Statcast Pitcher Studs and Duds: Hard-Hit Rate for Week 18

Welcome back to RotoBaller’s pitchers Statcast studs and duds article series! Each week we will select an advanced stat, choose two risers and two fallers, and analyze what those stats could mean for future fantasy output. This stat is one that is similar to one I have written about before (exit velocity), and that stat […]

xSLG Risers - Statcast Hitter Analysis (Week 18)

Two full weeks have now passed since the Midsummer Classic. It's not a big sample size but we can look at some early second-half trends to see who is turning it up a notch after the All-Star break. Expected stats don't tell the whole story of a player's success but they often are more revealing […]

Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers - Buy or Sell for Week 18

Welcome back to the strikeout rate risers and fallers series for Week 18! Each week we will take a look at two K% risers and two fallers, analyze what is behind those changes, and then decide if they are actionable. A pitcher can best control their fate by generating swings and misses, so this exercise […]

The Cut List (Week 18) - Time to Let Go?

Welcome to the last Cut List before the July 31 trade deadline. Emphasis on dead, because there has still been little action on the trade front. The next week should be pretty fun if things heat up. For now, however, players are on the team they're on, and judgments should be made accordingly. Stats are […]

Buy or Sell: Undervalued and Overvalued Players for Week 18

Today's piece covers a set of players who either should not be available on waivers or will return back there soon. Most of the earlier editions of this recurring buy or sell article have included several universally owned players whose values have been manipulated enough by early-season performances. Unfortunately, as we get deeper into the year, the […]

Champ or Chump: Tyler O'Neill and Ramon Laureano

This time of year, a lot of fantasy analysis is a simple reminder to look at your standings page. Trading Max Scherzer for Whit Merrifield and Mallex Smith is a terrible idea in terms of overall value, but if you stand to gain a lot of points in SB it could make sense for you. […]

Pitcher Studs and Duds - BABIP for Week 17

Welcome back to RotoBaller’s pitchers risers and fallers article series! Each week we will select an advanced stat, choose two risers and two fallers, and analyze what those stats could mean for future fantasy output. I wrote about this stat early in the season, but it is worth revisiting now that we have much more […]

Barrel Risers & Fallers - Statcast Hitter Analysis (Week 17)

It's been a while since we looked at the Barrel leaderboard, so let's go back to this telling metric. For a detailed explanation of what makes a Barrel so valuable, click here to revisit my first article on the matter. Many of the leaders have maintained their status, such as Gary Sanchez, Mike Trout, Joey Gallo, […]

Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers - Buy or Sell for Week 17

Welcome back to the strikeout rate risers and fallers series for Week 17! I skipped week 16 due to the shortened week, but we now have over a full week of data since the All-Star break. Each week we will take a look at two K% risers and two fallers, analyze what is behind those […]

The Cut List (Week 17) - Time to Let Go?

With the All-Star Break now firmly in the rear view mirror, the July 31 trade deadline is the next milestone. With no more August 31 waiver deadline, even fringe players will get traded and see their valuations change. For now, rumor and conjecture rule the day, so it's not a major factor in this week's […]

Buy or Sell: Undervalued and Overvalued Players for Week 17

Today's piece covers a set of players who either should not be available on waivers or will return back there soon. Most of the earlier editions of this recurring buy or sell article have included several universally owned players whose values have been manipulated enough by early-season performances. Unfortunately, as we get deeper into the year, the […]

Champ or Chump: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Lorenzo Cain

The trade deadline is rapidly approaching, both for real MLB clubs and most fantasy rosters. At this point, it can be a good idea to take a deep breath and assess what you currently have on your roster and what you might need to pursue your goals. Part of this process is evaluating whether the […]

Starters WAR Studs and Duds: Week 16

Welcome back from the All-Star break to RotoBaller’s pitchers advanced stats and StatCast studs and duds article series! Each week we will select an advanced stat, choose two studs and two duds, and analyze what those stats could mean for future fantasy output. This "week" has been a shorter one given the break, so I […]

Statcast First-Half Overachievers (Hitters)

The second half of the 2019 fantasy baseball season is upon us. Before we get too deep into pennant races, let's take this opportunity to reflect on some first-half performances that could be telling of future fortune, or in this case, misfortune. Last week, we looked at Expected Statistic Underachievers to try to find buy-low candidates. […]

The Cut List (Week 16) - Time to Let Go?

Not a ton has changed since last week given the one combined real game from Monday through Thursday. Friday doesn't exactly give us enough new information, either: as if Josh Bell opening the second half 0-for-4 would make anyone panic. That said, there are still decisions to be made. Fewer, given the lack of new […]

You Don't Know Jack (Flaherty)

Never a lauded prospect as he made his way through the St. Louis Cardinals' system, starting pitcher Jack Flaherty nevertheless made a splash in 2018, taking advantage of the playing time afforded to him by injuries to rotation mainstay Adam Wainwright. Part of a loaded 2018 rookie class in the National League, which included supposed […]

Champ or Chump: David Dahl and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

With most of the All-Star festivities in the books, it's time to get back to managing our virtual fantasy baseball teams. While some owners may be starting to tune out, that only means that you can leverage their lack of focus to your own benefit. For example, maybe you can get a haul for "All-Star" […]

Pitcher Advanced Metrics Studs and Duds First Half Recap

Welcome back to RotoBaller’s pitchers advanced stats and StatCast studs and duds article series! Each week we have selected an advanced stat, chosen two studs and two duds, and analyzed what those stats could mean for future fantasy output. We have covered both Statcast and Fangraphs metrics to help identify hidden value as well as […]

Statcast First-Half Underachievers (Hitters)

As the first half wraps up and we are left pondering who will flip the switch in the second half, it's only rational that we look at the players who have underachieved most. We've already seen examples of players who have started to turn their luck around (Danny Jansen anyone?), so there is definitely credence […]

Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers - Buy or Sell for Week 15

Welcome back to the strikeout rate risers and fallers series for Week 15! Each week we will take a look at two K% risers and two fallers, analyze what is behind those changes, and then decide if they are actionable. A pitcher can best control their fate by generating swings and misses, so this exercise […]

The Cut List (Week 15) - Time to Let Go?

The All-Star Break will be here after today's games. For players who won't participate in the game on Tuesday, it's a chance to take a break from the grind for several days. And several players could use one, like perhaps the cut suggestions below. Despite the days off, there's nothing really about the break that […]

Buy or Sell: Undervalued and Overvalued Players for Week 15

Today's piece covers a set of players who either should not be available on waivers or will return back there soon. Most of the earlier editions of this recurring buy or sell article have included several universally owned players whose values have been manipulated enough by early season performances. Unfortunately, as we get deeper into the year, […]

Champ or Chump: Brendan McKay

Major League Baseball has nearly a century and a half of games in the book, but we still see new things on a fairly regular basis. Shohei Ohtani's ability to both hit and pitch at an MLB standard is among the most amazing things that this author has ever seen, and Tampa Bay Rays prospect […]

xBA vs Shift - Statcast Hitter Studs and Duds (Week 14)

We've looked plenty at expected stats already, so let's switch things up a bit in this iteration of Statcast studs and duds. This time, we will examine the xBA of hitters who repeatedly face shifts or strategic defensive alignments. Typically, power hitters are subjected to the shift because of their high pull tendencies. Teams also […]

Relievers Swinging-Strike Rate Studs and Duds: Week 14

Welcome back to RotoBaller’s pitchers advanced stats and StatCast studs and duds article series! Each week we will select an advanced stat, choose two studs and two duds, and analyze what those stats could mean for future fantasy output. We have spent most of our time focusing on starters throughout the season, so this week […]

Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers - Buy or Sell for Week 14

Welcome back to the strikeout rate risers and fallers series for Week 14! Each week we will take a look at two K% risers and two fallers, analyze what is behind those changes, and then decide if they are actionable. A pitcher can best control their fate by generating swings and misses, so this exercise […]

The Cut List (Week 14) - Time to Let Go?

We're halfway there in the baseball season, but hopefully your fantasy team is living on more than a prayer. (By Jove, that's terrible. Apologies.) Unless it's a points league, categories are starting to take more precedence at this point. Every hitter on this week's Cut List comes with a list of categories in which a […]

Buy or Sell: Undervalued and Overvalued Players for Week 14

Today's piece covers a set of players who either should not be available on waivers or will return back there soon. Most of the earlier editions of this recurring buy or sell article have included several universally owned players whose values have been manipulated enough by early season performances. Unfortunately, as we get deeper into the year, […]

Champ or Chump: Bobby Bradley and Jordan Yamamoto

Last week, we looked at a couple of players who are likely to be on first division fantasy teams. This week, we're taking a closer look at players likely to appear toward the bottom of your league's standings. Bobby Bradley is a former third-round draft pick summoned by the Cleveland Indians in an effort to […]