Juan Lagares Will Play On Friday

Little by little, the New York Mets are starting to get healthy after their early rash of minor injuries. On Thursday, outfielder Yoenis Cespedes returns to the lineup and on Friday it will be fellow outfield mate Juan Lagares (hamstring). Lagares has been day-to-day with a strained left hamstring, but it was never believed to be […]

Yoenis Cespedes Back In Lineup Thursday

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was held out a few games after dealing with mild shoulder soreness earlier in the week, but he’s back in the lineup on Thursday. It’s one day earlier than expected, as Cespedes had told the media he would be back on Friday. The issue was never expected to be […]

2018 Relief Pitchers - Dynasty Tiered Rankings

As we move closer to the 2018 baseball season, at RotoBaller we have released our Dynasty Rankings. We have been dissecting the tiers of each position, showing fantasy owners where to find value in their draft. We have a total of 54 relief pitchers ranked in the first six tiers. When looking at dynasty leagues, one […]

Matt Harvey OK Enough In Spring Debut

If New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey threw the minimum innings requirements in 2017, his ERA over the innings he did pitch would have been the worst of any starting pitcher in baseball. Expectations for Harvey in 2018 are low, but the scrutiny was still the same as he made his spring training debut […]

Jacob DeGrom Optimistic For Opening Day

On Tuesday, New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway told the media that starting pitcher Jacob deGrom may not be ready for Opening Day after enduring lower back stiffness this early in Spring Training. On Wednesday, deGrom himself was a bit more optimistic. After throwing a modified side session off the slope of a mound, deGrom […]

2018 Starting Pitchers - Dynasty Tiered Rankings

We continue our fantasy baseball dynasty rankings analysis with the first base position. RotoBaller writers Kyle Richardson, Chris Zolli, Pierre Camus, and I have come up with our preseason rankings to give you a sense of player values as early as possible. In a dynasty league, it can be tough to decide between a proven veteran or […]

Chris Sale Rankings Debate - Comparing RotoBaller's Rankers

We continue our rankings debate with a look at one of the game's most dominant arms. Major League Baseball's reigning strikeout king is a consensus top-four starting pitcher, but his exact draft value is still in question. RotoBaller's expert writers have come up with our consensus rankings for mixed leagues, but that doesn't mean we agreed […]

Jacob DeGrom May Not Be “Built Up Enough” For Opening Day

According to New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway, starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (back) may not be “built up enough” for Opening Day. The comment is likely in regards to the lower back stiffness deGrom is currently dealing with. While that is potentially worrisome news, not too much should be read into it on Feb. 27. What […]

Steven Matz Rocked In Spring Debut

Things had been going pretty nicely for New York Mets starting pitchers so far this spring, until Steven Matz took the hill on Tuesday against the Astros. Matz was crushed for five runs across one-plus inning pitched. He retired the side in the first inning before allowing three runs in the second inning without recording […]

Dominic Smith Taking Swings On Tuesday

In what may be the first piece of positive news we’ve heard on New York Mets first baseman Dominic Smith (quadriceps) in months, Smith is taking swings Tuesday after being officially diagnosed with a strained right quad. He was only expected to miss a few days to begin with, so this sounds about right. Smith has […]

Test Results Clean For Jacob DeGrom

For those who have been worried since news came out Tuesday morning about a stiff back for New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom, for now, breathe a sigh of relief. deGrom told the media the test results on his back were clean, and the plan remains for him to throw off the mound on Wednesday. Considering […]

Jacob deGrom To Test Back On Wednesday

To update an item posted earlier, New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom is going to test his lower back with a mound session on Wednesday. deGrom is currently dealing with lower back stiffness, but it’s not expected to be anything serious. He’s continuing with his normal throwing progression and was out stretching with the […]

Yoenis Cespedes Should Return Friday

Updating a previous item, New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (shoulder) told the media he should return to the lineup on Friday. Cespedes is dealing with a minor bout of shoulder soreness, but as you can see, it’s not expected to keep him out very long. Unless we hear more about this injury or the lingering […]

Jay Bruce To Make Spring Debut On Tuesday

With some mild injuries creeping up for some members of the New York Mets, there’s a silver lining in that at least one of them is getting better. Outfielder Jay Bruce (foot) will make his spring training debut on Tuesday, serving as the designated hitter, when the Mets take on the Astros. Bruce has been out […]

Shoulder Soreness For Yoenis Cespedes

The New York Mets injuries continue, as outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is suffering from a mild bout of shoulder soreness. The key word here is “mild,” but when it comes to the Mets, you just never know. Since being acquired by the Mets in July 2015, Cespedes has always been, and still is, the key to […]

Jacob deGrom Has Lower Back Stiffness

We are ever so close to baseball season starting, which means it’s inevitably time for the New York Mets’ injury bug to hit. That’s an exaggeration (kind of), but the team is dealing with some early health issues. Starting pitcher Jacob deGrom is going through some lower back stiffness, but thankfully for now, it doesn’t […]

Top 500: Mixed Leagues Tiered Staff Rankings (February)

Spring training is officially here! To celebrate, today we are here to look at our staff's updated 2018 fantasy baseball mixed league rankings for February and the top 500 players. Our rankings are updated weekly, but enough changes have taken place recently (see humidor, Arizona) to release a new overall list. Over the next few weeks we will also be publishing individual tiered […]

Dominic Smith’s MRI Comes Back Clean

While New York Mets first baseman Dominic Smith (quadriceps) may have other things to worry about, but his health doesn’t sound like a big concern on that list. Dealing with a strained right quadriceps, Smith’s MRI came back clean, so it is believed he should be good to go shortly. The bigger problem for Smith is […]

Noah Syndergaard Looks Great In Spring Debut

Despite returning from injury to toss a few innings at the end of the 2017 season, New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (lat) will undoubtedly be watched all spring for any signs of something lingering. Syndergaard made his spring debut on Monday against the Houston Astros, and so far, so good. Thor threw two perfect […]

Yoenis Cespedes Rankings Debate - Comparing RotoBaller's Rankers

Today's article is one in a series of debates regarding the overall ranking of some of the most fantasy-relevant players of the 2018 baseball season. RotoBaller's expert writers have come up with our consensus rankings for mixed leagues, but that doesn't mean we agreed on everything. In this space, we'll hear from rankers with the […]

2018 Shortstops - Dynasty Tiered Rankings

We continue our fantasy baseball dynasty rankings analysis with the first base position. RotoBaller writers Kyle Richardson, Chris Zolli, Pierre Camus, and I have come up with our preseason rankings to give you a sense of player values as early as possible. In a dynasty league, it can be tough to decide between a proven veteran or […]

Noah Syndergaard To Make First Start On Monday

New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (lat) will make his first start this spring on Monday against the Astros. Syndergaard had a lost season in 2017 due to a torn lat muscle. When healthy, though, Thor is a top-10 fantasy pitcher in all leagues. However, you'll still have to pay for his high ceiling […]

Dominic Smith Benched For Being Late

As mentioned earlier Friday, New York Mets first baseman Dominic Smith was a late scratch for the team’s opening game of spring training on Friday. Given the team’s offseason full of criticizing Smith, the signing of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and emergence of prospect Peter Alonso, any benching of Smith is worth close inspection. It turns […]

Steven Matz Ready For Fresh Start

You may have heard this once or twice (or more) over the last few years, but New York Met starting pitcher Steven Matz is ready for a fresh start after yet another injury-plagued season in 2017. According to Matz himself, he feels stronger and is as healthy as he’s been in years. One point that’s […]

Dominic Smith’s Benching Not Health-Related

In a further development related to the New York Mets scratching first baseman Dominic Smith from Friday’s spring training opener, the benching does not seem to be health-related. According to Smith himself, the decision was simply the call of manager Mickey Callaway. This makes the situation all the more interesting, given a full offseason’s worth […]

Dominic Smith Scratched, Peter Alonso To Start

New York Mets first baseman Dominic Smith (undisclosed) was originally in the team’s lineup for their opening game of spring training, but has been scratched and replaced by Peter Alonso. There is no news yet as to why Smith was scratched. Hopefully, it’s nothing and Smith will be in the lineup next time out. Despite only […]

2018 Second Basemen - Dynasty Tiered Rankings

We continue our fantasy baseball dynasty rankings analysis with the second base position. Second base is a very intriguing position for dynasty leagues, as there is a changing of the guard that could come as soon as a year or two. Out will be the mainstay names of Robinson Cano, Brian Dozier, and Daniel Murphy, […]

Jose Abreu Rankings Debate: Comparing RotoBaller's Rankers

We on the RotoBaller staff have come up with our consensus rankings for mixed leagues, but there's plenty of debate over individual players' proper place in the pecking order. In this space, we'll hear from rankers with the biggest differences of opinion on a well-known player and have them defend their position against each other. […]

Michael Conforto May Be Out Longer

New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto (shoulder) dislocated his shoulder last year and required September surgery, and Dr. A of Inside Injuries said that a normal recovery timetable for his type of surgery would be seven to eight months. From a medical standpoint, the chances of Conforto being ready to return in April seems to be […]

Juan Lagares To Frequently Lead Off This Spring

The New York Mets do not have a “traditional” leadoff hitter on their current roster. With outfielder Michael Conforto out until at least May 1, the team just might believe the player most likely to hold down the fort, Juan Lagares, is the man to sit atop the lineup for now. As such, they plan […]