Yana Kunitskaya Dropped In The First Round

It was a tough night for the Russian Yana Kunitskaya (14-6), who was unable to win her third fight in a row on Saturday. Not only was it a loss, but she was defeated via first-round TKO. In 4:35 of action, Kunitskaya totaled only 24 significant strikes (30 total strikes) while absorbing 37 significant strikes. […]

Angels Select Sam Bachman In First Round Of Draft

The Los Angeles Angels selected college right-hander Sam Bachman with the ninth overall pick of the 2021 amateur draft. The hard-throwing right-hander out of Miami (Ohio) University was seen as more of a supplemental-first-round or second-round pick by Rotoballer due to his reliever risk. MLB.com had him ranked 14th overall. Bachman can hit triple digits […]

Michael Brantley Ends First Half With Two Hits

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley went 2-for-4 in the Astros come-from-behind win over the Yankees on Sunday. The veteran came into the game stuck in a 4-for-23 slump but ended his first half with a pair of hits. Brantley is hitting only .219 in the month of July but, once again, has been an integral […]

Irene Aldana Dominates With Her Striking

Now a winner of three of her last four fights, Irene Aldana (13-6) brought it to the very dangerous Yana Kunitskaya on Saturday, finishing the bout in the first round with a TKO stoppage. Throughout 4:35 of action, Aldana tallied 37 significant strikes along with 1:24 of control time. A big left hand by Aldana […]

Yuli Gurriel Sparks Six-Run Ninth Inning

Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel went 1-for-4 in the team's epic comeback to beat the Yankees 8-7 on Sunday. Gurriel singled sharply in the ninth inning as the Astros would go on to score six runs and pick up a victory to end a very successful first half. The 37-year-old is coming off a […]

Rockies Select Benny Montgomery In First Round Of Draft

The Colorado Rockies selected prep outfielder Benny Montgomery with the eighth overall selection in the 2021 amateur draft. He was ranked by Rotoballer as the 25th-best prospect available. Montgomery has a high ceiling due to his quick, short swing and projectable frame. He has good power potential if he continues to fill out his frame […]

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups - Second Half

We have reached the All-Star break, and we have four cold days of no regular season baseball ahead of us. That makes it a good time to review our pitching staffs and check the waiver wire to see who we can add to it for the second half. If you read this article weekly, you […]

Kyle Tucker Homers In Wild Win

Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker went 2-for-3, including his 15th home run of the season, in the team's 8-7 win over the Yankees on Sunday. Tucker is off to a fantastic start in the month of July, slashing .304/.360/.739 with six extra-base hits over his last seven games. Tucker got off to a slow start […]

Ben Simmons To Minnesota?

Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons remains in the news as his name continues to be wrapped up in trade rumors. While many teams have expressed interest in acquiring the 24-year-old, Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas and Sixers general manager Elton Brand reportedly discussed orchestrating a potential deal during the NBA Combine. Although it […]

Royals Select Frank Mozzicato Seventh Overall In Amateur Draft

The Kansas City Royals selected high school left-hander Frank Mozzicato seventh overall in the 2021 amateur draft. The 18-year-old southpaw was not ranked among the top 35 picks available in the draft and MLB.com had him slotted in at 39th overall. He has a high-spin curveball but his heater is currently fringe-average. He's a long-term […]

Framber Valdez Wild In Final First-Half Start

Houston Astros starter Framber Valdez lasted only four innings Sunday in the Astros comeback win over the Yankees. Valdez (5-1) allowed only two earned runs (three runs total) but walked six Yankees hitters. The 27-year-old has been impressive through his first nine starts this season, posting a 2.98 ERA through 54 1/3 innings pitched. But […]

Jose Altuve Hits Walk-Off Home Run Against Yankees

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 1-for-5 with three runs batted in as the Astros mounted a furious comeback to beat the Yankees 8-7 on Sunday. Altuve's one hit was the icing on the cake, smoking a three-run blast into the seats of Minute Maid Park to cap off a six-run ninth inning. It […]

Diamondbacks Select Jordan Lawlar Sixth Overall In Draft

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected prep shortstop Jordan Lawlar sixth overall in the 2021 amateur draft. Rotoballer had him ranked as the top player available so this is a major win for the organization. Lawlar has an excellent chance to hit for average, power, and steal bases. His athleticism should allow him to stick at shortstop […]

Alex Kirilloff Plates A Pair Of Runs Sunday

Minnesota Twins outfielder/first baseman Alex Kirilloff went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 12-9 win over the Detroit Tigers. Kirilloff collected a couple of base hits, plating a run on each of them. The 23-year-old has swatted a pair of homers and produced seven RBI in July, as he […]

Torrey Craig Available On Sunday

Phoenix Suns guard Torrey Craig (knee) is available for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against Milwaukee. Craig injured his right knee during the Game 2 win on Thursday, and after he was listed as probable earlier in the day on Sunday, coach Monty Williams indicated he is good to go. However, the 30-year-old is […]

Orioles Select Colton Cowser Fifth Overall In Amateur Draft

The Baltimore Orioles selected college outfielder Colton Cowser fifth overall in the 2021 amateur draft. Known for having a solid bat, he makes above-average contact and has good speed. His ability to hit for power remains in question and Rotoballer had him ranked as the 17th-best prospect available in the draft. Baltimore has a history […]

Red Sox Select Marcelo Mayer Fourth Overall In Amateur Draft

The Boston Red Sox selected high school shortstop Marcelo Mayer with the fourth overall selection in the 2021 amateur draft. Rotoballer had the 18-year-old California native ranked as the third-best option behind fellow prep shortstop Jordan Lawlar and college right-hander Jack Leiter. Mayer is known for having an advanced bat but lacks the foot speed […]

Max Kepler Swats 10th Homer

Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's 12-9 win over the Detroit Tigers. Kepler's homer left his bat at 100.1 MPH with a .510 expected batting average. The lefty slugger is now up to 10 homers and seven stolen bases on the season, with some solid […]

Tigers Select Jackson Jobe Third Overall In Amateur Draft

The Detroit Tigers selected high school right-hander Jackson Jobe with the third overall selection in the 2021 amateur draft. Rotoballer had him ranked as the ninth-best prospect available. Jobe has an advanced approach for a prep pitcher. He has a mid-90s fastball and a high-spin slider. He also has a good frame with projection left, […]

Jorge Polanco Drives In Five Runs, Delivers Game-Winning Homer

Minnesota Twins second baseman/shortstop Jorge Polanco went 3-for-5 with a home run, five RBI, and a stolen base in Sunday's 12-9 win over the Detroit Tigers. Polanco swiped a base after grounding into a fielder's choice in his first at-bat, then later drove in a season-high five runs on a pair of singles and a […]

Rangers Select Jack Leiter Second Overall In Amateur Draft

The Texas Rangers selected Vanderbilt college right-hander Jack Leiter with the second overall selection in the 2021 amateur draft. The son of Al Leiter was the consensus top college pitcher available. The young hurler has solid stuff and a mid-90s fastball but he's known for having an above-average game plan and plus command/control for his […]

Taylor Rogers Blows Third Save Sunday

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Taylor Rogers failed to lock down the save in Sunday's victory over the Detroit Tigers. Rogers couldn't preserve the three-run lead in the ninth, surrendering a grand slam to blow the save. The lefty reliever had allowed just one run in his last 11 1/3 innings, so the implosion was somewhat […]

Pirates Pick Henry Davis First Overall In Amateur Draft

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Louisville catcher Henry Davis first overall in the 2021 amateur draft. He was ranked by Rotoballer as the fifth-best talent available. Davis shows the ability to hit for both power and average due to his above-average bat-to-ball skills. However, he is a little stiff and lacks projection due to his already-mature […]

Kris Moutinho Suffers Third-Round TKO Stoppage

Statistically, it was a rough night for debuting bantamweight Kris Moutinho on Saturday. Having to battle with Sean O'Malley, Moutinho absorbed an unimaginable 230 significant strikes (177 head strikes.) Moutinho did make it until late into the third round before the bout was stopped by Herb Dean. Moutinho was only able to land 70 of […]

Christian Arroyo Reaches Four Times In Loss

Boston Red Sox second baseman Christian Arroyo reached base in all four of his plate appearances Sunday, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored in a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Arroyo has been very solid in limited time this season, slashing .264/.323/.439 in 148 at-bats. He seems to […]

Jose Berrios Lasts Seven Innings In No-Decision

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios went seven innings in Sunday's no-decision against the Detroit Tigers. Berrios didn't have his best stuff, allowing four runs on three hits and four walks, though he did fan eight batters. His sinker was outstanding on Sunday, as it was responsible for 15 called strikes and an 88.6 MPH […]

Christian Vazquez Has Four-Game Hit Streak

Boston Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez picked up two more hits Sunday, going 2-for-4 with two singles against the Philadelphia Phillies. This gives Vazquez a modest four-game hit streak, during which he's collected six hits and a walk in sixteen plate appearances, though only one of those went for extra bases. This is a promising […]

Hunter Renfroe Reaches Three Times To Close First Half

Boston Red Sox outfielder Hunter Renfroe reached base three times Sunday, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, and a run scored against the Philadelphia Phillies. Renfroe has slowed down a bit of late, slashing only .185/.258/.333 in his last seven games after a torrid stretch, but he still enters the break with a robust […]

Chris Bassitt Notches Tenth Win Sunday At Texas

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Chris Bassitt allowed one run in seven innings to earn the win on Sunday at the Rangers. Bassitt finished the first half with a 10-2 record, a 3.28 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and 118 strikeouts in 118 innings. The 32-year-old is tied with Cleveland's Aaron Civale for the American League lead […]

Jordan Romano Records Seventh Save

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jordan Romano recorded his seventh save of the season on Sunday as his club defeated the Rays 3-1. It wasn't a clean inning for the right-hander as he allowed a solo homer to Brandon Lowe and a single to Yandy Diaz before getting a pop out to end the game. […]