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Average Draft Position: Making Sense of ADP for Fantasy Baseball
ADP, or Average Draft Position, is one of the most commonly cited statistics in fantasy baseball discourse. It allows owners to look at a single number and quickly determine a player's market value, making it easier to identify potential value picks in a draft. Furthermore, fantasy analysts can use it to determine how a particular […]
Jack Suwinski Hitless Wednesday
A day after hitting his first home run of the spring, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jack Suwinski went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout in Wednesday's 6-4 Grapefruit League loss to the Orioles. The lefty hitter is now 3-for-15 (.200) in spring action with a home run and a double. More concerningly, he's also struck […]
Jared Jones In Competition For Rotation Spot
Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Jared Jones is in a competition for a rotation spot, according to skipper Derek Shelton. The 22-year-old was the club's second-round pick in the 2020 draft and turned a corner in the 2023 season. The right-hander worked to a tidy 2.23 ERA across 10 starts at Double-A before posting a 4.72 […]
Fantasy Baseball Fades: Ep. 141 of The Operating Room
CBS Sports' Frank Stampfl (@Roto_Frank) joins Kev Mahserejian (@RotoSurgeon) to discuss baseball players they are avoiding throughout the top 200 of fantasy drafts in 2024 along with recent injury news on Ronald Acuna Jr, Kevin Gausman, David Bednar, and Cedric Mullins. https://www.patreon.com/RotoSurgeon Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (channel SiriusXM 87) every […]
Quinn Priester Trying To Break Camp
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Quinn Priester allowed one run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout against the Toronto Blue Jays in Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest. The 23-year-old came on in relief in this contest but will remain in a starting role, either for the Pirates or in Triple-A. Priester entered last season […]
Third Base Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Tiers, Analysis - Roto Leagues (2024)
Spring training is underway, which means fantasy baseball draft season is going to reach a fever pitch very soon. In my last article, I walked you through RotoBaller's first base rankings. This time around, we will take a look at who is available at the hot corner in 2024. The elite talent is concentrated on […]
Starting Pitchers Spring Training News and Notes For Fantasy Baseball
Baseball is back and spring training is here! Every player is reportedly in the best shape of their lives or has worked on their weaknesses in their game. Hitters have fixed their launch angles, while pitchers have changed arm slots or added a new pitch to their arsenal. How do we know how much of […]
Paul Skenes To Start In The Minors
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that the team has told top pitching prospect Paul Skenes that he will start the 2024 season in the minors leagues. Cherington added that there are boxes Skenes must still check, but he will remain in major-league camp in spring training to get his work in. In three […]
Andrew McCutchen Making Spring Debut Tuesday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen (Achilles) said that he is making his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday. "Got a uniform in here. Might as well wear it," McCutchen said. The 37-year-old said his modified, back-field program this spring has kept his health/body in a great spot entering the 2024 season. McCutchen suffered a partial […]
Andrew McCutchen Could See Game Action In Coming Week
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen (Achilles) could see Grapefruit League action the week of March 4. The 37-year-old signed a one-year, $5 million deal this off-season to return to the Pirates after slashing .256/.378/.397 with 12 home runs, 55 runs scored, 43 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 473 plate appearances. He was forced to […]
Henry Davis Homers In Third Straight Spring Game
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis, the team's former first overall pick in 2021, homered for the third straight game on Monday in the team's Grapefruit League contest versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Davis' work this offseason to have his swing reassessed at Driveline has been paying off in spring training. He's now hitting .400 with […]
David Bednar Hopes To Be Back Soon
The Pittsburgh Pirates and closer David Bednar (lat) are playing it safe in spring training and he's currently not throwing, but the good news is he doesn't seem too worried about the severity of his injury. "Hopefully will be back soon," Bednar said. Manager Derek Shelton said on Sunday that Bednar is dealing with right-lat […]
Ke'Bryan Hayes Off To Nice Start In Spring Training
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes went 2-for-3 with a run scored against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. Hayes is now hitting .357 with two homers and six RBI over his first 14 Grapefruit League at-bats. It seems like Hayes has been around forever, but he is still just 27. Always highly touted in the […]
Dauri Moreta Exits Early On Sunday
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Dauri Moreta (elbow) was unable to finish his outing against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. The right-hander saw a significant drop in velocity before a visit from the training staff. The 27-year-old was pulled out of the contest due to right elbow discomfort. Moreta was a key piece to the Pirates […]
David Bednar Dealing With Lat Injury, Shut Down From Throwing
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher David Bednar (lat) is dealing with right lat tightness. Bednar felt tightness in his lat during a throwing program. The Pirates are playing it safe with Bednar, and he is currently shut down from throwing. "Hopefully, he will be back soon," said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. Pittsburgh will continue to monitor the injury […]
Top 250 Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Prospects Rankings (February 2024 Update)
We're back, RotoBallers, for the February 2024 update of our MLB team's dynasty fantasy baseball prospects rankings for the 2024 season. We're now into 2024 with an eye on the upcoming year, and moves by MLB teams have begun to shape how we look at prospects. This list adds a half-dozen 2024 international signees who […]
Five Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers: Mid-To-Late Round Value Picks (NL Central)
The NL Central doesn't have the same kind of fantasy baseball stars as other divisions. As a matter of fact, the first player selected from the NL Central isn't until Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is taken in the early fourth round. After that, Devin Williams, Cody Bellinger, Freddy Peralta, and Nico Hoerner […]
David Bednar Still The Closer For Pirates
Despite the offseason addition of left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman and his seven All-Star selections, Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander David Bednar remains the team's primary closer heading into the 2024 season. Bednar, who has been an All-Star each of the last two years himself, received a call from manager Derek Shelton after Chapman's signing, reassuring him of […]
How To Use MLB Prospect Rankings Lists to Win Fantasy Baseball Leagues
There are many excellent sources to get prospect information for MLB fantasy leagues. Some, like Baseball America, have been putting together prospect lists for 30+ years. Others are fairly new to the game but have excellent writers and evaluators to offer plenty of insight. What does all of that mean for your fantasy league, though? […]
Paul Skenes Flashes Triple-Digit Heat In Spring Debut
Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Paul Skenes, the first overall pick in last year's draft, hit 102 mph twice with his fastball in a scoreless first inning in his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore catcher Adley Rutschman, a fellow first overall pick, took a 99 mph Skenes fastball to the warning […]
Yasmani Grandal The Starter Over Henry Davis?
When asked if catcher Yasmani Grandal was the team's starting catcher, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton suggested that Grandal would be the starter, but that he would have his workload limited over the course of the season. "Yaz is going to catch. Yas is also 35 years old, so whoever our C2 is is going […]
Bryan Reynolds Homers In Second Spring Game
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds made his spring debut on Sunday in a 2-0 Grapefruit League loss to the Orioles. The switch hitter did nothing of note, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout. The former All-Star's second game on Tuesday, a 13-4 win over the Braves, got things headed in the right direction by going 1-for-3 […]
Dustin Peterson Joins Pirates On Minors Pact
The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed outfielder Dustin Peterson to a minor-league deal that presumably includes an invite to big-league spring training. The former second-round pick of the Padres has appeared in just 19 big-league games, 17 of which came with the Tigers in the 2019 season when he hit .227 and stole one base across […]
Top 300 Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings: AL-Only Leagues (February 2024 Update)
Welcome back to more fantasy baseball rankings! It's an exciting time for baseball fans as spring training begins and Opening Day is around the corner. For fantasy managers who still play in old-school leagues such as AL-Only or NL-Only formats, we've got you covered. Today, we will look at our 2024 AL-Only fantasy baseball roto rankings. […]
Biggest Starting Pitcher Fallers (K-BB%) - Use Caution for Fantasy Baseball Drafts
In an age when we have a way to quantify just about anything that a baseball player can do on the field, one statistic that you'll find most analysts taking to heart when it comes to pitchers is their strikeout-to-walk ratio (K-BB%). It is often regarded as one of the most important and predictive statistics […]
Best Ball Buys and Fades For Fantasy Baseball Drafts (2024)
The fantasy baseball season is right around the corner. While some of you have been drafting for months, others are just returning from football. For either party, fantasy baseball best ball formats are an excellent way to get your feet wet and dig deeper into the player pool. Best ball can help you get an […]
Post-Hype Outfield Breakout Candidates for Fantasy Baseball (2024)
Last week we highlighted several infielders in the 26-29 age bracket who could break out in 2024. Today, we shift to outfielders. The key to a successful draft is hitting on some players who may be undervalued by your peers in the draft room. You should always be looking for players who could take the […]
Top 100 FYPD Prospects for Fantasy Baseball First-Year Player Drafts (February 2024)
The final update of the First-Year Player Draft rankings is just in time for peak FYPD draft season. This update adds in a half-dozen signees from the January 15 international class along with updating the teams for a few former Japanese players who signed this offseason with an MLB club and a player who was […]
RotoBaller Staff Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft - Favorite Picks and Roster Strategies
Mock drafts are an excellent draft-prep tool that simulate the feeling of being in the draft room. In a fantasy baseball mock draft, you can test different strategies and experience the ebbs and flows of a fantasy draft. You can put your rankings to the test and see where your must-have players are being drafted. […]
K-BB% Winners and Losers - Starting Pitcher Picks for Fantasy Baseball Drafts (2024)
Strikeouts and walks play a pivotal role in nearly every scoring format of fantasy baseball. In points leagues, that tends to be a direct effect of points for strikeouts and subtractions for walks. In leagues with category-based scoring, strikeouts (sometimes per nine innings) is a common category, with walks often incorporated into something like WHIP. […]
