Batter BABIP: Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball
The most accessible of the fantasy-relevant advanced stats is BABIP, or Batting Average on Balls In Play. It simply measures a player's batting average on balls in play, with outcomes such as strikeouts and home runs removed from consideration. In general, the league average hovers around .300, a nice round number to remember. Many know... Read More
2022 Fantasy Breakout Candidates - NL West
We have already broken down the top breakout candidates from the National League Central, National League East, American League West, American League East, and American League Central. In this column, we'll run down players from the National League West, one from each team, who could fit the bill and have breakout campaigns next season. One... Read More
Valuing Injured Players Returning In 2022
Last year's season-ending injury list is an All-Star team. It holds three of the best players in the game and plenty of other superstar adjacent players. Now, heading into the 2022 fantasy baseball season, we have to evaluate the value of these injured players. Should we be concerned about Ronald Acuna Jr? Is Jacob deGrom... Read More
2022 Fantasy Breakout Candidates - NL Central
Identifying potential fantasy breakout players in drafts each Spring can be crucial in building a championship-winning roster for fantasy managers. Often times the breakout players, if they do in fact break out, will significantly outperform their draft position and help you find success. It may be a late-round pick performing like a quality contributor who... Read More
Arizona Fall League 2021 Wrap Up
The Arizona Fall League wrapped up on November 20th with a Mesa Solar Sox championship over the Suprise Saguaros. In this space, we will review the 2021 Arizona Fall League by highlighting players who were the most notable risers and disappointments based on their performance from a fantasy baseball perspective. Many of these prospects won't... Read More
Marcus Semien and Corey Seager to Rangers - Fantasy Impact
The Texas Rangers made a big splash in free agency by signing Corey Seager (10 years, $350 million) and Marcus Semien (7 years, $175 million) to create their middle infield combination for years to come. This surprised a lot of baseball fans, as the Rangers traded Joey Gallo and Kyle Gibson at the trade deadline... Read More
Early One-Man Mock (Rounds 2-5) - 2022 Fantasy Baseball
I've already run through the first round of my one-man mock, which you can check out right here. Now, let's move on to the next few rounds with a look at how early drafts might shake out. I took roster construction into consideration so that a team didn't select three outfielders in the first three... Read More
Javier Baez to Tigers - Fantasy Impact
The Tigers got in on the free-agent spending spree by adding infielder Javier Baez. He signed a six-year deal worth $140 million dollars and makes the type of statement that Detroit wants the rest of the baseball world to know. “It sends a message to the rest of baseball. The Tigers are here to compete.”... Read More
ADP Showdown: Byron Buxton vs Adalberto Mondesi
One of the hardest things to do in fantasy baseball for players and contributors alike is to project playing time. Games played, plate appearances, and at-bats are the basis on which we project hits, home runs, walks, and all the various counting stats that make up various fantasy baseball formats. It is where rate stats... Read More
2022 Fantasy Breakout Candidates - NL East
One of the keys to a successful fantasy baseball draft, and a subsequently successful season, is finding players who outperform their draft position. By and large, you’re more likely to find those types of players later in drafts. Sure, you’ll find those relatively early-round players who perform at an elite level – think Max Muncy or... Read More
Bryson Stott - Prospects to Know for 2022
In 2019, the Philadelphia Phillies made UNLV shortstop Bryson Stott their first-round selection in the MLB draft. Stott recently turned 24-years-old, and Philly GM Dave Dombrowski has gone on the record that the team expects him to compete for the starting shortstop job in spring training this year. There's a lot to like in Stott's... Read More
2021 Fantasy Baseball Batting Awards
We've put a bow on the 2021 season, with the Braves finishing off their surprising season with a World Series victory over the Astros. That leaves fantasy baseball managers to eagerly await an offseason of hot stove rumors and draft prep. Before all that takes place, it's only right to pay tribute to the players... Read More
2022 Fantasy Baseball Breakout Candidates - AL West
Even with the offseason now in full swing with players receiving qualifying offers, it’s never too early to start identifying the players who’ll help your team take the title next season. Of course, impact fantasy players taken near the top of drafts are crucial for fantasy contenders. But, finding breakout candidates late in the draft... Read More
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (10/29/21): MLB DFS Lineups
Happy Friday, Rotoballers! Houston came out with an early-inning blitz to stun Atlanta and even the World Series at one game apiece. Now, the Fall Classic heads to Atlanta for Games 3, 4, and 5 on three consecutive days. It's possible the series doesn't make it back to Texas, but it would be surprising if one... Read More
2021 MLB Strength of Schedule - In Depth Analysis
Strength of schedule analysis is a common thing you'll see in fantasy football analysis. With just 16 (17 now, I guess) games on the schedule every year, the list of teams on your schedule can make a big difference in your final year metrics. If you get to face the league's worst offense twice while... Read More
2022 Fantasy Baseball Breakout Candidates - AL East
As Major League Baseball’s postseason starts to move towards a conclusion, the greater fantasy baseball-playing world is probably either still basking in the glow of a fantasy championship or lamenting losses or missteps in coming up short. Either way, it’s never too early to start compiling a list of players who could help you win... Read More
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (10/27/21): MLB DFS Lineups
Happy Wednesday, Rotoballers! Last night, the Braves bombed their way to an early advantage and swiped Game 1, and home field, from the Astros. Framber Valdez never looked comfortable (just like the ALCS Game 1) and was pulled early. Meanwhile, Charlie Morton was in total control, but a lousy bounce caused a broken fibula, and now... Read More
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (10/26/21): MLB DFS Lineups
We are finally to Game 1 of the 2021 World Series! How many of you had the Astros and Braves penciled in for this classic? I'm guessing not many. This should be an entertaining series. We are in showdown mode the rest of the way. We have at least four chances to finish off the... Read More
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (10/22/21): MLB DFS Lineups
Happy Friday, Rotoballers! The entire ALCS was flipped on its head within 24 hours as the Astros took games 4 and 5 to put themselves in the driver's seat for their third World Series appearance in the last five years. Still, Boston is more than capable of winning two straight, and I expect another back and... Read More
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (10/21/21): MLB DFS Lineups
The Braves are in L.A. for a chance to play their way into the World Series. They took a commanding 3-1 series lead at Chavez Ravine last night on the back of Eddie Rosario. The ALCS is on a travel day, so we shift into showdown mode for tonight's tilt at Dodger Stadium. For showdown... Read More
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (10/20/21): MLB DFS Lineups
Happy Wednesday, Rotoballers! After a wild ninth inning, the Astros and Red Sox play Game 5 of the ALCS less than 16 hours after ending Game 4. Houston exploded for seven runs in the ninth inning to tie the series at two, and they will try to steal one more game in Boston before the series... Read More
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (10/19/21): MLB DFS Lineups
The number of days with more than one game going on in baseball is dwindling fast. We have Game 4 of the ALCS in Boston with the Sox up 2-1. We have Game 3 of the NLCS out west with the Braves taking both games in Atlanta before heading west. It's going to be a... Read More
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (10/18/21): MLB DFS Lineups
Happy Monday, Rotoballers! It's Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, and the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox are tied at one game apiece. The series shifts to Fenway Park for the next three nights after the Red Sox slugged their way to taking over the home-field advantage with a 9-5 win in Game... Read More
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (10/16/21): MLB DFS Lineups
We are down to four teams that can win the World Series. All four are in action today. This is one of the few classic slates that we have left for baseball. Let's enjoy it while we still can! The showdowns just aren't as exciting. It will be cool in Hotlanta. Well....cooler than usual. It's... Read More
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (10/14/21): MLB DFS Lineups
And then there were two. Two left playing anyway. The Dodgers and Giants fittingly are the only series that went all five games, so that is our one game for the night. We shift into showdown mode for tonight's tilt at Oracle Park. For showdown mode, we pick one captain who costs 1.5x his normal... Read More
Arizona Fall League 2021 Preview
On October 13th at 3:30 pm EST, the Arizona Fall League kicks off! I am going to preview the Arizona Fall League from a fantasy sports perspective. Before digging into the players, let's get into the quick basics of what the Arizona Fall League (AFL) is. It's a six-team league that plays a 30-game schedule.... Read More
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (10/12/21): MLB DFS Lineups
And then there were seven. The Red Sox punched their ticket to the ALCS last night leaving three MLB games today. The White Sox are trying to avoid going the way of the Rays after yesterday's rainout. The Dodgers are Brewers are all trying to avoid the same fate. What happens today will determine just... Read More
2021 MLB Reflection and League Trends
Here at RotoBaller, we give you fantasy baseball coverage twelve months a year. The playoffs are still in full swing, which means it's probably not quite time to shift our focus to the 2022 season, but it won't be long before we're there. In the meantime, we want to spend some time reflecting on the 2021... Read More
Bold, Bolder, and Boldest in 2021: A Post-Mortem
Ahh, the time-honored tradition of making bold predictions is upon us. We hem and we haw; we make outrageous claims like Adalberto Mondesi invented the question mark, and bicker about the proper definition of "bold". In the NotBurtatorium (totally a real word), however, we worry not about this or that definition. Our goals are simple... Read More