Starting Pitchers: Fantasy Baseball End-Of-Season Report Card (Part 1)

The 2024 fantasy baseball season is in the books. It seems like the perfect time to look back and reflect on the season: What went right and what went wrong. One of the biggest determinants will likely have been how the starting pitchers you drafted early performed throughout the year. Our focus here is on […]

Eric Cross' Top 100 Dynasty Rankings for Fantasy Baseball (October 2024)

Another fantasy baseball season has come and gone, but in dynasty, when one season ends the next one begins. Rankings don't reset, they simply continue on. We saw plenty of notable performances down the stretch in 2024, both good and bad which created plenty of movement in my final Top 500 dynasty rankings update of […]

Brusdar Graterol, Joe Kelly Won't Pitch In NLCS

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitchers Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) and Joe Kelly (shoulder) will not be available to pitch in the NLCS, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Graterol has been on the injured list since the end of September with right-shoulder inflammation. Kelly suffered a shoulder injury during a simulated game and has not […]

Alex Vesia Unlikely To Pitch In NLCS

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia (ribs) is unlikely to be available for the NLCS due to a intercostal injury, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Vesia suffered an injury in Game 5 of the NLDS and will now face an uphill battle to pitch in the NLCS. DFS managers should monitor the […]

Alex Vesia Dealing With Back Injury

Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that left-handed reliever Alex Vesia's back flared up on him, which is why he was pulled during the Game 5 win over the division-rival San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Vesia will be further evaluated, but […]

Mets Considering Carrying One Less Pitcher On NLCS Roster

The New York Mets are considering carrying one less pitcher on their NLCS roster, according to MLB.com reporter Anthony DiComo. The idea would be to open space for an extra bench player, such as Luisangel Acuna, to go along with Jeff McNeil (wrist). Two pitchers that the Mets have yet to use during the playoffs […]

Catcher Risers and Fallers for Dynasty Fantasy Baseball

It's hard to believe that the 2024 fantasy baseball season is in the rearview mirror and we now have to look ahead to 2025. Those who play dynasty leagues always have some eye on the future, but now 2025 is the sole focus. As I've said several times before, there's never a bad time to […]

Fantasy Baseball Closers and Saves Waiver Wire Report for Postseason Week 2

We've all made it through the first week of the playoffs! Well ... we've all made it (online) through the first week of the playoffs. There are a few real-life baseball teams that can't say the same thing we can. Spooky season always brings great baseball with it, and this past week had plenty of […]

Luke Weaver Continues Strong Postseason With Series-Clinching Save

New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver was back at it again on Thursday, shutting down the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning of Game 4 to send the Yankees to the ALCS with a 3-2 win. Weaver threw a perfect frame with two strikeouts. The 31-year-old pitched in all four games of this series, […]

Emmanuel Clase Records Five-Out Save

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase came through in Game 4 of the ALDS, collecting the final five outs and earning the save in a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers. Clase did allow one run in the ninth, but that was his only baserunner allowed. It was a nice bounce-back performance after Clase uncharacteristically gave […]

Nick Martinez Expected To Opt Out

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Nick Martinez, who is scheduled to make $12 million next year if he doesn't opt out of his contract, is expected to opt out and hit the free-agent market. Right-hander Emilio Pagan is also expected to opt out and become a free agent. Martinez appeared in 42 games (16 starts) in his […]

Abner Uribe Should Be "Ready To Go" For Spring Training

The Milwaukee Brewers expect right-handed reliever Abner Uribe (knee) to have a normal offseason after having knee surgery over the summer. Uribe should be "ready to go" for the start of spring training in the middle of February, according to general manager Matt Arnold. In addition, the Brewers are targeting the end of the 2025 […]

Brewers Open To Trading Devin Williams?

Milwaukee Brewers general manager Matt Arnold hinted that the team would be open to trading closer Devin Williams as he enters the final year of club control in 2025. "We have to stay open-minded. We're the smallest market in the league, so that's something that's required in this," Arnold said. The GM also said that […]

Ryan Brasier Serving As Dodgers Opener In Game 4

The Los Angeles Dodgers will use right-hander Ryan Brasier as the opener of a bullpen game in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday at Petco Park against the division-rival San Diego Padres. This will be Brasier's fifth opening assignment of the year. The 37-year-old veteran reliever allowed just one run in […]

Dodgers To Employ Bullpen Game In Wednesday's NLDS Game 4

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that the team will go with a bullpen game in Wednesday's National League Division Series Game 4 against the Padres, per Orange County Register's Bill Plunkett. The Dodgers currently trail 2-1 in the series, so the team must feel that a bullpen-heavy approach will give them the […]

Robert Suarez Earns Four-Out Save In NLDS Game 3

San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez came up clutch in Tuesday's National League Division Series 6-5 win over the Dodgers. Suarez came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning up by one with two outs and a runner on first. He induced a pop-out and stayed in to pitch the ninth, turning in […]

Dodgers Remove Michael Grove From NLDS Roster

The Los Angeles Dodgers removed right-hander Michael Grove (shoulder) from the National League Division Series roster on Tuesday due a shoulder injury and replaced him on the roster with right-hander Ben Casparius. If the Dodgers advance past the division-rival San Diego Padres and to the NL Championship Series, Grove would be ineligible to pitch. Grove […]

Rockies Agree To One-Year Extension With Manager Bud Black

The Colorado Rockies announced on Tuesday that they agreed to a one-year contract extension with manager Bud Black for the 2025 season. Black is the winningest manager in team history with a record of 537-657 over eight seasons, and he led the club to the postseason in 2017 and 2018. Despite coming off back-to-back 100-loss […]

Emmanuel Clase Allows Three-Run Homer In ALDS Game 2 Loss

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase had an uncharacteristically poor outing in Monday's American League Division Series Game 2 3-0 loss to the Tigers. Clase came in to pitch the top of the eighth inning with the game tied 0-0, two outs, and runners on first and second. He got the third out on an incredible […]

Rick Lucks' 2024 Fantasy Baseball Bold Predictions Revisited

Doesn't March feel like forever ago? Now that the 2024 fantasy baseball season is in the books, some of what we were thinking seems ridiculous in hindsight. I joined several of my Rotoballer colleagues in making bold predictions before the 2024 campaign, and now it's time to see how they panned out. Spoiler alert: there […]

Michael Grove Named To NLDS Roster, Joe Kelly Left Off

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Michael Grove was named to the NLDS roster, while right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly (shoulder) was left off as he suffered a shoulder injury during a simulated game earlier this week. Grove has typically been deployed out of the bullpen this summer and has logged just two starts. Across 51 frames, […]

Yankees Include Jake Cousins On ALDS Roster

New York Yankees right-handed reliever Jake Cousins (pectoral) has been included on the team's postseason roster for the American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals. Cousins hasn't pitched for the Yankees since Sept. 19 due to a strained right pectoral muscle, but he was able to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday and […]

Braves To Pick Up Options On Travis d'Arnaud, Aaron Bummer

Atlanta Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said that the team is planning to exercise their 2025 club options for catcher Travis d'Arnaud ($8 million) and left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer ($7.25 million). d'Arnaud saw much more playing time than expected in 2024, even when Sean Murphy was healthy. He was the better offensive backstop […]

Thad Levine Steps Down After Eight Seasons With Twins

Minnesota Twins senior vice president/general manager Thad Levine has stepped down from his post after eight seasons with the organization. Levine joined the Twins in November of 2016 as the team's senior VP and GM and played a pivotal role in helping drive the success of the Twins in the last eight years. In his […]

Fantasy Baseball Closers and Saves Waiver Wire Report for Postseason Week 1

Congrats to all of you who won, placed, showed, or even just had fun in your fantasy leagues this season! We hope we were able to help you get the best out of your lineups from draft day until the last time you set your lineups. It was another very interesting season of baseball, for […]

Edwin Diaz Used Early In Game 3, Picks Up Win

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz picked up his first win of the postseason on Thursday, tossing 1 ⅔ innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of their Wild Card series. Diaz came in after Jose Butto gave up back-to-back homers and put the Mets down 2-0. He got the next five outs and […]

Devin Williams Melts Down In Rubber Match

Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams had a disastrous appearance on Thursday, blowing the save and taking the loss in a 4-2 defeat against the New York Mets in Game 3 of their Wild Card series. Williams allowed four runs on three hits and a walk in just two-thirds of an inning. The Airbender has been […]

Reds Hire Terry Francona As Manager

The Cincinnati Reds are hiring Terry Francona as their next manager, according to sources. Francona will come out of retirement just one year after stepping away from the Cleveland Guardians and will now take over a young and talented Reds club. The 65-year-old managed the Guardians for 11 seasons before retiring. He won almost 55% […]

Pitching Coach Brent Strom Won't Return To Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks pitching coach Brent Strom, assistant pitching coach Dan Carlson and bullpen coach Mike Fetters will all not be returning to the team for the 2025 season in their current roles. The moves come after the D-backs ranked 27th in the big leagues in 2024 with a 4.64 ERA, mainly due to injuries to […]

Grayson Rodriguez, Felix Bautista, Jorge Mateo Expected To Be Ready For Spring Training

Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat), relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) and infielder Jorge Mateo (elbow) will all be more or less full-go for the start of spring training next February. Rodriguez carries the most fantasy relevance of the trio as a high-end starting fantasy arm when healthy. The […]