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 […]
Rethinking DFS Strategies for a 60-Game MLB Season
The 2020 MLB season is going to be weird. In a 60-game season, previous in-season game performance holds limited value, making game-to-game projections unusually difficult across the entire season. Consider what some player production looked like 60 games into last season: David Dahl had a .457 BABIP Jose Ramirez had a .202/.303/.307 slash line Jake […]
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 […]
Bradley Zimmer Off To Torrid Start
Cleveland Indians outfielder Bradley Zimmer has a new swing approach, and it's working very well for him this summer. Zimmer has been using an altered stance, and he's making a strong case to make the Opening Day roster. “I’m not gonna lie, I’m feeling really good,” Zimmer said via Zoom. “This is honestly what I […]
Cesar Hernandez Expected To Lead Off For Indians
Cleveland Indians second basemen Cesar Hernandez is expected to lead off this season, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. Oscar Mercado was the presumed leadoff hitter, but it sounds like he may end up hitting in the bottom half of the order. The Indians signed Hernández after the Phillies decided against tendering his contract at the […]
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 […]
Delino Deshields Back With Team
Cleveland Indians outfielder Delino DeShields is back with the team after testing positive for COVID-19. He has now tested negative twice after his positive test prior to summer camp. Projected to be the Tribe's fourth outfielder in 2020, DeShields offers some cheap speed late in drafts in deep mixed and AL-only leagues. He racked up 106 […]
Orioles Interested In Yasiel Puig
The Baltimore Orioles are interested in signing free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig and have made at least one offer, according to a source. It probably has something to do with the fact that Anthony Santander and Dwight Smith Jr. have yet to arrive at summer camp, but Puig would be an upgrade to Baltimore's outfield regardless. […]
Delino DeShields Receives Negative COVID Test
Cleveland Indians outfielder Delino DeShields received a negative COVID-19 test, so he will be traveling to Cleveland on Wednesday. DeShields will be tested again upon his arrival and needs another negative test within 24 hours in order to join the team at summer camp. The 27-year-old could be cleared to begin practicing with the team […]
Franmil Reyes Cleared To Return To Practice
Cleveland Indians outfielder Franmil Reyes has been cleared to return to Progressive Field on Wednesday for batting practice. Reyes was held out of workouts the last two days after attending a July 4 party over the weekend where people weren't wearing masks. The team required Reyes self-isolate as a result, and he has since tested […]
Franmil Reyes Away From Camp Due To Safety Precaution
Cleveland Indians outfielder Franmil Reyes has been away from camp as a safety precaution after he spent time at an Independence Day party without masks, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. Indians manager Terry Francona said, "He's not in the penalty box. I want to make that perfectly clear. It's just how we have to operate […]
A Crash Course for MLB's Sprint Season
In true 2020-style, baseball is about to get funky. Maybe you’re excited about the idea of getting some strange baseball, or maybe the word “fluid” reminds you of the morning after your last visit to Taco Bell. Either way, it’s time to start sorting the chalupas from the chimichangas. Let’s acknowledge that we’re venturing into […]
Why You Need Middle Relievers In 2020 - Top Draft Targets
Heading into the 2020 fantasy baseball season, much of the talk is focused on the randomness that we're likely to see unfold. With a 60-game season, it feels a bit like anything can happen. However, instead of that reality causing you to throw your hands in the air in dismay, I think it's the perfect […]
Indians Sign Steve Baron, Jake Elmore, David Hernandez
The Cleveland Indians have signed catcher Steve Baron, infielder Jake Elmore and relief pitcher David Hernandez to minor league deals on Friday. Baron will report to the club’s Lake County camp, while Elmore and Hernandez will report to Progressive Field in Cleveland. Hernandez should be used regularly early on as starters begin to build up their […]
Carlos Carrasco Already Built Up To Six-Inning Workload
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (elbow) has already built up to a six-inning workload, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. It sounds as if Carrasco was able to build up momentum on his own before joining his teammates for their first workouts together. This is obviously great news for Carrasco owners. He should be […]
Delino DeShields Tests Positive For COVID-19
Cleveland Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said that outfielder Delino DeShields tested positive for COVID-19 before arriving to camp this week. DeShields has been experiencing mild symptoms and is waiting to test negative before traveling to Cleveland for summer camp. The 27-year-old figures to be outfield depth in Cleveland this year, mainly in […]
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 […]
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 […]
New Draft Strategies for 2020 MLB: RotoBaller Staff Picks
Baseball is coming back and it's about time! The announcement of a 60-game season comes as a blessing and a curse. It's barely over one-third of a normal MLB season and will come with several modifications to the rule book. Then again, at this point we are just happy to have baseball (or any live […]
Indians Sign First-Rounder Carson Tucker
The Cleveland Indians signed rookie shortstop Carson Tucker, their first-round pick at 23rd overall, for $2 million on Friday, according to a source. Tucker is the younger brother of Pirates shortstop Cole Tucker. The 18-year-old prep prospect hits right-handed and has excellent bat control and bat speed over power, but he could grow into more […]
Indians Have Handful Of Positive COVID-19 Cases
The Cleveland Indians have had a handful of positive COVID-19 cases from players at home, in the Dominican Republic and in Arizona. "All of those cases have been isolated. There has not been any spread within our environment," according to president Chris Antonetti. The affected players are either recovered or are showing only mild symptoms. […]
Indians To Put George Valera On Taxi Squad
Cleveland Indians outfield prospect George Valera, the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is expected to be on the team's taxi squad when rosters are officially announced. Valera will turn 20 years old in November, so he's a long shot to see a major league call-up during the shortened 60-game regular season. The native […]
Emmanuel Clase Won't Be Eligible For 2020 Season
Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase's suspension will be completed if the MLB finishes the entire 60-game season in 2020, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Clase was originally suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, but the suspension won't carry over to 2021 if […]
How To Draft Saves In A Shortened Season
Now that Major League Baseball and the MLBPA have finally come to an agreement and locked in a plan for the upcoming season, the RotoBaller staff is churning out content to try and get you ready for the 2020 fantasy baseball season. A lot of us have questions about how the shortened season, new league […]
Reassessing ADP: Picks 201-300 - Bases Loaded Podcast
Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) is is rolling solo in this round of ADP review. First time in a while. Let's have some fun! 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 and BlogTalkRadio as […]
Fantasy Value In a 50-Game Season: Starting Pitchers
Having now passed the ides of June, there is still no start date for the 2020 season and no guarantee that we'll even ever get one. MLB and the MLBPA continue to pass proposals back and forth, with each side taking their turn at rejection. This puts baseball in a situation where Commissioner Rob Manfred is […]