Starling Marte Has Been Red-Hot

Last season was a disappointing one for Starling Marte and his fantasy owners. The Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder was hit with an 80-game performance-enhancing drug suspension in April and although he contributed in batting average (.275) and steals (21) in his 77 games, his overall production dipped (91 wRC+ vs. 119 in 2016). Based on […]

Steven Brault Continues Making Strong Case to Be Pirates Fifth Starter

If the Pittsburgh Pirates named their fifth starter based solely on spring performance, Steven Brault would likely be the man. The left-hander turned in another solid outing on Sunday, pitching four innings of no-run, one-hit baseball. He struck out one and walked only one. For the spring, Brault now holds a 1.69 ERA with four […]

Austin Meadows Cut From Spring Training Roster

Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Austin Meadows has been reassigned to minor-league camp, the team announced on Monday. Meadows, the No. 2 prospect in the organization, hit well in 18 spring plate appearances (.412/.444/.824), but was a long shot to make the Opening Day roster, especially after the Pirates traded for Corey Dickerson to take over […]

Tyler Glasnow Scratched From Monday's Start

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow has been scratched from his start on Monday due to flu-like symptoms, according to Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic. The right-hander is competing with Joe Musgrove and Steven Brault for the final spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates' starting rotation. Glasnow's 11.74 ERA is not pretty, but the encouraging news […]

Pirates Name Ivan Nova Opening Day Starter

For the first time in his big league career, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ivan Nova will take the mound on Opening Day on March 29 against the Detroit Tigers. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle made the announcement on Wednesday, adding that Jameson Taillon would take the ball for the club in their home opener. Last season, […]

Joe Musgrove Expects to Be Ready for the Regular Season

Although he has yet to appear in a spring training tilt, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (shoulder) expects to be ready when the season begins, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Bill Brink. Musgrove most recently had a bullpen session on March 2 and will throw three innings in a simulated game this Friday. Although […]

SEC Conference Tournament Preview

The Southeastern Conference has long been known for its football prowess, but the kids on the hardwood are starting to catch up. In a league accustomed to being steamrolled by the likes of Kentucky and Florida, there were frequent upsets and lots of logjams in the standings, which are led by two unfamiliar names, as […]

Gregory Polanco Returns to Pirates Lineup

After a brief three-game absence, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco (knee) returned to action on Sunday, playing five innings. Polanco bruised his left knee sliding into a base last Wednesday and was held out for precautionary reasons. Given his injury history -- he missed 54 games last season due to various ailments -- Pittsburgh fans […]

2017 Breakouts Due for Regression - Starting Pitchers

The 2017 season saw a number of starting pitchers emerge and become studs for both their real and fantasy teams. Aaron Nola and James Paxton finally matched their prospect hype. Alex Wood finally stayed (mostly) healthy and earned his first All-Star appearance. Trevor Bauer finally seemed to put his inconsistency behind him with a dominant second […]

Joe Musgrove Throws Another Bullpen Session

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (shoulder) is slowly getting closer to seeing game action. The Pirates right-hander has not yet appeared in a spring training contest due to shoulder discomfort, but the issue is minor. Musgrove threw an extended bullpen session on Friday, as reported by the Post-Gazette's Bill Brink, meaning he's one step […]

Gregory Polanco Hoping for Bounce-Back Season After Dropping Weight

Talented Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco has yet to live up to his potential, but he's hoping 2018 is the year it happens. In a story by The Athletic's Rob Biertempfel, Polanco mentioned that he lost weight in the offseason, believing his bulkiness led to an injury-filled season last year. The Pirates right fielder has […]

Steven Brault Preparing as a Starter

With the fifth spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation open, manager Clint Hurdle views pitcher Steven Brault as a legitimate contender, reports the Post-Gazette's Bill Brink. Brault went 10-5 with a 1.94 ERA in 120 1/3 Triple-A innings last year, though his strikeout (22.7 percent) and walk (9.2 percent) rates were nothing to write […]

Big Ten Conference Tournament Preview

The most exciting time of the college basketball season has arrived, and postseason play starts this week with the Big Ten tournament. The tourney starts a week early this year, meaning regular season basketball will still be going in many other conferences. Action is set to kick off in Madison Square Garden on Wednesday at […]

Pirates Acquire Corey Dickerson From Rays

After being curiously designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, outfielder Corey Dickerson has found a new home. The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Dickerson on Tuesday in exchange for reliever Daniel Hudson and infield prospect Tristan Gray. What was supposed to be an interesting position battle for the Pirates is no more, […]

Second-Year Pitchers Poised for a Breakout

The first year in the big leagues is full of ups and downs for most players, particularly pitchers. Adjusting to the best hitters in the world simply takes time, and many hurlers need multiple seasons to find their footing. Thus, identifying breakout candidates among second-year pitchers is no easy task, as the league has time […]

Using xwOBA as a Predictive Tool for Hitters

With spring training on the horizon, fantasy baseball draft season is in sight, as well. That means it’s time to pore over rankings, go through countless mock drafts, and do plenty of research trying to find that diamond in the rough other owners are undervaluing. Luckily, more statistics are available than ever before to determine […]