Juan Nicasio (SP, PIT) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Stream in Deep Mixed Leagues, NL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 29% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Already 29 years old, Juan Nicasio made his Pirates debut this past week to much acclaim. The former Rockies and Dodgers pitcher struck out seven while giving up just one run on two hits in his first start. The six-inning performance against […]

Anibal Sanchez (SP, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Stream in Deep Mixed Leagues, AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 33% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: After a sub-par 2015 season, Anibal Sanchez’s stock dropped significantly heading into this season, and he is now owned in just 20% of Fleaflicker leagues. Coming off a win in his season debut against the Marlins, Sanchez will get two more […]

Nick Tropeano (SP, LAA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Stream in Deep Mixed Leagues, AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 2% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Nick Tropeano, 25, has had a couple of stretches in the big leagues over the past two years. Now, with Andrew Heaney on the DL, the Angels have recalled the right-hander for two starts this upcoming week. He’ll take on the Athletics […]

Aaron Nola (SP, PHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Stream in Deep Mixed Leagues OWNED IN: 39% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: The Aaron Nola hype train has been rumbling since last year, when the 22-year-old made his debut in late July. In 13 starts, he gave up four runs or more just four times. He finished with a 6-2 record, but surprisingly, he hasn’t […]

Top Two Start Pitcher Streamers and Sleepers for Week 2

A wise fantasy baseball player never rests. They’re never satisfied with their team and are always on the hunt for the player that can help them in the present and future. For this article, we’ll focus on the present, as we present the top pitcher streamers who’ll be making two outings this week. We do […]

Adonis Garcia (3B, ATL) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target ~365 CURRENT ADP: 397 ANALYSIS: A relatively unknown Cuban defector, Adonis Garcia spent the majority of the past four seasons in the minor leagues. It wasn’t until late July of last year that the Braves called him up and he went on to remain with the club the rest of the way. […]

Trevor Plouffe (3B, MIN) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target ~250 CURRENT ADP: 285.4 ANALYSIS: On the verge of turning 30 years old, Trevor Plouffe could very well be heading into the best season of his career. The six-year veteran has been steadily improving for some time, increasing his hit total yearly. Displaying solid durability, his games total is on the same upward trend, culminating […]

Predicting The Top 10 Finishers in Saves

Before we get to the list, how about some honorable mentions? Despite his struggles down the stretch last season, Shawn Tolleson had a terrific 2015. With a career-high K/9 rate and a career-low BB/9 rate, he was able to rack up 35 saves as Texas won the AL West division. With the Rangers now looking to build […]

Three Third-Year Starting Pitchers Poised to Break Out

The dreaded sophomore slump strikes yearly, leading to disappointment for those who excelled in their rookie seasons. There are other cases, however, in which the sophomore season serves as a bridge to a player’s prime. It can be a year to improve on the previous year's success, or work out the kinks and begin to […]

Change of Scenery: Four Hitters on New Teams in 2016

It happens every year. For numerous reasons, including free agency, impending free agency, teams heading in new directions, or just plain old chemistry issues, players move from team to team. From the Yankees buying Babe Ruth to the Angels signing Josh Hamilton, we’ve seen these moves work out in all sorts of different ways. Now its time […]

Fantasy Studs: Four Players to Targets in Drafts

The feeling you get when a late-round draft pick or early season pickup goes on to become an integral part of your team is one of the best that can come from fantasy sports. It’s happened to all of us, and this year it’s bound to happen again. For this article, however, we’ll look at the […]

2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: Robinson Cano

2015 In Review Robinson Cano has played in at least 156 games every season for the past nine years, establishing himself as one of the most reliable second basemen in the game. Last year, however, he had his worst season in seven years, hitting just .287, picking up just 179 base hits (low for his […]

David Wright (3B, NYM) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~160 CURRENT ADP: 195.7 ANALYSIS: David Wright spent the majority of 2015 on the disabled list with spinal stenosis, but was able to return in August and played right through the postseason run and into the World Series with the Mets. In September, his only full regular season month, he slashed .299/.396/.483 […]

Max Scherzer’s Consistency Calls For More Brilliance

After signing a seven-year mega deal with the Washington Nationals, Max Scherzer did not disappoint in his first year, posting a strong 2.79 ERA to go with a subpar 14-12 record. The record shouldn’t tarnish his season, however, as he threw four complete games, three shutouts, and two no-hitters. His K/9 ratio was a strong […]

Bryce Harper Poised For Another MVP Season

In 2014, Bryce Harper had the worst season of his infant career. Dealing with a thumb injury that cost him a good portion of the season, he finished with career lows in runs, hits, home runs, and slugging percentage among other things. With the rise of fellow youngster Mike Trout over in the American League, […]

Gleyber Torres Still Years Away

At 19 years old and hailing from Caracas, Venezuela, Gleyber Torres is the Chicago Cubs’ lone top 50 prospect on Baseball America’s top 100 prospects of 2016 list. In his first full season of minor league baseball last year, he slashed .287/.346/.376, picking up 140 hits and 64 RBI. While the numbers are solid, especially […]

Chris Coghlan's Bad Luck Continues To Haunt Him

Remember back in 2009 when Chris Coghlan, as a member of the then-Florida Marlins, won the NL Rookie of the Year Award? Neither do I. It’s been quite an interesting career for the center fielder since then. In 2010, he injured his knee celebrating a walk-off victory, needing surgery. In 2011 he struggled, eventually getting […]

Pedro Strop Doomed To Remain Setup Man

In his second full season with the Chicago Cubs, 30-year-old Dominican Pedro Strop emerged as one of the best setup relievers in the league. In 76 appearances, he recorded 28 holds in 68 innings, finishing tied for fifth in the category. He also had a shot at closer, as Joe Maddon implemented a closer by […]

Adam Warren's Value Hinges On Spring Training Battle For Rotation

Traded from the New York Yankees for Starlin Castro, Adam Warren arrives in Chicago as an interesting project. He spent the majority of his first three seasons as a reliever with the ability to pitch extended innings, but he became New York’s fifth last year in the wake of Ivan Nova’s injury. His season can […]

Can Jason Hammel Bounce Back From Second-Half Slide?

33-year-old Jason Hammel is coming off a roller coaster 2015 campaign that saw him start strong before spiraling downhill in the final three months of the season. Now entering his 11th year in the majors, he finds himself at a crossroads. With possible free agency awaiting him next offseason, does he have what it takes to […]

2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: David Wright

David Wright spent the majority of his 2015 season on the disabled list with spinal stenosis. Sure, that sounds bad, but Wright was able to return in August and played right through the postseason run and into the World Series. In September, his only full regular season month, he posted solid numbers. Playing in 23 […]

Flying Under The Radar, Kyle Hendricks May Be Worth A Late-Round Pick

Lost amidst the free agent signings and veterans at the top of Chicago’s pitching rotation is Kyle Hendricks, the 26-year-old who’ll be pitching in only his third season in the majors in 2016.  His first two years weren't exactly extraordinary, but there have been signs of fantasy value. He became a solid late-season pickup in 2014, […]

Javier Baez Will Be The First Man Off The Bench

If Javier Baez played for nearly any other organization besides the Cubs, this would be a big year for him. A second baseman/shortstop, the 23-year-old Puerto Rico native showed improvement in his short, 28-game stint in the majors last year, recording just 14 fewer base hits than in 2014, despite playing in 24 fewer games. […]

Controlling The Strikeouts Will Be Key For Addison Russell

Now that the Cubs have traded Starlin Castro away, Addison Russell has been given the starting shortstop position, which he should carry all season. Last year, Russell was called up at the end of April and struggled at the plate. He finished with a .242 BA, striking out 149 times to only 115 hits. The […]

Ben Zobrist Fights Age And Lineup Position

When Ben Zobrist signed a four-year deal with the Chicago Cubs this offseason, he knew he’d be entering an already-stacked lineup. From second to sixth, all spots are taken, which will force him to break new ground. Zobrist has spent the majority of his career hitting between second and fifth in the order, so he’ll have […]

Run Support Will Be The Key For Jon Lester

When Jon Lester signed with the Cubs for six years and $155 million in December of 2014, he was widely expected to be the ace of the pitching staff. Then a funny thing happened along the way, as Jake Arrieta enjoyed a Cy Young-winning campaign while Lester never really got going. His first month of […]

Will Hector Rondon Lose The Closer Role Again?

Last year, Hector Rondon had some struggles as closer of the Chicago Cubs. He led the team with 30 saves, but was shaky right from the start, eventually getting downgraded to setup man. Ultimately, six other pitchers recorded saves for the Cubs, as Joe Maddon implemented a closer by committee policy. Rondon did eventually get […]

Like His Home Runs, How Far Will Kyle Schwarber Go?

After an impressive stint in the majors last year, Kyle Schwarber enters the 2016 MLB season as one of the more exciting young sluggers in the league.  At 22 years old, he played 69 games, smashing 16 HR and recording 43 RBI. He’s not a great hitter, however, as he finished with a .246 BA. That […]

Miguel Montero, Backup Extraordinaire?

After his first season with the Chicago Cubs, 32-year-old catcher Miguel Montero enters the 2016 campaign as the hitter with arguably the least fantasy value in the lineup. That’s certainly not a knock on the Venezuelan veteran, it’s simply a matter of this lineup's strength, which will relegate him to the bottom third of the order. One […]

Will Jason Heyward Reap The Rewards Of His New Lineup?

Chicago’s biggest acquisition this winter was Jason Heyward, the 26-year-old outfielder who left St. Louis for the rival Cubs. Heyward is widely considered the final piece to this powerful lineup, but what exactly will he provide in terms of fantasy value? Chicago has a solid core in the middle of the batting order with Rizzo, […]