Roberto Osuna Departs With Injury, Astros Bullpen Thin

Houston Astros right-handed closer Roberto Osuna was lifted during a save opportunity Saturday against the Angels, marking yet another arm that appears to be injured for a pitching staff that has been dismantled by injuries in the early part of 2020. Entering the day, only Osuna and right-hander Ryan Pressly were available in relief that […]

Taylor Rogers Strikes Out Two, Notches Third Save

Minnesota Twins closer Taylor Rogers closed out the ninth for the second consecutive night on Saturday. Rogers struck out two and surrendered no walks or hits en route to his third save of the 2020 season. The 29-year-old has barely broken a sweat in each of his three innings pitched this year and looks like […]

David Hale Locks Down Save, Zach Britton Not Used

New York Yankees right-handed pitcher David Hale worked the final two innings of Saturday’s game against the Red Sox, earning his third career save. Hale tossed 34 pitches and faced left-handed hitter Andrew Benintendi as the tying run in the ninth, indicating that left-hander Zach Britton was likely unavailable, despite having pitched just once since […]

Steven Brault, Chad Kuhl Likely To Piggyback Sunday’s Game

Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Steven Brault is in line to start Sunday’s contest against the Cubs, just don’t expect to see him for long. Right-hander Chad Kuhl is also expected to pitch, with the duo having combined to limit the Brewers to 5 ⅔ scoreless innings last week in their first piggyback outing. With this strategy […]

Kenta Maeda Masterful In Win Over Indians

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kenta Maeda was fantastic in his second start of the season. Maeda pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, one walk and striking out six en route to his second win of the season. The 32-year-old threw 52 of 83 pitches for strikes and kept Cleveland hitters off balance all […]

Cardinals And Tigers To Play Four Games In Detroit

The St. Louis Cardinals season is scheduled to continue on Tuesday in Detroit. The two teams were scheduled to play two games in St. Louis and two in Detroit, starting on Monday. Instead, due to COVID-19 concerns, the two teams will play four games in Detroit starting on Tuesday, including a double header on Wednesday. […]

Cardinals-Brewers Double Header Postponed

The scheduled double header set for Sunday between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. The two teams were going to play the double header to make up for Friday's game, which was postponed. Now, Saturday's game is also off the schedule, and Sunday's two games won't […]

Kolby Allard Not Slated For More Than 60-70 Pitches Sunday

Texas Rangers left-handed pitcher Kolby Allard is taking injured All-Star Corey Kluber’s spot in the starting rotation for Sunday’s contest against the Giants. Allard hasn’t pitched during the 2020 regular season yet, which will limit him to about 60-70 pitches, per manager Chris Woodward. “I’m looking at three, four innings, tops,” Woodward said, “I don’t […]

Mike Brosseau Continues Dominance Of Orioles With HR

Tampa Bay Rays utilityman Mike Brosseau made his second career start at first base during Saturday’s game against Baltimore, a team that he has become mighty familiar with in his short big league career. Brosseau slugged a home run in the 6th, his sixth career blast against the Orioles -- the catch? It was just […]

Mitch Keller Departs Start Early With Apparent Injury

Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller was in the midst of a second consecutive impressive outing Saturday against the Cubs when he was lifted in the third due to an injury that looked to be to his left side. Keller allowed five hits and two runs across 2 ⅔ innings, although he danced around trouble […]

Hanser Alberto (2B, 3B, BAL) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 8% of leagues ANALYSIS: Hanser Alberto has garnered a reputation for being a "leftie-masher" in that he hits left-handed pitching so well. The numbers certainly back that up. In 2019, Alberto had a .398/.414/.534 slash line against lefties and already has a .625/.625/1.250 line against southpaws this […]

Nicky Lopez Exits Game Saturday Due To Injury

Kansas City Royals second baseman Nicky Lopez sustained a shin ailment during Saturday’s contest against the White Sox, forcing him to exit early after going 0-for-2 with six runners left on base. Lopez has scuffled to begin 2020, going 2-for-16 with no extra-base hits in his first eight games. Any extended absence for Lopez would […]

Michael Fulmer Has Start Bumped Back Due To Rain

Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Michael Fulmer had been in line to make his second start Saturday against the Reds, but due to the rainout, will now have his next appearance pushed to next week. With the delay not coming until just before first pitch, Fulmer had prepped to start Saturday, which apparently factored into the […]

Using the Baller Ranks and Meta Report

The Baller Ranks depict player value and active developments throughout the season. For most leagues, there are somewhere between 250 and 400 fantasy-relevant players. Most weeks feature more than 80 games, a myriad of roster moves, and enough information that many fantasy managers can miss critical changes. In the best sense, the Baller Ranks offer updated […]

James Karinchak (RP, CLE) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 21% of leagues ANALYSIS: James Karinchak came into the 2020 season as a sleeper for saves and he picked up his first career save against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. Those save opportunities may come thick and fast after Cleveland Indians regular closer Brad Hand has started the […]

Byron Buxton Playing At Less Than 100 Percent

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton revealed prior to Saturday’s contest against Cleveland that his injured foot has not completely healed. Buxton’s appearance in the lineup was just his third of the year, not yet having played in back-to-back days in 2020. Having been thrown out trying to steal a base just eight times in […]

James Hoyt Becomes Latest Reliever Traded To Miami

The Miami Marlins’ bullpen overhaul continued Saturday as they acquired right-handed pitcher James Hoyt from the Cleveland Indians. Hoyt had been designated for assignment earlier in the week after having appeared in eight games last season for Cleveland, allowing two runs and striking out 10 in 8 ⅓ innings. Miami has had to reconstruct its […]

Trevor Story Extends On-Base Streak To 22 Games

Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story wasted little time getting on base during Saturday’s game against the Padres, smacking a single off of left-hander Joey Lucchesi in his first at-bat. The hit by Story marks his 22nd consecutive game having reached base, dating back to Sept. 10 of last season. Through the first six games of […]

Giancarlo Stanton Set To Remain DH For Foreseeable Future

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone had previously spoken about how he hoped to use the designated hitter to get some of his everyday regulars some time off their feet defensively. But with Giancarlo Stanton having opened 2020 on a tear despite some concerns around his right calf, Boone has decided to stick with Stanton […]

JaCoby Jones (OF, DET) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 18% of leagues ANALYSIS: JaCoby Jones has a .423/.464/.885 slash line through eight games of the season despite hitting ninth in the Detroit Tigers lineup in all eight games. The Tigers have gotten off to a good start with a 5-3 record and Jones has been a […]

Jonathan Lucroy Clears Waivers, To Remain With Red Sox

Boston Red Sox catcher Jonathan Lucroy will report to the team’s alternate training site after clearing waivers Saturday. Currently, the Red Sox are rolling with the duo of Christian Vazquez and Kevin Plawecki behind the dish. Since having been an All-Star with the Brewers in 2016, Lucroy has appeared for six different organizations, unable to […]

Kris Bryant A Last-Minute Scratch From Saturday’s Lineup

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was removed from Saturday’s lineup against the Pirates at the eleventh hour due to an undisclosed reason. Bryant has scuffled out of the gates in 2020, going 3-for-25 with one double and 10 strikeouts through his first six games. Despite that, his exit velocity has been off the charts, […]

Anthony Beauvillier Scores Game-Winner, Islanders Win Game 1

The New York Islanders defeated the Florida Panthers by a score of 2-1 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers on Saturday. The Islanders got on the board midway through the opening period as center Jean-Gabriel Pageau found the back of net to open the scoring, while left-winger Anthony Beauvillier's power-play goal early on […]

Dominik Kubalik Records Five Points in Blackhawks' Win

The Chicago Blackhawks shocked the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday afternoon with four first-period goals to take the first game of the Stanley Cup Qualifying Series. Edmonton made a late push with two third-period goals but ultimately fell 6-4. Rookie Dominik Kubalik — who scored 30 goals in 68 regular-season games — was the offensive star […]

Matt Shoemaker (SP, TOR) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of leagues ANALYSIS: Toronto Blue Jays Matt Shoemaker made a triumphant return to the mound on the season's opening weekend, hurling six innings and giving up just one run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. After tearing an ACL in April 2019, Shoemaker missed […]

Jimmie Johnson Looking To Turn Luck Around At New Hampshire

Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson will roll off from the 20th starting position in Sunday's Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The last month has been abysmal for Johnson and the No. 48 team. Johnson missed Indy after testing positive for COVID-19 and has had issues in every race since he's returned. […]

Forrest Whitley Dealing With Arm Soreness

Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Forrest Whitley -- the club’s No. 1 prospect -- has been shut down at the team’s alternate training site as he deals with discomfort in his throwing arm. Injuries have changed the landscape for Houston in 2020, as Justin Verlander, Jose Urquidy, and Chris Devenski are just three of the notable […]

Yandy Diaz (1B, 3B, TB) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: It may seem odd to suggest adding a hitter who has started the season 2 for 21 at the plate but Yandy Diaz has been walked nine times (which leads the Majors) and struck out just five times in his seven games so far. […]

Jose Quintana Tosses Bullpen Session, Progressing In Rehab

Chicago Cubs left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana has not yet stepped onto a big league mound this season due to a left thumb ailment, but he tossed 38 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday, a step in the right direction toward his eventual activation off the injured list. The plan is for Quintana to step on […]

LCK & LPL DFS Picks for 8/2/20: DraftKings, FanDuel League of Legends

Hello again, my dear LOL friends, and welcome back to another weekend edition of my LPL/LCK picks and analysis here at RotoBaller! Five matches tomorrow morning and I am geared up for it to say the least. The Summer split is winding down and the playoff race is tightening up. Let's hop back in the […]