Roenis Elias To Start Friday

Seattle Mariners pitcher Roenis Elias will get the start on Friday against the Angels in place of ace James Paxton (illness), who is battling pneumonia. Elias, a fellow lefty, has a 3.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and weak 5.8 K/9 in 18 outings (two starts) this year for Seattle. He didn't go past 3 2/3 innings […]

J.D. Martinez Smacks 41st Homer Of The Season

Boston Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez just continues to crush baseballs. The 31-year-old was 2-for-4 with a solo homer in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. It was the 41st blast of the season for Martinez, which ties him with Khris Davis for the MLB lead. Martinez is slashing .330/.400/.634 with 122 RBI, […]

Jose Iglesias Moved To 60-Day DL

The Detroit Tigers moved shortstop Jose Iglesias (abdomen) from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day DL on Friday, meaning he will miss the rest of the season. Infielder Pete Kozma was called up from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move. Iglesias finishes with a .269/.310/.389 line with five home runs, 48 RBI, 43 runs […]

Gregory Polanco Could Miss Start Of 2019 Season

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco (shoulder, knee) had surgery on his labrum in addition to the stabilization of his dislocated left shoulder. The typical recovery time for this type of surgery is around seven to ninth months, which could affect Polanco's readiness for the start of the regular season. There's a good chance it does, […]

Eduardo Rodriguez Tosses Quality Start On Thursday

Boston Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez went six innings, allowing one run on five hits in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Rodriguez struck out seven batters without walking anyone. He left the game with a lead, but the bullpen collapsed and saddled Rodriguez with a no-decision. Regardless, it was a nice bounce-back […]

Hector Velazquez Scratched From Start

Boston Red Sox pitcher Hector Velazquez (illness) has been scratched from his start on Friday due to illness. William Cuevas will instead make the start against the Mets in what is likely to be a bullpen game now. Cuevas has made just four appearances in the big leagues this year (7 1/3 innings) and all […]

Angels Expected To Approach Mike Trout With Extension

The Los Angeles Angels are expected to try again to make outfielder Mike Trout a lifetime Angel when they discuss a contract with him this winter, and a rival agent suggested that Trout's agent would be wise to wait until impending free agents Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are signed to provide a floor. The […]

Wei-Yin Chen (SP, MIA) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 14% of leagues ANALYSIS: Miami Marlins starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen looks like one of the more impressive midseason bounce backs of the 2018 season. After an ugly 16 starts through the months of May, June, and July in which he produced a 6.26 ERA and 1.52 WHIP […]

Jose Alvarado (RP, TB) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 27% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jose Alvarado should be owned in more leagues based on his 2.14 ERA alone, but, here we are, with him free in more than 70% of leagues. Yes, he has walked 4.12 batters per nine on the season, […]

Luke Voit (1B, NYY) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS: New York Yankees first baseman Luke Voit may not be hitting a home run every other night like he was a week ago, but is still a great addition for the fantasy stretch run. Posting a .265/.359/.559 slash since the beginning of September, Voit […]

Mike Minor (SP/RP, TEX) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 29% of leagues ANALYSIS: Texas Rangers pitcher Mike Minor has now won six of his seven starts, is up to 12-7 on the season, and had struck out seven batters in his previous two starts. Since the All-Star break, Minor has a 2.70 ERA (but a 4.08 […]

Trevor Hildenberger (RP, MIN): Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Trevor Hildenberger is the closer for the Twins and, that alone, makes him a fantasy asset. There are a lot of things not to like about Hildy, the 4.45 FIP and 8.26 strikeouts per nine are a good start, […]

Kevin Kiermaier (OF, TB) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 26% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier is only slashing .225/.285/.386 over 328 plate appearances this season, but that does not speak to the player that Kiermaier is. After posting a .276/.338/.450 slash line last season, he has a .266/.312/.481 slash line in the second half, […]

Amed Rosario (SS, NYM) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 34% of leagues ANALYSIS: New York Mets shortstop Amed Rosario has shown why the Mets hold him in such high regard, posting a .277 batting average and 12 stolen bases since the All-Star break. While he has been caught stealing five times, and only has a .312 […]

Franmil Reyes (OF, SD) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 26% of leagues ANALYSIS: San Diego Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes has a current six-game hitting streak, seeing his batting average rise to .315 since the beginning of the second half. Reyes also has nine home runs in the second half, hitting four in a five game period at […]

Derek Holland (SP, SF) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS: San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Derek Holland has a 7-8 record and 3.46 ERA this season, striking out more than a batter per inning (159 in 158 2/3 innings). He has also struck out seven batters or more in each of his last two starts. […]

Todd Frazier (3B, NYM) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 36% of leagues ANALYSIS:  New York Mets third baseman Todd Frazier is part of a resurgent Mets lineup and has eight home runs and four stolen bases in the second half. Posting a .474 slugging percentage since August 2, Frazier had two home runs last week and has […]

Jake Junis (SP, KC) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 43% of leagues ANALYSIS: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jake Junis may only be 8-12 with a 4.28 ERA this season (and a 4.65 FIP), but he could make the difference in a fantasy championship this week. Since the All-Star break, Junis is only 3-2, but is striking out […]

Adalberto Mondesi (2B/SS, KC) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 34% of leagues ANALYSIS: Kansas City Royals infielder Adalberto Mondesi has a hit in each of the last four games and in seven of the last eight games. Known mostly for his speed, Mondesi is hitting .286 this season, posting a .333 batting average in September. He has […]

Hunter Renfroe (OF, SDP) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS: San Diego Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe should be bought for his power, but he also has a hit in five of the last six games, including two multi-hit games as well. Roping a double and two home runs this week, Renfroe has a .275/.293/.675 slash line […]

Mychal Givens Earns Multi-Inning Save Thursday

Baltimore Orioles closer Mychal Givens earned his seventh save of the season in Thursday's 5-3 win over the A's. Givens entered the game in the eighth inning with a one-run lead, one out, and the bases loaded. He was able to escape the jam with a strikeout and flyout, and then pitched a clean ninth […]

Dylan Bundy Has Quality Start, Earns Win Thursday

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dylan Bundy finally gave a solid performance in Thursday's 5-3 win over the A's. Bundy pitched six innings, allowing two runs on six hits (including a solo home run) and no walks with eight strikeouts. This start was Bundy's first in his last seven in which he allowed less than three […]

Manny Machado Gets Three Hits, Three RBI Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop/third baseman Manny Machado played a big role offensively in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Cardinals. Machado went 3-for-4 with a single, a double, a solo home run, and three RBI. The 26-year-old phenom has not missed a beat since joining his new team and is now hitting .302 with 34 HR, […]

Kenley Jansen Has Shaky Outing Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen had a subpar outing in a non-save situation in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Cardinals. Jansen entered the bottom of the ninth inning with a four-run lead and proceeded to allow two runs (one earned) on a hit and two walks with no strikeouts. Jansen has been a top […]

Clayton Kershaw Earns Eighth Win Of Season Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw improved to 8-5 after Thursday's 9-7 win over the Cardinals. Kershaw allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (including a solo home run) and two walks with eight strikeouts in six innings. The ace now has a 2.51 ERA to go with 142 strikeouts and 23 walks […]

Justin Upton Blasts Solo Home Run

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Justin Upton went 2-for-3 with a solo home run on Thursday, his 27th of the year. Upton is now hitting .261 with 27 home runs, 79 RBI and seven stolen bases. He is a solid source of power over the next couple of weeks.

Nicholas Castellanos A Strong Play Friday

Detroit Tigers outfielder Nicholas Castellanos has been on a tear for the last 30 games, hitting .325/.398/.530 with five homers. In his last seven games the numbers are even gawdier: .417/.500/.667 with a homer and six RBI. That alone is enough to say that Castellanos is a must-start player, but coupled with his career numbers […]

Week 25 MLB Closers and Saves Report

If you're still reading this, you're most likely either in the playoffs or winding down the year in a rotisserie league. Either way: congrats! This week was another interesting one in bullpens across the league, one that will certainly affect not only the fantasy playoffs but also the real MLB playoffs next month. There's bullpen […]

Holds Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds for Week 25

While holds are even tougher to predict than saves, the players we’ll highlight today include some elite setup men to target off the waiver wire in Week 25. One-inning middle relievers are the constant sources for holds and specialists can manage to secure a hold even with one out. However, while specialists can get many […]

Friday Five: Vexing Valuations

With almost all of my fantasy teams dead in the water at this point, my attention has already begun turning toward the future. Naturally, upon receiving an invitation from The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational overlord, RotoGraphs writer, and t-shirt inspiration Justin Mason to participate in this year's Too Early Mock Draft, I jumped at the […]