Kiley McDaniel@kileymcd

ESPN Baseball Insider. Trying to tell the future. DMs open. Former: FanGraphs & four MLB teams.

 ATL
poweralleys.substack.com/
Joined January 2009
1,304 Photos and videos
It's Top 100 Day! The article is stuffed with 25,000 words of tool grades, scouting reports, and notes on the metas that teams are using to find value in scouting and development espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/4768…

Top 100 MLB prospects for 2026: This year's No. 1 is in a tier of his own

Where do stars of tomorrow such as Konnor Griffin and Kevin McGonigle land as we rank baseball's best young players?

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I ranked every player in the World Series and named some of the best tools/superlatives in the matchup espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/5023…

Rasmussen or Miz? Caminero or Chourio? Ranking every player in the 2026 World Series

Here's how the rosters of the Rays and the Brewers stack up and who is primed to do the most jaw-dropping things on baseball's biggest stage.

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Through 36 pitches and 3 innings, Tyler Mahle has thrown 61% splitters, 0 earned runs.
Kiley McDaniel@kileymcd
Sep 30
Replying to @kileymcd
thru 5 IP, Mahle has thrown 73 pitches, is now up to 56% splitter usage, and just set down the Phillies 1-2-3 hitters in order in his third time through the lineup, all three on splitters. Tyler Mahle going pitch for pitch with Cristopher Sanchez wasn't on my bingo card.
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Book is closed on Mahle with 85 pitches, 55% splitters, 1 earned run on an inherited runner. Highest splitter usage in a 75+ pitch playoff start, Statcast era 1. Mahle 58%, 2026 vs. PHI 2. Mahle 55%, 2026 vs. LAD 3. Kevin Gausman 53%, 2025 vs. LAD
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ICYMI last week: 27 insiders predicted Skubal’s free agent contract and mused about landing spots. I broke down the factors.
Kiley McDaniel@kileymcd
Oct 2
How much will Tarik Skubal get in free agency? From which team? Before or after the likely lockout? I polled 27 industry insiders, broke down all the key factors, and handicapped the contenders: espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/5007…
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Excited for a primetime game 3 tonight. Here's my article on a dramatic game 2 marked by redemption: espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/5007…

Harper rebounds from gaffe, sets up Bohm's season-saving HR

Alec Bohm put Philadelphia ahead with a two-out home run in the 10th inning, and the Phillies beat the Braves to force a decisive Game 3 in their National League Wild Card Series.

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and here is the game 3 wrap-up, focused on Sale's dramatic return and Ray Kerr's improbable start espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/5008…

Braves break out 'warrior' Sale to close out Phils in wild-card clincher

On one day of rest, Braves ace Chris Sale turned in an electric four-out relief appearance to finish the Phillies in a 6-2 win Thursday night in the deciding Game 3 of their wild-card series.

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How much will Tarik Skubal get in free agency? From which team? Before or after the likely lockout? I polled 27 industry insiders, broke down all the key factors, and handicapped the contenders: espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/5007…

10 years, $500 million?! Who are the top suitors? MLB insiders predict Tarik Skubal's free agency

How big a deal could the Dodgers ace get, and who could sign him? We asked around the sport.

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Tyler Mahle's splitter usage this season: reg. season w/Giants: 25% reg. season w/Braves: 39% thru 3 innings today: 54%
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thru 5 IP, Mahle has thrown 73 pitches, is now up to 56% splitter usage, and just set down the Phillies 1-2-3 hitters in order in his third time through the lineup, all three on splitters. Tyler Mahle going pitch for pitch with Cristopher Sanchez wasn't on my bingo card.
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That's all for Mahle. Final line: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K on 95 pitches with 58% splitters
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Hopped on the pod with Buster to talk about ATL/PHI game 1 and also wrote up the game: espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/5006…

Riley shakes off down year with clutch HR to lift Braves in Game 1

Austin Riley hit a three-run homer off All-Star closer Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning, and the Braves rallied past the Phillies 5-3 on Tuesday in the opener their National League Wild Card Series.

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Buster Olney
@Buster_ESPN
Sep 30
Podcast piped.video/GD1McKbJGgY Reviewing Day 1 of the playoffs -- the Braves, Astros, Yankees and Padres launch into the postseason. @kevconnorsespn talks Schlittler, Petco Park, the White Sox young hitters; @kileymcd talks about the Austin Riley moment, and Don Mattingly's decision to summon Duran for the 7th inning.
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I ranked the starting rotations of all potential playoff teams espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/4998…

MLB playoff rotation tiers: Ranking every team's October starting pitching options

Aces matter in the postseason. Which contenders are stocked with them -- and which are lacking quality arms?

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The 2026 edition of the best cores of talent in baseball: espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/4986…

2026 MLB core rankings: Who has the most star talent?

Dodgers or Brewers? Red Sox or Yankees? We rank the clubs with the most star power under control through 2028.

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Kiley McDaniel retweeted
ESPN
@espn
Sep 2
“This is all anonymous?” 👀 We asked more than two dozen MLB players what they really think about a potential salary cap, CBA negotiations and the possibility of a lockout. spr.ly/6014B1CTH8

'This is all anonymous?' MLB players unfiltered on salary cap, CBA talks and whether there will be...

We asked more than two dozen major leaguers to weigh in on the state of baseball's labor negotiations.

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Kiley McDaniel retweeted
Buster Olney
@Buster_ESPN
Aug 28
Podcast piped.video/643STYzvf0c Chris Sale dominates, Jacob Misiorowski gets it done; @PaulHembo talks Pratt, Painter, one team's crazy-easy schedule; @kileymcd discusses the new farm system rankings for the Mets, Angels, Dodgers, Brewers.

Why a weak schedule is the Mariners' BEST FRIEND| BBTNP

Welcome back to the Baseball Tonight Podcast with Buster Olney! On ...

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Now that I've updated the top 100 prospects list and top 10's by team, we wrap up summer update season with the new farm rankings, underpinned by new player values thanks to @fangraphs espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/4973…

Reranking every MLB farm system from 1 to 30

The busiest stretch of the year for adding prospects has passed. Here's how every organization stacks up now.

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After the draft signing deadline, trade deadline, and a bevy of graduations, I've updated the pro top 100: espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/4965… bonus: the 101st prospect was IF Devin Fitz-Gerald of the Nationals

Updated top 100 MLB prospect rankings: Which future star is No. 1?

Here's who has surged up our list now that the MLB draft and trade season have passed.

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The Rockies are calling up LHP Mark Manfredi, per sources. Colorado acquired him at the deadline from the Brewers as part of the return for Antonio Senzatela. Manfredi throws his fastball nearly 2/3 of the time, peaking at 97 this season.
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Final update to the team top 10 prospect lists before the winter, with draft pick signing deadline and trade deadline reflected espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/4768…

Updated top 10 prospect rankings for all 30 MLB teams

Who is rising and falling in every major league farm system after the trade deadline? Kiley McDaniel digs in.

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I pitched in on our deadline wrap-up roundtable here, made a quick appearance on @JeffPassan's pod, did a couple of spots on the BBTN Trade Deadline show, and joined @MikeMonaco_ and co. for a couple spots on the SFG/TEX game last night. Busy day! espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/4952…

Making sense of the MLB trade deadline: Are Red Sox, Cubs and Phillies World Series contenders?...

Not sure to what to make of a wild conclusion to trade season? We've got it all covered.

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