Steve Pearce (TB, 1B/2B/OF) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 27% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Steve Pearce is a weird guy. He has a breakout season, then you think he might keep it going, and he disappoints. Seriously, Pearce is the very definition of streaky. While that can be irritating, it's fun while he's hot. Guess […]
2016 Average Exit Velocity Leaders, Hard-Hit Leaders From the Last Month and More!
Welcome to this little discussion on batters who are smoking the ball. I wrote a similar column a few weeks ago, and thought it would be fun to make this a regular column throughout the season. When analyzing hitters, we love seeing that they’re making solid contact and really putting a charge into the ball. […]
Champ or Chump: What to Make of Bradley, Murphy, and Greinke
Imagine your favorite position player on your favorite team, real or fantasy. How did he do five games ago? 17? What about 24? You don't remember, do you? I don't either, yet we as a baseball fandom hold hitting streaks on a pedestal despite needing to ask someone if one is going on. If Jackie […]
Week 7 Waiver Wire: Second Base (2B) and Shortstop (SS)
Over the course of the season I’ll be giving you two players at second base and shortstop per week who I think can help your team. These players are usually widely available in any format, and should turn nice profits in the weeks to come. As always, feel free to reach out to me directly […]
NL-Only Leagues: Deeper Waiver Wire Pickups for Week Seven
Mid-season call-ups are a fantasy owner's dream. Those prospects you followed throughout spring training and have been waiting too see in action will soon get the chance to prove themselves. The problem is that everyone else is waiting for the exact same thing. Smart owners will have to decide which prospects to target and when […]
Yesterday's Studs and Duds: Fantasy Baseball Recap from 5/19/16
Every day, we will be taking a quick look at the best and worst fantasy baseball performers from yesterday's games. They were mostly low-scoring affairs, but there were some offensive fireworks as well. Here's a quick rundown of those who impressed on Thursday, and those who want to pretend the day never happened. Editor’s Note: […]
Yesterday's Studs and Duds: Fantasy Baseball Recap from 5/18/16
Every day, we will be taking a quick look at the best and worst fantasy baseball performers from yesterday's games. It was a full slate - more, in fact, since there was a doubleheader - so there were plenty of performances to spotlight. Here's a quick look at those who impressed on Wednesday, and those […]
Joe Panik (2B, SF) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in all leagues. OWNED IN: 49% of Fleaflicker leagues. ANALYSIS: Panik has impressed with five HR and two SB through only 34 games and 149 plate appearances. While his batting average is way down, it is mostly due to an unfortunate .255 BABIP. As his BABIP rises to meet his career averages or even exceed them, […]
Chris Owings (2B/SS/OF, ARZ) - Waiver Wire Pickups
Baller Move: Add in 14+ team leagues Owned in: 15% of Fleaflicker leagues Analysis: First and foremost, when a player is eligible at three different positions including two shallow infield positions, it adds significant value, and that is clear in the case of Chris Owings. With a .284 AVG, .336 OBP, and six stolen bases […]
Derek Dietrich (2B/3B/OF, MIA) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 11% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: After owners lost Dee Gordon for 80 games due to a PED suspension, no one expected his replacement to step in and be fantasy relevant. All Derek Dietrich has done since taking Gordon's playing time is make the Marlins think about getting […]
Jonathan Schoop (2B, BAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Jonathan Schoop is on fire right now, and he's making people who stuck with him feel like geniuses. He's a headache to own in H2H leagues because you never know when he's going to pop off. You definitely want him in […]
Devon Travis (2B, TOR) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 18% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Coming off major shoulder surgery, it appears that all is going well for Devon Travis. In a rehab game last Friday, Travis hit an RBI double for Toronto's AA team. He appears to be feeling very good and it's just a […]
MLB Podcast on RotoBaller Radio: Hot Waiver Wire Pickups And Sleepers For Week 7
RotoBaller is very excited about the start of year two on very own radio station. You can now find new weekly shows on BlogTalkRadio live or on demand, and on iTunes under podcasts. Also stay tuned for more shows being added as the season goes on. Every Tuesday night, RotoBaller co-founder Real Talk Raph and esteemed co-host Anthony Aniano of […]
Chase Utley (2B, LAD) - Waiver Wire Pickups
Baller Move: Add in 12+ team leagues Owned in: 7% of Fleaflicker leagues Analysis: For a guy who had a slash line of .212/.286/.343 all of last year, it is a bit of a shock that Chase Utley has been able to turn his work at the plate around especially while sporting the George Clooney […]
Howie Kendrick (2B/OF, LAD) - Waiver Wire Pickups
Baller Move: Add in 14+ team leagues Owned in: 25% of Fleaflicker leagues Analysis: Howie Kendrick might be resembling Danny Glover nowadays, but at 32, he isn't yet "too old for this...stuff". While Kendrick has had a poor start to the year, especially in power hitting with a mere SLG of .213, he has been […]
MLB Ready Prospects: Top 30 Fantasy Rankings for Impact Rookies (Week 7)
I continue to be very impressed by the way Brandon Drury has played to open up this season. He is batting .298/.323/.532 with six home runs and has been a major boost to many fantasy teams so far. Other players too like Corey Seager and Nomar Mazara have really helped owners to stay one step ahead […]
Dynasty Review: Deep Fantasy League Advice for Week 7
Welcome back to the Dynasty Review. The purpose of this column is to advise you on up-and-comers in dynasty leagues. Last week was Phillies themed. This time the Astros take center stage. I have to admit, when I profiled Tommy Joseph last week, I thought I was getting waaaay out ahead of the news. Turns out […]
Overrated/Underrated Week 7: Second Basemen
Week 1 (OF/SP) | Week 2 (OF/SP) | Week 3 (SS) | Week 4 (1B) | Week 5 | Week 6 (SP) * * * We're a few weeks in so you know the drill by now. A big part of winning your fantasy baseball league is recognizing the market inefficiencies that arise during the […]
Brett Lawrie (2B/3B, CHW) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in all leagues OWNED IN: 56% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: Brett Lawrie has been the poster boy for unfulfilled promises since breaking in with Toronto in 2011. He may never be the All Star-caliber player he was expected to be, but he is still a serviceable fantasy player. The former first-round pick posted career […]
Top Hitter Waiver Wire Streamers for Week 7
Whether it’s because of an injury or poor performance, there are always opportunities to stream players off the waiver wire. The best players to stream are those who are under-owned and face appealing match-ups for the upcoming week. Here are five players who are available in more than half of Fleaflicker leagues and have attractive […]
Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers from Week 6
It's Week 6 of Risers and Fallers. Some young hitters are beginning to find their way in the Majors while a few others are making the most of filling in for injured starters. While some of that production may not last, there are plenty of youngsters finding their groove who could be household names for […]
Yesterday's Studs and Duds: Fantasy Baseball Recap from 5/12/16
Every day, we will be taking a quick look at the best and worst fantasy baseball performers from yesterday's games. Even in a limited slate of games, there were plenty of performances to admire and make fun of! Here's a quick rundown of those who impressed on Thursday, and those who want to pretend the […]
Poetry in Motion: The Five Tools of Jose Altuve
Jose Altuve is the American League Most Valuable Player. OK, it's still a bit early, but if a vote were taken right now, he would be heavily considered along with Manny Machado and Robinson Cano. In reality, he might finish third at the moment, mainly because the other two are on first-place teams. The Astros have been one […]
Yesterday's Studs and Duds: Fantasy Baseball Recap from 5/11/16
Every day, we will be taking a quick look at the best and worst fantasy baseball performers from yesterday's games. There were several dominant performances on both sides of the ball, as an MLB record was tied and several players went deep multiple times - including one of the last guys you'd expect. Here's a […]
NL-Only League Waiver Wire Pickups for Week Six: Cozart, Eickhoff, Rodney and more
One thing fantasy baseball managers can be guilty of at times is trying too hard. In search of the next hot prospect or hidden gem, we can look right past a productive player because he is already a known commodity. These players may not go on to suddenly have career years, but there is something […]
AL-Only League Waiver Wire Pickups For Week Six: Smoak, Pearce, Karns and More
If there is one takeaway from the movie Captain America: Civil War, it is that superhero ensemble movies greatly benefit from the right amount of new blood mixed with the old. Newcomers Spider-Man and Black Panther stole the screen anytime they showed up, injecting new-found excitement and possibilities for the Avengers' future. But by limiting […]
Brandon Phillips (2B, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups
Baller Move: Add in all leagues Owned in: 51% of Fleaflicker leagues Analysis: Brandon Phillips is having a pretty ideal season, especially when looking forward. With six home runs, three stolen bases, and a slash line of .284/.310/.523, it seems almost too good to be true for the 34 year old defensive guru. Phillips has […]
Javier Baez (2B/3B/SS, CHC) - Waiver Wire Pickups
Baller Move: Add in 12+ team leagues Owned in: 33% of Fleaflicker leagues Analysis: No one should be too surprised that highly touted prospect Javier Baez is living up to his big name this season, but everyone should be surprised at how widely available he is, especially given his triple infield eligibility. This season in […]
Brett Lawrie (2B/3B, CHW) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in all leagues OWNED IN: 54% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: Brett Lawrie has been one of many fortunate players swinging a bat for the Chicago White Sox this season. Owning the best record in the American League, the White Sox continue to piece together wins and throw together a deep lineup daily. Batting sixth in that lineup […]
Jose Ramirez (2B/SS/3B/OF, CLE) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed Leagues, AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 8% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Jose Ramirez, the Indians' nine-hitter, has been playing left field and third base, and he should occasionally spell Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor in the middle infield slots. He's been hot to begin the season, hitting .310 with 12 RBI, and […]