Matt Shoemaker (SP, LAA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 31% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: To say that it has not been a good year for Matt Shoemaker is an understatement. A season removed from being one of the biggest breakout starting pitchers in baseball, Shoemaker is now looking like one of the worst starters in baseball […]

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week Eight)

I feel like I need to clarify a name that can be found later on this list, each week that I do this Fantasy Prospects Power Rankings series. That would be Jameson Taillon. Taillon has yet to throw a pitch at any professional level since early 2014 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Prior to […]

Carlos Rodon (SP, CWS) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues OWNED IN: 14% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: The call up of Carlos Rodon went under the radar a bit due in large part to that other prospect that was called up to the Majors, but make no mistake, this guy is a future ace. Rodon was drafted with the third […]

Minor League Spotlight: Top Fantasy Prospects from Week 6

The Astros and the Cubs are eerily similar right now. Both are looking like they are on the verge of a potential postseason run for the first time in several years. They are loaded with young talent, both especially on offense, with just enough pitching to get them through games. The Astros have more pitching […]

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week Seven)

This has been a good week for former MLB prospects. Several are now promising rookies in the majors. Noah Syndergaard finally got the call up to the majors and was sharp for five innings before getting roughed up in the sixth in his MLB debut. Kris Bryant has re-discovered his power and is really starting to […]

Five Two-Start Pitchers for Week Seven

When trying to create a working formula for winning a fantasy baseball league, owners must often search for hidden gems on the waiver wire. Whether they are looking for a piece to last them the rest of the season, replace an injured starter, or just want a pitcher with a favorable matchup in a week, the fantasy […]

Austin Jackson (OF, SEA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues / AL-only Leagues as DL Stash OWNED IN: 55% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Austin Jackson has the ability to be one of the best leadoff hitters in the game, but has never been able to really put it all together. This season, he had a decent start but […]

Minor League Spotlight: Top Fantasy Prospects from Week 5

I have been very neutral in both of the Bryce Harper debates that have gone on between this season and last season. Last season, people were saying that he was overrated and will never be a great hitter. I knew that was too harsh on him considering his youth and still blossoming career (he is younger […]

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Rankings for Fantasy (Week Six)

It finally happened. Noah Syndergaard was called up to the Majors. Mets’ right-hander Dillon Gee was placed on the DL with groin issues and the Mets decided to give his spot in the rotation to Noah Syndergaard. It isn’t very surprising. Steve Matz has looked impressive, but he doesn’t have the same level of upside. […]

Mike Leake (SP, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Own in 12+ Team Leagues/NL-only leagues OWNED IN: 30% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: The Reds pitching has had a lot of problems over the past couple seasons, but Johnny Cueto, Aroldis Chapman, and Mike Leake have shown consistency during that time frame. Leake threw over 200 innings for the first time in his career […]

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Power Rankings for Fantasy (Week Five)

Kris Bryant hasn’t hit a home run yet. Just let that sink in for a moment. 14 games into his career and a big goose egg under the home run total. It will come eventually though, and many more will follow. For now, who is number one in the MLB ready prospect power ranking list […]

Minor League Spotlight: Top Fantasy Prospects from Week 4

If you told me that Addison Russell would hit his first home run before Kris Bryant, I would say that you were crazy. If you told me that Russell would hit his second home run before Kris Bryant hit his first, I would probably call you a doctor right away. That is just one of […]

Aaron Sanchez (SP, TOR) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Keeper / AL-Only / Deep 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 43% of Fleaflicker  Leagues ANALYSIS: The Toronto Jays have quietly put together a rotation that could become elite in the near future. They have a plethora of young pitchers including Drew Hutchison, Daniel Norris, Marcus Stroman, and Aaron Sanchez already in the Major Leagues […]

Minor Leagues Spotlight: Top Fantasy Prospects for Week 3

This week has seen several pitchers go down with either season-ending or potential season-ending injuries already. Adam Wainwright tore his Achilles tendon and will be out for a whole year; Brandon McCarthy tore his UCL and will be headed for Tommy John surgery; and it appears that Homer Bailey may have to undergo Tommy John […]

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Power Rankings for Fantasy (Week Three)

A lot can happen in the span of a week. A team can turn a couple of wins into an 11 game winning streak. Several teams can throw a few pitches and start a new rivalry for the season. The way the season is shaping up, it looks like the NL East could be one […]

Ender Inciarte (OF, ARI) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues / NL-only Leagues OWNED IN: 42% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: The Dbacks are pretty loaded with outfielders including Mark Trumbo, A.J. Pollock, and Ender Inciarte. The game of Inciarte has been somewhat overshadowed over the past two seasons, with other bats in the lineup making a more visible impact, but Inciarte […]

Jed Lowrie (SS, HOU) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Own in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: There was a time when it looked like Jed Lowrie was going to be one of the best offensive bats at the shortstop position. In 2012 and 2013, he combined for 31 home runs and 117 RBI with an average of […]

Addison Russell (SS, CHC) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Though he has not received the attention that Kris Bryant receives in the Cubs system, Addison Russell has quietly hit at every level. He has consistently been counted on at every level to maintain a high batting average and provide a lot of […]

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Power Rankings for Fantasy (Week Two)

What have we here? It's a ranking of the top 30 MLB ready prospects. Some are in the majors and others are working their way to the top level. With the start of the season, there will be two additions to the power rankings. I've added an estimated time of arrival. I will also add the […]

Minor Leagues Spotlight: Top Fantasy Prospects from Week 2

This past week saw several top prospects get the call up to the Majors. Carlos Rodon, the number one prospect in the Chicago White Sox system, and Kris Bryant, the number one prospect in the Chicago Cubs system (and by many the number one prospect in baseball) each were called up to their respective big […]

Minor Leagues Spotlight: Top Fantasy Prospects from Week 1

The weekly Minor League Spotlight column looks at MLB prospects and rookies who had a good week in the minors, and can make a potential impact for fantasy baseball owners in 2015. Just a quick heads-up -- Kris Bryant is not on the list. Yes he had a good week, but we all know that Kris Bryant is […]

Brandon Morrow (SP, SD) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Very Deep Leagues; Continue Scouting Elsewhere OWNED IN: 10% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: The signing of Brandon Morrow by the San Diego Padres did not make as much news as many of their other moves, mainly because he isn’t exactly a headline drawing player. Since 2012, he has yet to throw more than 60 […]

MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Power Rankings for Fantasy (Week One)

To be clear, this list is not the top 30 prospects in baseball. This is a list of the top 30 prospects who are likely going to rise to the major leagues and provide fantasy baseball value this season. The qualifications are simple: a player must not be on an active roster, they must have a […]

Jose Altuve: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings Analysis

ADP: 13.3 RANKING STATUS: Overvalued ANALYSIS: Last season, Jose Altuve took both the real and fantasy baseball worlds by storm. He was the big story for the Houston Astros as he led the majors with a .341 batting average and paced the American League with 56 stolen bases With Altuve entering his age-25 season, many […]

Top Five Breakouts from 2014 Due for Regression

Many hitters have great years that seem to come out of nowhere. Players like Todd Frazier and Dee Gordon who perform at a high level, creating the expectation that they can repeat that level of productivity. The difficult part of every hitter's breakout season is the follow up season. Was that breakout year a fluke? […]

Scott Kazmir (SP, OAK) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Draft Target in Mid-to-Late Rounds ANALYSIS: With a current ADP of around 195 Scott Kazmir finds himself on our list of ADP draft sleepers for starting pitchers, and is in a position to return a healthy return on his draft day investment. Kazmir had practically fallen off the face of the baseball earth before joining on […]

Five Starting Pitchers Due for Regression in 2015

Each year, starters emerge from out of the woodwork to put together a phenomenal season. Pitchers like Jake Arrieta and Jacob deGrom who, from out of nowhere, become both the ace of an MLB pitching staff and turned out to be fantasy waiver wire gold. It is not that rare for a pitcher to have a breakout year, […]

Collin McHugh (SP, HOU) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings Analysis

CURRENT ADP: 180.3 RANKING STATUS: Undervalued ANALYSIS: The Astros have quietly developed a very solid, young rotation and it all starts with their number one: Collin McHugh. McHugh last season was dominant, pitching to a 2.73 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP and 157 strikeouts in 154.2 innings. McHugh also limited the walks (2.39 BB/9) and […]

Predicting the Top Ten Finishers for Saves in 2015

  Saves can be one of the most volatile categories for fantasy owners. Often, a pitcher will have the closer’s role seemingly locked up only to be ousted after a slow start to the season. Many believe that the only key to racking up a lot of saves is to pick a closer for a winning team. […]

Wait. On. Pitchers. (Until Rounds 7-8) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Strategy

When creating a Fantasy Baseball team, there are many reasons to consider waiting on pitchers. The position is easier to fill than hitting roster spots, starters are more injury prone than position players, and a starting pitcher pitches only once every five days meaning their impact is limited to a much smaller sample size than […]