Introducing EDV - Expected Draft Values for Fantasy Baseball

Last March at RotoBaller, we kicked off a cool fantasy baseball research project, exploring what we're calling Expected Draft Values. This offseason, we’ve refined the approach and our research, and taken things a step forward. We're sharing this concept with the fantasy baseball world now, and hope it's as helpful to you as it's been... Read More

Nick Anderson (RP, MIA) - Closer and Saves Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 6% of leagues ANALYSIS: If you're a hungry little saves vulture like me, you've been stashing Nick Anderson for a week already, in anticipation of a Sergio Romo trade. Anderson should be the closer in Miami now, though we'll have to wait for him to be used in... Read More

What to Make of Jose Martinez, Matt Davidson, and a Couple Other Quick Starts

Even though it's barely 50 degrees in Brooklyn, it feels like spring is finally nigh now that the 2018 MLB season is underway. As a Yankees fan, I'd been especially looking forward to opening day ever since Giancarlo Stanton was signed. He certainly didn't disappoint when he launched an opposite field home run at 117... Read More

Jason Grilli to Close for Blue Jays with Roberto Osuna on the 10-day DL

As reported by MLB.com Blue Jays beat reporter Gregor Chisholm via Twitter, Roberto Osuna will start the season on the disabled list for the Toronto Blue Jays. It's unclear how long he will be sidelined for, but Jason Grilli is expected to serve as the closer for now. If you are in a league that... Read More

Will Harris (RP, HOU) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately in All Leagues OWNED IN: 33% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Luke Gregerson is out as the closer in Houston, according to Astros manager A.J. Hinch. Officially, it will be the dreaded closer-by-committee taking over. Unofficially, it's 31-year-old Will Harris's job to run with and lose. In case you've been sleeping under a rock,... Read More

Al Alburquerque & Bruce Rondon (RP, DET) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Saves Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Joakim Soria has been traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates and is out as the closer in Detroit. Enter Al Alburquerque and Bruce Rondon. Alburquerque has been the setup man in Detroit and seems like the favorite to get the first crack at saves for the... Read More

Joey Gallo (3B, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 33% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: A lot has been said of Joey Gallo since his impressive debut on June 2nd. But apparently not enough, since he's not close to being owned in enough leagues yet. Gallo is not without warts - he has 10 strikeouts in just 16 ABs and... Read More

Joakim Soria (RP, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues Immediately OWNED IN: 13% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Joakim Soria is now the closer in Detroit. Run to your league's waiver wire and pick him up immediately. In standard 5x5 leagues that preciously value saves, Soria is worth a pretty penny of your FAAB budget. Joe Nathan was placed on the DL with... Read More

Brett Cecil (RP, TOR) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target Late in All Leagues ANALYSIS: Brett Cecil looks like a very attractive third closer for your fantasy team with an average ADP of 280. Cecil put up an elite 12.8 K/9 in 2014, which is up there with the best closers in the MLB. While Cecil wasn't closing in 2014, he's lined up to... Read More

Draft Strategy: How to Use ADPs to Find Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

How to Use ADP Data to Find Draft Sleepers ADPs, or Average Draft Positions, are perhaps the single biggest obsession and reference point for the great majority of fantasy baseball drafters. And it makes sense: you can see where a player is being drafted, judge whether you like him more or less than his ADP,... Read More

Jake Marisnick (OF, MIA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ANALYSIS: With less than a week left in the regular MLB season and fantasy baseball roto seasons, some of you are looking for all the help you can get even if it comes from the bottom of the barrel.  Jake Marisnick, traded to the Houston Astros at the deadline by the... Read More

Mark Trumbo (OF, ARI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ANALYSIS: Trumbo has been healthy for a while now but has only recently found the groove he was in at the beginning of the season when he was belting HRs left and right.  He has 3 HR and 13 RBIs over his last 8 games.  The BA is not a... Read More

James Jones (WR, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All 12+ Team Leagues 63% Owned in Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Coming into the season there was a little uncertainty around who would wind up as the #1 wide receiver in Oakland.  Rod Streater has been a steady presence there, and many anticipated (yet again) the breakout of Denarius Moore.  But After Week 2... Read More

Jeremy Hill (RB, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All 10+ Team Leagues ANALYSIS: Jeremy Hill is currently owned in just 52% of Fleaflicker leagues, which I find pretty tough to believe. The rookie Bengals' running back is showing more efficiency than Gio Bernard, with a very solid 4.9 YPC, and is also seeing his carries rise, with 15 rushing attempts in... Read More

Wei-Yin Chen (SP, BAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Most Leagues ANALYSIS: If you've owned Wei-Yin Chen most of the year (and he's certainly been consistent enough to justify that in deep leagues), then you already know how solid he's been.  For those of you not acquainted with Mr. Chen, allow me to introduce you to his stat line: 15-4 record, with... Read More

Allen Hurns (WR, JAX) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: You're probably hearing a lot about Allen Hurns right now, and asking yourself "who the hell is this guy?"  Don't worry, we've got you covered well in advance of Week 1's waiver wire deadline. Hurns is a rookie WR out of U of Miami who went undrafted in the 2014... Read More

Jake Peavy (SP, SF) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Most Leagues ANALYSIS: Jake Peavy has been lights out recently. Including last night's high quality  vs. the Tigers (6 IP, 0 ER, 3 baserunners, 3K), Peavy has allowed just 4 ER in his last 5 starts, totaling 34.2 IP, with a shiny 27:7 K:BB ratio. Peavy has completely turned his season... Read More

Chris Tillman (SP, BAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately in All Leagues ANALYSIS: What are you doing not owning Chris Tilllman? The man has been a force of destruction in his last 10 starts. Over that span he's allowed 3 ER just twice, and less than 3 ER 8 times. He's racked up a 54:13 K:BB ratio in 68.1 IP. He's... Read More

Jonathan Dwyer (RB, ARI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately (If Not Sooner!) in All Leagues ANALYSIS:  Andre Ellington has a history of foot problems (ligament sprain and ankle surgery in college), so it's especially concerning that he's aggravated his left foot in practice on Thursday. XTRA 910 Arizona's Mike Jurecki's reported Ellington "could be out an extended period of time." Ellington... Read More

Matt Shoemaker (SP, LAA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Most Leagues ANALYSIS: Matt Shoemaker has been far too good for far too long to only be owned in 26% of leagues. At this time of year, when a lot of managers in roto leagues have stopped paying attention, you have a lot of opportunities to be a rotoBaller and stream high quality... Read More

Mike Fiers (SP, MIL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately in All Leagues  ANALYSIS: You can probably watch Mike Fiers ownership percentage increase in real time after his otherworldly start Thursday afternoon. Fiers punched out 14 Cubs before getting yanked after 6 IP and 106 pitches.  Now frankly speaking, I think it's absolutely absurd that Ron Roenicke couldn't leave him in for at least... Read More

Jake McGee (RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ANALYSIS: Jake McGee is the new Sean Doolittle, and by that I mean he's the new "most dominant closer who also doesn't walk anyone, ever, for real".  Don't believe me?  Consider this: since taking over the closer role for the Rays on June 27th, McGee has pitched 17 innings, during which... Read More

Luis Valbuena (3B / 2B, CHC) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leauges ANALYSIS: Luis Valbuena is the definition of sleeper.  He is producing at a high enough level to be owned in many more leagues than he's currently rostered in.  Why is that? Because he plays with the Cubs, who have a new high profile, highly touted prospect join the team every week... Read More

Tommy Medica (1B / OF, SD) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep 5 OF Leagues ANALYSIS: Let's start with the obvious: Tommy Medica is not sexy, as he plays for the worst offensive team in the MLB in the worst offensive park in the MLB.  That's a tough combo to overcome. But he's actually put up somewhat respectable numbers and he is definitely... Read More

Denard Span (OF, WAS) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ANALYSIS: Denard Span is the 3rd ranked player in Yahoo! over the last two weeks, but he's still only owned in 54% of leagues.  Since it's August, you know his ownership % is simply a result of many owners being out of contention and not paying attention. But if you're paying... Read More

Jon Singleton (1B, HOU) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: Jon Singleton was scuffling for a long time and saw his average dip all the way to .174 as recently as 10 games ago, which is pretty gross and entirely unrosterable in every non-keeper league.  But he's found his stroke recently, and has collected two multi-hit games over his... Read More

Jarrod Dyson (OF, KC) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues for Speed ANALYSIS: Dyson has 22 SB in only 187 ABs for the Royals.  He's getting semi-regular playing time as he sits vs. most lefties, but he still manages to get into these games late as a pinch runner.  Dyson is pure speed, and nothing else. He can be counted on... Read More

Brett Anderson (SP, COL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: Anderson is riding a nice stretch and owners in deep leagues should take notice. Over his last three starts, he's pitched 20.1 IP allowing just 3 ER and racking up 18 Ks to only 5 free passes.  Anderson gets the Cubs Tuesday who are actually a pretty solid team vs.... Read More

Neftali Feliz (RP, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately ANALYSIS: The closer carousel continues as Joakim Soria has been shipped to the Tigers to either close or setup for incumbent Joe Nathan, opening a spot at the backend of the Texas Rangers bullpen. Enter Neftali Feliz, who should walk right into that open spot and run with it all the way to the... Read More

Chase Headley (3B, NYY) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: Chase Headley has been worse than dog poop in 2014, and it's incredible he's still 51% owned in CBS leagues.  BUUUUUUT, he just got traded to the New York Yankees. You don't need to be a scientist to know that the difference between Petco Park and Yankee Stadium is enormous... Read More