Kole Calhoun Could Return For Arizona's Home Opener

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Kole Calhoun (knee) could be back in the lineup by the Diamondbacks' home opener on April 9, according to Zach Buchanan of The Athletic. Calhoun has been out since the beginning of Spring Training after undergoing surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus in his right knee, and now Buchanan reports that […]

Pierre Camus' Bold Predictions for 2021

Can any prediction really be considered bold after 2020? We hope for a return to normalcy but we also have to remember that the very definition of normal is constantly changing. I've never shied away from pushing the envelope when it comes to this bold predictions column, so this year will be no exception. I […]

Late-Spring Closer Report: Unsettled American League Bullpens

"Spring stats don't matter." "Grapefruit and Cactus League games don't count." "Everyone is just working on something." These are all things we hear before baseball season, and they're mostly true. However, injuries certainly count, and there have been a few major ones already in March when baseball doesn't count. The National League seems to have […]

Which Batters Are Being Overlooked in 2021?

Pre-season analysis has achieved peak velocity, and at this point, we've started to hear certain names mentioned again and again: Jarred Kelenic, Andrew Vaughn, Randy Arozarena. Those three examples follow the expected pattern: young, exciting players whose potential outstrips the established knowledge. Put more simply, there are interesting things to say about Kelenic, Vaughn, and Arozarena. But […]

Updated Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Redraft Prospects for 2021

Opening day is just around the corner. So what better way to celebrate the occasion than to refresh the Top 50 prospects list for 2021 redraft leagues. If you're a habitual prospect watcher then you could have a leg up on your fantasy competition in 2021. Managers around baseball will heavily rely on rookies like […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Pitcher Statcast

Statcast metrics such as Barrels and Brls/BBE are great ways to evaluate a batter's performance, so it is only natural to assume that the metrics would be predictive for pitchers as well. As much as batters want to hit a Barrel every time, pitchers want to avoid them at all costs. Yet there is evidence […]

NL-Only Starting Pitchers: Late-Round Draft Fliers

This year more than ever, starting pitchers are a sought-after position in fantasy drafts. Understandably, with uncertainty about innings limits in 2021, fantasy managers are keen to bolster their rotations with the defacto top-tier starting pitchers available. As important as it is for your top starting pitchers to perform at an elite level, success in […]

Advanced MLB DFS Strategy: Sneaky Stacks Against Reverse-Splits Pitchers

With Opening Day of the MLB season right around the corner, it's time to start getting your mind right and preparing for a full season of MLB DFS action. Last summer we missed out on several months of MLB games due to the COVID pandemic, but we are going to get 6 months worth of […]

Nicklaus Gaut: Bold, Bolder, Boldest Predictions

Ahh, the time-honored tradition of making bold predictions is upon us. We hem and we haw; we make outrageous claims like Adalberto Mondesi invented the question mark, and bicker about the proper definition of "bold". In the NotBurtatorium (totally a real word), however, we worry not about this or that definition. Our goals are simple […]

Kole Calhoun Getting Closer To Facing Live Pitching

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Kole Calhoun (knee) is getting closer to facing live pitching in a simulated game, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Manager Torey Lovullo told Piecoro, "I think that's the next step after several days of BP (batting practice) to where he could stand in the box, take his normal at-bat, […]

Stefan Crichton Allows First Runs Of Spring

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Stefan Crichton allowed his first runs of the spring on Thursday, surrendering three runs — two earned — on two hits while striking out one in one inning of work against the Orioles. Crichton had looked solid this spring prior to Thursday's outing, having allowed just four hits and one walk […]

RotoBaller Friends & Family Industry Mock Draft Recap

The 2021 RotoBaller Friends & Family Mock Draft is the continuation of an annual tradition where we gather some of the biggest names from the fantasy baseball world and put together a mock draft just as spring training has commenced. Thanks to RT Sports for once again hosting and providing a custom draft site where […]

JB's Bold Predictions for 2021

I'm going to let you in on a little secret... JB stands for "JUST BOLDNESS". Okay that's a lie... it's actually not a secret because I use that every year in my bold predictions intro (three years in a row now, sure saves time on writing a new intro though). Nevertheless, welcome to the latest […]

2021 Points League Ranks - First Base

Draft season is in full gear as we're only less than two weeks from Opening Day baseball. And here at RotoBaller, we're about more than just roto leagues. We're here to cover your whole fantasy spectrum. So let's do some point ranks, shall we? If you've forgotten from last year, I have strong opinions on […]

Daulton Varsho Optioned To Triple-A Wednesday

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher/outfielder Daulton Varsho was optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday, according to Zach Buchanan of The Athletic. After struggling in his rookie campaign last year with a .188 average and .653 OPS in 37 games, Varsho looked worse in Spring Training with a .136 average and .469 OPS in 17 games. He managed to […]

Zac Gallen Has Stress Fracture, No Timeline On Return

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (arm) has been diagnosed with a "hairline stress fracture of his right lateral forearm at the radial end" and has not been given a timeline to return to action, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports. Gallen was scratched from his start on Monday with forearm soreness, and while there […]

Frank Ammirante's 10 Bold Predictions for 2021

Making bold predictions is one of my favorite topics to write about. There's no better feeling as a writer than when you tout an overlooked player and it hits. Hitting on your bold prediction can really help you win your fantasy leagues. To secure a championship, you need your top players to approach their ceilings and […]

Zac Gallen Scratched On Monday With Forearm Soreness

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (forearm) was scratched from his scheduled start against the Oakland Athletics on Monday. He is experiencing right lateral forearm soreness. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo explained that Zac Gallen felt the discomfort while swinging a bat, not while pitching. Forearm issues are always a bit scary for pitchers, but we […]

Daulton Varsho Shows Signs Of Life With Two Hits

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Daulton Varsho showed some life on Sunday with two hits after a slow start to the spring. He's just 6-for-42 (.143) with a BB-K of 1-13 this spring. The two singles broke a seven-game hitless streak in which he struck out eight times. Varsho entered the spring as the favorite for the […]

MLB Sophomores: Who Will Improve, Who Will Stumble?

We all expect excellent rookie seasons from the most hyped prospects in baseball. But the reality is that some players just don’t hit their strides for a year or two. Other prospects start off strong but then fade away. If we look back at 2015, Corey Seager, Miguel Sano, Carlos Correa, and Kris Bryant had […]

Nick Mariano's Top 140 Saves+Holds Rankings

To any reader who thinks they don't have a voice here at RotoBaller, let it be known that this article came from a simple Reddit comment about how those seeking Saves+Holds reliever ranks were often overlooked. Poof, and here we are. Allow me, Nick Mariano, 2018's most accurate draft expert (top-three for RPs in '18 […]

Tyler Clippard To Be Shut Down For Six Weeks

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Tyler Clippard (shoulder) will be shut down for six weeks with a capsule sprain in his right shoulder, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Clippard exited Friday's game early after allowing seven runs on four hits, two walks and a hit by pitch as he failed to record an out […]

Spring Training Lineup Takeaways - Week 3 Lineup Trends

We are entering week four of Spring Training and week three gave us a lot to watch down the stretch. But of course, you can catch up by talking a look at week one and week two recaps. Just a reminder, in my Lineup Takeaways series we are focusing 100% on lineups, news and quotes […]

Outfield Preview: Fantasy Baseball 2021 ADP Analysis

Host Anthony Aniano of RotoBaller discusses 2021 fantasy baseball outfield rankings and outfield draft sleepers who can be sneaky later-round picks. He breaks down and compares the ADPs of five different MLB players at the outfield  position. Fantasy players should consider picking up these players for their drafts this MLB Season. Be sure to also tune […]

Dollar-Day Targets - Salary Cap League Values

Players who go for just $1 in salary cap leagues are guys who lack outside confidence. Not a lot of managers trust that they will be useful on a roster. In standard leagues, many of these players will go entirely undrafted and float around the waiver wire until they produce enough to be picked up […]

Eduardo Escobar Doubles In Third Straight Game Saturday

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eduardo Escobar picked up a double in his third straight game on Saturday, finishing 1-for-4 with two runs scored in a 6-6 tie with the Royals. Six of his 10 hits this spring have gone for extra bases, as he has three doubles, a triple and three home runs in 12 […]

Using Data Analysis To Spot Strikeout Risers

The key to winning a fantasy league is to spot things that are to come before they happen. This is what we try to do here every day at RotoBaller. As the years have gone by, more data about the game has been made available to us, and we can use that data to make […]

Multi-Position Assets For All Fantasy Leagues

With such a short season in 2020, many starting pitchers weren't able to throw more than 60 innings, so it's unlikely that they take the massive jump this season that would allow them to get to the 170-180 innings we usually expect. To work around this, many teams have discussed implementing six-man rotations and even […]

Prospect Sleepers for 2021 Redraft Leagues

This time last year, I provided RotoBaller readers with some sleeper prospect names for 2020 redraft leagues. The advice aged quite well despite the stunted major league season and lack of minor league games. Among my predictions, I spoke glowingly about Tony Gonsolin — a pitcher that had not received much love from others. However, […]

Kole Calhoun To Take Batting Practice Sunday

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Kole Calhoun will take batting practice on Sunday for the first time. Calhoun had surgery earlier this month to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, which is expected to sideline him for Opening Day. The 33-year-old batted just .226 but clubbed 16 homers in 54 games for Arizona in the […]