Ramon Laureano Not In Lineup With Tight Calf

Oakland Athletics outfielder Ramon Laureano (calf) is not in the lineup for their exhibition game vs the Giants due to a tight calf. Manager Bob Melvin said this is more of a precaution, and that he expects Laureano to be back in the lineup for the final exhibition game Tuesday. Laureano is coming off his […]

A.J. Puk On IL With Shoulder Strain

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher A.J. Puk (shoulder) was placed on the Injured List with a shoulder strain and will see a specialist in Los Angeles for a second opinion. The extent of the injury is unknown, but manager Bob Melvin said that the fact they need to put Puk on the IL indicates a level […]

Second Base and Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 1

The season has nearly begun. It is vital that fantasy managers target the categories they need. To start the season the primary focus for second base and shortstop additions will be to maximize at-bats. Some names might cause a little twitch of your eye when you read their name. Don't be afraid. Just remember, in […]

Updated Relief Pitcher 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 […]

Updated Second Base 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 […]

Nick Mariano's 2020 Late-Round Fliers List (Premium Content)

All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Howdy, RotoBallers! I hope you're ready to take chances, make mistakes, and get messy. We’re here to dig a little deeper into the draft room and look for players that would be wise to take a flier on in the late rounds. 2020 is […]

Updated Catcher 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 […]

Closers and Saves Report: Summer Camp Edition 2 - Handcuffs

It's a whole new ball game. Literally. Baseball is going to be weird this season, folks. Only 60 games. (Almost?) all in the same time zone. Tons of games against the same teams. The DH everywhere. Empty stadiums. Cardboard cutouts. Artificial crowd noise. 30-man rosters for a while. Then 28-man rosters for another while. It's […]

Frankie Montas To Start On Opening Day

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas will be the team's Opening Day starter, according to manager Bob Melvin. Montas said he expects to be able to go up to 90 pitches, so he won't be a popular DFS play against a good Angels lineup. His season-long prospects look much better, though, as he is coming […]

Top 700: Updated Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings (July)

Welcome back RotoBallers, we are quickly approaching the start of this crazy 2020 MLB season! The rankings team here at HQ has been adjusting their ranks all off-season, and now we our last major updates in place. Below you will find our staff's updated 2020 fantasy baseball tiered rankings (top 700) for mixed leagues, taking into a […]

Schedule Factors - Hitters on the Decline

Earlier this week, we took a look at which hitters have been helped the most by the recently announced 60-game schedule. Now it's time to take a look at the hitters who might be hurt the most by it. Remember that in order to fully break down the way in which a schedule may impact […]

Updated Pitcher Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues (July)

As if preseason rankings and projections weren't fickle enough already... Now, we are presented with a delayed, shortened season that has already seen several players opt out while others are uncertain to return after testing positive for COVID-19. For that reason, you won't see David Price or Felix Hernandez in these rankings and others are […]

Mariano's Saves+Holds Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitchers

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 and sharer of names with […]

Attacking Offensive Categories with Z-Scores

The way to win at fantasy baseball is to generate the most aggregate value on your roster. One cannot win with just an average fantasy team; one must be better than the mean. To accomplish this, owners must spend their fantasy capital efficiently in acquiring talent. Finding and drafting undervalued players is the key. Of […]

One Last Mock! ADP Values and Reaches

As the sun prepares to rise on the 2020 MLB season (I'm all about hopeful metaphors these days), it also marks the end of draft season for fantasy baseball. This weekend will see a flurry of activity from fantasy league owners trying to figure out how to properly value players amid a global pandemic. Good […]

Underpriced Hitters 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 […]

Top 250 MLB Dynasty Prospects - Final Preseason Update

The 2020 MLB season is going to look very different. But as long as the virus doesn’t rear its ugly head in an apocalyptic fashion, it’s still going to be fun. And to help fantasy managers prepare for this season and for those to come, we’ve updated our Top 250 dynasty fantasy baseball prospects list. […]

Updated First Base 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 […]

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 […]

Jesus Luzardo To Open Season In Bullpen

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo will begin the season in the bullpen, according to manager Bob Melvin. Melvin said that once they get him to three innings out of the bullpen they can begin transitioning Luzardo back to the starting rotation. Luzardo was one of the biggest risers up fantasy draft boards with the […]

Jesus Luzardo Cleared To Practice

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (illness) has been cleared to return to summer camp after being on the COVID-19 injured list. Luzardo tested positive for COVID-19 and has not been working out with the team. Returning to A's camp means Luzardo had to test negative twice at least 24 hours apart, but it remains […]

David Peralta (OF, ARI) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~ 235 CURRENT ADP: ~250 overall ANALYSIS: David Peralta played in just 99 games last season due to a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery. Peralta was already expected to be in the Diamondbacks’ opening day lineup, but his surgically repaired shoulder should benefit from the extra healing time gained due […]

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 […]

A's Don't Have Immediate Plan For Jesus Luzardo

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo has been working out the best he can as he self-isolates with COVID-19. A's pitching coach Scott Emerson said Luzardo could make a few short starts or work in relief as he builds up endurance. Emerson added that how long Luzardo pitches will be determined by pitch count and matchups, […]

Jesus Luzardo May Not Be Ready For Opening Day

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (illness) has not been cleared to join team workouts after testing positive for COVID-19 last week. Luzardo must provide two negative tests 24-hours apart in order to be taken off the COVID-19 Injured List. Manager Bob Melvin expressed concern the hard-throwing lefty may not be ready for Opening Day […]