Articles
Nelson Cruz Hits Three Home Runs Again
Minnesota designated hitter Nelson Cruz continues to crush, blasting three home runs for the second time in 10 days, this time versus the Kansas City Royals at home on Saturday night. No one in baseball is hotter than Cruz, as the reigning American League player of the week now has 11 home runs in his […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoRonald Acuna Walks It Off on Saturday
Tied at three in the bottom of the eighth inning, Ronald Acuna took a bases-loaded walk to put the Braves up 4 - 3 on Saturday night, facing the Reds at home. And after new closer, Shane Greene blew the lead in the ninth, it was Acuna who would play the hero again in the […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoChris Sale is Rocked Then Tossed in Loss to Yankees
After getting tagged for six earned runs in less than six innings against the Yankees on July 28, it would've been hard to get much worse for Boston starter Chris Sale as he lined up to face the Yankees again in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. But Sale proved those doubters wrong […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoEric Sogard Hits His First Two Home Runs For Rays
Trade deadline acquisition Eric Sogard hit two home runs on Saturday night as the Tampa Bay Rays combined for four home runs to beat the Marlins 8 - 6. Sogard, who was acquired from the Blue Jays for two players to be named later, is in the midst of a career year, slashing .300/.364/.475 with […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoAustin Meadows Homers in Third Straight Game
Tampa Bay Rays off-season acquisition Austin Meadows homered in this third straight game on Saturday night, hitting a full-count fastball 359 feet to right field, tying the game against the Marlin 6 - 6 in the seventh inning. After Meadows hit his 18th home run of the year, the Rays would go on to win […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoDJ LeMahieu Hits Two Home Runs in Yankees Victory
New York Yankee DJ LeMahieu is showing no signs of rust after missing four games with groin tightness, collecting two hits in his return on Friday night before going off in the first game of a doubleheader against the Red Sox on Saturday, hitting two home runs off of Boston ace Chris Sale. LeMahieu would […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoEdwin Encarnacion Has Fractured Wrist
Edwin Encarnacion is the latest Yankee to be bitten by the injury bug after being hit with an 87 mph slider from Red Sox reliever Josh A. Smith in a 9 - 2 Yankees victory on Saturday. While initial x-rays were negative, a CT scan later revealed that Encarnacion's right wrist was indeed fractured. The […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoAaron Sanchez and Friends Combine for No-Hitter
Making his first start for Houston after being traded from Toronto, Aaron Sanchez started his Astros career off with a bang, combining with Will Harris, Joe Biagini, and Chris Devenski to no-hit the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night. Sanchez went six innings for his part, walking two and striking out six on 92 pitches, before […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoRyan McMahon (1B/2B/3B, COL) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 31% of leagues ANALYSIS: Having finally gotten a proper chance for everyday at-bats, Colorado infielder Ryan McMahon accounted himself fine in his 265 plate appearances before the All-Star break, hitting seven home runs with 35 RBI and 36 runs scored while slashing .256/.332/.399. But since the midseason festivities, […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoMark Canha (1B/OF, OAK) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 6% of leagues ANALYSIS: After hitting a quiet 17 home runs in his 411 plate appearances last year for Oakland, outfielder Mark Canha was a late-round sleeper heading into 2019 but then promptly disappointed with a .200 AVG over his first 18 games before going on the injured […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoWillie Calhoun (OF, TEX) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 10% of leagues ANALYSIS: Texas Ranger rookie Willie Calhoun was surprisingly demoted on June 15, with a .277 AVG over his first 99 plate appearances in the majors while hitting five home runs, with 13 RBI and 15 runs scored. But after Joey Gallo hit the injured list […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoCal Quantrill (SP, SDP) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of leagues ANALYSIS: San Diego rookie Cal Quantrill has been on fire recently, allowing only one run over his past three starts, going 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA with a favorable matchup at home against the Rockies on the schedule. Quantrill started his big league career off […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoDrew Smyly (SP, PHI) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: Yes, that Drew Smyly. The same Drew Smyly that was released by the Texas Rangers after he made 13 appearances (eight starts), going 1-5 with an 8.42 ERA and 5.96 BB/9; not to mention 19 home runs in his 51 innings pitched. After being let […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoZach Greinke's Astronomical Fantasy Value
Nothing is ever completely quiet at the deadline, only often boring. But this year it was eerily silent on the day of the new hard trade deadline as only minor tremors shook the market. Sure, the typical moves were made that make fans shrug, as their teams shored up the back of their rotations, bullpens, […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoH2H Category Streamers - Week 19 Waiver Wire
There are plenty of strategies that fantasy managers explore in hopes of getting an advantage over their opponent. Heavy lineup, heavy starting pitchers, no catcher, all (or mostly) reliever staff, no reliever staff, etc. Even if you play a balanced lineup, injuries can cause holes. A few weeks without a key player won’t kill a […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoVladimir Guerrero Jr. Hits Two More Home Runs
In the midst of a "disappointing" rookie-year, Toronto third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit two home runs Thursday night in an 11-2 victory over the Orioles. Guerrero Jr. started off the scoring with a two-run blast in the third inning before hitting a 450-foot towering encore in the 8th. Still only 20-years old, Guerrero Jr. […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoTravis D'Arnaud Homers Again in Rays Win
Catcher reclamation project Travis D'Arnaud, stayed on fire Tuesday night, hitting his 13th home run 454 feet off of Boston starter David Price. After failing to homer in his first 26 games as a Ray, D'Arnaud has been a revelation since and is slashing .330/.416/.701 with seven home runs, 23 RBI, and 16 runs scored […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoAndrew Benintendi Homers in Third Straight Game
After starter Charlie Morton was removed with two outs in the fifth inning, Boston Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi hit the first pitch from Tampa reliever Adam Kolarek 358 feet over the Green Monster. Benintendi still only has 11 home runs on the season but has now hit four in his past eight games and […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoJustin Verlander Strikes Out 13 Indians in Win
Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander was dominant in a road win Tuesday night against Cleveland, striking out 13 batters over seven innings with only two hits allowed and no walks. That's the third start in a row with double-digit strikeouts for the 36-year-old who is now 14-4 on the year with 196 strikeouts. Verlander will […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoOzzie Albies Collects Three More Hits
Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies went 3-5 on Tuesday night in a 11-8 victory over Washington, with a double and two runs scored. Albies is now slashing .288/.341/.471 with 15 home runs and eight stolen bases on the season. Since the beginning of July, Albies now has 10 multi-hit performances as well as 10 doubles […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoJosh Donaldson Hits 24th Home Run of the Year
Atlanta Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson hit a three-run home run on Tuesday night, depositing an 89 mph fastball from National's starter Eric Fedde into centerfield in the fourth inning as part of an 11-8 road victory over Washington. The home run is Donaldson's ninth of the month but only his first since July 21 […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoJake Odorizzi Bounces Back Against Marlins
Minnesota Twins starter Jake Odorizzi beat the Marlins for his twelfth win on Tuesday night, holding Miami to one run on four hits while striking out five over 5 1/3 innings. After a great first two months of the season, Odorizzi has been mostly disastrous since the middle of June, with a 7.99 ERA over […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoYasiel Puig Brawls Minutes After Being Traded
Minutes after the news was starting to break that he had been traded to the Cleveland Indians, former Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig was involved in a benches-clearing brawl with the Pittsburgh Pirates, ultimately being ejected. In 99 games this year Puig has 22 home runs with 60 RBI, 51 runs scored and 13 stolen bases, […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoIndians Trade Trevor Bauer in 3-Team Deal
Former Cleveland Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer was traded to the Reds on Tuesday night in a 3-team blockbuster that will see them receive Yasiel Puig in return from the Reds as well as Franmil Reyes and Logan Allen from San Diego. Bauer goes from a team leading the Wild Card race and only two games […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoRhys Hoskins Homers in Second Straight Game
Suffering a power outage in July, Phillie's first baseman Rhys Hoskins homered on Tuesday night, after chasing Giants starter Tyler Beede in the fifth inning with a 414-foot shot to centerfield with Bryce Harper on first base in a game Philadelphia would eventually win 4-2. Hoskins also hit a walk-off home run on Sunday night […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoCubs Acquire Reliever David Phelps From Toronto
Toronto continued their deadline sale, shipping right-handed reliever and cash considerations to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. In exchange, the Blue Jays receive Thomas Hatch, a right-handed pitching prospect who has a 4.59 ERA in 100 innings this year at Chicago's double-A affiliate. By acquiring Phelps, the Cubs continue to try and shore up their […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoKen Giles Elbow Issue Makes Future Uncertain
Once thought a near-guarantee to be dealt by the Blue Jays, closer Ken Giles has now missed the past two games with elbow inflammation, putting the likelihood he's moved at risk. Manager Charlie Montoyo says Toronto will not use Giles if he is not 100%, even though Montoyo doesn't believe the issue to be serious. […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoCaleb Smith Strikes Out Nine in Marlins Win
Marlins starter Caleb Smith went seven strong innings on Monday night versus the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing four earned runs on four hits. Smith only walked one while striking out nine and left the game after retiring the last 10 batters he faced. Since coming off the IL on July 6, Smith is 4-0 with […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoCavan Biggio Homers, Collects Three Hits
Blue Jays rookie Cavan Biggio homered for the second time in three games as Toronto beat the Royals 7-3 on Monday night. Biggio went 3-5, adding two singles to his eighth home run of the year, as well as scoring two runs. After hitting waiting until July 27 to hit his first home run of […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years agoTeoscar Hernandez Continues Power Surge
After hitting two home runs on Saturday night, including a 12th-inning walk-off blast, Teoscar Hernandez kept the power up on Monday night, hitting a 451-foot moonshot off of Kansas City starter Brad Keller. While the home run is only Hernandez's 15th on the year, he's now hit eight home runs in July along with a […]
Nicklaus Gaut 5 years ago