Sophomores Who Have Fallen Between the Cracks?

Baseball prospects and rookies get covered extensively around baseball, whether we’re referring to just fantasy baseball or the sport in general. What we don’t do overly well, is cover the players that fall between the cracks. What I mean by that is the players that play long enough to lose their rookie eligibility but not […]

Updated Outfield Rankings - H2H Points Leagues

As we enter the final stretch for drafting it is time to take a look at the latest iteration of points leagues rankings from our amazing hard working rankings staff. Starting with the outfield is always fun because there is so much depth at the position, especially if you only require three of them, as […]

March ADP Musings - Overvalued / Undervalued Shortstops

It's full steam ahead for fantasy baseball draft season before Opening Day hits. Depending on how many leagues you are in, you may already have a pretty good handle on what to expect as far as where and when certain players or position groups are going in drafts. On the other hand, maybe you're only […]

Updated Starting Pitcher Rankings - 5x5 Roto (Mixed Leagues)

We're back up on the bump for this edition of our mixed rankings analysis, and not a moment too soon. The 2019 baseball season is already here! RotoBaller writers Nick Mariano, JB Branson, Bill Dubiel, Pierre Camus, and Scott Engel want to make sure you are prepared for last-minute drafts, so they have given their […]

Updated Second Base Rankings - H2H Points Leagues

Continuing on our points league tiered rankings analysis we move over to the keystone position. Second base has the deepest talent pool that it's seen in recent years as it’s full of elite bats at the top and high-upside youngsters in the lower tiers. With two games in the regular season already in the books, […]

2019 Fantasy Baseball Busts - RotoBaller Staff Picks

As you get ready for last-minute drafts or reflect on recent results, we wanted to give our staff the chance to share their least favorite preseason ADP values. We recently polled some of our fantasy baseball writers to get their take on which hitters and pitchers they are likely to avoid in the early rounds of […]

Finding Under and Overvalued 2B Using Expected Draft Values

We've been rolling out our series on Expected Draft Values, an innovative new way to find under and overvalued players. Yesterday, we started with Nick Mariano's look into some undervalued players, we followed it up this morning with Nick's look at overvalued players and then Connelly Doan's look at some under and overvalued first basemen.  This evening, we're […]

Rick Lucks' Bold Predictions for 2019

Our series of Bold Predictions continue with my piece. I've had success with this exercise in the past, but last year was easily my worst performance to date. That said, I am traditionally one of the boldest authors on this series, and I think you'll agree that the predictions below will at least let me […]

Intro: Finding Overvalued Players Using Expected Draft Values

Yesterday we introduced the concept of Expected Draft Values and looked at four undervalued players that are prime targets in 2019. Today, we'll look at four overvalued players. Stay tuned the next few days as we bring you a deeper look at undervalued and overvalued players from each position using Expected Draft Values. Generally, what […]

Brett Phillips Sent Down To Triple-A

Kansas City Royals outfielder Brett Phillips was sent back down to Triple-A to start the season. Phillips was acquired last year when the Royals traded Mike Moustakas to the Brewers, and his signature feature is his defense. Offensively, he hasn't really been able to put anything together long-term because he struggles to consistently make contact. […]

Whit Merrifield Continues To Dial In

Kansas City Royals second baseman/utility man Whit Merrifield had a nice day on Friday as he smacked a pair of hits and scored two runs against the Giants in the team's win. Obviously, there's little to be made of spring stats, but both Merrifield's hits did come off Madison Bumgarner, who isn't exactly some Double-A […]

Billy Hamilton Primed To Perform

Kansas City Royals speedster Billy Hamilton may be one of the few hitters who will benefit from playing in a bigger park. Hamilton's lack of pop is well-known at this point, so he was never able to take full advantage of Cincinnati's tiny stadium. Moving to KC, Hamilton figures to get more opportunities to turn […]

Jorge Bonifacio Optioned To Triple-A

Kansas City Royals outfielder Jorge Bonifacio has been optioned to Triple-A Omaha to start the season, but he's bubbling right on the surface of being called back up at any time. Bonifacio made waves in 2017 when he surprised everyone by hitting 17 homers as he turned a short-term chance into a long-term gig. All […]

Homer Bailey Likely To Make Royals Rotation

Kansas City Royals pitcher Homer Bailey looks like he's going to be the team's No. 4 starting pitcher to open the season. Bailey will likely held back for extended spring training since the team has no need for a fourth starter in the first week due to having three scheduled off days, but manager Ned […]

Heath Fillmyer Optioned To Triple-A

The Kansas City Royals officially optioned pitcher Heath Fillmyer to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday. Fillmyer is/was considered to be in the running for the fifth starting role in the rotation, but the team has three scheduled off days in the first eight days of the season, so they're expected to kind of drag their feet […]

Jorge Soler Slated For Everyday Role

When the Kansas City Royals traded for outfielder Jorge Soler, he was expected to slot into the middle of their lineup right away. Instead, he's been an adventure. Soler has bounced around between the majors and Triple-A as he's had a mix of ice-cold and white-hot weeks. He's also dealt with injuries, a breakout by […]

Brad Keller Could Be Poised For Breakout

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller was a Rule 5 pickup last year and instead of disappearing into the void like the vast majority of such claimed players, Keller was lights-out. Initially, he thrived off his sinker and a sky high ground ball rate. That severely limited his fantasy value because a strikeout rate […]

Wily Peralta Expected To Remain In Save's Mix

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Wily Peralta performed well last season when he took over the closer role late in the year, but some underlying concerns have led to him starting the season as part of a late-inning committee. While Peralta was effective at closing out games, he was constantly plagued by baserunners, mostly due […]

Ian Kennedy Relegated To Bullpen

The Kansas City Royals have sent pitcher Ian Kennedy to the bullpen to start the season. It will be Kennedy's first time pitching out of the bullpen since 2009, but he absolutely wasn't working as a starter for the team. Kennedy has alternated between being bad and atrocious over the last two years, so something […]

Brian Flynn Sidelined With Elbow Issue

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Brian Flynn has been hampered by a sore elbow, and that likely means he'll start the season on the Injured List if he makes the roster. Flynn shined with the team in 2016, but he fell apart in 2017, like much of the Kansas City pitching staff. The hope was […]

Danny Duffy Could Head To Bullpen In 2019

What the Kansas City Royals are going to do with ace starting pitcher Danny Duffy seems to be a bit of a conundrum at this point. Duffy is expected to start the season on the Injured List due to his ongoing shoulder injury, but when he does return, it's not even clear that he'll be […]

Alex Gordon Leaves Early Due To Tight Calf

Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon left Friday's game early with a tight left calf, but he seemed like he quickly recovered since he was seen jogging at a brisk pace between innings. Manager Ned Yost reported that Gordon wanted to keep playing, but Yost opted to be cautious with the 35-year-old veteran. Gordon is […]

2019 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers - RotoBaller Staff Picks

As we get set for the 2019 MLB season, it's time for our crack staff to reveal their favorite preseason sleepers. We recently polled some of our fantasy baseball writers to get their take on which hitters and pitchers they are targeting the most in the mid-to-late rounds of fantasy drafts. While you've likely heard […]

Rookie Catchers that Could Help You in 2019

It’s not enough to just be overflowing with talent to have a good rookie season. You also need to have an opportunity. And $1 buys, or late-round selections likely won’t win you a championship on their own but most championship seasons in fantasy baseball need a little luck from those picks or a lucky waiver […]

Updated Shortstop Rankings - 5x5 Roto (Mixed Leagues)

Our updated fantasy baseball tiered rankings analysis rolls on with the shortstop position. With the 2019 MLB season technically underway in Japan, RotoBaller writers Nick Mariano, JB Branson, Bill Dubiel, Pierre Camus, and Scott Engel have given their rankings a final update. Check out our fantasy baseball rankings dashboard for a current list any time. Shortstop […]

Updated Outfielder Rankings - 5x5 Roto (Mixed Leagues)

We continue our fantasy baseball tiered rankings analysis with a look at the star-studded outfield position With the 2019 season beginning in a matter of days, RotoBaller writers Nick Mariano, JB Branson, Bill Dubiel, Pierre Camus, and Scott Engel have given their preseason rankings a final update. Check out our fantasy baseball rankings dashboard for a […]

First Basemen Set To Break Out in 2019

First base is no longer the premier position it once was for fantasy baseball. Aging sluggers have not been replaced by all-around talents for the large part and it has left a massive gulf in quality. Part of the decline in hitting has been due to the demand to get better fielders at first base, […]

MJ Melendez Rising Up Minor League Ranks

Kansas City Royals catcher MJ Melendez, the team's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, had 19 home runs and threw out close to 42 percent of potential base stealers in 2018 in his first full minor league season. With a step forward in his approach at the next minor league level, Melendez could put himself […]

Updated Third Base Rankings - 5x5 Roto (Mixed Leagues)

We move to the left side on the infield now in our fantasy baseball tiered rankings analysis with the third base position. The 2019 baseball season is already here! RotoBaller writers Nick Mariano, JB Branson, Bill Dubiel, Pierre Camus, and Scott Engel want to make sure you are prepared for last-minute drafts, so they have […]

Ellis Canady's 10 Bold Predictions for 2019

Bold predictions. The time where we come up with ideas that should happen because in our minds they make sense. Statistical analysis, prognostication, voodoo, card reader, etc. None of these are completely certain methods to achieve the forecast that we have in mind. So, we put our idea to text, bury them in the digital […]