Launch Angle Analysis - Potential HR Risers

With the onset of Statcast data, we can now better predict which hitters may be due for a power surge. Before recent years, we only had things like hard-hit rate and home runs per fly ball ratios to look to as predictors of future changes in home run rates. Now that we have launch angle, […]

Spring Training Lineup Takeaways - Week 2 Lineup Trends

Welcome back RotoBallers! We are entering week three of Spring Training already, and with that came a lot of things we saw in week two. But of course, my week one review also still has very relevant information as well. Just a reminder, in my Lineup Takeaways series we are focusing 100% on lineups, news and […]

Top 25 Starting Pitchers - Dynasty Prospects Rankings

Pitching is an important element of any successful Major League Baseball team — real or fantasy. Coming off a truncated season in 2020 and facing another unique season ahead, pitching prospects will be more important than ever in 2021. MLB managers will be faced with a full 2021 season and, after throwing reduced innings last […]

Michael Florio's Hitters to Target

Every year, one of the articles I look most forward to writing is about the players I am targeting in my drafts. It not only allows me to talk about the players I know I am high on and go into my drafts hoping to select, but it also forces me to look over my […]

2021 Keeper Value Rankings - Second 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 Tomas Nido From Friday’s Lineup

New York Mets catcher Tomas Nido (foot) was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League game against Miami after having fouled a ball off of his foot during batting practice Thursday. While X-rays came back negative, Nido is currently day-to-day. The Mets don't have a clear backup plan behind James McCann should Nido be sidelined for any […]

Francisco Lindor Extension Talks To Begin

Extension talks are expected to begin between New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and the team, with the expectation that Lindor will command at least a 10-year deal in excess of $300 million. Robert Murray reports that while both sides have a clear mutual interest in completing a deal, each has acknowledged that Lindor could […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/12) - Severino Beginning Build Up

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 officially through the first week of spring training games […]

Jeff McNeil Struggling This Spring

New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil went 0-for-3 in Grapefruit League action on Thursday against the Astros, dropping his batting average to .071 this spring. McNeil is now just 1-for-14 with three strikeouts, with his lone spring hit a solo home run. McNeil is coming off a solid 2020 campaign in which he posted a […]

Early Round SP Strategy, Targets and More! - Bases Loaded Podcast

Mike and Jorge get into early round starting pitchers and how to attack the position in the early rounds and more. 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 well! […]

2021 Outfielder Rankings - 5x5 Mixed Leagues

We now move on to the outfielder position in our mixed-league rankings analysis series. If you missed them, here is our review of Catcher, First Base, Second Base, Third Base and Shortstop. 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. […]

Pete Alonso Hits Second Homer Of Spring

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso hit his second spring home run on Thursday against the Houston Astros. He went 1-for-3 in the game with two strikeouts. His solo shot was the only run scored in the game. Alonso has had a solid spring, slashing .313/.450/.813. He had an inconsistent sophomore campaign in 2020, […]

Jacob deGrom Dominates In Thursday's Outing

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom routinely hit triple digits on the radar gun and struck out seven of the nine Astros hitters that he faced on Thursday in spring training. One scout clocked the right-hander as high as 102 mph. "Totally dominated," the scout wrote. In context, deGrom faced an Astros lineup that […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/11) - Hiura Endures Spring Struggles

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 officially through the first week of spring training games […]

MLB DFS Advice: Picking Pitchers on DraftKings and FanDuel

Welcome back to RotoBaller, where we are taking you through some advanced DFS strategy and advice to prepare you for a full-length MLB season in 2021. Last spring, while baseball was not being played and I did not know what to do with myself, I wrote a big old script to go back and collect […]

Carlos Carrasco To Play Catch On Sunday

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (elbow) is expected to play catch on Sunday after recently having experienced some soreness in his elbow. While the Mets have indicated Carrasco's elbow issue isn't much of a concern, expect them to exercise a considerable amount of caution with their newly acquired starting pitcher. It remains questionable as […]

Brandon Nimmo Possibly Leading Off For Mets In 2021

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo is batting leadoff and playing left field on Thursday in Grapefruit League action against the Astros. Prior to the game, Mets manager Luis Rojas stated that he was not sure if Thursday's lineup would be his Opening Day lineup, but he did acknowledge that Nimmo and shortstop Francisco Lindor […]

Dominic Smith To Play Left Field Friday

New York Mets outfielder/first baseman Dominic Smith is scheduled to play left field for the first time in Grapefruit League action Friday. The Mets had reportedly been holding Smith back from playing in the outfield this spring to avoid injury and/or burning him out coming off the shortened 2020 season. With no designated hitter in […]

Top 10 Shortstops - Dynasty Prospects Rankings

The shortstop position is a bountiful one for fantasy players. In a 12-team league, most fantasy managers should have the opportunity to be happy with their starter at the position thanks to the depth and variety of skills available. In 2019, 16 shortstops that had at least 350 plate appearances produced a 100 wRC+ or […]

Carlos Carrasco Dealing With Elbow Soreness

New York Mets manager Luis Rojas stated on Wednesday that starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco has experienced some soreness in his elbow. Rojas indicated that it isn't much of a concern at this point and that Carrasco has felt similar soreness over the course of his career. The Mets stated that Carrasco will rest the next […]

Carlos Carrasco Will Build Up Through Live BP

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco will build up his strength through live batting practices as opposed to Grapefruit League games, according to manager Luis Rojas. The team would rather have the 33-year-old ramp up in the controlled environment of batting practice before getting him reps in actual games. Carrasco was a late arrival […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/9) - Meadows Returning To Form

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 officially through the first week of spring training games […]

Mark Vientos Flashes Raw Power for Mets

New York Mets infield prospect Mark Vientos went 2-for-2 and slugged two doubles on Monday against the Washington Nationals. The young player is now 3-for-4 with a promising BB-K of 4-1 on the spring. The 21-year-old former second-round pick is known mostly for his power but has also shown a rudimentary approach at the plate […]

JB's Bullpen Method Redux - Building FrankenAces

Last year, I finally published an article breaking down my favorite fantasy baseball strategy I have been using for years. It's really less of a strategy and more a state of mind. No, the Bullpen Method is a lifestyle. I always speak about the importance of balance on a fantasy team. For your pitching staff, I […]

Finding Over/Undervalued Shortstops Using Expected Draft Values

Welcome to the FSWA-nominated Expected Draft Values series, where we look at historical data to identify both overvalued and undervalued players of all types. Whether you're targeting power, speed, power+speed, batting average+power, and so on, we've got you covered. We'll start at first base and make our way around the diamond to begin the 2021 […]

Top 10 Third Basemen - Dynasty Prospect Rankings

Third base is traditionally a place to find offense. It can be a goldmine for fantasy managers in need of some power. Third basemen are also known for providing strong on-base numbers and, in some cases, batting average. The 2019 season met the offensive expectations with 28 hitters managing a 100 wRC+ or better (350 […]

Tout Wars 12-Team Mixed Draft Recap

The 2021 Tout Wars season kicked off this week with the 15-team Draft and Hold starting on Monday and then the NEW 12-team Mixed draft on Tuesday. The Draft and Hold is a slow draft, while the 12 team Mixed was live and rocking. I was fortunate enough to take part in the 12-team draft.  […]

Value Based Drafting Primer: WPC+

Learn how to take the next step in fantasy baseball draft strategy by creating custom values for your player rankings. Pierre Camus and Nicklaus Gaut explain how with examples from their TGFBI (The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational) drafts. Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch […]

Jose Martinez To Miss Four Months

New York Mets utility infielder/outfielder Jose Martinez suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee on Sunday during a defensive play at first base when he ran into an umpire. Martinez is scheduled to have surgery on his knee within the week and should miss up to four months. The injury came at a terrible […]

Jonathan Villar Homers On Sunday

New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jonathan Villar hit a three-run home run on Sunday in Grapefruit League action against the Marlins. It was Villar's first hit of spring training. Villar was signed by the Mets to a one-year deal worth $3.55 million-plus incentives earlier in the off-season. In 2020, Villar posted an unimpressive .232/.301/.292 slash line […]