Power Hitting Risers and Fallers for Week 3 - Buy or Sell?

Welcome to a new edition of Power Hitting Risers & Fallers. This week, all stats are full season through Monday, April 15th (unless otherwise noted). This is to maximize the sample, but the risers and fallers were selected based on their performance from April 9-15. Such a narrow time frame won't be used going forward,... Read More

Stephen Strasburg Allows Four Runs, Three Homers

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg allowed four runs in six innings on Tuesday in Washington's 7-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants, including home runs to Evan Longoria, Steven Duggar and Brandon Belt. On the bright side, he walked none and struck out eight for a 1.00 WHIP, but nonetheless he took the loss in... Read More

The Cut List (Week 3) - Time to Let Go?

We're now midway through April, and your trigger finger may be getting a bit itchy. The baseball season is only a couple weeks old, however, and with more than 90% of the season to go it is still really early. Most teams had played about eight games through last weekend, and now that number is... Read More

Matt Adams Fine After Rolling Ankle

Washington Nationals first baseman Matt Adams exited Saturday's game after a collision with Pirates starter Chris Archer, but will be available for Sunday's contest. Adams has started three of Washington's first 13 games while Ryan Zimmerman has gotten the other 10 starts at first base. The only reason to consider rostering Adams in anything but... Read More

Sean Doolittle Earns First Save of 2019

Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle, after getting the win in three of Washington's first six victories over 12 games, finally got save No. 1 in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the eighth inning, Adam Eaton hit his first home run and Howie Kendrick his second to set Doolittle up for the top... Read More

Power Hitting Risers & Fallers for Week 2 - Buy or Sell?

Power is perhaps the best fantasy baseball attribute (and is all the better in OPS leagues) because it's also the best way to pick up runs and RBI--a home run guarantees at least one of each, naturally. So you will want to be on top of power trends throughout the season. For this first 2019 edition,... Read More

Brian Dozier Enters Home Run Column

Washington Nationals second baseman Brian Dozier hit his first home run of 2019 on Monday night, taking Philadelphia Phillies reliever Pat Neshek deep in the ninth inning of Washington's 4-3 loss. It's the first real sign of life this season from Dozier, who entered the contest hitting just .080/.115/.080. Although the bomb was Dozier's only... Read More

Michael A. Taylor Activated

The Washington Nationals activated outfielder Michael A. Taylor from the injured list on Monday. Outfielder Andrew Stevenson was optioned to make room. Taylor injured his leg during spring training but will ultimately only miss eight regular season games from it. He is not in Monday's starting lineup but will get some starts at Victor Robles'... Read More

Max Scherzer Gets First Win of 2019

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer improved to 1-2 on Sunday, allowing four runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 12-9 win over the New York Mets. He walked none and allowed no home runs while striking out seven, so it was a stronger start than the ERA makes it look. Thanks... Read More

Anthony Rendon Stays Hot

Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon hit a three-run home run while going 1-for-3 with two walks in Washington's 12-9 win over the New York Mets on Sunday. It was Rendon's fourth bomb in the last five games, giving him a .433/.528/.967 line so far in 2019. Obviously, no one hits like that over a... Read More

The Cut List (Week 2) - Time to Let Go?

Although we are only one week into the baseball season, some of the players you may have drafted in the mid-to-late rounds of standard 10 and 12-teamers are probably not quite working out. Because you didn't spend too much draft capital on them, you don't have to worry about sunk costs and you can, if... Read More

Wilmer Difo Hits Two-Run Shot

Washington Nationals shortstop Wilmer Difo went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run, his first of the year, in Washington's 6-5 loss against the New York Mets on Saturday. Difo, who replaced Trea Turner after the latter broke his finger on April 2, can go deep (or steal a bag) occasionally but lacks mixed league relevance... Read More

Patrick Corbin's Strikeouts Return in No-Decision

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin allowed three runs in six innings against the New York Mets on Saturday, receiving a no-decision in Washington's 6-5 loss. Unfortunately for Corbin, the Mets teed off for two no-doubt home runs in the sixth inning (of a game with seven total homers, three of them off Corbin), marring... Read More

Jake Noll Optioned, Howie Kendrick to be Activated

The Washington Nationals sent infielder Jake Noll to Triple-A Fresno after Wednesday's game in preparation to activate second baseman and outfielder Howie Kendrick (hamstring) from the injured list for Thursday's game at the New York Mets. Noll is coming off a walk-off base on balls in Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, but it was only... Read More

Trevor Rosenthal Yet to Retire Batter

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal walked both batters he faced in the eighth inning of Washington's 9-8 win against the Philadelphia Phillies and has yet to record an out through seven batters faced this season. Both runners came around to score on Andrew McCutchen's three-run double off of Kyle Barraclough, who is not doing... Read More

Juan Soto Hits First Home Run of 2019

Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto was one of three Nationals to take Aaron Nola deep in Washington's 9-8 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, as part of a 3-for-4 day with two runs scored, three driven in, a walk, a double and no strikeouts. Anthony Rendon also homered for Washington (his second) and Ryan... Read More

Jake Noll Gets First Walk-Off in Third Career Plate Appearance

Washington Nationals infielder Jake Noll drew a base on balls to drive in Anthony Rendon as the winning run against David Robertson and the Philadelphia Phillies to win Wednesday's game 9-8. It's Noll's first career walk, time on base, RBI and walk-off. A fun and notable moment for the rookie, but Noll is the last... Read More

Anibal Sanchez Removed From Nationals Debut

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez was removed from his debut for the team against the Philadelphia Phillies due to injury. Sanchez first received attention from trainers after fielding a comebacker off his leg in the third inning. The trainers also came out during his fourth-inning at-bat but Sanchez still remained in the game. Finally,... Read More

Franmil Reyes, Hunter Renfroe Both Starting

San Diego Padres outfielders Franmil Reyes and Hunter Renfroe are both in the lineup Wednesday, the first time this season where both players get to start the game. Reyes gets right field and the cleanup spot, while Renfroe moves to left field and will bat fifth. The matchup is with Robbie Ray and the Arizona... Read More

Brett Gardner Sitting Wednesday

New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner is not in the lineup for Wednesday's matchup against Matthew Boyd and the Detroit Tigers. Gardner had been leading off for the Yankees due to injuries to Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton, but now gets a breather. Third baseman DJ LeMahieu will lead off, while Mike Tauchman plays center... Read More

Luke Voit In Lineup Wednesday

New York Yankees designated hitter/first baseman Luke Voit is in the lineup in his usual third spot on Wednesday after being hit in the hand by a pitch in the eighth inning on Tuesday. Voit remained in for the rest of the game before getting X-rays, which came back negative. While there could be lingering... Read More

Chris Davis Hitless In Last 33 At-Bats

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis hasn't had a base hit since Sept. 14, 2018, as he is hitless in his last 33 at-bats. Davis went 0-for-3 with an intentional walk to continue the hitless streak on Tuesday. Davis' albatross contract and Baltimore's lack of organizational talent guarantee playing time for the 33-year-old in the... Read More

Ketel Marte Batting Second Wednesday

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder/outfielder Ketel Marte is batting second on Wednesday afternoon against the San Diego Padres. Marte has batted sixth all season until now but moves up to a much better lineup spot after swatting his first home run of the season on Tuesday. Marte's new lineup slot only helps his value against San Diego's... Read More

Reynaldo Lopez, Lucas Giolito, Ivan Nova Lined Up For White Sox

The Chicago White Sox will start pitchers Reynaldo Lopez on Thursday, Lucas Giolito on Saturday and Ivan Nova on Sunday for their upcoming series against the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners are hitting very well as a team right now and have four left-handed starting hitters. This makes Chicago's three starting pitchers, who are all right-handed... Read More

Matt Adams Could Be Available to Pinch Hit

Washington Nationals first baseman Matt Adams (back) told manager Dave Martinez that he might be able to pinch hit if needed on Wednesday. Adams fell over a railing attempting to make a catch in Tuesday's game against the Phillies, but remained in the game for a few innings before being pulled with back spasms. Whether he... Read More

Howie Kendrick Likely to Skip Rehab Assignment

Washington Nationals second baseman/outfielder Howie Kendrick (hamstring) will probably rejoin the team when eligible to come off the injured list on Thursday, without getting a rehab assignment in first. Kendrick has been out with a hamstring injury suffered during spring training. He will take on a utility role but is not a natural candidate to get... Read More

Jake Bauers Sitting Wednesday

Cleveland Indians outfielder Jake Bauers is getting his first day off of the season on Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox and their left-handed starter Carlos Rodon. Jordan Luplow is playing right field and batting third, where Bauers hit in his past two games, while Greg Allen is in left field batting sixth. Bauers is... Read More

Bryce Harper Has Spectacular Homecoming

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper went 3-for-5 in his first career road game at Nationals Park on Tuesday night, driving in three runs and coming a triple shy of the cycle. He struck out in his first two at-bats before posting a double and a single, and then he hit a 458-foot two-run bomb off... Read More

Zach Eflin Strong In Victory

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin delivered a strong performance against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night in Philadelphia's 8-2 victory. Eflin got the win while going five shutout innings, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out nine. He threw 57 of his 85 pitches for strikes. It was a nice season... Read More

Willians Astudillo Batting Fifth

Minnesota Twins catcher/utility man Willians Astudillo is batting fifth and playing third base in Minnesota's Wednesday afternoon tilt with Homer Bailey and the Kansas City Royals. It will be the second start of the season for Astudillo, who is most valuable in standard batting average leagues on account of his notoriously low walk and strikeout... Read More