Konnor Griffin "Trending Toward Being" Opening Day Shortstop

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal said on Foul Territory on Thursday that it looks like Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin is "trending toward being" the team's Opening Day shortstop. It was seen as a bit of a stretch going into spring training, since Griffin is only 19 years old and has played just 21 games […]

6 Breakout Pitchers For Fantasy Baseball Drafts (2026)

Identifying breakouts is the key to securing a fantasy championship. Last season, managers who bet on the talents of Garrett Crochet and Hunter Brown secured high-end starting pitchers that greatly outperformed their preseason ADP. Last week, we did a deep dive into my hitter fantasy baseball breakouts, and now it's time to turn our attention […]

7 Fantasy Baseball Bold Predictions - Eric Cross' 2026 Picks

One of my favorite articles to write every pre-season is my bold predictions article here on RotoBaller. Why? Well, a bold predictions article can be both fun and informative. Many of these won't come true, but they're bold predictions for a reason. But at the same time, while the chances are slim, there's an element […]

2026 Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Prospects: Later-Round Values for Drafts

Every year, we get rookie pitchers emerging as legitimate fantasy stars. Some of them get hyped up in the offseason and go in the earlier rounds of fantasy drafts. And some of them are under-the-radar options that go unnoticed in drafts. It's the latter we're going to feature here. We will be looking at some […]

SIERA Overachievers - Identifying Fantasy Baseball Pitchers Worth Fading in 2026

It's that time again - time to dig into the advanced stats and see what we can find that will help us make the right decisions in our upcoming fantasy baseball drafts. Every year, I like to analyze the SIERA of starter pitchers to identify those who likely overperformed in terms of their ERA. SIERA […]

Starting Pitchers: Fantasy Baseball Sleepers, Values and Draft Targets (2026)

The “big three” in fantasy baseball this season at starting pitcher are Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, and Paul Skenes. In mixed league snake drafts, all three might go off the board in the first round, and there will be spirited bidding for every one of them in salary cap formats. But some fantasy baseball analysts […]

2026 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft - RotoBaller Staff's Favorite Picks and Roster Strategies

Hey RotoBallers! Fantasy baseball season is in full swing (pun intended), and it's time to begin enacting our offseason research into mock drafts. Mock drafts are the perfect way for you to simulate a real-draft experience and get a feel of which players will be available for you at your respective picks. This is now […]

Later-Round Fantasy Baseball Prospect Sleepers - Rookies To Stash (2026)

While draft season is in full swing, it is never too early to begin looking at high upside prospects to stash. In the final rounds of your draft, managers often select high-upside prospects who have a path to an early MLB debut. Last season, those who either drafted Nick Kurtz or stashed him early in […]

2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers List - Hitters and Pitchers

This premium article is part of our 2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit and a free sample of the expert analysis loaded up in RotoBaller's Draft Kit. Enjoy this premium article for free for a limited time. All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Little else has changed over the years in […]

JB's Bullpen Method Strategy for 2026: Making FrankenAces Out of Relief Pitchers

Six years ago, our beloved JB Branson published an article breaking down his favorite successful fantasy baseball strategy. The Bullpen Method is a lifestyle that reflects the importance of balance on a fantasy team. That turned into an annual Bullpen Method article, with the 2023 version nominated for the FSWA's Baseball Article Of The Year […]

Saves+Holds Fantasy Baseball Rankings (SV+HLD): Top 150 Relief Pitchers for 2026

Welcome to our Saves+Holds fantasy baseball rankings (SV+HLD or SOLDS) for the top 150 relief pitchers and the 2026 season. Traditional fantasy baseball bullpen content is hyperfixated on saves, with most only concerned with who gets the ninth inning. Therefore, Saves+Holds reliever ranks can be an afterthought, but we love having a reason to dig […]

Top 90 Second Base Fantasy Baseball Rankings: February Updates

It's an exciting time as spring training games are being played and the countdown to Opening Day is on! At Rotoballer, we have been pumping out content all offseason long to help crush your upcoming fantasy baseball drafts. We have freshly updated our rankings, and below you will find our updated 2026 fantasy baseball second […]

Konnor Griffin Exits Early After Being Hit in the Foot

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin (foot) left Wednesday's Grapefruit League game in the sixth inning after he was hit in the foot with a pitch, according to DK Pittsburgh Sports. Griffin stayed in the game to run the bases, but he didn't come out to play the field in the seventh inning. It doesn't […]

Konnor Griffin Open to Long-Term Extension With Pirates

Top prospect Konnor Griffin and the Pittsburgh Pirates are open to a long-term contract extension, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The 19-year-old is the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball going into the 2026 season, and he appears to be the favorite this spring to open the 2026 regular season as Pittsburgh's […]

Ryan O'Hearn Could See a Career High in Plate Appearances in 2026

Across 544 plate appearances split between the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres in 2025, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn posted a .281/.366/.437 slash line with 17 home runs, 63 RBI, 67 runs scored, and three stolen bases. O'Hearn's solid season landed him a two-year deal with the Pirates, where he could lock down […]

Paul Skenes Expects to Make Two Starts in World Baseball Classic

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes said he expects to make two starts for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, assuming they advance out of pool play, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The reigning National League Cy Young winner is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut in spring training on Wednesday […]

Bubba Chandler Stumbles in Spring Training Debut

Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitching prospect Bubba Chandler struggled in his spring debut on Monday afternoon against the New York Yankees. Across 1 1/3 innings, the top prospect allowed four earned runs with a high four free passes. He did not allow a hit and added two strikeouts. Chandler's command was a major issue during the […]

Konnor Griffin Slugs Two Home Runs on Tuesday

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin had a monster spring training showing against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in his team's 16-7 victory. Griffin, who will turn 20 years old in late April, is widely considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball. […]

Top 230 Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Rankings: February Updates

Spring training is here, and at RotoBaller we have updated our fantasy baseball rankings to account for the latest rotation news and injuries. Today we're back with our 2026 fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings and tiers for roto leagues (5x5 category mixed leagues). These February rankings cover the top 230 starting pitchers for 2026. Injuries […]

Oneil Cruz Looking to Improve Against Left-Handed Pitchers

Pittsburgh Pirates hitting coach Matt Hague said that outfielder Oneil Cruz hired a left-handed batting practice coach on the second day of the offseason and worked on hitting lefties all offseason. Cruz reached the 20-homer mark for the second straight year in 2025 and also had a league-high 38 stolen bases, but he hit a […]

Carson Fulmer Signs Minor-League Deal With Pirates

Free-agent right-hander Carson Fulmer signed a minor-league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, a source told Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Fulmer's 2025 season with the Los Angeles Angels was cut short due to an elbow injury. Before his injury, he struggled to a 5.83 […]

Jared Jones Aiming to be Ready in Late May

Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said on Monday that "the goal is to get Jared Jones (elbow) major-league game-ready at that one-year mark," according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Tomczyk also said that Jones has looked "really good" coming out of his live batting practice sessions this spring. The 24-year-old […]

Top 75 First Base Fantasy Baseball Rankings: February Updates

All teams have reported to spring training, and actual baseball is being played. Baseball is officially back! Opening Day is right around the corner, giving fantasy managers a brief period to draft their teams. At Rotoballer, we continue our positional rankings series with our updated 2026 fantasy baseball first base rankings and tiers for roto […]

Jack Brannigan Exits After Getting Hit in the Face

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jack Brannigan (head) was forced to exit early during Sunday's Spring Training game versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Brannigan was removed from the contest after getting hit in the face by a batted ball. He's currently being evaluated for further injury, so he should be considered day-to-day right now. Brannigan is competing for […]

Brandon Lowe Could Be Poised for Banner Year in Pittsburgh

In one of their bigger moves this winter, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired long-time Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe this offseason. Lowe has struggled to consistently stay healthy throughout his career, as he's reached 600 plate appearances just once in eight big league seasons. However, he was productive in 2025, hitting .256/.307/.477 with 31 […]

5 Fantasy Baseball Prospect Risers, Sleepers: Breakout Rookies for 2026

Every season, managers look to find league-winning prospects in the final rounds of their draft. Last season, Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz took the crown, as he finished as a top-15 hitter in all formats. In this piece, we will spotlight five high-upside prospects who could make a major impact in the majors this season. […]

Top 80 Third Base Fantasy Baseball Rankings: February Updates

March is fast approaching as we enter the heart of the fantasy baseball offseason. At Rotoballer, we continue to update our rankings and tweak as spring training news continues to flow in. Today, you will find our updated 2026 fantasy baseball third base rankings and tiers for roto leagues (5x5 category mixed leagues). These February […]

Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers, Values: Middle-Round Discounts With Upside

Welcome back RotoBallers, as we continue our mid-round fantasy baseball values and sleepers series -- today we are focusing on 2026 starting pitchers. In this article we'll highlight five middle-round starting pitcher fantasy baseball sleepers, values, and targets with upside for your upcoming 2026 fantasy baseball drafts. Once you reach the middle rounds of drafts, […]

Points Leagues: Fantasy Baseball Sleepers for 2026 Drafts

Every year, some players go too late in fantasy baseball points leagues. These players then become tremendous value picks, and those fantasy managers who selected them in the late rounds just got a game-changer at the backend of drafts. In this article, we will be looking at seven players who are currently value picks. These […]

Hitter Fantasy Baseball Sleepers at Each Position for 2026 Drafts

Spring training arrived this week, and with it, so begins our speculation on perhaps the best topic of fantasy baseball: who are this season's sleepers at every position? Hope springs eternal, as the poets say. We all have opinions as to who these players are. The debates rage on in late winter, when fantasy players […]