Steve Benko, Author at Baseball Essential

Hector Olivera Continues to Rake at Spring Training

Mar 18, 2016

Dealing Alex Wood to the Dodgers for Hector Olivera brought a great deal of uncertainty to the Braves organization. Although a promising prospect, there were some question marks attached to him - for one, he wa...

Evaluating the Atlanta Braves’ Potential Rotation

Steve Benko

Feb 23, 2016

Atlanta Braves, Features, Major League Baseball

The Atlanta Braves are clearly in a rebuilding mode, and with rebuilding comes struggle. And although they'll struggle this season, the Braves did make some key moves over the offseason to acquire young talen...

Surprise Contributors Lead Astros past Royals in Game 3

Steve Benko

Oct 11, 2015

American League, Breaking News, Features, Headlines, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Major League Baseball

By Scott Stone and Steve Benko The Houston Astros took control of the American League Division Series with a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals Sunday evening. The Astros won the game off the bats of so...

Ned Yost Game 3 Notes

Steve Benko

Oct 11, 2015

American League, Breaking News, Headlines, Major League Baseball

Royals Lineup: SS - Alcides Escobar 2B - Ben Zobrist CF - Lorenzo Cain 1B - Eric Hosmer C - Salvador Perez LF - Alex Gordon RF - Alex Rios On the mound: Edinson Volquez (13-9, 3.55 ERA) ...

Astros Snap Skid in win Over A’s

Steve Benko

Sep 20, 2015

American League, Houston Astros, Major League Baseball, Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics were in Houston to take on the Astros at Minute Maid park. The game should have been a pitcher's duel, as Scott Kazmir faced off against his old teammate, Sonny Gray. However, this g...

Where Is the Love for Gio Gonzalez?

Steve Benko

Aug 15, 2015

Features, Opinions & Predictions, Washington Nationals

Gio Gonzalez has been a model of consistency since his first full season in the Major Leagues. Gonzalez was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2004, and after getting traded away to the Philadelphia Phillies, ...

Arodys Vizcaino Could be Atlanta’s Next Great Closer

Steve Benko

Aug 13, 2015

Atlanta Braves, Features, Major League Baseball, National League East, Opinions & Predictions

It might be a small sample size, but Arodys Vizcaino's dominance is something the Atlanta Braves should feel excited about. Vizcaino boasts a 0.66 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 14.2 innings of work; he's allowed ju...

Yankees call up top prospect Severino, will make start against Red Sox

Steve Benko

Aug 2, 2015

American League, Headlines, Major League Baseball, New York Yankees

Although the New York Yankees remained relatively quiet around the trade deadline, they did make some changes. With injuries to both Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova, the Yankees have called up top prospect, Luis S...

BREAKING: Dodgers, Braves, Marlins Nearing Blockbuster Deal

Steve Benko

Jul 29, 2015

Atlanta Braves, Breaking News, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the first team to make a big splash in the trade pool. The Dodgers have agreed to send Hector Olivera to the Atlanta Braves, for Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson, Alex Wood, and Jose Peraza...

RailRiders Fall to Bisons in Andrew Miller’s Rehab Assignment

Steve Benko

Jul 7, 2015

American League, American League East, Headlines, Minor League Baseball, New York Yankees

The Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders fell to the Buffalo Bisons 6-2, Monday night at PNC Field in Moosic, Pennsylvania. Jaron Long of the RailRiders, son of Kevin Long, allowed four earned runs, and struck out ...

Author Steve Benko