MacKenzie Gore, Luis Patino Battling To Crack Roster

With the expanded 30-man rosters in 2020, the glimmering chance for San Diego Padres hyped-prospect starters MacKenzie Gore (MLB’s No. 5 prospect) and Luis Patino (No. 27) to crack the team are brightening. Manager Jayce Tingler confirmed the youngsters are “competing for roles,” including potential relief opportunities. However, both prospects are building up as starters […]

Cardinals Frustrated With Delayed Testing Results in Camp

The St. Louis Cardinals are frustrated with the delays in testing results at summer camp, with team president John Mozeliak saying: "Clearly there’s been a little frustration in our camp in terms of getting test results," with the Cardinals having to cancel Monday's workout. The Cardinals took their tests on Friday but they were not […]

Kyle Ryan Hasn’t Arrived At Cubs Camp

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Kyle Ryan has been absent from the team's camp due to a process-based testing delay. It sounds as though he should join up with the team at Wrigley Field sooner than later. The lefty latched onto a role with the Club last season and was successful with a 3.54 ERA in […]

Astros Cancel Workout On Monday

The Houston Astros canceled their workout on Monday because they are still awaiting the results from Friday's COVID-19 tests, according to sources. The Washington Nationals also canceled their Monday workout for the same reason. Teams are emphasizing the priority of player health and safety, but the Astros are "optimistic that this process will be ironed […]

Nationals Cancel Workouts On Monday

The Washington Nationals have canceled their workouts on Monday because the results from their Friday coronavirus tests have still not shown up, according to sources. The Oakland Athletics also canceled a workout on Sunday because they hadn't received the results of their COVID-19 tests. MLB testers didn't show up to Angels camp on Sunday either. […]

Can You Punt Categories In A Shortened MLB Season?

Punting categories in a roto league is something I've always shied away from. After all, you're willingly lowering your team's overall points ceiling on the hope that sacrificing a category benefits your team elsewhere. In general, punting should not be pre-planned and, if used, it should be decided while drafting based on your team so far and […]

Mets Manager Non-Committal To Edwin Diaz At Closer

New York Mets manager Luis Rojas did not commit to reliever Edwin Diaz as the Mets closer on Sunday when asked about the Mets ninth inning bullpen situation. Rojas, instead, mentioned Diaz, Dellin Betances, Seth Lugo, and Jeurys Familia in the context of a possible closer-by-committee. This is a situation the bears monitoring as we […]

Hector Neris Back At Phillies Camp

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Hector Neris (illness) was at Citizens Bank Ballpark Sunday but did not practice with the team, according to manager Joe Girardi. Neris was placed on the new COVID-19 Injured List last week, but it was never confirmed if he had the virus. Players can be put on the COVID-19 IL if […]

WPC+ Videocast: New ATC Projections for Starting Pitchers

Pierre Camus and Nicklaus Gaut are joined by Ariel Cohen to discuss his revised ATC projections for the 2020 MLB season. How should starting pitchers be valued over a 60-game season and what can the projections tell us on draft day? Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest […]

Why You Need Middle Relievers In 2020 - Top Draft Targets

Heading into the 2020 fantasy baseball season, much of the talk is focused on the randomness that we're likely to see unfold. With a 60-game season, it feels a bit like anything can happen. However, instead of that reality causing you to throw your hands in the air in dismay, I think it's the perfect […]

Collin McHugh Optimistic About His Status For Start Of Season

Boston Red Sox pitcher Collin McHugh (elbow) could be ready to go for the start of the season after recovering from an elbow injury during the shutdown. The 33-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox in early March but did not pitch in any spring training games as a result of his forearm […]

Kirby Yates Not Yet In Camp

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates is not in summer camp due to a non-COVID-related family issue, according to general manager A.J. Preller. Yates is likely to report to San Diego later this weekend and go through the subsequent testing protocols. The 33-year-old right-handed reliever was lights-out for the Friars as a first-time All-Star, posting […]

Brett Martin Tests Positive For COVID-19

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Brett Martin has tested positive for COVID-19 and has some "mild" symptoms. Martin is a diabetic, so it is a delicate situation, and he's at risk for complications. Heading into the season, Martin was expected to serve in a setup role alongside Rafael Montero and Joely Rodriguez ahead of closer Jose […]

Dellin Betances Looks Good During Bullpen Session

New York Mets relief pitcher Dellin Betances (shoulder, Achilles) looked "really good" during his bullpen session on Friday, according to manager Luis Rojas. Shoulder and Achilles injuries limited Betances to only one game last season for the Yankees. If Betances is in fact ready for the July start of the 2020 season, he and Seth […]

Indians Sign Steve Baron, Jake Elmore, David Hernandez

The Cleveland Indians have signed catcher Steve Baron, infielder Jake Elmore and relief pitcher David Hernandez to minor league deals on Friday. Baron will report to the club’s Lake County camp, while Elmore and Hernandez will report to Progressive Field in Cleveland. Hernandez should be used regularly early on as starters begin to build up their […]

2020 MLB All-Star Game Canceled

Due to health circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Major League Baseball announced on Friday that the All-Star game will not be played in 2020 for the first time since World War II. The Dodgers, who had been scheduled to host the game, will host the next available All-Star game in 2022. The Braves will […]

Giovanny Gallegos Absent From Early Workouts

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos will be absent from the team's early summer camp workouts as he remains in his native country of Mexico, according to a source. The team hasn't explained the exact nature of his absence yet. Gallegos has some time to get to the States, but this is a minor […]

Drew Smith Throwing Off Mound Since March

New York Mets reliever Drew Smith (elbow) has been throwing off a mound since this past March. Smith, who was still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery during spring training, has made the Mets 60-man player pool and could see time with the team during the season. The 26-year-old last pitched in 2018 for the Mets […]

Baltimore Orioles: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The Baltimore Orioles will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking for […]

Short-Season Draft Risers and Fallers: RotoBaller Staff Picks

Recently, the RotoBaller MLB staff provided their thoughts on the best draft strategies for a shortened season. You can read that article right here. The fantasy baseball season is ready to kick up (finally) but things won't be the same as usual. Some players may be more appealing now that they've had time to work […]

Washington Nationals: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The Washington Nationals will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking for […]

30 Burning Questions (and Answers) for 2020 Fantasy Baseball

Upon hearing that Major League Baseball was finally set to return to action and the fantasy season was back, a million questions popped in my head. Sadly, I forgot most of them by the next day so I'm left with just 30, coincidentally a nice even number. Actually, my initial plan was to do 60 […]

Rangers Add Juan Nicasio, Edinson Volquez To Camp Roster

The Texas Rangers added right-handed pitchers Juan Nicasio and Edinson Volquez to their summer camp roster as non-roster players on Thursday. Their summer camp squad currently sits at 57 players. Nicasio, 34 in August, made 47 relief appearances for the Phillies last year and had a 4.75 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 8.6 K/9 and one save […]

A.J. Ramos Agrees With Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a minor league deal with relief pitcher A.J. Ramos on Thursday, according to a source. Ramos will be added to the 60-man player pool with summer camps beginning this weekend. The 33-year-old right-hander hasn't pitched in the big leagues since June of 2018, when he underwent labrum surgery on […]

Seranthony Dominguez Yet To Have Tommy John Surgery

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez (elbow) is still waiting to have Tommy John surgery. Dominguez injured his arm last June, which cost him the rest of the season. He was attempting to return this season but re-injured his arm in a spring training game in March. It had been reported Dominguez was to have […]

Hector Neris, Scott Kingery On COVID-19 Injured List

Updating a previous report, the Philadelphia Phillies placed third baseman Scott Kingery and relievers Hector Neris, Tommy Hunter and Ranger Suarez on the COVID-19 injured list. Players can be placed on the new injured list if they test positive, show symptoms or have come into contact with an infected person, so it is not confirmed that […]

Brandon Drury Among Four Players Jays Send To IL

The Toronto Blue Jays have placed infielders Brandon Drury and Jonathan Davis on the 10-day injured list on Thursday, retroactive to June 30. Relief pitchers Elvis Luciano and Hector Perez were also added to the injured list, while Breyvic Valera, Bryan Baker, Patrick Kivlehan and Josh Palacios have been added to the team’s player pool. […]

Scott Kingery, Hector Neris Among Four Phillies Placed On IL

The Philadelphia Phillies placed third baseman Scott Kingery and relief pitchers Hector Neris, Tommy Hunter and Ranger Suarez on the 10-day injured list on Thursday. The team did not offer a reason, but it's possible they were among the eight players that tested positive for COVID-19 last week. The team cannot disclose if players test positive, […]

Jordan Hicks To Begin Year On Injured List

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said that relief pitcher Jordan Hicks (elbow) will start the regular season on the Injured List while recovering from Tommy John surgery last June. However, the Cardinals expect Hicks to contribute in a late-inning role soon, so it may not be long before he's an option for the ninth […]

Boston Red Sox: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The Boston Red Sox will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking […]