Nick Mariano's H2H Points Leagues Targets (Premium Content)

All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Fantasy baseball drafts (and their articles) usually cater to the biggest stars or the deepest sleepers, but there are very few articles that simply discuss the mid-round targets that deserve a boost in points league formats (even if points veterans will laugh at some […]

Edwin Diaz Feeling Confident This Spring

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz is feeling extremely confident, and looks like it on the mound this spring. Diaz has pitched four scoreless innings, allowing just two baserunners while fanning six batters. The soon-to-be 27-year-old is coming off a strong 2020 season, where he registered six saves while posting the highest strikeout rate of […]

Will Harris To Be Evaluated For Blood-Clot Issue

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Will Harris will be evaluated "soon" after an MRI revealed a blood clot in his right (throwing) arm, Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports reports. Harris last appeared on the mound on March 9, and Zuckerman adds that Harris had thrown in a "B" game on March 13, which he says is likely […]

Mixed Results For James Karinchak So Far This Spring

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher James Karinchak has had an up-and-down spring so far. Karinchak has made seven appearances so far, pitching 6 1/3 innings while allowing six hits, five walks, and four earned runs with 13 strikeouts. The ability to miss bats is evident- 48.6 percent strikeout rate in 2020- but the command issues continue […]

H2H Points Leagues Draft Primer

We recognize that some of our readers may be new to fantasy baseball and interested in trying a points league for the first time. The goal here is to outline the traditional format scoring while offering up suggestions for draft strategy. Below is a pretty generic Head-To-Head Points Format scoring outline. You will need to […]

Points League Players and the Platforms Who Hate Them

Trust. Whether in roto, point leagues, or otherwise, players should be able to trust that the rankings and values they choose to rely on will be accurate and specific to their league format. That standard seems to be a bit fuzzy when it comes to points leagues, even though point leagues should be fantasy baseball's […]

Andres Munoz Has A Setback

Seattle Mariners reliever Andres Munoz (forearm) has had a setback in his return from Tommy John surgery. The flame-throwing right-hander was expected to return in May or June of this season, but that will now be put off for an undetermined amount of time. Munoz, acquired from the San Diego Padres in the Austin Nola […]

Amir Garrett, Lucas Sims Expect To Be Ready For Opening Day

Despite not appearing in a Cactus League game yet, Cincinnati Reds relievers Amir Garrett (forearm) and Lucas Sims (elbow) both expect to be ready for Opening Day. Both relievers are being counted on as key members of the Cincinnati bullpen, with one of them expected to serve as the Reds' primary closer. Left-hander Sean Doolittle […]

T.J. Zeuch Has Starter Potential

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher T.J. Zeuch is under consideration for a starter's role with the club, according to comments from both general manager Ross Atkins and pitching coach Pete Walker. The tall right-hander has seen his standing with the organization improve due to a spike in velocity. In recent outings, his sinker has been up […]

Kolby Allard Roughed Up By Reds

Texas Rangers pitcher Kolby Allard allowed three runs in as many innings on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds. The lefty gave up three hits and two walks. He also threw a wild pitch but struck out four batters. These were the first runs that Allard has allowed in four spring outings. Overall, he has a […]

Rays Preparing Chris Archer To Pitch After Opener

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer has appeared in 212 MLB games over his eight-year career. He's started 210 of those games. This year, Archer appears to be primed for a different role. This offseason, the 32-year-old Archer signed a one-year deal to return to Tampa Bay, where he spent his prime pitching years. Rays […]

Top 10 Relief Pitchers to Target - LIMA Plan

You need saves but you don't want to burn an early pick or spend up just to invest in a closer that joins the 50% club. That is, the 50% or more of relief pitchers who start the year as closers but will lose their job due to poor performance or injury at some point […]

2021 Relievers To Target For Holds

As evidenced by the success of the 2015 Kansas City Royals and 2020 Tampa Bay Rays, we have seen a much greater focus placed on strengthening middle-relief in MLB bullpens over the past decade. Additionally, in recent seasons we have seen a shift toward teams utilizing their best reliever in the most crucial innings and […]

Diamonds in the Pen - Deep Reliever Draft Targets

When it comes to building a pitching staff in fantasy, most managers focus solely on starting pitchers and closers. And that makes sense. In standard scoring, those pitchers are the ones who are going to make the greatest contributions to wins, strikeouts and saves. A guy that comes in and tosses a scoreless frame in […]

Devin Williams (RP, MIL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 150 CURRENT ADP: ~167 overall ANALYSIS: It's no surprise that Williams is one of the highest non-closer relievers being drafted now after his insane 2020 season that saw him win the NL Rookie of the Year Award and finish seventh in the Cy Young race. Obviously, the strikeouts were a big […]

Yimi Garcia (RP, MIA) - 2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

2020 was an odd season for all of Major League Baseball but the Miami Marlins’ odyssey stands out as one of the most bizarre. Miami played their first series of the season before a full-blown COVID-19 outbreak postponed their next eight games. They ended up putting 17 players on the injured list and resumed play […]

Aaron Slegers Faces Another Setback

Los Angeles Angels right-handed pitcher Aaron Slegers (back) did not pitch Thursday, as was originally the plan, due to what manager Joe Maddon described as "some tightness." Slegers has appeared in two Cactus League games and has not allowed a run over 2 1/3 frames. At 6-foot-10, Slegers is an exciting bullpen option, even though […]

Jonathan Loaisiga Working On A Slider

New York Yankees relief pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga has been working on a slider this spring and has developed a more reliable changeup, according to manager Aaron Boone. Loaisiga has had mixed results since making his MLB debut in 2018, but his changeup has always been able to generate whiffs at an impressive clip and he […]

Devin Williams Set For Cactus League Debut Saturday

Milwaukee Brewers right-handed pitcher Devin Williams (shoulder) has yet to appear in a Cactus League outing this spring, but that is on track to change Saturday. Williams is part of the group scheduled to pitch versus Cincinnati, aiming to get ready in time to open the season as a member of Milwaukee's relief corps. The […]

Drew Pomeranz On Track For Return In Coming Days

San Diego Padres left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz (forearm) has no structural damage to his left forearm after undergoing testing on the ailment. Pomeranz has dealt with forearm tightness over the past week and a half, throwing San Diego's bullpen plans into flux. Set to be an integral part of the relief corps, Pomeranz could snare […]

San Francisco Nabs Ashton Goudeau Off Waivers

Right-handed pitcher Ashton Goudeau was claimed off of the waiver wire by the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, following his departure from Baltimore. Goudeau made two appearances in Grapefruit League action and struck out five batters over four innings. Goudeau, who was electric during the Arizona Fall League in 2019, made his big league debut […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/18) - Montgomery, Alcantara Surging

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. Thankfully, we have real, live baseball being played every day again, and while it doesn't count for anything, these exhibition games gives us the smallest glimmer into players and teams heading into the new season. We're into our third week of spring training games and […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Ballpark Factors

If you have ever selected a streamable pitcher based on home park or benched an otherwise must-start arm at Coors Field, you already know how much a stadium can impact a player's bottom line. Ballpark Factors quantify the influence each stadium has, allowing you to make the most of your fantasy team's real-life schedule. However, […]

Rafael Montero Strikes Out Two

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Rafael Montero threw a spotless sixth inning Wednesday against the Angels, striking out two in the process. Montero is the surefire bet to be the closer in Seattle to start the year, but he has been shaky in early spring action with an ERA sitting at 9.00. His job appears to […]

Daulton Jefferies Strikes Out Six In Three Innings Versus Royals

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Daulton Jefferies allowed two runs in three innings with six strikeouts in a Spring Training game Wednesday. The runs were the first Jefferies has allowed in nine innings this spring. The 25-year-old has only pitched two MLB innings, but has a strong minor league track record including posting a 27.5 percent […]

Alek Manoah Among Players Sent To Minors By Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays sent 25 players to the minor league camp on Thursday, including starting pitcher and former first-round pick Alek Manoah. The hard-throwing righty made a huge impression this spring by dominating the Yankees in two appearances. Although he won't break camp with the Jays, he could possibly help the club late in […]

Trevor Rosenthal Allows One Run In Spring Debut

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal allowed one run in one inning of work in his Cactus League debut Wednesday. It wasn't pretty for the right-hander as he allowed two hits and a walk, but his performance is secondary to the fact Rosenthal was healthy enough to appear in spring action despite a groin injury […]

Taylor Williams Injures Shoulder On Wednesday

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Taylor Williams (shoulder) suffered a shoulder injury during Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs. In the sixth inning of the game, he went to cover first base on a play and had to dive to catch a throw from Jake Cronenworth. He landed hard on his left shoulder while diving. […]

Archie Bradley Tosses Scoreless Inning On Wednesday

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Archie Bradley threw a scoreless eighth inning with a strikeout and a walk in a Spring Training game against the Tigers. Bradley has appeared in five games for his new team and has given up one earned run in five innings. Bradley is in the mix for closer duties with Hector […]

Anthony Castro Strikes Out Another Two Batters

Toronto Blue Jays young hurler Anthony Castro continues to get a long look in big-league camp and struck out two batters in a shutout frame against the Yankees on Wednesday. The right-hander was nabbed off waivers from the Detroit Tigers in December but was later designated for assignment by the Blue Jays and remained with […]