Collin McHugh Worth a Middle-Round Look

It’s easy to overlook Collin McHugh’s impressive 2015 season when the pitcher ahead of him in the rotation won the Cy Young. McHugh’s 19 wins, one fewer than Keuchel, were accompanied by a 3.89 ERA and 171 strikeouts. McHugh was also the recipient of plenty run support as he posted four wins in both June […]

Blake Swihart May Get Nod to Start Season Behind The Plate For Boston

Right now Boston has a crowded catching corps with Blake Swihart, Ryan Hanigan and Christian Vazquez all on the roster. After Spring Training, it'll probably be pared down to two and Swihart has the upper hand on the depth chart. He's the youngest of the three and would probably benefit from having the older Hanigan […]

Will Dallas Keuchel Repeat Success in 2016?

After posting a bloated 5.00-plus ERA in his first two seasons, no one could have guess what was later in store for Dallas Keuchel. 2014 showcased a completely different pitcher, a confidence that was then carried into 2015. The hard-throwing lefty’s numbers jumped tremendously, even from a productive 2014 where he won 12 games and […]

What Evan Gattis's Injury Could Mean for Fantasy

Evan Gattis will be sidelined four to six weeks after having hernia surgery. This means a couple of things for the fantasy world. If the recovery goes as planned, Gattis will be able to get some work in before opening against the New York Yankees in early April, and will very well remain a suitable […]

Jose Altuve is Growing Into One of MLB's Best Hitters

He may be the shortest player in the game, but his presence in baseball is the size of the state he plays for. Despite a slight drop in average and hits last season, Jose Altuve is continuously improving alongside the rest of the impressive youth scattered around the Houston Astros. Durability describes the number one […]

Carlos Correa: AL Rookie of the Year to Potential AL MVP

The reigning American League Rookie of the Year could very well contend for the American League Most Valuable Player award this season. Although a bold prediction, Carlos Correa turned plenty of heads with his 22 home runs and 68 RBI’s in only 99 games played during his rookie campaign. His average was significantly higher at […]

Rusney Castillo Has to Make Most of His Chance in 2016

OK. It looks like the training wheels are finally going to be off for Rusney Castillo. Boston has him starting in left field and they are going to see if that seven-year, $72.5 million contract is worth it. Either the Cuban will break out and make everyone in the Red Sox front office happy they […]

Boston Needs Joe Kelly To Be An Above-Average Joe This Season

There was a time where Joe Kelly showed a glimmer of hope that he might be a very good starter. It was in 2013, when he fashioned a 10-5 record for the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. He didn't overpower anyone, but his 2.69 ERA showed promise. Ironically, he was traded the next year […]

Mat Latos: A Fresh Chance in Chicago Means Fantasy Relevance

The White Sox just signed Mat Latos to a one year deal, shoring up the back end of their rotation. It’s a low risk maneuver from the Chi-Sox here to bring in Latos after a horrid end to 2015. Latos used to be good for 185 strikeouts in a full season (he's only 28), and […]

Brandon Moss Hard to Recommend for 2016

Brandon Moss and his frustrated fantasy owners may have had little to be proud of in 2015 as he scuffled mightily, but a late season trade to the Red Birds gave his fortunes a slight turnaround. If you are wondering how this story may play out in 2016--that of an aging slugger falling on hard times--you need look […]

Don't Overpay in 2016 for Randal Grichuk's 2015

After holding his own in a 2014 audition, rookie Randal Grichuk found himself starting full-time in the majors for the first time last year after the Cardinals lost Matt Holliday to the DL. He filled in admirably, hitting .276 with 17 home runs in only 350 at-bats. Already up to 46th in our outfield ranking after […]

Stephen Piscotty Should Help Ease the Sting of Heyward's Departure

Stephen Piscotty had a spectacular 2015 that saw him hit .305 with seven home runs and 39 RBI over 256 at-bats, earning him the 43rd spot in our outfield ranking. Currently atop the right field depth chart, Piscotty hopes that he and Randal Grichuk can help prove that the Cardinals were smart in letting star outfielder Jason Heyward leave for the rival Cubs this off-season. […]

Francisco Liriano Hopes To Keep Rolling In 2016

Since signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to the 2013 season, starting pitcher Francisco Liriano has strung together three straight seasons of posting a 3.38 ERA or better. The left-hander has done so by featuring a dominant slider and improving his command. The slider, which in 2015 ranked fourth in the majors according to Fangraphs.com valuations, […]

Don't Ignore Brian Dozier's Low Batting Average

Brian Dozier was never much of a home run hitter in the minor leagues, but found his power stroke in his first full year in the big leagues in 2013. Since then, he has smashed 69 home runs to go along with 47 stolen bases. The Minnesota Twins' second baseman can be counted on for […]

Jake Odorizzi's Future With the Rays is in Question, But Not His Talent

Jake Odorizzi's name has been linked to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals in trade talks, so there is a chance he never throws another pitch for the Tampa Bay Rays. Regardless, he should continue to improve in his third full year. In 2015, Odorizzi lowered his earned […]

Jackie Bradley Jr. Getting Possible Final Chance For Boston Outfield

Baseball, like all professional sports, can be brutal. The transition from "can't miss" to "forgotten" can be incredibly swift. Jackie Bradley Jr. has had the prospect label on him since 2013 and the glue on that label is starting to dissolve. Boston would love for him to be part of an outfield nucleus of Mookie […]

Patience is the Key With Henderson Alvarez

In May of 2015, Henderson Alvarez was placed on the Disabled List with shoulder problems and he would not return. At the time, the Miami Marlins were upset about this development. “Here is the disciplined middle-rotation starter that we need,” the front office thought after landing him in the blockbuster Jose Reyes trade. After just […]

Can Joc Pederson Produce for an Entire Season?

At only 23, Joc Pederson is clearly one of the best young talents in baseball. Already having a full season under his belt should serve him well as he attempts to continue the success he enjoyed in the first half of the 2015 season where he clobbered 20 HR despite batting only .230. In the […]

Matt Kemp is a Potential Top-20 Outfielder

The days of Matt Kemp vying for MVP awards are over, but the San Diego Padres right fielder quietly put together a solid debut season in Southern California. His 23 home runs were second on the team, while his 100 RBIs ranked first (and 13th in the majors). Kemp also stole 12 bases, making him […]

Indians Comfortable Opening Season With Giovanny Urshela at Third

During a recent radio stop on 92.3 The Fan radio, Indians manager Terry Francona said that the team would be okay with Giovanny Urshela opening the season as the team's starting third baseman despite “knowing that his offense [hasn't] quite caught up” to his defense. As a 23-year-old rookie last season, Urshela hit .225 with […]

Trevor Rosenthal Wants More Saves

After saving 45 games for the Cardinals in 2014, Trevor Rosenthal set a Cardinals record by locking down 48 more in 2015. He already has his sights set higher, saying "you always want to beat your own record." The life of a young closer on a perennially-contending team is good, as can be seen in Rosenthal's gaudy […]

Matt Carpenter Has Career 2015, But Can He Repeat?

The breakout season the baseball world waited for from Matt Carpenter in 2014 appears to have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque and showed up last season instead. He finished 2015 hitting .272 with 28 home runs, 84 RBI and 102 runs. The power that went missing came back in a big way as he […]

Doubts of Yadier Molina's Opening Day Availability Grow

Still sporting a hard cast on his surgically-repaired left thumb, doubts about Yadier Molina's recovery wrapping up by the end of Spring Training are getting louder and louder. Thumb surgeries are tricky for any player to recover quickly and properly from, but two consecutively on the same thumb for a catcher is a tall task […]

All Signs Point to Adam Wainwright Returning to Form in 2016

Adam Wainwright is looking to make up for a lost 2015 where he was limited to only 28 innings after rupturing his Achilles tendon in April. When on the field, he was able to compile a pristine 2-1 record, 1.61 ERA and 20 strikeouts. As important as legs are to pitchers, the arm is the essential […]

Indians' Clint Frazier Named Seventh-Best Outfield Prospect by MLB Network

MLB Network released their rankings of the top 10 outfield prospects in baseball, naming the Indians' Clint Frazier as the seventh-best, right behind another Indian, Bradley Zimmer. The reasons why Cleveland has made only one outfield upgrade this offseason--a one year deal for Rajai Davis--would appear to be clear with these rankings. They have no intent […]

MLB Network Names Bradley Zimmer Sixth-Best Outfield Prospect

MLB Network recently released their rankings of the top 10 outfield prospects in baseball, and the Indians' Bradley Zimmer was named the sixth-best, right ahead of another Tribesman, Clint Frazier. Zimmer has some fans at MLB Network as Cleveland's number one prospect was once again discussed on TV. The team's center fielder of the future is […]

Alex Reyes Takes 13th Spot in MLB Network's Top 100 Prospects

During the Top 100 Prospects special on MLB Network, Cardinals top prospect Alex Reyes was named as MLB's 13th-best prospect. Between three levels of the minors last year, he compiled a 2.49 ERA, 1.174 WHIP and 151 strikeouts in only 101.1 innings. Reyes finished last season at Double-A, where he went 3-2 with a 3.12 […]

Prospect Byron Buxton ready to break out in 2016

Byron Buxton's first stint in the big leagues didn't go as planned. The former No. 2 overall pick was called up in June and got seven hits in 35 at-bats before spending a month and a half on the disabled list with a thumb injury. He was re-called late in August, but finished the season […]

No Matter Where He Plays, Miguel Sano is Worth a High Draft Pick

Miguel Sano was sensational right off the bat in his rookie season, mashing 18 home runs to go along with a .385 on-base percentage in just 279 at-bats. He may not hit 35 HR over a full year in 2016, but the soon-to-be 23-year-old is as proficient of a power hitter as we've seen in […]

Buried on Depth Chart, Matt Adams Looks to Regain More Than Form

In the two years prior to 2015, Matt Adams hit righties so well he was able to hide his struggles against southpaws. During an injury-ravaged 2015, he hit no one well, prompting St. Louis to replace him with Brandon Moss. Like Garfield and lasagna, like Mulder and Scully, Adams and righties enjoy a timeless love. His […]