Jose Castillo Undergoing Tommy John Surgery

The San Diego Padres announced reliever Jose Castillo (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery. The development is another terrible turn for the 25-year-old, who has pitched just 2/3 innings since 2018. Castillo was poised to compete for a middle relief role with the Friars but will instead start the long road to recovery. After bursting […]

Zach Britton Has A Bone Chip In His Elbow

New York Yankees relief pitcher Zach Britton (elbow) will undergo surgery on Wednesday after he was diagnosed with a bone chip in his pitching elbow on Tuesday. This kind of surgery can take around two months for pitchers to fully recover from, so fantasy managers should expect Britton to miss at least the first month […]

Alex Reyes Strikes Out Three In An Inning Of Work

St. Louis Cardinals right handed pitcher Alex Reyes worked an inning in relief in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the New York Mets. Reyes tossed a scoreless inning, recording all three outs by strikeout while allowing two hits in between. Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said the plan is for Reyes to throw […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Pitcher BABIP

While FIP is a useful tool to predict a pitcher's future ERA performance, fantasy managers should remember that ERA, not FIP, is what really matters in most formats. This means that we are interested in the "luck" that separates the two statistics. While some of this luck is unpredictable, we can and should predict some […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/9) - Meadows Returning To Form

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 officially through the first week of spring training games […]

Jonathan Hernandez Has UCL Tear

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jonathan Hernandez has a small tear in his UCL and has been shut down for the next four weeks. The team remains hopeful Hernandez can avoid surgery, but it sounds like the best-case scenario would be for Hernandez to return in late May. The 24-year-old righty had a 2.90 ERA last […]

Julian Merryweather Out With Back Tightness

Oft-injured Toronto Blue Jays hurler Julian Merryweather is once again on the sidelines after suffering from back tightness. The hard-throwing right-hander was originally acquired from Cleveland for third baseman Josh Donaldson but was recovering from Tommy John surgery at that time. He spent the majority of 2020 at the Jays' alternate training site but he […]

Zach Britton Gets An MRI

New York Yankees relief pitcher Zach Britton got an MRI on Tuesday after experiencing soreness following a bullpen session. It's too early to say exactly what Britton's injury is, but fantasy managers should place him on "do not draft" lists until more details are revealed. An elite reliever for fantasy managers who value holds, Britton […]

Tejay Antone Throws Three Scoreless Innings

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Tejay Antone threw three scoreless innings in a 6-4 Cactus League win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday. Antone struck out three while allowing just two hits in the outing. The 27-year-old is one of the Reds pitchers fighting for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, battling with Michael Lorenzen, Jose […]

JB's Bullpen Method Redux - Building FrankenAces

Last year, I finally published an article breaking down my favorite fantasy baseball strategy I have been using for years. It's really less of a strategy and more a state of mind. No, the Bullpen Method is a lifestyle. I always speak about the importance of balance on a fantasy team. For your pitching staff, I […]

Tout Wars 12-Team Mixed Draft Recap

The 2021 Tout Wars season kicked off this week with the 15-team Draft and Hold starting on Monday and then the NEW 12-team Mixed draft on Tuesday. The Draft and Hold is a slow draft, while the 12 team Mixed was live and rocking. I was fortunate enough to take part in the 12-team draft.  […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/8) - Darvish Deals, Gallo Still Mashing

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 officially through the first week of spring training games […]

Value Based Drafting Primer: WPC+

Learn how to take the next step in fantasy baseball draft strategy by creating custom values for your player rankings. Pierre Camus and Nicklaus Gaut explain how with examples from their TGFBI (The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational) drafts. Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch […]

Yohan Ramirez Arrives In Camp

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Yohan Ramirez has reported to camp after being out due to COVID-19 protocols. Ramirez is expected to be on the big league club when the season begins, having putting up a 164 ERA+ and a 27.7 percent strikeout rate in a strong 2020 season. He should make his first game appearance […]

Joe Kelly Not A Lock To Be Healthy By Opening Day

Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Joe Kelly (shoulder) remains engaged in a throwing program, but he is reportedly not close to returning to game action, which shrouds his availability for Opening Day in doubt. Kelly battled right shoulder inflammation (which landed him on the IL) last year, although he finished the year with just three […]

Domingo Tapia Out With Strained Oblique

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Domingo Tapia (oblique) has been shut down. Tapia, claimed off of waivers during the offseason from the Boston Red Sox, was expected to battle for a bullpen role this spring. Tapia made his major league debut in 2020, pitching four and a third innings of one run ball, while striking out […]

Andrew Miller Has A Short Outing On Monday

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Andrew Miller didn't pitch well in his relief appearance during Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Miami Marlins. He lasted just 2/3 of an inning, allowing two runs on two walks while striking out one. Miller tossed 22 pitches, just 13 strikes. Miller is sporting a 27.00 ERA in the […]

Trevor Rosenthal Battles Groin Strain During Camp

Oakland Athletics right-handed pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (groin) has yet to appear in a Cactus League game during 2021 and it was announced Monday that it's been due to a groin strain. Manager Bob Melvin noted that the team will ease Rosenthal back into the mix, but the hope is that the ailment is minor. Rosenthal […]

Ross Detwiler Coughs Up Four Runs In One Inning

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Ross Detwiler had a rough outing in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. Detwiler threw one inning, allowing four runs on three hits and a walk. He was in for the fifth inning in the game and threw 24 pitches, 15 for strikes. Detwiler has experience as both a starter […]

Pittsburgh Pirates Closer Role Up in the Air, Could be Split

The Athletic's Rob Biertempful reports that there is uncertainty on the Pittsburgh Pirates as to who will serve as the full time closer, or if there will even be one full time closer or if save opportunities are divided up. According to Biertempful, manager Derek Shelton said the decision on the closer would likely not […]

Scott Oberg Will Throw Live BP Session On Monday

Colorado Rockies reliever Scott Oberg will throw a live batting practice session on Monday. The 30-year-old has yet to pitch in a Cactus League game this spring as he's been recovering from surgeries that he underwent last September due to blood clotting issues in his throwing arm. He will be evaluated by coaches, training, and […]

Yimi Garcia (RP, MIA) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 350 CURRENT ADP: ~372 overall ANALYSIS:  The 30-year-old has been incredibly solid the last two seasons and was dominant in the shortened 2020 campaign, pitching to a 0.60 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP with an 11.40 K/9 and 23.3 K-BB% across 15 innings. While 15 innings wasn't enough to qualify […]

Emmanuel Clase (RP, CLE) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 410 CURRENT ADP: ~444 overall ANALYSIS: Emmanuel Clase came over to Cleveland in the trade which sent Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers in 2019. Clase then got popped with an 80-game suspension in May of 2020 for using PEDs. Due to the shortened 2020 schedule, Clase’s suspension will bleed over into […]

Relievers Set to Break Out in 2021

As the calendar flips to February and more leagues start drafting, it's time to dive into everybody's favorite topic: breakouts. For now, we'll ignore the increasingly common facial breakouts from pandemic-related stress and focus on relief. Relief pitching, that is. When looking for draft targets at relief pitcher, almost everybody just turns their eyes to […]

Sean Doolittle Gives Up Three Runs In Spring Debut

Cincinnati Reds reliever Sean Doolittle allowed three runs in his lone inning of work in a 9-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants in Cactus League action on Sunday. Doolittle struggled to keep the ball in the yard, serving up two homers in his lone inning pitched. The veteran reliever signed as a free-agent with […]

Carson Fulmer Designated For Assignment Sunday

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Carson Fulmer was designated for assignment on Sunday following the Pirates' acquisition of reliever Duane Underwood Jr reports Jake Crouse of MLB.com. Fulmer had just earned a win on Saturday against the Yankees after allowing one hit with three strikeouts over two scoreless innings of work. The Pirates have made several […]

Dylan Floro Dealing With Arm Soreness

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Dylan Floro (arm) has been dealing with some arm soreness and has not yet made his first Grapefruit League appearance. Floro was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason and should play a prominent role in the Marlins bullpen as long as he's healthy. His throwing program has been […]

Joakim Soria Makes Diamondbacks Debut with Scoreless Inning of Work Sunday

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Joakim Soria made his debut with the team on Sunday, allowing one walk with no strikeouts while pitching a scoreless fourth inning in the 5-4 victory over the Cubs. Soria allowed a five-pitch walk to start off the inning, but he kept the Cubs off the board with a flyout and […]

Alex Colome Much Sharper In Second Outing

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Alex Colome was much better in his second outing of the spring on Sunday against the Rays. Colome pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit while striking out two batters. The 32-year-old reliever had a rough outing his first time out but has still displayed the best tool in his arsenal, […]

Yimi Garcia Coughs Up Three Runs On Sunday

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Yimi Garcia struggled in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the New York Mets. Garcia came in to pitch the fourth inning and allowed three runs on two hits while striking out one. Garcia is competing for the closer's role in the Marlins bullpen, and even though he has more upside and […]