2021 Fantasy Baseball Batting Awards

We've put a bow on the 2021 season, with the Braves finishing off their surprising season with a World Series victory over the Astros. That leaves fantasy baseball managers to eagerly await an offseason of hot stove rumors and draft prep. Before all that takes place, it's only right to pay tribute to the players […]

2022 Fantasy Baseball Breakout Candidates - AL West

Even with the offseason now in full swing with players receiving qualifying offers, it’s never too early to start identifying the players who’ll help your team take the title next season. Of course, impact fantasy players taken near the top of drafts are crucial for fantasy contenders. But, finding breakout candidates late in the draft […]

J.D. Martinez Decides To Stay With Red Sox

Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez declined to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract and will remain with the team for the 2022 season. Martinez's market could markedly improve next offseason if a universal DH is implemented in baseball when the new Collective Bargaining Agreement is worked out this winter. Had he opted […]

Dusty Baker Returning To Astros In 2022

The Houston Astros announced on Friday that they signed manager Dusty Baker to a one-year contract extension for the 2022 season after he came just two wins shy of winning the World Series this year. Next season will mark the 72-year-old's 25th season as a manager in professional baseball and his third with the Astros […]

Kyle Schwarber Declines Option, Hits Free Agency

Boston Red Sox first baseman/outfielder Kyle Schwarber declined his mutual option Friday, making him a free agent. The deal would have paid him $11.5 million dollars in 2022, but instead he will opt for a $3 million dollar buyout and a chance to hit the open market. Schwarber appeared in 113 games in 2021, slashing […]

2021 MLB Strength of Schedule - In Depth Analysis

Strength of schedule analysis is a common thing you'll see in fantasy football analysis. With just 16 (17 now, I guess) games on the schedule every year, the list of teams on your schedule can make a big difference in your final year metrics. If you get to face the league's worst offense twice while […]

Padres Hire Bob Melvin As New Skipper

The San Diego Padres agreed to a three-year deal on Thursday for Bob Melvin to be their next skipper after they let Jayce Tingler go after a disappointing 2021 season in which the team finished 79-83 despite entering the season with World Series aspirations, according to sources. The Oakland Athletics had picked up Melvin's 2022 […]

Jorge Soler Batting Fifth For Game 2

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler is batting fifth on Wednesday night against Houston Astros right-handed starter Jose Urquidy. Soler is starting at designated hitter for Game 2 of the World Series after collecting a pair of hits, including a leadoff home run, in Atlanta's Game 1 win. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Kansas […]

Can Yordan Alvarez Stay Hot Against Braves?

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez will hit cleanup for Game 1 of the World Series against the Braves. Alvarez has been fantastic throughout the playoffs, registering at least one hit in eight of the team's 10 playoff games and at least one RBI in six of the 10. The talented young slugger is slashing […]

Oliver Marmol Expected To Become Next Cardinals Manager

St. Louis Cardinals current bench coach Oliver Marmol is expected to be named the 51st manager in Cardinals history on Monday, according to a source. At just 35 years old, Marmol would become the youngest manager in the majors. Former manager Mike Shildt was dismissed from his position on Oct. 14 due to "philosophical differences" […]

Yordan Alvarez Has Hits In Each ALCS Game

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez will start and hit cleanup Wednesday in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Red Sox. Alvarez has been a metronome of offensive consistency in these playoffs and has at least one hit in every game of the Championship Series. Alvarez will face left-handed starter Chris Sale in Game […]

J.D. Martinez Homers Again In ALCS Game 3

Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez continued his hot hitting in Game 3 of the ALCS Monday, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored. Martinez has now recorded 11 hits in 27 postseason at-bats this season with three homers, 10 RBI, and four runs scored. […]

Aaron Boone Returning To Yankees On Three-Year Contract

The New York Yankees announced Tuesday that they are bringing back manager Aaron Boone on a three-year contract through the 2024 season with a club option for 2025. Boone has compiled 328 victories in the regular season since being named the skipper before the start of the 2018 campaign, though postseason success has eluded him […]

J.D. Martinez Provides Grand Slam

Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez got Game 2 started off on the right foot Saturday, as he delivered a grand slam in the top of the first inning. He also singled in five at-bats. The former Astro has a 1.112 OPS with two homers and eight RBI through his first 23 at-bats of […]

Shohei Ohtani - 2021 Year-in-Review

Baseball fans had the pleasure of watching Shohei Ohtani play a full season, doing things we've never seen done on the baseball field all year long. It was an incredible year, to say the least, for the probable American League MVP. This is essentially a double-article since Ohtani functioned as two completely different players (for […]

Yordan Alvarez Slugs .636 Against White Sox

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez went 0-for-3 with two walks in the Astros 10-1 win over the White Sox to advance to the ALCS. Alvarez caused so much havoc in the first two games that the White Sox were extra cautious pitching to him as the talented slugger racked up six walks in the […]

Aaron Boone Likely To Remain Yankees Manager

The New York Yankees have yet to make a decision on manager Aaron Boone for next year. His managerial contract terminated at the end of the 2021 season and there have been rumors that the San Diego Padres could be interested in Boone if the Yankees don't retain him. However, on Tuesday, ESPN's Buster Olney […]

Nelson Cruz Plans To Play Next Season

Tampa Bay Rays 41-year-old designated hitter Nelson Cruz told reporters last week that he plans to continue his career after this season. He is set be a free agent for the second straight offseason after the 2021 postseason concludes. Last offseason, he signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Twins, who traded him […]

Astros And White Sox Postponed On Monday

Game 4 of the ALDS between the Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox has been postponed due to inclement weather. It will now be played on Tuesday, with a start time of 2:07 EST. Carlos Rodon and Jose Urquidy were scheduled to start the game for their respective teams. White Sox manager Tony La […]

2021 MLB Reflection and League Trends

Here at RotoBaller, we give you fantasy baseball coverage twelve months a year. The playoffs are still in full swing, which means it's probably not quite time to shift our focus to the 2022 season, but it won't be long before we're there. In the meantime, we want to spend some time reflecting on the 2021 […]

J.D. Martinez Homers In Triumphant Return

Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez (ankle) may have gone on the injured list if this was the regular season, but instead he returned to the lineup for Friday's Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Rays and went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, three RBI, and a run scored in the 14-6 […]

Yordan Alvarez Continues Dominant Series

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez went 1-for-2 with one RBI, one run scored and two walks in the team's 9-4 win over the White Sox in Game 2 of the ALDS. Alvarez has been a menace at the plate through the first two games, going 3-for-5 with two extra-base hits, three walks, three runs […]

J.D. Martinez In ALDS Game 2 Lineup

Boston Red Sox designated hitter and outfielder J.D. Martinez (ankle) is back in the lineup for Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Shane Baz. Martinez wasn't on Boston's roster for the team's Wild-Card game win against the New York Yankees due to a left ankle sprain. […]

Nelson Cruz Goes Yard In ALDS Game 1 Win

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Game 1 of the American League Division Series 5-0 win over the Boston Red Sox. He launched a towering blast off the catwalk to give the Rays a 3-0 lead. The 41-year-old became the second-oldest player to homer in a […]

J.D. Martinez On Boston's ALDS Roster

Boston Red Sox outfielder and designated hitter J.D. Martinez (ankle) is on the team's 26-man roster for their American League Division Series matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays. Martinez wasn't on the roster for Boston's Wild-Card game win over the New York Yankees due to a left ankle sprain. The veteran hit .286 with a .349 […]

J.D. Martinez Not A Lock For ALDS Roster

Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez's left ankle sprain looks pretty bad and he may not be able to be on the team's roster for the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, but he's expected to fight to be on the roster. The good news is that he doesn't have any […]

Year in Review: Jon Anderson's Bold Predictions

After joining the RotoBaller team in late 2020, I was graciously allowed to write a "Bold Predictions" piece for the 2021 MLB season, you can read back on that here. It was a fantastically fun year covering fantasy baseball on this website, but now it's time to get the gavel out begin judging some of […]

Yordan Alvarez Ready For October

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez will be ready for the spotlight when the team hosts the White Sox in the ALDS beginning Thursday. Alvarez was unable to play in last year's playoff run for the Astros but bounced back in a big way this season. The 24-year-old slashed .277/.346/.531 this season with 33 home […]

J.D. Martinez Not On Wild-Card Roster

Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez (ankle) is not on the team's wild-card roster for the wild-card game against the division-rival New York Yankees on Tuesday. Martinez's MRI exam showed no structural damage, but the Red Sox don't feel comfortable throwing him out there in a must-win game. It's unclear if Martinez would be […]

Orioles Awarded First Pick In 2022 MLB Draft

The Baltimore Orioles will have the first overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft. This determination was not decided until the final games of the season Sunday, as the O's and Diamondbacks ended up tying for the worst record in baseball. Both teams also had the same record in 2020, so the ultimate tie breaker […]