Hunter Renfroe, Franmil Reyes Destined To Split Playing Time

Two San Diego Padres outfielders with uncertain roles in 2019 are Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes. With Manuel Margot and Franchy Cordero competing in center field and Wil Myers manning a corner spot, the outlook for Renfroe and Reyes remains cloudy. With both being right-handed power hitters, their skill sets appear redundant. Renfroe ended 2018... Read More

Matt Strahm's Growing Sleeper Appeal

San Diego Padres reliever Matt Strahm continued his dominant spring training on Sunday, fanning eight batters in four frames. Through three appearances and nine innings, Strahm holds a 0.67 WHIP and has not allowed a run. After returning from major knee surgery in 2017, Strahm worked almost exclusively as a reliever in 2018 with an... Read More

Logan Allen Drilled In Third Spring Outing

San Diego Padres starter Logan Allen was roughed up for six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings Sunday in his third spring training appearance. Considered a longshot to make the roster, the 21-year-old Allen hadn’t allowed an earned run in his prior 3 2/3 frames. The Padres No. 9 prospect is one of nine pitchers... Read More

Ian Kinsler Settling In At Leadoff Spot

Signed as a veteran to anchor a young squad, San Diego Padres second baseman Ian Kinsler is on track to bat leadoff for the Friars in 2019. Despite offensive numbers that have dipped in three consecutive seasons, Kinsler owns a career .339 on-base percentage and can still play defense at a high level. Despite the... Read More

Joey Lucchesi Sharp Through Two Appearances

Through two spring training appearances and five innings, San Diego Padres starter Joey Lucchesi holds a 1.80 ERA and 0.80 WHIP. The Friars projected Opening Day starter has been sharp and likely furthered his lead as the team’s top starter. While the rest of the rotation is uncertain, Lucchesi aims to improve on a 4.08... Read More

Travis Jankowski Out For Three Months

San Diego Padres outfielder Travis Jankowski (wrist) will undergo surgery and is expected to miss three months. Jankowski suffered a scaphoid fracture in his right wrist while diving for a fly ball last Sunday. The 27-year-old was expected to platoon in a crowded Padres outfield while contributing excellent defense and speed on the basepaths. Despite... Read More

Hamstring Issues Re-Emerge For Luis Urias

San Diego Padres infielder Luis Urias (hamstring) was scratched from Tuesday’s spring training contest. Padres manager Andy Green claims the move was precautionary but Urias has a history of hamstring ailments. Baseball’s No. 23 prospect suffered a pulled hamstring last September that ended his first taste of the big leagues. The same injury prevented him... Read More

Eric Hosmer Working On Improving Launch Angle

After posting four-year lows in home runs (18), runs (72), RBI (69) and OPS (.720) in 2018, San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer is focused on improving his swing plane. Hosmer’s -1.2 degree launch angle last season was second-worst in the majors and the veteran is working to return to career norms. Never a... Read More

Chris Paddack Wows In Spring Debut

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Chris Paddack fanned four batters in two innings in his spring training debut Tuesday. Paddack cruised through the start, allowing a hit, walk and unearned run. After missing all of 2017 to Tommy John surgery, the 23-year-old amassed a 2.10 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 35 percent strikeout rate across 90... Read More

Jose Castillo Experiencing Forearm Tightness

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Jose Castillo (forearm) was shut down Monday due to left forearm tightness. This could be an ominous sign for the Padres top left-handed bullpen arm at the onset of spring training. The 23-year-old Castillo turned heads in 2018 with a 3.29 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and spectacular 35 percent strikeout rate... Read More

2019 Points League Draft Strategy - Fantasy Baseball

When discussing fantasy baseball. An often neglected-but-entertaining format is the points league. These exist in both cumulative season-long and weekly head-to-head formats. While existential debates about scoring categories and their true depiction of player worth are endless, points leagues arguably get closest to the objective of sabermetrics. Points leagues attempt to define a player’s contribution... Read More

Alfred Morris Turns Back The Clock

San Francisco 49ers running back Alfred Morris handled 16 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Rams. Jeffery Wilson (shoulder) exited early with an injury so the veteran Morris was pressed into duty. After being relegated to the bench during the season, Sunday was Morris’ best game all... Read More

Jeffery Wilson Exits Early With Injury

San Francisco 49ers running back Jeffery Wilson (shoulder) exited Week 17’s game early with a shoulder injury and did not return. Wilson registered nine yards on three carries prior to going down. It’s a tough break for the undrafted rookie who had an opportunity to demonstrate his workhorse abilities with Matt Breida (ankle) out. After... Read More

George Kittle Makes History

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle racked up 149 yards and a touchdown on nine catches in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Rams. Kittle made history by setting the single-season yardage record for tight ends with 1,377 yards. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce broke the record just earlier in the day... Read More

Robbie Gould's Revenge Game Falls Short

San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould knocked through three field goals in Week 16 against the Chicago Bears. Facing his former team, Gould converted on all of his short field goal opportunities as the Niners failed to find the end zone. The 36-year-old has been excellent in 2018, missing only one of his 33 field... Read More

George Kittle Plays Well In Tough Matchup

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle collected seven balls on 12 targets for 74 yards in Week 16 against the Chicago Bears. His targets led the team and Kittle was able to consistently find holes in the daunting Chicago Bears secondary, including a long grab of 35 yards on the day. However, the Niners... Read More

Nick Mullens Fails To Find End Zone

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens completed 22 of 38 passes for 241 yards and an interception in Week 16 against the Chicago Bears. Despite three promising first half drives, the Niners settled for field goals and ultimately failed to score a single touchdown the entire game. Mullens never really had a chance against an... Read More

Jeffery Wilson Stuffed On 13 Touches

San Francisco 49ers running back Jeffery Wilson handled 11 carries for only 27 yards while grabbing two balls for 11 yards in Week 16. Wilson had the backfield to himself after Matt Breida (ankle) was reinjured but couldn’t get anything going against a stifling Chicago Bears defense. With Breida highly questionable for Week 17, Wilson... Read More

Matt Breida Reinjures Ankle

San Francisco 49ers running back Matt Breida (ankle) reinjured his ankle in Week 16 against the Chicago Bears. Breida totaled just four carries for 20 yards and caught a six-yard pass prior to exiting the game. The tough second-year player has worked hard to get on the field each week despite the lingering ankle issues... Read More

Clayton Richard Designated For Assignment

The San Diego Padres designated starting pitcher Clayton Richard for assignment on Thursday. The roster move was to accommodate the recent signing of second baseman Ian Kinsler on the 40-man roster. Richard, who posted a 5.33 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 158 2/3 innings last season, will be owed $3 million in 2019. This is... Read More

Richie James Returns Kickoff For Score

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Richie James Jr. returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. James’ first quarter return sparked an inspired performance by the Niners, who ultimately won in overtime. The seventh-round rookie has just five catches on the season but has been a prominent special... Read More

Marquise Goodwin Fading Into Irrelevance

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (calf) saw just one target in Week 15, netting it for seven yards. Goodwin battled a calf injury all week so it’s possible he was limited. With emerging rookie wideout Dante Pettis and stud tight end George Kittle dominating target share, Goodwin’s become a whisper in the San... Read More

Garrett Celek Makes House Call

San Francisco 49ers tight end Garrett Celek caught two passes for 61 yards and a touchdown in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. Celek’s 41-yard touchdown in the second quarter was his first catch since Week 3. His yardage total for the year spiked from 29 to 90 after the big game. The Seahawks focused... Read More

George Kittle Clears 50 Yards Again

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle grabbed three balls for 51 yards in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. Kittle led the team with eight targets but the Seahawks were successful in containing the breakout second-year stud. Kittle also yielded two catches and a score to fellow tight end Garrett Celek while quarterback Nick... Read More

Dante Pettis Paces Niners Pass Catchers

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dante Pettis snatched all five of his targets for 83 yards in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. Pettis once again operated as the Niners No. 1 receiver, using excellent technique and making chain-moving plays. His longest grab on the day was an impressive 30-yard contested catch in the second... Read More

Robbie Gould Plays The Hero

San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould converted all four of his field goal attempts in Week 15, including a game-winning 36-yarder in overtime. Gould also chipped in two extra points for 14 total points on the day. The 36-year-old is now 29-for-30 on field goals this season and continues to be a reliable boot for... Read More

Nick Mullens Mistake-Free In Victory

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens went 20-for-29 with 275 yards and one touchdown in Week 15’s upset victory against the Seattle Seahawks. Mullens found tight end Garrett Celek for a 41-yard score in the second quarter for the team’s only offensive touchdown on the day. Playing on a rainy field, Mullens kept the chains... Read More

Jeffery Wilson Plays Up-And-Down Game

San Francisco 49ers running back Jeffery Wilson rushed seven times for 46 yards in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. With Matt Breida (ankle) healthy, Wilson returned to a complementary role. Despite some flashes, he hurt his own cause by coughing up a fumble, dropping an easy pass and committing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Wilson... Read More

Matt Breida Retakes Lead Role

San Francisco 49ers running back Matt Breida (ankle) grinded out 50 yards on 17 carries and caught five passes for 46 yards in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. After missing one game with a nagging ankle injury, Breida did not appear limited and led the backfield in snaps and touches by a wide margin.... Read More

San Francisco 49ers Defense And Special Teams Scores Touchdown

The San Francisco 49ers defense and special teams recorded three sacks and returned a kickoff for a touchdown in Week 15’s upset win over the Seattle Seahawks. The return score came courtesy of Richie James Jr. in the first quarter while the defense registered multiple stops against the Seahawks offense. Coming into the game with... Read More