Platoon Situations to Avoid in a Shortened Season

Fantasy baseball fans, the 2020 season is finally almost upon us, which means it’s time to start thinking about drafting and valuing players all over again! As I am sure you are all aware, the shortened season and rule changes will impact aspects of your fantasy baseball strategies, some more than others. One of the […]

Richie Martin, Ty Blach To Have Surgery Wednesday

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Richie Martin (wrist surgery) and starting pitcher Ty Blach (Tommy John surgery) are scheduled to have their respective surgeries this Wednesday, per MASN Sports' Roch Kubatko. Martin broke his wrist during an intrasquad game over the weekend and Blach had recently felt soreness in his pitching elbow. Given the length of recovery […]

Orioles Add Ryan Mountcastle, Mason Williams To Player Pool

The Baltimore Orioles announced Wednesday that first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder Mason Williams have been added to the team's player pool, bringing their total to 47 players. Manager Brandon Hyde said they would both be reassigned to secondary camp once it opens. Mountcastle is the only fantasy-relevant player in this news, being one of […]

Jose Iglesias Sits Out Wednesday With Back Soreness

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Jose Iglesias sat out of Wednesday's intrasquad game due to soreness in his back. He also missed Tuesday's workout. Manager Brandon Hyde said this was a precautionary move and is hoping that Iglesias will be available on Thursday. The veteran should serve as the O's everyday shortstop this season and had a […]

Giants Add Alexander Canario, Others To Player Pool

The San Francisco Giants announced Wednesday that outfielder Alexander Canario, left-handed pitcher Caleb Barager, and right-handed pitcher Sam Wolff have been added to the team's player pool for summer camp, bringing their total to 59 players. Both Barager and Wolff posted respectable numbers across several minor-league levels last season, but Canario is of the most […]

Tyler Rogers, Tony Watson Are Closing Candidates

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Tuesday that he has two pitchers in mind to close for the 2020 season, Tyler Rogers and Tony Watson. Rogers, a 29-year-old sidearmer, was solid in very limited work last season, going 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 22.9% strikeout rate and an 0-for-2 conversion rate for […]

Orioles Sign First-Rounder Heston Kjerstad

The Baltimore Orioles signed first-rounder Heston Kjerstad (second overall) to a contract worth $5.2 million on Tuesday. The Arkansas outfielder signed for roughly two-thirds of the slot value of the second overall pick ($7.8 million). Kjerstad was considered one of the top left-handed college bats in this season's draft and was widely thought to be […]

Joey Bart To Return To Giants Camp, Unlikely To Make Roster

San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart will be in major league camp for spring training 2.0, but he will likely not be a candidate to make the Opening Day roster, per TheAthletic.com's Andrew Baggarly. The 23-year-old prospect was optioned in March during the initial spring training, but he will get to see some more time […]

Reyes Moronta Could Return In Late August

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Reyes Moronta (shoulder) is throwing fastballs off of a mound and could still return to the team in late August, per TheAthletics.com's Andrew Baggarly. Moronta suffered a shoulder injury last August and had surgery this offseason to repair a torn labrum. The 27-year-old had a solid 2019 campaign, posting a […]

Pablo Sandoval Cleared To Play Infield

San Francisco Giants first/third baseman Pablo Sandoval (elbow) will be cleared to play first base and third base this season, per TheAthletic.com's Andrew Baggarly. Sandoval underwent Tommy John surgery this offseason but should be ready to field as well as hit. The veteran compiled a .268/.313/.507 slash line with 14 home runs and 41 RBI […]

Giants Shut Down Scottsdale Stadium Facility

The San Francisco Giants closed their Scottsdale Stadium facility on Friday "after one person who had been in the facility and one family member exhibited mild symptoms and were tested," per president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi. The organization is awaiting test results. The Giants recommended that others who had been at the facility should […]

Trey Mancini Unlikely To Play In 2020 Due To Chemotherapy

Baltimore Orioles outfielder/first baseman Trey Mancini said Tuesday that he is recovering from Stage 3 colon cancer and is scheduled to receive chemotherapy for the next six months. As such, he stated, "If baseball returns in 2020, it will probably be without me." It is a shame, as the 28-year-old had a great 2019 season, […]

Trey Mancini In "Good Spot" To Make Full Post-Surgery Recovery

Baltimore Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said Monday that outfielder/first baseman Trey Mancini is in a "really good spot to make a 100% recovery" a month after surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his colon, per BaltimoreSun.com's Jon Meoli. Elias also stated that Mancini's recovery will be months, not weeks […]

Connelly Doan's Bold Predictions for 2020

Welcome to the 2020 fantasy baseball season everybody! While we will not have actual baseball for a while, we can still prep for when that time does come. One of the most satisfying things throughout the season (and in life in general) is to call a long shot. To get something right while acting as […]

Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija To Start First Games Of Season

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler announced Wednesday that Johnny Cueto will be the team's Opening Day starter, with Jeff Samardzija slated to pitch the second game of the season. This will be Cueto's fifth Opening Day start. The veterans will look to lead a thin Giants starting rotation this season. Both have been higher-end […]

Johnny Cueto In Line To Start Opening Day

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Tuesday that starting pitcher Johnny Cueto is "definitely in line" to take the mound for the team's first game of the season, per The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly. The 34-year-old veteran has pitched only 69 total innings over the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery and the […]

Mauricio Dubon Could Spend Time In Outfield

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Monday that middle infielder Mauricio Dubon could see "quite a bit" of time at center field, per NBCSports.com's Alex Pavlovic. The 25-year-old has seen time at second base, shortstop, center field, and third base this preseason. The Giants view him as a flexible option who can fill playing […]

Baltimore Orioles Claim Hector Velazquez Sunday

The Baltimore Orioles claimed pitcher Hector Velazquez off of waivers on Sunday, per MASNSports.com's Roch Kubatko. The 31-year-old was designated for assignment on Thursday after posting a 5.63 ERA in 56 1/3 innings pitched for the Red Sox in 2019. Per Kubatko, the O's view Velazquez more of a long reliever than as a starter. […]

Trey Mancini To Miss Time For Non-Baseball Procedure

Baltimore Orioles outfielder/first baseman Trey Mancini left the team on Saturday and will miss time due to a "non-baseball medical procedure". The team has declined to disclose more information, although Mancini tweeted Sunday, “Once there is more clarity, I will be sure to keep everyone updated over the next few days. I look forward to […]

Austin Wynns Scratched From Lineup Wednesday

Baltimore Orioles catcher Austin Wynns will not play Wednesday after being hit in the groin by a foul ball several days ago, per MLB.com's Joe Trezza. This is a precautionary measure to ensure that he is fully healed before taking the field again. Consider him day-to-day going forward.

Jose Iglesias Has Quad Cramp, Hopeful To Play Thursday

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that shortstop Jose Iglesias is dealing with a quad cramp, per MLB.com's Joe Trezza. It is hopeful that Iglesias will return to the lineup on Thursday, so the cramp does not sound severe. The 30-year-old posted a .288/.318/.407 slash line with 11 home runs, 59 RBI, and six […]

Tyler Beede Feels Elbow Tightness Tuesday

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tyler Beede (elbow) exited his outing Tuesday against the Rangers after experiencing tightness in his pitching elbow, per MLB.com's Maria Guardado. Beede pitched one inning, allowing no runs on one hit and a walk with one strikeout. He is scheduled to undergo tests Tuesday night. The 26-year-old is currently fighting […]

Announcing RotoBaller's New Live Draft Tool

Last season at RotoBaller, we released a set of interactive cheat sheets to help fantasy players prepare for their drafts and the upcoming season. This preseason we have updated these cheat sheets and have also added a brand new Live Draft Tool to give you an edge while drafting in real-time!  In addition to the Live […]

John Means In "Midseason Form" In Tuesday Start

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that starting pitcher John Means was in "midseason form" in his spring training start Tuesday, per BaltimoreBaseball.com's Rich Dubroff. The 26-year-old All-Star pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and no walks with three strikeouts. Said Hyde, "Fastball had really good life. Really good changeups, good […]

Pablo Sandoval To Make Spring Debut Friday As DH

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that third baseman Pablo Sandoval (elbow) will make his spring training debut Friday night as a designated hitter, per Bay Area News Group's Kerry Crowley. The 33-year-old veteran posted a .268/.313/.507 slash line with 14 home runs and 41 RBI in 296 plate appearances in 2019. While Panda is […]

Hunter Harvey Recovering From Flu, Spring Debut Unknown

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Hunter Harvey is still recovering from the flu but has been able to throw in the bullpen, per MASNSports.com's Roch Kubatko. He is still recovering from congestion and does not have a timetable for his spring debut. The 25-year-old has long been one of the O's higher-valued prospects but has been […]

Asher Wojciechowski Has Blister On Throwing Hand

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Asher Wojciechowski is being withheld from exhibition games due to a blister on his right middle finger, per MASNSports.com's Roch Kubatko. However, he is slated to throw two innings in a simulated game Wednesday morning. This is a good sign for the 31-year-old, who made 16 starts for the O's last […]

Drew Smyly Has Scoreless Giants Debut Monday

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Drew Smyly turned in a solid debut for the Giants Monday, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings with one walk and two strikeouts. The 30-year-old missed the 2017 and 2018 seasons while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and turned in a poor 2019 season, posting a 6.24 ERA and 1.59 WHIP […]

Yusniel Diaz Dealing With Left Shoulder Soreness

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Yusniel Diaz is currently dealing with left shoulder soreness but hopes to take batting practice on Tuesday, per BaltimoreSun.com's Jon Meoli. The 23-year-old is considered one of the O's more promising prospects, and both he and manager Brandon Hyde are eager to see him in game action. It remains to be seen […]

Gabe Kapler Excited About Billy Hamilton Signing

The San Francisco Giants recently signed outfielder Billy Hamilton to a minor league contract, and manager Gabe Kapler is already thinking of ways to implement his speed. Hamilton has historically been an elite source of steals in fantasy leagues, but his below-average hitting skills have ousted him from regular playing time over the past few […]