Keury Mella Optioned, Cody Reed Recalled

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Keury Mella has been optioned to Triple A on Monday. He threw 47 pitches, while allowing four hits and five runs on Sunday versus the Diamondbacks. Reliever Cody Reed has been recalled to take Mella's spot on the active roster. He'll likely operate in middle relief, so this won't mean much […]

Jack Reinheimer, Tim Peterson Both Called Up On Monday

New York Mets infielder Jack Reinheimer and reliever Tim Peterson were both called up from the minors on Monday. In response to those moves, the Mets optioned reliever Jacob Rhame and shortstop Luis Guillorme to Triple-A. The Mets claimed Reinheimer off waivers on July 31. He hasn't had a major league at-bat in 2018, and […]

AL-Only Waiver Wire Team of the Week: MLB Week 20

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to […]

Cody Allen Earns Save on Sunday

Indians relief pitcher Cody Allen earned his 23rd save of the season Sunday against the White Sox. Allen has had a rough year thus far, so it is optimistic for owners to see him closing out games recently. The addition of Brad Hand has placed extra pressure upon Allen's shoulders as he now must navigate […]

Blake Treinen Shuts the Door for Oakland

A's closer Blake Treinen earned his 30th save of the season Sunday against the Angels. Treinen struck out the side with just 11 pitches which continued his dominance that has been unparalleled this season. His sub-one ERA and WHIP have been carrying fantasy owners' ratios all season. As long as Oakland continues to give him […]

Ryan Madson Blows Save On Sunday, Reportedly Injured

Nationals relief pitcher Ryan Madson blew Sunday's game against the Cubs in the ninth inning. With closer Sean Doolittle and set-up man Kelvin Herrera on the disabled list, Madson was the next man up. He came in with a three-run lead, allowed one hit, then hit two batters and gave up a grand slam to […]

Ken Giles Gets First Save With the Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Ken Giles pitched a clean ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday to pick up his first save with the team. Giles has struggled early on in his Blue Jays tenure, but it seems as though the closer role is his for the time being. The former Houston Astro […]

Craig Kimbrel Picks Up 35th Save of the Season

Boston Red Sox star closer Craig Kimbrel closed out the Baltimore Orioles for his 35th save of the campaign on Sunday afternoon. The flamethrowing right was struggling earlier in August but has now put together back-to-back solid performances. It seemed like it would only be a matter of time before Kimbrel found his game again […]

Dodgers Bullpen Implodes On Saturday

Los Angeles Dodgers' closer committee of Scott Alexander and J.T. Chargois could not get the job done in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Rockies. Alexander started the ninth inning up by two and got one out before allowing a double. Chargois then replaced Alexander and proceeded to hit a batter, get a second out, and […]

Trevor Hildenberger (RP, MIN) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: After the dealing of Fernando Rodney to the Oakland Athletics, a the Minnesota Twins are going to have to find a replacement for high-leverage situations among their bullpen that holds the sixth-worst ERA in baseball at 4.67. Of those candidates, Trevor Hildenberger stands out […]

Tyler Glasnow (SP/RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 16% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow looked liked the guy that the Rays traded for on Tuesday night. Glasnow’s second start for Tampa Bay yielded nine strikeouts over four innings of one-run ball, allowing just two baserunners before being lifted. His two […]

The Cut List (Week 20): Time to Let Go?

Welcome to Week 20 of the Cut List. This week I’m taking a look at Starlin Castro, Jon Lester, Jed Lowrie, and Eric Thames. I explain why each player should be dropped in most standard shallow leagues. Last week’s cut candidates (Cesar Hernandez, Matt Kemp, Asdrubal Cabrera, Tim Anderson) went a combined 16-for-66 with seven […]

Sergio Romo Earns 15th Save Saturday

Tampa Bay Rays closer Sergio Romo closed out another victory for the Rays over the Blue Jays Saturday. He would enter with a two-run lead in the ninth inning and retired all three batters he faced. Romo would earn his 15th save of the season. He has even opened five games this season. Romo will […]

Wily Peralta (RP, KCR) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: Generally, we here at RotoBaller are not in the habit of recommending pitchers who have BB/9 rates in excess of 5.00 in both the majors and Triple-A. But saves are saves, and they're tough to come by in the dog days of August. Of course, […]

Raisel Iglesias Earns 23rd Save Of Season Saturday

Cincinnati Reds closer Raisel Iglesias notched his 23rd save of the season in Saturday's 6-3 game against the Diamondbacks. Iglesias pitched a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout to end the game. He has now converted 23 of 26 saves on the season to go with a 2.47 ERA, 53 strikeouts, and 15 walks in 51 […]

Jimmy Yacabonis Takes Loss Saturday

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jimmy Yacabonis fell to 0-1 on the season in Saturday's Game 1 loss to the Red Sox. Yacabonis allowed three runs on five hits (including two home runs) and no walks with two strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. It was his first appearance in more than a month and he now has […]

Trevor Hildenberger Shaky In Save Saturday

Minnesota Twins reliever Trevor Hildenberger recorded his first save since August 13, 2017, and just the second of his career on Saturday. It wasn't a pretty save as Hildenberger came in to protect a 4-1 lead but promptly served up a two-run homer to Detroit Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum. He then allowed the tying […]

Glenn Sparkman To Stay In Bullpen

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Glenn Sparkman will remain in the bullpen for 2018, according to manager Ned Yost. Reporters asked Yost about the possibility of a rotation spot for Sparkman this season after he came in for a long relief stint on Friday, but Yost only supported the idea of Sparkman getting a chance […]

Kelvin Herrera Resumes Throwing on Saturday

Washington Nationals closer Kelvin Herrera (shoulder) threw on Saturday for the first time since winding up on the disabled list back on Wednesday. While the progress is nice to see, there is still no timetable for Herrera's return. It seems likely that the Nationals will take a cautious approach and ensure that Herrera is fully […]

Burch Smith Chased In Second Inning

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Burch Smith got roasted again on Friday as he was run out in the second inning after already giving up five earned runs. Smith has now given up five or more earned runs in three straight starts, and his season ERA sits at a frightening 6.97. Smith was a feel-good […]

Wade Davis Says Everything Is Fixed

Colorado Rockies closer Wade Davis told reporters once again that he's figured out what's wrong after Thursday's meltdown against the Dodgers. It was Davis' sixth blown save of the year and his ERA is now 5.51, but he insists that watching video of his performance revealed easy fixes he could make that would get it […]

Adam Ottavino Closes Out Dodgers

The Colorado Rockies turned to reliever Adam Ottavino to nail down the final outs in Friday's 5-4 win over the rival Dodgers, and he did it without incident. Ottavino hasn't been overly dominant in his last few outings either, but manager Bud Black had to do something after closer Wade Davis melted down again on […]

Trevor Cahill (SP/RP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of leagues ANALYSIS: Embattled starting pitcher Trevor Cahill is having a very solid year in 2018, bouncing back from a rough 2017 season in which he finished with a 4.93 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, and an eye-popping 1.71 HR/9.  The 30-year-old is now playing in his 10th season […]

Buy or Sell - Undervalued and Overvalued Players for Week 20

If your league doesn't have a trade deadline before September (or at all), you still have plenty of time to wheel and deal for the playoff stretch. Most of us, however, are up against Father Time and his ceaseless battle to rob us of our most precious commodity. If you're in the market to make […]

Joakim Soria to Disabled List, Adrian Houser Recalled

The Milwaukee Brewers have placed relief pitcher Joakim Soria (groin) on the 10-day disabled list due to a right groin strain and activated right-hander Adrian Houser to take his spot on the active roster. Soria seemed to have pulled something on the mound Wednesday night, however, the severity was unknown. After Corey Knebel's atrocious ninth-inning performance, […]

Jake Faria Good To Go

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jake Faria (neck), who has been bothered by a sore neck recently, threw a bullpen session on Thursday and said he's "good to go." Faria made his first appearance (in relief) on Aug. 1 after having not started a game since May 22 due to injury. He could become an option […]

Kyle Barraclough Lands On DL

The Miami Marlins placed relief pitcher Kyle Barraclough (back) on the 10-day disabled list on Friday with lower back stiffness. Outfielder Rafael Ortega was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans and relief pitcher Drew Rucinski (groin) has also been activated from the DL. It's been a bad couple weeks for Barraclough to put it nicely. He […]

Dakota Hudson Likely To Remain In Bullpen

St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Dakota Hudson, who won 13 games for Triple-A Memphis this year, is expected to remain in the bullpen for the rest of the season. Hudson has made six appearances out of the bullpen for the Cardinals and has gone 2-0 with two hits allowed, one walk and four strikeouts in […]

Jose Leclerc (RP, TEX) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS:  Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jose Leclerc appears to be making the most of a change to the closer's role. With both Keone Kela and Jake Diekman shipped off to contenders at the non-waiver trade deadline. Leclerc has seen his fantasy value sky rocket. […]

Cubs Sign Lefty Jorge De La Rosa

The Chicago Cubs have signed veteran lefty pitcher Jorge De La Rosa to a major league contract on Friday. He was released by the Diamondbacks earlier this week, but has found another landing spot on a contending team. Lefty reliever Randy Rosario has been optioned to Triple A, while Yu Darvish has been transferred to […]