Using Hard Hit Rates to Win Your Fantasy Baseball League

Welcome to this little crash course on hard hit rates. Use this helpful tool in the battle for fantasy baseball supremacy. Hard hit rate relates to several things: the velocity at which a baseball leaves the bat after contact is made, the hang time, the angle at which it is hit, amongst others involved in an algorithm […]

Week 3 Waiver Wire: Starting Pitchers

Week 2 is almost in the books and the fantasy baseball madness is in full swing. That means we’re all out here frantically panning for waiver wire gold. Starting pitchers have the most rollover during the season and the incredible depth of pitchers that are going across the league mean there are almost always candidates […]

Week 2 Waiver Wire: Starting Pitchers

Week 1 is almost in the books and the fantasy baseball thirst is finally getting satiated, but that only leads to the next thirst for waiver wire gold. Starting pitchers have the most rollover during the season and the incredible depth of pitchers that are going across the league mean there are almost always candidates […]

John Lamb (SP, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep NL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 1% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: John Lamb had a sexy 58 strikeouts in 49.2 innings last year, but it came with a 1-5 record, a 5.80 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He suffered from bad luck in this small sample, and his SIERA was a cool 3.56. Put […]

Jon Gray (SP, COL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep NL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 3% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Jon Gray is still a good, young talent who is scrapping his curveball, which is good news for a Coors pitcher. He was strong in his few road starts last year, and could prove to be a sneaky buy, especially as a streaming […]

Sam Dyson (RP, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 5% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Sam Dyson is an under-the-radar guy with plus swing-and-miss stuff, and can be mighty useful for owners looking to anchor their ratios in deeper leagues. Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!

Carson Smith (RP, BOS) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 9% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Carson Smith has amazing stuff, but obviously is sweating a DL-stint right now. Keep an eye on him, though, as his ratios and strikeouts are both very impressive when he’s healthy. Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, […]

Shane Greene (SP, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 7% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Shane Green teased us at the beginning of last season as well, but he’s having another strong spring with a roughly 30% strikeout rate and improved control. Maybe there’s nothing real here, but on the off-chance he puts it together with his put-away […]

Adam Conley (SP, MIA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep NL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 9% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Adam Conley won’t impress you in any one category, but he looks to be a serviceable back-end starter who can post an ERA in the mid-to-high 3’s with roughly 80 strikeouts per 100 innings. He’ll get matchups against Atlanta and Philadelphia, so fantasy […]

Jabari Blash (OF, SD) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep NL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 1% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Jabari Blash hit 32 homers in 476 PA between Double-A and Triple-A last season for the Mariners. The power is real and he can steal a base every now and again, but if he isn’t hitting a homer then he’s probably either walking […]

Joey Rickard (OF, BAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 3% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Joey Rickard has played well enough this spring to impress the Orioles so much that he was named their Opening Day left fielder. He brings 20-25 SB speed and average to the table, but shouldn’t be relied on for any real power. Check […]

Jonathan Villar (SS, MIL) - Waiver Wire Pick

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep NL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 5% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Many are waiting for Orlando Arcia to be called up, but until then, Jonathan Villar gets to hold down the job for the Brewers. He can provide cheap speed with the occasional home run and has yet to get consistent AB. There is […]

Danny Espinosa (2B/SS, WAS) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep NL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 4% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Danny Espinosa may not end the season as a starter, but for now, Espinosa brings double-digit pop and non-zero speed to a shallow position in a good lineup. Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!

Jake Lamb (3B, ARI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep NL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 7% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Jake Lamb is impressing this spring thanks to a quicker swing, and looks to join many of his Diamondbacks teammates as players who took the next step forward. His spring numbers show a greatly improved walk rate and a devastatingly powerful swing. That […]

Aaron Hill (2B/3B, MIL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep NL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 1% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: As of now, Aaron Hill has a starting job for the Brewers in a hitter-friendly Miller Park. He’s no stranger to power tears, even if it has been a while, so perhaps there’s a dash of magic left. Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy […]

Cameron Rupp (CA, PHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep NL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 1% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Cameron Rupp can mash lefties and has a clear path to significant playing time in Philadelphia. He has 15 homer potential and is practically unowned. Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!

Ryan Madson (RP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 12% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Sean Doolittle is no safe bet to stay healthy or effective, and it would appear that Ryan Madson is the most likely candidate to take over should either of those landmines go off. His 2.13 ERA and 0.96 WHIP from last season didn’t […]

Keone Kela (RP, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 10% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Keone Kela is a young fireballer who could step into the ninth should Shawn Tolleson get traded or slip up. Kela struck out 68 in 60.1 IP last season, and can still take strides forward. Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire […]

Rich Hill (SP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 6% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Rich Hill dominated in a very small 29-inning sample last season (though he was also strong in 64 minor league innings). He signed with Oakland and now gets to pitch in that spacious O.co Coliseum. It costs nothing to see if the re-invention […]

Kris Medlen (SP/RP, KC) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed Leagues, AL-Only leagues OWNED IN: 11% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: It’s simple, Kris Medlen gets to pitch for the defending champs and is backed by one of the best bullpens in the game. Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!

Socrates Brito (OF, ARI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep NL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 9% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: A.J. Pollock has a fractured right elbow and will require surgery, opening the door for Socrates Brito. Last year in Double-A, Brito hit nine homers with 20 stolen bases and a .300 average. This spring, he had one homer and four steals with […]

Michael Saunders (OF, TOR) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed Leagues, AL-Only leagues OWNED IN: 10% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Michael Saunders has struggled with staying on the field his whole career, but if he can do so this year then he gets to be part of the Blue Jays’ offense that led the league in offense last season. If he […]

Jimmy Rollins (SS, CHW) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 9% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Jimmy Rollins won the starting job with a strong spring, and can bring decent pop to your team on the days that he plays. His age-37 body means he’ll get more rest than most are comfortable with, but this deep in the bin, […]

Hector Olivera (3B, ATL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed Leagues, NL-Only leagues OWNED IN: 14% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Hector Olivera is getting tons of praise from his coaches, who see him as having turned a corner this offseason. He is 24-for-61 (.393) this spring, albeit with zero homers, and will have plenty of opportunities to show us what he’s […]

Cory Spangenberg (2B, SD) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep NL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 3% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Even if Cory Spangenberg only manages 8/15/.265, that could still be good enough for deep leaguers and NL-only players. Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!

Justin Smoak (1B, TOR) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 2% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: If you can platoon Justin Smoak effectively (as Toronto does – 18 homers in 296 AB), then you’ll get one piece of a powerful puzzle at first base. Bully for you if you can stand to rotate him and Chris Colabello (17% owned) […]

Robinson Chirinos (CA, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 2% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Robinson Chirinos finally has the starting job after hitting 10 dingers in 273 PA last season. He could hit close to 20 bombs, but the average won’t be spectacular. Still, cheap power is cheap power. Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire […]

Sergio Romo (RP, SF) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed Leagues, NL-Only leagues OWNED IN: 17% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Santiago Casilla really didn’t look sharp at times last season, while Sergio Romo regained the power of his slider. Romo is plenty useful again after dealing with some bad luck in the past. Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire […]

Kevin Siegrist (RP, STL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed Leagues, NL-Only leagues OWNED IN: 18% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Kevin Siegrist, the setup man for Trevor Rosenthal, should pick up the occasional save alongside another 90 strikeouts and plus ratios. Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!

Bartolo Colon (SP, NYM) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed Leagues, NL-Only leagues OWNED IN: 14% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: In a rotation that is blessed with young arms that command so much attention, Colon isn’t getting any love despite pitching in the NL East for a strong team. He still has impeccable command, which helps keep his WHIP manageable, even […]