{"playerId":2056,"percentChange":-2.1,"averageDraftPosition":229.7,"percentOwned":6.5,"playerRaterSEASON":-1,"playerRater7DAY":-3.9,"mostRecentNews":{"news":"McDonald was manhandled Tuesday, giving up seven runs on eight hits and five walks, while recording three strikeouts over five innings, during Pittsburgh's defeat at Milwaukee.","spin":"While he didn't serve up a homer to the surging Brewers, McDonald allowed multiple baserunners in each inning pitched, resulting in perhaps his worst outing of the short season. Nevertheless, his history versus Milwaukee heading into the start -- a 1-3 record and 6.98 ERA in nine games -- foretold of trouble on the horizon. He'll now toe the rubber early next week against Seattle, who he has yet to face in his six-year career.","date":"Wed May 1"},"fullName":"James McDonald","seasonOutlook":{"outlook":"McDonald's 2012 almost perfectly patterned the performance of his Pirates team. He won nine of 17 first-half starts with a 2.37 ERA and 0.97 WHIP as the team won 11 more games than it lost to enter the break with a one-game lead in the division. He then sank to a 7.52 ERA and 1.79 WHIP in 13 second-half games (12 starts) as his Pirates went 31-46 to drop 19 games in the standings. There could be an explanation for that: McDonald added a slider that flustered opposing hitters while attacking the strike zone more aggressively early, but as the summer progressed, he shied away from the pitch and saw his walk rate soar (2.54 walks per nine in the first half, 5.61 in the second). Whether that was a result of fatigue is unclear -- his 171 innings pitched matched his 2011 number -- but that has to be the hope his drafting owners should have. Now 28, McDonald might have a little room for growth, but understand that his margin for error is slim, especially in mixed leagues, if he starts slowly.","seasonId":2013,"date":"Wed Feb 20"},"playerRater30DAY":-1,"playerRater15DAY":-0.7,"positionRank":129}