Trading Up: Javier Baez

Before the season, Chicago Cubs manager, Joe “Hates Your Fantasy Baseball Team” Maddon challenged Javier Baez to make himself so productive that Maddon would be forced to start Baez every day. Many fantasy owners are well aware of Maddon’s tendency to split playing time between several strong players, thereby decreasing their volume and consequently their […]

Statcast Hitter Risers/Fallers - xwOBA w/RISP (Week 14)

Statcast is a fun tool, at least if you love stats. If you didn't, you wouldn't be reading this, nor would you spend hours poring through the waiver wire or farm system reports in search of the next big thing to hit the majors. Only baseball brings that kind of unbridled passion for a past-time […]

Mallex Smith With Rare HR Sunday Versus Houston

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Mallex Smith with a very rare HR Sunday versus the Astros. He would break the longest active homerless streak in the majors (by a non-pitcher) at 356 at-bats. The HR would turn out to be the winning margin in the 3-2 victory. He still will sit occasionally when facing a particularly […]

Matt Kemp Has Monster Day Sunday

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp was an offensive juggernaut in Sunday's 6-4 win over the Rockies, going 3-for-4 with a single, a double, a solo home run, and four RBI. Kemp's 14th bomb of the year was a clutch one, providing the go-ahead run off of Adam Ottavino in the bottom of the eighth […]

Dexter Fowler Placed on the Paternity Leave List

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dexter Fowler was placed on the paternity leave list on Sunday. He'll presumably be away from the team for only a couple of days. In the meantime, Tyler O'Neill will be called up from Triple-A to take Fowler's place on the roster.

Mark Trumbo Crushes Two Home Runs Sunday

Baltimore Orioles designated hitter/outfielder Mark Trumbo played a big role in Sunday's 8-2 win over the Angels, going 2-for-4 with two solo home runs. Trumbo hit an opposite-field blast in the fourth inning and then launched a ball into the left-field seats in the fifth. He now has 10 HR and 25 RBI to go […]

Eloy Jimenez Exits Triple-A Game With Leg Injury Sunday

Chicago White Sox outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez (leg) exited his game at Triple-A Charlotte Sunday with what is believed to be a leg injury. There is no news on the severity of the injury, but Jimenez was noticeably hurt running out what ended up as a fly-out and did left the game after that. Jimenez […]

Mikie Mahtook Expected to Be Called Up From Triple-A

Detroit Tigers outfielder Mikie Mahtook is expected to be called up to replace the injured Leonys Martin. Mahtook got off to a horrible start to 2018 and was demoted fairly quickly. He's hitting .261/.333/.450 in Triple-A with eight home runs and five steals in 53 games. Mahtook still has potential for a combination of power […]

Hunter Renfroe Rips Fifth Homer

San Diego Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe went 2-for-5 in Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates with a double, solo homer and two RBI. Renfroe had an opportunity to do more damage with the bases loaded in the sixth inning but flew out to right field. Since returning from elbow inflammation on May 28, Renfroe is […]

Cameron Maybin Hits First Homer of Season

After hitting 10 home runs over 450 plate appearances in 2017, Miami Marlins outfielder Cameron Maybin hit his first home run of 2018 after 209 plate appearances on Sunday in the Marlins' 5-2 loss. Disappointment is an understatement when it comes to describing Maybin's fantasy performance this season, as he is on pace for three […]

Kike Hernandez (OF/2B/SS/3B, LAD) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 38% of leagues ANALYSIS: I’m cheating a bit on the ownership percentage here, but I can’t help it. Kike absolutely must be owned in all leagues, period, full stop. Forget the fact  that he is playable at almost any position, he would be a must add if he […]

Jesse Winker (OF, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker might be one of the best pure hitters in baseball, but his lack of pop limits his upside and value. Still, the 24-year-old is an intensely cerebral player with some of the most amazing hand-eye coordination I’ve ever […]

Mark Trumbo (OF, BAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: Power-hitting outfielder Mark Trumbo seems to be regaining his form, and doing so in a hurry.  For the season, Trumbo is hitting .268/.326/.476 with eight home runs, 22 RBI, and a .208 ISO - which are acceptable numbers considering he missed a […]

Randall Grichuk (OF, TOR) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 10% of leagues ANALYSIS: Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk does have a lot of critics, but there are still aspects that make him fantasy relevant. Critics say that he sells out too much of his approach to generate his power. Also, there is a lot to […]

JaCoby Jones Blasts Two-Run Bomb

Detroit Tigers outfielder JaCoby Jones hit his sixth homer of the year off of Preston Guilmet in the ninth inning, adding two runs on to the end of a 9-1 win. He also notched a double in a 2-for-3 day, but his overall line for the season shows he still falls short of being fantasy […]

Castellanos Crushes Fourth Career Grand Slam in Sunday's Win

Detroit Tigers outfielder Nick Castellanos took Toronto Blue Jays starter J.A Happ deep in the fifth inning for his 13th home run of the season, plating four RBI as part of his 2-for-4 day. He nearly had another bomb in the ninth inning but was robbed by Kevin Pillar at the wall. All things considered, […]

Ben Zobrist (2B/OF, CHC) - Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 23% of leagues ANALYSIS: Chicago Cubs utility player Ben Zobrist may be on the back nine of his career, but that does not mean that he is an ineffective fantasy option. On Saturday, Zobrist reached base in four of his five trips to the plate, with […]

Eloy Jimenez (OF, CWS) - Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 14% of leagues ANALYSIS: Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez is a 21-year-old wunderkind who has been making a mockery the minors for weeks now. Since being promoted to Triple-A just nine games ago, Jimenez has smashed two home runs on a .250/.351/.438 line with a […]

Jose Bautista (3B/OF, NYM) - Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 6% of leagues ANALYSIS: New York Mets third baseman/outfielder Jose Bautista is not a name you expected to see on a waiver wire list in 2018. Granted Bautista’s better days are in the past. However, his performance since joining the Mets demonstrates there is value that […]

Austin Meadows Leading Off Sunday

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows will bat first in the lineup Sunday against Tyson Ross and the Padres. Starling Marte will get a day of rest. Meadows has a .614 OPS in the past 15 games; he has knocked in five and scored four times. Ross went 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 22 strikeouts […]

Leonys Martin Leaves Game With Injury

Detroit Tigers outfielder Leonys Martin left Sunday's game against the Blue Jays with a left hamstring cramp. Though cramps usually aren't a big deal, it's the same hamstring that he strained earlier this season forcing him to go on the disabled list. As of now, Martin will be listed as day-to-day with more news to […]

Starling Marte Takes Sunday Off

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte is getting a day of rest on Sunday with Austin Meadows replacing him in center field. Marte has been extremely cold over the last month batting just .183 with a .547 OPS. He does have eight steals in that span, but the rest of his ratios and counting stats are […]

Charlie Blackmon Hits The Bench Sunday

Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers. Blackmon started the season off great, but has seemingly been getting worse and worse as the weeks continue and has hit .125 with a .285 OPS over the last week. With his offensive and even defensive numbers greatly deteriorating, […]

Marwin Gonzalez Out Sunday

Houston Astros utility man Marwin Gonzalez is sitting Sunday against the Rays. Gonzalez has been awful over the past two weeks batting just .095 through 42 at bats. Gonzalez has been lucky to get playing time recently with a few injuries throughout the lineup, but it seems like even with Carlos Correa and George Springer […]

Luis Robert Returns To Disabled List

Chicago White Sox outfield prospect Luis Robert (thumb) has been placed on the 7-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb. Robert got off to a late start to the season with a thumb injury and the club wants to play it safe as the injury does not appear significant. Robert remains one of the […]

Carlos Asuaje Recalled, Matt Szczur Designated

The San Diego Padres are recalling infielder Carlos Asuaje from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday. Asuaje broke Spring Training with the Friars but was optioned after hitting .193 in 121 plate appearances. A natural second baseman, Asuaje learned the ropes of third base in the minors and will bring additional versatility to San Diego's infield. […]

Scooter Gennett, Jesse Winker Out Of Lineup Sunday

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett (rest) and outfielder Jesse Winker (rest) are both out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. Alex Blandino will get the start at second base with Adam Duvall, Billy Hamilton, and Scott Schebler covering the outfield. Blandino is hitting just .217 this season so he should not […]

Wil Myers Erupts Saturday

San Diego Padres outfielder Wil Myers achieved his best game of the season Saturday night, blasting a home run and collecting three RBI in four at-bats. Myers crushed an opposite-field dinger in the third inning then brought home two more Padres with a double in the fifth. Myers has battled various ailments this season and […]

Kevin Kiermaier Out Of Lineup Sunday

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (rest) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros. Kiermaier has started the last 10 straight games, so this is just a routine day off. Johnny Field will come off the bench to start in right field, with Joey Wendle manning left field and Mallex Smith […]

George Springer Out Of Lineup Sunday

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer (back) is out of the lineup on Sunday against the Rays. Springer is day-to-day after an attempted diving catch in Saturday's game. Jake Marisnick will man center field in his place. Marisnick is hitting just .197 against lefties this season (Blake Snell will be on the mound for the Rays) […]