Ronel Blanco Tosses No-Hitter Monday

Houston Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco had a memorable first start of 2024 in Monday's 10-0 win over the Blue Jays. The 30-year-old tossed a no-hitter, allowing two walks and seven strikeouts on 105 pitches. Blanco likely would not have been in the starting rotation if not for several injuries but made the most of... Read More

Starting Pitcher Advanced Metrics Leaders for ERA-xERA - Statcast Studs and Duds (Week 2)

Welcome to the first edition of RotoBaller’s Statcast Pitcher Studs and Duds article series for the 2024 season! Statcast provides a ton of insightful advanced metrics that can be used to understand pitchers' performance and predict future fantasy performance. Diving into underlying stats is one of my favorite aspects of fantasy baseball and I am... Read More

Who Should I Start? Fantasy Baseball Start/Sit Decisions for Wyatt Langford, Jackson Chourio, Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, more

Welcome RotoBallers to the first edition of my 2024 fantasy baseball start/sit article for the week ahead, April 1 - April 7. This week's article will focus on Wyatt Langford, Jackson Chourio, Bo Naylor, Luis Campusano, Jorge Polanco, Tim Anderson, Matt Chapman, and Jorge Soler. Whether you are prepping to set your weekly lineups or... Read More

Hoy Park To Start Season At Triple-A

Oakland Athletics utility man Hoy Park was told on Tuesday that he will start the season with Triple-A Las Vegas, per Athletics Nation's Connor Ashford. The 27-year-old signed a minor-league deal this off-season and put forth a strong showing, batting .477 with one home run and two stolen bases in 44 spring at-bats. Park has... Read More

Yariel Rodriguez Optioned To Triple-A

The Toronto Blue Jays optioned pitcher Yariel Rodriguez (back) to Triple-A Buffalo, per MLB's Francys Romero. The 27-year-old, who signed a five-year, $32 million deal this off-season, has been dealing with back spasms this spring and could not properly build up his workload. He is expected to get between two and three starts at Triple-A... Read More

Jarred Kelenic Crushes Solo Home Run Tuesday

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic ended his spring training on a positive note in Tuesday's 9-6 Grapefruit League loss to the Twins. Kelenic only had one at-bat, hitting a 452-foot solo home run off Louie Varland in the third inning. It was a bright spot in an otherwise dreary spring for the 24-year-old, as he... Read More

Pablo Sandoval States He Is Not Retiring

San Francisco Giants corner infielder Pablo Sandoval said after Tuesday's 3-1 exhibition loss to the Athletics that he is not retiring and will report to Triple-A Sacramento if he gets the chance, per the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser. The 37-year-old veteran went 1-for-2 with a single and a strikeout, with his broken-bat hit coming... Read More

Mike Yastrzemski Likely To Go On Paternity Leave To Start Season

San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski is likely to go on paternity leave for the first Friday through Sunday of the 2024 regular season, per the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser. The 33-year-old and his family are expecting their second child, so he may miss some of the team's first few games. Yastrzemski has cooled... Read More

Mariners Release Brian Anderson

The Seattle Mariners released third baseman Brian Anderson on Tuesday. The 30-year-old signed a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training this off-season in hopes that he could win a platoon/backup role. While he did slash .250/.344/.536 in 28 Cactus League at-bats, it wasn't enough to earn a spot. Injuries have hindered Anderson's career,... Read More

Ronel Blanco Fans 10 Tuesday

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco capped off a great spring in Tuesday's 7-3 exhibition game win over Triple-A Sugarland. Blanco pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits (including a solo home run) and two walks with 10 strikeouts. While it may not have been against big-league competition, it was another strong outing... Read More

Zach Eflin - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 65 CURRENT ADP: ~76 overall ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin had an outstanding first season with his new team in 2023. The 29-year-old went 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 26.5% strikeout rate in 31 starts and 177 2/3 innings pitched. Eflin swapped his four-seam fastball... Read More

4 Starting Pitcher Sleepers: Fantasy Baseball Points Leagues

Spring training games and fantasy baseball drafts are underway, which means it is officially baseball season! It may sound obvious, but it is important to prepare specifically for your league's rules, as players will hold different values accordingly. The pitching fantasy landscape was tough to navigate last season, maybe a bit less so in points... Read More

Oscar Gonzalez Suffers Right Orbital Fracture

New York Yankees outfielder Oscar Gonzalez (face) suffered a right orbital fracture during Monday's 8-5 exhibition game loss to the Diablos Rojos, per the Athletic's Brendan Kuty. The 26-year-old was taken to the hospital after fouling a ball off his face. While manager Aaron Boone announced earlier in the day that Gonzalez had been re-assigned... Read More

Diamondbacks Select Contract For Tucker Barnhart

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected veteran catcher Tucker Barnhart's contract Monday and designated pitcher Peter Strzelecki for assignment in a corresponding move. This means that Barnhart will serve as backup to Gabriel Moreno to start the season. The 33-year-old is a two-time Gold Glove winner and can provide experience and leadership off the bench. However, he... Read More

Sam Haggerty To Start Season On Injured List

Seattle Mariners second baseman/outfielder Sam Haggerty (personal) will start the season on the injured list with a personal medical issue, per general manager Justin Hollander. Hollander only specified that the injury is non-baseball related. The 29-year-old spent most of his time at Triple-A Tacoma last season, slashing .324/.419/.578 with eight home runs, 19 RBI, and... Read More

Matt Brash Throws Bullpen Session Monday

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Matt Brash (elbow) threw 25 pitches off the mound at 85 percent effort on Monday, per Seattle Times' Ryan Divish. The 25-year-old has been positively progressing through right elbow inflammation this spring. Brash played a key part in the Mariners bullpen last season, going 9-4 with four saves and 24 holds... Read More

Gregory Santos To Undergo MRI Thursday

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Gregory Santos (lat) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday, per the Seattle Times' Ryan Divish. Santos has been dealing with a lat strain this spring which has slowed his progress on and off. The 24-year-old will continue his throwing program if the MRI comes back clean. While he may... Read More

Kevin Gausman Strikes Out Seven In Monday's Start

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (shoulder) had an encouraging start in Monday's 4-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates. Gausman pitched three innings, allowing one run on three hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. The 33-year-old experienced shoulder soreness earlier in spring training, but now should avoid a stint on the injured... Read More

Shohei Ohtani Plays Catch Monday

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani (elbow) played catch Monday after addressing the media. It was the first reported time of him throwing a baseball since his second elbow surgery. Manager Dave Roberts said that he doesn't expect Ohtani to pitch until 2025 but said he may be able to play the field in... Read More

Will Benson - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 274 CURRENT ADP: ~353 ANALYSIS: With Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl (wrist) set to open the 2024 season on the injured list with a fractured right wrist, Will Benson could see additional playing time to start the season, per MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Manager David Bell said, "It's all going to work out.... Read More

Woo-Suk Go Optioned To Triple-A Tuesday

The San Diego Padres optioned relief pitcher Woo-Suk Go to Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Korean agreed to a two-year, $4.5 million contract this off-season after establishing himself as one of the best closers in the Korean Baseball Organization. However, he has not found that success with the Padres this spring, posting a... Read More

Pablo Lopez Posting Poor Spring Numbers

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez has not looked like the ace-tier fantasy option fantasy managers are hoping for this spring. The 28-year-old has gone 0-2 with a 7.07 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched. While this is not encouraging for fantasy managers, they should remember that spring samples are small... Read More

Sean Reid-Foley Tracking To Make Opening Day Roster

New York Mets relief pitcher Sean Reid-Foley (arm fatigue), who hasn't appeared in a Grapefruit League game since March 9 due to arm fatigue, threw a bullpen session Tuesday. The 28-year-old touched the mid-90s with his velocity. He expects to return to game action before the end of the week. Reid-Foley has had a strong... Read More

David Peterson Throws Fourth Bullpen Session Tuesday

New York Mets pitcher David Peterson (hip) threw his fourth bullpen session of spring training on Tuesday, tossing 15 pitches. "I feel like a real player again," the 28-year-old said. "It feels different, but it feels different in a better way." Peterson underwent surgery to fix a labrum tear in his left hip last November... Read More

Asa Lacy Undergoes Tommy John Surgery Tuesday

Kansas City Royals starting pitching prospect Asa Lacy (elbow) announced on his Twitter page Tuesday that he had Tommy John surgery on his elbow. The 24-year-old, who was a former first-round pick, has been plagued with injuries throughout his career. He last pitched professionally in 2022 with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, managing just 20 innings pitched.... Read More

Bryce Harper Remains Out Of Lineup Tuesday

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (back) was held out of the lineup for the fifth consecutive day in Tuesday's 0-0 Grapefruit League tie with the Tigers. The 31-year-old has been dealing with back stiffness. However, manager Rob Thompson said, "He took ground balls today and swung the bat. He's feeling better." It does not... Read More

Brusdar Graterol Placed On 15-Day Injured List Tuesday

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) will not be on the 26-man roster for the upcoming Seoul Series, as he was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right shoulder inflammation. The 25-year-old made just one appearance this spring, tossing a scoreless inning. The severity of his injury is unknown, but losing... Read More

Adolis Garcia Hits Solo Homer Monday

Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia went 2-for-3 with a double, a solo home run, and a strikeout in Monday's 9-5 Cactus League loss to the Mariners. The 31-year-old got a late start to spring after suffering a moderate left oblique strain in the World Series, so seeing him flash his power is good. However, he... Read More

Cristian Javier Turns In Rough Start Monday

Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier yielded his worst start of the spring in Monday's 10-1 Grapefruit League loss to the Nationals. Javier pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on three hits (including a solo home run) and four walks with one strikeout. The 26-year-old is coming off of a surprisingly poor 2023 season... Read More

Hunter Brown Having Strong Spring

Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown has put together a strong spring to this point, compiling a 2.84 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 12 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings pitched. This is a good sign for the Astros and fantasy managers, as the team has expressed that the 25-year-old will need "to take a... Read More