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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 221 articles so far, you can find them below.
Trevor Williams Bounced Early In Loss
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Trevor Williams lasted just four innings and allowed four runs in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. The outing got off to a bad start when Williams allowed a home run to the first batter of the game, Matt Carpenter, and the right-hander was never able to steady... Read More
Gregory Polanco Continues To Scuffle
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco went 0-for-4 with a walk on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals, continuing his deep slump at the plate. Over his last eight games, Polanco is a measly 3-for-28 at the plate and is now batting just .213/.325/.432 on the season. While his walk totals are keeping his offensive production... Read More
Austin Meadows Has Another Big Night
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows went 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, and a stolen base in a win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. The rookie is now 13-for-29 with six extra-base hits and two steals in his first seven games as a major-leaguer, good for a slash line of .448/.448/.897. The... Read More
Joe Musgrove Hurls Gem In Pirates Debut
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove finally made his season debut on Friday and did not disappoint in a win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Returning from a right shoulder strain that had kept him sidelined since spring training, he fired seven shutout, five-hit innings while striking out seven. Musgrove lived up to his reputation... Read More
Starling Marte To Be Activated From DL On Saturday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte (oblique) expects to be activated from the disabled list before Saturday's game, according to a report from The Athletic's Rob Biertempfel. Marte has been out of action since May 15, when he strained his right oblique while swinging. Fortunately for fantasy owners, he healed quickly, as Saturday is the first... Read More
Austin Meadows Continues Hot Start To MLB Career
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. The blast was his third in four games, already giving him more than he had in 32 games with Triple-A Indianapolis this season. While he's been a nice boost to fantasy owners in recent... Read More
Starling Marte Resumes Baseball Activities
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte (oblique) has resumed baseball activities less than one week after being placed on the 10-day disabled list. The 29-year-old strained his right oblique while swinging the bat on May 15 and has been held out of action since. His absence shouldn't last much longer, however. Marte is eligible to return... Read More
Ivan Nova Struggles Again On Thursday
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ivan Nova allowed five runs (four earned) in 5 1/3 innings against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday en route to his fifth loss of the year. The home run ball did Nova in, as he allowed a grand slam to Eugenio Suarez in the third inning and a solo blast to... Read More
Corey Dickerson Collects Four Hits On Wednesday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Corey Dickerson went 4-for-5 in Wednesday's win over the Cincinnati Reds. He was retired only once on the night, picking up three singles, a double, and a walk. Surprisingly, he didn't knock in or score a run, but the effort raises his slash line to .316/.356/.500. Although the home run numbers are... Read More
Francisco Cervelli Homers But Leaves Game With Injury
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli went 2-for-6 with a two-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. The dinger tied his career-high at seven, and the month of May isn't even over yet. However, he left the game in the 12th inning with what the team is calling "right finger discomfort." Cervelli missed last... Read More
Chad Kuhl Sees Solid Start Wasted By Bullpen
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Chad Kuhl gave up only one run on five hits against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, but he had to settle for a no-decision. Aside from a solo home run by Scooter Gennett, Kuhl had little trouble with the Reds' offense. He otherwise allowed just four singles and a walk on... Read More
Colin Moran Slugs Solo Blast On Tuesday
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Colin Moran slugged a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Cincinnati Reds. He got his team on the board in the fourth inning, sending a Matt Harvey fastball at eye level deep into the right field bleachers. Moran now has four homers and 22 RBI on the season to... Read More
Austin Meadows Homers Again On Tuesday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows hit his second homer of the season in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. The 23-year-old made his only hit of the day count, sending a pitch from southpaw Amir Garrett over the right field wall in the seventh inning. Meadows is now 6-for-15 in his first four... Read More
Jameson Taillon Doomed By Two Big Innings On Tuesday
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon struck out eight but allowed six runs on eight hits in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. The right-hander got behind early, giving up two runs in the first inning. He held firm until the fifth inning, when a grand slam by Scooter Gennett blew the game... Read More
Austin Meadows Hits First MLB Homer
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows went 3-for-4 with his first career home run and two RBI in a loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday. His homer, a two-run blast that traveled 420 to right-center field, came in the sixth inning and reduced the Padres' lead to 4-3 at the time. After breaking out... Read More
Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 8: 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
Trevor Williams Turns In Forgettable Outing On Sunday
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Trevor Williams allowed four runs in six innings in a no-decision against the San Diego Padres on Sunday. The right-hander allowed only four hits and didn't walk a batter, but he had trouble working out of jams, the big blow being a two-run homer by Christian Villanueva in the fourth inning.... Read More
Josh Harrison Racks Up Three Hits In Return
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in his first game back from a broken left hand on Sunday. Slotted right back in his normal leadoff spot, he certainly didn't show any ill effects of his injury. Harrison singled in his first at-bat, doubled in his second, and... Read More
Josh Bell Triples In Saturday's Loss
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell went 1-for-4 with a triple in Saturday's loss to the San Diego Padres. The 25-year-old has started to find more power recently, as he's turned his season around after a rough April. Bell is batting .346/.444/.635 with five doubles, two triples, and two home runs in May and has... Read More
Nick Kingham Loses Despite Quality Start
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Nick Kingham allowed three runs in six innings in a loss against the San Diego Padres on Saturday. All of the damage against him came in the first inning, but the rookie settled in afterward, throwing five shutout frames and retiring 16 of the next 18 hitters. He struck out five... Read More
Joe Musgrove To Make First Start On Friday
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (shoulder) will make his first start of the season on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals, The Athletic's Rob Biertempfel reports. Musgrove was expected to be the team's fifth starter coming into 2018, but has missed the entire season to this point with a right shoulder strain. The right-hander... Read More
Nick Kingham Recalled, Max Moroff Optioned to Triple-A
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Nick Kingham was recalled from Double-A Altoona on Saturday for a start against the San Diego Padres. In a corresponding move, the team optioned second baseman Max Moroff to the minors. Kingham drew headlines earlier this year when he took a perfect game into the seventh inning of his major-league debut.... Read More
Josh Harrison To Be Activated From DL On Sunday
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison (hand) will be activated from the 10-day disabled list on Sunday, manager Clint Hurdle told the media on Saturday. Harrison broke his left hand when he was hit by a pitch on April 15 and is set to return one week before the initial six-week timetable he was given.... Read More
Ivan Nova Rebounds With Quality Start But Takes Loss
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ivan Nova allowed three runs (two earned) and struck out four in six innings against the San Diego Padres on Friday, but was saddled with a tough-luck loss. The right-hander was coming off of three straight poor outings, so this was an encouraging start despite the disappointing result. It was also... Read More
Austin Meadows Gets Two Hits, Steal in Debut
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows went 2-for-4 with a steal in his major-league debut on Friday night. The organization's second-ranked prospect started in center field in place of the injured Starling Marte (oblique) and batted seventh. Meadows flew out in his first at-bat before singling in the fourth inning and stealing second base. He added... Read More
Felipe Vazquez Strikes Out Side to Pick Up Save
Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez threw a perfect ninth inning against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, striking out the side to notch his ninth save of the year. It was the second save in as many days for the left-hander, who is still perfect in his opportunities this year. Although his strikeout rate has... Read More
Chad Kuhl Can't Make It Through Fifth Inning
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Chad Kuhl struck out five and surrendered four runs on six hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings against the San Diego Padres on Thursday. Although he was able to escape the loss, the right-hander's inconsistent ways continue. A popular streaming option on Thursday against one of the worst offenses... Read More
Austin Meadows to Be Called Up By Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates plan to call up outfielder Austin Meadows on Friday, according to The Athletic's Rob Biertempfel. Meadows is the Pirates second-ranked prospect by Baseball America and is hitting .281/.326/.380 with one home run, 15 RBI and eight steals in 131 plate appearances with Triple-A Indianapolis this season. He'll be taking the place of... Read More
Starling Marte Headed for 10-Day Disabled List
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte (oblique) will be placed on the 10-day disabled list on Friday, according to The Athletic's Rob Biertempfel. Marte left Tuesday's game in the first inning after straining his right oblique and has missed the last two games. Biertempfel reports that the injury is not severe, but the Pirates want to... Read More
Felipe Vazquez Picks Up Eighth Save
Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez earned his eighth save of the season on Wednesday, throwing a scoreless ninth inning to cap off a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. The southpaw allowed a two-out single but otherwise had a clean inning. Vazquez has converted all of his save opportunities on the year and has... Read More
