2019 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers - RotoBaller Staff Picks

As we get set for the 2019 MLB season, it's time for our crack staff to reveal their favorite preseason sleepers. We recently polled some of our fantasy baseball writers to get their take on which hitters and pitchers they are targeting the most in the mid-to-late rounds of fantasy drafts. While you've likely heard […]

Yu Darvish, Pedro Strop On Track For Opener

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish (finger) and relief pitcher Pedro Strop (hamstring) both threw successful bullpen sessions on Friday and should be ready for the season opener next Thursday. Strop will return to game action either Monday or Tuesday against Boston, which will mark his first outing since March 9. Darvish's next test will […]

Brewers, Braves In Mix For Craig Kimbrel

The Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves seem to be the two teams in the mix for free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel with Opening Day next Thursday. The Brewers make even more sense with both relievers Corey Knebel (elbow) and Jeremy Jeffress (shoulder) injured and questionable for the start of the season. Atlanta's bullpen is inexperienced and […]

Roberto Osuna Carries Plenty Of Fantasy Upside

Houston Astros closer Roberto Osuna is ready to get off to a strong start to his 2019 season, tossing five scoreless innings in five appearances this spring. With a full season under his belt and playing for a perennial contender like the Astros, Osuna is in line for a monster season. The 24-year-old has 116 saves […]

Nate Green's 10 Bold Predictions for 2019

Here at RotoBaller, we offer only the best, most factually-grounded fantasy analysis. Then, once a year, along comes everyone's favorite exercise: the Bold Predictions. Ah yes, wherein those of us who write analysis about a sabermetric-driven sport are encouraged to make the wildest guesses about the coming season in fantasy baseball. Some statistical basis ought […]

Corey Knebel Has UCL Injury, May Need Tommy John Surgery

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Corey Knebel's elbow injury is an ulnar-collateral ligament issue, according to manager Craig Counsell. Knebel will go for a second opinion. It's not a complete tear of his ligament, though, and it's not definitive that he'll need Tommy John surgery. Even if Knebel doesn't need elbow reconstruction, he seems destined to […]

Matt Strahm Destined For Starting Rotation

San Diego Padres starter/reliever Matt Strahm is on track to be the team’s fourth starter to begin the regular season. Strahm fired five innings of scoreless ball and recorded four strikeouts Wednesday to bring his spring resume to a 2.65 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 across 17 frames. Strahm’s strong performance and injuries to […]

Julio Urias Will Start Season In Bullpen

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias will start the season as a long reliever, according to manager Dave Roberts. The young hurler was in consideration to start in the rotation, but is still coming back from shoulder capsule surgery two years ago and was always presumed to have an innings limit this season. He pitched […]

Alex Reyes to Start the Season in the Bullpen

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Alex Reyes will begin the 2019 season as a member of the Cardinals bullpen. Manager Mike Shildt made the announcement on Thursday morning, adding that Reyes was "in a good spot." There was uncertainty heading into spring training as to whether Reyes would work as a starter or as a reliever […]

Will Smith The Leading Candidate For Saves In San Fran

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Will Smith remains the leading candidate for the majority of save chances in 2019 after holding the closer role for the second half of last season and not allowing a run in three Cactus League innings this spring. Veteran Mark Melancon has shown improved health in camp, but he's also […]

Archie Bradley, Greg Holland Closing Candidates In Arizona

The Arizona Diamondbacks are taking their closer decision down to the wire this year, with relief pitchers Archie Bradley and Greg Holland the candidates. Holland's velocity has been down in spring training, but the team thinks he's fine and he'll pick it up in the regular season. Bradley missed an outing with neck stiffness but […]

Cardinals Won't Have Designated Closer

The St. Louis Cardinals will enter the regular season without a designated closer, preferring instead to use matchups and workload to influence decisions. Lefty Andrew Miller has experience and could see ninth-inning duties based on the matchups. Reliever Jordan Hicks has triple-digit fastball velocity and is improving. Alex Reyes and Carlos Martinez could also be […]

Phillies Have Three Options For Ninth Inning

Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said that relief pitchers David Robertson, Seranthony Dominguez and Hector Neris could pitch in ninth-inning save situations in 2019. Nine different Phillies earned at least one save last year. Robertson has the most closing situation, but all three relievers can be unhittable when they are on their game. Robertson should […]

Drew Steckenrider Projected For Most Save Chances

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Drew Steckenrider, who had five saves as a rookie, is projected to get most of the save opportunities in the ninth inning, but left-hander Adam Conley will also get a shot if the matchups are more favorable for him. Sergio Romo, who has 109 career saves, is another option for Miami. […]

Arodys Vizcaino, A.J. Minter To Share Closing Role

Atlanta Braves relief pitchers Arodys Vizcaino and A.J. Minter (shoulder) will share the closing role this year, but Minter is unlikely to be available before the second week of the regular season. Vizcaino has a chance to stand out to begin the season, but he'll need to prove his right shoulder is fully healthy after […]

Brewers Getting Serious With Craig Kimbrel

The Milwaukee Brewers talks with free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel are pretty serious, according to sources. Kimbrel would help strengthen a bullpen that already boasts Josh Hader, Corey Knebel and Jeremy Jeffress, but Kimbrel would likely work the ninth inning. That would hurt the fantasy value of Knebel the most. Kimbrel has a 1.91 ERA, 0.92 […]

Twins Haven't Named Closer

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli hasn't offered any specifics about the team's ninth-inning plans this year, and the Twins leadership has spoken more broadly about high-leverage situations in the final three innings. Blake Parker, Trevor Hildenberger, Trevor May, Taylor Rogers and Fernando Romero will be featured in those situations, but it's unclear how it will […]

Royals Won't Have Set Closer In 2019

Even though Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Wily Peralta was perfect in his 14 save chances while filling in for Kelvin Herrera last year, manager Ned Yost said the team won't have a set closer this year. Yost will think of his relievers mainly as "high-leverage" guys, which includes Peralta, Jake Diekman, Tim Hill and […]

Shane Greene Still Detroit's Closer

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joe Jimenez is the closer of the future, but Shane Greene remains the closer of the present after finishing fourth in the American League with 32 saves last year. If Greene pitches well in the first half, he could be on the trade block at the July deadline. Despite the 32 […]

Hunter Strickland Nails Down First Save Of Season

After battling back issues late in spring training, Seattle Mariners closer Hunter Strickland looked sharp in his regular season debut. He threw a clean ninth inning striking out two batters as he finished off the Oakland Athletics for his first save of 2019. Strickland is entering his first season as a bona fide closer and […]

Harris Yudin's 10 Bold Predictions for 2019

Despite whiffing on more than half, my 2018 predictions were highlighted by the claim that Christian Yelich would return first-round value. I was also justifiably optimistic about Matt Chapman’s breakout and Khris Davis’ impending title of Home Run King. So, I figured, the best plan of attack for 2019 was to use the same template […]

White Sox Haven't Officially Announced Closer

Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria hasn't officially named a closer and might not do so before the regular season starts. Alex Colome, Kelvin Herrera, Nate Jones and Jace Fry are all good late-inning options. Colome led the American League with 47 saves for the Rays in 2017 and might be the odds-on-favorite alongside Kelvin […]

Ken Giles Is Toronto's Undisputed Closer

Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles is locked in as the undisputed closer despite barely pitching this spring after dealing with a severe cold and later a sore shoulder. He had a rough 4.65 ERA last year with the Astros and Blue Jays, but he was also perfect in his 26 save chances. Ryan Tepera, […]

Rays Will Play Matchups In Ninth Inning

The Tampa Bay Rays will head into the 2019 regular season without naming a closer and will instead play the matchups in the ninth inning. Sergio Romo, who led the team with 25 saves last year, is gone, so relievers Jose Alvarado and Chaz Roe are expected to see most of the opportunities to close […]

Matt Barnes A Strong Candidate For Saves

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes (96 strikeouts in 61 2/3 frames last year) is a strong candidate for the closing duties to open the season, but manager Alex Cora has been coy on who his closer will be on Opening Day. “You’ll find out on March 28,” Cora has said repeatedly. Ryan Brasier […]

Mychal Givens The Obvious Choice As O's Closer?

The Baltimore Orioles may open the season without a closer, even if relief pitcher Mychal Givens is the obvious choice for ninth-inning duties. Nate Karns is another back-end bullpen option after being turned into a reliever. The Orioles see value in using their best relievers in the middle of games during high-leverage situation, so this […]

Brewers Talking With Craig Kimbrel

The Milwaukee Brewers are talking with free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel, according to sources. Milwaukee's bullpen is already stacked with Josh Hader, Corey Knebel and Jeremy Jeffress, but Kimbrel would likely slot in as the ninth-inning man. It'd hurt Knebel's fantasy value the most. Kimbrel already has a 1.91 career ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 333 saves and […]

Brandon Morrow Feels Fine After Bullpen Session

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Brandon Morrow (elbow) said he felt fine on Tuesday a day after a 20-pitch bullpen session. The right-hander will open the year on the injured list and is expected to miss around a month of action in the regular season. Morrow missed all of the second half last year and had […]

Pedro Strop Throws Off Mound Tuesday

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop (hamstring) threw off a mound with no issues on Tuesday and is expected to have another mound session later this week. He could get into a spring game before camp ends. If he doesn't have another setback, Strop could open the season as the team's closer after performing well […]

Dellin Betances To Begin On Injured List

New York Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances will begin the season on the injured list due to a right shoulder impingement. He's been prescribed anti-inflammatories after undergoing an MRI exam. It'll be three to five days before he resumes throwing, although general manager Brian Cashman don't think the reliever will miss much time. Betances has […]