Can Justin Upton Bounce Back?

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Justin Upton will enter the 2020 season with plenty to prove. While many are focusing on the team's acquisition of Anthony Rendon this past offseason, it was only a few seasons ago that Upton was the headline signing. But injuries completely derailed his 2019 season and appeared in only 63 games... Read More

Mike Trout Speaks, Will Play

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout made his intentions about the 2020 season loud and clear; "I'm playing". The All-World slugger has made his discomfort known through the course of this proposed reset for weeks now, especially with his wife expecting their first child around August 3. But Trout appears to be comfortable enough with... Read More

Juan Soto Tests Positive for Coronavirus

Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto was placed on the injured list Thursday with the novel coronavirus. He is asymptomatic but nonetheless won't be able to play until tested negative. Remove him from your lineups for now, of course, but keep him on your roster. Soto's likely replacement until he returns is likely to be Michael... Read More

Edward Olivares' Strong Camp Pays Off

San Diego Padres outfielder Edward Olivares is on the Opening Day roster. Arguably the most impressive player in Friars camp, the 24-year-old earns a big-league opportunity after registering a strong 123 wRC+ while cranking 18 homers and swiping 35 bags in Double-A last year. The team’s unsung No. 19 prospect will platoon as a right-handed... Read More

MLB Streamers for Thursday, July 23rd

Welcome to the 2020 MLB Season! While the delay has now been well over four months, it is finally time to start the season and we here at RotoBaller could not be more excited! The season will be a sprint to the finish as the teams will be playing 60 games across 66 days and... Read More

Roto Category Deflations for Hitters in 2020

Things are going to happen fast in 2020. You’ll want to click that add button on hitters who are in the midst of hot streaks quicker than most seasons as a 10-day hot streak this year makes up for over 15% of the full MLB season - as opposed to just 6% in a full... Read More

RotoBaller Experts League No. 2 Draft Recap

Here at RotoBaller, there is no such thing as being in too many fantasy baseball leagues. Some of the writers here are lucky enough to participate in The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational, which pits writers, analysts, and experts from all across the baseball community against each other. One RotoBaller writer even started a relievers-only bullpen... Read More

Young Blue Jays Lineup Set To Make Impact in 2020

In 2019, the Yankees and Marlins were tied for the youngest starting lineup in the Majors at 26.5 years of age. Heading into 2020, the average age of the Blue Jays' starting lineup in 25.5, with 30-year-old Travis Shaw projected to be their oldest starter. There is such a great deal of variance on how... Read More

Updated Points League Rankings Risers and Fallers (July)

Is it feasible to do a weekly H2H league in 2020? Sure. Is it a great idea? Not really. With just under 10 weeks of actual baseball, the whole "sprint" metaphor will become real in a hurry. Total points leagues aren't as popular but make a lot more sense over the course of a 60-game season.... Read More

Leody Taveras Makes Opening Day Roster

Texas Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras has made the Opening Day Roster for the 2020 season. He is ranked by Baseball America as the third-best prospect in the organization. Taveras excels in the defensive aspects of the game, but his bat needs to improve to get in the starting lineup. Taveras batted .279/.344/.376 with five home... Read More

Byron Buxton Picks Up The Intensity

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (foot) worked out in St. Paul on Wednesday and picked up the intensity. Buxton was able to run and take live swings just a week after being carted off the field with a sprained left foot. The 26-year-old was adamant that he would be ready for Opening Day against the... Read More

Nick Senzel Getting More Comfortable In Center Field

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Senzel had spent his entire career as an infielder until last season, when the team made him a full-time outfielder. After a difficult learning curve, Senzel recently stated that he is "100 percent comfortable" in center field these days. He also lost about 20 pounds during lockdown, which will increase his... Read More

Jose Martinez, Yonny Chirinos Expected To Be Ready

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said the team expects both first baseman/outfielder Jose Martinez and pitcher Yonny Chirinos to be ready to be on the Opening Day roster. Both players were out until this past weekend after testing positive for COVID-19. It remains to be seen how much either player will be able to... Read More

Dodgers, Mookie Betts Reach 12-Year Extension

The Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Mookie Betts agreed to a 12-year, $365 million contract extension on Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the deal. Combined with the one-year, $27 million deal Betts is currently on, the total comes out to 13 years and $392 million. The Dodgers will keep the former American League MVP... Read More

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Taking Batting Practice Wednesday

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (side) will take batting practice ahead of Wednesday’s exhibition contest versus the Red Sox. With a day off on Thursday before the team's regular season opener, starting pitcher Tanner Roark will throw live batting practice, and Gurriel is expected to participate in that as well. The 26-year-old experienced... Read More

Brett Phillips And Bubba Starling Make Royals Roster

Kansas City Royals manager Mike Matheny announced that outfielders Brett Phillips and Bubba Starling would be part of the team's roster going into opening day. Both players have limited big league experience and figure to see a few starts per week each as the season begins. The Royals just moved fellow outfielder Hunter Dozier (COVID-19)... Read More

Brad Miller Placed On The Injured List

St. Louis Cardinals utility player Brad Miller (ankle) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. Miller is dealing with bursitis in his right ankle, and it is currently unclear when he will be able to return to the field. Once he does, he will work in a utility role, likely playing multiple positions... Read More

George Springer Ready To Roll

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer is expected to be at the top of the Astros lineup when the team begins their 60-game season on Friday against the Mariners. The free-agent-to-be posted career highs in home runs (39), RBI (96) and OPS (.974) last season and only played in 122 games. Springer is the premier leadoff... Read More

Michael Brantley Could Hit Cleanup Opening Day

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley is in line to hit cleanup Friday in manager Dusty Baker's offense. The veteran enjoyed a fantastic season in 2019 and mostly hit third, but Baker appears to be open to switching Brantley with Alex Bregman in the order. Brantley slashed .311/.372/.503 last season with 22 home runs, 40 doubles... Read More

Melky Cabrera Released By The Mets

The New York Mets released outfielder Melky Cabrera on Wednesday, corresponding with their signing of outfielder Juan Lagares to a minor league deal. In 2019, Cabrera hit .280/.313/.399 with seven home runs and 47 RBI in 378 at-bats for the Pirates. If Cabrera lands with a team in need of outfield depth, he may be... Read More

Austin Dean Has A Spot On The Opening Day Roster

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Austin Dean has earned a spot on the Opening Day roster. The former Marlin should work as a backup option at both corner outfield spots, and can fill in as a center fielder in a pinch as well. He won't have any significant fantasy value without consistent playing time, and he's... Read More

Mets Sign Juan Lagares To Minor League Deal

The New York Mets signed outfielder Juan Lagares to a minor league deal on Wednesday. A fan favorite in New York, Lagares had previously signed a minor league deal with the Padres back in February. After he was not added to the Padres' 60-man player pool in early July, Lagares elected free agency. Lagares will... Read More

Ryan Braun Trending Toward Playing Opening Day

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/first baseman Ryan Braun will serve as the team's designated hitter Wednesday in their exhibition finale versus the White Sox, Todd Rosiak of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Braun has been battling a number of minor injuries the past few days, with a sore left oblique being the most concerning of the lot.... Read More

Nomar Mazara Placed On Injured List

Chicago White Sox outfielder Nomar Mazara (undisclosed) has been placed on the 10-day injured list. Manager Rick Renteria declined to specify why the outfielder will be on the injured list, but said that Mazara has been “under the weather.” Outfielders Leury Garcia and Adam Engel are the likely candidates to replace Mazara. Outside of DFS,... Read More

Hunter Dozier Tests Positive For COVID-19

Kansas City Royals outfielder/third baseman Hunter Dozier has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be placed on the injured list as he heads into self-isolation. This will be a sizeable loss to the Royals lineup going into the season, as Dozier slashed .279/.348/.522 with 26 home runs and 84 RBI over 139 games last year. The... Read More

Austin Hays (OF, BAL) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: 25-year-old Austin Hays is a former highly touted prospect, and given the downtrodden nature of the Baltimore Orioles roster, is ready to take the reigns in the outfield at Camden Yards for the abbreviated 2020 MLB season. Whether or not you would slate the... Read More

Sauceda's Slants: More POWA to your Outfield

We recently introduced our new hitter metric, POWA (which stands for Prediction of wOBA Attempt), to more appropriately align and weight new Statcast metrics to better predict future performance. You can read the introductory piece for the full details and a 2019 POWA leaderboard, but the gist of it is: POWA is nearly 10% more... Read More

Cole Tucker Makes Outfield Debut

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Cole Tucker made his outfield debut in an exhibition game against the Indians on Monday and made a highlight-reel catch in center field. The former first-round pick figures he last played in the outfield when he was 14 or 15 years old. The Pirates told Tucker that shortstop remains his primary position,... Read More

Yoenis Cespedes Expects To DH On Opening Day

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes said he expects to be the designated hitter on Friday, July 24, when the team opens the season against the Braves. Because of injuries to his feet and legs, Friday will be Cespedes' first major league game in more than two years. The right-handed slugger is feeling good and... Read More

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Probable For Opening Day

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (side) is not in the lineup for the team’s exhibition contest versus the Red Sox on Tuesday, but he will take batting practice beforehand. Manager Charlie Montoyo said if he “feels good” after that, he could see the 26-year-old being ready for Opening Day on Friday. Gurriel experienced... Read More