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Hot Stove notebook
Such was the case with Wednesday’s Los Angeles Angels-Seattle Mariners trade, which was widely reported a “needs” swap for both teams, overshadowed by Monday’s far-larger, seven-player R.A. Dickey trade. The truth, however, is that perhaps no player who changed uniforms this week increased in fantasy value more than Jason Vargas, whom the Mariners sent to […]
Continue readingFantasy Forecaster: Week 3
On tap: Expect a heightened level of intensity in Los Angeles this week, as the Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Diego Padres Monday through Wednesday, only four days after a Zack Greinke–Carlos Quentin hit by pitch spawned a bench-clearing brawl between the two teams that resulted in a fractured collarbone for Greinke and an […]
Continue readingRest-of-season projections for Carlos Correa and other contender call-ups
One of the most important lessons that the Moneyball mindset has spread around baseball has little to do with statistics, but simply with the basic rules of how MLB finances are structured. Namely, that prospects are incredibly valuable. While this was always known, modern franchises place even more value on prospects, with blockbuster-type trades, such […]
Continue readingGoing all-in for an ace? Summer rentals bring hope, but no guarantees
In the meantime, pitch counts and statistical calculations can’t convey the sense of excitement Price provides every fifth day, or the world of promise that his presence heralds for October. Maybe Price will make his mark in a one-game wild-card matchup, or in the AL playoffs against the likes of Johnny Cueto or Dallas Keuchel. […]
Continue reading70 MLB betting nuggets to know
The baseball season is a betting grind over six months of the regular season and then the playoffs. But don’t worry, ESPN Chalk is here to help, providing the most important betting nuggets you need to know before the season starts. • In 2015, $897.3 million was wagered on baseball at Nevada sportsbooks, an all-time […]
Continue readingWhy Cubs, Giants will top Vegas’ expectations
Prediction: Over 93.5 wins FanGraphs projection: 96-66 Baseball Prospectus projection: 94-68 The 2023 fantasy baseball season is here! Get the gang back together, or start a brand new tradition. Join or start a league for free >> The Cubs won 97 games last season and proceeded to splurge in free agency to the tune of […]
Continue readingJune MLB delivers D.C. thunder, a mysterious Arizona phone number and a walk-off triple play in Bronx
There was no June swoon for weird, wacky and wonderful in baseball. The greatest game provided another load of strikeouts, including immaculate ones, home runs and unusual name connections, led by a threesome of Santanas on one play, and Griffin Jax and Skye Bolt in one week. It gave us bizarre plays, triple plays and […]
Continue readingEverything you need to know at halfway point of the 2020 MLB season
The motif heading into the 60-game Major League Baseball season was straight out of a 1950s horror movie or a bad slogan for a 1980s Mariners team: Anything can happen. As we come upon the halfway point of the season, however, as much as we hoped for a crazy, unpredictable two months, the top of […]
Continue readingWill the MLB trade deadline be a dud? These five questions could hold the key
This will be the most unpredictable trade deadline we’ve ever seen. My colleague Brad Doolittle just did a great job outlining the issues teams face this deadline, along with a position-by-position look at who might be available and which teams have holes to fill. One big factor aside from the cash-flow problems that exist in […]
Continue readingFantasy baseball daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Sunday’s games
It’s also Shohei Ohtani day as the versatile Angels phenom will reportedly take the hill every Sunday. The righty thrower will look to improve on his lackluster opener where he failed to record an out, allowing five earned runs on three hits and three walks. Clayton Kershaw is slated to make his 2020 debut after […]
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