Bill Dubiel's 10 Bold Predictions

Oh yeah. You knew @Roto_Dubs was closing this bad boy. After all that soft cheddar you gotta bring that Jordan Hicks FIRE in the ninth! I kid, my colleagues are MOSTLY terrific (*sideways glance at Kyle*). Love doing these every year, no matter how tragic the final results are. This series is a chance to take our […]

2019 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers - RotoBaller Staff Picks

As we get set for the 2019 MLB season, it's time for our crack staff to reveal their favorite preseason sleepers. We recently polled some of our fantasy baseball writers to get their take on which hitters and pitchers they are targeting the most in the mid-to-late rounds of fantasy drafts. While you've likely heard […]

Intro: Finding Undervalued Players Using Expected Draft Values

At RotoBaller, we are all about bringing you the best analysis in the fantasy sports universe. We’re proud to unveil a draft-season project that looks at the past 10 years of draft data to find undervalued and overvalued players based on Expected Draft Values.  This series introduction will briefly break down our methodology and then […]

Garrett Cooper Making Powerful Case To Make Team

Miami Marlins outfielder Garrett Cooper is doing everything he can to crack the Marlins 25-man roster. The 28-year-old went 2-for-3 on Friday, bringing his spring training OPS to .991 with a week to go. The Marlins already have Curtis Granderson, Lewis Brinson locked up to start the season, with only Pete O'Brien as Cooper's main […]

Dexter Fowler Hitting The Ball Harder

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dexter Fowler, who could hit anywhere from second to seventh this year, hit two home runs in the spring game on Thursday against the Yankees and has been making consistent hard contact in camp. He entered Thursday with one extra-base hit in his first 40 spring at-bats, but Fowler has put […]

Clint Frazier Optioned Friday

New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday. The 24-year-old played in just 69 games last year (15 in the majors) due to the effects of a concussion, and he hit just .130 over 46 at-bats with two doubles, one triple, five RBI and three stolen bases in 17 Grapefruit […]

Justin Upton, Zack Cozart Should Be Ready

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Justin Upton (knee) and third baseman Zack Cozart (calf) will continue to get extra playing time over the next few days in camp so that they are ready for the season opener next Thursday against the A's. Manager Brad Ausmus thinks both players will avoid the injured list, but the team […]

Joey Gallo Homers In Minor League Game

Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo (groin) homered, grounded out and walked twice as the designated hitter in a Triple-A game on Friday after being sidelined since March 14 with a strained right groin. The left-handed slugger said he was pain-free and ran at about 80 percent. Gallo will continue to receive at-bats in minor league […]

Willie Calhoun Yet To Report To Triple-A

Texas Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun was disappointed to learn he was optioned to Triple-A Nashville and has yet to report to the team. A player has 72 hours to report to a team, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Calhoun still has a lot of potential at the major league level, but he's going to […]

Bradley Zimmer To Start Season On Injured List

Cleveland Indians outfielder Bradley Zimmer continues to advance in his rehab from right shoulder surgery last July, but he will begin the regular season on the injured list. “[Zimmer] has done a terrific job of rehabbing and things,” manager Terry Francona said. “He’s light years ahead of where we thought he’d be at this time. […]

Jason Kipnis Out 7-10 Days With Calf Strain

Cleveland Indians second baseman/outfielder Jason Kipnis won't do any baseball activities for seven to 10 days after an MRI exam showed a low-grade right calf strain. He has battled tightness in his right calf for the last week and was taken out of Wednesday's spring game after the pain continued. Eric Stamets had some tightness […]

A.J. Pollock's Health Key To '19 Success

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder A.J. Pollock is enjoying a solid spring training with his new team, slashing .289/.389/.556 with three doubles and three home runs in 16 exhibition games. Pollock signed with the Dodgers over the winter and figures to be the team's table-setter at the top of the lineup. There is little denying Pollock's […]

Peter Bourjos Having Stellar Spring

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Peter Bourjos is earning a spot on the Opening Day roster, slashing .304/.347/.609 with one triple, three doubles, three home runs and 10 runs batted in through 46 exhibition at-bats. The formerly highly-touted speedster has bounced around the league the past several seasons and is looking to earn a role in […]

Kyle Tucker's Potential Is Murky To Begin Season

Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker heads into the final week of spring training slashing .276/.382/.379 with three doubles in 29 at-bats. Tucker has enjoyed seeing his name at the top of the Astros prospects list the past few seasons but has not produced yet at the major league level. Tucker should be in line for […]

Michael Brantley Has Boom-Or-Bust Potential

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley is having a solid spring training with his new team, hitting .313 in 32 at-bats this spring. Brantley is as professional hitter as it gets in baseball but the 31-year-old has failed to stay healthy throughout his career. The upside for Brantley is obvious hitting in a potent Astros offense […]

George Springer Hoping To Regain Power Stroke In '19

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer has only one extra-base hit through 35 spring at-bats heading into the final week before the regular season. Springer is a player trying to rebound from a 22-home run 2018 season after popping 63 home runs the previous two years before that. Most of that can be traced to nagging […]

Heliot Ramos Has Impressive Power/Speed Combo

San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos, the team's No. 2 prospect and No. 91 overall per MLB Pipeline, hit .245/.313/.396 in 2018 as the youngest regular (18 years old) in the South Atlantic League (Low A). However, he sports an impressive power/speed combination and showed improvement with making contact. For a rebuilding Giants squad looking […]

Kristian Robinson Has Impressive Raw Power

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Kristian Robinson, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has an exciting package of tools, including raw power that could make him one of the best sluggers in the minors. He also has plus speed and arm strength and could stick in center field long term. Robinson hit .279/.363/.428 with seven […]

Cole Roederer Compared To Andrew Benintendi

Chicago Cubs outfielder Cole Roederer, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has been compared to Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi and he sports a quick left-handed swing and advanced bat-to-ball skills. The 19-year-old hit .275/.354/.465 with five home runs, 24 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 36 games in the Rookie League in […]

Tristen Lutz One Of Brewers Best Prospects

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Tristen Lutz, the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, showed his dynamic bat in his first full season in 2018 with 13 home runs and 33 doubles at Single-A. The No. 34 overall pick in 2017 struck out often, but his solid approach showed he could make adjustments as the season […]

Manuel Margot Falling Out Of Favor

It’s becoming probable that San Diego Padres outfielder Manuel Margot won’t be given an everyday job in 2019. After a disappointing .245/.292/.384 slash with just eight homers and 11 steals (53 percent success rate) last year, Margot needs to showcase his offensive worth to remain in the lineup. Despite his excellent defense and a promising […]

Updated Outfielder Rankings - 5x5 Roto (Mixed Leagues)

We continue our fantasy baseball tiered rankings analysis with a look at the star-studded outfield position With the 2019 season beginning in a matter of days, RotoBaller writers Nick Mariano, JB Branson, Bill Dubiel, Pierre Camus, and Scott Engel have given their preseason rankings a final update. Check out our fantasy baseball rankings dashboard for a […]

Nate Green's 10 Bold Predictions for 2019

Here at RotoBaller, we offer only the best, most factually-grounded fantasy analysis. Then, once a year, along comes everyone's favorite exercise: the Bold Predictions. Ah yes, wherein those of us who write analysis about a sabermetric-driven sport are encouraged to make the wildest guesses about the coming season in fantasy baseball. Some statistical basis ought […]

Mariners Excited About Julio Rodriguez

The Seattle Mariners are very excited about outfielder Julio Rodriguez, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, despite the fact that he hasn't even played in a game in the United States yet. He showed up to camp in excellent shape and has wowed the team with his makeup and tools and has a […]

Austin Beck Could Become Dynamic Center Fielder

Oakland Athletics outfielder Austin Beck, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, led the Single-A Midwest league in 2018 in hits in his first full season and also hit close to .300 despite a 117/30 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has great bat speed and raw power and has the tools to become a dynamic center […]

Luis Robert Has Five-Tool Potential

Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert, the team's No. 4 prospect and No. 40 overall, lit up the Arizona Fall League in 2018 after rarely being healthy in his first two professional seasons in the minors. The White Sox gave him a $26 million bonus and few players can match his combination of exit velocity […]

George Valera May Be Best Pure Minor League Hitter

Cleveland Indians outfielder George Valera, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, could emerge as one of the best pure minor league hitters, according to scouts. His season was cut short after just six games in 2018 due to a broken hamate bone, but he has a sweet left-handed swing, an advanced approach, plate […]

Starling Marte Day-To-Day With Back Tightness

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte was scratched from Thursday's Grapefruit League lineup as a precaution due to lower back tightness. Marte is listed as day-to-day. It doesn't seem like a serious injury, so Marte should be good to go for next Thursday's Opening Day on March 28. Marte hit .277/.327/.460 with a career-high 20 home […]

Drew Anderson, Dylan Cozens Optioned Thursday

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Drew Anderson and outfielder Dylan Cozens were both sent to Triple-A on Thursday. Anderson was 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA in four Grapefruit League outings while striking out 12 and walking two in 12 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old will likely be the first or second call if the team needs rotation […]

Nick Williams Won't Play Center Field

Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said that outfielder Nick Williams will not play center field this year, but he saw a look there in spring action on Thursday. Williams is expected to make the Opening Day roster as the top weapon off the bench, but with Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen at the corners and […]