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Chris Tillman, James Shields Match Up in Game 1 of ALCS
After two days off, baseball is returning Friday night with the first game of the ALCS. The Baltimore Orioles will send Chris Tillman to the mound while the Kansas City Royals will counter with James Shields. It’s a matchup... More of this article »
Orioles Agree to Three-Year Extension with J.J. Hardy
The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a three-year contract extension with shortstop J.J. Hardy worth $40 million. Hardy was set to become a free agent after the season. The Orioles are set to host the first game of the ALCS against the Kansas... More of this article »
Kansas City Royals Speed, Defense Key to Success
It’s been quite a run for the Kansas City Royals. Just last week they were down four runs in the 8th inning in a wild card elimination game. By the end of the week, they had won that game and proceeded to sweep the Los Angeles... More of this article »
Giants Squeeze by Nationals, Advance to NLCS
The San Francisco Giants ousted the Washington Nationals Tuesday night to advance to the NLCS. With the St. Louis Cardinals downing the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in the day, the Giants will face the Cardinals in the NLCS... More of this article »
Clayton Kershaw, Adam Wainwright will Square off in Game 1
Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright will face each other in Game One of the National League Division Series as the Los Angeles Dodgers host the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dodgers ace led the National League and all of baseball with... More of this article »
Orioles Use Eight Run Eighth to Pull Away from Tigers
The Baltimore Orioles downed the Detroit Tigers at Camden Yards in the first game of the ALDS. A solid outing from Chris Tillman, four good innings from the bullpen, key home runs from Nelson Cruz and J.J. Hardy and a huge 8th... More of this article »
Royals Down A’s in Wild Card Thriller, Advance to Play Angels
The Kansas City Royals downed the Oakland Athletics in a thriller Tuesday night, and will advance to play the Los Angeles Angels in the Divisional Series. This 12 inning affair featured 28 hits, 17 runs, and two big comebacks... More of this article »
Giants Ace Madison Bumgarner a Tall Task for Pirates Offense
The San Francisco Giants will host the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday night in the wild card round with the winner advancing to the NLDS to face the top-seeded Washington Nationals. Because they used top pitcher Gerrit Cole this... More of this article »
Big Game James Shields Set To Go in Wild Card Game for Royals
The Kansas City Royals will appear in the postseason for the first time since 1985 when they host the Oakland Athletics Tuesday night in the Wild Card game. If the Royals win, they will play the Los Angeles Angels, who won a major... More of this article »
Jordan Zimmermann Fires No-Hitter in Washington Nationals Season Finale
The Washington Nationals ended the regular season with a bang, as Jordan Zimmermann threw his first career no-hitter against the Miami Marlins. Zimmermann faced just one batter over the minimum, as he fanned 10 in a 1-0 victory.... More of this article »
Minnesota Twins Phil Hughes’ Record-Setting Season
2014 has been another rough year for the Minnesota Twins, who will miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Still, there were some bright spots. Brian Dozier emerged as a solid all-around player, Trevor Plouffe had a nice... More of this article »
Little Jose Altuve’s Big Season for Houston Astros
It’s been a season of controversy for the Houston Astros. They showed some real promise in June, with rookie right fielder George Springer making a big splash, and pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh posting ace-like numbers.... More of this article »
Detroit Tigers Victor Martinez’ Fantastic Season
The Detroit Tigers have endured several bumps in the road during the 2014 season. Nevertheless, they have a one game lead on the Kansas City Royals with six games remaining, and are virtually assured of at least a wild card berth.... More of this article »
Washington Nationals Lineup Makes Them Favorites in the NL
Despite some injury-fueled early season struggles, the Washington Nationals are sitting pretty. With a 91-64 record, they own the best record in the NL, and will rest their starters as they head into the postseason, where they will... More of this article »
Boston Red Sox Youth Movement – Largely Disappointing
A year ago the Boston Red Sox had the oldest roster in the major leagues. That season ended with them winning the World Series. Then, they allowed center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury to depart in free agency, Stephen Drew went unsigned... More of this article »
Have Billy Beane’s Trades Hurt the Oakland Athletics?
The Oakland Athletics headed into July with the best record in baseball, and sizeable division lead. They made the first big deal of the trade season, sending 2013 first-round draft pick Billy McKinney and consensus top 10 prospect... More of this article »
Jake Arrieta Emerges as an Ace for Chicago Cubs
Jake Arrieta dominated the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday night. The Chicago Cubs hurler threw his first career shutout, surrendering just one hit and one walk while fanning 13 hitters. It was the best performance in what has been an... More of this article »
Do the Oakland Athletics Have Enough Pitching?
The Oakland Athletics got off to a very strong start, and on August 9 they had a four game lead on the Anaheim Angels. Their 72-44 record was the best in baseball, and after acquiring Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Chicago... More of this article »
Ian Kinsler Proving to be Key Acquisition for Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers currently enjoy a 1.5 game lead on the Kansas City Royals in the American League Central. With just 13 games remaining, the Tigers odds of winning the division sit at 75 percent, and they are virtually assured... More of this article »
Jordan Zimmermann Having Career Year in Loaded Nats Rotation
The Washington Nationals starting pitchers have had a remarkable year. Their 14.5 fWAR leads the National League. Stephen Strasburg is among the league leaders in strikeout rate, Tanner Roark has a sub 3.00 ERA, Doug Fister has accumulated... More of this article »
AL Cy Young Candidates: Chicago White Sox Chris Sale
Pitchers have dominated in 2014. The average ERA for a major league starting pitcher is just 3.86, and strikeout rates are just a shade under 20 percent. A host of pitchers are having excellent seasons, including Felix Hernandez, Corey... More of this article »
Jose Bautista Keeping Blue Jays in Wild Card Race
The Toronto Blue Jays got off to a hot start in the 2014 season. One June 6 they owned a 38-24 record and enjoyed a six game lead in the American League East. As late as July 2 they were in sole possession of first place. However,... More of this article »
Pittsburgh Pirates Offense Is Carrying Them Towards the Playoffs
After enduring a difficult start to the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates have fought their way back into the second Wild Card spot. At 75-68, they have a 1.5 game lead on the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers for the last... More of this article »
Buster Posey Riding Extended Hot Streak for Giants
The San Francisco Giants have a three game lead on the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first Wild Card spot. With 19 games remaining, their playoff odds sit at a cool 94 percent. Buster Posey has been instrumental in helping to lead... More of this article »
AL Cy Young Candidates: Cleveland Indians Corey Kluber
Cleveland Indians pitcher Corey Kluber turned in a dominant performance Saturday night, hurling a complete game against the Chicago White Sox. Kluber registered eight strikeouts without issuing a walk, and allowed one unearned run... More of this article »
Josh Donaldson Solid AL MVP Candidiate
The Oakland A’s have hit a bit of a rough patch after dominating the American League West for most of the season. At six games behind the Los Angeles Angels, their sights appear to be set on the first Wild Card spot. While... More of this article »
Kyle Seager Having a Career Year for Seattle Mariners
At 76-63, the Seattle Mariners entered play Friday just a half-game behind the Detroit Tigers for the second Wild Card spot. If they can squeeze in, this would be their first playoff appearance since 2001, when they won 114 games.... More of this article »
Michael Wacha Returns to Rotation for Cardinals
After missing nearly three months with a shoulder injury, Michael Wacha returned to the St. Louis Cardinals rotation on Thursday night. He was limited to three innings, over which he allowed one run on three hits with one walk and... More of this article »
NL MVP Candidates: Andrew McCutchen
Last season, Andrew McCutchen led the Pittsburgh Pirates to their first playoff appearance in 21 years. The Pirates centerfielder produced a .317/.404/.508 batting line, drilled 21 home runs, stole 27 bases, and played excellent... More of this article »
AL MVP Candidates: Mike Trout Leads Deep Angels Lineup
Photo By Keith Allison Following a four game sweep of the Oakland Athletics, the Los Angeles Angels own a commanding 4.5 game lead in the American League West with 26 games to play. A season-ending injury to ace pitcher Garrett Richards... More of this article »
American League Cy Young Candidates: Jon Lester
Jon Lester couldn’t have asked for a better year heading into free agency. The 30 year-old workhorse enjoyed a phenomenal 2013 postseason, as he helped lead the Boston Red Sox to a World Series title. Despite Lester expressing... More of this article »
Adam Jones Leads Baltimore Orioles Towards October
2014 wasn’t supposed to be the Baltimore Orioles year. The Boston Red Sox were coming off a year in which they won the World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays returned a very strong roster, and the New York Yankees went on a... More of this article »
Alex Gordon Leading Surging Royals in Hunt for October
The Kansas City Royals last playoff appearance occurred in 1985, when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series. That gives them the longest active playoff drought among the four major American sports. As of... More of this article »
Rick Porcello Is Helping to Stabilize a Detroit Tigers Rotation in Flux
Thanks to a post All-Star break skid and a surge by the Kansas City Royals, the Detroit Tigers playoff odds are in jeopardy. Their rotation is missing Anibal Sanchez and Justin Verlander only just returned from the disabled list.... More of this article »
MVP Candidates: Miami Marlins Giancarlo Stanton
Despite losing pitching phenom Jose Fernandez to season-ending elbow surgery, the Miami Marlins are still hanging around the fringes of the National League Wild Card hunt. At 64-65, they are just four games behind the San Francisco... More of this article »
Chris Archer Stepping up for the Tampa Bay Rays
It’s been something of a lost season for the Tampa Bay Rays. They got off to a terrible start, and at one point owned the worst record in baseball. A mid-season tear gave them a distant shot at playoff contention, but they went... More of this article »
Jhonny Peralta is Having a Career Year for the Cardinals
Thanks to a recent surge, the St. Louis Cardinals are in position for the first wild card spot. They sit in second place in the National League Central, 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. Though the team has the fewest home... More of this article »
Los Angeles Angels’ Garrett Richards Emerges as an Ace
Entering play on Monday, the Los Angeles Angels are locked in a tie with the Oakland Athletics for the best record in the American League East and all of baseball. Mike Trout captures most of the headlines for the Angels, and the... More of this article »
Carlos Gomez, Jonathan Lucroy Keeping Brewers atop NL Central
In one the season’s biggest surprises, the Milwaukee Brewers are enjoying a three game lead in the National League Central division. While 2014 was supposed to be the St. Louis Cardinals‘ year, Milwaukee’s convincing... More of this article »
MVP Candidates: Clayton Kershaw, Yasiel Puig Emerging in Los Angeles
With a 69-53 record, the Los Angeles Dodgers have a commanding five game lead in the National League West. While the San Francisco Giants got off to a red-hot start, the Dodgers have surpassed them and now have a 92 percent chance... More of this article »
Anthony Rendon Key to Washington Nationals Success
Thanks in large part to a catastrophic slide by the Atlanta Braves, the Washington Nationals own a five game edge in the National League East. Their odds of winning the division sit at 94 percent, and they have the best World Series... More of this article »
Felix Hernandez, Robinson Cano Leading Mariners’ Playoff Push
The Seattle Mariners own a 63-55 record, which puts them just one game behind the Detroit Tigers for the second wild card spot. Their playoff odds sit at 36.5 percent. It would be their first playoff berth since 2001, when they... More of this article »
MLB Trade Rumors: Tigers Interested in Ian Kennedy or Joaquin Benoit
The San Diego Padres moved third baseman Chase Headley and closer Huston Street prior to the July 31 trade deadline. Still, they declined to move two key pieces in Ian Kennedy and Joaquin Benoit, both of whom were in high demand.... More of this article »
August Trade Candidates: Tampa Bay Rays Ben Zobrist
After months of speculation, the Tampa Bay Rays finally traded David Price just hours before the July 31 deadline, sending him to the Detroit Tigers in a three-way deal that netted them Wily Adames, Nick Franklin and Drew Smyly. Since... More of this article »
August Trade Candidates: Texas Rangers Alex Rios
It seemed likely that Texas Rangers outfielder Alex Rios would be dealt before the July 31st trade deadline. The Rangers have been out of contention for some time, and while Rios’ numbers have declined this season, he’s... More of this article »
August Trade Candidates: Philadelphia Phillies Chase Utley
The Philadelphia Phillies stood pat at the July 31st trade deadline, and many pundits felt this was a missed opportunity for the club to sell. They have a firm hold on last place in the National League East. With an aging roster... More of this article »
August Trade Candidates: Los Angeles Dodgers Carl Crawford
The July 31st trade deadline has come and gone, and the Los Angeles Dodgers still have a glut of outfielders. Yasiel Puig is one of the best hitters in baseball, Matt Kemp is swinging the bat very well, and Scott Van Slyke has posted... More of this article »
MLB Trade Rumors: 10 Players that Could be Traded in August
The July 31st trade deadline has come and gone, and there was a flurry of activity. However, impact trades frequently occur after the waiver deadline. The mechanics of an August trade are a little more complicated, as players have... More of this article »