Fantasy Freebooters - Projecting the Pirates' Second Half

We're finally past the point where we know a team’s identity. The All-Star break is the standard time for fans, analysts, and front offices to figure out where the team stands, and what to look forward to. The Pittsburgh Pirates came into 2019 expecting to have one of the top rotations in baseball, while the […]

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 […]

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, […]

Are You a Shane Bieber Belieber?

Cleveland Indians right-handed pitcher Shane Bieber has been among the best starting pitchers, both in fantasy and in real life, during the 2019 season. In a year where so many studs are struggling - including Justin Verlander, Blake Snell, Trevor Bauer and Chris Sale - Bieber's consistency has vaulted him into ace territory, and will […]

Contact Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 14 - Buy or Sell?

Welcome to Contact Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 13! Our premium tools allow us to get out ahead of trends in player performance, including contact rate. Every Wednesday, we'll be looking at some players that have seen an increase in contact rate and some that have seen it decline. Contact rate can foretell a […]

Digging Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 14

very week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to […]

Top 30 Impact Prospects for Redraft Leagues (Week 14)

The Top 10 tier lost two high-profile prospects this past week with the promotions of pitcher Bryse Wilson, pitcher (and hitter) Brendan McKay (Rays), and second baseman Keston Hiura (Brewers). McKay and Hiura could play huge roles in their respective teams’ race for a playoff berth. The Rays’ multi-tool prospect had an eye-opening debut against […]

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 14

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to […]

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 […]

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, […]

The Waiver Wire Watch List: Week 14

So we're just about halfway through the season, and we can draw a lot of conclusions about how a player's year is going to go. Some players have been lost to injury time, plenty are underperforming, and there are of course new faces rising. No matter the situation, it could be time for a roster […]

Contact Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 13 - Buy or Sell?

Welcome to Contact Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 13! Our premium tools allow us to get out ahead of trends in player performance, including contact rate. Every Wednesday, we'll be looking at some players that have seen an increase in contact rate and some that have seen it decline. Contact rate can foretell a […]

Digger Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 13

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to […]

Top 30 Impact Prospects for Redraft Leagues (Week 13)

July is almost here and the Wild Card races are looking muddled in both the American and especially the National League, where almost every club has a reasonable shot at the playoffs. The impending (and now single) trade deadline could make things interesting especially with only six or seven teams looking like guaranteed sellers - […]

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 13

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to […]

Are You For Real? Surprising SP Starts from Week 13

Welcome back to "Are You For Real?" Each week, we look at lower-owned starting pitchers who have performed unexpectedly well in their last outing(s). This week we are looking at two right-handers in the eastern time zone. Joe Musgrove got off to a great start, then imploded, and now put up a dominant start against […]

ERA-SIERA Studs and Duds for Week 13

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. I wrote an article about SIERA in week 6 and this week am going to build […]

Exit Velocity Risers/Fallers - Statcast Hitter Studs and Duds (Week 13)

There's no need to explain exit velocity here, as you are likely well aware of its function and description by now. Followers of this weekly column will remember the Week 7 iteration where we first examined exit velocity leaders. We know that hitters who make hard contact are more apt to collect extra-base hits and it […]

Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers - Buy or Sell for Week 13

Welcome back to the strikeout rate risers and fallers series for (hopefully) lucky Week 13! 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 […]

Buy or Sell: Undervalued and Overvalued Players for Week 13

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 Waiver Wire Watch List: Week 13

So we're two and a half months into the season, and a lot of pictures are becoming more clear. Some players have been lost to injury time, plenty are underperforming, and there are of course new faces rising. No matter the situation, it could be time for a roster refresh--but not just the hum-drum obvious […]

Top 30 Impact Prospects for Redraft Leagues (Week 12)

Believe it or not, the midpoint of the minor league baseball season is here. We’re starting to see short-season leagues get underway, 2019 amateur draft picks are signing their first pro contracts, minor league all-star breaks are happening, and prospect promotions are also picking up steam. Major league teams are also continuing to dip into […]

Head-to-Head Hitter Streamers and Starts Week 13

Welcome to the hitting streamers column for the week of 6/24 through 6/30. Whether you're looking to maximize the number of games played, exploit favorable matchups, or fill in for injured players, streaming hitters can be a fruitful strategy for those willing to put in a little work every week. Keep in mind that this […]

Contact Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 12 - Buy or Sell?

Welcome to Contact Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 10! Our premium tools allow us to get out ahead of trends in player performance, including contact rate. Every Wednesday, we'll be looking at some players that have seen an increase in contact rate and some that have seen it decline. Contact rate can foretell a […]

Digger Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 12

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to […]