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 […]

Taylor Jungmann Set For Solid Sophomore Season

Rookie Taylor Jungmann had a fairly productive rookie season for the Brewers in 2015. As is to be expected, he had some rough starts, but he also flashed above-average potential during the dog days of the summer. The right-hander finished 2015 with a 9-8 record along with a 3.77 ERA, 1.282 WHIP and 107 SO […]

Jonathan Lucroy Healthy, Ready For All-Star Season

Jonathan Lucroy's 2015 campaign was marked by injuries. The Milwaukee Brewers catcher’s worst injury of the season might have been a broken toe. He only played in 103 games and disappointed after his first All Star selection in 2014. The 29-year-old started last season off with a terrible slump, but when he was healthy, he was […]

Khris Davis Could Be The Steal Of 2016 Draft

Khris Davis has yet to put together a full quality season in his young career, but he still carries plenty of potential. The Milwaukee Brewers left fielder finished 2015 with a .247 BA, .828 OPS with 27 HR and 66 RBI. The 28-year-old posted a new career high in homers even though he only played in 121 […]

Eugenio Suarez's Improvement Will Continue

Suarez’s rookie season in Detroit was interesting. He was limited to just 85 games played and faced a platoon at shortstop, which limited his offensive production drastically; he hit just .242 with four home runs, 33 runs scored, 23 RBI, and a frustrating .652 OPS. While he did pop onto fantasy radars briefly in the beginning […]

Rich Hill A Sneaky Veteran SP Option in 2016

At the age of 35 and having played for five different teams, we can file Rich Hill under the “Grizzled Veteran” category. In the early days of Hill’s career, we got a good look at what he could do on the bump while making 57 starts with the Chicago Cubs. He dazzled fans with an […]

Zack Cozart Provides Surprising Power For A Shortstop

In 2014, Zack Cozart hit four home runs in 147 games. In 2015, Zack Cozart hit four home runs in the month of April alone. He would hit five more home runs before slipping on first base and suffering a horrific knee injury just 53 games into the season. Before the injury, we were seeing […]

MLB Network Names Michael Brantley MLB's Top Left Fielder

MLB Network ranked the top left fielders in all of baseball on Monday and came to the conclusion that the Indians' Michael Brantley is the current king of the hill. This is not entirely surprising, even with him slated to start the season on the disabled list. Brantley has been an offensive juggernaut since coming […]

Indians Happy to Have Rajai Davis on Their Side

After watching him on their division rival Tigers the past two years, Indians manager Terry Francona has to be pleased about having outfielder Rajai Davis hitting for him in 2016. Considering Davis hit .381 with three stolen bases, three triples and 13 runs against them last year, one can't blame Francona. Batting average and speed have long been Rajai's […]

Risks Outweigh Rewards For Devin Mesoraco

Devin Mesroraco has been all over the place in recent years. Even in a career (2014) year where Mesoraco hit .273 with 25 home runs, 80 RBI, and an All Star Game appearance, he was only able to play in 114 games. Granted, capable backup Brayan Pena was on hand to give him rest, but […]

Don't Pounce Early On Anibal Sanchez

Just two seasons ago, Detroit's Anibal Sanchez was one of the more dominant pitchers in the American League. He put together a stellar 2013 campaign, logging a career-high 202 strikeouts and allowing a minuscule 0.4 HR/9 IP. He somehow improved upon his HR/9 numbers in 2014, allowing just 0.3/9 that season. While 2013 and 2014 […]

David Peralta Poised For 2016 Breakout

The platoon of David Peralta and Ender Inciarte was frustrating for fantasy owners in 2015 as both players had potential, but they both cut into one another's fantasy upside. Ender's time in Arizona has ended though (pun intended) so Peralta looks like he will see much more playing time this season. In 462 AB last […]

Brad Ziegler A Risk/Reward Closing Option in 2016

Ziegler didn't start out as the Diamondbacks' closer last season, but he took over and was very effective after Addison Reed was relieved of his duties. Ziegler notched 30 saves and a 1.85 ERA, so he was definitely fantasy relevant. However, you always feel like you're playing with fire when Ziegler is on the mound […]