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Sam Chinitz has written 567 articles so far, you can find them below.
Aaron Judge Not Yet Swinging
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) has yet to resume swinging, indicating that he still hasn’t had an additional CT scan. Judge is scheduled to undergo a CT scan sometime soon, but he hasn’t swung pain-free since the beginning of spring training and is unlikely to start swinging before getting a clean scan. Until... Read More
Hitters Ready To Break Out Late
Depending on the chosen method of understanding performance declines by age, MLB hitters generally start to decline sometime between the time they turn 28 and 30. Nevertheless, some players can have their best seasons after what is typically a hitter’s peak years. Since many of these hitters have had underwhelming careers before their breakout seasons,... Read More
Aaron Hicks Swinging
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks (elbow) has been swinging a bat and working through a throwing program as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The Yankees are optimistic that Hicks can be major league ready by this summer, and his progress so far suggests that he’s comfortably on pace for that target. If Hicks... Read More
James Paxton Throwing Simulated Games
New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton (back) has been throwing simulated games as he recovers from offseason back surgery. Paxton’s rehab has gone well so far, and it seems like the 31-year-old is in line to be healthy for Opening Day, whenever that may be. When healthy, Paxton is a solid fantasy option who... Read More
Aaron Judge Expected To Be Ready This Summer
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) has continued to heal from a stress fracture in his rib and is expected to be ready at some point this summer after undergoing additional tests. That the Yankees are relatively optimistic about Judge’s chances of playing this season after he’s had additional tests is encouraging, but fantasy... Read More
ADP Comparison: Biggest Risers From March To May
A delayed start to the MLB season has allowed several relatively high-profile MLB players to heal from offseason and spring training injuries, but improved health isn’t the only cause for a rising ADP. Some players have benefited from adjusted roster projections, and some for unclear reasons. With that in mind, here is a list of... Read More
ADP Comparison: Biggest Fallers from March to May
MLB first announced that its season would be postponed on March 12. Over the past month or so, a plan to resume games has taken several forms, but nothing is set in stone yet. For now, it appears as though teams will play in a maximum of 100 games in 2020, with the minor league... Read More
Aaron Hicks Throwing From 90 Feet
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks (elbow) has reportedly been throwing from 90 feet and taking soft toss as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery. With the season unlikely to start until July at the earliest, Hicks should be expected to miss no more than a couple of weeks to start the season.... Read More
Aaron Judge Scheduled For CT Scan
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (ribs) is set to undergo another CT scan in a couple of weeks after the results of his March 13 CT scan showed that he was not yet fully healthy. Manager Aaron Boone is optimistic that the additional rest has allowed Judge’s ribs to heal, but fantasy owners should... Read More
Evan Longoria (3B, SF) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper
BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~340 CURRENT ADP: ~Undrafted ANALYSIS: Evan Longoria is not the MVP candidate that he once was, but he doesn’t have to be considering he is not being drafted in NFBC contests currently. In 2019, Longoria posted a .254/.325/.437 slash line that appears to be replicable in 2020. Longoria possesses a patient plate... Read More
Third Base ADP Reflections
Third base is arguably the deepest position in fantasy this year, with plenty of highly productive options outside of the first 20 third basemen being drafted. The position is so deep that if a player isn’t a lock for an OPS above .900, doesn’t have positional versatility, or doesn’t offer stolen bases, then they may... Read More
Three Shortstops Set To Bust In 2020
Shortstop is a fairly deep fantasy position, with fifteen shortstops going before the 150th pick on average and plenty of value to be found even later in drafts. The top-end of the shortstop group is particularly strong, with three shortstops owning top-10 ADPs. No other infield position group has had as many different players drafted... Read More
Electronic Strike Zone: Who Benefits and Who Doesn't
Among the more high-profile MLB rule changes expected to take effect over the next few years is the usage of an electronic strike zone. The electronic strike zone was used in the Atlantic League in 2019, and the MLB Umpires Association has cleared the way for its introduction to the major leagues at some point... Read More
James Paxton Throwing Bullpens
New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton (back) has been throwing bullpen sessions and appears likely to be ready for Opening Day. Paxton underwent back surgery over the offseason and has avoided setbacks in his recovery so far, and his return to full health bumps pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga out of the Yankee rotation. Paxton boasts... Read More
Giancarlo Stanton Ready To Play
New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) is reportedly healthy enough to play and is expected to start for the team whenever the season begins. Stanton suffered a calf strain early in spring training and had been expected to miss time, but with the season delayed the outfielder appears unlikely to start the season on... Read More
Late-Round Draft Fliers for ERA
The MLB league average ERA shot up to 4.51 last season, the highest mark since 2006 and the seventh-highest mark since 1920. Only 20 qualified starting pitchers posted an ERA below 3.50 last year, and 40% of qualified starters posted an ERA north of 4.00. With the category being thin on elite options, ERA can... Read More
Aaron Hicks Begins Swinging
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks (elbow) reportedly began swinging last week as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery. That Hicks has begun swinging a bat indicates that he is still on track for the June or July return date that he originally hoped for, so the outfielder could be ready for Opening... Read More
Sizing Up the Boston Red Sox Rotation
The Red Sox got an ugly 4.95 ERA out of their starting pitchers last season, good for the 11th-worst mark in the league. An optimist might look at the Red Sox’s above-average 4.40 FIP, attribute much of the team’s pitching struggles to bad luck, and expect a rebound in 2020. Combined with a potential rebound... Read More
Jonathan Loaisiga Would Have Won Starting Job
New York Yankees pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga would have been the team’s primary fifth starter had the season begun on time, according to pitching coach Matt Blake. Injuries and a Domingo German suspension left the Yankees with holes in their starting rotation, and a strong spring from Loaisiga had him in line to win a job... Read More
James Paxton Progressing Well
New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton (back) is continuing to recover from back surgery at home, and pitching coach Matt Blake indicated that Paxton has been progressing well. Paxton hopes to be ready for game action as soon as mid-May, and the recent update suggests that he’ll be healthy enough to pitch in games... Read More
Domingo German’s Suspension Will Not Extend Into 2021
New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German was suspended for 81 games under MLB’s domestic-violence policy last season, of which he served 18 games. According to the recent agreement between the MLB and the MLB Players Associations, German will be suspended for as many games as the schedule allows for in 2020, up to the... Read More
Aaron Judge To Stay In Right Field
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone shut down suggestions of outfielder Aaron Judge (ribs) moving to first base. Judge has played in only 214 games over the past two seasons and entered spring training with a stress fracture in his rib this year, so a switch to first base may be a way to keep... Read More
Three AL Outfielders Set To Bust In 2020
The American League has fallen significantly behind the National League in terms of quality fantasy outfielders. Of the top-10 outfielders by ADP, only three (Mike Trout, J.D. Martinez, and Austin Meadows) represent the American League. The relative lack of elite talent makes avoiding busts especially crucial in AL-only leagues, as a couple of early-round misses... Read More
Deivi Garcia Optioned To Double-A
New York Yankees starting pitcher Deivi Garcia was optioned to Double-A on Thursday. Garcia had been competing for a rotation spot in the wake of injuries to James Paxton and Luis Severino, but struggled in three spring training starts with a 7.36 ERA. A consensus top-100 prospect, Garcia finished last season at Triple-A, where he... Read More
Aaron Hicks Begins Throwing Program
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks (elbow) has begun his throwing program. Hicks underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of October and is targeting a return in June or July. That Hicks has begun his throwing program keeps him on track for that timeline, and with the start of the regular season likely pushed... Read More
Aaron Judge Set For CT Scan In Two Weeks
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) is scheduled to undergo a CT scan in two weeks after the results of his March 13 CT scan showed a slight improvement in his ribs. Manager Aaron Boone is optimistic that Judge will be fully healthy by the time the regular season starts, but fantasy owners should... Read More
Giancarlo Stanton Healthy Enough To Play
New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) is reportedly in game shape, with manager Aaron Boone saying that Stanton is healthy enough to play in spring training games. Stanton suffered a calf strain in late February and was sidelined for the entire shortened spring, so Boone’s update is encouraging. When healthy, Stanton is an elite... Read More
One Adjustment Away: Potential HR Risers Based on Launch Angle
Hitting the ball in the air more frequently doesn’t always mean more home runs, but an increased launch angle certainly doesn’t hurt. Of the top-20 qualified batters by launch angle last season, only two failed to hit at least 20 home runs, and the group averaged more than 30 homers. Granted, many of those batters... Read More
Third Base Deep Sleepers for 2020
Third base is arguably the deepest position in fantasy baseball, making the position ripe for late-round gems and sleepers. The considerable depth at the 3B position allows fantasy owners to sit back and wait rather than drafting one in earlier rounds. Indeed, the 25 third basemen drafted within the first 200 picks by ADP are... Read More
Aaron Judge Sees Improvement In CT Scan
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) underwent a CT scan on Friday that showed a slight improvement in his condition. Judge will now undergo an additional test in a couple of weeks to re-evaluate the stress fracture in his ribs. The Yankees have no reason to rush Judge’s recovery at this point, but the... Read More
