Todd Frazier Opts Out, Becomes Free Agent

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Todd Frazier exercised the opt-out clause in his contract and will become a free agent, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Friday. Heyman adds that the Pirates had informed Frazier he was not going to make the team out of Spring Training, which led to Frazier opting out. Frazier had looked good... Read More

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... Read More

Richard Rodriguez Allows Run In Third Straight Appearance

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Richard Rodriguez allowed a run in his third straight appearance on Thursday, finishing with one run allowed on two hits while striking out one in 1 1/3 innings against the Orioles. After Thursday's appearance, Rodriguez has now allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk with two strikeouts in his... Read More

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... Read More

Correlating Statcast to Outcomes: Why You Should Pay Attention to Barrels

Barrels are the keeper of life’s finer things. Beer, pickles, monkeys, the list is endless. Barrels don’t just hold fermented vegetables and unruly simians these days, barrels may also hold the key to identifying the game’s best hitters and struggling hitters who may be due for brighter days. In my mission to find just how... Read More

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... Read More

Pirates Make Extension Offer To Ke'Bryan Hayes

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a contract-extension offer to young third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, but there has been no traction. Hayes posted a 1.124 OPS last year and has a 1.259 OPS so far this spring. The third base prospect has perennial All-Star ability at the hot corner, but early deals for top prospects are becoming... Read More

Steven Brault Out 10 Weeks With Lat Strain

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Steven Brault (back) will be shut down from throwing for a month and could be out as long as 10 weeks with a "moderate" lat strain, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said that Brault left his start on Friday after experiencing tightness... Read More

Top Rookie MLB Prospects for 2021

Kev Maherejian (@RotoSurgeon) and founder of ProspectsLive, Ralph Lifshitz (@ProspectJesus), discuss the top rookie prospects for the 2021 MLB season. Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (channel Sirius 210, XM 87) - every weekday morning between 6-7 AM ET, and Saturdays from 8-10 AM ET. You can also find new weekly shows on YouTube, Spreaker, Spotify, iTunes and on the site under RotoBaller... Read More

Trevor Cahill Earns Win In Pirates Debut Monday

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Trevor Cahill made his debut with the team on Monday afternoon, tossing two perfect innings of relief and striking out one to earn the win over the Orioles. Cahill was hitting the zone well in the outing with 12 of his 17 pitches going for strikes, as he will likely start the... Read More

Duane Underwood Jr. Strikes Out Two In Pirates Debut

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Duane Underwood Jr. struck out two in a perfect inning of relief on Monday, as he made his Pirates debut against the Orioles. Acquired in a trade with the Cubs earlier this month, Underwood looks to be locked in for a spot in the Pirates bullpen, where he will bring with... Read More

Mitch Keller Strikes Out Three On Monday

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller showed some improvement on Monday afternoon from his previous start, allowing four runs — three earned — on seven hits and one walk while striking out three in 3 1/3 innings of work against the Orioles. It speaks volumes about Keller's spring that Monday is considered one of his... Read More

Steven Brault's Status To Be Updated Wednesday

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Steven Brault (arm) remains out of action, and an update on the status of his injury will be given on Wednesday, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Brault exited early from his start on Friday with what was described as latissimus muscle tightness, and had been considered day-to-day since then.... Read More

Wil Crowe Holds Red Sox To One Run

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Wil Crowe held the Boston Red Sox to just one run over 3.2 innings on Sunday. The young right-hander is looking to secure a spot in the rebuilding club's starting rotation to open the year. Crowe was acquired from the Washington Nationals back in December as part of the modest return for... Read More

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... Read More

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... Read More

Adam Frazier Doubles Twice In Win Sunday

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier had his sixth multi-hit performance of the spring on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI in the win over the Red Sox. Frazier has been near unstoppable at the plate in Spring Training, having reached base safely in all eight games he's played in and slashing... Read More

Steven Wright Signs Minor League Deal With Pirates

Free agent pitcher Steven Wright agreed to a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. Wright has missed time over the last three years due to suspensions for domestic violence and PED use, before being knocked out of the 2020 season following Tommy John surgery. Wright is... Read More

Todd Frazier Out Of The Lineup With Back Tightness

Pittsburgh Pirates first/third baseman Todd Frazier (back) won't suit up on Sunday against the Red Sox. Frazier is experiencing some back tightness, though it's unclear if it will affect his potential availability for Opening Day, should he make the roster. The veteran infielder is having a strong spring, as he has a .935 OPS with... Read More

Richard Rodriguez Earns Loss Saturday Against Tigers

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Richard Rodriguez earned the loss on Saturday against the Tigers, allowing one run on two hits in one inning of work in a 3-1 defeat. Rodriguez looked sharp in his first three appearances of the spring, but his last two performances have not been as good, as he has allowed two... Read More

Tyler Anderson Strikes Out Four On Saturday

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Tyler Anderson allowed one run on two hits while striking out four in five innings of work on Saturday against the Tigers. After a rough outing against the Yankees earlier this spring, Anderson has looked good in his last two starts, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out 11... Read More

Kevin Newman Has Perfect Day At Plate Saturday

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Kevin Newman went 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and a stolen base in a 3-1 loss to the Tigers on Saturday. It was Newman's fifth multi-hit performance of the spring, as he has reached base safely in seven straight games and is now slashing .688/.762/.813 with two doubles, five walks and... Read More

David Bednar Continues Dominant Spring Friday

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher David Bednar continued what has been a dominant Spring Training performance on Friday, striking out two in a perfect inning of relief against the Orioles. Bednar has yet to allow a run in seven appearances this spring, as he has allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out 13... Read More

Steven Brault Day-To-Day With Tightness In Arm

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Steven Brault (arm) exited Friday's game with what has been described as latissimus muscle tightness, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Mackey says he is currently listed as day-to-day with the injury. Prior to leaving, Brault had been struggling in his second straight appearance, allowing three runs — two... Read More

Todd Frazier Launches Third Homer Of Spring In Loss

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Todd Frazier slugged his third home run of the spring on Friday, as he finished 1-for-3 with three RBI in the loss to the Orioles. He hasn't been hitting for a high average so far, but he's shown pop as four of his five hits have gone for extra bases. It... Read More

Ke'Bryan Hayes Goes 2-For-4 With Two Doubles Friday

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes went 2-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI, two runs and a stolen base in an 11-9 loss to the Orioles on Friday. Hayes continues to show why he is one of the most exciting prospects in fantasy this year, as he is now slashing .433/.485/.800 with six doubles, one... Read More

Points League Players and the Platforms Who Hate Them

Trust. Whether in roto, point leagues, or otherwise, players should be able to trust that the rankings and values they choose to rely on will be accurate and specific to their league format. That standard seems to be a bit fuzzy when it comes to points leagues, even though point leagues should be fantasy baseball's... Read More

2021 Points League Rankings - Starting Pitcher

We had to take a brief hiatus but are getting back at it on the points front at RotoBaller, now just a few weeks from the start of spring training. We've already covered most of the hitters so we're moving over to pitchers. So let's do some point ranks, shall we? If you've forgotten from... Read More

2021 Points League Rankings - Outfield

February is finally here and that means that draft season is getting into full gear. 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 point leagues.... Read More

2021 Points League Rankings - Third Base

It's Friday and that can only mean one thing...More hot points action coming straight at you. So let's do some point ranks, shall we? If you've forgotten from last year, I have strong opinions on point leagues. TL;DR? You can't just transfer over value from roto and you can't just take players with good BB/K... Read More