Projecting Power in 2021: Elite Levels of Air% Exit Velocity

Everyone wants more power, even more so when it comes relatively cheap. But even when pricey, you're going to need to draft a bomber or two. One of the best ways to see how a player's power is trending is to sift through their exit-velocities to see what they're saying. Most know by now that […]

Year-in-Review: Lance McCullers Jr.

It had been a while since we saw Lance McCullers Jr. on the mound. He has dealt with his fair share of injuries throughout his career, and he dealt with his most severe in 2019 when he lost the entire season to Tommy John surgery. The shutdown and the subsequent delayed start to the season […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Rankings

I think most of us would agree that looking forward to 2021 is a good idea. For me, that means immersing myself in the upcoming baseball season. While there's no guarantee COVID-19 won't affect the '21 season, I will approach ranks as if a traditional 162-game season is coming. Join me for my position-by-position ranking […]

Giants Interested In Jon Lester

The San Francisco Giants are interested in free-agent left-hander Jon Lester as they look to add one more starting pitcher this offseason. Lester seriously considered signing with the Giants before joining the Cubs in 2014. San Francisco general manager Scott Harris worked in the Cubs front office during Lester's time in Chicago, and pitching on […]

Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft - ADP Surprises

Of course, there are many changes to be made throughout the offseason. It feels as if the dust is still settling on the 2020 World Series yet baseball fans are more ready for the upcoming season than ever. We have no idea whether a full schedule can be played, what games will look like, and […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Rankings

As we begin to look towards the 2021 baseball season, we can only hope that COVID-19 will be handled well enough to let the season run as normal. Since this is a mere early ranking exercise and we have so much ahead of us, let's just close our eyes and chat as if a 162-game […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Third Base Rankings

Hope springs eternal for the 2021 baseball season, but it's hard to imagine we'll be completely past COVID-19 by then. Plus, we could see opening salvos for the CBA debates to come. But for now, let's just close our eyes and dream of a perfect world and chat as if a 162-game season will come […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Second Base Rankings

As usual, I'll start by saying the 2021 baseball season may still be affected by COVID-19. Maybe even more labor disputes just for a curveball. But for now, let's just close our eyes and dream of a perfect world and chat as if a 162-game season will come next spring. Join me for my position-by-position […]

Kevin Gausman Accepts Giants Qualifying Offer

Right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman accepted the San Francisco Giants $18.9 million qualifying offer on Wednesday and will return to the team in 2021. The 29-year-old went 3-3 with a 3.62 ERA during the shortened 2020 season and returned to a starting role. Gausman threw his straight fastball less last year and had a solid 4.9 […]

Giants Sign Jason Vosler Tuesday

The San Francisco Giants agreed to terms on a major league deal with infielder Jason Vosler on Tuesday. The 27-year-old played for Triple-A El Paso in the Padres organization in 2019, setting career-highs in batting average (.291), on-base percentage (.367), slugging percentage (.523) and OPS (.890). A 16th round pick of the Cubs in 2014, […]

2021 First Look Fantasy Values: Third Base

The baseball offseason may officially begin with the end of the World Series but the projections offseason began last Thursday night with the release of the first Steamer projections for 2021. Created and maintained by mathematics teacher Jared Cross and his former students, Steamer remains the industry standard for non-aggregated projection systems, as well as […]

Nick Mariano's Early 2021 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Rankings

Let's cut right to it: the 2021 baseball season is not guaranteed to be a normal one. But for now, let's just close our eyes and dream of a world unencumbered by COVID-19 and talk about our silly little game as if a 162-game season will come next spring. It is time to decide how […]

2021 First Look Fantasy Values: Outfielders

The baseball offseason may officially begin with the end of the World Series but the projections offseason began last Thursday night with the release of the first Steamer projections for 2021. Created and maintained by mathematics teacher Jared Cross and his former students, Steamer remains the industry standard for non-aggregated projection systems, as well as […]

2021 Fantasy Value First Looks: Shortstop

The baseball offseason may officially begin with the end of the World Series but the projections offseason began last Thursday night with the release of the first Steamer projections for 2021. Created and maintained by mathematics teacher Jared Cross and his former students, Steamer remains the industry standard for non-aggregated projection systems, as well as […]

2021 First Look Fantasy Values: First Base and Second Base

The baseball offseason may officially begin with the end of the World Series but the projections offseason began last Thursday night with the release of the first Steamer projections for 2021. Created and maintained by mathematics teacher Jared Cross and his former students, Steamer remains the industry standard for non-aggregated projection systems, as well as […]

2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values Based On Contact Quality

In part one of this series, I established that zxwOBAcon is the primary driver of season-to-season changes in xwOBAcon and that the biggest risers in zxwOBAcon each season tend to be rebound candidates. Furthermore, rebound candidates recover all of their zxwOBAcon losses more often than not and frequently outperform their season x zxwOBAcon in season […]

Warning Signals in Shift Increases: Part One

Shifts work. Not all the time and not against everyone but eventually there is a sufficient amount of data on a player to be able to draw some pretty strong conclusions about what advantages can be gained by shifting. There are good reasons that Joey Gallo was shifted against 98.5% of the time in 2020. Not everyone […]

Brandon Belt Undergoes Surgery On Right Heel

San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (heel) underwent surgery to remove a bone spur in his right heel last week, and the procedure was performed by ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson. Belt traveled home last weekend and is set to begin his rehab process and physical therapy this week. The 32-year-old hit a cool […]

Champ or Chump: Year in Review

Now that the 2020 fantasy baseball season has come to a close, it is time to assess your performance. Did you ignore red flags that you wish you hadn't? Was a strong process foiled by unpredictable factors outside of anybody's control? Both of these things are likely true to some extent. The key is to […]

Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox - Yesterday's Recap

Welcome to the September 28th edition of Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox. Discussing baseball is as fun as the game itself. It has a way of bringing people together to share different opinions about the sport we all love. A similar action can be done with fantasy baseball where we not only discuss topics […]

FanDuel MLB DFS Lineup Picks (9/29/20): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

After what seemed to be a long shot three months ago, playoff baseball returns Tuesday. As opposed to the slobberknocker of competition that is ahead Wednesday, and potentially Thursday, we get a quick dip in the water with a four-game American League bonanza. As can be expected with Game 1’s across the board, aces will […]

FanDuel MLB DFS Lineup Picks (9/27/20): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

Sunday is the final day of the regular season, and this includes a big slate. My suggestion is to grab a valued arm that can snatch up a W, then load up on bats for a fun day of home runs! The matchups to take advantage of being in Cleveland, New York(Mets), and the Cubs/White […]

Sam Coonrod Lands On Injured List To End 2020 Season

San Francisco Giants right-handed pitcher Sam Coonrod (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Saturday's contest versus the Padres due to a strained right shoulder. The move ends Coonrod’s 2020 campaign on a rough note after he allowed a walk-off home run Friday that would have nearly sealed a playoff spot for […]

Joey Bart Sits Saturday, Tyler Heineman Behind The Dish

San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart will take a seat Saturday versus San Diego and right-hander Zach Davies, ceding way to Tyler Heineman. Bart has been striking out in droves during his first exposure to big league pitching, having recorded at least one K in each of his last eight games. While he has posted […]

Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox - Yesterday's Recap

Welcome to the September 26th edition of Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox. Discussing baseball is as fun as the game itself. It has a way of bringing people together to share different opinions about the sport we all love. A similar action can be done with fantasy baseball where we not only discuss topics […]

Jeff Samardzija Returns To Rotation For Game 2 Friday

San Francisco Giants right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija (shoulder) was activated off of the injured list Friday and will start the second game of the doubleheader versus San Diego. Samardzija has not been on the mound since Aug. 7, having been hit hard in his three starts to the tune of a 9.88 ERA and 1.61 […]

Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox - Yesterday's Recap

Welcome to the September 25th edition of Daily Slivers of the Fantasy Soapbox. Discussing baseball is as fun as the game itself. It has a way of bringing people together to share different opinions about the sport we all love. A similar action can be done with fantasy baseball where we not only discuss topics […]

Mike Yastrzemski Could Be Used As Pinch-Hitter On Thursday

San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski (calf) is on the road to recovery, and according to manager Gabe Kapler, he could be used as a pinch-hitter in Thursday's game. Yastrzemski has been sidelined since last Thursday, Sept. 17, while nursing a calf injury. Steven Duggar and Luis Basabe have been the team's primary right fielders […]

Donovan Solano Sitting On Thursday

San Francisco Giants second baseman Donovan Solano is getting the day off on Thursday as the team faces the Colorado Rockies. Wilmer Flores is getting the start at second in the game. Solano is currently sixth in the majors in batting average, hitting a stellar .335. He's riding a four-game hitting streak and is slashing […]

Mauricio Dubon Hits Three-Run Home Run Wednesday

San Francisco Giants second baseman/outfielder Mauricio Dubon went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Rockies. Dubon crushed a fifth-inning Yence Almonte breaking ball into the centerfield seats for his third HR of the season. While he hasn't hit for power this season (.386 slugging percentage), Dubon […]