Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers - Buy or Sell for Week 4

Welcome back to the pitching strikeout rate risers and fallers article series! Each week we will take a look at two K% risers and two fallers, analyze what is behind those changes, and then decide if they are actionable. A pitcher can best control their fate by generating swings and misses, so this exercise holds... Read More

Josh Hader Takes Second Loss Sunday

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader came in to a tied game in the 9th inning and gave up the game winning home run to Cody Bellinger in Sunday's loss to the Dodgers. Hader hasn't had a save since April 7th and has given up at least one run in three straight appearances. With Jeremy Jeffress... Read More

Kirby Yates Reaches Double-Digit Saves

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates notched his 10th save Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds. Yates had been dormant this week due to the Padres six-game skid but he worked around a hit to slam the door. The save expands Yates’ brilliant early-season resume and he sits with a 0.75 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and unreal... Read More

Taylor Rogers Earns Another Save With Blake Parker Ill

Minnesota Twins left-hander Taylor Rogers earned his second save in as many days as he nailed down a 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. It wasn't smooth sailing as Rogers allowed one run on two hits while walking one and striking out one. Right-hander Blake Parker had been serving as the team's preferred... Read More

Hector Neris (RP, PHI) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 21% of Leagues ANALYSIS: After losing his closing job a year ago, Phillies reliever Hector Neris has found his way back into a part-time ninth-inning role. With David Robertson landing on the IL, the door has opened up for Neris to re-establish himself as a lights... Read More

Ryan Brasier Earns Fifth Save Saturday

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Ryan Brasier allowed two hits while striking out one, en route to his fifth save of the season, in a 6-5 win over Tampa Bay Saturday. Brasier has now allowed at least one hit in seven of his 11 appearances. He's doing a fine job generating swings-and-misses, but when batters... Read More

Anthony Swarzak Picks Up Third Save

After the Seattle Mariners called upon Roenis Elias to close out their last two contests, they went back to Anthony Swarzak to finish off the Angels on Saturday night. He entered the game with a two-run lead, but Albert Pujols tagged him for a solo shot to get within a run before Swarzak struck out... Read More

The Cut List (Week 4) - Time to Let Go?

We're past the 10% mark of the season now for this, April's penultimate Cut List. That still doesn't mean free rein to chop off your roster anyone you don't like, but samples are only increasing, playing time divisions becoming clearer, injuries piling up. That said, the Watch-Out list of players to keep for now won't... Read More

Taylor Rogers, Not Blake Parker, Gets The Save Saturday

Minnesota Twins left-hander Taylor Rogers picked up his second save of the season on Saturday, preserving a 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a doubleheader. Rogers went two innings, allowing one run and striking out five. It comes as a mild surprise as the team had been using veteran right-hander... Read More

Nick Mariano's Waiver Picks - Get 'Em While They're Hot (Premium Content)

All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Hey there, Premium RotoBallers. We're starting to hit that part of the season where hot starts begin to feel legitimate and the cold ones have hypothermia setting in. I'm here to present some healthy options on the menu for those looking to make a... Read More

Brandon Morrow Getting Shut Down For The Foreseeable Future

Chicago Cubs reliever Brandon Morrow (elbow) was progressing well through his injury rehab and throwing off of a mound, but he suffered a setback and will now be shut down until further notice. The 34-year-old has had a history of injury troubles. Morrow was reliable when healthy last season, posting a 1.47 ERA and 22... Read More

Jacob Faria Recalled By Rays

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Jacob Faria was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Saturday afternoon. Faria sported an unsightly 5.40 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 65 innings with the Rays in 2018. The former top prospect will likely pitch out of the bullpen, although, it is possible that he gets some looks as an opener. At... Read More

Roenis Elias Nets Back-To-Back Saves For Mariners

Seattle Mariners reliever Roenis Elias got the call once again Friday night to close out the team's 5-3 lead. He didn't manage a strikeout, but he did retire the Angels quietly with only giving up a two-out single. The save gives Elias four on the season and two in back-to-back nights although it was Anthony... Read More

Brandon Morrow Could Be Shut Down

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Brandon Morrow (elbow) did not recover well from his last side session according to manager Joe Maddon. Maddon said that Morrow could be in a “shut-down period.” This isn’t good news for the Cubs who could really use their closer back. Pedro Strop continues to be used as the Cubs closer,... Read More

Chad Bettis Picks Up Extra Inning Win

In the newest chapter of the starter-turned-reliever story, Colorado Rockies former starter Chad Bettis threw his first relief inning of 2019 on Friday, and his team bailed him out. After a couple quick outs, Bettis gave up a pair of hits that resulted in the go-ahead run for Philadelphia in the top of the 12th... Read More

Fantasy Baseball Five Up: After Hours with RotoBaller Radio

Host Anthony Aniano of RotoBaller Radio discuss the 2019 fantasy baseball season and keeps you updated with all the latest news and analysis Be sure to tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (channel Sirius 210, XM 87) - Monday through Friday from 6-7 am ET. You can also find new weekly shows on BlogTalkRadio live or on demand, SoundCloud and on iTunes... Read More

Points Leagues Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 4

It’s Week 4 of RotoBaller’s points league waiver wire extravaganza and we’re back after a one-week hiatus to discuss the thrills of fantasy free agency. If your teams are scuffling in the cellar after the opening weeks, it’s turnover time. By now the bottom of any squad is subject to intense scrutiny and available players... Read More

Buying and Selling the Young Friars

As a sport, baseball’s greatest cultural advantage might be its roots as a game which begins with the thaw of winter and the arrival of spring. There is nothing more generally inspiring for all fans than the promise of Spring Training and the potential growth of young players. That’s especially true when those prospects play... Read More

H2H Category Streamers - Week 4 Waiver Wire

There are plenty of strategies that fantasy managers explore in hopes to get an advantage over their opponent. Heavy lineup, heavy starting pitchers, no catcher, all (or mostly) reliever staff, no reliever staff, etc. Even if you play a balanced lineup, injuries can cause holes. A few weeks without a key player won’t kill a... Read More

MLB Closers and Saves: Fantasy Baseball Depth Charts

Saves are an important component for many fantasy baseball leagues. Closers are one of the most volatile positions in fantasy baseball, and one of the highest turnover positions in MLB. Each year, closers drop like flies and many MLB teams make in-season changes due to injuries or poor performance. Stay on top of all closer depth... Read More

Josh Hader Gives Up Three Runs Friday

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader gave up three runs on two walks and a hit on Friday and took the loss against the Dodgers. After being untouchable for the first few weeks of the season, Hader has now given up at least a run in his last two outings. The more concerning part of this... Read More

Matt Strahm's Gem Goes To Waste

San Diego Padres starter Matt Strahm lasted was excellent in eight frames of one-run ball Friday against the Cincinnati Reds. The Padres eventually lost in extra innings but the southpaw was brilliant, surrendering just two hits and zero walks. He struck out five. After a rough opening start, Strahm has allowed only three earned runs... Read More

Diego Castillo (RP/SP, TB) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 34% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Diego Castillo has emerged as a terrific late-inning arm for the Tampa Bay Rays this season. Gaining a promotion after being used as an opener in 2018, the right-hander has flourished in his new end-game role and has earned two saves and... Read More

Nick Anderson (RP, MIA) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 4% of leagues ANALYSIS: Just in case you missed out on his backstory since he first appeared in the majors for the Miami Marlins as a 28-year old rookie, Nick Anderson hasn't exactly had an easy or typical path to the MLB. With a meandering journey that took... Read More

Robert Stephenson (RP/SP, CIN) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 3% of leagues ANALYSIS: Robert Stephenson has been a highly-touted, eagerly-awaited prospect within the Cincinnati Reds organization for what feels like (especially to Reds fans) a million years. The Reds organization seems to have an unfortunate habit of identifying fantastic relief pitcher qualities...in starting pitchers. Stephenson has seen... Read More

Ty Buttrey (RP, LAA) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 11% of leagues ANALYSIS: Save speculation seems even more fraught than usual in 2019, but the proliferation of committee approaches has made locking down consistent saves even more critical in many formats. Ty Buttrey doesn't currently have a grip on the ninth inning or even a save... Read More

Orioles-Twins Rained Out Friday

The game between the Baltimore Orioles and Minnesota Twins on Friday has been postponed due to rain. The two clubs will play a doubleheader on Saturday. Jose Berrios was set to start for the Twins, while Alex Cobb was going for the Orioles. They will likely just be pushed back to Saturday. Make sure to... Read More

Braves-Indians Postponed Friday

The game between the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians on Friday has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday. Touki Toussaint was scheduled to start for the Braves against Cleveland ace Corey Kluber. Make sure you get any players you may have from... Read More

Ian Kennedy Is The Next Elite Reliever?

In a bullpen full of misery and strife, Kansas City Royals pitcher Ian Kennedy has quietly gotten off to a stellar start as a reliever. Kennedy nailed down the win against the Yankees on Thursday, and though he only has one save and one hold on the season so far, those numbers might be going... Read More

Wade Davis Works Clean Inning

Though it wasn't a save situation, Colorado Rockies closer Wade Davis came in to finish off the Phillies on Thursday. Davis has only pitched twice in the last six days since the Rockies have either eaten a loss or blown out the competition on most nights, but he looked like he was in good shape as... Read More