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The best fantasy baseball owners are the ones who scour rosters to find the best under-the-radar talent.

Everyone can pick Miguel Cabrera, but it’s the ones who picked Chris Davis last year that are true fantasy geniuses.

This year is no different. Finding sleepers is paramount if you want to win your league.

So who are the fantasy baseball sleepers in 2014 that absolutely need to be on your team? We’ll break them down below:

Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston Red Sox

Xander Bogaerts brings plenty of playoff experience into his rookie season.

In 12 postseason games, Bogaerts batted .296 with an impressive .412 on-base percentage.

Those around the Red Sox think Bogaerts is going to be an immediate star. As Adam Kaufman of the Boston Globe wrote:

Will he be as good as the still-waiting-to-be-signed Stephen Drew on defense? Unlikely. With the bat? Without question. Save for a serious injury derailing his season, this future, perennial All-Star will be the AL’s Rookie of the Year in 2014. He demonstrated a calm, cool, and collected nature when inserted for Will Middlebrooks in last year’s postseason and was completely unfazed by the astronomical pressure.

Bogaerts is going to be a force for the Sox. The only question is whether or not he will face some rookie growing pains.

It’s certainly possible, but he’s too talented to pass up. Draft him in the middle rounds and watch him become a mainstay of your team.

Kole Calhoun, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Batting in front of Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols is a good way to score a lot of runs.

That’s why Kole Calhoun needs to be on your fantasy radar.

The rookie outfielder shined in a brief call-up last season, batting .407 with four home runs in eight games and 27 at-bats.

“He has a short, compact swing, plays good defense, and he competes,” Mike Trout told Eric Karabell of ESPN.com.” I played with him through the minor leagues and know what he’s capable of doing. Right now I think he’s leading off. He works hard and is ready to go.” 

All Calhoun has to do is get on base. Luckily for the Angels, he’s pretty good at that. In Triple-A last season, Calhoun had a .431 OBP. He also batted .282. 

Calhoun has shown the ability to get on base, and given that the Angels score a lot of runs—last season they ranked seventh in runs scored, and that’s with down years by Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols—Calhoun will cross home plate a lot.

He’s a solid bench outfielder for your team. Don’t be afraid to use a late-round pick on him.

Danny Salazar, SP, Cleveland Indians

The Indians must think highly of Danny Salazar if they are willing to make him their starter for their home opener:

But given his talent, it’s not too surprising. As Jonah Keri of Grantland wrote:

Salazar’s inclusion shouldn’t be a surprise after last week’s offseason edition of The 30, in which I drooled over his filthy fastball-slider-changeup arsenal and the 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk rate he posted last season in his first 10 major league starts. He’s talented enough to make a Cy Young run, maybe even as soon as this year. And while individual talent is more important than teammate contributions, Carlos Santana’s move from catcher to third base could have a hugely positive impact on Salazar and the rest of Cleveland’s pitchers.

Salazar can reach 100 MPH and will be the fourth starter on the Indians, a team that is a legitimate contender for the playoffs. It would not be surprising to see Salazar reach 15 wins. He also has an outside shot of reaching 200 strikeouts. 

If you can get him, you must pounce on Salazar. The only limit on him is a potential innings count. But that shouldn‘t be too much of a concern. He’s too good to ignore.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals are tied at one game apiece in the 2013 World Series, and Game 3 should be fantastic.

The Sox took the first game in dominant fashion, but the Cardinals showed resiliency in taking Game 2 in Boston.

What are the keys going forward for both teams? What does each team need to do to win the series?

Read on to find out.

Boston Red Sox

Someone other than David Ortiz needs to produce consistently.

They got good production in Game 1, especially from Mike Napoli and, of course, Ortiz.

But the bats went silent a bit, and Ortiz had the only RBI in Game 2. In fact, there were just total four hits by the Red Sox.

Even though the Sox are in the World Series, they struggled mightily at the plate in the ALCS. Remember, this is a team that just escaped a no-hitter against Detroit.

So it can’t be all on Ortiz to continue to come up with big hits. We know he’s going to do his thing, but if his offense is supplemented by guys like Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino and Jonny Gomes, the Sox should be fine.

The starters and the ‘pen, for the most part, have been on point. Koji Uehara has been terrific all postseason, allowing just one run in 10 innings of work.

To win this series, it has to be on the offense. Ortiz will continue to hit, and it’s likely that he will produce another magical moment. But he can’t do it alone. They need contributions from the bottom half of the lineup. Stephen Drew has one hit. Xander Bogaerts doesn’t have a hit. In the series so far, it’s really just been Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia leading the way.

This is a talented team, so I expected it to break out of its doldrums. But there isn’t too much time left. The Red Sox need to steal preferably two games in St. Louis. They won’t do it if the offense struggles.

St. Louis Cardinals

Like the Sox, the Cards need to find their hitting stroke.

Other than Carlos Beltran, who has been fantastic all postseason and is probably first in line to win the MVP should the Cardinals win, there is no dominant offensive force.

Matt Holliday has been decent, but like the Red Sox, the Cardinals can’t rely on simply Beltran.

While they did bounce back in Game 2, the Cardinals were uncharacteristically sloppy in Game 1. Three errors? By the Cardinals? Yeah, it doesn’t seem right, and it’s fair to wonder whether or not it will happen again. Did the pressure get to them? Or did they happen to have a bad game at the worst time?

It’s tough to say, and the Cards deserve the benefit of the doubt given their track record. But they spoiled a game started by their ace, and by the time they get back around to Adam Wainwright it may be too late. 

I really think that someone like Allen Craig, David Freese or Yadier Molina needs to step it up. Beltran has been terrific, but he can’t do it alone.

The Cardinals have proven that they can beat just about anyone. They have experience and incredible poise, and have gotten some great performances, particularly from Michael Wacha, who may be the next great pitcher in baseball. But, as it always does, baseball comes down to fundamentals. Game 1 was a disaster, but you do have to give them credit for fighting back in Game 2.

If the pitching holds up and the fielding stays sane, then it’s up to Holliday and company to help Beltran out. If they can, there’s no reason why they won’t win.

But if Beltran is the only one producing, the series might be over pretty quick.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The 2013 Home Run Derby is just around the corner and each league has a number of talented guys with unbelievable power.

While some players seem poised for quick exits, there are other players who look to have real staying power in the competition.

We’ll break down each league’s participants, giving a sense of which players have the best chance of winning. 

National League

Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper has 13 home runs in 193 at-bats this season and hey have traveled an average distance of 400.9 feet, per the ESPN Home Run Tracker.

Harper’s power is tremendous and his personality fits the Derby well. It would not be surprising to see him advance far.

Harper has the most raw power of anyone in the National League, which gives him a really good chance of making the finals. He missed all of June due to injury and has just hit one home run in July. It will be interesting to see if the time off hurts his rhythm. 

If he can get into a rhythm, though, there’s really nothing stopping him from reaching the final. If he looks like he’s in a good groove in the first round, he’ll challenge some of the veteran sluggers.

Pedro Alvarez

Carlos Gonzalez was set to participate in the Derby, but due to injury, he will not participate. According to the SportsCenter Twitter page, Pedro Alvarez will replace him:

Alvarez’s one good trait this season is his power. His 24 home runs is second in the NL behind Carlos Gonzalez and his 25 bombs. Despite his power numbers, he’s only batting .253 and has struck out a remarkable 108 times.

But his power is real. His homers travel an average of 405.9 feet, according to the ESPN Home Run Tracker. 

Alvarez is coming in hot, too. He’s hit 16 home runs in his last 40 games, along with 40 RBI.

He’s better suited for the Derby than he is for an all-around game. He has great power, and if he gets on a roll he could win the whole thing.

He’s a sleeper and has a real shot upsetting the favorites.

David Wright

David Wright has just 13 home runs, and it’s possible that he’s only in the event because it is taking place in his home park. 

That said, he was the runner-up in 2006 when he hit 22 home runs, just one behind Ryan Howard’s 23. In competitions, Wright’s power does come through.

But that was seven years ago. He’s hit just three home runs at Citi Field this season, and only 37 of his 87 home runs have come at his home park since it opened in 2009.

Wright will have the crowd behind him, but given his struggles at home, it’s hard to see him advancing far. 

Michael Cuddyer

Cuddyer was an interesting selection. He has 15 home runs this season but is batting .332 with 52 RBI.

Perhaps he’s a better hitter than a pure home run guy. That said, his homers have traveled an average of 403.1 feet, per the ESPN Home Run Tracker.

The big question is how he’ll respond in Citi Field, a notorious pitcher’s park. He has hit nine of his home runs in hitter-friendly Coors Field, for an average of 398.2 feet. In all other parks, his homers travel 405.5 feet, but he’s only hit six away.

That means that while he can hit the ball far, he doesn’t do it too often. He could have trouble in Citi Field. Some of his homers may be bombs, but he won’t hit enough to advance past the first round.

American League

Yoenis Cespedes

Yoenis Cespedes was a bit of an interesting choice for the Derby. While he does have 15 home runs, he’s in the midst of a pretty bad season. He’s batting just .221 and has a pitiful .285 OBP.

There’s no doubting his raw power, though, as his homers travel an average of 408.5 feet, per ESPN Home Run Tracker. He also hit a 440-foot bomb in Seattle’s Safeco Field, a park that is notoriously difficult for hitters.

Still, the fact that he’s struggling so much is concerning.

Cespedes is the fourth Home Run Derby participant to not be selected to the All-Star team, according to USA Today. He was not deserving of an all-star spot, and he should’ve stayed home for the Derby, too.

Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder is the defending champ, as he hit 28 home runs to win it last year. He also won the event in 2010.

Fielder obviously knows how to perform well in this event. But he’s in a bit of a slump this year. He has 16 home runs this season, but just four since June 6.

When he does hit it out, it only travels an average of 394.8 feet, according to the ESPN Home Run Tracker. That’s a steep decline from 2012, where his homers traveled an average of 405.9 feet, per the ESPN Home Run Tracker. 

This has the makings of a disappointing Derby for Fielder. He should get past the first round, but it would be surprising to see him advance any further than that.

Robinson Cano

Robinson Cano won the Home Run Derby in 2011, but followed it up with a dud in 2012, where he did not even hit a single home run.

Still, despite the disappointing showing last year in Kansas City, Cano has incredible power and is a real contender to win it all. With his smooth, left-handed swing, Cano should love the 338 feet down the right field line.

Cano has 21 home runs this year, although his home runs have come in streaks. He hit only three long balls in June, as part of a down month in which he only hit .275.

But July has been kind to Cano, as he’s hitting .405 with four home runs.

Cano will rebound in this year’s derby. He’s one of the favorites, and it would be a shock if he repeats his performance from last year. 

Chris Davis

Chris Davis is having an absolutely remarkable season. He leads the league with 35 home runs, which is already the highest he has ever hit in a season.

He’s batting .313 with 88 RBI as a contender for the MVP award.

He’s also the favorite to win the Derby. He has incredible power to all fields, and his homers travel an average distance of 401.8 feet, as per the ESPN Home Run Tracker. 

This is his first all-star appearance, but that shouldn’t slow him down. His power is perfectly suited for this event, and he is seeing the ball well.

Davis will likely get to the finals, where he has a good shot of taking home the title. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The starting pitchers for the 2013 All-Star game have not yet been announced, but it’s clear that there are a few pitchers who deserve to start.

Pitchers who deserve to start are not only having great years, but stand out in one or more particular categories.

Which pitchers deserve to start? Read on to find out. 

Patrick Corbin

Corbin is not a household name, but he still deserves a chance to start. The 23-year-old has a 10-1 record, with a 2.40 ERA and a dazzling 0.98 WHIP.

He has the best winning percentage in the NL, while also boasting the fifth-best ERA. 

He’s unheralded to be sure, and he made his debut a little over a year ago. But he has four elite pitches and has been the most consistent pitcher in the NL.

The country needs to be introduced to Corbin, and there is no better place than on the mound in the first inning of the All-Star game.

Clayton Kershaw

Kershaw is leading the NL in most major pitching categories. He has the best ERA at 1.89, and has pitched the most innings, at 138.1.

He is second in the league in strikeouts with 129 and has the best WHIP, at 0.90.

The 8-5 record isn’t pretty, but that’s mostly due to a lack of run support.

On pure numbers, Kershaw is the best pitcher in baseball. That fact alone is enough to give him the starting gig.

Kershaw has said all the right things about the starting job, including telling FoxSports.com that Matt Harvey deserves the start: “There’s no reason, especially if it’s in New York, that he shouldn’t start. That’s what the fans will want. I’ve got no problem with that.”

While the humility is endearing, Kershaw is the one who deserves the start. He simply has the best numbers. 

Max Scherzer

Scherzer is putting up terrific numbers this year. He has a 13-0 record, with a 3.06 ERA, 146 strikeouts and a batting average against of .200.

The fact that he hasn’t lost all year makes him worthy of taking the hill as the starter. It also doesn’t hurt that his every day manager, Jim Leyland, will be coaching the AL squad.

Scherzer‘s fantastic start deserves to be rewarded. It’s not often that a pitcher logs so many important innings for a contender and simply does not lose.

He’s one of the most valuable pitchers in baseball and should be rewarded with the start. 

Mariano Rivera

Yes, choosing Mariano Rivera would be an unconventional choice. The legendary closer is used to starting the ninth inning, not the first.

But Rivera is retiring at the end of the season, and the greatest closer who ever lived deserves a fitting send-off. 

If he is installed as the AL closer, there is no guarantee that he pitches in the bottom of the ninth. Jim Leyland will give him every chance to pitch, but if the American League is losing badly in the eighth, his appearance will lose its luster. 

Starting him is undoubtedly sentimental, but it ensures the legend can end his All-Star career with the pomp and circumstance it deserves. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Yasiel Puig has quickly taken baseball by storm, but if he wants to keep playing at a high level, the Dodgers need to rein him in.

The 22-year-old outfielder is batting .487 with four home runs and 10 RBI in just 12 games.

But yet after just 12 games, he’s already refused to speak to reporters. And there’s his role in this epic brawl with the Diamondbacks, in which he strained his shoulder and was forced to miss a game due to the injury:

If that’s not enough, his teammates knew that his pugnacious style would get him in trouble. As catcher Tim Federowicz told ESPN: “We knew at some point somebody was going to try to knock [Puig] down.” In addition, Mark Saxon of ESPN reported that the Dodgers have been worried about Puig‘s “showmanship” since spring training. 

That’s quite the rap sheet for someone who’s been in the bigs for just a few weeks. 

Everyone knows about Puig‘s talent. It’s remarkable. He has incredible power and has pretty much hit everything—he has a 72 percent contact rate on balls outside of the strike zone. He also has a remarkable arm from right field:

But talent is one thing—sustaining it is another. And while Puig has the makings of a star, he needs to be able to be calm on the field. The more incidents he gets involved in, the more he becomes a target, and soon the Dodgers may not want to deal with him.

And it’s not like he’s done that much to help the Dodgers. The team is 28-38 and has lost five of its last six. The wheels are quickly falling off. Don Mattingly is on the hot seat, and as Howard Cole of LA Weekly said, “if he can get his club to within a chance to win a ballgame, he can blow it.”

Yet Puig is probably the one player who can bring the Dodgers out of the doldrums. But at 8.5 games back of the first-place Diamondbacks, time is running out.

But if his first few weeks in the majors is an indication, Puig won’t end up saving the Dodgers. He’ll continue to ruffle feathers, and perhaps worse. As Dodgers reliver Paco Rodriguez told ESPN:

Here, you’ve got to be professional, know how to carry yourself and how to act around the older guys. You have to give them their space. He’s kind of wild, all over the place, but you have to understand that’s more of the culture of baseball in Cuba. Once he tones it down a little, you can tell he’s going to be a great player.

The Dodgers may prove to be a bad environment for the fiery Puig. A team in turmoil that is quickly going south is usually a disaster waiting to happen. There’s nothing Puig can do.

Besides, the antics seem even worse when it comes from a rookie on a last-place team. Unless the Dodgers can begin to rein Puig in, then he might burn out as quickly as he came in. And with all that talent, it would be a shame. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The 2013 MLB draft has come and gone, and now it’s time evaluate what the best first-round picks were.

A good first-round pick will have a lot of potential but will also reach the bigs in a relatively short period of time.

Which picks fit that bill?

Read on to find out.

Mark Appel, No. 1, Houston Astros

This is obvious, but it doesn’t make it any less true. Mark Appel projects as a true, top-of-the rotation starter. He has a high 90s fastball, plus a dynamic curveball.

The 6’5″ right-hander went 10-4 during this season with a 2.12 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 106.1 innings.

The Houston Astros need a lot of help, on both sides of the ball. Houston has the worst ERA in the league, at 4.99. Appel should do a lot to help that.

As a polished collegiate starter, Appel won’t need much time in the minors. He should come up in the middle of next season and can be inserted into the top of the rotation.

Appel is pretty much bust-proof. His flaming fastball and dazzling off-speed stuff sets him up to be a success. His experience at Stanford means that there shouldn’t be too much of an adjustment.

He is the ace the Astros need, and the sooner he can join the big club, the better. He has star written all over him. 

Dominic Smith, No. 11, New York Mets

Dominic Smith is probably the best high school hitter in this draft class. The lefty has a really smooth swing with really good bat speed.

He has a good amount of power and profiles as a No. 3 hitter.

Smith is also a smooth first baseman, who makes the throw to second on a double play look easy.

His best trait, however, is his bat, a sweet swing that will constantly make contact. He projects as a .300 hitter with at least 25 home runs.

The New York Mets, who are starved for offense, will love adding Smith’s bat to the lineup. While Citi Field doesn’t have the friendliest of dimensions for hitters, Smith can flat-out hit—it doesn’t matter what the dimensions are.

Smith may take two or three years to reach the bigs, but he should be the next star for the Mets and will be a big part in helping them reach contention.

Tim Anderson, No. 17, Chicago White Sox

Tim Anderson is probably the fastest player in this draft. The shortstop from East Central CC has stolen 71 bases in two seasons.

He’s also a pretty good hitter. He won’t ever hit for power, but he can hit the gaps and use his speed to leg out doubles and triples. He’s a perfect leadoff hitter.

Anderson is very similar to a former Chicago White Sox outfielder, Juan Pierre. Both have really quick swings to poke the ball out into the gaps.

He has great range at short and could probably play at second base or left field. He’s a versatile player who could make the bigs soon as a pinch runner. 

Anderson will add an exciting new quality to the White Sox, and he will be the leadoff hitter of the future.

The one downside is that he faced a lower level of competition at East Central. That might mean it will take him a bit longer to adjust to minor league pitching. Still, his speed and defense should have no trouble translating, which will help him rise up the ranks relatively quickly. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Some of the 2013 MLB draft picks selected in the final rounds are already looking like they are going to be hidden gems.

It’s impossible to know about every potential hidden gem—after all, not many thought Albert Pujols would turn into something after being selected in the 13th round in 1999 by the St. Louis Cardinals. Still, there are a number of players who immediately leap off the page, even if they were drafted in the latter stages of the event.

Who are some of the hidden gems from the final rounds that will pay off in the bigs relatively soon?

Read more to find out.

12th Round: Dane McFarland, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

Dane McFarland is an athletic outfield prospect who could end up starting for the D-Backs down the line. The 6’4″, 210-pound high schooler, who is currently committed to Oregon, possesses a nice blend of speed and power. 

If the D-Backs can get him to back out of his commitment, they they will have a nice prospect on their hands. He doesn’t project as a star, but his quick bat should lead to a lot of home runs.

Look for McFarland to reach the bigs in three years and to become the D-Backs‘ regular right fielder. He will quickly endear fans with his speed and projects as a faster version of Nick Swisher.

13th Round: J.T. Riddle, 2B, Miami Marlins

J.T. Riddle might have the best hands of any player in this draft. The second baseman from the University of Kentucky had a .983 fielding percentage this season, along with leading the SEC in assists. 

In addition, Riddle had a streak of 358.1 innings without committing an error in 2011-12. That’s nearly 40 games.

He’s not a great hitter, although he is certainly not awful. Rather, he projects as someone like Orlando Hudson—maybe not the best hitter, but a Gold Glove-caliber fielder who can change games with his defense.

For a team like the Marlins that needs help in so many areas, drafting a defensive-minded player is a really good start. Riddle could be playing in Miami in no time.

15th Round: David Denson, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers

David Denson has one real skill: He can put a charge into the ball.

Take a look at this absolutely monster home run:

That blast went 515 feet. Yes, 515 feet.

Denson doesn’t really stand out in any other area. He won’t hit for average, he will strike out a lot and his best position is likely designated hitter.

But the 6’4″, 250-pound lefty sure can hit. At his best, he projects as an Adam Dunn-like hitter. And while hitters like that certainly have their limitations, hitting with that kind of power is a real major league tool.

Denson has the type of power that will land him in multiple Home Run Derbys. And yes, it was a bit of a risk for the Brewers, seeing that the National League doesn’t have a DH. Denson is, at best, a below-average fielder.

Still, that type of power doesn’t grow on trees, and the Brewers could have found themselves another version of Prince Fielder. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The New Year is underway, and the baseball hot stove is still going strong. There are plenty of rumors going around to quench your hot-stove thirst.

With all the rumors out there, it can be hard to identify which ones are legit and which ones have no chance of happening.

We simplify things for you and tell you which of the latest trade rumors you should buy and which ones you shouldn’t. 

Jason Kubel for Alexei Ramirez

Will the D-Backs look to trade some of their outfield surplus for infield help? The idea has been bandied about. Danny Knobler of CBS reported the following:

White Sox have talked about Kubel. Also had talks about Upton earlier in winter, when Diamondbacks asked about Alexei Ramirez.

— DKnobler (@DKnobler) December 22, 2012

Now that Cody Ross is in the fold, the Diamondbacks have a bunch of outfielders. Getting rid of one of them, whether it’s Kubel or Upton, would make sense, especially if it’s going to upgrade their infield.

Ramirez batted .265 last season, with nine home runs and 73 RBI. He would present a major upgrade at either shortstop or third base and trading for him would be a wise move.

Kubel had a terrific year last season, batting .253 but knocking 30 home runs and 93 RBI, and would fit in nicely with Alex Rios and Dayan Viciedo. 

You should buy this rumor. It makes too much sense, especially now that the Diamondbacks are overflowing with outfielders.

This deal could get done relatively soon.

Rick Porcello to Baltimore or Seattle

Tigers starter Rick Porcello is on the trading block, and there are a bunch of teams interested.

In particular, the Orioles and Mariners (per Jon Morosi of Fox Sports):

Sources: #Tigers have spoken with multiple teams about Rick Porcello. #Orioles and #Mariners among those involved. @mlbonfox

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 20, 2012

The Tigers have a surplus of pitching and recently signed Anibal Sanchez to a five-year, $80 million deal, and it may be difficult to keep Porcello long term.

The Mariners have seemingly kicked the tires on everybody, and Porcello, despite his 4.59 ERA, would represent an upgrade.

The Orioles, on the other hand, have J.J. Hardy to dangle in return, according to MLive.com, especially with the emergence of Manny Machado. The Tigers could trade Porcello and Jhonny Peralta for Hardy (via Lynn G. Henning of The Detroit News):

Mulling possibilities for Tigers: Porcello/Peralta to O’s: Peralta goes to 3B, Machado moves to SS. Orioles kill 2 birds. Tigers get a SS.

— Lynn G. Henning (@Lynn_Henning) December 21, 2012

Again, nothing is imminent, but this rumor has legs. It makes sense, especially if the deal is with the Orioles.

Vernon Wells to Yankees?

The Yankees need outfield bats, and they could look to the Angels for help. Vernon Wells is redundant, now that Josh Hamilton is in the fold.

Thus, he’s on the block.

The Angels and Yankees talked about a deal for Wells at the winter meetings, according to Fox Sports.

Wells is due to make $21 million this year and next, so the Angels would likely have to take on a major part of the contract.

Wells is a righty bat, which is needed in New York to balance the all-lefty outfield the Yanks currently employ. Wells has been a disappointment for the Angels, and last season he batted .230 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI. 

Should you buy this rumor?

No.

The Yankees signed Matt Diaz to a minor league deal yesterday. The right-handed outfielder batted .222 with two home runs and 11 RBI in part-time duty for the Braves.

Unless the Angels take on all of Wells’ burdensome contract, then the Yankees will most likely stick with Diaz off the bench. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The San Francisco Giants are off to a hot 2-0 start in the World Series and are looking to finish things up in Detroit. But there’s still plenty of baseball left to be played.

Below, we’ll give you a time and TV primer, and then a preview of the remaining games. 

Game 3: Saturday, October 27

Time:  8:07 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Game 4: Sunday October 28

Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Game 5: Monday, October 29*

Time: 8:07 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Game 6: Wednesday, October 31*

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Game 7: Thursday, November 1*

Time: 8:07 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

*if necessary

Now, onto the preview.

The Giants are in command. They’re up 2-0 and their best pitcher, Matt Cain, hasn’t taken the rubber yet. Game 3 will feature Ryan Vogelsong as the starter (14-9, 3.37 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 158 K, 189.2 IP). He’ll be ready. But Anibal Sanchez is no slouch (1.35 ERA and 0.98 WHIP so far in the playoffs).

Detroit wants to get a win so they can be down only 2-1 when Justin Verlander takes the hill in Game 4. Yes, he didn’t have his best start in Game 1. But he’s arguably the best pitcher in baseball, and it’s unlikely he’ll have two bad starts in a row.

Game 3 holds the key to the series. If the Giants win, it’s all but over. If Detroit wins, then it’s a whole new ballgame.

The Tigers really need to get Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder going. Being at home will help, as will having the DH.  But the two are hitting a combined .182 and have only one RBI. That’s not going to cut it.

In fact, Bob Nightengale of USA Today thinks that they’re the reason for the 0-2 hole. As he writes:

Fielder and Cabrera are tough dudes, representing the brute strength and power of their blue-collar town, but these guys have turned as soft as Brie cheese on a sunny California day.

Ouch. If one of the two finds their groove, especially by delivering in a big situation, then things can get back on track. But if not, this series will be over quite fast.

As for the Giants, they just need to keep doing what they’ve been doing. They’ve been pitching tremendously—there’s no reason why Vogelsong and Cain won’t continue that. Pablo Sandoval has been great, obviously. The bullpen has been good, much better than woeful Detroit’s.

This all comes down to Game 3. Whoever comes out on top will change the trajectory of the series. It will make for an outstanding game.

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After a dramatic comeback win against the Nationals, the St. Louis Cardinals continue their title defense against the San Francisco Giants. The series starts Sunday.

Below, we’ll give you a time and TV primer, and then a preview of the game. 

Game 1: Sunday, October 14th

Time: 8 PM ET

TV: FOX

Game 2: Monday, October 15th

Time: 8 PM ET

TV: FOX

Game 3: Wednesday, October 17th

Time:  4 PM ET

TV: FOX

Game 4: Thursday, October 18th

Time: 8 PM ET

TV: FOX

Game 5:* Friday, October 19th

Time: 8 PM ET

TV: FOX

Game 6:* Sunday, October 21st

Time: 4:30 PM ET

TV: FOX

Game 7:* Monday, October 22nd

Time: 8 PM ET

TV: FOX

*: if necessary

Now, onto the preview.

The Cardinals are coming off of a taxing, emotional come-from-behind victory against the Nats. The Giants won their series on Thursday, so they are well-rested and can set their pitching rotation. That’s a clear advantage for the Giants.

However, the Cards are plucky, and their come-from-behind victory is evidence of that. They’ll go down swinging.

Still, the Giants have seen the re-emergence of Tim Lincecum, who was outstanding out of the ‘pen in the NLDS. They have the option of keeping him in the bullpen, or putting him back in the rotation. Either way, having “The Freak” back on track is a huge benefit. Overall, the Giants’ bullpen has been spectacular.

Think about this: In Game 5, the Reds had runners in scoring position from the fifth inning on. No one scored. Part of that is on the Reds, but the Giants had to make the pitches count, and they did.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ bullpen ranked 20th in the regular season, with a 3.90 ERA. 

On offense, Buster Posey is slugging, and he’s a legitimate MVP candidate. Pablo Sandoval is getting back on track, as is Hunter Pence. Carlos Beltran is still dangerous for the Cards, and David Freese certainly knows how to get it done in the playoffs. 

With both teams knowing how to win in October, the intangibles are kind of even. In this case, pitching wins out. The Giants simply have a better rotation and a much better ‘pen.

That should lead to a Giants victory in six games. 

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