Mid-Round Third Base Targets and Avoids in 2020
Once you reach the middle-to-late rounds of drafts, it would be smart to consider drafting some upside fliers that can provide a great return on value. You can take a risk or two on a variety of different players, including a prospect, forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even players with skills but have […]
Mid-Round Shortstops - Targets and Avoids in 2020
Once you reach the middle-to-late rounds of drafts, it would be smart to consider drafting some upside fliers that can provide a great return on value. You can take a risk or two on a variety of different players, including a prospect, forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even players with skills but have […]
NL Players Who Could Benefit From Extended Rosters
Although we still don't have baseball, we're starting to get a lot of proposals on how we COULD have baseball this summer. The plans may wind up just being a fantasy, but, hey, this is a fantasy site, so it makes sense for us to take a look at it. One of the facets of […]
Introducing xPA to Project Plate Appearances
I like big rates and I cannot lie. You other readers can't deny. When a rate walks in with an itty PA and an integer in my face, I get sprung...Whoa! Wait just one second, Sir-Mix-A-Nick. Before I go full-Rhymenoceros on everyone, maybe we oughta back the track up a little bit. What I like […]
Dynasty League Buy/Sell
With the uncertainty of opening day, there is no better time to play in an MLB Fantasy Dynasty League. Due to the league format, it by far the most unaffected by the delay of Opening Day. Drafting and trading can proceed in full force as the value assigned to these players go long beyond this […]
How a Revamped MLB Season will Impact Fantasy Baseball
No matter how this MLB season plays out it will look like something we have never seen before. Not only is the start of the season already delayed, but there is no definitive end in sight. If we do see baseball this season, the game is going to look very different. First, there will be […]
Players Who Gain Value With The Universal DH - Bases Loaded Podcast
What's up RotoBallers! Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland), Jorge Montanez (@Roto_Nino) and Zach Braff (@braffz) are discussing all the players who could gain value if the universal DH is adopted by the league in 2020. 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 […]
Gavin Lux (2B, LAD) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper
BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~150 CURRENT ADP: ~169 overall ANALYSIS: Lux earned a call-up in September just in time to earn a starting job as the Dodgers second baseman. Although he had some strong moments, including five multi-hit games and a pinch-hit home run in Game 1 of the NLDS, he ultimately hit .240 in […]
Outfielder Busts Set to Bounce Back in 2020
Recency bias plays a large role in player valuation for many fantasy baseball owners and probably more than it should. Consequentially, a player's price will drop the following a down year, often creates a buying opportunity. As is the case with some of the names below, sometimes injuries are to blame for a decrease in […]
Late-Round Draft Fliers for ERA
The MLB league average ERA shot up to 4.51 last season, the highest mark since 2006 and the seventh-highest mark since 1920. Only 20 qualified starting pitchers posted an ERA below 3.50 last year, and 40% of qualified starters posted an ERA north of 4.00. With the category being thin on elite options, ERA can […]
Jo Adell (OF, LAA) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper
BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~210s CURRENT ADP: ~235 overall ANALYSIS: The most coveted type of player in fantasy baseball is the batter who can hit home runs, steal bases, and hit for contact. This is why Los Angeles Angels’ outfield prospect, 20-year-old Jo Adell, is an intriguing sleeper for the 2020 season. Adell is a five-tool player who […]
Deeper Draft Sleepers - NL Starting Pitchers
There are two main styles of player for fantasy owners in deep leagues as it pertains to starting pitching. One style leans cautious. These owners want starting pitchers who own spots in their team's rotation, thus accumulating counting stats for the long haul even if the peripherals aren't stupendous. The other style is for risk-takers. […]
OPS Underachievers: Using Differences in xOPS to Judge Performance
Add a player's on-base-percentage to his slugging-percentage and you wind up with OPS. Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy. But some things don't need to be complicated to be useful and descriptive. There are a hundred ways to judge a baseball player's performance but OPS remains one of the best proxies for quickly judging a player's overall offensive […]
The King's Fantasy Baseball Insider Report: Exclusive Scouting Reports From an MLB Veteran
The award-winning Fantasy Baseball Insider Series continues on RotoBaller, this time with the seasoned input of a current Major League Player. Every year during fantasy baseball draft season, Scott Engel talks to prime MLB sources to get exclusive nuggets of information. On the condition of anonymity, former and current players, executives, scouts, media members and […]
Deeper Draft Sleepers - Third Base
Entering the 2020 MLB season, third base is arguably the deepest fantasy position on the diamond. 16 of the top 100 players are 3B-eligible, according to NFBC ADP. Compare that to a normally deep hitting position like first base, where just 11 guys make the cut. What that early depth does, specifically for standard leagues, […]
JB's Bullpen Method - Building Aces out of Relief Pitchers
If you read my Top 10 Draft Tips piece, you got a preview of the method I have been using for many years in fantasy baseball. It's really less of a method or strategy, and more a state of mind. The Bullpen Method is a lifestyle! I always speak about the importance of balance on […]
Mid-Round Second Base - Targets and Avoids in 2020
Once you reach the middle-to-late rounds of drafts, it would be smart to consider drafting some upside fliers that can provide a great return on value. You can take a risk or two on a variety of different players, including a prospect, forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even players with skills but have […]
ADP Champ or Chump Spotlight: Eloy Jimenez
Considering that the Coronavirus has delayed the season indefinitely, it's a great opportunity to try changing up the formatting of this column. We're going to take a deep look into one player, spending time on his MiLB numbers in addition to MLB peripheral stats in order to paint a truly complete picture of his prospects […]
Max Muncy Continuing To Find Ways To Improve
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy enjoyed an All-Star season in 2019, but the 29-year-old still spent all offseason working on improving his game. In an article by Cary Osborne, Muncy mentioned that a lot of his focus was on developing a better plan of attack against off-speed pitches. In 2019, he carried a […]
Sizing Up the Boston Red Sox Rotation
The Red Sox got an ugly 4.95 ERA out of their starting pitchers last season, good for the 11th-worst mark in the league. An optimist might look at the Red Sox’s above-average 4.40 FIP, attribute much of the team’s pitching struggles to bad luck, and expect a rebound in 2020. Combined with a potential rebound […]
Finding Value in Points Leagues: Outfield Edition
Welcome back RotoBallers to my Finding Value in Points League Series! Points leagues have become more and more popular in recent years, but there is still an emphasis placed on roto leagues. That leads towards analysis and often player values skewed by something I have dubbed roto bias. Due to that, I decided to start […]
Pitchers Whose Value Increases In a Delayed Season
Unfortunately, we all know by now that the MLB season will be delayed or maybe even worse, canceled. There are without a doubt more important things in life than sports and one of them is health. The decision the MLB commissioner made was certainly the right one. But why do we all love baseball and […]
Points Leagues All-Value Team - Bases Loaded Pod
What's up RotoBallers! Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) and Jorge Montanez (@Roto_Nino) are back. We are coming to you with our 'All-Value' team for fantasy baseball points leagues today. 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 […]
NL Starting Pitching Sleepers for 2020
The shorter 2020 MLB regular season has led to a few shifts in fantasy strategy, but perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in the starting pitching landscape. We're used to constructing fantasy rotations around strikeout pitchers and ratio arms or high-upside flyers and solid innings-eaters. However, with a shorter season, there will likely be no major […]
Break the League: Fantrax Points League Ranker
I never thought I'd ever say this but it looks like I'm going vegetarian for this article because there's no real beef here. Those that have been reading along with this series know that I've had some harsh words for ESPN, Yahoo, and CBS, as I think they often do a disservice to their points […]
Finding Value in Points Leagues: Corner Infield Edition
Welcome back RotoBallers to my Finding Value in Points League Series! Points leagues are my favorite format to play in fantasy baseball. I am not alone there as fantasy baseball points leagues become more and more popular every season. It is a natural transition from those who have played fantasy football and have been considering […]
2020 Keeper Value Rankings - Top 150 Overall
In case you missed it, all preseason long I've been breaking down the top Keeper Values at each position. To get insight on any individual position, simply choose here: First Base, Second Base, Third Base, Shortstop, Catcher, Outfield, Starting Pitcher, and Relief Pitchers. Now, for your convenience, here are the Top 150 Overall Keeper Values for 2020. Keeper Value Rankings […]
ADP Champ or Chump: Cavan Biggio and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The Toronto Blue Jays are an intriguing team. Projections don't love them, but their lineup is filled with young guys who have the potential to exceed them. Their rotation also looks solid if healthy, something that may be more likely now that a full workload will be more like 120 IP than 200. Needless to […]
The King's Fantasy Baseball Insider Report: Dodgers, Rockies, Giants
The award-winning Fantasy Baseball Insider Series continues on RotoBaller, this time with a look at the NL West. Every year during fantasy baseball draft season, Scott Engel talks to prime MLB sources to get exclusive nuggets of information. On the condition of anonymity, former and current players, executives, scouts and media members provide their unfiltered […]
Dansby Swanson (SS, ATL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper
BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~210 CURRENT ADP: ~246 overall ANALYSIS: Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson was in the midst of a breakout season in 2019 before he suffered a heel injury in July which cost him five weeks. In the first half of 2019, Swanson posted a .270 average with 17 home runs, 58 RBI, […]