Mookie Betts Back In Lineup On Tuesday

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (illness) is back at shortstop and is hitting second for Tuesday's exhibition game against the crosstown-rival Los Angeles Angels. Betts fell ill just before the Dodgers departed for Tokyo, Japan, and missed both of their wins against the Chicago Cubs last Tuesday and Wednesday. Although the 32-year-old former MVP […]

Ronald Acuna Jr., Spencer Strider Officially Placed On Injured List

The Atlanta Braves officially placed outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) and right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) on the injured list, the team announced. Acuna was put on the 10-day IL, while Strider is on the 15-day IL. Additionally, infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. (wrist) and catcher Sean Murphy (rib cage) were put on the 10-day IL. All […]

Cam Smith Makes Astros Opening Day Roster

Houston Astros prospect Cam Smith, who is starting in right field and batting fifth for the second straight day in Tuesday's exhibition against Triple-A Sugar Land, has officially made the team's Opening Day roster despite playing in just 32 minor-league games, according to three league sources. The 22-year-old is expected to start in right field […]

Jasson Dominguez, Ben Rice Make Opening Day Roster

New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez and first baseman Ben Rice officially have made the team's Opening Day roster, according to manager Aaron Boone. It shouldn't come as a surprise to fantasy managers that either player is on the big-league roster to start the year. Dominguez, 22, is the much bigger name in fantasy and […]

Kevin Pillar Makes Opening Day Roster

Texas Rangers outfielder Kevin Pillar will make the Opening Day roster. Shawn McFarland of the Dallas News reported that Pillar will likely be deployed as the designated hitter or in center field against left-handed pitching. Pillar inked a minor-league deal with the Rangers during the offseason. Last season, the 36-year-old spent time in the majors […]

Angels Release Mickey Moniak

The Los Angeles Angels have released outfielder Mickey Moniak. The 26-year-old posted an underwhelming .179/.224/.346 slash line with one double and two home runs across 21 contests during spring training. Last season, Moniak logged a career-high 124 contests with the Angels and posted a .219/.266/.380 slash line with 17 doubles and 14 home runs. He […]

Evan Carter Optioned To Triple-A

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter did not make the Opening Day roster and is being optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. Carter made his MLB debut during the 2023 campaign and played a critical role during their World Series run. Across his first 23 games in the majors, Carter posted a strong .306/.413/.645 slash line with […]

Drew Waters, Joey Wiemer Optioned To Minor-League Camp

The Kansas City Royals optioned outfielders Drew Waters and Joey Wiemer and infielder Nick Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, the team announced. The team also announced that infielders Harold Castro and Tyler Tolbert, right-hander Taylor Clarke and catcher Brian O'Keefe have been assigned to minor-league camp. With Waters and Wiemer going down, it means […]

10 League-Winning Fantasy Baseball Prospects - Upside Draft Targets

This is the third chapter of my fantasy baseball league winners series. Today's focus is on league-winning prospects, where we look at rookies available outside the top 100 that can put your team over the top. You can read my 10 league-winning hitters and 10 league-winning pitchers articles as well. Keep in mind that prospects […]

Javier Baez An Option In Center Field

With injuries to Detroit Tigers outfielders Austin Meadows (arm), Matt Vierling (shoulder) and Wenceel Perez (back), the team's plans at center field remain a question mark heading into Opening Day on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Detroit recently signed veteran Manuel Margot, but manager A.J. Hinch indicated the tam plans to use him mostly […]

What Are Statcast xStats? Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball (2025)

Welcome RotoBallers to our overview of Statcast Expected Statistics (xStats). This article is a deeper dive into xStats and is part of our ongoing series "Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball." In this article, we'll explain what Statcast's xStats are and how they work in layman's terms anyone can understand. We'll also look at how well […]

7 Fantasy Baseball Bold Predictions - Scott Engel's 2025 Picks

Drafting your fantasy baseball team is only the beginning of the 2025 journey. In real life, baseball is a constant game of adjustments, and you will always have to make your own adjustments as a fantasy player because rosters are so large and there is more work to be done in this game than in […]

Pablo Reyes Could Make Opening Day Roster

New York Yankees infielder/outfielder Pablo Reyes is emerging as a favorite to make the Opening Day roster. According to Chris Kirschner, Reyes appears to be higher on the current depth chart than infielder Oswald Peraza. During spring training, Reyes has posted a strong .326/.434/.488 slash line with one double and two long balls. He has […]

Colby Thomas Returns To Action

Athletics outfield prospect Colby Thomas (knee) returned to Cactus League action this weekend. Last week, Thomas suffered a knee injury after being hit by a line drive. However, after sitting out for a few days, Thomas was cleared to return. The Mercer product was competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster but was […]

Kyle Stowers Makes Opening Day Roster

Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers has made the team's Opening Day roster, reports Isaac Azout. Whether he has won the starting left-field job is yet to be known, but he should at least see some playing time as part of a platoon. He hasn't exactly shown out during Spring Training, batting just .162 with a […]

Isaac Paredes To Bat Second And Yordan Alvarez To Bat Third

Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes is set to bat in the two-hole entering the season, with outfielder Yordan Alvarez batting third, according to manager Joe Espada. Paredes will be looking to take advantage of the Crawford Boxes in short left field of Daikin Park and perform like the player he was in 2023 when […]

Cam Smith Hits Two-Run Triple In Monday's Exhibition Contest

Houston Astros outfield prospect Cam Smith started in right field for the Astros' exhibition game on Monday against their Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, and went 1-for-3 with a two-run triple and a run scored. It was the 22-year-old's first game at Houston's home field now that the team has wrapped up Grapefruit […]

Brandon Lockridge Expected To Platoon With Jason Heyward

San Diego Padres outfielder Brandon Lockridge has been told he will make the Opening Day roster, and he's expected to platoon in left field with Jason Heyward to begin the season, according to MLB.com's AJ Cassavell. Lockridge, who bats right-handed, will be on the short side of the platoon with Heyward, primarily entering the starting […]

DaShawn Keirsey Jr. Makes Opening Day Roster

Minnesota Twins outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. has been informed that he has made the team's Opening Day roster. Keirsey beats out former first-rounder Austin Martin for the team's last outfield spot to open the regular season. The 27-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2018 out of the University of Utah made his MLB debut in 2024 but […]

Austin Martin Optioned To Triple-A

Minnesota Twins outfielder Austin Martin was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press' Betsy Helfand. Martin lost out on the final outfield spot on the Opening Day roster to DaShawn Keirsey after hitting .275 (11-for-40) with two doubles, five RBI, three stolen bases and seven runs scored in […]

Nolan Jones Expected To Be In Strong Side Of Platoon In Right Field

MLB.com's Tim Stebbins writes that the bulk of Cleveland Guardians new outfielder Nolan Jones' at-bats this year are expected to come in right field against right-handed pitchers. After the Guardians acquired Jones from the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, they also optioned left-handed-hitter Will Brennan to Triple-A Columbus. Jhonkensy Noel is expected to get starts in […]

Mookie Betts Works Out Monday, Optimistic About Playing On Tuesday

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (illness) was able to keep food down on Monday and also worked out at Dodgers Stadium, according to manager Dave Roberts. Betts is optimistic that he will play in the final Freeway Series game on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels after sitting out on Monday. The 32-year-old eight-time […]

Wenceel Perez Expected To Be Out A Month With Back Inflammation

Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said that outfielder Wenceel Perez (back) is expected to be out at least a month to begin the season due to lower-back inflammation. Perez is scheduled to receive an injection in his back later this week. The Tigers have been hit hard with injuries to their outfielders […]

Tigers Move Parker Meadows To 60-Day Injured List

The Detroit Tigers moved outfielder Parker Meadows (arm) to the 60-day injured list on Monday to make space on the 40-man roster for recently-signed outfielder Manuel Margot. Meadows is dealing with a nerve issue in his right arm and will be shut down for at least four weeks before he can attempt to throw again. […]

Mookie Betts Out Of Monday's Lineup

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (illness) remains out of the team's lineup for Monday's exhibition contest against the crosstown-rival Los Angeles Angels. Veteran Miguel Rojas is at the 6 and will bat eighth for the Blue. Betts came down with an illness shortly before the Dodgers left for Tokyo, Japan, for a two-game series […]

Lars Nootbaar Set To Hit Leadoff, Masyn Winn Ninth On Opening Day

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is starting in left field and batting leadoff for Monday's exhibition game against Triple-A Memphis, with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold noting that it's the same lineup that manager Oliver Marmol plans to use on Opening Day this Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. Meanwhile, shortstop Masyn Winn is […]

Cam Smith Starting In Right Field On Monday

Houston Astros prospect Cam Smith is making the start in right field and is hitting sixth for Monday's exhibition contest against Triple-A Sugar Land. The Astros haven't made any official decisions on their final roster for Opening Day this Thursday, but the fact that the 22-year-old Smith is in the lineup at all on Monday […]

Victor Robles Returns To The Field On Monday

Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles (hand) got the start in right field and was batting leadoff for Monday's Cactus League game against the San Diego Padres. Robles is back in action to begin the week after he was pulled from Saturday's exhibition game early against the Chicago White Sox when he was hit by a […]

Multi-Position Eligible Hitters To Draft - Fantasy Baseball Targets and Sleepers (2025)

As Opening Day draws near and managers figure out who they are targeting in the earlier draft rounds, perhaps the later rounds remain a little unsettled. What type of hitter should you take there? Maybe someone who can help with batting average or steals? High-upside lottery tickets? The best choice could be a player who […]

Exit Velocity Standouts (EV50) - Power Hitters On The Rise for Fantasy Baseball

Like any data filter, there's a mix of notable and noisy ones. That's especially true when we use intentional or arbitrary cutoffs. All stats require context, so we include other metrics with a newer Statcast metric called EV50. Baseball Savant defines EV50 as the average of the hardest 50 percent of a player's batted balls, […]