Updated Third Base Rankings - 5x5 Roto (Mixed Leagues)

We move to the left side on the infield now in our fantasy baseball tiered rankings analysis with the third base position. The 2019 baseball season is already here! RotoBaller writers Nick Mariano, JB Branson, Bill Dubiel, Pierre Camus, and Scott Engel want to make sure you are prepared for last-minute drafts, so they have […]

Ellis Canady's 10 Bold Predictions for 2019

Bold predictions. The time where we come up with ideas that should happen because in our minds they make sense. Statistical analysis, prognostication, voodoo, card reader, etc. None of these are completely certain methods to achieve the forecast that we have in mind. So, we put our idea to text, bury them in the digital […]

Jesus Luzardo To Miss Several Weeks With Shoulder Injury

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (shoulder) was a candidate to open the season in the starting rotation, but he will be shut down for the next four to six weeks with a rotator-cuff strain. If all goes well, he will resume throwing in May. Luzardo is the Athletics' top prospect and was cruising through […]

Ian Happ Has Impressed At Second Base

Chicago Cubs infielder/outfielder Ian Happ has impressed manager Joe Maddon with more chances at second base in spring training. Happ will still get more at-bats over the course of the season in the outfield, but he has reminded the team that he's a reasonable option at the keystone. After hitting 24 homers in his rookie […]

Tyler O'Neill Moving Up Depth Chart

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O'Neill may have leapfrogged Jose Martinez on the outfield depth chart with his high-energy style of play this spring. O'Neill can also play all three outfield spots, so he figures to have a key role in 2019. The 23-year-old is hitting .309 (9-for-47) with five home runs and seven RBI […]

Dominic Smith Making Case For Opening Day Roster

New York Mets first baseman Dominic Smith is showing why he was once considered a top prospect for the Mets in the minor leagues this spring. Both he and current Mets top prospect Peter Alonso could both wind up making the Opening Day roster. Smith is hitting .349 (15-for-43) with a homer and nine RBI […]

Francisco Lindor Still Uncertain For Opening Day

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor's (calf) status for Opening Day on March 28 remains uncertain. However, he batted every inning in a modified minor league game on Wednesday and went 0-for-6 with two walks in eight plate appearances. Lindor doesn't think he needs to play in a Cactus League game to be ready for the […]

Will Smith The Leading Candidate For Saves In San Fran

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Will Smith remains the leading candidate for the majority of save chances in 2019 after holding the closer role for the second half of last season and not allowing a run in three Cactus League innings this spring. Veteran Mark Melancon has shown improved health in camp, but he's also […]

Archie Bradley, Greg Holland Closing Candidates In Arizona

The Arizona Diamondbacks are taking their closer decision down to the wire this year, with relief pitchers Archie Bradley and Greg Holland the candidates. Holland's velocity has been down in spring training, but the team thinks he's fine and he'll pick it up in the regular season. Bradley missed an outing with neck stiffness but […]

Joey Gallo Doing Full Baseball Activities

Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo is still sidelined with a strained right groin muscle, but he's doing full baseball activities, including batting practice, and remains confident he'll be ready for Opening Day. Gallo has only 29 spring at-bats, but he will be able to get extra work on the minor league side on the back […]

Mike Soroka Throwing Pain-Free

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Soroka (shoulder) is throwing pain-free for the first time in weeks. However, the 21-year-old has yet to pitch in a spring game after being shut down with shoulder soreness. As a result, he was optioned to minor league camp on Wednesday. Soroka will not start the regular season in the […]

Eloy Jimenez Agrees To Record Deal With White Sox

The Chicago White Sox agreed to a six-year, $43 million contract with outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez on Wednesday, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN. Baseball's top outfield prospect has yet to even play a day in the big leagues as a 22-year-old. He's now almost certain to start the year in the middle of […]

Clayton Kershaw To Miss A Few Weeks Of Regular Season

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) threw a 22-pitch simulated game to Dodgers hitters on Wednesday, but he admitted it's basically the start of his spring training after he developed left shoulder inflammation and had to be shut down. The left-hander will miss at least several weeks of the regular season. Manager Dave […]

Cardinals Won't Have Designated Closer

The St. Louis Cardinals will enter the regular season without a designated closer, preferring instead to use matchups and workload to influence decisions. Lefty Andrew Miller has experience and could see ninth-inning duties based on the matchups. Reliever Jordan Hicks has triple-digit fastball velocity and is improving. Alex Reyes and Carlos Martinez could also be […]

Phillies Have Three Options For Ninth Inning

Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said that relief pitchers David Robertson, Seranthony Dominguez and Hector Neris could pitch in ninth-inning save situations in 2019. Nine different Phillies earned at least one save last year. Robertson has the most closing situation, but all three relievers can be unhittable when they are on their game. Robertson should […]

Drew Steckenrider Projected For Most Save Chances

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Drew Steckenrider, who had five saves as a rookie, is projected to get most of the save opportunities in the ninth inning, but left-hander Adam Conley will also get a shot if the matchups are more favorable for him. Sergio Romo, who has 109 career saves, is another option for Miami. […]

Arodys Vizcaino, A.J. Minter To Share Closing Role

Atlanta Braves relief pitchers Arodys Vizcaino and A.J. Minter (shoulder) will share the closing role this year, but Minter is unlikely to be available before the second week of the regular season. Vizcaino has a chance to stand out to begin the season, but he'll need to prove his right shoulder is fully healthy after […]

Brewers Getting Serious With Craig Kimbrel

The Milwaukee Brewers talks with free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel are pretty serious, according to sources. Kimbrel would help strengthen a bullpen that already boasts Josh Hader, Corey Knebel and Jeremy Jeffress, but Kimbrel would likely work the ninth inning. That would hurt the fantasy value of Knebel the most. Kimbrel has a 1.91 ERA, 0.92 […]

Eloy Jimenez Close To Long-Term Deal

The Chicago White Sox are closing in on a long-term deal with outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez on Wednesday. Jimenez is the team's top prospect and No. 3 overall by MLB Pipeline after hitting .337/.384/.577 with 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 108 games with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte last year. The upside is […]

CC Sabathia To Make Start Thursday

New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (heart, knee) will make his first minor league start this spring on Thursday. The veteran left-hander is likely to miss the first week or two of the regular season as he recovers from offseason knee and heart surgeries. He must also serve a five-game suspension for hitting Rays […]

Luis Severino Will Throw Again Thursday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (shoulder) made 25 pitches at about 60 feet from flat ground on Wednesday for the first time since being diagnosed with right rotator-cuff inflammation. The right-hander said he felt no pain and will increase his throws to 50 on Thursday. Severino will miss at least the first month […]

Twins Haven't Named Closer

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli hasn't offered any specifics about the team's ninth-inning plans this year, and the Twins leadership has spoken more broadly about high-leverage situations in the final three innings. Blake Parker, Trevor Hildenberger, Trevor May, Taylor Rogers and Fernando Romero will be featured in those situations, but it's unclear how it will […]

Royals Won't Have Set Closer In 2019

Even though Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Wily Peralta was perfect in his 14 save chances while filling in for Kelvin Herrera last year, manager Ned Yost said the team won't have a set closer this year. Yost will think of his relievers mainly as "high-leverage" guys, which includes Peralta, Jake Diekman, Tim Hill and […]

Shane Greene Still Detroit's Closer

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joe Jimenez is the closer of the future, but Shane Greene remains the closer of the present after finishing fourth in the American League with 32 saves last year. If Greene pitches well in the first half, he could be on the trade block at the July deadline. Despite the 32 […]

Mookie Betts Not Rushing To Sign Extension

Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts seems intent on testing the free-agent waters when his contract is up. "That’s exactly what I expect. I don’t expect anything to happen until I’m a free agent," Betts said when asked if he expects to enter the 2019 season without signing a long-term extension. The 2018 American League […]

Andrew McCutchen To Hit Leadoff For Phils

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen will hit leadoff for the team this year instead of second baseman Cesar Hernandez. McCutchen has a career .378 on-base percentage and .481 slugging percentage and can still run a bit. In 49 games hitting leadoff last year, Cutch had a .414 OBP. Hernandez has a .366 OBP the last […]

Rhys Hoskins Battling Sore Shoulder

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman/outfielder Rhys Hoskins is battling "mild" left shoulder soreness, but manager Gabe Kapler said there is no reason to worry. An MRI exam showed no structural damage and Hoskins is expected to play on Opening Day on March 28. In the even Hoskins ever needs rest or is injured, Kapler said third […]

Dan Vogelbach Hopes To Return Thursday

Seattle Mariners first baseman Dan Vogelbach was hit by a pitch on the right elbow in the season opener against the A's in Tokyo on Wednesday and had to be taken out for the final three innings. However, he hopes to be back in action on Thursday. With the M's facing right-hander Marco Estrada on […]

Jacob Nix Has Strained UCL; Padres Rotation Getting Clearer

San Diego Padres starter Jacob Nix (elbow) is reported to have a strained ulnar collateral ligament. The current treatment is a rest period of six to eight weeks before planning next steps. Tommy John surgery is a real possibility. This is a major setback for Nix, who was positioned to compete for a starting job […]