A Crash Course for MLB's Sprint Season

In true 2020-style, baseball is about to get funky. Maybe you’re excited about the idea of getting some strange baseball, or maybe the word “fluid” reminds you of the morning after your last visit to Taco Bell. Either way, it’s time to start sorting the chalupas from the chimichangas. Let’s acknowledge that we’re venturing into […]

Masahiro Tanaka Rides Stationary Bike Monday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (head) rode the bike at Yankee Stadium on Monday as he continues to recover from a mild concussion which he suffered on Saturday. The Yankees are encouraged by Tanaka’s progress so far, and it seems likely that he’ll be ready for the start of the season. Tanaka should […]

James Paxton Looks Dominant In Simulated Game

New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton (back) reportedly looked dominant in his first simulated game since undergoing offseason back surgery. Paxton is effectively a lock to be ready for the start of the season barring any additional injuries, and the 31-year-old should be a solid fantasy pitcher this season. After increasing his curveball usage […]

Can You Punt Categories In A Shortened MLB Season?

Punting categories in a roto league is something I've always shied away from. After all, you're willingly lowering your team's overall points ceiling on the hope that sacrificing a category benefits your team elsewhere. In general, punting should not be pre-planned and, if used, it should be decided while drafting based on your team so far and […]

Masahiro Tanaka Diagnosed With A Mild Concussion

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (head) was diagnosed with a mild concussion after being hit by a line drive during a simulated game on Saturday. Tanaka will likely require a setback free recovery to avoid missing any regular-season games, but manager Aaron Boone is encouraged by the pitcher’s progress so far. Fantasy owners […]

Masahiro Tanaka's CT Scan Came Back Negative

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (head) had his CT scan come back negative and will enter the concussion protocol after being struck by a line drive during a simulated game on Saturday. It's encouraging that Tanaka didn't suffer anything worse than a concussion, but he may still miss time. Tanaka's status for Opening […]

DJ LeMahieu Tested Positive For Coronavirus

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday. LeMahieu will have to test negative for coronavirus before returning to the team, so his readiness for the start of the season is unclear. LeMahieu is expected to be the primary second baseman for the Yankees this season after posting an impressive .327 […]

Masahiro Tanaka Hit By Line Drive

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (head) was hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton in a simulated game on Saturday. Tanaka walked off of the field on his own power and was declared alert and oriented after being inspected at a hospital, but it's possible that […]

WPC+ Videocast: New ATC Projections for Starting Pitchers

Pierre Camus and Nicklaus Gaut are joined by Ariel Cohen to discuss his revised ATC projections for the 2020 MLB season. How should starting pitchers be valued over a 60-game season and what can the projections tell us on draft day? Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest […]

Why You Need Middle Relievers In 2020 - Top Draft Targets

Heading into the 2020 fantasy baseball season, much of the talk is focused on the randomness that we're likely to see unfold. With a 60-game season, it feels a bit like anything can happen. However, instead of that reality causing you to throw your hands in the air in dismay, I think it's the perfect […]

Short-Season Draft Risers and Fallers: RotoBaller Staff Picks

Recently, the RotoBaller MLB staff provided their thoughts on the best draft strategies for a shortened season. You can read that article right here. The fantasy baseball season is ready to kick up (finally) but things won't be the same as usual. Some players may be more appealing now that they've had time to work […]

30 Burning Questions (and Answers) for 2020 Fantasy Baseball

Upon hearing that Major League Baseball was finally set to return to action and the fantasy season was back, a million questions popped in my head. Sadly, I forgot most of them by the next day so I'm left with just 30, coincidentally a nice even number. Actually, my initial plan was to do 60 […]

Top DH Options for National League Teams

There is finally a plan for Major League Baseball in 2020! After months of negotiations and discussions, baseball is tentatively scheduled to open up in late July, and with it, a couple of new rules. The most notable new rule for 2020 is the implementation of the designated hitter in the National League, which certainly […]

Aaron Judge Faces Live Pitching

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) faced starting pitcher Gerrit Cole during a simulated game on Thursday. The Yankees are optimistic that Judge will be ready for the start of the season, and facing live pitching is an important step in that direction. If Judge doesn’t experience significant soreness in the next few days, […]

Gerrit Cole Touches 99 Mph In Simulated Game

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole looked to be in midseason form during a simulated game on Thursday, touching 99 mph with his fastball. Cole’s fastball got up to 101 mph last season, and he'll look to repeat his impressive 2019 performance this year in his first season in pinstripes. Last season, Cole posted […]

Yankees To Use Five-Man Rotation

New York Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake announced that the team is likely to start the season with a five-man rotation. Some teams may be more likely to use alternative rotation strategies in a shortened season, but the Yankees appear unlikely to be in that group. The Yankees are likely to go with a rotation […]

Miguel Andújar Might Play In The Outfield

New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andújar has a chance at claiming a role in the outfield this season, and manager Aaron Boone believes that the 25-year-old is capable of handling the defensive responsibilities required in that scenario. Despite posting a .855 OPS in his rookie season, Andújar will have trouble finding consistent playing time […]

Masahiro Tanaka Back In New York

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka is back in the United States after spending his break from baseball in Japan. That means that Tanaka will not be at risk for travel-related delays that could have impacted his readiness for the start of the season. Tanaka is looking to rebound from a relatively poor 2019 […]

James Paxton Should Be Ready

New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton (back), who had surgery on Feb. 5 to fix a herniated disc in his back and to remove a peridiscal cyst, is expected to be ready for the start of the 2020 regular season in late July. Paxton left his final regular season start last year on Sept. […]

Giancarlo Stanton Likely To Be DH-Ready For Opening Day

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) is expected to be healthy enough to DH on Opening Day. Stanton suffered a calf strain early in spring training, and although fantasy owners should expect Stanton to be healthy enough to hit by Opening Day, his ability to take the field may take longer. If Stanton becomes […]

Aaron Judge Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) is expected to be healthy in time for Opening Day, according to general manager Brian Cashman. Judge could still suffer setbacks between now and late July, but after months of significant uncertainty, fantasy owners should now expect Judge to be ready for the start of the season. Outfielder […]

Draft Season 2.0 Strategy Discussion - Bases Loaded Podcast

Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland), Jorge Montanez (@Roto_Nino) and Zach Braff (@braffz) all get in on this one as they dive into fantasy baseball draft season strategy. 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 […]

Luis Severino Placed On The 60-Day Injured List

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list on Sunday. Severino underwent Tommy John surgery in late February and will miss the entire 2020 season as he recovers, with an expected return in June of next season. Severino is an elite fantasy option when healthy with a 3.13 […]

Yankees Sign Matt Duffy

New York Yankees infielder Matt Duffy signed with the team and was added to their 60-man roster. A shoulder injury held Duffy to only 46 games last season, but he’s a year removed from a solid .294 batting average and 12 stolen bases. A reverse platoon split and defensive versatility should allow Duffy to find […]

New Draft Strategies for 2020 MLB: RotoBaller Staff Picks

Baseball is coming back and it's about time! The announcement of a 60-game season comes as a blessing and a curse. It's barely over one-third of a normal MLB season and will come with several modifications to the rule book. Then again, at this point we are just happy to have baseball (or any live […]

The King's Insider Guide To the 60-Game MLB Season

Since the spring, I have been conducting interviews with many notable and well-informed MLB sources on the 2020 season. On the condition of anonymity, current and former players, scouts, executives, media members and others have shared their unfiltered insights, and I have supplied my in-depth fantasy baseball takes on the information they have shared. As […]

Yankees Sign Austin Wells

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells signed with the team for $2.5 million after being the team’s first-round draft pick this year. Wells may transition from catcher to left field or first base during his professional career, but the 20-year-old boasts an advanced bat that helped him produce an impressive .357/.476/.560 slash line over 71 […]

Chad Bettis To Retire

New York Yankees reliever Chad Bettis announced his retirement after a seven-year major league career. Bettis spent his entire MLB playing career with the Rockies before joining the Yankees over the offseason but has missed significant time with injuries and cancer over the past few seasons. Bettis’s retirement shouldn’t have too much on an effect […]

Aaron Judge May Be Ready For Opening Day

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) recently began hitting off of a tee as he continues to rehab from a stress fracture in his rib. The extra rest provided by a delayed season has given fantasy owners hope that Judge may be healthy for Opening Day in late July, but fantasy owners should remain […]

How To Draft Saves In A Shortened Season

Now that Major League Baseball and the MLBPA have finally come to an agreement and locked in a plan for the upcoming season, the RotoBaller staff is churning out content to try and get you ready for the 2020 fantasy baseball season. A lot of us have questions about how the shortened season, new league […]