notes: Uncertainty Surrounding Jung Ho Kang Jung Ho Kang has been denied a work visa and remains in limbo in South Korea. Reports suggest that a possible DUI arrest in a third country may be a reason...
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...