Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 5

Welcome to the 2021 edition of "Are You For Real?" This is a weekly column where we dissect surprisingly good starts from under-rostered and unheralded hurlers to try and determine whether they can maintain their performance or if it was just a flash in the pan. With April behind us, the numbers are beginning to […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 4

Welcome to the 2021 edition of "Are You For Real?" This is a weekly column where we dissect surprisingly good starts from under-rostered and unheralded hurlers to try and determine whether they can maintain their performance, or if it was just a flash in the pan. As April comes to a close, the days of […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 3

Welcome to the 2021 edition of "Are You For Real?" This is a weekly column where we dissect surprisingly good starts from under-rostered and unheralded hurlers to try and determine whether they can maintain their performance, or if it was just a flash in the pan. Week 3 was another good one in the baseball […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 2

Welcome to the 2021 edition of "Are You For Real?" This is a weekly column where we dissect surprisingly good starts from under-rostered and unheralded hurlers to try and determine whether they can maintain their performance, or if it was just a flash in the pan. Week 2 brought even more surprising starts, and with […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 1

Welcome to the 2021 edition of "Are You For Real?" This is a weekly column where we dissect surprisingly good starts from under-rostered and unheralded hurlers to try and determine whether they can maintain their performance, or if it was just a flash in the pan. Major league baseball is back and in full swing […]

Spin Rate Studs to Watch Closely in 2021

On August 16, 1920 in the fifth inning of a game against the Cleveland Indians, Yankees right-hander Carl Mays wound up and delivered an unusually moist fastball in his signature submarine delivery. The batter, Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman, lost the errant spitball in the twilight sun and was struck in the head by the pitch. […]

Finding Breakout Power Hitters Using Barrel Rates

In part one of this article, I explained how important Statcast is to determining surface stats and the usefulness of barrel rates. Before continuing, I would recommend checking out that article if you're interested in learning how Statcast metrics affect surface stats and player outcomes, and which Statcast metrics are the best predictors of success (hint: […]

Correlating Statcast to Outcomes: Why You Should Pay Attention to Barrels

Barrels are the keeper of life’s finer things. Beer, pickles, monkeys, the list is endless. Barrels don’t just hold fermented vegetables and unruly simians these days, barrels may also hold the key to identifying the game’s best hitters and struggling hitters who may be due for brighter days. In my mission to find just how […]

Third Basemen Set to Bust in 2021

The hot corner is loaded with talent once again in 2021, and of the two classic infield power positions, third base is measurably deeper than its traditional slugger counterpart across the diamond. With such depth, it’s even more important to nail your third base pick on draft day, otherwise you’ll be fitting an uphill battle […]

Four Post-Hype Hitters Ready to Break Out

Any high-ranking prospect is saddled with an astronomical amount of hype, both throughout their minor league career and up to the moment they finally reach the Bigs. If the player fails to reach the expectations laid before him, we as fantasy players are quick to cast him aside and move to the next big thing. […]

Year-in-Review: Dylan Bundy

“Just when I thought I was out, he pulls me back in!” –That’s what fantasy managers found themselves saying about Dylan Bundy this year, as the longtime sleeper finally woke up with career-best numbers across the board, highlighted by a 3.29 ERA, 2.95 FIP, and 4.24 K/BB ratio. Going into 2020 Bundy’s NFBC ADP was […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 9

Welcome back to "Are You For Real?" Each week, we look at lower-owned starting pitchers who have performed unexpectedly well in their last outing(s). Hard to believe, but the fantasy baseball season is already coming to a close. While it wasn't the long slog we normally love, we can at least appreciate it was here. […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 8

Welcome back to "Are You For Real?" Each week, we look at lower-owned starting pitchers who have performed unexpectedly well in their last outing(s). The lefties were on display this week, as we saw two strong outings from AL southpaws Jordan Montgomery and Justus Sheffield. And of course we're going to break down the most […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 7

Welcome back to "Are You For Real?" Each week, we look at lower-owned starting pitchers who have performed unexpectedly well in their last outing(s). It was another exciting week of surprising starts, and with playoff time already upon us now is when September heroes emerge and become legends, at least in the storied history of […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 6

Welcome back to "Are You For Real?" Each week, we look at lower-owned starting pitchers who have performed unexpectedly well in their last outing(s). We're looking at a trio of low-owned right-handers this week, as Dane Dunning, Zach Eflin, and Tyler Mahle all impressed over the weekend. Each is available in more than 80% of […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 5

Welcome back to "Are You For Real?" Each week, we look at lower-owned starting pitchers who have performed unexpectedly well in their last outing(s). The young guns were on display this week, and we are going to break down three right-handers all 25 or younger who put up surprising starts this week. We'll look at […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 4

Welcome back to "Are You For Real?" Each week, we look at lower-owned starting pitchers who have performed unexpectedly well in their last outing(s). Something's fishy about this week's group...it's the Marlins! Miami has quietly built one of the most intriguing young staffs in the league, and we're taking a deep dive down south to […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 3

Welcome back to "Are You For Real?" Each week, we look at lower-owned starting pitchers who have performed unexpectedly well in their last outing(s). This week we're looking at a trio of pitchers who put up surprising strikeout numbers over the weekend. Nathan Eovaldi dominated the baby Blue Jays, while Framber Valdez put up nine […]

Miguel Cabrera (1B, DET) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 16% of leagues ANALYSIS:  Could it be? Is Miguel Cabrera back? Well, his early numbers are certainly promising. Miggy has slugged four homers and has a .302 ISO in 43 PA going into play Sunday. The future Hall-of-Famer is pulverizing the ball, with a 94 MPH average […]

Brandon Nimmo (OF, NYM) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 12% of leagues ANALYSIS:  Brandon Nimmo has shown plenty of promise as a big league in the past, but a .221 AVG in 2019, a high strikeout rate, and an overcrowded Mets outfield have soured Nimmo’s prospects. With injuries piling up and Yoenis Cespedes opting out, Nimmo […]

Leury Garcia (2B/SS/OF, CHW) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS:  With both Tim Anderson and Nick Madrigal on the shelf, Garcia is getting every day playing time at shortstop for the White Sox. Anderson should be back next week, but Garcia can slide over to the keystone and continue as a full-timer. Garcia’s […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 2

Welcome back to "Are You For Real?" Each week, we look at lower-owned starting pitchers who have performed unexpectedly well in their last outing(s). This week we're looking at a pair of pitchers who disappointed after signing big contracts, but both have shown a little something extra during their first couple starts of the season. […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 1

Welcome back to "Are You For Real?" Each week, we look at lower-owned starting pitchers who have performed unexpectedly well in their last outing(s). This week we're looking at a trio of promising right-handers, all under the age of 28. Sandy Alcantara lit up the Phillies on Opening Day, Brady Singer dazzled in his MLB […]

Sam Hilliard (OF, COL) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of leagues ANALYSIS:  Sam Hilliard’s power exploded in 2019, clubbing 42 home runs between the majors and Triple-A last season, this after just hitting nine dingers with a .126 OPS in 2018 at Double-A. The 6’5”, 238-pounder is surprisingly fleet of foot as well, swiping at […]

Howie Kendrick (1B/2B/3B, WSH) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS:  Not many players have a career-year at age 36, but that’s exactly what Howie Kendrick did last season in Washington. The veteran infielder hit for a cool .344 with a .966 OPS along with 17 longballs in 370 PA. That performance wasn't a fluke […]

C.J. Cron (1B, DET) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 34% of leagues While his 2019 surface stats look unremarkable (.780 OPS, 25 HR in 499 PA), C.J. Cron made leaps in hit quality last year. He set career highs in average exit velocity (91.1 MPH), barrel rate (15%), and hard contact rate (41.1%). He also cut his […]

2019 Busts Who'll Keep Junking it Up - Infielders

Nothing grinds a fantasy owner's gears quite like a bust. Well, maybe unpaid league dues, but busts are a close second. It doesn't feel good to stare at your lineup all-season and watch a high draft pick torpedo your team's chances at glory. Spurned owners tend to avoid the players who've burned them, but a […]

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers - Week 17

The fantasy season is over for most, but some of you crazy people have Week 17  championships. If that's the case, then you'll have to navigate teams resting starters, shutting down injured players, and using second-stringers to see what they've got. The biggest name we'll likely be without is Lamar Jackson, since Baltimore has locked […]

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers - Week 16

It's championship week, and if you're looking for quarterback streamers things have either gone horribly right or horribly wrong for your squad heading into the title game. Whichever it is, we've got some strong options to help bring home the ship. Maybe you're looking for a streamer because your regular starter has a tough matchup. […]

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers - Week 15

The first week of the fantasy playoffs in almost in the books, and if you're fortunate enough to have advanced then it's already time to start thinking about Week 15 lineups, especially for those who stream quarterbacks. Luckily, there are plenty of viable options available as eliminated owners have stopped making moves, and if you […]