Launch Angle Analysis - Potential HR Risers

With the onset of Statcast data, we can now better predict which hitters may be due for a power surge. Before recent years, we only had things like hard-hit rate and home runs per fly ball ratios to look to as predictors of future changes in home run rates. Now that we have launch angle,... Read More

Top 10 Tips for Fantasy Baseball Snake Drafts

Before I begin, let me caveat everything I say with this: I don't consider myself to be some sort of expert master fantasy player. I've only been playing fantasy baseball for a little under a decade. But as soon as I started to immerse myself into this game we all love, my main focus was... Read More

Spring Training Lineup Takeaways - Week 2 Lineup Trends

Welcome back RotoBallers! We are entering week three of Spring Training already, and with that came a lot of things we saw in week two. But of course, my week one review also still has very relevant information as well. Just a reminder, in my Lineup Takeaways series we are focusing 100% on lineups, news and... Read More

Finding Over/Undervalued Third Basemen Using Expected Draft Values

Last year we introduced our Expected Draft Values and explained how they would help us identify both over and undervalued players of all types. Power, speed, power+speed, batting average+power, and so on, with pitchers as well. Today, we'll look at four third basemen and our site projections for them. Stay tuned over the next couple... Read More

Top 25 Starting Pitchers - Dynasty Prospects Rankings

Pitching is an important element of any successful Major League Baseball team — real or fantasy. Coming off a truncated season in 2020 and facing another unique season ahead, pitching prospects will be more important than ever in 2021. MLB managers will be faced with a full 2021 season and, after throwing reduced innings last... Read More

Geoff Hartlieb Throws Perfect Inning Against Yankees

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Geoff Hartlieb threw a perfect inning of relief on Saturday in a 7-5 loss to the Yankees. Hartlieb opened up the fifth innings with back-to-back strikeouts against Brett Gardner and DJ LeMahieu before getting Aaron Judge to ground out to second to end the inning. Hartlieb has not allowed a baserunner... Read More

Richard Rodriguez Holds Yankees Scoreless Saturday

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Richard Rodriguez tossed a scoreless third inning against the Yankees on Saturday, allowing only one hit while striking out two in the loss. Facing the heart of the Yankees order, Rodriguez got swinging strikeouts against Aaron Judge and Luke Voit, and made Giancarlo Stanton pop out in foul territory, while Aaron... Read More

Bryan Reynolds Homers Against Yankees Saturday

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds hit his first home run of Spring Training on Saturday, as he went 1-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch in the loss to the Yankees. Reynolds sent an 0-2 slider from Darren O'Day into the stands in right field for his only hit of the day. After putting up a big rookie... Read More

Adam Frazier Picks Up Three Hits In Pirates' Loss

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier had his third multi-hit performance of the spring on Saturday, finishing 3-for-4 with a double in the loss to the Yankees. Frazier has been making a lot of contact this month, as he is 8-for-12 with two doubles, one RBI, two runs, one walk and no strikeouts through four... Read More

Anthony Alford Exits Game Early On Saturday

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Anthony Alford exited Saturday's game early with what is described as right wrist discomfort, according to Alex Stumpf of DK Pittsburgh Sports. Alford was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning while facing Corey Kluber, and he was quickly removed from the game. There is no official word yet on how... Read More

Edgar Santana Tosses Perfect Inning Against Blue Jays Friday

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Edgar Santana allowed no baserunners while striking out two in a 2-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Friday afternoon. Santana has not allowed a baserunner so far this spring, while striking out four in three innings of work. He has not pitched in a major league game since 2018, as... Read More

Blake Cederlind Placed On Injured List With UCL Strain

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Blake Cederlind (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list with a UCL strain in his right elbow, according to MLB.com's Jake Crouse. Crouse reports that Cederlind sustained the injury in Wednesday night's game when he was pulled after allowing a run on one hit, two walks and a hit batter while... Read More

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/12) - Severino Beginning Build Up

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. Thankfully, we have real, live baseball being played every day again, and while it doesn't count for anything, these exhibition games gives us the smallest glimmer into players and teams heading into the new season. We're officially through the first week of spring training games... Read More

2021 Outfielder Rankings - 5x5 Mixed Leagues

We now move on to the outfielder position in our mixed-league rankings analysis series. If you missed them, here is our review of Catcher, First Base, Second Base, Third Base and Shortstop. RotoBaller's rankers, JB Branson, Pierre Camus, Nick Mariano, and Ariel Cohen have updated our 2021 Mixed League rankings once more based on early spring training action.... Read More

Trevor Cahill Signs With Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed starting pitcher Trevor Cahill. He agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with an additional $1 million in performance bonuses. Last year, Cahill went 1-2 with a 3.24 ER and 1.20 WHIP over 11 games (six starts). He averaged 11.2 K/9, which was well above his career average of 6.8... Read More

Mitch Keller Has Another Rough Outing Thursday

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller struggled in his second start of Spring Training, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out two over two innings against the Orioles. Keller has now allowed four runs on five hits and two walks through three innings this spring with three strikeouts. Once the... Read More

Anthony Alford Has Big Day On Offense And Defense On Thursday

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Anthony Alford hit his second home run of the spring on Thursday, as he finished 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, two RBI and two runs scored against the Orioles. Alford also turned heads with a diving catch in the third inning to rob Cedric Mullins of a base hit. He's slashing... Read More

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/11) - Hiura Endures Spring Struggles

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. Thankfully, we have real, live baseball being played every day again, and while it doesn't count for anything, these exhibition games gives us the smallest glimmer into players and teams heading into the new season. We're officially through the first week of spring training games... Read More

Cole Tucker Returns To Hitting Activities

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop/outfielder Cole Tucker (hand) is back to hitting after having appeared in just one Grapefruit League game this spring, in which he went 0-for-3. Competition remains relatively open for the rebuilding Pirates with Tucker in the mix to earn at-bats both at short or in center field, where Anthony Alford stands out as... Read More

Kevin Newman Remains Out Of Lineup Thursday

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Kevin Newman (hamstring) is not in the lineup for Thursday's spring game against the Orioles. Newman exited Sunday's game early with hamstring tightness and has yet to appear since then. Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported on Wednesday that Newman is no longer feeling the tightness and that Pirates director of sports... Read More

Jared Oliva Homers In Pirates Loss

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jared Oliva hit his first home run of the spring on Wednesday night as he finished 1-for-2 in the loss to the Yankees. Oliva has only appeared in three games this spring and is 2-for-6 with two RBI, two runs, a walk and a strikeout in that span. While he has shown... Read More

Brian Goodwin Hits Grand Slam In Pirates Loss Wednesday

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Brian Goodwin went 1-for-3 with a grand slam home run in a 6-5 loss to the Yankees Wednesday night. It was Goodwin's second hit of the spring as he is now 2-for-11 with five strikeouts through five games. Goodwin was thought to be one of the leading contenders for the starting job... Read More

Tyler Anderson Allows Five Runs In Rough Start Wednesday

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Tyler Anderson struggled against the Yankees on Wednesday night, allowing five runs on eight hits with two strikeouts over three innings. Anderson blew up in the third inning where he allowed four straight hits to start the frame including back-to-back home runs to make it a 5-0 Yankees lead. He has... Read More

Richard Rodriguez Strikes Out Three In Scoreless Inning

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Richard Rodriguez allowed one hit and struck out the side in a scoreless inning of work against the Yankees on Wednesday night. Rodriguez faced the heart of the Yankees order in the fifth inning, striking out Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres while allowing only a one-out double to Brett... Read More

Top 10 Shortstops - Dynasty Prospects Rankings

The shortstop position is a bountiful one for fantasy players. In a 12-team league, most fantasy managers should have the opportunity to be happy with their starter at the position thanks to the depth and variety of skills available. In 2019, 16 shortstops that had at least 350 plate appearances produced a 100 wRC+ or... Read More

Ke'Bryan Hayes Extends Hitting Streak to Five Games Tuesday

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes went 2-for-2 at the plate against the Braves on Tuesday afternoon to extend his hitting streak to five games. Hayes doubled, drew a walk and scored two runs as he is now slashing .500/.563/.929 to start off the spring. He has yet to homer but he is still showing... Read More

Top 10 Third Basemen - Dynasty Prospect Rankings

Third base is traditionally a place to find offense. It can be a goldmine for fantasy managers in need of some power. Third basemen are also known for providing strong on-base numbers and, in some cases, batting average. The 2019 season met the offensive expectations with 28 hitters managing a 100 wRC+ or better (350... Read More

MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/8) - Darvish Deals, Gallo Still Mashing

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. Thankfully, we have real, live baseball being played every day again, and while it doesn't count for anything, these exhibition games gives us the smallest glimmer into players and teams heading into the new season. We're officially through the first week of spring training games... Read More

Pittsburgh Pirates Closer Role Up in the Air, Could be Split

The Athletic's Rob Biertempful reports that there is uncertainty on the Pittsburgh Pirates as to who will serve as the full time closer, or if there will even be one full time closer or if save opportunities are divided up. According to Biertempful, manager Derek Shelton said the decision on the closer would likely not... Read More

Carson Fulmer Designated For Assignment Sunday

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Carson Fulmer was designated for assignment on Sunday following the Pirates' acquisition of reliever Duane Underwood Jr reports Jake Crouse of MLB.com. Fulmer had just earned a win on Saturday against the Yankees after allowing one hit with three strikeouts over two scoreless innings of work. The Pirates have made several... Read More