Top 5 Starting Pitcher Breakouts - 2015 MLB Fantasy Draft Prep

  Hunting for Treasure Most of us in the industry say this every year: starting pitching is the easiest asset to add during the season. There are several reasons for this, not least of which is the number of starters who break out from nowhere on an annual basis.   Among last season’s top fantasy arms were... Read More

Three Shortstops Who Will Outperform Their 2015 ADP: Rankings Analysis

After the tier of elite shortstops, which, as I see it, is essentially just Troy Tulowitzki and Ian Desmond (though I am hesitant to crown Desmond as "elite" just yet), there is quite a bit of parity throughout the league. Of the consensus top five or six shortstops ranked for fantasy purposes, ZiPS projects only... Read More

Hidden Third Base Draft Gems and ADP Value Picks

If you're looking to make a splash on draft day, you should give RotoBaller's ADP Draft Sleepers Tool a long, hard look. The tool allows you to compare a player's expected production against his top comparables going later in the draft. Frankly, it's a great resource for identifying overvalued talents and hidden gems alike. To give you... Read More

Five More Bounce Back Hitters for 2015 Fantasy Baseball

Welcome back to the second installment of We’re Baaaaaaaack! If you missed the first five bounce back candidates, be sure to check it out. This next group of hitters will also return the kind of value that fantasy experts look for in their drafts. Pull the trigger on these five guys at or around their ADPs, and you... Read More

Hidden First Base Draft Gems and ADP Value Picks

  If you're looking to make a splash on draft day, you should give RotoBaller's ADP Draft Sleepers Tool a long hard look. Part of our Premium Subscribers package, the Sleepers Tool allows you to compare a player's expected production against his top comparables going later in the draft.   Frankly, it's a great resource... Read More

Five Outfield Sleepers for 2015

Every fantasy player wants to boast that he or she picked up a player in the wee hours of their fantasy drafts who put up a genuine a breakout season. Indian outfielder Michael Brantley and Colorado’s Corey Dickerson were perfect examples from last season. There's nothing more satisfying than picking up a guy in the 20th round of your... Read More

Three Catchers Who Will Outperform Their 2015 ADP: Rankings Analysis

  Draft Patience Is A Virtue Catcher is one of the shallowest positions in fantasy baseball which leads to wide varying opinions in regards to preseason rankings. Look no further than Yan Gomes, who ranges from 4th to 15th in our rankings. My personal rankings have a clear tier 1 (Buster Posey, Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Santana, Devin... Read More

Three Relief Pitchers Who Will Outperform Their 2015 ADP: Rankings Analysis

Reliever Hijinks Last season was my best year of fantasy baseball in the dozen years I've played, as I managed to secure championships in all three of my leagues. This was in spite of the fact that I endured what I'll lightly term as the season from hell as far as closers are concerned. Most... Read More

Five Starting Pitcher Sleepers for 2015

With pitchers having gained the upper hand over batters in recent years, many fantasy baseball owners have adopted a strategy in which they put off drafting the majority of their starting pitchers until the later rounds. On paper it’s a sound strategy. However, every draft has its own rhythm, and as a fantasy owner you... Read More

Three Deeper Pitchers Who Will Outperform Their 2015 ADP: Rankings Analysis

Where Have All The Pitchers Gone? It is widely believed that the enlightened fantasy baseball drafter can find plenty of talent in the later rounds of the draft. So you finish up the outfield, pick up the all-important backup catcher and then - BAM! - where did all the pitchers go? Have no fear. There are... Read More

Three 2B Who Will Outperform Their 2015 ADP: Rankings Analysis

  Don’t Splurge On Questionable Results The second base market is shaping to be a minefield in 2015, with numerous options in the middle of the pack and few truly elite players. In such situations it is important to show patience during draft day and wait out the market. Someone in your league is going... Read More

Top Five ERA Surgers for 2015: Fantasy Baseball Predictions

Scour the Pitching Peripherals It’s not a category in your typical fantasy league, but Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) is a useful metric to uncover undervalued assets on draft day. FIP attempts to isolate the factors under a pitcher’s direct control to determine whether he was a victim of poor defense or rotten luck. Intuitively and... Read More

Three Home Run & Power Hitter Surgers for 2015

Home run power is a trait that has become increasingly rare in baseball over the past few years. 2014 showcased the lowest power numbers of the last 20 years, and a further decline is expected in 2015. As flashy home run numbers continue to diminish, those who can truly hit the long ball are becoming... Read More

Four Stolen Base Surgers for 2015 Fantasy Baseball

Draft preparation 101: Billy Hamilton steals bases and Giancarlo Stanton hits home runs. Note: everyone knows that. If you want to win a fantasy baseball championship, you need to dig deeper to discover the unknowns that will either slip in drafts or should be highlighted on your draft day rankings. Luckily, I’m more than happy... Read More

Jason Kipnis: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Second Base Sleeper

Jason Kipnis was one of the hottest names in fantasy baseball entering the 2014 season. Consistently ranked among the top three among overall fantasy second basemen, he was expected to contribute for high average, power and speed. Unfortunately, by the time the 2014 season was over Kipnis had disappointed the Cleveland Indians, himself, and many... Read More

Jace Peterson: Fantasy Baseball Second Base/Shortstop Deep Sleeper

Opportunity May Yield A Sneaky Source Of Steals Being a sleeper is all about exceeding expectations, and that’s what I expect from Jace Peterson in 2015. As of right now his ADP I’m pretty sure is nonexistent, so you should be able to snag him with your last pick or as a post-draft acquisition. As of... Read More

MLB Podcast on RotoBaller Radio: Breakout Players Coming Out Of Spring Training

Potential Breakout Pitchers & Hitters For 2015 RotoBaller is very excited about the launch of our very own radio station. You can now find our new shows on BlogTalkRadio live or on demand, and on iTunes under podcasts. Every Wednesday night at 9:30 PM EST, RotoBaller co-founder Real Talk Raph and co-host Anthony Aniano of DraftSmashers Radio will... Read More

Draft Day Tips: Sleepers, Closers and Other Drafting Strategies

  It’s officially fantasy baseball season! While everyone shakes the snow off and rejoins their leagues from last year, the countdown until draft day begins.   Draft day is easily the most important day of any season, as even the best fantasy baseball players can’t afford to miss their draft. Last season I wrote an... Read More

Cuban Defectors That Will Have Most Fantasy Impact In 2015

Cuba lost some of its top players as they signed blockbuster deals to come over and play in the MLB. Each team hopes their guy follows in the footsteps of last year’s Cuban defector Jose Abreu, who hit 36 home runs, 107 RBI and a .317 batting average, winning the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2014. There... Read More

Eye On The Minors: Top Redraft MLB Pitching Prospects (# 21-30)

Welcome to the third installment of “Top 50 Pitching Prospects for Redraft Leagues.” Last week we looked at 2015 fantasy baseball pitching prospects ranked 41-50 and ranked 31-40. The players on this week’s list, numbers 21-30, are rated for potential and opportunity. If we are talking about redraft leagues, the only value you’ll find is for guys who... Read More

5 AL Players Whose New Teams Will Impact Their Performance

Who Will Be Helped or Hurt by a Change of Scenery? J.A. Happ, Seattle Mariners Let’s be honest: Happ did not post Cy Young-caliber numbers in his most recent campaign. A 4.22 ERA and lackluster 7.6 K/9 IP made Happ one of many problems for the Blue Jays in 2014. That’s exactly why a transition... Read More

Mookie Betts (OF / 2B, BOS) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings Analysis

CURRENT ADP: 121 RANKINGS STATUS: Undervalued ANALYSIS: It is becoming increasingly obvious that Mookie Betts will be the Boston Red Sox Opening Day center fielder and leadoff man. He entered spring training expecting to compete with Cuban sensation Rusney Castillo for the center field job, but Castillo suffered an oblique injury which has prevented him... Read More

Jed Lowrie - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Sleeper

Low Risk, High Reward Key To Success With Jed Lowrie Being a sleeper is all about exceeding expectations, and that’s what I foresee for Jed Lowrie in 2015. After an exceptionally underwhelming 2014, Lowrie is going to fly under the radar in a majority of drafts. I don’t even think he’s going to be drafted in... Read More

Brandon Moss (1B/OF, CLE) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings Analysis

Current ADP: 169 Rankings Status: Undervalued Analysis: In the first half of 2014, Brandon Moss ranked T-5th in the majors with 21 HR and ranked 6th overall with 66 RBI. His numbers fell tremendously in the second half, but it was revealed in September that he was dealing with a hip injury for most of... Read More

First Base Draft Strategy & Tiers: Keys To The Position

First Base Power Outage First Base has historically been a source of home runs and RBI. With perpetual fantasy baseball standouts like Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto and Prince Fielder having off years and missing time due to injuries, first basemen suffered a major power outage. They hit the lowest number of home runs as a... Read More

Dynasty / Keeper Deeper Dive: Kennys Vargas

A Hidden Gem First base is even more important of a position in dynasty than standard formats. Considering first base is one of the primary positions for offensive output, you want to make sure you're set at the position for years to come. However, if you miss out on the Paul Goldschmidt or Anthony Rizzo... Read More

Carlos Martinez: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

Baby Pedro Carlos Martinez, aka Baby Pedro, has been a touted by prospect analysts for quite some time. Ranked #31 by Baseball America in 2014, he spent last year in the eighth inning role setting up Trevor Rosenthal. This year, he is getting the chance to compete for the fifth spot in the starting rotation with Marcos Gonzales... Read More

Pitch Framing Metrics: Impact On Fantasy Baseball Pitchers

I’m obsessed with Chuck Shaw wine from Trader Joe's. It’s a $3 bottle of hooch that smells like paint thinner mixed with alcohol. It stings the nostrils. But after a glass or two, it’s the best damn bottle of wine you can get for under $5. I happened to be drinking some of this wine... Read More

The Value of Veterans: A Howie Kendrick Story

Veteran Value What is Howie Kendrick worth? It's hardly the most exciting question, but if you're in the business of winning, it's one you ought to consider. Veteran players like Kendrick offer fantasy owners two things which can be worth their weight in gold during a long season: playing time and stable production. If veterans... Read More

MLB Podcast: Starting Pitcher Sleepers & Value Picks

Preseason Fantasy Baseball Analysis: Starting Pitchers RotoBaller is proud to present a unique new take on fantasy sports. With his tongue firmly placed in his cheek your host, the “Living Legend” Joe Gallina, provides you with a great blend of baseball talk featuring sabermetrics and fantasy analysis. Editor’s Note: Be sure to check out all... Read More