Emmanuel Clase Suspended 80 Games

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Friday for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. Clase came over from the Rangers in the trade involving starting pitcher Corey Kluber over the winter. The 22-year-old tested positive for Boldenone, which is an anabolic steroid. Clase's suspension won't […]

NL Players Who Could Benefit From Extended Rosters

Although we still don't have baseball, we're starting to get a lot of proposals on how we COULD have baseball this summer. The plans may wind up just being a fantasy, but, hey, this is a fantasy site, so it makes sense for us to take a look at it. One of the facets of […]

Deeper Draft Sleepers - Catcher

When we do analysis here for deeper leagues there is some semblance of universal acceptance on the parameters. While there is no definitive rule on what constitutes a "deep league", that isn't really the point. This series aims to highlight players not normally drafted but can offer value in leagues where more than roughly 300 […]

Introducing xPA to Project Plate Appearances

I like big rates and I cannot lie. You other readers can't deny. When a rate walks in with an itty PA and an integer in my face, I get sprung...Whoa! Wait just one second, Sir-Mix-A-Nick. Before I go full-Rhymenoceros on everyone, maybe we oughta back the track up a little bit. What I like […]

How a Revamped MLB Season will Impact Fantasy Baseball

No matter how this MLB season plays out it will look like something we have never seen before. Not only is the start of the season already delayed, but there is no definitive end in sight. If we do see baseball this season, the game is going to look very different. First, there will be […]

Second Basemen Likely to Return a Loss in 2020

As mentioned in my article covering 1B that we might be over-drafting, my goal in these articles is to point out players who might "bust" at their current ADP. The definition of a bust that I'm using is when you invest a large amount of draft capital in a player who doesn't hit the production […]

American League Outfield Draft Sleepers

We continue to wait for the start of the MLB season, and with the extra time, we are able to dig deeper into late-round draft targets. Many know the main targets, even the Top 100. It is good to know the early targets, but knowing the deep targets will help win leagues. The outfield position […]

Starting Pitchers Who Will Benefit From a Delayed Start to the 2020 MLB Season

Host Anthony Aniano of RotoBaller Radio discuss the 2020 fantasy baseball season and keeps you updated with all the latest news and analysis. In this episode he breaks down some of his must-have players for 2020 fantasy baseball drafts focused on starting pitchers who should benefit from the delay to the 2020 season. Like and subscribe to the […]

Yasiel Puig In No Rush To Sign

Free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig is not close to signing a contract and is in no rush to do so with baseball currently suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. Puig's focus is slowly turning toward the 2021 season with MLB in shutdown mode. If baseball is played and Puig signs with a team this year, he'll […]

OPS Underachievers: Using Differences in xOPS to Judge Performance

Add a player's on-base-percentage to his slugging-percentage and you wind up with OPS. Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy. But some things don't need to be complicated to be useful and descriptive. There are a hundred ways to judge a baseball player's performance but OPS remains one of the best proxies for quickly judging a player's overall offensive […]

AL Players Who Could Benefit From Expanded Rosters

Although we still don't have baseball, we're starting to get a lot of proposals on how we COULD have baseball this summer. The plans may wind up just being a fantasy, but, hey, this is a fantasy site, so it makes sense for us to take a look at it. One of the facets of […]

The King's Fantasy Baseball Insider Report: Exclusive Scouting Reports From an MLB Veteran

The award-winning Fantasy Baseball Insider Series continues on RotoBaller, this time with the seasoned input of a current Major League Player. Every year during fantasy baseball draft season, Scott Engel talks to prime MLB sources to get exclusive nuggets of information. On the condition of anonymity, former and current players, executives, scouts, media members and […]

JB's Bullpen Method - Building Aces out of Relief Pitchers

If you read my Top 10 Draft Tips piece, you got a preview of the method I have been using for many years in fantasy baseball. It's really less of a method or strategy, and more a state of mind. The Bullpen Method is a lifestyle! I always speak about the importance of balance on […]

First Basemen Likely to Return A Loss in 2020

We all dream of drafting the sleeper pick who vastly outproduce his draft-day value and carries our team to victory. However, the truth is that those types of selections are few and far between. Often a player will give you more value than you would normally expect from his draft slot, but it's likely only […]

Emmanuel Clase Making Good Progress

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (back) is progressing well with his recovery, according to manager Terry Francona. Francona did not provide details regarding Clase's rehab progress but just said he's been doing throwing sessions in the Dominican Republic. The 21-year-old was the main prize the Indians received in the deal that sent Corey Kluber […]

Carlos Carrasco Has Been Throwing Bullpen Sessions

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions, according to manager Terry Francona. Francona said Carrasco is doing well in his recovery from elbow inflammation. It sounds like everything is progressing as expected for Carrasco after a mid-March injection in his sore right elbow. He's currently sitting on the SP2/SP3 fringe […]

Mike Clevinger Doing Well With Recovery

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (knee) is doing well, according to manager Terry Francona. Clevinger underwent surgery on Feb. 14 and should be ready to go when play officially resumes in 2020. He has all the tools to ascend into ace-level status and has already proven himself as a top-30 starting pitcher. The delayed […]

Mid-Round Second Base - Targets and Avoids in 2020

Once you reach the middle-to-late rounds of drafts, it would be smart to consider drafting some upside fliers that can provide a great return on value. You can take a risk or two on a variety of different players, including a prospect, forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even players with skills but have […]

Mid-Round First Base Targets and Avoids in 2020

Once you reach the middle-to-late rounds of drafts, it would be smart to consider drafting some upside fliers that can provide a great return on value. You can take a risk or two on a variety of different players, including a prospect, forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even players with skills but have […]

Finding Value in Points Leagues: Outfield Edition

Welcome back RotoBallers to my Finding Value in Points League Series! Points leagues have become more and more popular in recent years, but there is still an emphasis placed on roto leagues. That leads towards analysis and often player values skewed by something I have dubbed roto bias. Due to that, I decided to start […]

Pitchers Whose Value Increases In a Delayed Season

Unfortunately, we all know by now that the MLB season will be delayed or maybe even worse, canceled. There are without a doubt more important things in life than sports and one of them is health. The decision the MLB commissioner made was certainly the right one. But why do we all love baseball and […]

Second-Year Hitters Ready To Break Out

We fantasy baseball players were treated to a large influx of talented rookie batters last season. Some like Peter Alonso and Eloy Jimenez enjoyed breakout seasons. Phenom prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. also made his big league debut last season and based on his lofty ADP, he's considered a no brainer to have a huge second […]

The Top Five A.L. Starting Pitching Staffs for 2020

Host Anthony Aniano of RotoBaller Radio discuss the 2020 fantasy baseball season and keeps you updated with all the latest news and analysis. In this episode he breaks down the top five starting pitching staffs in the American League. Like and subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and catch us on […]

Dylan Bundy (SP, LAA) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~185 CURRENT ADP: ~216 overall ANALYSIS: Dylan Bundy has been a favorite of baseball twitter this offseason. At first, it seemed to start as a joke, taking a renewed interest in him solely because of his move out of Baltimore, but then the stats started coming and the humor turned to […]

Break the League: Fantrax Points League Ranker

I never thought I'd ever say this but it looks like I'm going vegetarian for this article because there's no real beef here. Those that have been reading along with this series know that I've had some harsh words for ESPN, Yahoo, and CBS, as I think they often do a disservice to their points […]

Finding Value in Points Leagues: Corner Infield Edition

Welcome back RotoBallers to my Finding Value in Points League Series! Points leagues are my favorite format to play in fantasy baseball. I am not alone there as fantasy baseball points leagues become more and more popular every season. It is a natural transition from those who have played fantasy football and have been considering […]

Fantasy Baseball ADP Reflections - Shortstop

With shortstop being arguably the most loaded fantasy position in 2020 and the strongest it has been for years, finding value at the position could be the difference in helping you win your league. With so many shortstops going early in drafts, picking one who ultimately disappoints will set you back considerably more than it […]

2020 Keeper Value Rankings - Top 150 Overall

In case you missed it, all preseason long I've been breaking down the top Keeper Values at each position. To get insight on any individual position, simply choose here: First Base, Second Base, Third Base, Shortstop, Catcher, Outfield, Starting Pitcher, and Relief Pitchers. Now, for your convenience, here are the Top 150 Overall Keeper Values for 2020. Keeper Value Rankings […]

AL Starting Pitching Sleepers for 2020

The shorter 2020 MLB regular season has led to a few shifts in fantasy strategy but perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in the starting pitching landscape. We're used to constructing fantasy rotations around strikeout pitchers and ratio arms or high-upside flyers and solid innings-eaters. However, with a shorter season, there will likely be no […]

Mid-Round Outfielders - Targets and Avoids in 2020

Once you reach the middle-to-late rounds of drafts, it would be smart to consider drafting some upside fliers that can provide a great return on value. You can take a risk or two on a variety of different players, including a prospect, forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even players with skills but have […]