Hunter Dozier Struggling Through First Weeks Of Spring

Kansas City Royals third baseman Hunter Dozier has yet to settle in at the plate this spring. He's played in seven games and has gone 1-for-15 with six strikeouts and three walks. He's slashing just .067/.222/.267. His only hit was a home run this past Monday. Dozier signed a four-year extension with the Royals this […]

Nolan Jones Optioned

Cleveland Indians third base prospect Nolan Jones was among several players optioned on Friday. Manager Terry Francona said the 22-year-old will continue to work at third base and in the outfield in spring training. MLB Pipeline has Jones ranked as Cleveland's top prospect, and he comes in at No. 36 overall in baseball heading into […]

Reds Acquire Mike Freeman From Cleveland

The Cincinnati Reds acquired utility infielder Mike Freeman from the Cleveland Indians on Friday in exchange for cash. The Indians valued Freeman's versatility and experience around the infield after he played 99 games and hit .270 in the last two years for them. They had signed him to a minor league deal last month with […]

Maikel Franco On The Braves Radar

Free-agent third baseman Maikel Franco is likely to choose his new team in the coming days, and the Atlanta Braves are firmly in the mix. The Orioles and Mets have also shown interest. The 28-year-old slashed .278/.321/.457 with eight homers and 38 RBI with the Royals in 2020. He remains a useful right-handed bat, but […]

Nationals Encouraged With Carter Kieboom

Although Washington Nationals third baseman Carter Kieboom is not having a statistically impressive spring, manager Davey Martinez sees encouraging signs, writes Mark Zuckerman. "His swing looks really good," according to Martinez, "...I like some of his at-bats so far." But Zuckerman points out Kieboom's lack of walks or home runs this spring and his pedestrian […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Batting Order

You may be wondering why there aren't any advanced stats aimed at predicting a player's counting stats like runs and RBI. The answer is simple: modern sabermetrics reject the idea of a "clutch RBI guy" and therefore do not bother inventing predictive metrics for it. Runs and RBI are team-dependent stats and are unhelpful in ascertaining […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/12) - Severino Beginning Build Up

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. Thankfully, we have real, live baseball being played every day again, and while it doesn't count for anything, these exhibition games gives us the smallest glimmer into players and teams heading into the new season. We're officially through the first week of spring training games […]

Stolen Base Draft Sleepers

Which players can you target later in fantasy baseball drafts to help with stolen bases? Pierre Camus shares his favorite SB draft targets for 2021. Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch us on iTunes and BlogTalkRadio as well! Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller […]

Jeff McNeil Struggling This Spring

New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil went 0-for-3 in Grapefruit League action on Thursday against the Astros, dropping his batting average to .071 this spring. McNeil is now just 1-for-14 with three strikeouts, with his lone spring hit a solo home run. McNeil is coming off a solid 2020 campaign in which he posted a […]

Nolan Jones Gets On Base Three Times

Cleveland Indians third base prospect Nolan Jones had two walks and a single on Thursday against the San Diego Padres. The 22-year-old prospect is now 3-for-8 with a BB-K of 4-5 this spring. Jones spent the 2020 season at the alternate training site after splitting 2019 between high-A and double-A when he combined to walk […]

Spencer Torkelson Hitless Over 16 Spring Plate Appearances

Detroit Tigers third baseman and top prospect Spencer Torkelson has had a rough go of it this spring. He's yet to record a hit over his first 16 plate appearances. He's currently 0-for-13 with three walks and eight strikeouts. The 21-year-old Torkelson was a bit of a long shot to make the team's opening day […]

Best-Ball Late-Round Values - Infield

Fantasy Baseball draft season is in full swing, and that goes for more than just redraft leagues; we are talking best-ball formats. Best-ball leagues have been gaining traction in recent years and for good reason. Drafts start almost immediately after the previous season ends for those looking for an offseason fantasy fix. Best-ball drafts are […]

Scott Kingery Shows Some Life This Spring

Philadelphia Phillies infielder/outfielder Scott Kingery, who entered Thursday's Grapefruit League game 2-for-14 following a three-strikeout performance on Tuesday, went 1-for-2 with a double on Thursday against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. "I think he needed it for his psyche," manager Joe Girardi said. Fantasy managers shouldn't glean a whole lot from spring slumps, but it's worth […]

Jed Lowrie Getting Back In Action

Oakland Athletics infielder Jed Lowrie (knee) missed the first week of spring action while working his way back from left knee surgery in the offseason, but he played in his second Cactus League game on Thursday and impressed manager Bob Melvin by making solid contact. The 36-year-old is trying to make the squad on a […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/11) - Hiura Endures Spring Struggles

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. Thankfully, we have real, live baseball being played every day again, and while it doesn't count for anything, these exhibition games gives us the smallest glimmer into players and teams heading into the new season. We're officially through the first week of spring training games […]

Marwin Gonzalez Homers Twice

Boston Red Sox utility man Marwin Gonzalez homered from each side of the plate on Wednesday, knocking in four in the Red Sox's 5-4 win over the Twins. Gonzalez, along with Kike Hernandez, Michael Chavis and Danny Santana, is one of the many utility players fighting for playing time in a crowded Red Sox lineup. Gonzalez […]

Isaac Paredes Hits First Spring Home Run

Detroit Tigers third base prospect Isaac Paredes hit his first home run of 2021 against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. He's looking to lock down the starting third base job for 2021. Paredes received his first taste of MLB action last year but he managed a well-below average 56 wRC+ in 30 games. Although he […]

Josh Donaldson (3B, MIN) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 170 CURRENT ADP: ~186 overall ANALYSIS: Donaldson is going to be hitting in the middle of a great lineup every day. We have even less to go off of from his past season than most since he only saw 81 at-bats thanks to a calf injury. He struggled in the […]

Tommy Edman Gets Two Hits On Wednesday

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Tommy Edman hit in the leadoff spot for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Washington Nationals. He went 2-for-3 with a double, raising his spring batting average to .429 and his OPS to 1.038. With former starter Kolten Wong now with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cardinals will have Edman starting at […]

Mariners Could Use Mitch Haniger, Dylan Moore To Lead Off

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger and second baseman Dylan Moore are both candidates to be used in the top spot in the lineup, in addition to expected everyday leadoff hitter J.P. Crawford. Haniger, who is leading off in Wednesday's spring training game, was already expected to be in the top third of the order, but […]

Matt Chapman Leading Off On Wednesday

Oakland Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman will lead off and handle DH duties in Wednesday's Spring Training game against the Brewers. Chapman has been hitting well thus far in spring including blasting a homer to dead-center in Tuesday's contest. The A's have an opening at the top of their order after Marcus Semien left in […]

Jonathan India Eyes Big League Arrival In 2021

Cincinnati Reds infielder Jonathan India has been heralded as one of the organization's top prospects ever since he was chosen with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. Even with the oddity of the 2020 season behind him, India is inching closer to making his Major League debut, something that could happen later […]

Rafael Devers Continues Spring Struggles

Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers went 0-for-3 in Tuesday's 11-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Devers has struggled a bit in early spring action as he is now just 2-for-15 with a home run and two RBI across his first six games. He had a breakout 2019 campaign when he hit .311 […]

Orioles Linked To Maikel Franco

The Baltimore Orioles are one of several teams linked to free-agent third baseman Maikel Franco, per MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. The O's current third baseman, Rio Ruiz has slashed a disappointing .229/.299/.393 with 21 home runs over the past two seasons. Ruiz is not a great defender and neither is Franco, but Franco posted […]

Manny Machado Collects Two Knocks Tuesday

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado collected two knocks and a walk Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox, lifting his spring slash to .400/.538/.600 in 13 plate appearances. With substantial buzz around teammate Fernando Tatis Jr., Machado quietly enjoyed a monster 2020 campaign, registering a .950 OPS with 16 homers, 91 runs-plus-RBI and six […]

Ke'Bryan Hayes Extends Hitting Streak to Five Games Tuesday

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes went 2-for-2 at the plate against the Braves on Tuesday afternoon to extend his hitting streak to five games. Hayes doubled, drew a walk and scored two runs as he is now slashing .500/.563/.929 to start off the spring. He has yet to homer but he is still showing […]

Miguel Sano Doubles Tuesday

Minnesota Twins infielder Miguel Sano had an RBI double in Tuesday's 1-0 win against the Baltimore Orioles. Sano is now just 2-for-11 with three RBI across four spring games. Sano should see time at both first base and third base in 2021, which will increase his fantasy value. That being said, he will need to […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/9) - Meadows Returning To Form

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. Thankfully, we have real, live baseball being played every day again, and while it doesn't count for anything, these exhibition games gives us the smallest glimmer into players and teams heading into the new season. We're officially through the first week of spring training games […]

Carter Kieboom (3B, WAS) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 395 CURRENT ADP: ~412 overall ANALYSIS: Just shy of being what I would consider a deep dart throw, Kieboom is currently in line to be the starting third baseman for the Nationals. The reason the confidence is lacking is in part due to the fact that according to reports, the […]

Justin Turner Goes 1-for-2 Monday

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Monday's 8-0 win against the Chicago White Sox. It was nice to see Turner get a hit in this one as he is now just 2-for-10 through his first five Cactus League games. Turner was also batting third, […]