Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Batted Ball Distribution (Hitters)

Fly balls can turn into home runs. Ground balls never do. It would seem as though fantasy owners want their batters to hit nothing but flies, yet this is not always the case. Why would this be? The answer, of course, comes down to batted ball distribution and the manner in which batters make contact. […]

Early 2020 ADP Reflections - Third Base

When a baseball season ends, the following season can’t come here soon enough for some fans, myself included. We start thinking about what we want to see from some players, which includes letdowns, bounce-backs, and even young prospects. Instead of letting them bounce off the brain walls, let’s put these musings into digits. This includes […]

Marlins Sign Matt Joyce

The Miami Marlins signed outfielder Matt Joyce to an undisclosed deal on Sunday. Joyce hit a respectable .295/.408/.450 with seven home runs and 23 RBI, but in just 200 at-bats for the Braves last season. The 35-year-old isn't a bad left-handed bat for the rebuilding Fish, but there's no guarantee that he'll receive meaningful at-bats […]

Early Mock Draft Analysis: MLB Mixed Leagues

Don't tell us it's not draft season yet! Truth be told, the RotoBaller crew was already planning a mock draft days after the World Series ended. As it turns out, we decided to wait until some free agent moves were made and settled for a slow draft that began shortly after the Winter Meetings. We […]

Top 250 Prospects for 2020 Dynasty Leagues

It’s hard to believe it’s that time again. Major League Baseball’s spring training is just weeks away now, which means it's also fantasy baseball season. This year at RotoBaller, we’re rolling out even more in-depth prospect coverage — starting with a ranking of the Top 250 prospects for dynasty leagues. That’s right. Not 100. Not […]

Freddie Freeman Working Out Pain-Free

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (elbow) said he's been working out "full bore" since last month without pain for the first time in nine years after having two bone spurs and three fragments removed from his elbow. The doctor that operated on Freeman told him his joint was completely closed, and he was surprised […]

Ronald Acuna Will Stay In Leadoff Spot

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said he will not move outfielder Ronald Acuna out of the leadoff spot in 2020. Snitker had Acuna in the cleanup spot to start the 2019 season but moved him back to leadoff. The 22-year-old superstar will be an elite fantasy asset no matter where he's hitting, but he really […]

Fernando Tatis Jr. - 2019 Season in Review

A year ago, though he was highly valued in dynasty leagues, Fernando Tatis Jr. was viewed merely as a late-round flier in redraft formats. At just 20 years old and with only 450 plate appearances above Single-A, there was a large degree of uncertainty around his 2019 outlook. Would San Diego's front office manipulate his […]

Marcell Ozuna to Braves - Fantasy Impact

When Josh Donaldson signed with the Minnesota Twins, it appeared the Atlanta Braves would be left with a giant hole in their batting order. We don't need to worry any longer, as they have fixed that problem by signing outfielder Marcell Ozuna. The 29-year-old Ozuna turned down the St. Louis Cardinals' $17.8 million qualifying offer to […]

2019 Season in Review: Sonny Gray

2019 was a pivotal season for starting pitcher Sonny Gray, both from a real-game and fantasy perspective. The 2018 season turned out to be a complete dud for Gray, who, in his first full season with the Yankees, posted a poor 4.90 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 130 ⅓ innings pitched. With a move to […]

2020 Saves+Holds Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues

To any reader who thinks they don't have a voice here at RotoBaller, let it be known that this article came from a simple Reddit comment about how those seeking Saves+Holds reliever ranks were often overlooked. Poof, and here we are. Allow me, Nick Mariano, 2018's most accurate draft expert and sharer of names with […]

Johan Camargo Will Provide Modest Production As Long As He Holds Off Austin Riley

Johan Camargo stumbled a bit in 2019 after two solid seasons to begin his career with the Braves. A brutal .663 OPS and an infield full of studs ahead of him on the depth chart led to a forgettable 248 plate appearances for the 26-year-old. He's in an interesting position for 2020, as his role […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Barrels

Last time, we looked at how exit velocity (or EV) is only one piece of the fantasy analysis puzzle. Baseball broadcasts will commonly cite Launch Angle (LA) to complement their EV figures, but it is given in terms of degrees. Am I evaluating a baseball player or trying to find the hypotenuse of an isosceles […]

Braves Agree With Marcell Ozuna

The Atlanta Braves and outfielder Marcell Ozuna agreed to a one-year, $18 million deal on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the deal. Ozuna will hit in the middle of Atlanta's order and help replace the power production of third baseman Josh Donaldson, who signed with the Twins. Ozuna, 29, slashed .241/.328/.472 with 29 home […]

Braves In Running For Marcell Ozuna, Nicholas Castellanos

The Atlanta Braves are still searching for a middle-of-the-order bat to replace third baseman Josh Donaldson, and outfielders Marcell Ozuna and Nicholas Castellanos are seen as the most likely options. Ozuna and Castellanos are both by far the two best available bats on the free-agent market. Both offer solid power profiles at the corner outfield […]

2020 Offseason Starting Pitcher Rankings (Part 3) - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues

We continue with our analysis of the early 2020 fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings by looking at the middle tiers. To read part one, click right here, or right here for part two. After a record-setting year for offense and a sense among the industry that 2020 likely won't be dramatically different, being able to […]

Braves Sign Felix Hernandez

The Atlanta Braves signed starting pitcher Felix Hernandez to a minor league deal on Monday. He will make $1 million if he's in the big leagues, and he will compete to become the team's fifth starter this spring. King Felix was once the cream of the pitching crop in baseball, but he's fallen far since […]

Is Mike Trout Still the #1 Pick in Fantasy?

Pierre Camus and Nicklaus Gaut debate whether Angels outfielder Mike Trout should still be the consensus number one pick in 2020 fantasy baseball drafts or if Ronald Acuna Jr. or Christian Yelich should be taken higher. Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch us on […]

Early 2020 ADP Reflections - Shortstop

When a baseball season ends, the following season can’t come here soon enough for some fans, myself included. We start thinking about what we want to see from some players, which includes letdowns, bounce-backs, and even young prospects. Instead of letting them bounce off the brain walls, let’s put these musings into digits. This includes […]

2020 Early Bullpen Outlooks - A.L. Central

Welcome to 2020, fantasy friends. There are four football teams still playing and basketball and hockey are in full swing, so it's time to start thinking about the 2020 baseball season. Free agency has been a little more front-loaded this season, leaving fewer questions about rosters heading into Spring Training. Still, there will be changes […]

Josh Donaldson Signs With Twins

The Minnesota Twins and free-agent third baseman Josh Donaldson have reportedly agreed to a four-year, $92 million contract. The contract also is reported to have a fifth-year option for the 34-year-old slugger. Donaldson hit 37 homers and drove in 94 runs for the Atlanta Braves during the 2019 season while playing on a one-year contract. […]

Using xwOBA to Identify Breakout Pitchers

Heading into a new baseball season, fantasy owners are looking for any leg up on our competition. We turn over stones looking for any stat or training report that might suggest a breakout that few others can see coming. I’m not here to promise some groundbreaking stat, but I do believe that Expected Weighted On-base Average […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: HR/FB

Using BABIP to predict a player's batting average is great. Average is a category in many league formats and every hit is an opportunity to steal a base or score a run. But most owners find the long ball sexier. Every HR comes with a guaranteed run scored and at least one RBI. Many owners […]

How To Win Your Fantasy Baseball Leagues on Draft Day

I hate intros. Nobody takes the time to read these things. I could say whatever I wanted and it would literally pass zero sets of eyes. Watch.... I have hemorrhoids! See? No one. But in the rare occasion that one of you sad saps does in fact read this paragraph before jumping to the meat […]

Don't Doubt Mike Trout: Why He's Still #1

It has become fashionable for fantasy owners to suggest that perhaps this is the year that Mike Trout should be supplanted as the consensus first overall draft pick. Not one, but two other players - Ronald Acuna and Christian Yelich - are being regularly selected in early NFBC drafts ahead of the 28-year-old Trout, who […]

Braves Settle With Mike Foltynewicz, Dansby Swanson

The Atlanta Braves avoided salary arbitration with starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz and shortstop Dansby Swanson on Friday. Foltynewicz agreed to a one-year, $6.425 million contract, while Swanson settled for one year and $3.15 million. Folty predictably fell back down to Earth in 2019 after posting a 2.85 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in an All-Star 2018 […]

Top 570: Early Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings (January)

Welcome back RotoBallers, and Happy New Year! Below you will find our staff's early 2020 fantasy baseball tiered rankings (top 570) for mixed leagues. In case you missed it, you can also see our tiered positional rankings and position-by-position analysis breakdowns as well. Four of our lead fantasy baseball analysts - Nick Mariano, Pierre Camus, Riley Mrack and Nicklaus Gaut - have analyzed the […]

Twins Likely Out On Josh Donaldson

The Minnesota Twins have grown pessimistic about their chances of signing third baseman Josh Donaldson, who is seeking four years and $110 million. The Twins, Nationals and Braves are all believed to have offered four years and between $90-100 million. Sources with knowledge of the negotiations say that Donaldson hasn't appeared interested in signing with […]

Early 2020 ADP Reflections - Second Base

When a baseball season ends, the following season can’t come here soon enough for some fans, myself included. We start thinking about what we want to see from some players, which includes letdowns, bounce-backs, and even young prospects. Instead of letting them bounce off the brain walls, let’s put these musings into digits. This includes […]

Braves Make Four-Year Offer To Josh Donaldson

The Atlanta Braves have made a four-year offer to third baseman Josh Donaldson, according to a source with knowledge of the team's plans. The Nationals and Twins have also made four-year offers to Donaldson, so the former MVP will have his choice of the three clubs. The 34-year-old might prefer to re-sign with the Braves […]