Reviewing Kyle Bishop's 10 Bold Predictions for 2020

My bold predictions for the 2020 season were published on March 4, or roughly a week before everything went to hell. At the time, nobody knew that we'd be left with a 60-game sprint as opposed to the usual marathon of 162. The shortened season obviously changed the calculus a great deal, but it can […]

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 10

Here we are, the final week of the season. Fantasy titles hang in the balance and will be won or lost in many leagues based on the decisions made on the waiver wire. No pressure, right? Fear not - we're here to help just as we (hopefully) did in the first nine weeks of this […]

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 9

Two weeks left in this mad sprint, a waiver wire decisions have only gained importance since the games began. Precious little about 2020 is normal or consistent, but the focus here is the same as it ever was: Players who are rostered in under 50% of Yahoo leagues. Your mileage may vary as to their […]

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8

We're three weeks from season's end, and while that still constitutes a third of the games remaining in this abbreviated season, the importance of smart work on the waiver wire can't be overstated. Precious little about 2020 is normal or consistent, but the focus here is the same as it ever was: Players who are […]

Victor Reyes (OF, DET) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 26% of leagues ANALYSIS: A two-hit performance on Sunday extended Victor Reyes' current hitting streak to seven games. He's tallied multiple hits in four of those contests, and just prior to the streak had a four-hit game as well. All those base knocks have his overall line up […]

Austin Slater (1B/OF, SFG) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 29% of leagues ANALYSIS: Austin Slater was just beginning to attract serious attention from fantasy managers when he suffered a groin strain on August 21. He returned from the injured list over the weekend and was immediately installed in the leadoff spot for San Francisco. An eighth-round draft […]

Brandon Belt (1B/OF, SFG) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 36% of leagues ANALYSIS: For nigh on a decade, Brandon Belt has been somewhat of a siren song for fantasy managers. His high quality contact and advanced plate approach have rarely yielded exciting results in our game, however. That's at least partly attributable to his home park, which is […]

Dane Dunning (SP, CHW) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12-Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 21% of leagues ANALYSIS: While his third start of the 2020 season didn't live up to the standard he set with his first two turns, Dane Dunning looks like the real deal. The rookie has solid ratios (3.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) and 18 strikeouts in his 14 innings of […]

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 7

As you've doubtless sussed out by this point of the season, deft work on the waiver wire is even more pivotal than it is in a full campaign. Injuries and ineffectiveness are, have been, and will be that much more challenging to overcome, especially as the 2020 runway grows shorter. By contrast, this column remains […]

Zach Eflin (SP, PHI) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of leagues ANALYSIS: Zach Eflin has been intermittently useful for fantasy purposes over the past couple of seasons, but he's never flashed this kind of strikeout ability before. After tossing seven strong innings in a win over the Braves on Saturday, the 26-year-old now has 37 punchouts in […]

Richard Rodriguez (RP, PIT) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 16% of leagues ANALYSIS: Even after a rough outing on Saturday, Richard Rodriguez remains arguably the Pirates' best option for the ninth inning while Keone Kela is on the shelf. The 30-year-old had locked down his last two save opportunities before surrendering a walk-off home run against the […]

Alec Bohm (3B, PHI) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: A quiet week has his overall numbers looking a little less impressive than before, but rookie Alec Bohm looks like the real deal. After going 3-for-3 and hitting his first major league home run last Sunday, the 24-year-old was hitting .344 with a .993 OPS […]

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 6

As you've no doubt concluded halfway through this ersatz season, diligent work on the waiver wire is even more critical than it is in a full campaign. Injuries and ineffectiveness are, have been, and will be that much more challenging to overcome, so every decision takes on greater import. By contrast, our focus is a […]

Robbie Grossman (OF, OAK) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 37% of leagues ANALYSIS: Robbie Grossman has always demonstrated excellent plate discipline. At varying points throughout his major-league career, he has also flashed both pop and speed. He just hadn't really put everything together consistently over a long period of time, which is a big reason why he's in […]

Elieser Hernandez (SP, MIA) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 35% of leagues ANALYSIS: Though he hadn't earned a win in 2020 until his most recent start against the Nationals, Elieser Hernandez has pitched quite well thus far. After that victorious effort on Friday, the 25-year-old boasts pristine ratios (2.29 ERA, 0.76 WHIP) and 25 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. […]

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

With a 60-game slate, diligent work on the waiver wire is even more critical than it is in a full season. Injuries and ineffectiveness will be that much more challenging to overcome, so every decision takes on greater import. As in prior seasons, our focus will be on those players who are rostered in under […]

Taylor Williams (RP, SEA) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of leagues ANALYSIS: As one might expect from a team that's emerged victorious in just seven of 22 games thus far, the Mariners don't find themselves with a ton of save opportunities. However, three of the five they've had so far have gone to Taylor Williams. While […]

Mitch Moreland (1B, BOS) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 32% of leagues ANALYSIS: Mitch Moreland has been an intermittently useful fantasy bat for the past decade, with four 20+ home run seasons to his credit despite only once eclipsing 500 at-bats in a season. Last year, he hit 19 homers in just 335 plate appearances, and he already […]

Brian Anderson (3B/OF, MIA) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 34% of leagues ANALYSIS: Brian Anderson had a quietly useful 2019 season, producing an .811 OPS, 20 home runs, 123 R+BI, and five stolen bases. So far in 2020, he looks to have taken a step forward. The Marlins had a handful of games postponed due to a COVID […]

What Is A 2020 Fantasy Championship Worth?

It feels like much longer, but it was only five months ago that the NBA and NHL suspended their seasons. MLB, in the midst of spring training and bearing down on Opening Day, wasn't far behind. We didn't know when - or even if - baseball would return. What we did know was that, assuming there […]

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 4

With a 60-game slate, deft work on the waiver wire is even more crucial than it is in a full season. Injuries and ineffectiveness will be that much more challenging to overcome, so every decision takes on added importance. As in prior seasons, our focus will be on those players who are rostered in under […]

Playing For Keeps: Managing 2020 In A Keeper League

Something you've probably heard from many in the fantasy baseball community - including yours truly just last week in this space - is that you'll need to be ruthless in managing your squad(s) this season. With 102 fewer games than we're used to, there's precious little time to waste waiting for a player, no matter […]

Second Base and Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 3

With a 60-game slate, deft work on the waiver wire is even more critical than it is in a typical 162. Injuries and ineffectiveness will be that much more difficult to overcome, so every decision takes on added importance. As in prior seasons, our focus will be on those players who are rostered in under […]

Kyle Seager (3B, SEA) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 16% of leagues ANALYSIS: Kyle Seager had a nice run earlier in the decade, consistently producing 25+ HR season with solid run production and a respectable batting average while almost never missing a game. A rough 2018 season was followed by an injury-shortened campaign last year, and along […]

Spencer Howard (SP, PHI) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Phillies' top pitching prospect, Spencer Howard was expected to make his major league debut on Friday before concerns over a COVID outbreak led to the team's games being postponed. With the news that the team has no new positive tests and will resume […]

Sam Hilliard (OF, COL) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 21% of leagues ANALYSIS: Fantasy owners are all too familiar with this dilemma. The Rockies have an intriguing young player with monster fantasy potential, yet conspire to keep him from playing regularly through bizarre personnel choices. Fortunately, to this point it appears as though they are playing less […]

Dylan Carlson (OF, STL) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: Obviously, the currently unfolding situation with the Cardinals' potential COVID outbreak should be closely monitored. If and when that is under control, Dylan Carlson will be one of the most appealing options on many leagues' waiver wires. The top prospect didn't make the Opening […]

Teoscar Hernandez (OF, TOR) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 45% of leagues ANALYSIS: Teoscar Hernandez has been one of this week's most popular waiver wire adds, and it's not difficult to grasp why. The 27-year-old boasts a robust .321/.355/.821 line with four home runs and two stolen bases through seven games, and he's also notched a half-dozen runs […]

2020 Hindsight? What This Season Can Teach Fantasy Owners

What will this baseball season mean? Questions abound with regard to the extraordinary circumstances in which we find ourselves, not least of which is whether or not MLB can even manage to complete its planned 60-game season. Coronavirus rages on without an end in sight, and the league's apparent inability or unwillingness to develop and […]

Second Base and Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 2

Thanks to Ellis Canady for filling in last week (and for touting Cesar Hernandez, who is Good). For the remainder of this all too short season, this beat will be covered by yours truly. As in prior seasons, our focus will be on those players who are rostered in under 50% of Yahoo leagues. Your […]