Fantasy Baseball

If there is a Major League Baseball season, Kyle Schwarber and a handful of hitters could benefit from the shortened schedule.

Schwarber is an intriguing middle-round fantasy baseball draft pick because of the power he produced in 2019. He could move up rankings because of his improved splits from a year ago and the potential for fewer strikeouts. 

Franmil Reyes and Edwin Encarnacion may also rise up draft boards because their power could make a difference during a fantasy season that is going to be unlike any other, no matter how many games are played.

                   

Fantasy Baseball Hitters on the Rise

Kyle Schwarber, OF, Chicago Cubs

Schwarber improved his home run total from 2018 to 2019 by 12, and he bested his career high by eight long balls. 

The left-handed hitter's ability to hit home runs on a consistent basis should move him up from the current average draft position of 143, per Fantasy Pros.

In addition to hitting 38 home runs in 2019, Schwarber had a .250 batting average, .339 on-base percentage, .531 slugging percentage and .871 OPS, three of which were career-best totals. 

Although his strikeout total rose to 156, the punchouts per game dropped since he participated in 155 contests. In 2017 and 2018, Schwarber had 24 more strikeouts than games played.

If the universal designated hitter is approved, as MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported it would be in May, Schwarber could be one of the top beneficiaries of the rule. 

That would allow the Cubs to use Albert Almora in the outfield while not losing Schwarber's bat in the lineup. 

If the 27-year-old solely focuses on driving in runs behind Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, he could be one of the top home run and RBI providers in a short calendar. 

            

Franmil Reyes, OF/DH, Cleveland

Reyes vaulted on to the fantasy radar with 37 home runs for the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians in 2019.

His power combined with 123 hits, 19 of which were doubles, should make up for a lower batting average and a higher strikeout rate.

Reyes finished with 156 strikeouts over 150 games, with 63 coming in 51 appearances for the Indians. However, that total could drop if Cleveland embarks on a schedule laden with American League Central matchups. 

The 24-year-old hit .333 or better versus the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals. Reyes mashed six home runs in 57 plate appearances against those three sides.

He needs to improve his numbers against the Minnesota Twins, as he hit .167 in 10 games, but that should not turn you away from drafting Reyes. 

Hitting behind Carlos Santana and Jose Ramirez should improve his 0.54 RBI per game rate, and if it does, Reyes could be a steal if he lands around his ADP of 129. 

              

Edwin Encarnacion, 1B/DH, Chicago White Sox

Encarnacion has been a consistent home run hitter no matter where he plays. 

Since 2012, the 37-year-old has hit 30 long balls in every season for four different franchises. 

Encarnacion should provide experience to a White Sox lineup that may be one of the most explosive in the majors over a short stint. 

Encarnacion, Jose Abreu, Eloy Jimenez and top prospect Luis Robert all have the potential to damage opponents with the long ball, and the AL Central could be the perfect place to put up those totals. 

Detroit allowed 250 home runs in 2019, while Kansas City was just below the league average with 221 home runs conceded. If the White Sox take advantage of those matchups and perform well in spots versus the Indians and Twins, their whole lineup could be valuable from a fantasy perspective. 

At the moment, Encarnacion has an ADP of 152, so he could be a good pick if you wait to select a first baseman or designated hitter. 

                  

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.

This felt like it was going to be the year of the elite starting pitcher, as MLB's power surge had widened the gap between good and great hurlers.

But in a shortened season, pitchers might have trouble finding the volume needed to separate from the pack. Their margin for error also shrinks in any ratio stat, as one bad outing could have year-long ramifications in rotisserie leagues.

Hitters keep climbing our boards, so let's lay out the top-50 roto ranks and identify three of our favorite position player sleepers—those with an average draft position outside the top 200 at Fantasy Pros.

                   

Top 50 Roto Ranks

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

3. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves

4. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

7. Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals

8. Trea Turner, SS, Washington Nationals

9. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

10. Alex Bregman, 3B/SS, Houston Astros

11. Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies

12. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

13. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

14. Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox

15. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves

16. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

17. Bryce Harper, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

18. J.D. Martinez, OF, Boston Red Sox

19. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Indians

20. Justin Verlander, SP, Houston Astros

21. Max Scherzer, SP, Washington Nationals

22. Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros

23. Javier Baez, SS, Chicago Cubs

24. Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, San Diego Padres

25. Starling Marte, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

26. Walker Buehler, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

27. Charlie Blackmon, OF, Colorado Rockies

28. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Washington Nationals

29. Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston Red Sox

30. Jack Flaherty, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

31. George Springer, OF, Houston Astros

32. Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

33. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

34. Gleyber Torres, SS/2B, New York Yankees

35. Manny Machado, 3B/SS, San Diego Padres

36. Shane Bieber, SP, Cleveland Indians

37. Austin Meadows, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

38. Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

39. Nelson Cruz, DH, Minnesota Twins

40. Luis Castillo, SP, Cincinnati Reds

41. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs

42. Ozzie Albies, 2B, Atlanta Braves

43. Yordan Alvarez, DH, Houston Astros

44. Ketel Marte, OF/2B, Arizona Diamondbacks

45. Kris Bryant, 3B/OF, Chicago Cubs

46. Patrick Corbin, SP, Washington Nationals

47. Jonathan Villar, 2B/SS, Miami Marlins

48. Max Muncy, 2B/1B/3B, Los Angeles Dodgers

49. Eddie Rosario, OF, Minnesota Twins

50. Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Cincinnati Reds

                

Sleeper Position Player Targets

Alex Verdugo, OF, Boston Red Sox (ADP: 216)

After headlining Boston's return package for Mookie Betts, Alex Verdugo has the opportunity to announce his arrival in a big way this season.

Previously plagued by a stress fracture in his back, the 24-year-old benefited from the campaign's delayed start. He would not have been ready by the original Opening Day, but he told reporters in May he was "100 percent ready" to play.

That's good news for the Red Sox, and better news for fantasy owners. Verdugo is an expert contact hitter, and he should contend for a batting title at some point in his career. By moving to Boston, he should have improved his position in the order, as the Red Sox aren't nearly as deep as the Dodgers. He could factor into the leadoff spot, or even claim it outright for himself.

Save perhaps for batting average, his stat line probably won't pop in an individual category, but he could leave his fingerprint on all five. A .300 average with 20 homers and double-digit steals is well within the range of his possible production.

                

Rougned Odor, 2B, Texas Rangers (ADP: 220)

Streaky hitters will make for fascinating investments in this shortened campaign, and they don't come much streakier than Rougned Odor.

His cold spells are frigid. They usually destroy his batting average, and if you're not careful, they can take your team's average down with them. He hit below .180 in March/April, May and August.

But the 26-year-old can be fiery hot, too. He hit better than .260 in July, then did it again in September/October. He also had more RBI (25 each) than games played (24 each) in both of those stretches. If he times his hot streaks just right this season, he could be the steal of your draft.

Even if Odor alternates between hot and cold stretches, this price point seems more reflective of his weaknesses than his strengths. He clubbed 30 homers, stole 11 bases and tallied 170 combined runs and RBI last season. To get those numbers this late in the draft is silly, even if they're attached to an unsightly batting average.

              

David Peralta, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks (ADP: 226)

One of two things is taking place with David Peralta.

As a 32-year-old, there's a chance he's stuck in an irreversible decline. He missed 63 games last season, and maybe there are more to come.

But there's also a chance the injuries just left him in an out-of-sight, out-of-mind state with the fantasy world. Even with the missed time, he still managed 12 homers, 57 RBI and a .275 batting average. If he's healthy now, he should zip past those numbers with ease.

Peralta has topped 140 games three times in his career. In 2015, he hit .312 with 53 extra-base hits (including 17 homers), 78 RBI and nine stolen bases. In 2017, he scored 82 runs, drove in 57 runs, hit 14 homers and swiped eight bags. In 2018, he hit .293 with 30 homers, 87 RBI and 75 runs.

He could be a premier power presence in your lineup, and you might be able to get him in the 20th round.

The importance of elite starting pitchers is rising in fantasy baseball thanks to MLB's power surge at the plate.

At least, it was before the delayed start to the 2020 season and uncertain schedule turned everything about this campaign into one giant question mark.

However, assuming things don't get thrown too far out of balance in this unique campaign, the difference between a good fantasy starter and a great one could be astronomic. Along a similar vein, the value in a sleeper pitcher could be magnified since there may not be many to find in this power-happy environment.

We'll put both eyes on the position, then, with our top-30 rotisserie ranks and favorite sleepers—players with an average draft position outside the top 200 at Fantasy Pros—at starting pitcher.

                              

Top 30 Roto SP Rankings

1. Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees

2. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

3. Justin Verlander, Houston Astros

4. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

5. Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

7. Jack Flaherty, St. Louis Cardinals

8. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

9. Shane Bieber, Cleveland Indians

10. Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds

11. Patrick Corbin, Washington Nationals

12. Mike Clevinger, Cleveland Indians

13. Charlie Morton, Tampa Bay Rays

14. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox

15. Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies

16. Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays

17. Zack Greinke, Houston Astros

18. Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins

19. Chris Paddock, San Diego Padres

20. Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs

21. Tyler Glasnow, Tampa Bay Rays

22. Lance Lynn, Texas Rangers

23. Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers

24. Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians

25. Mike Soroka, Atlanta Braves

26. Madison Bumgarner, Arizona Diamondbacks

27. Corey Kluber, Texas Rangers

28. Hyun-Jin Ryu, Toronto Blue Jays

29. Sonny Gray, Cincinnati Reds

30. Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians

              

Top Sleeper SPs To Target

Josh James, Houston Astros (ADP: 228)

When you're throwing darts at the lower tier of starting pitchers, you should focus on finding stuff and strikeouts. Josh James offers plenty of both.

With a fastball that runs into the triple digits and a wipeout slider, the ingredients are in place for a major breakout. The 27-year-old had 100 strikeouts in only 61.1 innings last season. His 4.70 ERA wasn't great, but his 3.98 FIP shows potential for substantial improvement.

"James has some of the best pure velocity in baseball, and it results in elite-level strikeout numbers," Michael Waterloo wrote for FantasyPros. "He's a two-pitch pitcher, but if he can develop his changeup more this year, look out."

James should be in line to snag a spot in the Astros' rotation, and if he can keep his walks at a reasonable number, he could deliver massive fantasy value.

               

Adrian Houser, Milwaukee Brewers (ADP: 238)

Nearly everything about Adrian Houser's 2019 season left a good impression.

He was solid from start to finish, and his year-long production is enough to entice fantasy owners. Considering the cost, people should be more than thrilled to land a player who delivered 116 strikeouts in 111.1 innings while pitching to a respectable 3.72 ERA.

But the 27-year-old hit another gear down the stretch that could brighten his outlook even further. Over his final 12 appearances (all of them starts), he pitched to a 3.28 ERA and .220 batting average against while racking up 63 strikeouts against 16 walks across 57.2 innings.

Now, it's worth noting Houser only pitched six-plus innings three times all season, which spawns a few questions. Does that mean Milwaukee will continue keeping him on a short leash? What could happen to his numbers if the Brewers let him take a third trip through the order?

Those are legitimate concerns, but given his ADP, his risk has already been baked into his price point.

                

Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates (ADP: 251)

Surely, we can't be serious, right? You better believe we are.

We get it. Mitch Keller's major league work last season was abysmal. His ERA was on the wrong side of seven (gulp), and his WHIP nearly made it to two (double gulp). But we're still believers in his stuff—through the struggles, he punched out 65 batters in 48 innings—and we're not the only ones.

CBS Sports' Chris Towers wrote:

"Keller clearly has the stuff to thrive at the major league level, and his slider and curveball were both weapons racking up big swinging strike rates with batting averages allowed on both around the Mendoza Line. The key will be using those pitches more, as well as refining his changeup to lengthen his arsenal and help keep lefties off-balance."

The 24-year-old became too predictable with his fastball last season, and the change at pitching coach to the data-driven Oscar Marin should help with that.

If Keller can keep batters guessing, he has the arsenal to blow them away and launch your fantasy staff into the top tier.

The Minnesota Twins had one of the most high-powered offenses in baseball in 2019.

Minnesota clubbed its way to an MLB-record 307 home runs en route to an American League Central division title, earning the nickname Bomba Squad in the process. Four Twins, including Nelson Cruz and Max Kepler, hit at least 30 homers, and every single starter outside of Byron Buxton (who played just 87 games) hit at least 20 bombs.

As if the lineup were not prolific enough, the Twins also signed veteran third baseman Josh Donaldson, who clubbed 37 homers as a member of the Atlanta Braves in 2019.

Yet one of Minnesota's best hitters is more contact-oriented, and he is going late in fantasy drafts in part due to being overlooked with all the sluggers on his own roster.

Here is more on Twins utility man Luis Arraez, as well as a couple other infield sleepers fantasy owners should keep an eye on as they assemble draft boards.

                            

Top Infield Sleepers

   

2B/3B/OF Luis Arraez, Minnesota Twins

   

Arraez made his MLB debut in May. By July, he was a crucial member of Minnesota's lineup.

The Venezuela native slashed .334/.399/.439 across 326 at-bats and, perhaps more impressively, posted a 123 OPS+ for the year, no small feat for a contact hitter in a pitcher-friendly park such as Target Field.

While Minnesota's lineup was shut down during their ALDS sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees, Arraez raked. The rookie had five hits in 11 at-bats, including four doubles. He also had these results after suffering a Grade 1 ankle sprain at the end of the regular season.

Despite so much success during his rookie season, Arraez is flying under the radar in fantasy drafts. He has an average draft position (ADP) of 248 placing him 30th among second baseman.

There are always reasons to be concerned about a sophomore slump. Arraez did not help matters by going 3-for-29 during spring training before it was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the 23-year-old already proved himself on the game's highest stage, and he can play multiple infield positions as well as in the outfield.

Arraez has the benefit of hitting behind potent sluggers, which means he should continue to see plenty of balls in the strike zone.

                            

3B Josh Donaldson, Twins

   

Is it possible for someone as accomplished and highly regarded as Donaldson to be a sleeper? Absolutely.

The 2015 AL MVP has an ADP of 90 and ranks 15th in terms of drafting position among all third baseman. This might seem like a decent range for the 34-year-old were in not for the fact he is often being drafted behind the likes of Manny Machado and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sure, Machado could gain confidence in his second season with the San Diego Padres, while Vladdy might start to live up to his promise with the Toronto Blue Jays. But they did not come close to Donaldson's level of productivity last year, and there is reason to believe Donaldson will be better in 2020.

Donaldson was rejuvenated during his time with the Atlanta Braves. Aside from the 37 homers, he also had 30 doubles and walked 100 times. Moreover, Donaldson posted his highest average exit velocity (92.9 mph) and barrel percentage (15.7) since the Statcast era began in 2015, per Baseball Savant.

He now finds himself hitting in the middle of a dangerous and deep Twins lineup. He should have ample protection, which should mean plenty of RBI opportunities. 

It seems Donaldson's injuries over the course of his career have dulled his value. But as he showed in 2019, he is still one of the best hitters in baseball. His power and plate discipline make him an excellent value pick in fantasy—and certainly more valuable than 15th at the hot corner.

                       

1B/DH Ji-Man Choi, Tampa Bay Rays

   

Choi made the most of his first full year with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The 29-year-old displayed good power, hitting 19 homers and 20 doubles while slugging .459 in under 500 plate appearances.

Fantasy owners might be scared off by the fact Choi is mostly a platoon guy. He had a pretty lackluster .629 OPS in just 81 at-bats against left-handed pitchers, and the fact that he might not see consistent at-bats like other first basemen could give some pause.

However, Choi has dropped impossibly far down draft boards. He had an ADP of 539 and ranked 62nd among first basemen. Some of the guys going ahead of Choi include New York Mets utility man Dominic Smith—who will struggle to get at-bats in a crowded Mets outfield—and Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis.

Choi does not offer as much positional versatility as some players, but he is a much better hitter than his draft position suggests. 

It would not be a surprise if Choi saw closer to 550 at-bats this year, which could easily mean 20-plus homers and a higher RBI total.

                  

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference and all fantasy information via FantasyPros unless otherwise noted. 

The initial impression Zac Gallen left on Major League Baseball has earned him plenty of interest from fantasy baseball owners ahead of the 2020 campaign. 

The 24-year-old is not yet on the list of top fantasy pitchers, but he could move in that direction if he shines for the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

Gallen is one of a few hurlers expected to be chosen in the mid-to-late rounds that may provide a significant boost behind the top flamethrowers on your roster. 

Matthew Boyd and Chris Archer will be selected later in drafts than the right-hander, but they might be solid sleeper picks despite playing on two of the worst teams in the majors.

         

Projections for Top Sleeper Pitchers

Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona

A change of scenery at the trade deadline did not affect Gallen's effectiveness on the mound. In seven starts with the Miami Marlins, he produced 43 strikeouts and a 2.72 ERA in 36.1 innings.

Although his ERA was slightly higher in eight appearances with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he put up 10 more strikeouts and conceded three more earned runs in 7.1 additional frames. 

Gallen's 10.8 strikeouts-per-nine innings and 2.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio make him a solid mid-round pickup. 

The one concern going into 2020 is how many wins he can earn after he went 3-6 for a pair of struggling franchises. 

If he earns more victories, Gallen could outperform his current average draft position of 117, per Fantasy Pros.

At the moment, Gallen should be one of the first few starting pitchers slotted into your roster, as he will likely land in the ninth or 10th round in 12-team leagues.

Prediction: Ninth round.

       

Matthew Boyd, SP, Detroit 

Even though Detroit is expected to reside in the basement of the American League Central, Boyd could still be a decent part of your rotation. 

The southpaw recorded his first 200-strikeout season in 2019, and he put up 11.6 strikeouts-per-nine innings. If he fans batters at a similar rate, he may provide value at the back end of rotations. 

Although Boyd has not managed an ERA under four in his career, the southpaw has produced back-to-back nine-win seasons. 

It is worth noting five of his nine victories in 2019 occurred against AL Central sides, and if the Tigers play a schedule loaded with divisional contests, the 29-year-old will provide a boost to your roster. 

The statistical concerns have put his ADP at 156, and if you can snag him in the 13th or 14th round, it may be a nice value selection. 

Prediction: 13th round.

              

Chris Archer, SP, Pittsburgh 

Archer has fallen off the fantasy radar since he was traded from Tampa Bay to Pittsburgh. He produced a trio of 10-win seasons with the Rays, but he only has nine victories over the last two seasons. 

The 31-year-old's 3-9 record and 5.19 ERA from 2019 will turn away most owners, but his late-season performances could convince you to take a late-round flier on him.

Archer conceded six earned runs over 17 innings in three August starts, and if he turns in some similar outings, he carries good back end value.

If you are willing to take the risk on him, wait until the final few rounds in 12-team leagues. He may not be worth a gamble in 10-team leagues. 

Archer's current ADP is 259, and he may be one of the best low-risk, high-reward fantasy pitchers given his past numbers. 

Prediction: 21st round.

            

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference

Andrew McCutchen is one of the best baseball players of the last decade.

After getting his big break with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009, McCutchen went on to make five consecutive National League All-Star teams between 2011 and 2015. He also finished in the top five in the NL MVP voting each year between 2012 and 2015, winning the award in 2013.

But for all his brilliance in Pittsburgh, it hardly feels as though McCutchen is held in the same high esteem as other veteran stars in baseball. Sure, the batting average and stolen base numbers have dipped with age, but "Cutch" is still one of the more dangerous hitters in baseball.

Fantasy baseball owners should take stock of McCutchen's consistency throughout the years, because he is being severely undervalued.

     

Top Sleeper Outfielders

Andrew McCutchen, Philadelphia Phillies

It might have seemed like McCutchen was entering the "journeyman" phase of his career prior to landing in Philadelphia.

McCutchen spent most of the 2018 season with the San Francisco Giants after spending the first nine years of his career with the Pirates. He was then acquired by the New York Yankees ahead of the now-defunct waiver deadline, promptly becoming a free agent at the end of the year.

The Phils signed McCutchen as part of their offseason overhaul, and it initially appeared he would be the offensive catalyst in their lineup. McCutchen slashed .256/.378/.457 with 10 homers in just 59 games. Unfortunately, McCutchen suffered a torn ACL in June, sidelining him for the remainder of the year.

An ACL tear is a tough injury for any athlete to come back from, but for MLB players, it's not as ominous as it might be for NBA or NFL stars. Moreover, McCutchen is going way too low in most leagues. His average draft position (ADP) of 225 puts him below the likes of Yasiel Puig, Mallex Smith and Kyle Tucker, per Fantasy Pros.

There is no reason McCutchen should be so low. He was well on his way to a ninth consecutive season of 20 or more homers prior to the injury, paired with the highest walk rate of his career, per FanGraphs.

Plus, with guys like Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto hitting behind him, McCutchen should score a ton of runs.

Concerns about age and durability are valid, but McCutchen's track record of success also makes him more deserving of a higher draft spot.

      

Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs

Happ has had a strange career on the North Side of Chicago.

The 25-year-old had a breakout rookie campaign in 2017, slugging .514 with 24 homers in 115 games. He was slated to be the team's leadoff man ahead of the 2018 season, but strikeout woes eventually resulted in Happ playing more of a platoon role. But he still hit 15 homers, and the walk rate spiked as well. It seemed the Cubs had cause for patience.

Instead, Happ spent the majority of the 2019 season in the minor leagues. When he did get his chance, however, Happ certainly did damage. He slashed .264/.333/.564 with 11 homers in just 58 games, firmly establishing himself as a starting candidate in 2020.

Despite his power potential and the fact he can play multiple positions, Happ is going pretty low on most draft boards. His ADP of 276 places him below Randal Grichuk (.280 OBP in 2018) and Shogo Akiyama, who has yet to play a single game in the majors.

Happ was likely to be Chicago's starter in center field in 2020, and his slugging is impossible to ignore. Happ can also steal some bases and adds positional versatility to any given roster, which is always a major plus.

      

David Peralta, Arizona Diamondbacks

Peralta ranks just below McCutchen in terms of ADP. At first glance, his spot seems fitting.

The Venezuelan has had a really tough time staying healthy throughout the course of his career, including a 2019 season in which he played in just 99 games.

But the numbers are hard to ignore. Peralta has a career .824 OPS in Arizona, including .800-plus in each of the last two seasons. He hit 12 homers and 29 doubles last year despite the smaller sample size, and he also posted the best line drive rate of his career, per FanGraphs.

Peralta also deserves the benefit of the doubt considering he hits in the middle of a lineup also containing the Marte boys—Starling and Ketel—as well as Eduardo Escobar and Christian Walker.

Drafting Peralta comes with some risk, to be sure. But he has a good deal more upside than a number of guys going ahead of him. Plus, Peralta might be galvanized by the contract extension he received this past January.

     

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference and all fantasy information via Fantasy Pros, unless otherwise noted.

Dansby Swanson has increased his offensive production in each of the past three seasons, but he is still considered a fantasy baseball sleeper because of his position in the Atlanta Braves order.

Even if he continues his offensive progress, Swanson will be rightfully overshadowed by Ronald Acuna Jr., Freddie Freeman and others. Swanson's consistency gives him value in the middle or back end of fantasy drafts as an infield sleeper that could produce above his draft position.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' Kevin Newman may fit into a similar category as Swanson since he achieved success in a handful of offensive categories in 2019. Eric Hosmer, meanwhile, does not have as high splits as he used to, but he will carry value later on in fantasy drafts because of his power.

                             

Top Infield Sleepers

Dansby Swanson, SS, Atlanta

Swanson pushed his home run total from six in 2017 up to 17 last season.

In that three-year span, the Atlanta shortstop has increased his RBI, batting average, slugging percentage and OPS in every season. Even in a shortened campaign, the 26-year-old could be in line for strong numbers if the power hitters above him in the Atlanta lineup reach base on a frequent basis.

The addition of Marcell Ozuna to Acuna, Freeman and Ozzie Albies could also aid Swanson's totals if the outfielder gets on from the cleanup hole and the shortstop bats in the sixth or seventh spot.

Swanson holds an average draft position of 256, per Fantasy Pros, which would put his availability around the 21st round in 12-team leagues.

Although he will not have overpowering numbers, Swanson should benefit from playing on a contending team with a plethora of power bats. Those factors may push Swanson up a few rounds if certain owners value his position on a squad that could top the National League East.

                        

Kevin Newman, 2B/SS, Pittsburgh

Newman's ability to chip in at most offensive categories and positional availability at second base and shortstop make him an intriguing sleeper selection.

In 2019, the 26-year-old recorded 152 hits, 20 doubles and 12 home runs in 531 plate appearances. His splits of a .308 batting average, .353 on-base percentage, .446 slugging percentage and .800 OPS make him a solid backup to the primary middle infielders on your roster.

Additionally, Newman recorded a batting average over .300 versus three National League Central opponents in 2019. If the MLB adopts a schedule with mostly divisional games, Newman could thrive against the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals again.

With an ADP of 208, Newman should be selected anywhere from the 15th to 18th rounds in 12-team leagues. The Pirates infielder would have even more value in 10-team leagues, wherein having reliable reserves is important to separate from other teams.

                      

Eric Hosmer, 1B, San Diego 

The main draw to Hosmer is his power.

The San Diego Padres first baseman has hit at least 20 home runs in three of the previous four seasons, but he comes with drawbacks in a few other categories. Hosmer's run total decreased from 98 with the Kansas City Royals in 2017 to 72 in 2018 and 2019 with the Padres. The 30-year-old also experienced an increase in strikeouts from 104 to 163 during that span.

Those shortcomings will keep his ADP, which is 219, low, but there should still be a place for him on fantasy rosters because of his long ball ability. The left-handed hitter could be used as a utility player or in the starting first baseman role in matchups with right-handed pitchers.

Hosmer hit 21 of his 22 home runs in 2019 off right-handed pitching, and he had significantly higher splits in those situations. With that in mind, Hosmer's best value should be near the 17th to 20th rounds once you have more well-rounded sluggers already in place.

                             

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.

The fantasy baseball landscape will change if the shortened Major League Baseball season, which was reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, is approved.

The increase in divisional games and the smaller amount of starts will affect draft strategy when it comes to pitchers. Some hurlers, like Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox, could rise up draft boards.

Giolito finished fifth in strikeouts-per-nine-innings in 2019, and he resides in the American League Central alongside two of the league's weaker teams. The Minnesota Twins' Jose Berrios could also benefit from more matchups with AL Central bottom feeders the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals.

Although David Price does not have a long history with his new National League West foes, he may be an intriguing fantasy option if he continues to post a high strikeout total.

                        

Fantasy Baseball Pitchers on the Rise

Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox

Giolito experienced a significant rise in production in 2019, as he eclipsed his previous career best in strikeouts by 103.

The right-handed hurler's 228 punchouts moved his strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate from 6.5 to 11.6. That bodes well for a short season because he can still produce strikeouts at a high rate despite being in line for fewer appearances.

In 2019, four of his six 10-strikeout performances came against AL Central opposition, with three of them occurring versus the Royals. Giolito went 8-3 against divisional opposition. He had multiple victories versus three of the those teams and won his only start at Detroit.

The 25-year-old has an average draft position of No. 54, per Fantasy Pros, but he could be worth a fourth-round pick in 12-team leagues because of his divisional performance.

That would move him above the Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Nola and San Diego Padres' Chris Paddack, who appear set to face tougher lineups from World Series contenders in their respective National League divisions.

                        

Jose Berrios, Minnesota

Berrios was five punchouts away from his second consecutive 200-strikeout campaign in 2019.

The right-handed pitcher has had a strikeout-per-nine-innings rate over eight for the past three years, and his walks-per-nine-innings fell to a career low 2.3 last season.

Berrios achieved the most divisional success against the White Sox, with a 4-1 record and a trio of performances with eight strikeouts. The 26-year-old also went 2-0 versus Cleveland and did not allow more than three earned runs in his four appearances against the Indians.

The success against the top half of the AL Central, plus the expected struggles of the Royals and Tigers, could reap rewards for Berrios, who has an ADP at No. 70. He should experience a similar boost to Giolito, which could be as high as 10-15 picks depending on how fast starting pitchers go off the board.

With that in mind, the Minnesota man could end up as a late fourth-round or consistent fifth-round pick in most leagues.

                     

David Price, Los Angeles Dodgers 

The unfamiliarity between Price and National League batters may help him get off to a fast start.

The lifelong American League hurler has made 13 appearances versus NL West franchises, and if you take the Dodgers off that list, the total falls to 10. Of course, the adjustment process could hurt the southpaw as well, but that should not be a huge issue given his experience.

Although he posted his second single-season ERA over 4.00 in 2019, Price fanned 128 batters over 22 games. If he lowers his ERA and produces a similar strikeout rate, he could become a strong third piece of the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation behind Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw.

Fewer games could also help the 34-year-old avoid injuries since he started 30 games once in the previous three seasons.

Price carries solid mid-round value with an ADP of No. 147, and if you hold his experience in high regard, he could move up to the 10th or 11th round.

                        

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference. 

Fantasy owners often face tough choices when it comes to starting pitching.

While there are clear-cut aces usually taken toward the top of drafts, the need for impact arms in the rotation can sometimes lead to forced decisions.

Relief pitchers are often more volatile in terms of year-over-year statistical fluctuation. Yet plenty of owners like to take a chance on pitchers they feel might be in line for a bounce-back season, or make their selections based on "stuff."

For example, Zack Greinke has been of the most consistently effective starting pitchers in baseball over the course of the past three years. Despite that, Greinke ranks below the likes of Aaron Nola and Blake Snell in terms of average draft position (ADP), per Fantasy Pros.

Let's take a look at the most overrated pitchers in fantasy baseball based on ADP, starting with Cincinnati Reds right-hander Trevor Bauer.

        

Ranking Most Overrated Pitchers Based on ADP

1. Trevor Bauer, Cincinnati Reds (Pos. ADP 22, Ovr. ADP 78)

2. Jesus Luzardo, Oakland Athletics (Pos. ADP 29, Ovr. ADP 113)

3. Dinelson Lamet, San Diego Padres (Pos. ADP 33, Ovr. ADP 122)

4. Tyler Glasnow, Tampa Bay Rays (Pos. ADP 20, Ovr. ADP 67)

5. Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds (Pos. ADP 13, Ovr. ADP 43)

6. Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians (Pos. ADP 35, Ovr. ADP 125)

7. Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays (Pos. ADP 12, Ovr. ADP 39)

8. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels (Pos. ADP 36, Ovr. ADP 127)

       

Trevor Bauer

Is Bauer's charisma and visibility helping his draft position?

Bauer is a Twitter All-Star and never afraid to speak his mind on the modern issues the game faces, but he is vastly overrated from a fantasy perspective.

The 29-year-old has just one season with a sub-4.00 ERA, when he posted a 2.21 ERA and finished sixth in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 2018. However, that season is an outlier, especially considering Bauer's ineffectiveness in 2019.

Bauer had a ton of success in 2018 because he led the AL in homers per nine innings (0.5). But with balls flying out of the yard in 2019, Bauer struggled. He gave up 1.3 homers per nine innings with the Indians before he was traded to Cincinnati, where he promptly allowed 12 homers in 10 starts.

There is no denying Bauer boasts tremendous strikeout stuff. He has posted at least 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings in each of the last three seasons, and his breaking ball is one of the best in the game.

However, Bauer might not be the most suitable guy to pitch in Cincinnati. Great American Ball Park ranked as the 11th best run-scoring environment last season and was eighth-friendliest for the home run, per ESPN's Park Factor. 

Bauer is a guy who needs to get to his secondary pitches to have success. But given his walk rate increased last year and he will no longer be making half his starts in Cleveland, there is absolutely no reason he should be getting drafted above the likes of Mike Soroka, Zack Wheeler or Lance Lynn.

       

Jesus Luzardo

Jesus Luzardo has thrown just 12 innings in the bigs. He has not made a single start in the majors. Yet the rookie is being drafted ahead of steadier starters like Lynn, Madison Bumgarner and Kyle Hendricks. Why?

Look, there is no denying Luzardo has immense potential. He struck out 16 in just 12 innings of work with the Athletics last season, and he also threw three scoreless innings during the team's loss to the Rays in the AL Wild Card.

Luzardo has a dominant curve, which recorded a 68.4 percent whiff rate (albeit with a limited sample size) last season, per Baseball Savant. Luzardo also mixes in a combination of sinkers and four-seamers in the upper 90s, and he showed an excellent change of pace with a changeup that drops off the table.

There is every chance in the world Luzardo could be this year's version of Soroka or Chris Paddack. But should he really be ranked above more sure bets like Bumgarner and Hendricks?

Tons of risk-reward is at play when drafting rookies. Guys who are "sure things," like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., sometimes struggle in their rookie seasons, because that's baseball.

Luzardo has all the talent in the world, but owners run the risk of ruining their fantasy seasons by reaching too high for the A's prospect.

      

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted. All fantasy information obtained via Fantasy Pros.

Ronald Acuna Jr. and Mike Trout have feasted against divisional opponents throughout their respective careers.

Major League Baseball could return with a schedule that features a majority of divisional clashes, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. In addition to thriving against most divisional foes, the top two fantasy baseball players have achieved plenty of success at the back end of normal 162-game seasons.

Although their numbers will not come close to what they produce in a normal campaign, Acuna and Trout could top a handful of offensive categories with the list of opponents playing in their favor.

                      

Fantasy Baseball 1st-Round Mock Draft

1. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta

2. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

3. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee

4. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland

7. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

8. Trevor Story, SS, Colorado

9. Trea Turner, SS, Washington

10. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

11. Juan Soto, OF, Washington

12. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado

                  

Stat Projections for Top Hitters

Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta

Acuna experienced an uptick in power numbers in 2019, but his splits moved down in comparison to 2018.

The Atlanta Braves outfielder hit 41 home runs, drove in 101 runs and stole 37 bases, but he hit .280 and his OPS fell from .917 to .883. He will not reach the 40-homer mark in a shortened season, but Acuna could achieve plenty of success at the plate during his historically best months.

Acuna has hit 22 home runs in August, which is 10 long balls more than he has produced in any other month. August is also one of two months in which Acuna has totaled a batting average over .300 and OPS above 1.000.

Additionally, the 22-year-old has thrived against each of his four National League East opponents, which is something that carries more weight in the proposed shortened season. Acuna has 34 home runs against the Miami Marlins, Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, with 16 of them coming against the Marlins.

If that form carries over into this summer, Acuna has a chance to outhit Trout and finish as the top fantasy baseball player.

Stat Projection: .285 batting average, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 20 stolen bases.

                    

Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

Trout's career-long consistency at the dish should benefit whichever owner lands him with No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick.

The Los Angeles Angels slugger has hit over .300 in three of the past four seasons and earned an OPS over 1.070 for three straight campaigns. Since 2012, Trout has eight seasons with 100 hits and 20 doubles, seven years with triple-digit runs and five 30-homer campaigns.

In a potential 82-game season, Trout's splits should not dip, and he is expected to be in contention for the home run lead. July and August are two of the three most successful months for Trout for home runs. He has 57 long balls in July and 48 in August.

Trout has achieved the most success in divisional play against the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers, boasting at least 35 home runs, 105 RBI and a 1.070 OPS versus the two ball clubs. He may run into some trouble taking on the Houston Astros pitching staff, but that could be said about most sluggers facing Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke and Co.

Since he plays in a weaker division with fewer playoff contenders than Acuna, Trout might be more suited to the No. 1 overall pick because of how high his numbers could be.

Stat Projections: .305 batting average, 1.050 OPS, 22 HR, 70 RBI

                           

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.