{"playerId":2009,"percentChange":0,"averageDraftPosition":149.6,"percentOwned":100,"playerRaterSEASON":4.9,"playerRater7DAY":1.7,"mostRecentNews":{"news":"Samardzija earned the win Tuesday, scattering seven hits and two runs over 8.1 innings.","spin":"Though his 4-7 record may not show it, Samardzija has pitched well this season. He's lasted at least 6.0 innings in each of his last seven starts and boasts a 3.35 ERA on the season.","date":"Tue Jun 18"},"fullName":"Jeff Samardzija","seasonOutlook":{"outlook":"Samardzija, a two-sport star with Notre Dame, finally put forth a season in 2012 that justified his choice of baseball (over football) as a career. Following a successful year in relief, he was transitioned back to the rotation, resulting in a surprisingly healthy number of strikeouts (180, with a 9.27 K's-per-nine ratio that ranked fourth best in the game) and a 3.09 ERA in his first 10 starts. Having been tasked with professional highs in starts (28) and innings pitched (174 2/3), Samardzija tired somewhat around midseason, but he finished the year on a high note, with a 2.58 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 11 second-half starts before being shut down for the year in early September. It was the addition of a splitter -- it was responsible for 100 of his 180 K's and limited foes to a .128 batting average -- that spawned Samardzija's breakthrough, and supports his candidacy for another step forward statistically in 2013. You could make both a pro and con argument: He could be capable of a larger workload this season, just as his 86 2/3-inning bump from 2011 to 2012 might come back to haunt him. But with his strikeout ability and rapidly improving command, we're optimistic about his chances.","seasonId":2013,"date":"Wed Feb 20"},"playerRater30DAY":4.6,"playerRater15DAY":0.5,"positionRank":31}