Lucas Sims Will Open Season On Injured List

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Lucas Sims (back) suffered from an illness and back spasms in the offseason that prevented him from ramping up his throwing program ahead of camp, and he will open the regular season on the injured list. Sims has started throwing off a mound in camp, but there are no plans to rush […]

Luis Castillo Expected To Open Season On Injured List

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Luis Castillo (shoulder) is expected to open the season on the injured list due to shoulder soreness that slowed his preparation in camp. He has not appeared in a Cactus League game yet, but he appears to be progressing well. "Castillo is probably ahead of Mike Minor right now," manager David […]

Michael Florio's Pitchers to Target in Points Leagues

Starting pitchers are important in all fantasy baseball formats, but perhaps none more so than fantasy baseball points leagues. It's easy to understand why so much emphasis is placed on this position once you understand the scoring system. You build your hitters and your pitchers, and while they are all apart of one team, they […]

Hitters Under $10: Salary Cap League Draft Targets for Fantasy Baseball - Yoan Moncada, Josh Donaldson, Brandon Belt, and more

It's a cliché to say that those managers who finally dip their toe into salary cap leagues never go back to snake drafts. Snake drafts have their own charm. There is simply more going on, and thus, more fun to have when participating in a salary cap draft. There become no bounds on how one […]

Daily MLB Injury Roundup for March 28th, 2022

RotoBaller has assembled a list of daily MLB injury updates to help you prepare both your seasonal and daily fantasy baseball (DFS) lineups, every day of the MLB season. Below is our updated list of injured MLB players for March 28th, 2022. Only players on teams that are scheduled to play today will appear below […]

Adolis Garcia (OF, TEX) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~165 pick CURRENT ADP: ~185 overall ANALYSIS: Another Cardinals prospect that flew once he left St. Louis, García crushed 31 home runs and swiped 16 bags in 149 games for Texas last season (622 PAs). This came after he posted similar numbers at Triple-A for St. Louis in 2019 (32 HR, […]

Giancarlo Stanton (OF, NYY) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~85 pick CURRENT ADP: ~109 overall ANALYSIS: Big G is being written off in a major way but that nonsense is our gain. I know health memes fly around but Stanton just bashed 35 home runs with 97 RBI in just 139 games (579 PAs) last season. You not only exceed […]

Alex Wood (SP, SFG) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~195 pick CURRENT ADP: ~219 overall ANALYSIS: After failing to exceed 50 innings pitched in 2019 and 2020 combined thanks to a litany of back problems, the 2021 version of San Francisco Giants left-hander Alex Wood reminded us all of the pitcher who posted a sub-3.90 ERA in 6 straight seasons from 2013 […]

John Means (SP, BAL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~200 pick CURRENT ADP: ~220 overall ANALYSIS: Few pitchers started the 2021 season as hot as John Means did. Through his first 71 innings, Means posted a 2.28 ERA with a 0.85 WHIP, and he did that while striking out nearly a batter per inning (69 strikeouts in those innings). After that, an […]

Yoan Moncada (3B, CWS) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~130 pick CURRENT ADP: ~149 overall ANALYSIS: The Chicago White Sox have it all on paper: multiple aces in their starting rotation, an elite bullpen headlined by multiple closer-caliber arms, and a lineup filled with premier hitters. After a breakout in 2019, Moncada was supposed to be one of those premier […]

Diamondbacks Acquire Sergio Alcantara

The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired infielder Sergio Alcantara from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. He was designated for assignment last week and could get more chances in Arizona. Nick Ahmed (shoulder) is currently sidelined, so Alcantara could begin the season as the starting shortstop. The 25-year-old hit .205/.303/.327 with five homers last […]

Edward Cabrera To Make Spring Debut On Monday

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Edward Cabrera will make his spring debut against the Washington Nationals on Monday. He arrived late to camp and is a bit behind the other pitchers on the roster. The 23-year-old has an electric arm, but was hit hard during his brief time in the big leagues last year. The promising […]

Ketel Marte Gets Long-Term Extension

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte has agreed to a five-year extension with the organization. His deal includes $51 million in additional guaranteed money and is worth $76 million in total. This new deal covers three additional free agent years. The Diamondbacks have locked up their cornerstone switch-hitting infielder for the next half-decade. The 28-year-old is […]

Josh Donaldson In The Mix To Lead Off

New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson could be in the mix to lead off, according to manager Aaron Boone. The 36-year-old crushed a home run during Sunday's matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The occasional moves to the top of the lineup could be good for Donaldson's value. He has plenty of over-the-fence power and […]

Yankees Option Oswald Peraza To Triple-A

The New York Yankees optioned infielder Oswald Peraza to Triple-A on Sunday. Peraza appeared in games at three different levels in the Yankees' minor league system last year, finishing the season at Triple-A where he hit .286 with a .323 on-base percentage, a home run, and two stolen bases in 31 plate appearances. Overall, the […]

Oswaldo Cabrera Optioned To Triple-A

New York Yankees infielder Oswaldo Cabrera was optioned to Triple-A on Sunday. Cabrera has yet to make his Major League debut but did reach Triple-A last season, batting .500 with a .583 on-base percentage, five home runs, and a stolen base in 36 plate appearances at the minors' highest level. While he won't open the […]

Yankees Option Estevan Florial To Triple-A

The New York Yankees optioned outfielder Estevan Florial to Triple-A on Sunday. The outfielder made his Major League debut in 2020 and logged 25 plate appearances for the club last season, hitting .300 with a .440 on-base percentage, one home run, and one stolen base. He'll start the year in the minors, providing the organization […]

Giants Acquire Luke Williams

The San Francisco Giants have acquired infielder and outfielder Luke Williams from the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league infielder Will Toffey and cash considerations. Williams hit .245 with a .315 on-base percentage, one home run, and a pair of stolen bases in 108 plate appearances for the Phillies last season. Capable of playing all four […]

Shohei Ohtani Will Bat Leadoff To Begin Year For Angels

Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani will reportedly hit leadoff at the beginning of the season, per MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. The Halos certainly aren't short of quality leadoff options, with Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon also on the roster, but it'll be Ohtani hitting first at least for the start of the season. While the […]

Rockies Being Cautious With Peter Lambert

The Colorado Rockies are being cautious with right-hander Peter Lambert (elbow) after he had some pain in his elbow toward the end of the lockout. Lambert is fine now and will throw a live batting practice session on Monday, but he's recovering from Tommy John surgery in July of 2020. The 24-year-old allowed seven earned […]

Pete Fairbanks Injured Sunday

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks exited the Grapefruit League game early after throwing five pitches on Sunday against the New York Yankees with an undisclosed injury. Fairbanks left the mound and headed toward the dugout with an athletic trainer. The Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin is speculating that it's a shoulder injury for […]

Nolan Gorman Scratched With Back Tightness

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Gorman (back) was scratched from the Grapefruit League lineup on Sunday against the New York Mets with lower back tightness. It's unclear how serious Gorman's injury is, but we'll keep a close eye on his status in the coming days. The 21-year-old is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the […]

Yankees Sign Shelby Miller To Minors Deal

The New York Yankees signed free-agent starting pitcher Shelby Miller to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training on Sunday. The 31-year-old right-hander spent last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs, allowing 13 earned runs in just 12 2/3 innings pitched (9.24 ERA) while striking out eight and walking 11. […]

Andrelton Simmons Expects To Throw Soon

Chicago Cubs shortstop Andrelton Simmons (shoulder), who is dealing with right shoulder soreness, is expected to throw in the next day or two. Simmons was scratched from the Cactus League lineup on Saturday, but his injury doesn't appear to be serious enough to endanger his status for Opening Day in early April. The 32-year-old could […]

Wade Miley Throwing Live BP Sunday

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Wade Miley (neck) is throwing live batting practice on Sunday. Miley's 2021 season ended with a strained neck, which has delayed his spring training this year. The 35-year-old veteran left-hander doesn't have much time to ramp up before Opening Day with a shortened spring training, so if he's not on the […]

Ian Happ Back In The Outfield Sunday

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ (elbow) is starting in left field and batting eighth in the Cactus League game on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals. Happ has only been serving as the designated hitter this spring after having right elbow surgery in February, but he's clearly made progress as we approach Opening Day. He […]

Hunter Greene To Make Another Start Thursday

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene is starting another Cactus League game on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox. With Mike Minor unlikely to be ready for the start of the season, Greene, the No. 22 overall prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline, has a legitimate shot at starting the season in Cincy's starting rotation. The […]

Frank Schwindel Returns To Lineup Sunday

Chicago Cubs first baseman Frank Schwindel (back) returned to the team's Cactus League lineup on Sunday and is hitting third and playing first base. Schwindel has been out of the spring lineup since he was scratched with back tightness on Wednesday, but the injury wasn't very serious and he may not have missed a game […]

Yordan Alvarez Scratched Sunday

Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez was scratched from the Grapefruit League lineup on Sunday with what a team spokesman called "a personal matter." Lewis Brinson is making the start in right field in Alvarez's place, with Kyle Tucker in left field. It's unknown when Alvarez will be back in a spring training game, but the […]

Giants Not Ruling Out Brandon Belt, Tommy La Stella

The San Francisco Giants aren't ruling out first baseman Brandon Belt (knee) or infielder Tommy La Stella (Achilles) for Opening Day, even though neither has appeared in a spring game yet. Belt and La Stella have been simulating game action by taking plenty of at-bats in live batting practice. Belt, 33, had surgery in September […]