David Peterson In Mets Rotation

New York Mets manager Luis Rojas stated on Friday that starting pitcher David Peterson is "pretty much" in the Mets' starting rotation. Peterson had been in a competition with Joey Lucchesi for the fifth rotation spot during spring training. However, with the injury to Carlos Carrasco (hamstring), Peterson appears to be earmarked for the fourth […]

Undervalued Mixed League Draft Targets in 2021

Finding undervalued players during drafts can make or break your fantasy season. One of the ways we look for undervalued players is to utilize RotoBaller’s Expected Draft Value research developed by my colleague Nick Mariano.  We attempt to identify players who are forecast to return value in 2021 which is greater than the expected value […]

2021 Relievers To Target For Holds

As evidenced by the success of the 2015 Kansas City Royals and 2020 Tampa Bay Rays, we have seen a much greater focus placed on strengthening middle-relief in MLB bullpens over the past decade. Additionally, in recent seasons we have seen a shift toward teams utilizing their best reliever in the most crucial innings and […]

Mark Canha (OF, OAK) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 240 CURRENT ADP: ~255 overall ANALYSIS: In 2020, Oakland A’s outfielder/designated hitter Mark Canha posted a .246/.387/.408 slash line to go with five home runs and a very impressive 33 RBI in 243 plate appearances. While his RBI total, fifteenth in all of MLB, and OBP were among the league’s best […]

Carlos Carrasco's Hamstring Injury Classified As A Tear

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (hamstring, elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session on Thursday and strained his right hamstring during the follow-up conditioning work. It is now being reported that Carrasco's hamstring injury is being classified as a high-grade tear. He is probably looking at a six-to-eight week absence, according to […]

Carlos Carrasco Strains Hamstring Thursday

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (hamstring) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session on Thursday and reportedly strained his right hamstring during the follow-up conditioning work. Before the news broke that Carrasco suffered the hamstring strain, Mets manager Luis Rojas stated that the team believed Carrasco would be ready for his first rotation […]

Carlos Carrasco Still On Track For Opening Day

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session on Thursday. Following his session, Mets manager Luis Rojas stated that the team believes Carrasco will be ready for his first rotation turn in April as long as he remains on track with his progression. This is obviously good news […]

Dominic Smith Remains Sidelined Thursday

New York Mets outfielder Dominic Smith (wrist) remains out of the Mets' Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday for their game against the Washington Nationals. Smith was removed from Wednesday's starting lineup in Grapefruit League play due to "general wrist soreness." This wrist issue does not appear serious, despite sidelining Smith for the past two days. […]

Pete Alonso Remains On Fire This Spring

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso went 3-for-3 with a home run and double on Tuesday against the Houston Astros in Grapefruit League action. Alonso remains on fire this spring, slashing .417/.533/.958, with three home runs and 10 RBI in 24 at-bats. This is a far cry from last spring when he failed to […]

Dellin Betances' Velocity Down Again

New York Mets right-handed reliever Dellin Betances showed a decline in velocity on Tuesday in Grapefruit League action, an issue that has plagued him since spring training in 2020. Betances' four-seam fastball only averaged 90.6 mph on Tuesday, which was down a couple of mph from earlier this spring. Betances fastball unimpressively sat between 89-92 […]

Francisco Lindor Homers On Tuesday

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor went 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored in Grapefruit League action on Tuesday against Houston. For Lindor, who was off to a slow spring start, the HR was his first of the spring and he is now hitting .227 in 22 spring at-bats. Lindor had a […]

Jacob deGrom Dominates Once Again

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom stuck out six, allowed only two hits and one run in four innings of Grapefruit League action on Tuesday against Houston. In nine innings of work this spring, deGrom has now stuck out a ridiculous 16 and allowed only three hits, one run, and one walk while routinely […]

Joey Lucchesi In Tight Battle For Rotation Spot

New York Mets manager Luis Rojas stated on Tuesday that the competition for the fifth rotation spot between David Peterson, Joey Lucchesi, and Jordan Yamamoto remains "really tight." Lucchesi, acquired by the Mets from the Padres in the offseason, struggled in limited action in 2020, going 0-1 with a 7.94 ERA in two starts and […]

Carlos Carrasco Throws Bullpen Session Tuesday

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and is expected to advance to throwing live batting practice on Thursday. While the Mets have indicated Carrasco's elbow issue isn't a concern, it is likely that the Mets will exercise a considerable amount of caution with their newly acquired starting […]

David Peterson With Poor Start On Sunday

New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson allowed three earned runs on five hits and two walks with one strikeout in Grapefruit League action on Sunday against the Cardinals. Peterson, who is in competition with Joey Lucchesi for the fifth rotation spot, has now pitched to a 4.50 ERA in his two spring training starts […]

Francisco Lindor Extension Talks To Begin

Extension talks are expected to begin between New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and the team, with the expectation that Lindor will command at least a 10-year deal in excess of $300 million. Robert Murray reports that while both sides have a clear mutual interest in completing a deal, each has acknowledged that Lindor could […]

Jeff McNeil Struggling This Spring

New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil went 0-for-3 in Grapefruit League action on Thursday against the Astros, dropping his batting average to .071 this spring. McNeil is now just 1-for-14 with three strikeouts, with his lone spring hit a solo home run. McNeil is coming off a solid 2020 campaign in which he posted a […]

Carlos Carrasco To Play Catch On Sunday

New York Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (elbow) is expected to play catch on Sunday after recently having experienced some soreness in his elbow. While the Mets have indicated Carrasco's elbow issue isn't much of a concern, expect them to exercise a considerable amount of caution with their newly acquired starting pitcher. It remains questionable as […]

Brandon Nimmo Possibly Leading Off For Mets In 2021

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo is batting leadoff and playing left field on Thursday in Grapefruit League action against the Astros. Prior to the game, Mets manager Luis Rojas stated that he was not sure if Thursday's lineup would be his Opening Day lineup, but he did acknowledge that Nimmo and shortstop Francisco Lindor […]

Dominic Smith To Play Left Field Friday

New York Mets outfielder/first baseman Dominic Smith is scheduled to play left field for the first time in Grapefruit League action Friday. The Mets had reportedly been holding Smith back from playing in the outfield this spring to avoid injury and/or burning him out coming off the shortened 2020 season. With no designated hitter in […]

Carlos Carrasco Dealing With Elbow Soreness

New York Mets manager Luis Rojas stated on Wednesday that starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco has experienced some soreness in his elbow. Rojas indicated that it isn't much of a concern at this point and that Carrasco has felt similar soreness over the course of his career. The Mets stated that Carrasco will rest the next […]

Jose Martinez To Miss Four Months

New York Mets utility infielder/outfielder Jose Martinez suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee on Sunday during a defensive play at first base when he ran into an umpire. Martinez is scheduled to have surgery on his knee within the week and should miss up to four months. The injury came at a terrible […]

Jonathan Villar Homers On Sunday

New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jonathan Villar hit a three-run home run on Sunday in Grapefruit League action against the Marlins. It was Villar's first hit of spring training. Villar was signed by the Mets to a one-year deal worth $3.55 million-plus incentives earlier in the off-season. In 2020, Villar posted an unimpressive .232/.301/.292 slash line […]

Jeff McNeil With Brutal Defensive Day In Field

New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil committed three errors on Sunday in the Mets' Grapefruit League matchup against the Marlins. McNeil was playing third base on Sunday, though his primary position in 2021 will be second base where is he better defensively. With Jonathan Villar now with the Mets after signing a one-year deal this […]

James McCann With Two Hits On Saturday

New York Mets catcher James McCann went 2-for-3, with two runs scored, in Grapefruit League action against the Astros on Saturday. McCann is now batting .429 in the early days of spring training. McCann posted a .289/.360/.536 slash line to go with seven home runs and 15 RBI in the shortened 2020 season with the […]

Dominic Smith Homers On Saturday

New York Mets outfielder/first baseman Dominic Smith went 1-for-3, including a two-run home run, in Grapefruit League action on Saturday against the Astros. Smith was the Mets designated hitter, who slotted into the lineup batting fifth. With no designated hitter in the NL for 2021, Smith should see the bulk of his playing time in […]

Jacob deGrom Dominant On Saturday

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom threw two scoreless innings in his 2021 Grapefruit League debut Saturday against the Astros. deGrom allowed only one hit, struck out three, and was consistently hitting 99mph and 100mph on his fastball. deGrom is coming off the shortened 2020 season in which he posted a 2.38 ERA, a […]

Pete Alonso Blasts Grand Slam In Spring Action

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso crushed a grand slam in Grapefruit League action on Thursday against the Washington Nationals. Alonso went 1-for-3 on the day, including the grand slam which was his first home run of the spring. Alonso did not hit a single HR last spring prior to a disappointing 2020 season […]

Dominic Smith Making Spring Debut On Thursday

New York Mets outfielder/first baseman Dominic Smith will be making his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday against the Nationals. Smith will be batting third as the Mets' designated hitter. In 2020, Smith broke out with a .316/.377/.616 slash line, 10 home runs, and 42 RBI. He finished tied for second in the National League with […]

Jacob deGrom To Start Saturday Against Houston

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom will make his 2021 Grapefruit League debut Saturday when he faces the Houston Astros. deGrom already appears to be in midseason form during these early days of spring training, having hit 99mph with his fastball last Tuesday. deGrom finished 2020 with a 4-2 record, a 2.38 ERA, a […]