Tom Verducci

2 weeks ago | si.com | Tom Verducci

Nearing the Ides of March, about the time when spring training can shed newness for monotony, the embodiment of pitching elevated to its highest form goes about his pregame bullpen work like a neurosurgeon preparing for the operating theater. Paul Skenes is nothing if not deeply, seriously, scientifically, almost maniacally purposeful. The last amber hour of sunshine in Sarasota, Fla., illuminates his stern face as Skenes stands three steps askew from the bullpen rubber.

2 weeks ago | si.com | Tom Verducci

At age 33, Aaron Judge is elevating himself above the highest standard of hitting in the game today: himself. He is better than ever. He is redefining his legacy. So good has Judge been this month that we must begin talking about him not just as an all-time-great slugger but as an all-time-great pure hitter. The New York Yankees right fielder is slashing .406/.500/.717. He has reached base 63 times in 28 games.

2 weeks ago | si.com | Tom Verducci

The Chicago Cubs have the highest-scoring offense in baseball. That qualifies as one of the most shocking developments of April, given that they have led the National League in runs once in the past 35 years (17 years ago) and after ranking 12th in MLB last year just about all they did last winter was swap out Cody Bellinger for Kyle Tucker and spend just $19.5 million on free agent bats for veteran role players Justin Turner, Carson Kelly and Jon Berti. How good have they been?

3 weeks ago | si.com | Tom Verducci

Here is everything you need to know about the Jarred Kelenic/Ronald Acuña Jr./Brian Snitker controversy inside the Atlanta Braves team that has been raging since it happened Saturday night. The worst part of the episode was not Kelenic’s lack of hustle or Acuña using social media to throw his manager under the bus. It was that Snitker, the Braves manager, was caught unaware of what happened on an important, highly visible play on the field.

1 month ago | si.com | Tom Verducci

Make what you will of April performances. Small sample sizes, lousy weather and quirks of the schedule can send false signals. Alec Bohm (.598 slugging) and Adolis Garcia (.585) crushed the ball last April, for instance, only to lose pop the rest of the way (.410 and .359, respectively). On the flip side, last April provided hints of breakout seasons for CJ Abrams and Elly De La Cruz. Keeping that caveat in mind, here are the seven most improved hitters in MLB this month and why they are better.