Hot Prospects to Watch Week 12: Baz, Amaya, Contreras

We're getting even more baseball this week in the minor leagues, as the Single-A Short-Season and Rookie Leagues finally begin to start their 2018 campaigns. With the start of short-season ball, this week we're going to highlight several top prospects who have either just started or will be starting their seasons this week. The New […]

Kevin Kiermaier To Be Activated Tuesday

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (thumb) will be activated in time for the game Tuesday versus Houston. Outfielder Rob Refsnyder will be designated for assignment to make room for him. He has been rehabbing from a thumb surgery and the return is several weeks earlier than original timetables. Injuries continue to plague Kiermaier and […]

Aaron Hicks Smacks Go-Ahead Home Run

After he scored the game’s opening run off Giancarlo Stanton’s RBI single in the first, Aaron Hicks and the New York Yankees found themselves trailing by a run three innings later. In the fifth, Hicks stepped back up to the plate with pitcher Sonny Gray on and picked up his starting pitcher. The 28-year-old drilled […]

More Random Thoughts - Champions Analysis Podcast

Rotoballer Expert Kyle Richardson is joined by Blake Sullivan and Jesse Hiatt to dive into more random thoughts. The guys cover more fantasy baseball questions and listener trades. Plus, which players are off to hot starts and will or wont keep it up. Plus, do the Astros or Yankees have the most fantasy relevant assets on […]

Aaron Altherr Plays Hero In Walk-Off Victory

After the bullpen coughed up a two-run lead in the ninth inning Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, the Philadelphia Phillies headed into extra innings against the St. Louis Cardinals. In the 10th, they went down a run, setting up a painfully disappointing defeat. In the bottom of the frame, however, Rhys Hoskins led off […]

Odubel Herrera’s Blast Sets Tone

Beginning a three-game home set against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, the Philadelphia Phillies got off to a quick start, led by their center fielder. Odubel Herrera drilled a three-run home run to right after the first two runners reached base, putting the Phillies ahead by three before recording a single out. It was […]

Nick Williams Exits Game After Getting Hit In Face

The Philadelphia Phillies suffered a scary loss during Monday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals. In the eighth inning of the game, Nick Williams, who was starting in the right field, suffered an injury. While chasing down a fly ball in the outfield, he was struck in the face with a baseball that had […]

Mark Canha Plates Three In Big Game Sunday

Oakland Athletics outfielder Mark Canha had a nice day at the plate in Sunday's 6-5 extra-innings win over the Angels, going 2-for-4 with a single, a two-run home run, a walk, and three RBI. Canha lined a second-inning Andrew Heaney changeup over the left-center field wall for his eighth HR of the season. The 29-year-old […]

Avisail Garcia Has A Chance To Return This Week

Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia (hamstring) could return this weekend according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Merkin says that the White Sox want Garcia to play on back-to-back nine innings games before being re-evaluated. Garcia has hit .353 in five rehab games for Triple-A Charlotte.

Denard Span Hitting .320 Since Joining Mariners

Seattle Mariners outfielder Denard Span has been a welcome addition to the lineup since being acquired from the Rays at the end of May. In 50 at-bats with his new team, Span is slashing .320/.382/.500 with an OPS of .882. He has at least one hit in nine of his last 11 games played and […]

Ben Gamel's Value Hurt By Platoon Role

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ben Gamel has really turned his season around recently, going 20-for-48 (.416) since May 24th after a dismal start to his season. An oblique injury really set the rotation outfielder back coming out of spring training and was hitting .172 as recently as May 15th. But he has rebounded nicely, peppering hits […]

Austin Meadows is Out on Monday

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows (rest) is not in the starting lineup for Monday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Pirates continue to struggle to find playing time for all four of their "starting" outfielders. Meadows has put up fantastic numbers since being called up to the big leagues, but is difficult to trust in […]

Angels Recall Kole Calhoun, Option Jabari Blash

The Los Angeles Angels have recalled right fielder Kole Calhoun (oblique) from the 10-day DL. He is in the starting lineup on Monday, batting ninth and playing right field. To make room on the roster, the team optioned outfielder Jabari Blash to Triple-A. Blash was hitting .111 with nine strikeouts in 18 at-bats for the […]

Jay Bruce Scratched on Monday

New York Mets first baseman/outfielder Jay Bruce (back) has been scratched from the starting lineup. It's unclear why Bruce has been removed from the lineup, but he was dealing with a back issue over the weekend. He returned to the Mets lineup on Sunday, but maybe his soreness returned. Regardless, Jose Bautista will play right […]

Bradley Zimmer to Have MRI

Cleveland Indians outfielder Bradley Zimmer (shoulder) to have MRI on his right shoulder. Zimmer suffered a shoulder injury during batting practice on Wednesday. He was sent down to Triple-A on June 5. Zimmer has struggled heavily this season, so don't expect him to be much of a fantasy asset this season.

Greg Allen Optioned to Triple-A on Monday

Cleveland Indians outfielder Greg Allen was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Monday. With Yonder Alonso returning from the family medical emergency list, Allen heads back to Columbus to make room. He only has one hit in his last 33 at bats, so Cleveland likely wants him to get some consistent at bats so he can […]

Melky Cabrera Elects Free Agency

Outfielder Mekly Cabrera elected free agency rather than taking an assignment to Triple-A Columbus with the Cleveland Indians. Cabrera signed a minor league deal with Cleveland but struggled to a .207/.242/.293 batting line and was designated for assignment. He'll hope to latch on as depth with another organization, but might have a hard time finding […]

Yoenis Cespedes Expected To Resume Rehab Monday

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is expected to resume his rehab on Monday with Double-A Binghamton, according to manager Mickey Callaway. Prior to his setback last week, Cespedes had played two rehab games with Binghamton but has not restarted any baseball activities since. Cespedes has been out since May 14 due to a mild […]

Addison Russell Starting, Kris Bryant Leading Off For Cubs

Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell is in the starting lineup Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field. Russell and utility man extraordinaire Ben Zobrist — who will start at second base Monday — will have to share the load left behind by the injured Javier Baez (elbow). In a surprising move, third baseman […]

Streaming Wars: Waiver Wire Targets for June 19

Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. This article, which began last season, runs seven days a week. We are always ready to stream. For those who are newcomers to this feature - use this column on a daily basis to improve upon your neediest categories, and target players who may be […]

Brett Gardner Not in Monday's Starting Lineup

New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner will not be in the starting lineup for the Yankees second game tonight, although he is hopeful that he could pinch hit if need be. Gardner is dealing with a sore right knee. Gardner has been productive at the top of the Yankees order so far this season. He […]

Melky Cabrera Opts out of Contract, Becomes Free Agent

Cleveland Indians veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera has decided to become a free agent. Cabrera was being sent down to Triple-A Columbus for the foreseeable future and asked the Indians to release him. Cabrera has had a dismal 2018 season as he is carrying a .207 batting average to go along with zero home runs and […]

Wil Myers, Austin Hedges Both Homer In Latest Rehab Outing

San Diego Padres outfielder Wil Myers (oblique) and catcher Austin Hedges (elbow) both hit long balls during their latest rehab game on Sunday. Myers has been working his way back from the injury that landed him on the disabled list on April 29. He went 1-for-4 with the solo shot and is now 3-for-12 in three rehab […]

Billy Hamilton Picks Up Three Hits, Two Steals Sunday

Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton had a great game overall on Sunday against the Pirates, going 3-for-4 with three singles, two steals, and an amazing diving catch at the warning track. The game was a display of Hamilton's skills of speed and solid defense. He now has a .197/.285/.282 slash line with 13 stolen […]

Marwin Gonzalez Stays Hot, Drives In 33rd Run Of Season

Houston Astros infielder/outfielder Marwin Gonzalez went 1-for-3 with an RBI in the Astros 7-4 win on Sunday. The Astros are the hottest team in baseball and Gonzalez may possibly be one of the hottest hitters in the game. He now is hitting .459 in the month of June (17-for-37) with one home run, three triples, […]

FanDuel MLB DFS Lineup Picks (6/18/18): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

We have a nice medium sized slate for Monday with a number of viable pitching options. As a result, a lot of the hitters worth targeting are concentrated on a few teams. Equally important will be hitting on value plays and there a few punt-plays worth considering, with a few youngsters in Kansas City highlighting […]

Nicholas Castellanos Homers In Victory

Detroit Tigers outfielder Nicholas Castellanos blasted his ninth home run of the season Sunday against the White Sox as the Tigers completed a three-game sweep in the Windy City. The young slugger took James Shields deep for a two-run blast in the first inning. Castellanos has been hitting consistently, but the power has taken a […]

Kike Hernandez (2B/3B/SS/OF, LAD) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 3% of leagues ANALYSIS: Los Angeles Dodgers utility player Enrique “Kike” Hernandez has had himself a hell of a week. Once a throw-in as part of the Dee Gordon deal to Miami, Kike has become a useful major league roster piece in the wake of Corey Seager’s unfortunate injury. […]

Trading Up - Edwin Diaz

If you've read this column before, you know my standard guidance is to sell rather than buy closers. Today we take a look at the number one closer I'd actively target in a trade. I’m working on another article right now titled: “If You Only Buy One.” The idea behind it is that if you […]

Statcast Hitter Risers/Fallers - xSLG

We're all familiar with slugging percentage and how it values extra base hits over singles. Expected slugging percentage is a newer stat that attempts to identify a player's skill more so than regular slugging percentage, as xSLG removes defense from the equation. Since batters have control over their exit velocity and launch angle, but not […]