My passion for fantasy baseball began to grow in 1992. After Sid Bream slid (allegedly) safely into home, sending my Pirates into a decades' long run of futility, I went into a deep-middle school depression. I couldn't even play kickball for months. I also was left without a relevant MLB team to cheer. Over the years, I naturally gravitated towards the fantasy game. And while taking statistics courses in Texas as I worked on my PhD, I lost my mind for statistical applications to baseball, and have no desire to get it back. I've competed in all types of formats and find myself intrigued by spotting value, especially when it comes to prospects and up-and-coming major leaguers. There's nothing quite like signing Craig Kimbrel and Mike Trout the year before they rose to superstardom, and watching your buy-low investments soar in value.
Sam Dyson (RP-TEX): Sam Dyson picked up his 3rd save of the season in his first attempt as the Rangers designated closer although he allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run in the process. While Dyson induces groundballs 69% of...
Mark Foltynewicz (SP-ATL): The hard-throwing righty tossed 8 scoreless innings, striking out 4 without allowing a walk in a winning effort against the Royals. In fact, Folty hasn't allowed a free pass in his last two starts. While his 97%...
Chase Utley (2B-LAD): While Kershaw was doing his thing, Chase Utley backed him with a 3-for-4 performance that included his 2nd homer of the season. Utley has been drinking from the Fountain of Youth in 2016, posting a 14:19 BB:K...
Jon Gray (SP-COL): Gray painted the black yesterday, striking out 5 Giants and allowing only 3 baserunners through 7 scoreless in another masterful effort on the road that was once again fueled by a confidence in his curveball. For the...
Michael Conforto (OF-NYM): Conforto went 3 for 4 with 2 runs and 3 RBI, hitting his 4th homer of the year to lead the Mets over the Giants. While there will be some regression from his current .365/.442/.676 line, don't...
Dee Gordon (2B-MIA): Flash broke the internet with news of his testing positive for PED's and will immediately begin serving an 80-game suspension. Derek Dietrich figures to see the lion's share of duty at 2B, with Miguel Rojas also receiving...
Mike Moustakas (3B-KC): Continuing to validate his 2015 power surge, Mike Moustakas hit his 6th homer of the year Friday as part of a 3-for-4 night to lead the Royals over the O's. In 67 plate appearances the Mouse has...
Javier Baez (UTIL-CHC): Baez (thumb) returned to the lineup with a bang, knocking out 2 hits in 4 AB's and scoring 1 run to provide more than enough support to Jake Arrieta. Baez was 4 for 17 with 1 HR...
Jeanmar Gomez (SP-PHI): Gomez preserved the W for the Phillies to earn his 2nd consecutive save, enticing fantasy players to spend those FAAB dollars. Three issues, however, led me to limit my bids to less than 5% of my total...
Chris Archer (SP-TB): The Orioles torched Chris Archer for 6 earned runs while racking up 10 hits and 2 walks across his 5 innings. While he has been quite unfortunate through 2 starts (7.20 ERA/2.91 xFIP) and has struck out...
Pittsburgh Pirates What a Juan-derful Spring for Nicasio Juan Nicasio is competing for one of the final two rotation spots with Jeff Locke and Ryan Vogelsong and is making the decision for the Pirates brass quite difficult. After dominating the...
At Fantistics we love to look at a hitter's batted ball profile--the type of contact they are making--in order to project the trajectory of those surface statistics that matter in fantasy, such as batting average and home runs. After adding...
Philadelphia Phillies My Cousin Vinny Vincent Velasquez, the centerpiece in the trade that sent Ken Giles to Houston, tossed 3 scoreless innings on Monday, getting off to a solid start in his bid to make the opening day rotation. He...
Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Storylines: GP Are You With Me? Gregory Polanco is poised for a breakout season, and as the 96th player off the board on AVG in the NFBC so far, we see significant value here. His 2015 .256/.320/.381...
Carlos Rodon (SP-CHW): The lefty posted a typical Carlos-Rodon start, allowing 2 earned runs in 6 innings in earning his 9th win while also walking 5 Yankees. His BB-rate, which is hovering around the 12% mark, continues to hold him...
Julio Teheran (SP-ATL): Julio Teheran continued to thrive towards the season's finish line, allowing 1 earned run on 5 hits and 1 hit and striking out 8 across 8 and 1/3 innings against the Phillies. Teheran has been slightly unfortunate...
Lorenzo Cain (OF-KC): Lorenzo Cain should be raising more eyebrows with his breakout 2015. The burgeoning star hit 2 homers in a losing effort, going 3 for 4 with 2 runs, 2 RBI, and 1 BB. With 16 homers, 27...
Odubel Herrera (OF-PHI): Odubel Herrera, the Rule 5 pick from the Rangers, continued to impress with the Phillies, going 3 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 BB from the leadoff spot, although it wasn't enough to tame the red-hot...
Blake Swihart (C-BOS): Blake Swihart went 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 1 RBI, hitting an inside-the-park homer to fuel the Red Sox to an extra-inning victory. While most catching prospects take several years to develop offensively, we may...
Francisco Lindor (SS-CLE): Lindor continued to show that his "bat" is rapidly approaching his "glove," as the rookie went 3 for 4 with 1 run and 3 RBI to push his season line to .306/.341/.433. He is posting marks close...
Raisel Iglesias (SP-CIN): While Chase Anderson picked up the win, Raisel Iglesias stole the show, striking out 13 and allowing 1 earned run in 7 strong innings against the Diamondbacks. Iglesias, who has posted 5 straight quality-starts, is demonstrating better...
Adam Eaton (OF-CHW): Eaton continued his scorching second half, going 2 for 4 and hitting a 2-run homer, his 10th of the season. He has posted a .420 wOBA since the break and is starting to deliver on the promise...
Jimmy Nelson (SP-MIL): While he earned the no-decision and allowed 4 earned runs, Jimmy Nelson continued to demonstrate development. He has improved his chase, swinging strike, and contact rates, and while his control has lagged behind, Nelson has shown flashes...
Henry Owens (SP-BOS): Owens allowed 3 earned runs and struck out 5 in 5 innings in what was a respectable debut. While scouts love the stuff that he wields from his 6'6" frame, many are unsure if he'll ever develop...
Matt Wisler (P-ATL): The rookie picked up his 5th win after allowing 2 earned runs and striking out 3 in 7 innings. While Wisler has plenty of long-term upside, temper expectations for the remainder of 2015. He isn't missing enough...
J.D. Martinez (OF-DET): J.D. hit his 27th homer of the season as part of a 2-for-5, 3-run, 2-RBI effort. The league average speed off bat mark doesn't support Martinez' 23% HR/FB rate; additionally, his 16% swinging-strike rate, 70% contact rate,...
Michael Conforto (OF-NYY): Conforto went 2 for 2 and scored a run in the Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game. Many Mets' fans are clamoring for his promotion, and given the injuries and struggles with the big club (sorry, Kirk Nieuwenhuis),...
Carlos Correa (SS-HOU): The Astros, lead by rookie sensation Carlos Correa's 6th homer, dropped a 12-spot on the Red Sox. What an incredible start it has been for one of the game's top prospects; can it continue? His 3:20 BB:K...
Curtis Granderson (OF-NYM): Curtis Granderson continued to drink from the fountain of youth, as the veteran went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI in game 2 of the doubleheader. What a resurgence 2015 has been for the Grandyman! The underlying numbers back...
Mookie Betts (OF-BOS): Mookie Betts stayed hot, going 4 for 5 with 1 RBI and 1 SB to back Eduardo Rodriguez and lead the Red Sox' trouncing of the Royals. Betts has 19 hits in 16 June games, a run...
Vincent Velasquez (SP-HOU): Velasquez didn't allow a run through 5 innings, but he walked 4 and was pulled after 89 pitches. The future is now in Houston and Velasquez likely bought himself some time to prove himself in the rotation....
Hector Santiago (SP-LAA): Santiago fell prey to the regression monster on Wednesday, as the lefty allowed 5 earned runs on 5 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings, only striking out 3 Rays. Interestingly enough, the monster left some meat...
Carlos Martinez (SP-STL): Martinez--pitching with a heavy heart on Oscar Taveras Day--tossed 7 scoreless innings and struck out 8 to pick up the W against the Dodgers. He has been inconsistent, but after his recent hot streak Martinez has moved...
Chris Archer (SP-TB): The Archer was pulled after an 8-inning, 2-hit, 12-K gem off his own, but the bullpen let him down. You want to talk about a young arm elevating his game to ace status right before our eyes!...
Chris Young (SP-KC): The Chris Young train continued to roll on Friday night, as the lanky Royal tossed 6 scoreless innings to bring his ERA to a miniscule .78 in earning his 4th win. And with that, now is the...
Cody Allen (RP-CLE): Allen saved his 5th game of the season by tossing a scoreless 9th, securing the win for Kluber as the beleaguered closer continues to search for his 2014 form. While he has been unfortunate with a 8.25...