Late Round Gems: Starting Pitcher Sleepers

In general, starting pitchers are more volatile than hitters. Pitchers are more injury prone, and Tommy John surgery is seemingly more common than ever. Furthermore, one or two bad outings can bloat a starting pitcher’s statistics beyond repair for that season. In some cases, starters suddenly lose fastball velocity and subsequently become shells of their former selves. […]

Preseason Champ or Chump: Starting Pitchers

As Opening Day rapidly approaches, we close the preseason version of Champ or Chump by looking at a trio of pitchers. Pitchers have a unique set of data points to consider. Stats like BABIP and SwStr% continue to matter, but we want our pitchers to have low BABIPs and high whiff rates whereas with hitters […]

Four Starting Pitcher Draft Sleepers for Wins

"Wins" is the "runs scored" of pitching stats - overshadowed, grammatically awkward and often an afterthought on draft day. Most owners figure that drafting good pitchers will automatically translate into more wins. Well, that's partially true, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. Similar to runs scored, there are many external factors that contribute […]

Alex Colome (RP / SP, TB) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target at end of drafts CURRENT ADP: 373 ANALYSIS: Alex Colome is a relatively unknown fantasy commodity pitching for the Tampa Rays. The 27-year-old Right-hander started 141 of the 145 games he pitched in the Minors, but may profile as a power reliever in the Show. Colome had an 88:31 strikeout-to-walk-ratio in 109.2 […]

Jerad Eickhoff (SP, PHI) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target at end of drafts CURRENT ADP: 314 ANALYSIS: Jerad Eickhoff is not a name many have heard yet, and playing for a cellar-dwelling outfit does not help, but the 25-year-old righthander may make a name for himself in 2016. Eickhoff made eight starts for the Phillies in 2015, racking up 49 strikeouts […]

Finding Cheaper, Better Alternatives by ADP

Hi, all. New guy here. Well, kind of -- new to RotoBaller, not new to fantasy baseball analysis. Maybe you have read my stuff at RotoGraphs (of the FanGraphs.com family). Maybe you haven't. It's all good either way. The RotoBaller staff has charitably offered me a slot on their MLB writing staff, which I graciously […]

Clay Buchholz (SP, BOS) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target ~200 CURRENT ADP: 231 ANALYSIS: The question surrounding Clay Buchholz every year is whether this will be the year that he finally stays healthy and produces at an elite level. Clay's 2010 and 2013 campaigns showed owners that he can be a scary pitcher worth owning and reaping the benefits. But on the other hand his […]

Hector Santiago (SP, LAA) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Baller Move: ~340 Current ADP: 362 Hector Santiago had a strong start to the 2015 season, earning his first-ever All-Star selection. Prior to the All-Star break, the left-handed thrower sported an impressive 2.23 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, but a second-half collapse saw him finish the season having given up 29 home runs, the highest total of […]

Jimmy Nelson (SP, MIL) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Stream in standard mixed leagues, start as a back of the rotation arm in anything deeper. CURRENT ADP: 274.8 ANALYSIS: Nelson's middling 11-13 record and 4.11 ERA don't exactly scream out "Draft me!," but there is solid upside here nonetheless. As a pitcher in a hitter's park, the first thing you should look […]

Edinson Volquez (SP, KC) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~240 ADP: 260 ANALYSIS: Edinson Volquez may no longer come with the potential for reaching a higher ceiling of performance, but the 32-year-old has been a steady contributor the past two seasons for fantasy owners who took him in. In his first season with the Royals in 2015, Volquez went 13-9 with a 3.55 ERA, […]

Three Starting Pitchers That Will Disappoint in 2016

Some fantasy managers like to go heavy SP in their drafts with mixed results. Hitting flush on elite SP is normally not too challenging, but making sure you get value for that same SP can be the difference between winning and losing your league. The key here, then, is to target the right high-end SPs, and […]

RotoBaller Radio Presents: Fantasy Baseball ADP Sleepers And Breakout Candidates

RotoBaller is very excited about the start of the second year of RotoBaller Radio. You can find our new shows as always on BlogTalkRadio live or on demand, YouTube, and on iTunes under podcasts. Every Tuesday week RotoBaller co-founder Real Talk Raph and esteemed co-host's Josh Hayes will be discussing the most recent and relevant MLB news and information to get […]

Jose Berrios (SP, MIN) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Current ADP: 277 Baller Move: Target ~265 Jose Berrios has shown that he possesses potential ace-like pitch-ability in the minor leagues. In 2015, he threw 166.1 innings with a 2.87 ERA and 175 strikeouts. He proved that he is ready for the big leagues as he dominated Triple-A through 75.2 innings with a 2.62 ERA, […]

Juan Nicasio (SP, PIT) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Current ADP: 344 Baller Move: Target ~321 No one has ever questioned Juan Nicasio's ability to pitch, but after posting a 5.03 ERA through four seasons in Colorado, the outlook was not bright. The Dodgers decided to take a chance on him in 2015 and it paid huge dividends. As a reliever in the Dodgers […]

Nick Mariano's Heavily Owned Players in 2016

Alright folks, the big week before Opening Day is upon us and that means that draft lobbies are popping off like Who Let the Dogs Out just came on at a party. What? That’s not a thing? Don’t be ridiculous. I have plenty of teams already with a few more to be drafted and figured […]

Dynasty Grinders Inaugural Auction Draft Recap

Finally Saturday happened. The Dynasty Grinders Auction is a 16-team, H2H dynasty league with a $500 budget. We geared up for a 480 pick auction draft. We set out to do it in one day, broken into 2-hour sessions with 20-minute breaks squeezed in to make sure nobody died. The picks went fast and furious. And all […]

Top 20 Impact 2016 Fantasy Prospects: Pitchers

The 2015 season saw several highly regarded hurlers make their debuts, but it also saw relative unknowns have major impacts for fantasy teams. When it was announced that Noah Syndergaard, Lance McCullers, and Carlos Rodon were making their big league debuts, everyone knew that near elite fantasy production was going to come as a result. […]

RotoBaller Rankings vs. ADP: Overvalued Starting Pitchers

Fantasy baseball success has a lot to do with drafting undervalued players. An equally important but less heralded draft tactic is avoiding overvalued players. While these guys may put up decent numbers, their current average draft positions do not offer substantial value: ADP (Average Draft Position) is among starting pitchers and taken from FantasyPros.com.   […]

Top 400: Dynasty League Staff Rankings

Fellow RotoBallers.We are getting closer. Fantasy baseball drafts have already been taking place, and will be heating up over the next few weeks. Spring training already roaring, and the MLB season is near. With that comes the excitement of fantasy baseball drafts, and we are here to help you dominate them. Today we are bringing you our top […]

Change of Scenery: Four Pitchers on New Teams in 2016

Another off-season complete, another game of musical chairs. Quite a lot of pitching talent has changed uniforms during this time, so RotoBaller is here with an update on four of the bigger names to don new garb. Editor's note: Be sure to also check out our 2016 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. Our rankings assistant tool […]

Top 500: Staff Rankings and Auction Values (March)

Fellow RotoBallers. We are getting closer. Spring training is is roaring, and the MLB season is near. With that comes the excitement of fantasy baseball drafts, and we are here to help you dominate them. Today we are bringing you our top 500 staff rankings, updated for March, along with our auction dollar recommendations (for those who […]

Five Deeper Starting Pitcher Targets For 2016: American League

Starting pitcher is without a doubt the deepest position in fantasy baseball, but at a certain point, it becomes a pool of mediocrity. Finding those lesser-known starters who can rise above the mediocrity is a major key to fantasy success. Each of these five pitchers can be had late in drafts, and have the potential […]

MLB Podcast on RotoBaller Radio: 2016 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher (SP) Tiered Rankings

RotoBaller is very excited about the start of the second year of RotoBaller Radio. You can find our new shows as always on BlogTalkRadio live or on demand, YouTube, and on iTunes under podcasts. Every Tuesday night at 9:30 PM EST, RotoBaller co-founder Real Talk Raph and esteemed co-host Anthony Aniano will be discussing the most recent and relevant MLB news […]

RotoBaller Rankings vs. ADP: Undervalued Starting Pitcher Targets (Part 2)

If you’re a regular reader of RotoBaller (and how could someone as smart, funny, and handsome as you not be?), you’ve doubtless already checked out our rankings assistant tool. We just rolled out our final preseason update. With draft season ramping up, it seems like a good time to check our expert opinions against the […]

2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: Three Post-Hype Starting Pitchers

With the start of each baseball season, fans and the media relentlessly hype promising young prospects. Inevitably, most of the young players come up short of the lofty expectations. In fits of anger, fantasy owners vow to never again draft the players who ruined their shot at glory. Although these three players have disappointed owners […]

RotoBaller Rankings vs. ADP: Undervalued Starting Pitcher Targets (Part 1)

If you’re a regular reader of RotoBaller (and how could someone as smart, funny, and handsome as you not be?), you’ve doubtless already checked out our rankings assistant tool. We’re rolling out our final update this week. With draft season ramping up now, though, it seems like a good time to check our expert opinions […]

Kyle Bishop's 10 Bold Predictions for 2016

Last year around this time, I published a set of bold predictions for 2015. It was such an enjoyable exercise that I've decided to not only do it again this year, but get some of my colleagues in on the act. Over the next two weeks, our writers will be offering their most audacious projections […]

Predicting the Top 10 Finishers for WHIP in 2016

The 2016 baseball season is coming in hot, but more importantly the 2016 fantasy baseball season is squarely upon us. In a standard 5x5 league, your starting pitchers are going to be accountable for four out of the five pitching categories, with one of those being WHIP. The Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched stat […]

Rick Porcello (SP, BOS) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~280 CURRENT ADP: 291 ANALYSIS: The Red Sox raised a lot of eyebrows when they signed Rick Porcello to a four-year, $82.5 million extension, and the doubters were vindicated last year when the right-hander had his worst season since 2010. His unsightly 4.92 ERA and 1.36 WHIP certainly left a bad taste […]

Michael Pineda (SP, NYY) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~140 CURRENT ADP: 147.3 ANALYSIS: Debuting with the Mariners in 2011, Michael Pineda posted a 3.74 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP and 173 strikeouts over 171 innings. However, after being traded to the Yankees before the 2012 season, Pineda suffered a shoulder injury and missed two full seasons. Making his return to the […]