Top 250 MLB Dynasty Prospects - Final Preseason Update
The 2020 MLB season is going to look very different. But as long as the virus doesn’t rear its ugly head in an apocalyptic fashion, it’s still going to be fun. And to help fantasy managers prepare for this season and for those to come, we’ve updated our Top 250 dynasty fantasy baseball prospects list. […]
Updated First Base Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues (July)
With Opening Day of the 2020 MLB season just a few weeks away, we have a new batch of updated fantasy baseball rankings for you here at RotoBaller. The unpredictable effects of COVID-19 and the implementation of the 60-game season will make the upcoming fantasy campaign the most unique we have ever seen. Not only […]
Introducing the MLB Baller Ranks
It’s my extraordinary pleasure to introduce The Baller Ranks, an up-to-date rankings sheet for player values. We wanted to roll this out back in March, but 2020 has had other ideas... Ideally, The Baller Ranks are not a set of pre-season rankings or draft recommendations. They are designed to be an in-season set of data-based […]
Schedule Factors - Hitters on the Rise
Now that MLB schedules are finally official, it's time we take a look at which hitters are going to be impacted the most. In order to fully breakdown the way in which a schedule may impact a hitter, we need to keep three things in mind: player talent, strength of schedule, and directional park factors. […]
Updated Shortstop Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues (July)
With Opening Day of the 2020 MLB season just a few weeks away, we have a new batch of updated fantasy baseball rankings for you here at RotoBaller. The unpredictable effects of COVID-19 and the implementation of the 60-game season will make the upcoming fantasy campaign the most unique we have ever seen. Not only […]
Overpriced Hitters According to ATC Projections
RotoBaller is fortunate to have 2019's most accurate ranker, Ariel Cohen, to give us his updated ATC projections. I have taken those projections and turned them into fantasy dollars, ranking them accordingly. By comparing these rankings to the latest NFBC ADP data, we can see which players ATC likes at their draft price, and who should […]
Underpriced Pitchers According to ATC Projections
While nothing is guaranteed, we can at least see the light at the end of the tunnel. Baseball is back, baby! Summer camp (I refuse to call it Spring Training 2.0) has now begun and Opening Day is set for July 23/24. Coming with the return are seismic changes; a universal DH, limited opponents, a […]
Universal DH Beneficiaries - Runs Scored
For the first time in baseball history, the National League will employ the position of designated hitter. Besides making NL games more exciting to watch, this change should have two main effects. First, NL pitchers will see some level of decline in their ratios. It is inevitable when facing superior opposing lineups. The second change will […]
Closers and Saves Report: Summer Camp Edition
In a normal year, we'd be talking about the upcoming trade deadline and how this team needs that player but that team needs this player but then that guy got hurt. During a normal baseball season, we'd be discussing the All-Star Game and how this player definitely didn't deserve a spot and that player was certainly robbed of his […]
Nick Castellanos Hit In Upper Back By Pitch
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos gave his new team a scare when he was hit in the upper back by a Tyler Mahle pitch on Friday. Trainers came out to look at him but he was able to walk off the field on his own after being replaced by pinch-runner Travis Jankowski. Castellanos should be […]
Derek Dietrich Needs More Time
Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that early reports on outfielder Derek Dietrich are very good, but "it'll take him a little longer than everyone else, but not too much." Dietrich was recently added to the team's 60-man player pool for the upcoming season, but the 30-year-old left-handed hitter batted just .187 despite hitting a […]
Shogo Akiyama (OF, CIN) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper
BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~ 230 CURRENT ADP: ~267 overall ANALYSIS: Once the 2020 season gets underway it will officially be “Sho Time” in Cincinnati! The Reds, who scouted him for three years, made signing Shogo Akiyama a priority this offseason. They felt Akiyama’s ability to make contact and his above-average on-base skills fit in […]
Mike Moustakas Dealing With Groin Tightness
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Mike Moustakas is dealing with some groin tightness, which caused him to miss Wednesday's scrimmage. The injury is not serious, as manager David Bell told reporters that the off day was precautionary and that Moustakas would have played if it was a regular season game. Moustakas is expected to slot in […]
Matt Bowman Throws 35-Pitch Bullpen
Cincinnati Reds reliever Matt Bowman (elbow) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday. He dealt with some elbow soreness earlier in camp but is working toward being ready for Opening Day. Bowman posted a 3.66 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 27 games for the Reds in 2019. He is likely ticketed for a middle-relief spot […]
Derek Dietrich Added To Player Pool
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Derek Dietrich was recently added to the team's 60-man player pool. He told reporters on Wednesday that he tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the offseason, which indicates why the team left him out of their player pool at first. Dietrich mentioned that he had few symptoms and that he is […]
Nick Mariano's 2020 Early-Round Overvalued List (Premium Content)
All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Fantasy baseball drafts (and their articles) are almost all about finding the next superstar and unearthing talent late, but we can't forget that surrendering value by over-drafting can be just as crucial. In order to evaluate overvalued players here, we're going to utilize Average […]
Mike Moustakas In Better Shape
Cincinnati Reds infielder Mike Moustakas used his time during the baseball shutdown to get himself in excellent shape. There were plenty of concerns when the Reds signed Moustakas to a four-year, $64 million contract in the offseason. The team did so with the intention to shift him from third base to the everyday second base […]
News, Notes and the Fantasy Implications - Bases Loaded Podcast
Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) rolls solo! Join Mike as rolls solo and dives into a ton of the recent happenings around baseball and how it can effect your fantasy teams. Subscribe to the Bases Loaded podcast, part of RotoBaller Radio's Podcast Network. Like and Subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and […]
Robert Stephenson Dealing With Sore Wrist
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Robert Stephenson (wrist) returned to action Thursday after having missed the past few days with a sore wrist. Stephenson should be fine going forward, as long as he doesn't experience any setbacks with his wrist. Stephenson appeared in 57 games as a reliever last season, posting a 3.76 ERA and an impressive […]
Tyler Mahle Set For Long-Relief Role
Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that starting pitcher Tyler Mahle will be set up as a piggyback or long-relief option in the back end of the starting rotation. Pitchers Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, Trevor Bauer, Wade Miley and Anthony DeSclafani make up the five-man rotation, so Mahle will begin the 2020 season as the […]
Sonny Gray Tabbed For Opening Day
The Cincinnati Reds have selected right-hander Sonny Gray to be their Opening Day starter. Manager David Bell cited that Gray has stepped up as a leader, stating "We couldn't ask for a better option to set the tone for the season and for our rotation." Gray will be followed by Luis Castillo, Trevor Bauer, Wade […]
Trevor Bauer Wants To Pitch Regularly
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Trevor Bauer has been vocal about his desire to pitch every four days during the shortened 60-game season if the team goes with a four-man starting rotation. Pitching coach Derek Johnson said last weekend that that option was "100 percent on the table." "I'm really happy where I'm at, ready to […]
Nick Castellanos Doesn't Want To DH
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos has made it clear that he doesn't want to serve as the team's designated hitter with the universal DH in play in the National League this year. The Reds have five players -- Castellanos, Shogo Akiyama, Nick Senzel, Jesse Winker and Phillip Ervin -- for three outfield spots and the […]
Eugenio Suarez, Nick Senzel 100% Healthy
Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell told reporters on Friday that both third baseman Eugenio Suarez (shoulder) and outfielder Nick Senzel (shoulder) are "100 percent" medically speaking. Suarez injured his right shoulder during the winter while Senzel was injured back in September. The delay to the start of the regular season wound up being positive 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 […]
2019 Breakout Starters Who’ll Continue to Improve
Breakout starters are one of the great joys of fantasy baseball. There are few things more satisfying than adding or drafting a player who emerges as one of the season’s best values. Starting pitchers are particularly prone to come out of nowhere and propel a team to a championship. However, that volatility makes it difficult […]
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 […]
Top DH Options for National League Teams
There is finally a plan for Major League Baseball in 2020! After months of negotiations and discussions, baseball is tentatively scheduled to open up in late July, and with it, a couple of new rules. The most notable new rule for 2020 is the implementation of the designated hitter in the National League, which certainly […]
Draft Season 2.0 Strategy Discussion - Bases Loaded Podcast
Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland), Jorge Montanez (@Roto_Nino) and Zach Braff (@braffz) all get in on this one as they dive into fantasy baseball draft season strategy. Subscribe to the Bases Loaded podcast, part of RotoBaller Radio's Podcast Network. Like and Subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch us on iTunes […]
Aristides Aquino Won't Join Big League Camp
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Aristides Aquino, who hit 19 home runs in 225 plate appearances with a 122 OPS+ last year, didn't make the cut for the big league camp in Cincinnati for spring training 2.0. Aquino will instead report to the team's satellite camp. He burst onto the scene out of nowhere in 2019, but […]