Reds Have High Hopes For Luis Castillo

The Cincinnati Reds have high hopes for right-hander Luis Castillo. If he continues to develop, Castillo could eventually turn into a top of the rotation starter for the club. Armed with a 98 mph fastball, one team insider told reporters that Castillo is currently their best pitcher and that he sees him as a future […]

Adam Duvall Has Two Homers This Spring

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Duvall is off to a decent start this spring. The veteran slugger is slashing .231/.286/.500 with two homers, four runs, six RBI, and one steal. Duvall has emerged as a serious power threat, blasting 64 homers over the past two seasons. Playing his home games in hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark, Duvall […]

Alex Gordon Is A Mess

Remember a few years ago when Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon was a Gold Glover who was also performing at the plate? He helped them win a World Series, but those days are definitely in the past, and KC is getting to admire an ugly contract every day of the week in the meantime. […]

Jorge Soler Continues To Underperform

Kansas City Royals outfielder Jorge Soler was given another opportunity this week when starting right fielder Jorge Bonifacio was benched for 80 games due to performance-enhancing drugs. Unfortunately, Soler continues to hit pretty terribly. He's under the Mendoza line once again this spring, though he's at least hit four home runs. Soler looks the part […]

Lucas Duda Starts Getting Some Looks

New Kansas City Royals first baseman Lucas Duda is in camp and has started getting some chances at the plate this week. Coming off a 30-homer campaign in 2017, Duda will be expected to provide the pop in lieu of recently-departed Eric Hosmer. Duda's batting average will never be mistaken for Hosmer's, but he has […]

Kelvin Herrera Is Settling Down

Kansas City Royals closer Kelvin Herrera started 2018 spring training right where he left off in 2017 by walking too many batters and laboring through innings he made difficult for himself. This week, he started to seem to get his timing right, though. Over the last nine days, Herrera has made three appearances and only […]

Salvador Perez's Power Is Surging Again

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez continues to showcase his power in the spring league. After posting a seventh straight career high in homers in 2017, Perez has picked up right where he left off by shellacking two already this spring. The real challenge for Perez will be whether he can drag his batting average […]

Danny Duffy Impresses In Second Spring Start

Kansas City Royals ace Danny Duffy looked like his best self against the White Sox. Duffy only surrendered two hits and one walk over three innings as he struck out four en route to his first spring victory. He pounded the strike zone, logging strikes on 19 of his 25 pitches, and he helped provide […]

Whit Merrifield Continues Raking

Kansas City Royals second baseman and 2017 waiver wire hero Whit Merrifield has been putting on a clinic in the Cactus League. Merrifield blasted his second homer of the spring session this week, and he's now batting a cool .500 for the period. He also picked up his first stolen base this week. Merrifield is […]

Adam Ottavino Still Struggles With Control

Colorado Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino almost made it to the big time. Sure, he's been in the majors for nearly a decade, but he was tagged for years as a closer of the future without ever really taking hold of the chance. Instead, his wildness always held him back. Colorado snaked him last year by […]

Jake Faria Gets Roughed Up Sunday

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jake Faria only lasted 1 2/3 innings Sunday versus Minnesota despite the plan calling for him to go four innings. He allowed five runs, with four being earned. Observers said he labored with his tempo. There was an element of bad luck, as three hits bounced off fielder's gloves and […]

Tom Murphy Flashing Power And Contact Issues Again

Colorado Rockies catcher Tom Murphy is in a bad situation, and he's not showing any real signs of getting out of it for now. Once pegged as the team's catcher of the future, Murphy caught a terrible break last spring by suffering a hand fracture that wasted his season. Now, with the team re-signing Chris […]

German Marquez Roughed Up By Dodgers

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher German Marquez had been turning heads in the Cactus League this spring, but Sunday he was the one doing the head turning. After two stellar outings to start his spring, Marquez was rocked by LA for eight runs in just 2 2/3 innings. Marquez gave up a host of extra-base hits […]

Wade Davis Gets Touched Up

Wade Davis, the new Colorado Rockies closer, made a couple of appearances this week and gave up a solo shot to Rangers prospect Drew Robinson. Davis wasn't being used in save situations or pressure spots, so it's not like he was truly in his element. However, all fantasy owners want their players to be on […]

Matt Duffy Is On Track To Be Starting Third Baseman

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Matt Duffy is projected to be the Rays starting third baseman, according to Roster Resource. He is hitting .333 so far this spring. In his last healthy season in 2015, he batted .295 with 12 home runs and 12 stolen bases. Duffy will be 27 years old when the 2018 […]

DJ LeMahieu Extends Spring Hitting Streak

Colorado Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu has been on fire this spring, and he extended a small hitting streak to four games by lacing a single against the Dodgers on Sunday. LeMahieu is now hitting .417 this spring, though unsurprisingly, he has zero home runs, RBI or stolen bases to go along with the batting […]

Kevin Kiermaier Is Having A Poor Spring Training

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier is having a poor spring training. He is batting .240 and his only steal attempt led to him being caught. Despite this sounding bad, it likely will not matter. Outside of an injury, it is quite likely that nothing will matter in regards to him until the regular season […]

Ian Desmond Continues To Struggle

Colorado Rockies outfielder/first baseman Ian Desmond continues to have an abysmal spring after he went 0-for-3 against the Dodgers on Sunday. Colorado's coup of the 2017 free-agent class is now 1-for-17 this spring. Desmond's terrible opening frame likely won't cost him playing time, but it's certainly not an encouraging sign to fantasy owners after he […]

Denard Span A Possibility For Designated Hitter

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Denard Span is listed as the starting designated hitter, according to Roster Source. Span is coming off a 2017 season where he batted .272 with 12 home runs and 12 steals. He rarely strikes out, having not topped 79 strikeouts in a season over the past eight seasons. Span is one […]

Wilson Ramos Will Be Wearing Wristbands This Season

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Wilson Ramos will be armed with more information in 2018. Rays catchers will be wearing wristbands with cards detailing information about the pitchers for the team. This move was partially motivated by the new rules limiting visits to the mound. Ramos spent much of the 2017 season fighting injuries. He only […]

Chris Archer Is Feeling Better As The Spring Progresses

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer felt the best he has all spring after his outing Thursday. He allowed five hits and two runs in three innings. However, he felt the best he has and was especially happy with his changeup. He has struck out 734 batters over the past three seasons, but he […]

Robinson Cano To Undergo MRI

Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (hamstring) will undergo a precautionary MRI exam on Monday, but he doesn't think his hamstring injury is serious. While Cano may not miss more than a few days in camp, it's a reminder that at age 35, he's no longer a lock to stay healthy over a full season. […]

Yoan Moncada Hits Home Run On Sunday

Chicago White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada hit his first home run of the spring on Sunday. Moncada finished the game 1-for-4. One of the more exciting prospects in the game, Moncada has struggled to the tune of a .219 batting average with seven strikeouts in 32 at-bats. Moncada came on towards the end of […]

Jose Pirela Assured A Roster Spot

San Diego Padres manager Andy Green all but confirmed outfielder Jose Pirela's roster spot after Sunday's spring training loss to the San Francisco Giants. Getting the start at second base, Pirela went 2-for-3 with a homer and is now hitting .481 with a 1.448 OPS in 27 spring at-bats. Pirela, who Green quoted as "one […]

Jose Abreu Off To A Slow Start This Spring

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu has come out of the gate cold so far in spring training. Over his first 28 at-bats, the slugger has only five hits. The good news is that three of his five hits have gone for extra bases and he has scored six runs. There isn't much to […]

Kendall Graveman's Spring Is Not Ace-Like

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Kendall Graveman is regarded as the best pitcher in the staff. However, he is not having a spring resembling a front-of-the-rotation starter. In six innings, Graveman has allowed eight runs and struck out five. There are other pitchers in the Oakland rotation that are worth taking in fantasy drafts. Graveman should not […]

Stephen Piscotty Struggling in Spring

Oakland Athletics outfielder Stephen Piscotty is batting .190 with one home run this spring. He was acquired this offseason in a trade from the Cardinals. The Athletics are hoping Piscotty can improve upon his .235 batting average in 2017. Piscotty surely wants to wipe the slate clean once the season starts. Piscotty is still a […]

Matt Olson Has Productive Day At The Plate

Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson went 2-for-3 against the Cubs on Sunday. He also pitched in an RBI and a run. To date, Olson is batting .310 with two home runs and six runs batted in this spring. He has also struck out seven times in his 29 at-bats. Olson will provide plenty of […]

Jed Lowrie Picking Up Pace In Spring

Oakland Athletics second baseman Jed Lowrie has picked up the pace this spring and raised his average to .278 with one home run. Lowrie is already 33 years old and is rarely healthy for a full season. The hope is that he can repeat his 2017 season of 86 runs with 14 home runs and […]

Marcus Semien Is A Power-Speed Option At Top Of Lineup

Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien, who is hitting .407 this spring, will likely open the season as the leadoff hitter. It is surprising, as Semien has average on-base skills (.325). Semien's goal this season will be to demonstrate that last season's power fall-off was purely because of his wrist injury. Last season, he hit 10 […]