NL-Only Waiver Wire Team of the Week: MLB Week 18

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to […]

Fernando Rodney Picks Up Win On Tuesday

Minnesota Twins closer Fernando Rodney picked up the win on Monday against the Cleveland Indians. It was a bullpen day for the Twins as starter Ervin Santana only lasted 5 1/3 innings. The Twins would go on to use another five pitchers, including Rodney. The veteran closer came into a tied game in the ninth […]

Potential Risers/Fallers After the MLB Trade Deadline

The MLB Trade Deadline is one of the most exciting parts of the baseball season. Contenders get to bolster their rosters for the playoff push while rebuilding clubs get to add potential studs to their growing farm system. With players such Manny Machado, Zach Britton, Mike Moustakas and many others already moved, teams around the […]

Keone Kela Traded To The Pirates

Texas Rangers closer Keone Kela has been traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday. The Rangers will receive two players to be named later, due to the late timing of the deal completion. It is likely that Kela, who has 24 saves this season, will slot in as one of the Pirates set-up men. He may […]

A.J. Minter Gets Save No. 6 Against Marlins

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher A.J. Minter may just be holding a seat for Arodys Vizcaino, but who knows what's going to happen there, as Vizcaino has not proven himself to be durable. Whatever the case, he got the nod over the new arrival, Brad Brach, on Monday and struck out two in the ninth to […]

Brad Brach Effective In First Atlanta Outing

There were some who thought a change of scenery would help new Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Brad Brach. He certainly made a good first impression on Monday night, hurling a scoreless inning for a hold, as Atlanta won, 5-3. Brach had a dreadful July ... here's hoping that he can turn things around. It looks […]

Ken Giles Will Get A Chance To Close Games

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Ken Giles will get a chance to close games, according to manager John Gibbons. "Closer has been Giles’ targeted role ever since he’s been in the big leagues, because everybody thinks he can do it. He’ll definitely get the chance to close here." Giles was so recently considered a dominant […]

Frankie Montas Optioned, Ryan Dull Recalled

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas has been sent down to Triple-A Nashville on Monday. Montas has a 3.75 ERA in 10 starts for the A's this season. Although, Montas has struggled lately, but it would be surprising to see him stay down in Triple A for long. The A's may acquire rotation help which […]

Adam Warren Traded to Mariners

New York Yankees relief pitcher Adam Warren has been traded to the Seattle Mariners. It's unclear at the moment what the Yankees are getting back in return for Warren. This season Warren has a 2.70 ERA with 37 strikeouts through 24 appearances in New York. Warren was once a starting pitcher in the Yankees organization, […]

Mariners Acquire Reliever Zach Duke

The Seattle Mariners have acquired veteran relief pitcher Zach Duke from the Minnesota Twins. Multiple reports have pitcher Chase DeJong and infielder Ryan Costello headed back in exchange for Duke. This season Duke has a 3.62 ERA and 39/15 K/BB ratio over 37 1/3 innings with Minnesota. However, Seattle has plenty of late inning options, […]

Roberto Osuna Acquired by Astros

The Houston Astros have acquired relief pitcher Roberto Osuna from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. In exchange for Osuna the Jays are receiving pitchers Ken Giles, David Paulino, and Hector Perez. Osuna isn't eligible to return from his 75-game suspension for domestic violence until August 5. Hector Rondon will continue to close for Houston […]

Greg Allen Recalled, Adam Plutko Optioned to Triple-A

Cleveland Indians outfielder Greg Allen has been recalled from Triple-A on Monday. In a corresponding move the Indians have optioned pitcher Adam Plutko to Triple-A Columbus. Allen has not done much with the bat this season, but he gives the Indians depth in the outfield. Allen will start in the outfield and bat ninth against […]

Sam Freeman Lands on 10-Day DL

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Sam Freeman (shoulder) has been placed on the 10-day disabled list as of Monday. The Braves decided to give Freeman some time to rest his shoulder. The newly-acquired Brad Brach will replace Freeman on the Braves active roster. Freeman should be left on the waiver wire, but Brach should immediately step […]

Carlos Martinez Activated, Luke Gregerson to DL

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez (oblique) has rejoined the Cards rotation after missing nearly two weeks with a strained right oblique. Martinez will draw the start against the Rockies on Monday. Relief pitcher Luke Gregerson (shoulder) has been placed on the 10-day DL. Lefty Chasen Shreve who was newly acquired by the Cardinals […]

Scott Oberg Is Back On Track

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Scott Oberg was one of the multitude of Rockies relievers that struggled in the first couple months of the season. After getting lit up in April, Oberg bounced to and fro on the disabled list before returning for good at the end of June. However, since returning, he's been money. Oberg's […]

Wade Davis Ties For NL Lead In Saves

Colorado Rockies closer Wade Davis polished off the sweep against Oakland on Sunday by shutting them down to rack up save No. 30 on the season. Davis tossed his second straight perfect inning, striking out one along the way. He hasn't been the ultra-dominant reliever of past seasons, but Davis has still gotten the job […]

Brad Boxberger Bounces Back To Record 25th Save

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Brad Boxberger recorded his 25th save of the season on Sunday, striking out two batters over a clean inning of work. It was a good bounce-back effort for Boxberger, who was blown up for three runs in his last appearance. He now carries a 3.49 ERA and 1.13 WHIP this season and […]

Aroldis Chapman Strikes Out Side On Sunday

New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman flashed his overpowering stuff on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals. Charged with protecting a 6-3 lead, Chapman came in at the top of the ninth inning and proceeded to strike out the side to earn his 28th save of the season. Chapman's month of July was marked by […]

Craig Kimbrel Protects Win Over Twins Sunday

Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel secured his 33rd save of the season in a 3-0 victory against the Twins. He pitched a clean ninth inning with one strikeout. It was a nice bounce-back from his blown save against these same Twins on Friday. In 45 innings, he has two wins with 64 strikeouts and […]

Surplus to Requirements - Minor Trades and Fantasy Implications

For fantasy baseball owners the trading deadline is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, the hope is that players move into better spots on better teams, or at the very least, do not move to worse spots. On the other hand, trades lead to changes, and changes are not always good […]

Trading Up: Pitching Category Targets

This article is the fourth in our series on trade and acquisition targets for the second half of the season. Part 1: Top-50 Players to Target Part 2: Mid-Tier and Bargain Targets on Offense Part 3: Mid-Tier and Bargain Pitchers Part 4: Offensive Category Targets Part 5: Pitching Category Targets Each section focuses on players […]

AL-Only Waiver Wire Team of the Week: MLB Week 18

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to […]

Keone Kela Not At Absolute Best Sunday

Texas Rangers closer Keone Kela was not at his absolute best in picking up his 24th save Sunday. Kela walked two and gave up an RBI single in the ninth, before getting George Springer to pop out to end the game. Kela then commented after the game that he is fully expecting to be traded before […]

Raisel Iglesias Notches 21st Save Of Season Sunday

Cincinnati Reds closer Raisel Iglesias picked up his 21st save of the season in Sunday's 4-0 win over the Phillies. Iglesias entered the game in the ninth inning up four with one out and runners on first and second. After allowing a single to load the bases, Iglesias shut the door with back-to-back strikeouts. He […]

Anthony Swarzak Locks Down Mets Victory

New York Mets reliever Anthony Swarzak nailed down his third save Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Swarzak recorded a perfect ninth inning, retiring two via strikeout. The save is his second in the past week. The Mets bullpen situation has been fluid but Swarzak looks to be the preferred ninth-inning man. Although he holds a […]

Craig Kimbrel Records 33rd Save of Season on Sunday

Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel returned to form on Sunday evening against the Minnesota Twins. After blowing a save on Saturday, the Red Sox bearded fireballer rebounded and pitched a clean ninth inning to record his 33rd save of the season. Kimbrel is carrying a sparkling 2.20 ERA and 0.96 WHIP through 45 innings […]

Brad Brach Acquired By Braves

Relief pitcher Brad Brach was traded to the Atlanta Braves from the Baltimore Orioles Sunday. Brach was the default closer after the Zach Britton trade but that is no more. Brach has struggled this season and is likely behind A.J. Minter for saves while Arodys Vizcaino is on the disabled list. Brach has a 4.85 […]

Franmil Reyes Optioned, Jordan Lyles Activated

The San Diego Padres optioned outfielder Franmil Reyes to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday and activated starter/reliever Jordan Lyles (forearm) from the disabled list. Reyes has played sparingly since his recall on July 11, making only 15 plate appearances. The right-handed power hitter should get regular at-bats back with the minor league club. Lyles has […]

Dakota Hudson Strikes Out Two Batters In Debut

The St. Louis Cardinals prospect Dakota Hudson made his major league debut against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. The 23 year old came in for a relief appearance and struck out two batter in one inning of work. There's lots of excitement surrounding Hudson, and the fans will be even more excited since he did […]

The Cut List (Week 18): Time to Let Go?

Welcome to Week 18 of the Cut List. I'm your guest host this time around, filling in for usual steward Conor McElheney. Longtime RotoBallers may recall that I covered this beat last season. Hopefully your remembrances aren't rooted in anger after I gave you bad advice!  The format this year is a bit different, but […]