Nate Green's Bold Predictions for 2019

Here at RotoBaller, we offer only the best, most factually-grounded fantasy analysis. Then, once a year, along comes everyone's favorite exercise: the Bold Predictions. Ah yes, wherein those of us who write analysis about a sabermetric-driven sport are encouraged to make the wildest guesses about the coming season in fantasy baseball. Some statistical basis ought... Read More

Sean Doolittle Gets Wakeup Call

Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle had a rough day Saturday, allowing four hits, five earned runs, a walk and a home run to the Cardinals. Doolittle, who considered the performance to be a "wakeup call," only has a 9.64 ERA this spring. Despite that, Doolittle is a top ten closer and should be drafted as... Read More

Late-Round SP Fliers Who Could Rack Up Wins

Pitcher wins, as you may know, are now widely considered to be essentially meaningless outside of a fantasy context. For the same reason, they also make for a weird fantasy stat. For example, Rick Porcello only managed a 4.28 ERA in 2018, which ranked 45th out of 58 qualified pitchers. That ERA was also backed... Read More

Anthony Rendon, Yan Gomes Homer Twice Each

Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon and catcher Yan Gomes each hit two of the team's seven total home runs in their 11-3 spring training win over the Mets on Friday. The others were hit by Adam Eaton, Ryan Zimmerman, and Matt Adams. Rendon makes for a strong if understated asset at third base (somewhere... Read More

Michael A. Taylor To Miss Significant Amount of Time

The injury that Washington Nationals outfielder Michael A. Taylor sustained on Thursday was announced as a knee and hip sprain on Friday and is serious enough to cost him "significant" playing time. It's bad news for the Nationals outfield depth but good news for prospect Victor Robles, who should now get everyday AB's. Taylor was... Read More

Victor Robles Goes 2-For-4, Homers

Washington Nationals outfielder Victor Robles hit his second home run of the spring on Thursday and is now batting .375 with a 1.069 OPS this month. His main competition for playing time this season, Michael A. Taylor, also suffered a knee injury which, if serious, would mean extra at-bats for Robles. Robles makes for a... Read More

Michael A. Taylor Injures Left Knee

Washington Nationals outfielder Michael A. Taylor injured his left knee robbing Byron Buxton of a hit in the second inning on Thursday. He left the game at the end of the inning and will be evaluated further on Friday. Based on reports, the injury may not be serious, but a significant injury would pretty much... Read More

Trea Turner Hits First Home Run of Spring

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner was one of four Nationals to hit a home run in their 8-4 win over the Braves on Wednesday. Turner hit 19 home runs in 2018 to go with his 43 stolen bases, a combination that along with his position has made him an extremely tantalizing fantasy asset this draft... Read More

Patrick Corbin Fans Four Hitters

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin, their key free-agent signing this past offseason, allowed three runs on six hits with four strikeouts in four innings versus the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. Corbin had entered the game with only three strikeouts in nine innings this spring training, but today helps demonstrate that those missing K's were... Read More

Max Scherzer To Start On Opening Day

Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer has been named the club's Opening Day starter against the New York Mets. It will be his fourth Opening Day start with the Nationals, and he will face the man who beat him for last year's NL Cy Young Award, Jacob deGrom. Scherzer remains one of fantasy baseball's top one... Read More

Juan Soto Working on Defense

Jamal Collier of MLB.com wrote about Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto, saying "even if the advanced metrics did not grade Soto's defense favorably, the Nationals were happy with the strides he made last season." Third-base coach Bob Henley said that Soto "doesn’t want to be a one-dimensional guy, he wants to be a great baseball... Read More

Carter Kieboom "Gym Rat" According To Manager

Nationals infield prospect Carter Kieboom was praised by manager Dave Martinez recently: "He's like a sponge. He wants to absorb everything. He listens, and he's hanging out with some of our veteran guys and talking and stuff." Kieboom is hitting .300/.400/.600 through 25 PA this spring training, but as article author Christina De Nicola writes:... Read More

One Dollar Bids - Auction Draft Targets

Auction drafts are an interesting animal. This especially comes through at the end of drafts. In a snake draft, that sleeper you really wanted may get picked just before your turn, but if he does get to your spot, he's yours. In an auction draft, someone you had tabbed as a $1 sleeper can be... Read More

Adam Eaton Sees Self in Dustin Pedroia

Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton compared his playing style to Dustin Pedroia on Friday. "In ’07 and ’08 when I was still in high school and college and he was really getting in it, watching him, that’s exactly what I wanted to be," Eaton said. He elaborated further in the source article. Eaton, who has... Read More

Stephen Strasburg Throws Four Scoreless Innings

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg held the Mets to one hit and one walk with five strikeouts in his second spring appearance on Wednesday. Since 2015, Strasburg has only started between 22 and 28 games every season, and in the 22-start season last year, he posted career worsts of a 3.74 ERA and 3.62... Read More

Max Scherzer Allows Five Runs

Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer had a rough fourth inning on Tuesday in which he allowed five runs to the Boston Red Sox. Scherzer was more himself in the first three innings, where he retired all nine batters faced with three strikeouts. That perfect start is much closer to what you should expect in 2019... Read More

Jeremy Hellickson Working on Slider

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson is practicing a quick pitch and a slider this spring training. "I just think nowadays a slider is a big strikeout pitch and I've just never had one...It's a tough pitch to throw, been trying to throw one forever," Hellickson said. He also revealed that he's talked to Patrick... Read More

Ryan Zimmerman Makes Spring Debut

Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman played his first game of the spring on Saturday, going three innings in the field and 0-2 at the plate. The news here is that Zimmerman, who was criticized for skipping last year's spring training, will play more often this spring, saying: "When things are good and my body is good,... Read More

ADP Cost Analysis - Andrew McCutchen vs. Jesse Winker

Andrew McCutchen, now 32, is unlikely to ever regain his spectacular prime years from 2012-15, but after a disappointing 2016 campaign, he recovered with solid seasons in 2017 and 18, posting 20+ home runs and double-digit steals both years. He is being drafted 144th overall on average after signing with the Phillies this offseason. Jessie... Read More

ADP Debate - Mallex Smith vs. Victor Robles

When given the choice between a mostly-unproven talent who could contribute something in five categories on one hand, and a newly-successful player likely to be limited in HR and RBI, who would you pick? This is essentially the choice presented by Mallex Smith and Victor Robles this draft season. Both are being drafted within the... Read More

The National League Could Use a DH Right About Now

Ken Rosenthal, followed by Jeff Passan, Joel Sherman, and Jayson Stark, recently reported on negotiations between MLB and the Player's Association, especially regarding the rulebook. One of the most provocative pieces in the overarching story has been the possibility of the designated hitter coming to the National League as soon as this coming season. *cue sad trombone... Read More

ADP Cost Analysis - Eddie Rosario vs. Aaron Hicks

After years of struggles at the plate early in their careers, Eddie Rosario and Aaron Hicks both figured something out in 2017, which they were able to transfer to 2018. Rosario hit .288/.323/.479 last year with 24 home runs, 77 RBI, eight steals, and 87 runs scored. Meanwhile, Hicks hit .248/.366/.467 with 27 home runs,... Read More

Franmil Reyes - Petco Power Hitter?

Franmil Reyes hit 16 home runs in 87 games in his rookie campaign, a 30-HR pace. Historically, hitting home runs at Petco Park has been quite difficult. Since moving to the stadium in 2004, the Padres only have had six 30-HR hitters, ranking 26th in baseball in that time, and four of those were Adrian... Read More

Nicholas Castellanos - Unfortunate Barreler of Baseballs

In 2017, Nicholas Castellanos made outs on 17 of his barrels, which led Major League Baseball. In 2018, Castellanos again made outs on 17 of his barrels, which led Major League Baseball. Even stranger, it was a continuation from the 2016 season, when Castellanos barreled up 13 outs, which ranked ninth and was also the most of... Read More