Youssef Zalal Wins Third Bout Of 2020

Youssef Zalal continued his impressive 2020 run, winning his third bout of the year. Zalal took all three rounds, according to all the judges on Saturday night. Fifty four of the 82 strikes landed by Zalal were marked as significant strikes. He also landed a few takedowns, landing three of his five attempts. The bout […]

German Marquez Displaying Ace Form To Begin 2020

Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher German Marquez has had all of the makings of an ace through his first three starts of the 2020 year. With walks and home runs normally serving as his bugaboo, Marquez has been stingy about both early on, due in large part to the fact that his breaking pitches have been […]

Anthony Bass Nails Down Third Save

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Anthony Bass pitched a clean ninth inning in the team's 2-1 win over the Red Sox Saturday, earning his third save of the year. He only needed eight pitches for the save, and he's now gone 6 1/3 scoreless innings to start the season. The right-hander doesn't have a prototypical power […]

Didi Gregorius Excelling At Dish To Begin 2020

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorius has collected a hit in seven of his first eight contests with the club following a two-hit performance Saturday. The .902 OPS that he has compiled puts him on pace for the highest mark of his career, and while his game total has been stunted due to COVID-19 cancellations, he […]

Bo Bichette Leads Jays To Victory Saturday

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette went 2-for-4 in Saturday's contest versus the Red Sox, helping the team to a 2-1 victory. He stole his second base of the year while chipping in with a single, walk, and an RBI double that tied the game in the seventh inning. Bichette now has five extra-base hits […]

Ali Al Qaisi Drops Debut In Very Close Contest

Ali Al Qaisi, the UFC's first Jordanian-signed fighter, lost his debut in an extremely close split-decision loss. He landed 44 significant strikes and had a total of 54 strikes. He was also only 2-for-9 on his takedowns. In what was a close back-and-forth battle, Al Qaisi ended up dropping to 8-4, losing his first bout […]

Irwin Rivera Earns Hard-Fought Decision In Opener

Irwin Rivera earned a very hard-fought split decision in Saturday night's opening bout. The numbers were pretty close on the night, with Rivera landing 45 total strikes and 36 significant strikes. He also landed two takedowns on the night, matching his opponent's number. The bout with the newcomer Ali Al Qaisi was extremely close. Nothing […]

Madison Bumgarner Hit Hard Through First Three Starts

When the Arizona Diamondbacks inked left-hander Madison Bumgarner to an $85 million deal during the off-season, the expectation was that he would anchor the starting staff. Through his first three games, Bumgarner has been hit, and hit hard, posting a 7.55 xERA, with a .630 xSLG that puts him in the bottom eight percent of […]

Jake Odorizzi Struggles With Command In Debut

Minnesota Twins starter Jake Odorizzi needed 71 pitches to get through three frames in a 9-6 loss to the Royals. Odorizzi gave up four hits, two runs and two walks while striking out two. Only 40 of his 71 pitches were strikes, as he struggled with command throughout his season debut. In particular, the 30-year-old […]

Chase Elliott Scores A Solid Seventh-Place Finish At Michigan

Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott crossed the finish line in seventh-place in Saturday's FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Elliott started in eighth and stayed around the top-10 all day. Elliott never had race-winning speed, but some strategy during the last stage got the No. 9 out in front. Elliott used the new "choose-cone" […]

Josh Bell Battling Power Outage Through Quarter Of Season

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell finally had his breakout campaign in 2019, mashing 37 doubles and 37 home runs en route to a .936 OPS. Fast forward to the first 15 games of 2020 and he has just one double and two home runs to his credit with a .579 OPS. Bell is whiffing […]

Marcell Ozuna Swinging Hot Bat To Start Braves Tenure

Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna ranks third in the Majors in average exit velocity (95.3 MPH), immediately paying dividends to kick off the 2020 year. Entering play Saturday, he was on pace to set new career bests with a .955 OPS and 155 OPS+, anchoring the middle of the Atlanta order and providing Freddie Freeman […]

Kyle Busch Scores A Top-Five Finish At Michigan

Joe Gibbs Racing's Kyle Busch finished fifth in Saturday's FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Busch started from seventh and stayed inside the top-10 all day. Busch still hasn't found the speed he enjoyed while racking up 27 wins in the Cup Series, from 2014-2019, but Saturday's race was a good sign that Busch […]

Ryan Castellani Tosses Four No-Hit Innings In Debut

Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Ryan Castellani did not allow a hit in his first Major League start Saturday against Seattle. Unfortunately for Castellani, he only worked four innings, tossing 60 pitches and not qualifying for the win. His performance marked the second Rockies pitcher to retire the first 12 batters of his big league debut, […]

Ryan Blaney Finishes Fourth In Race One At Michigan

Penske Racing's Ryan Blaney started 11th and finished fourth in Saturday's FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Blaney also led the field for 27 laps in the middle portion of the race. Blaney was near the front during the first couple of stages, but poor pit strategy kept him out of contention for a […]

Trea Turner Remains Steal-less Through Rough Start To 2020

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner came off the board as a first-round pick in many fantasy drafts in 2020. Through his first 11 games, he has performed vastly below expectations, yet to record a stolen base while leading the Majors with three times caught stealing. It’s not just his legs that have been slumping, it’s […]

Keston Hiura’s 2020 Start Marred By Strikeout Totals

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Keston Hiura was lauded as a Top 50 fantasy asset coming into the 2020 year after a 104-game debut last season that saw him deliver a .938 OPS as a 22-year-old. But while the power numbers were exciting, the fact that he struck out in 30.7% of his plate appearances was […]

Rafael Montero Delivers Second Straight Save

Texas Rangers right-hander Rafael Montero has now reeled off saves in back-to-back contests, seemingly having taken over the closer’s role with Jose Leclerc on the injured list. Prior to Friday, Montero had never recorded a save in his career, but he has retired all six batters that he has faced in the ninth. After being […]

Josh Hader Untouched In 2020, But Few Chances Had

Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader has allowed just one baserunner through his team’s first 12 games. The issue is that Hader has pitched in just three innings combined of those contests, having earned two saves with three strikeouts to his credit. An elite closing option, Hader has been little utilized, even as he has not […]

Daniel Castano Struggles A Bit In His Debut

Miami Marlins rookie starting pitcher Daniel Castano made his major league debut on Saturday and despite some good signs, he struggled overall. He ended up pitching 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk. He struck out four while allowing two home runs. Castano was squeezed quite a bit […]

Miguel Castro Locks Down First Save Of 2020

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Miguel Castro worked the ninth inning of Saturday's win over the Nationals, picking up his first save of the season. While it’s unclear if Castro has permanently supplanted right-hander Cole Sulser, he has now compiled 10 strikeouts across 7 ⅓ scoreless innings out of relief this season. A stalwart of the Baltimore […]

Kevin Harvick In A League Of His Own, Wins Race One At Michigan

Stewart-Haas Racing's Kevin Harvick continued his dominance at Michigan International Speedway by winning Saturday's FireKeepers Casino 400. Harvick was in his own zip code, winning both stages, and leading 92 of the 161 laps. Harvick started in third and found the front very early. His No. 4 Ford seemed to be the only car that […]

Huascar Ynoa Set To Make First Major League Start Sunday

Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Huascar Ynoa has been tabbed to start the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Phillies, which will mark the first big league start of his career. Atlanta’s pitching staff has been in flux since ace Mike Soroka went down earlier in the week with an Achilles tear, ending his season. […]

Ryan O'Hearn Exits Early Due To Shin Injury

Kansas City Royals first baseman Ryan O'Hearn departed Saturday’s contest against the Twins early due to a right shin contusion, having been replaced by Franchy Cordero in the lineup. O’Hearn reached base in all three of his plate appearances Saturday, bringing his on-base percentage on the season up to .359 with eight RBI to his […]

Ryan Braun Won’t Be Activated Sunday, Need For AB’s Cited

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Ryan Braun is continuing to progress from the index finger infection on his right hand that landed him on the injured list, but he will not be activated ahead of Sunday’s game against Cincinnati. Manager Craig Counsell cited Braun’s lack of at-bats dating back to Summer Camp as a reason for […]

Max Muncy Playing Through Fractured Finger

Los Angeles Dodgers first/second baseman Max Muncy revealed Saturday that he sustained a fractured ring finger on his left hand during Summer Camp, an ailment that he has played through up to this point. Muncy’s 67 plate appearances entering play Saturday leads the Majors, but his .182 batting average has been vastly below expectations. Muncy […]

Jesse Winker Exits Saturday Following HBP On Elbow

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker departed Saturday’s contest against Milwaukee after having been hit in the right elbow by a pitch. Travis Jankowski entered the game to take his place in the outfield, while also serving as a candidate to see increased playing time should Winker’s absence last beyond Saturday. After having reached base on […]

Giancarlo Stanton Likely Headed To IL With Hamstring Injury

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton left the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Rays due hamstring tightness. Manager Aaron Boone said after the game that he believes a stint on the 10-day injured list is in Stanton’s future. Stanton served as the designated hitter for both legs of the DH, having been replaced […]

Ken Giles Feeling Better, But Still Hasn’t Played Catch

Since July 26, Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles has been shut down to right elbow soreness. Manager Charlie Montoyo said Saturday that while Giles hasn’t progressed enough to even play catch, he indicated that the right-hander was feeling vastly better as he does arm and running exercises. Still, that update indicates that if Giles […]

Trevor Rosenthal Pushing Ian Kennedy For Closer’s Role

The Kansas City Royals appear to be utilizing the duo of Trevor Rosenthal and Ian Kennedy as their closer to begin the 2020 year. Manager Mike Matheny has demurred as it pertains to naming one man to the role after Rosenthal locked down the save Friday, his second of the year. If owners are in […]