Introducing the MLB Baller Ranks

It’s my extraordinary pleasure to introduce The Baller Ranks, an up-to-date rankings sheet for player values. We wanted to roll this out back in March, but 2020 has had other ideas... Ideally, The Baller Ranks are not a set of pre-season rankings or draft recommendations. They are designed to be an in-season set of data-based […]

Schedule Factors - Hitters on the Rise

Now that MLB schedules are finally official, it's time we take a look at which hitters are going to be impacted the most. In order to fully breakdown the way in which a schedule may impact a hitter, we need to keep three things in mind: player talent, strength of schedule, and directional park factors. […]

Updated Shortstop Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues (July)

With Opening Day of the 2020 MLB season just a few weeks away, we have a new batch of updated fantasy baseball rankings for you here at RotoBaller. The unpredictable effects of COVID-19 and the implementation of the 60-game season will make the upcoming fantasy campaign the most unique we have ever seen. Not only […]

Overpriced Hitters According to ATC Projections

RotoBaller is fortunate to have 2019's most accurate ranker, Ariel Cohen, to give us his updated ATC projections. I have taken those projections and turned them into fantasy dollars, ranking them accordingly. By comparing these rankings to the latest NFBC ADP data, we can see which players ATC likes at their draft price, and who should […]

Underpriced Pitchers According to ATC Projections

While nothing is guaranteed, we can at least see the light at the end of the tunnel. Baseball is back, baby! Summer camp (I refuse to call it Spring Training 2.0) has now begun and Opening Day is set for July 23/24. Coming with the return are seismic changes; a universal DH, limited opponents, a […]

Closers and Saves Report: Summer Camp Edition

In a normal year, we'd be talking about the upcoming trade deadline and how this team needs that player but that team needs this player but then that guy got hurt. During a normal baseball season, we'd be discussing the All-Star Game and how this player definitely didn't deserve a spot and that player was certainly robbed of his […]

Domingo German May Retire

New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German may retire after posting a message on his Instagram that suggested he's done with baseball. German was slated to miss the entire 2020 season while serving a domestic violence suspension, but his apparently potential retirement comes as a surprise. Manager Aaron Boone wasn't aware of any additional details […]

Is Aaron Judge Worth The Draft Risk?

On September 18, 2019, Aaron Judge suffered a stress fracture in his rib while attempting to make a catch in right field. Judge played through the injury, but he was forced to take a break from hitting in early March thanks to shoulder and pectoral discomfort. Judge recently began swinging again, and GM Brian Cashman […]

DJ LeMahieu Back With The Yankees

New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu is back with the team, as expected, on Friday after testing negative for coronavirus twice over a 24-hour period. LeMahieu had been isolating after testing positive for coronavirus on July 4, but the 32-year-old was asymptomatic and able to return to the team in a relatively short period […]

Masahiro Tanaka Likely To Miss One Start

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (head) is likely to miss his first turn through the rotation, according to manager Aaron Boone. Boone hasn't ruled Tanaka out for his first start yet, but fantasy owners should plan for the 31-year-old missing his first scheduled start. Even so, Tanaka has already thrown a bullpen session […]

Masahiro Tanaka Throws Bullpen Session

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (head) threw a bullpen session on Thursday. Pitching coach Matt Blake was encouraged by Tanaka’s session, and the 31-year-old continues to recover well from the concussion he suffered on July 4. Tanaka is scheduled for an additional bullpen session on Sunday and is likely to face live hitters […]

Nick Mariano's 2020 Draft Sleepers List (Premium Content)

All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Sleeper has become a polarizing term in fantasy sports, becoming an SEO must for articles despite no real consensus on what it means. So let's get my definition out of the way first. Sleepers are not necessarily meant to be names that no one else […]

Yankees Have Yet To Discuss An Extension With James Paxton

New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton has not yet discussed a possible extension with the team. Paxton enters his contract year on the heels of a solid 2019 season that saw him post a 3.82 ERA and a 29% strikeout rate, and the 31-year-old worked on increasing his fastball’s spin rate over the offseason […]

DJ LeMahieu To Rejoin Yankees This Week

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu is expected to rejoin the Yankees this week after a relatively brief coronavirus-related absence. If LeMahieu does return within the expected timeline, then he should be ready to man second base for the Yankees on Opening Day. LeMahieu will look to build off of a breakout 2019 campaign that […]

Masahiro Tanaka May Throw A Bullpen Session On Thursday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (head) could throw a bullpen session on Thursday. Tanaka hasn’t pitched since suffering a concussion on July 4, but the 31-year-old has been free of concussion symptoms since being released from the hospital 10 days ago and had been expected to get back on the mound soon. If […]

James Paxton Is The Team's Second Starter

New York Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton was announced as the team’s second starter behind Gerrit Cole on Wednesday. As a result, Paxton will face the Nationals in what should be a tough matchup for his first start of the season. The Nationals lost arguably their best offensive player in Anthony Rendon over the offseason, […]

Aaron Judge To Rejoin Lineup On Wednesday

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (neck) is expected to rejoin the team’s lineup for its intrasquad game on Wednesday, according to manager Aaron Boone. Boone had originally hoped that Judge would be back in the lineup on Tuesday, but the outfielder’s neck was still bothering him at that point. If Judge does get back […]

Aaron Judge Feeling Much Better

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (neck) felt much better on Tuesday than he did on Monday, according to manager Aaron Boone. Even so, Judge was again held out of the team’s intrasquad game on Tuesday and was limited to batting practice. The Yankees continue to expect Judge to recover in time for the start […]

Masahiro Tanaka Symptom-Free

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (head) has reportedly been symptom-free since leaving the hospital last Saturday. The Yankees still have not provided a public timetable for Tanaka’s return from his concussion, but the 31-year-old hopes to throw a bullpen session soon, and it seems likely that he’ll get back on the mound in […]

Nick Mariano's Auction Draft Strategies and Tips (Premium Content)

All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Congratulations to you and your leaguemates for electing to play in the vastly superior format that is auction-based fantasy baseball. I'm not here to wax poetic about basic how-to's, rather I want help you go from the foundation to the very top. Especially with […]

Masahiro Tanaka Doing Lower Body Workouts

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (head) did lower body workouts on Monday as he continues to recover from a concussion. Manager Aaron Boone is encouraged by Tanaka’s progress and continues to indicate that Tanaka has been recovering well, but there is still no public timetable on Tanaka’s return. Based on Tanaka’s smooth recovery […]

Aaron Judge Feeling Better, Still Not In The Lineup

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (neck) is reportedly feeling better on Monday and was able to take swings in the batting cage. It’s encouraging that Judge is back to swinging, but his absence is getting to be concerningly long, and manager Aaron Boone is unsure if Judge will be back in the lineup on […]

New York Yankees: Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

The New York Yankees will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking […]

Nick Mariano's 2020 Early-Round Overvalued List (Premium Content)

All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Fantasy baseball drafts (and their articles) are almost all about finding the next superstar and unearthing talent late, but we can't forget that surrendering value by over-drafting can be just as crucial. In order to evaluate overvalued players here, we're going to utilize Average […]

Aaron Judge Not Back In The Lineup

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (neck) is out of the lineup for Sunday's intrasquad game. Judge was scratched from Saturday's lineup with a stiff neck, and although manager Aaron Boone expects Judge's absence to be brief, the outfielder's neck still appears to be bothering him. Judge's stiff neck is the result of sleeping wrong […]

Zach Britton To Close For The Yankees If Aroldis Chapman Isn’t Ready

New York Yankees relief pitcher Zach Britton will be the team’s primary closer if closer Aroldis Chapman isn’t ready for the start of the season, according to manager Aaron Boone. Chapman was diagnosed with coronavirus on Saturday and has been showing symptoms, so fantasy owners should expect Britton to start the season as the closer […]

Masahiro Tanaka Playing Catch

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (head) played catch on Saturday for the second time since suffering a concussion one week before. Tanaka is still in the concussion protocol and the Yankees are taking his recovery slowly, but the 31-year-old is reportedly acting like his normal self and has been progressing well. Manager Aaron […]

Aaron Judge’s Stiff Neck Is A Minor Issue

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (neck) has had his stiff neck attributed to sleeping wrong, and the team is optimistic that the 28-year-old will be back in the lineup on Sunday. Judge was held out of Saturday’s intrasquad game with a stiff neck, but manager Aaron Boone isn’t particularly worried and expects Judge’s absence […]

Aaron Judge Has A Stiff Neck

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (neck) was removed from the lineup for Saturday's intrasquad game with a stiff neck. Judge finally returned to hitting against live pitching recently after recovering from a stress fracture in his rib, and it's possible that his stiff neck is related to that injury. If Judge's neck issue is […]

Masahiro Tanaka Playing Catch Saturday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (head) is playing catch at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. Tanaka was diagnosed with a mild concussion last weekend after he took a Giancarlo Stanton line drive to the head exactly a week ago. But he's been symptom-free in the last week and was riding a stationary bike during […]