Sam Chinitz's 10 Bold Predictions for 2020
Bold predictions can be the key to fantasy seasons. Predicting players who will outperform or underperform expectations by extreme amounts can win leagues. Bold predictions can also be entirely unhelpful, speculative thoughts that are just fun to consider. With that in mind, I do think that each of these predictions has a legitimate chance of […]
2020 Keeper Value Rankings - Outfield
Keeper Value Rankings are intended for Keeper Leagues in which a fantasy owner must forfeit a designated draft pick in order to keep a player into the upcoming season. These rankings are based on Keeper "Values." In the marketing world, Value can be defined as the extent to which a good or service (player) is […]
Joc Pederson Could Play In A Game Next Week
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson (side) is progressing and could return to Cactus League action next week. Manager Dave Roberts still thinks that Pederson will be ready for Opening Day. He still has a chance, but he can't afford any setbacks from here on out with the regular season quickly approaching. The 27-year-old (28 […]
Spring Training Bullpens: Where The Stats Are Made Up and Saves Don't Matter
Spring training stats, traditionally, don't matter. Teams that look like powerhouses in March will lose 100 games in the regular season. Teams that can't even win against split-squad opponents in March will win their divisions in September. Hitters who hit .100 with 0 home runs will be in the MVP race. Pitchers who can't finish […]
Riley Mrack's 10 Bold Predictions for 2020
Who doesn't love a good set of bold predictions? There's nothing like some biased analysis to persuade you to target or avoid the players that are featured in this specific article series. While I will present some factual data, I must admit my personal rooting interest has had some influence on a few of these […]
Yahoo ADP Comparison - Overpriced / Underpriced Players
Average Draft Position (ADP) is a must-have piece of information when it comes to drafting. While every league is different and may have a particularly aggressive or conservative group of owners when it comes to certain players, it’s the best tool we have when analyzing players’ value. Now, instead of just talking about total ADP […]
Mookie Betts Back In Lineup Wednesday
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts (illness) is back in the lineup for the Cactus League game against the Brewers on Wednesday and is hitting leadoff. Betts has missed some time this spring with an illness, but the Dodgers were just being cautious with him and giving him plenty of time to recover. The former […]
Kenley Jansen Ready For Rebound Season?
Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen had a career-high 3.71 ERA last year and blew eight saves. But he spent the winter at Driveline Baseball trying to improve and has struck out 10 hitters while allowing only three hits so far in his five spring innings. It's the first time Jansen has double-digit strikeouts in […]
Break the League: The ESPN Points League Ranker
It might always be in fashion to go after the worldwide leader but this not just some critique de rigueur of their points game and coverage. I actually have a soft spot for ESPN as they were home to my original league for years and our scoring is somewhat similar to their default settings. When […]
2019 Busts Who'll Keep Junking it Up - Infielders
Nothing grinds a fantasy owner's gears quite like a bust. Well, maybe unpaid league dues, but busts are a close second. It doesn't feel good to stare at your lineup all-season and watch a high draft pick torpedo your team's chances at glory. Spurned owners tend to avoid the players who've burned them, but a […]
Eric Samulski's 10 Bold Predictions for 2020
I've read these columns for years, so it's kind of surreal to be putting out my own. As somebody who constantly over-analyzes, I tend to be less risky in my fantasy decisions because a part of my brain always walks me back from the ledge. With that in mind, I tried to mix up the […]
Finding Over/Undervalued Second Basemen Using Expected Draft Values
A couple weeks ago, we introduced our Expected Draft Values and explained how they would help us identify both over and undervalued players of all types. Power, speed, power+speed, batting average+power, and so on, with pitchers as well. Today, we'll look at four "power" hitters, as identified by our site projections. Stay tuned over the […]
Alex Wood Will Start Season In Rotation
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood will be part of the team's starting rotation to begin the season. He will work as the team's fifth starter, with Julio Urias getting the nod every fourth day. Wood only got into seven starts last season due to injury issues, but he has been a productive player throughout […]
Clayton Kershaw Set To Be Opening Day Starter
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw will be on the mound for the team's Opening Day matchup with the San Francisco Giants. It is the ninth time in Kershaw's career that he will start on Opening Day. The 31-year-old dealt with injury issues last season and still managed to tally a 16-5 record to […]
Late-Round Second Basemen - 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: Kole Calhoun and Rafael Devers
Welcome! This column takes a deep dive into two player profiles to determine if they represent value at their current draft day cost or if you would be better off looking at similarly-priced options. We incorporate every grain of relevant data we can, including info from Baseball Savant, Roster Resource, FanGraphs, FantasyPros, and Baseball Prospectus. […]
ESPN ADP Comparison - Overpriced / Underpriced Players
Average Draft Position (ADP) is a must-have piece of information when it comes to drafting. While every league is different and may have a particularly aggressive or conservative group of owners when it comes to certain players, it’s the best tool we have when analyzing players’ value. Now, instead of just talking about total ADP […]
Finding Over/Undervalued First Basemen Using Expected Draft Values
A couple weeks ago, we introduced our Expected Draft Values and explained how they would help us identify both over and undervalued players of all types. Power, speed, power+speed, batting average+power, and so on, with pitchers as well. Today, we'll look at four "power" hitters, as identified by our site projections. Stay tuned over the […]
Introducing the RotoBaller Points League Ranker Tool
Its time to shine some love down on point league players and help you crush your leagues with easy to understand and easy to leverage information that will put you streets ahead of the average competition. That's right, you over there who was thrilled last year to draft Ronald Acuna Jr. in the first round […]
Late-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 […]
Nine NL Rookies Ready to Leap Into Starting Lineups
Every year, there are those rookies who we expect to make a splash right away; think Kris Bryant, Ronald Acuna, Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge -- those guys. Once we make it through all the service time manipulation shenanigans, there are always youngsters ready to snatch roster spots immediately, and 2020 is no exception. Earlier this week […]
Predicting the Top-10 Finishers in ERA for 2020
Earned Run Average (ERA) is one of the most important stats when it comes to pitching. The best pitchers in the league have the lowest ERA, because, quite simply, if a pitcher doesn’t let up runs, they are inherently more valuable. Determining the top ERA leaders for the upcoming season can be extremely useful, because […]
2020 Shortstop Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Leagues
As the season draws near, we realize suddenly that it's draft season. There is a large portion of fantasy baseball busy with mock drafts, rankings, sleepers, and more mock drafts. The Dynasty community, on the other hand, is looking to continue their dominance, rebuild, or in a worst-case scenario, stick their hands up in frustration. […]
Corey Seager (SS, LAD) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper
BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~120-130 CURRENT ADP: ~149 overall ANALYSIS: Corey Seager has entered his full, post-hype faze. Seager used to be the belle of the ball as the young SS primed to take off. He lost most of 2018 due to injury, and his 2019 suffered because of it. With few remaining believers, Seager's ADP is […]
2020 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers - RotoBaller Staff Picks
As the 2020 MLB season approaches, it's time for the RotoBaller staff to reveal their favorite preseason sleepers. We recently asked some of our fantasy baseball writers to get their take on which hitters and pitchers they are targeting the most in the later rounds of fantasy drafts. While you've likely heard some of these […]
Jimmy Nelson To Throw Bullpen Friday
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jimmy Nelson (lower body) will throw a bullpen session on Friday. Initially a candidate for the final rotation spot, Nelson's injury has set him back, and the best-case scenario now is that he opens the 2020 season in the bullpen for the Dodgers. The 30-year-old had a really solid year in […]
Joc Pederson May Get In Minor League Games Soon
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson (side) is steadily progressing in his recovery from an irritated side/hip. The 27-year-old was taking swings in the batting cage again on Thursday, as he continues to ramp up the intensity of his workouts. As long as Pederson keeps improving, he will start to rehab in the minor leagues […]
Dustin May Resumes Playing Catch
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher prospect Dustin May (oblique) has finally resumed baseball activities as he continues to nurse a sore side. The 22-year-old was already a longshot to make the Dodgers' Opening Day roster, and his injury has put him behind schedule. The expectation is that May begins the 2020 season at Triple-A Oklahoma, […]
Chris Taylor Could Rejoin Lineup On Friday
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Chris Taylor (shoulder) may return to the starting lineup on Friday, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. This news comes after a report that Taylor had recently suffered a setback in his recovery process. If the 29-year-old plays on Friday, or sometime relatively soon, it would suggest he will be ready […]
Justin Turner Set To Play On Friday
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (hand) took a pitch off of the knuckle during Wednesday's game against the San Francisco Giants, but he avoided any serious injury. Turner received x-rays after the game, which thankfully came back negative. The fact that he is already going to be back in the lineup is a […]