Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Harper, Phillies, Rasmus, Pirates

• The Runner Sports explains why early May could set up a turnaround for the Astros, who entered April as a trendy pick to contend for the World Series and left it with one of baseball’s worst records.
• Philliedelphia examines the Phillies’ chances of signing superstar outfielder Bryce Harper as a free agent in 2018 and how much he might cost them.
• FantasyPros investigates Astros outfielder Colby Rasmus’ hot start to the season.
• Inside The ’Zona highlights the pitch that opposing hitters are crushing against the Diamondbacks’ rotation and whether their starters can buck the trend going forward.
• Chin Music Baseball runs down why Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg is setting himself up for a mega-deal as a free agent after this season.
• Pirates Breakdown studies left-hander Jon Niese’s early season pitch selection tendencies and touches on what he must do to serve as an effective member of Pittsburgh’s rotation.
• Outside Pitch MLB thinks Reds shortstop Zack Cozart could be a fit for the White Sox.
• About Sports writes that the storied Yankees–Red Sox rivalry has lost its luster.
• Baseball Hot Corner reviews what went well and what didn’t during the first month of the Blue Jays’ season.
• Think Blue Planning Committee interviews Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect Trevor Oaks.
• Notes From The Sally offers observations on Nationals center field prospect Victor Robles after witnessing him in action.
• Jays Journal profiles 6-foot-10 prospect Tyler Olander, a former college and pro basketball player who is now trying his hand at baseball as a pitcher in the Toronto organization.
• Sports Of Boston is bewildered by Red Sox manager John Farrell’s use of outfielder Chris Young against right-handed pitchers.
• The Point Of Pittsburgh evaluates the Pirates’ farm system from low-A to Triple-A.
• The Wayniac Nation lauds the Cubs’ farm system depth and focuses on prospects Ian Happ and Pierce Johnson.
• Jays From The Couch takes a critical look at both Major League Baseball and Chris Colabello for the roles the two sides played in the first baseman’s 80-game PED suspension.
• Super Two Sports checks in on former Phillies Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels and Chase Utley, two of whom are in their first full seasons with different teams.

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