2021 Undervalued Draft Targets - Starting Pitchers

In late November, before I officially joined the RotoBaller team, I began a long post series where I went rotation-by-rotation, slowly populating my SP ranks for 2021. The way I did this was I would do the analysis and take a long look at each player, and then insert them into the list based on […]

Five Players Set to Break Out at Second Base

When defining a breakout, I look at it as players that can take a step forward to a level they never reached before. This leaves most of the top targets at the position unavailable for this discussion. Today, we bring you five players at the second base position that can take that next step and […]

Diamonds in the Pen - Deep Reliever Draft Targets

When it comes to building a pitching staff in fantasy, most managers focus solely on starting pitchers and closers. And that makes sense. In standard scoring, those pitchers are the ones who are going to make the greatest contributions to wins, strikeouts and saves. A guy that comes in and tosses a scoreless frame in […]

Catcher Draft Targets for All Leagues

Enough with the catcher slander! As fantasy baseball drafts heat up, all I keep reading about is how we're "forced" to draft catchers and how they can tank your roster. Catchers are people too! I could use thousands of words writing about the value of catchers and how the grind of their defensive job and […]

James McCann (C, NYM) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 180 CURRENT ADP: ~190 overall ANALYSIS: Despite being a career .249 hitter,  James McCann really came into his own at the plate once he left Detroit. Over the past two seasons with the White Sox, he owns the second-highest BA among catchers and the fifth-most runs scored, and that was […]

Keegan Akin (SP, BAL) - 2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

Keegan Akin made his MLB debut for the Baltimore Orioles during the 2020 season and the former second-round draft pick didn't disgrace himself. Akin ended the season with a 4.56 ERA and 1.44 WHIP from his eight appearances (six starts) as well as striking out 35 batters in 25.2 IP. Akin is expected to start the […]

Jared Walsh (1B, LAA) - 2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

Jared Walsh burst onto the Minor League scene in 2019 after hitting 36 homers in 98 games and received a call up to the Angels. Prior to that, Walsh had 49 homers in 361 Minor League games so his power outburst came as a surprise. Walsh didn't have a great start to his MLB career […]

2021 Starting Pitcher Rankings - 5x5 Mixed Leagues (Part 2)

We now move on to starting pitcher in our mixed-league rankings analysis series. If you missed them, here is our review of Catcher, First Base, Second Base, Third Base, Shortstop, Outfield, and of course, Starting Pitcher Part One. RotoBaller's rankers, JB Branson, Pierre Camus, Nick Mariano, and Ariel Cohen have updated our 2021 Mixed League rankings once more based on […]

Carlos Carrasco's Hamstring Injury Classified As A Tear

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (hamstring, elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session on Thursday and strained his right hamstring during the follow-up conditioning work. It is now being reported that Carrasco's hamstring injury is being classified as a high-grade tear. He is probably looking at a six-to-eight week absence, according to […]

Andres Gimenez (2B/SS, CLE) - 2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

Andres Gimenez burst onto the scene in the shortened 2020 season. Originally expected to spend the year at the alternate training site for the New York Mets, Gimenez worked his way into a roster spot in spring training with his baserunning instincts and highlight-reel defensive plays, and then soon overtook the slumping Amed Rosario to […]

Marcus Stroman Throws Five Strong Innings On Thursday

New York Mets starting pitcher Marcus Stroman threw five innings while allowing one earned one and striking out six in Thursday's Grapefruit League action against the Washington Nationals. Stroman has now thrown 13 1/3 innings this spring while allowing four earned runs and striking out 14. It has been a nice spring for Stroman and […]

Carlos Carrasco Strains Hamstring Thursday

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (hamstring) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session on Thursday and reportedly strained his right hamstring during the follow-up conditioning work. Before the news broke that Carrasco suffered the hamstring strain, Mets manager Luis Rojas stated that the team believed Carrasco would be ready for his first rotation […]

Carlos Carrasco Still On Track For Opening Day

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session on Thursday. Following his session, Mets manager Luis Rojas stated that the team believes Carrasco will be ready for his first rotation turn in April as long as he remains on track with his progression. This is obviously good news […]

Dominic Smith Remains Sidelined Thursday

New York Mets outfielder Dominic Smith (wrist) remains out of the Mets' Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday for their game against the Washington Nationals. Smith was removed from Wednesday's starting lineup in Grapefruit League play due to "general wrist soreness." This wrist issue does not appear serious, despite sidelining Smith for the past two days. […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/17) - Jorge Polanco Leaves Game

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. Thankfully, we have real, live baseball being played every day again, and while it doesn't count for anything, these exhibition games gives us the smallest glimmer into players and teams heading into the new season. We're into our third week of spring training games and […]

2020 Breakout Infielders Who'll Keep Improving

In a recent article, I outlined a methodology to determine which breakout 2020 seasons from hitters would be built off of into 2021. Upon further reflection, however, I’m unconvinced that that methodology the best way to spot breakouts that will continue to improve, in large part because of its reliance on evaluating the stickiness of […]

2021 Keeper Value Rankings - Third Base

Many many years ago, I noticed the managers in my long-time keeper league were consistently making terrible keeper decisions year after year. Instead of taking their money every year thought I would help them out and find a good set of Keeper League Rankings to share with them. What I found was quite disturbing. There […]

New York Scratches Dominic Smith From Wednesday’s Lineup

New York Mets outfielder Dominic Smith (wrist) was removed from Wednesday's starting nine in Grapefruit League play due to what Mets manager Luis Rojas described as "general wrist soreness." Mallex Smith entered the lineup in his place. Smith is expected to serve as New York's primary left fielder to begin the season, having socked two home runs […]

Pete Alonso Remains On Fire This Spring

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso went 3-for-3 with a home run and double on Tuesday against the Houston Astros in Grapefruit League action. Alonso remains on fire this spring, slashing .417/.533/.958, with three home runs and 10 RBI in 24 at-bats. This is a far cry from last spring when he failed to […]

Dellin Betances' Velocity Down Again

New York Mets right-handed reliever Dellin Betances showed a decline in velocity on Tuesday in Grapefruit League action, an issue that has plagued him since spring training in 2020. Betances' four-seam fastball only averaged 90.6 mph on Tuesday, which was down a couple of mph from earlier this spring. Betances fastball unimpressively sat between 89-92 […]

Francisco Lindor Homers On Tuesday

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor went 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored in Grapefruit League action on Tuesday against Houston. For Lindor, who was off to a slow spring start, the HR was his first of the spring and he is now hitting .227 in 22 spring at-bats. Lindor had a […]

Jacob deGrom Dominates Once Again

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom stuck out six, allowed only two hits and one run in four innings of Grapefruit League action on Tuesday against Houston. In nine innings of work this spring, deGrom has now stuck out a ridiculous 16 and allowed only three hits, one run, and one walk while routinely […]

Starting Pitcher Rankings, NFL Free Agency - The King and Pocket Aces Episode 6

In this episode of The King and Pockets Aces, RotoBaller's Scott "The King" Engel and Anthony "Pocket Aces" Aniano share their highly charged Fantasy insights. They look at the latest and upcoming NFL player moves, the Hot Stove headlines, provide Fantasy Basketball player breakdowns, and ready you for the DFS NASCAR season with strategy tips. […]

Joey Lucchesi In Tight Battle For Rotation Spot

New York Mets manager Luis Rojas stated on Tuesday that the competition for the fifth rotation spot between David Peterson, Joey Lucchesi, and Jordan Yamamoto remains "really tight." Lucchesi, acquired by the Mets from the Padres in the offseason, struggled in limited action in 2020, going 0-1 with a 7.94 ERA in two starts and […]

Carlos Carrasco Throws Bullpen Session Tuesday

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and is expected to advance to throwing live batting practice on Thursday. While the Mets have indicated Carrasco's elbow issue isn't a concern, it is likely that the Mets will exercise a considerable amount of caution with their newly acquired starting […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/16) - Luis Robert Scratched Monday

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. Thankfully, we have real, live baseball being played every day again, and while it doesn't count for anything, these exhibition games gives us the smallest glimmer into players and teams heading into the new season. We're into our third week of spring training games and […]

Fantasy Baseball Spring Training Injury Updates

Injury updates tend to change often during Spring Training. "Soreness" is a common theme as players get back into game shape. I will be giving the most recent available injury updates from the offseason. These updates will undoubtedly change as Spring Training continues. As we get closer to Opening Day, some injuries are much more […]

2021 Starting Pitcher Rankings - 5x5 Mixed Leagues (Part 1)

We now move on to starting pitcher in our mixed-league rankings analysis series. If you missed them, here is our review of Catcher, First Base, Second Base, Third Base, Shortstop, and Outfield. RotoBaller's rankers, JB Branson, Pierre Camus, Nick Mariano, and Ariel Cohen have updated our 2021 Mixed League rankings once more based on early spring training action. You can […]

David Peterson With Poor Start On Sunday

New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson allowed three earned runs on five hits and two walks with one strikeout in Grapefruit League action on Sunday against the Cardinals. Peterson, who is in competition with Joey Lucchesi for the fifth rotation spot, has now pitched to a 4.50 ERA in his two spring training starts […]

Top 20 Outfielders - Dynasty Prospect Rankings

If you’ve played fantasy baseball for a while, you know how hard it can be to find enough quality outfielders to field a competitive team all year long. The good news for fantasy managers is that there are some big names on the way, thanks in part to the 2020 amateur draft which had a […]