Blake Swihart Showing Up In Spring Training

Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart has appeared in 10 games this spring and has been taking advantage of his chance to win the starting job in Beantown. A slash line of .360/.385/.480 with five RBI over 25 at-bats is far-and-away the best at the position, whereas Christian Vazquez and Sandy Leon are known more […]

After Hours With RotoBaller Radio: Starting Pitcher Preview Part 2

Host Anthony Aniano of RotoBaller Radio discuss the 2019 fantasy baseball season and gets you warmed up for the MLB preseason. This radio show is sponsored by our good friends over at RT Sports. Be sure to check out their Best Ball leagues, drafting every day, and their awesome contest the RealTime Fantasy Sports Baseball Championship with a […]

Forrest Whitley Looks Ready For Majors

Houston Astros starting pitcher Forrest Whitley, baseball's best pitching prospect, looks ready for the major league rotation and has struck out 15 and allowed only nine baserunners and two earned runs in 12 spring innings. The right-hander is only 21 and has just 137 1/3 innings of professional experience, which makes him likely to start […]

Ross Stripling (SP, LAD) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 180 CURRENT ADP: ~215 overall ANALYSIS: Entering his age-29 season, Ross Stripling will begin the year locked into a rotation spot for the first time in his career. Stripling showed us an excellent first half in 2018 that led to his first ever All-Star selection. An injury-riddled second half put […]

Ichiro Suzuki To Start In Season Opener

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has been tabbed to start in the season opener in Japan against the A's on Wednesday, and he's expected to play right field. The 45-year-old went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in the exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants on Monday and is now 2-for-31 on the spring. The future Hall […]

Merrill Kelly (SP, ARI) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 415 CURRENT ADP: ~445 overall ANALYSIS: It’s almost becoming a trend for players to travel overseas to play baseball after struggling to make it in the MLB, only to end up back in the Majors better than before. In 2017 it was Eric Thames and last year it was Miles […]

Jung Ho Kang Named Opening Day Third Baseman

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang will man the hot corner for the club on Opening Day, beating out Colin Moran, the club announced on Monday. Kang's big league career has been a roller coaster due to injuries and legal issues in Korea but he seems poised to make good on his past. This […]

Alex Wood To Throw Side Session Monday

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Alex Wood (back) is scheduled to throw a side session on Monday. Wood has been sidelined since coming down with back soreness after his first spring training start back in late February. Wood is beginning his first season with the Reds after coming over from the Los Angeles Dodgers in an offseason […]

Kirby Yates Extends Lights Out Spring Training

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates continued his strong spring on Sunday, firing a scoreless inning and striking out two. Through five innings, Yates has yet to allow a run. Yates will start his age-32 season as the Padres undisputed closer after inheriting the role in the second half of last season. Yates posted a […]

Jacob Nix Out Indefinitely With Arm Soreness

San Diego Padres starter Jacob Nix (arm) has been shut down indefinitely due to arm soreness after tossing four frames last Tuesday. Further tests revealed no structural damage. Padres manager Andy Green postulates Nix could miss anywhere from a few days to a “considerable period of time”. The Padres No. 19 prospect was competing for […]

Dustin Pedroia Will Begin Season in Extended Spring Training

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) will not be with the team on Opening Day, announced manager Alex Cora on Monday. However, the skipper also noted that there have been no setbacks with the 35-year-old but he just needs some more reps once major league camp breaks to build back up to game […]

Yasiel Puig Goes Deep Twice Sunday

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig continued his assault on the Cactus League against the Cleveland Indians on Sunday. Puig went 2-for-3 with two homers and six RBI, including a grand slam off of Cleveland ace Corey Kluber. Puig is off to a hot start with his new team, hitting .375 with four homers, eight runs, […]

Prospect Starters that Could be Impact Relievers

Last year around this time I wrote some words about Dakota Hudson and how he could be a stud in 2018 — but as a reliever, not a starter, which had been his role in the minors to that point. From last March at Rotographs: “And for me, Dakota Hudson has immense potential as a high-leverage reliever. He […]

Top 10 Shortstop Prospects - 2019 Fantasy Baseball Redraft Rankings

We're back with another list of 2019 impact prospects. Today the focus is on shortstop. The crop of talent this year starts off very strong, and then does a few hops and jumps bouncing around the skill and potential spectrum. Few positions are completely stocked with premium talent in the top-10, but compared to others, […]

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

The clock ticks ever closer to Opening Day and we here at RotoBaller are back to give one final round of position-by-position analysis with a mixed-league, 5x5 framework. We’re going to start at the most glorious position on the field: first base. No, I didn’t play first myself, why do you ask? While there are […]

Buster Posey Plays In Back-to-Back Spring Games

San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey was able to play consecutive Cactus League spring games on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals. It was his first time catching in consecutive days this spring. He ended up 1-for-3 with a single to raise his spring average to .217. That's not terribly important, but it is rather […]

Corey Seager Will Be Ready For The Opener

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (elbow, hip) is expected to be ready for Opening Day, manager Dave Roberts said on Sunday. "Absolutely. We expect him to play Opening Day," the skipper said. "I am (confident of that). I just think in talking to the training staff and talking to Corey himself - we've been […]

Dave Emerick's 10 Bold Predictions for 2019

I'll openly acknowledge that I don't really do bold predictions. I sit, read, think, and then watch the players play. If I see something, maybe I'll write an article. But in the spirit of fun, I've put together my own version of 10 Bold Predictions that will definitely, almost probably come to pass.Be sure to […]

Max Muncy Able To Take Batting Practice

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy (wrist) was able to take a full round of batting practice on Sunday for the first time since sustaining his right wrist injury. He was also able to resume throwing, too, so it's a good bet that he'll be able to get back into a spring game or […]

Jarrod Dyson Makes His Cactus League Debut

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jarrod Dyson (oblique) made his Cactus League spring debut on Sunday against the Chicago White Sox. He appeared in both right field and center field, and he drew a pair of walks in his only two plate appearances after being sidelined due to a strained left oblique. Dyson is likely going to […]

Adam Jones Plays Defense In Intrasquad Game

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Adam Jones was able to play in the field for the first time since joining his new teammates. He played in the outfield during an intrasquad game on a backfield Sunday, and it was his third consecutive day of taking at-bats in a game. Manager Torey Lovullo said Jones will do some […]

Jake Lamb Checks Out Of Sunday's Game Early

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Jake Lamb (back) left Sunday's Cactus League spring game against the Chicago White Sox after three innings due to tightness in his back. Manager Torey Lovullo said Lamb mentioned the issue after flying out in the second inning. "He's going to come in (Monday), get re-evaluated," Lovullo said. "I can't predict […]

Luke Weaver Impressive In Spring Training

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Luke Weaver was a huge disappointment for the Cardinals last season, finishing with a 4.95 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. However, a fresh start in Arizona may be just what the doctor ordered. In three spring training starts, the 25-year-old has generated a 1.59 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 11.1 innings. That's […]

Christian Walker's Bizarre Spring Training Continues

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker is one of the most fascinating prospects for the organization, as fans are hopeful he can fill the void left behind by Paul Goldschmidt. So far this spring, Walker is 14-for-37 while accumulating 11 RBI. Those are fantastic numbers, but the fact that he has 11 strikeouts in those […]

Steven Souza Jr. Struggling

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Steven Souza Jr.'s role appeared to be safe just a few weeks ago, but with the signing of former Orioles stud Adam Jones, it may cost him some serious playing time. What's even more discouraging is the fact that the 29-year-old is struggling mightily in spring training, recording just six hits in […]

Chris Davis Hitting Below .200

Baltimore Orioles first baseman/outfielder Chris Davis had one of the worst hitting seasons in MLB history last year, and spring training results indicate that he still hasn't found his rhythm. In 21 at-bats thus far, Davis has just four hits while recording 11 strikeouts. That followed up a 2017-18 season in which the 33-year-old posted […]

Austin Hays Breaking Out?

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Hays appeared to be battling for a starting job as spring training continued, but it's still going to be hard to keep him out of the lineup with the way he's raking. The 23-year-old is 13-for-37 at the plate so far and is one of the league leaders with five home […]

Dylan Bundy's Struggles Continue

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dylan Bundy had one of the worst home-run rates in the majors last season, and it appears that has carried over to spring training. Bundy has made four starts thus far but has only gotten through 11.2 innings in total. In those 11.2 innings, the 26-year-old has allowed an unsightly 14 […]

Noah Syndergaard In Top Form

New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard was a disappointment last year with his 3.44 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in his first 21 starts, but he has carried over his late-season form into spring training. In his final four starts last year, Syndergaard posted a 1.04 ERA and 0.88 WHIP across 26 innings of action. […]

Robinson Cano Crushing Baseballs

New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano's career appears to be on the back nine based on his age, but his spring training numbers would indicate otherwise. The veteran is 18-for-37 so far this spring, en route to a ridiculous .486 average and has provided two home runs, three doubles, and three walks thus far. […]