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About Matt Wilkes - RotoBaller
Matt is a recent Ohio State grad and has been writing about baseball for over three years. In addition to RotoBaller MLB, he currently writes for Redleg Nation, where he regularly marvels at Joey Votto's mastery with the bat. He's played fantasy sports since he was 9 years old, and it played a large part in turning him into the stats nerd he is today.
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Matt Wilkes - RotoBaller has written 16 articles so far, you can find them below.
Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 17: Buy or Sell?
Due to a combination of harder throwers and hitters focusing on hitting for power, strikeouts are at an all-time high in baseball. For pitchers, this is an ideal trend. The ability to generate swings and misses is the most important skill to possess, as it's the only true way to control what happens after the... Read More
Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 15: Buy or Sell?
Due to a combination of harder throwers and hitters focusing on hitting for power, strikeouts are at an all-time high in baseball. For pitchers, this is an ideal trend. The ability to generate swings and misses is the most important skill to possess, as it's the only true way to control what happens after the... Read More
Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 14: Buy or Sell?
Due to a combination of harder throwers and hitters focusing on hitting for power, strikeouts are at an all-time high in baseball. For pitchers, this is an ideal trend. The ability to generate swings and misses is the most important skill to possess, as it's the only true way to control what happens after the... Read More
Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 12: Buy or Sell?
Due to a combination of harder throwers and hitters focusing on hitting for power, strikeouts are at an all-time high in baseball. For pitchers, this is an ideal trend. The ability to generate swings and misses is the most important skill to possess, as it's the only true way to control what happens after the... Read More
Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 11: Buy or Sell?
Due to a combination of harder throwers and hitters focusing on hitting for power, strikeouts are at an all-time high in baseball. For pitchers, this is an ideal trend. The ability to generate swings and misses is the most important skill to possess, as it's the only true way to control what happens after the... Read More
Felipe Vazquez Records Four-Out Save
Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez picked up a four-out save, his 11th of the year, in a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. The southpaw entered with two outs and a runner on first in the eighth inning and promptly struck out Enrique Hernandez. Although he walked a pair of batters in the... Read More
Trevor Williams Continues To Scuffle
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Trevor Williams lasted just three innings in his start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. He gave up all four of his earned runs in the third inning and was pulled for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the frame. He was spared a loss, however, as the Pittsburgh... Read More
Joe Musgrove Takes First Loss Of Season
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove was saddled with his first loss of the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. The right-hander struck out five but lasted a season-low five innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk. The long ball killed Musgrove, as he allowed a two-run... Read More
Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 10: Buy or Sell?
Due to a combination of harder throwers and hitters focusing on hitting for power, strikeouts are at an all-time high in baseball. For pitchers, this is an ideal trend. The ability to generate swings and misses is the most important skill to possess, as it's the only true way to control what happens after the... Read More
Corey Dickerson Out Of The Lineup On Sunday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Corey Dickerson is not starting in Sunday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals. Although Dickerson has yet to slow down at the plate, slashing .313/.347/.490, his team's new outfield rotation has limited his playing time lately, as this is the third time he's been out of the lineup in the last... Read More
Colin Moran Goes Deep On Saturday
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Colin Moran went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a loss against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. Moran's blast got his team on the board in the fifth inning and was the only run his team managed against Cardinals starter Luke Weaver. It was the 25-year-old's fifth home run... Read More
Austin Meadows Bashes Fifth Homer On Saturday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows went 1-for-3 with a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. The dinger came at a crucial time in the game, tying the score at two in the top of the ninth inning. It was Meadows' fifth homer in 51 big-league plate appearances, as he refuses to... Read More
Chad Kuhl Turns In Third Straight Quality Start
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Chad Kuhl gave up two runs in six strong innings in a no-decision against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. The right-hander allowed four hits, struck out five and walked two on the day, but he was bested by counterparts Luke Weaver and Austin Gomber, who combined to allow one run... Read More
Jameson Taillon Fires Eight Brilliant Innings In Win
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon tossed eight shutout innings in a win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. He allowed only three hits and a walk while striking out six. A newfound slider is paying big dividends for Taillon, who has turned in consecutive quality starts since he began featuring the pitch... Read More
Felipe Vazquez Implodes On Thursday
Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez did not record a single out on Thursday, blowing a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning and taking the loss against the St. Louis Cardinals. Entering the game with an 8-5 advantage, he gave up a double to the first batter he faced. Following a fielding error,... Read More
Trevor Williams Continues To Struggle On Thursday
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Trevor Williams allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday while taking a no-decision. The first inning doomed Williams, as he gave up four runs and nearly allowed the Cardinals to bat around. It was the third consecutive subpar outing for Williams, who... Read More
Austin Meadows Sitting On Thursday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows is getting the night off on Thursday against Jack Flaherty and the St. Louis Cardinals. It's just routine rest for the hot-hitting rookie, who is batting .419/.435/.814 in 46 plate appearances. Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte, and Gregory Polanco make up the Pirates outfield from left to right on Thursday. Meadows... Read More
Felipe Vazquez Picks Up 10th Save
Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez worked out of a jam to pick up his 10th save of the season against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. The southpaw allowed a pair of singles in the ninth inning, but he was able to retire Kris Bryant via a groundout to preserve the 2-1 win. After leaving Sunday's... Read More
Joe Musgrove Earns Second Straight Win
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove earned his second win in as many starts with a seven-inning, one-run effort against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Although he allowed seven hits and an uncharacteristic four walks, Musgrove kept the Cubs off the board after the first inning to help end Pittsburgh's four-game losing streak. He struck... Read More
Ivan Nova Feeling Better, Will Need Rehab Assignment
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ivan Nova (finger) says he's feeling better and will play catch again on Thursday. The right-hander was placed on the disabled list on Monday with a sprained right ring finger. The injury at least partly explains his recent struggles, as he'd gone 0-4 with a 7.61 ERA in his last five... Read More
Jung Ho Kang Playing In Back-To-Back Games
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang is set to play in back-to-back games for the first time since reporting to extended spring training. Per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Bill Brink, Kang will then get an off day before playing three straight games. After sitting out all of 2017 due to work visa issues stemming from... Read More
Starling Marte Sitting On Wednesday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte is out of the lineup against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night. It's just a routine day off for the center fielder, who has started every game since returning from the disabled list on Saturday. Austin Meadows is getting the start in center.
Austin Meadows Mashes Home Run On Tuesday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows went 3-for-5 with a double, solo home run and two runs scored in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. Despite Starling Marte's return, Meadows is still getting consistent playing time and has yet to cool down at the plate. The long ball was his fourth of the year... Read More
Felipe Vazquez Returns, Fires Perfect Inning
Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez (forearm) returned to action in a non-save situation on Tuesday, firing a perfect ninth inning. Vazquez left Sunday's game with left forearm discomfort after feeling his elbow "pop," but the issue wasn't deemed serious. The southpaw got three straight groundouts from Cubs hitters, a nice return to form after blowing... Read More
Nick Kingham Takes No-Decision After So-So Outing
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Nick Kingham allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. The rookie got through the first four innings unscathed before Ben Zobrist blasted a two-run home run in the fifth. After allowing a two-out double and RBI single to opposing... Read More
Gregory Polanco Sitting Again On Tuesday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco is out of the lineup for a second straight game on Tuesday. The slumping Polanco is batting .128/.261/.205 over the last two weeks and is hitless in his last 22 plate appearances. He'll continue to find playing time hard to come by, as the Pirates intend to go with an... Read More
Corey Dickerson Sitting Against A Southpaw On Tuesday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Corey Dickerson is out of the lineup for the second time in three days on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. With left-hander Jon Lester on the mound for the Cubs, Sean Rodriguez is getting the starting nod in left field and batting sixth. Dickerson has traditionally performed worse against southpaws, but he's... Read More
Felipe Vazquez Expected To Be OK, Won't Pitch Monday
Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez (forearm) told reporters he feels "fine" after leaving Sunday's game with what was termed "left forearm discomfort." According to The Athletic's Rob Biertempfel, Vazquez said he felt a "little pop" in his elbow and had no feeling in his ring finger. Fortunately, nothing concerning was detected on an MRI. He's... Read More
Ivan Nova Headed To DL, Nick Kingham Recalled
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ivan Nova (finger) will be placed on the 10-day disabled list on Monday with a sprained right ring finger. Nova has been on a rough stretch lately, giving up 20 earned runs and six home runs in his last 23 2/3 innings. Nick Kingham will take the vacant spot in the... Read More
Jameson Taillon Sees Quality Start Wasted By Bullpen
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon gave up just three runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, but he had to settle for a no-decision. After allowing a run in the first inning, the right-hander settled down, holding the Cardinals scoreless until the seventh inning. Taillon struck... Read More
