Brandon Funston

  • Closing Time: Is Jacob Faria for real?

    Rays rookie Jacob Faria has a strikeout profile that should intrigue fantasy owners. For Tampa rookie Jacob Faria, his second MLB start on Tuesday night went very similarly to his winning debut against the White Sox six days earlier. In a year where good starting pitching is hard to come by, Faria (31% owned) certainly deserves to be brought in for a test drive by fantasy owners in anything beyond the shallowest of leagues.

  • Fantasy baseball roundtable: Dan Straily a waiver-wire gem

    Among widely-available fantasy starters, Miami’s Dan Straily has a lot to offer. Q: There are five pitchers currently owned in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues that have returned top 40 roto value among starting pitchers – Brandon McCarthy, Eduardo Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Dan Straily, Ariel Miranda.  Rank these players in terms of expected roto value over the rest of the season, and give us a brief comment on the player you prefer the most.

  • Minor League Big Board: Gleyber Torres suddenly a lot more interesting

    Yanks’ top prospect Gleyber Torres could wind up in New York sooner than expected. The Minor League Big Board will keep tabs on the players down on the farm that have the highest potential to make a positive fantasy impact for their MLB parent clubs if/when they receive a promotion in ’17. Moncada has struggled since coming off the DL (thumb) in late May, and has hit just .154 over his past 10 games.

  • Fantasy baseball roundtable: Great Scott (Schebler)!

    Despite setting a 50-HR pace, Reds outfielder Scott Schebler is struggling to find fantasy love. Q: There are seven hitters currently owned in less than 60 percent of Yahoo leagues that have returned top 100 roto value through the first two months of the season – Logan Morrison, Scott Schebler, Domingo Santana, Steven Souza Jr., Justin Smoak, Yonder Alonso, Aaron Hicks.  Rank these players in terms of expected roto value over the final four months of the season, and give us a brief comment on the player you prefer the most.

  • Fantasy baseball roundtable: Selling high on McCullers

    Lance McCullers currently sits as top 10 fantasy pitcher, and owners should look to capitalize on that success. The 2017 baseball season is nearing the conclusion of its second month, but it’s still early enough that fantasy owners should remain vigilant on the waiver wire. Q: Which infielder, owned in less than 40 percent of Yahoo leagues, are you most interested in adding to your fantasy team?

  • Fantasy's Top 50: Mets' Conforto, Cespedes on the rise

    Brandon Funston tracks the most valuable assets for owners.

  • Fantasy baseball roundtable: Edwin Diaz among top buy-low candidates

    Edwin Diaz’s demotion from the closer role is likely to be short-lived. The 2017 baseball season is into its second month, still early enough that fantasy owners should remain vigilant on the waiver wire. Q: Which infielder, owned in less than 40 percent of Yahoo leagues, are you most interested in adding to your fantasy team?

  • Minor League Fantasy Big Board: Hammerin' Hoskins has obstructed path to Philly

    Rhys Hoskins’ bat looks major league-ready, but the Phillies don’t have room for it at the moment. The Minor League Big Board will keep tabs on the players down on the farm that have the highest potential to make a positive fantasy impact for their MLB parent clubs if/when they receive a promotion in ’17. Moncada is headed to the seven-day DL list because of a sore thumb.

  • Closing Time: Ian Happ gives Cubs tough choice with hot start

    Opportunity with Chicago has knocked for Ian Happ, and the rookie has answered in dramatic fashion.

  • Fantasy baseball roundtable: Werth a worthy waiver add

    The 2017 baseball season is into its second month, still early enough that fantasy owners should remain vigilant on the waiver wire. The Yahoo fantasy baseball crew is here to help identify the players to go after:

  • Fantasy baseball roundtable: Judge and jury

    The 2017 baseball season is into its second month, still early enough that fantasy owners should remain vigilant on the waiver wire. Q: Which outfielder, owned in less than 40 percent of Yahoo leagues, are you most interested in adding to your fantasy team? Andy Behrens: There’s no way the Phillies can possibly remove AARON ALTHERR from the lineup, right?

  • Minor League Big Board: Brinson bucking for a promotion

    Lewis Brinson’s impressive power/speed blend could be coming soon to Milwaukee. The Minor League Big Board will keep tabs on the players down on the farm that have the highest potential to make a positive fantasy impact for their MLB parent clubs if/when they receive a promotion in ’17. Strikeouts have been a problem for Moncada at Triple-A Charlotte (31 Ks in 93 ABs), but that’s about the only thing you can shake a stick at in his offensive game.

  • Fantasy Baseball roundtable: Will Thames flow past 40-homer mark?

    Eric Thames can't stop hitting home runs. How many will he finish with this season?

  • Week 3 Fantasy Baseball waiver wire: Targeting Tampa's outfield

    With the season still less than a month old, now’s the time to pounce and be aggressive on the waiver wire. The Yahoo fantasy baseball crew is here to help identify the players to go after:

  • Working the Wire Week 2: Zimmerman Providing Healthy Returns

    With the season finally underway, now’s the time to pounce and be aggressive on the waiver wire. The Yahoo fantasy baseball crew is here to help identify the players to go after:

  • Minor League Big Board: Eagerly awaiting Moncada

    A ranking of the rookies currently down on the farm (minors) based on their potential to impact fantasy baseball in '17.

  • Early season strategy for Fantasy Baseball success

    Keeping tabs on players like Delino DeShields, who gain a bigger role, is crucial early in the season. With the MLB regular season at hand, the Yahoo fantasy baseball cooperative turns its attention to in-season strategy, highlighting the do’s and don’ts of roster management during the opening act of the ’17 campaign. Q. What advice would you give fantasy owners to heed over the course of the first couple months of the regular season?

  • Players that really need to avoid April showers

    Milwaukee’s Eric Thames and Hernan Perez need to spring into action in April. Q. Which infielder, owned in a majority of Yahoo leagues, needs to get off to a hot start for the sake of job security? Brandon Funston: JAKE LAMB. The Arizona third baseman opened ’16 like a lion but finished it like, well, you know.

  • Who Yahoo Fantasy Baseball experts are repeatedly drafting

    Kenta Maeda has a lot of upside in his second season with the Dodgers. Spring training is well underway and, for many, a fantasy baseball draft lurks just around the corner. Q. Which infielder are you most heavily invested in for the upcoming fantasy baseball campaign?

  • Fantasy Baseball players you should worry about after cold springs

    Sonny Gray seemed like a good bet to return to form in 2017, but his spring gives reason for pause. Spring training is well underway and, for many, a fantasy baseball draft lurks just around the corner.