Fantasy Baseball

Outfield could be viewed as the most important position in fantasy baseball because of the high volume of stars who play there.

In some fantasy drafts, the first five players selected could all come from the outfield. Mike Trout and Mookie Betts headline the collection of superstar talent, which also includes Ronald Acuna Jr., Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich.

If you secure one of the top outfielders and then follow that up with the selection of another outfielder in the second or third rounds, the backbone of your fantasy team should be strong. 

If you own the No. 1 overall pick, the decision could come down to Trout, Betts and Acuna. 

                    

Fantasy Baseball Outfield Rankings

1. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

2. Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves

3. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

4. Christian Yelich, Milwaukee

5. Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Juan Soto, Washington

7. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia

8. J.D. Martinez, Boston

9. Sterling Marte, Arizona

10. George Springer, Houston

11. Charlie Blackmon, Colorado

12. Austin Meadows, Tamoa Bay

13. Ketel Marte, Arizona

14. Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

15. Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox

16. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

17. Whit Merrifield, Kansas City

18. Eddie Rosario, Minnesota

19. Tommy Pham, Tampa Bay

20. Yordan Alvarez, Houston

       

Mike Trout

Trout is again expected to put up incredible numbers, but there is one difference that could make him even more valuable than he already is.

The addition of Anthony Rendon to the Los Angeles Angels lineup should provide the eight-time MLB All-Star with more protection in the middle of the order, which might lead to a decrease in walks and an increase in other stat categories if he records additional at-bats.

In three of the last four seasons, Trout has been walked over 110 occasions, and opponents intentionally put him on first base at least 12 times a year in that span.

The 28-year-old is coming off a campaign with 45 home runs, 104 RBI and a .645 slugging percentage. His numbers over the last few seasons suggest he will either put up similar statistics or blow past some career highs.

From 2016-19, Trout's batting average has not dipped lower than .290, and he has four straight seasons with an on-base percentage over .435. 

If you consider all of those factors, he has a good case to be the first player selected in most fantasy drafts. If Trout isn't No. 1, he will easily come off the board at No. 2 or No. 3. 

                

Mookie Betts

There is a bit of an unknown attached to Betts in 2020 since he will playing his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

The 27-year-old is expected to be at the top of one of the most powerful lineups in baseball, with Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner hitting behind him. If he reaches base at a high rate, he might eclipse the 135 runs he scored with the Boston Red Sox in 2019.

Runs, hits and batting average are some of the key stats to look at when comparing Betts to other outfielders. He may not bash 40 home runs and rack up 100 RBI, but he has four straight seasons with at least 100 runs and 165 hits. 

He also finished above .300 in two of the last four seasons and was five-hundredths away from hitting that threshold in 2019.

If you can find more home run power in the later rounds, Betts is a solid cornerstone for a starting outfield.  

          

Ronald Acuna Jr. 

While Betts and Trout are the biggest outfield names available, they may not hold the honor of top selection because of Acuna. 

The 22-year-old produced 41 home runs, 101 RBI, 175 hits, 127 runs and 37 stolen bases in his second season with the Atlanta Braves. 

Acuna's speed could be the deciding factor in which player to land first overall since Trout and Betts are not expected to steal a high number of bases. 

There is also a chance the Venezuelan hits more home runs than the Angels player since he was only four off the perennial All-Star's total a year ago.

By leading off for Atlanta, Acuna should receive plenty of opportunities to score with Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna following him to the plate. 

The only knock against him in comparison to the other outfield talents is that he has only produced at a high clip for one season.

If some owners prefer veterans such as Trout, Acuna could drop to the No. 2 or No. 3 overall pick.

                

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.

While we continue to wait for the start of the 2020 MLB season, many fantasy baseball players are pressing on with their fantasy drafts.

For standard five-by-five rotisserie owners who use the default categories for hitting (batting average, home runs, RBI, runs scored and steals) and pitching (wins, saves, ERA, WHIP, strikeouts), some areas will always be harder to address than others.

In today's game, home runs, RBI, runs scored and strikeouts are in abundant supply, while batting average and WHIP are generally easy categories to target based on past production and projections.

Pitching wins will always be a crapshoot, which speaks to what an antiquated way of evaluating a pitcher they are, but that's a discussion for another time.

That leaves us with steals and saves as areas where you can find positive contributors late in a draft and give yourself an edge.

Let's take a closer look at both categories and highlight a few sleepers.

     

Steals

As more teams and players turn their attention to launch angle and power production, the old school station-to-station way of scoring runs has become a thing of the past. With that, the stolen base has become something of a lost art.

Just 21 players around the league had 20 or more steals last season, with only nine eclipsing the 30-steal mark.

As such, finding under-the-radar contributors in that category can be a real difference-maker in a standard five-by-five roto league that includes them as a scoring category.

Two names to consider: Victor Reyes and Roman Quinn.

Reyes, 25, was overmatched as a Rule 5 pick in 2018. He hit .222 with a 42 OPS+ in 219 plate appearances after making the jump to the majors directly from Double-A.

After starting last season at Triple-A, he eventually played his way into the starting center field job and leadoff spot in the lineup in Detroit. Over the final two months of the 2019 campaign, he racked up 69 hits, trailing only Tim Anderson (81), Trea Turner (72) and Jose Abreu (70).

He quietly stole nine bases in 69 games, to go along with another 10 steals in 74 games in the minors. The rebuilding Tigers can afford to give him regular playing time, and he could be a sneaky source of 20-plus steals.

Quinn, 26, has struggled to stay healthy throughout his pro career, but he's always had top-of-the-scale speed.

He has 23 steals in 109 career games in the majors, with another 186 thefts in 441 games in the minors.

The Philadelphia Phillies failed to find a right-handed hitting platoon partner for Adam Haseley in center field, and Quinn could be that guy. Even with semiregular playing time, he could swipe 25 bags.

Another player to keep an eye on is Tampa Bay Rays prospect Vidal Brujan.

The 22-year-old will undoubtedly start the season in the minors with just 55 games of experience in Double-A, but a 2020 MLB debut is not out of the question.

Brujan stole 48 bases last season between High-A and Double-A, and 55 the year before in the lower levels of the minors. With an advanced hit tool and solid glove, he looks like the second baseman of the future and a potential top-of-the-order table-setter.

Be ready to scoop him up off the waiver wire as soon as he gets the call.

     

Saves

The volatility of relief pitchers and the fluidity of a team's closer situation throughout the course of the season makes it necessary to constantly be on the lookout for potential sources of saves.

Who will be this year's Brandon Workman or Liam Hendriks?

He's not completely flying under the radar, but Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Nick Anderson is capable of emerging as a top-five closer.

While the 29-year-old has just one career save, he looks like the favorite to fill the closer's role after coming over in a midseason trade with the Miami Marlins last year.

He had a 2.11 ERA with nine holds in 23 appearances following the trade and all told racked up an eye-popping 110 strikeouts in 65 innings as a rookie. With swing-and-miss stuff and suiting up for an expected contender, he has elite upside.

A good way to find value in the saves category is to target quality setup men in a position to potentially move into the closer's role at some point.

Two examples: Scott Barlow and Anthony Bass.

In the final year of their respective contracts, Ian Kennedy (Royals) and Ken Giles (Blue Jays) both look like trade candidates playing on teams that are unlikely to contend.

Barlow is the clear "next man up" in Kansas City after racking up 92 strikeouts in 70.1 innings as a rookie, tallying one save and 14 holds with a 4.22 ERA in 61 appearances.

Bass posted a solid 3.56 ERA with five saves and six holds in 44 appearances as part of a cobbled-together Seattle Mariners bullpen last year, and he signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Blue Jays during the offseason.

There are worse ways to use your last pick in a deep league than stashing one of those guys.

Looking for a deep sleeper?

Electric right-hander James Karinchak is one to watch.

The Cleveland Indians rookie struck out 74 of the 125 batters he faced in the minors last year for a ridiculous 22.0 strikeouts per nine innings and whiffed eight batters in 5.1 innings in his first taste of MLB action.

Incumbent closer Brad Hand struggled with a 5.40 ERA and four blown saves after the All-Star break last year, and if that continues in 2020, Karinchak has the stuff to steal the job.

None of these guys will be hot commodities on draft day, but scooping them up late could pay major dividends.

     

All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.

Nobody knows when, or if, the 2020 MLB season will get under way.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a drastic impact on the sporting world, and commissioners from multiple leagues got on a conference call with President Trump to discuss timelines and measures to avoid potential financial calamity.

However, while Trump expressed optimism at the notion of sports returning to American society, baseball has less wiggle room due to the length of the schedule as well as being a warm weather sport. 

Thought leaders throughout MLB might have to figure out how best to approach a shortened season or even playing doubleheaders throughout the year. There are likely to be a number of logistics that need sorting out.

With plenty of unknowns remaining, fantasy baseball owners have a lot of time to sort through draft rankings to see the players who might best fit their roster. This is especially important in terms of figuring out the outfield, because most standard leagues allow for four outfielders on the roster.

Here is a list of the top 10 outfielders to draft in fantasy, as well as some sleeper picks.

   

Top 10 Outfielders (via ESPN):

   

1. Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves

2. Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

3. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

4. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

5. Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Juan Soto, Washington Nationals

7. Starling Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

8. Whit Merrifield, Kansas City Royals

9. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies

10. J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox

    

Outfield Sleepers:

   

Michael Conforto, New York Mets (Pos. Rank 40; Ovr. Rank 131)

   

Conforto is coming off a rebound season in which he slashed .257/.363/.494 with 33 homers and a career-high 92 RBI, and he also stole seven bases.

The 27-year-old was an All-Star in 2017, but he has excellent sleeper value in part due to his position ranking, as well as the fact he has remained mostly healthy over the course of the last two seasons.

Conforto has played in at least 151 games in each of the last few years, and he is one of the few Mets outfielders who will be penciled into the lineup each and every day.

The stolen bases are particularly interesting. Conforto has always had fairly good speed and is rather "toolsy," but he has not gotten very involved in the running game.

Time will tell whether rookie manager Luis Rojas will put things in motion, but Conforto figures to see an uptick in stolen base attempts.

Conforto's combination of discipline, power and speed make him a big-time sleeper, particularly considering he is ranked below the likes of Adam Eaton and Andrew Benintendi.

   

Scott Kingery, Philadelphia Phillies (Pos. Rank 62; Ovr. Rank 190)

   

Kingery dealt with some injuries in his sophomore campaign, but despite playing in fewer games he actually saw more plate appearances. Not to mention, he saw massive improvement.

The 23-year-old slashed .258/.315/.474 with 19 homers, four triples and 15 stolen bases. Kingery was especially dominant over the course of the first few months, slashing .313/.363/.585 with 10 homers and a 142 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) value, according to FanGraphs. Unfortunately, the rest of Kingery's season was marred by inconsistency.

Still, Kingery has tons of value as a guy who can hit for power and steal plenty of bases. He is also likely to hit closer to the top of the lineup for the majority of the season, which should make him an excellent candidate to score runs in front of Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto.

Moreover, Kingery has positional versatility as a guy who can rotate between center field and the hot corner, which makes him especially valuable in fantasy.

   

Mark Canha, Oakland Athletics (Pos. Rank 84; Ovr. Rank 287)

   

There is no reason Canha should be ranked so low.

No, he does not necessarily steal bases in bunches or drive in tons of runs, but he is nonetheless one of the best hitters in Oakland's prodigious lineup.

Canha slashed .273/.396/.517 with 26 homers and a 145 OPS+, according to Baseball Reference. Those are huge numbers, especially considering he had less than 500 plate appearances.

There are drawbacks to drafting the 31-year-old, most notably the fact he had not produced a season anything close to his 2019 campaign. However, there is reason to believe he can have sustained success, especially considering he ranked in the top eight percent of baseball in terms of weighted on-base average (wOBA) and walk rate, per Baseball Savant. Canha's other career OPS+ numbers are also encouraging, even if you consider the 2019 season to be an outlier.

Canha should continue to have big power numbers and upside hitting behind sluggers like Matt Chapman, Matt Olson and Marcus Semien. Plus he is likely to be an everyday guy this season, which means he is bound for more production.

   

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference unless otherwise and noted all fantasy rankings obtained via ESPN.

   

    

 

   

When the Major League Baseball season begins, a few of the game's top arms will be on the sidelines.

Chris Sale of the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets hurler Noah Syndergaard are both out for the season after recently announced plans for Tommy John surgery. Houston's Justin Verlander will pitch in 2020, but he is recovering after undergoing groin surgery in March.

The wave of injuries have altered the starting pitcher depth chart for fantasy baseball drafts. But even after the list is reorganized, a handful of starters could fly under the radar and end up as hidden gems.

                          

Hidden Gems to Draft

Kenta Maeda, SP, Minnesota Twins

Kenta Maeda appeared in at least 29 games in each of his four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he was not viewed as a consistent fantasy pitcher because he was swapped in and out of the starting rotation.

Two years ago, 20 of Maeda's 39 appearances were starts, while he opened 26 times in 37 trips to the mound in 2019.

In his new role with the Minnesota Twins, Maeda should be a consistent figure in the rotation—one who could have value in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts.

The 31-year-old struck out 10 batters and gave up two earned runs over 8.2 innings in three Spring Training starts. After his March 8 outing versus the Red Sox, Maeda earned praise from Twins manager Rocco Baldelli for his command, per MLB.com's CJ Haddad.

"He commanded all of his pitches exceptionally well today," Baldelli said. "His fastball command allowed everything else to play up really well. You really got to see a tremendous version of Kenta out there, and it's fun to watch."

Before he was moved to the bullpen in September by the Dodgers, Maeda produced six starts with seven or more strikeouts.

In his final four starts last season, Maeda had six or more punchouts on three occasions and conceded three earned runs or fewer. If he puts up similar numbers in the American League, Maeda could end up with his fourth 10-win season and be considered a steal in the middle to late parts of fantasy drafts.

                       

Andrew Heaney, SP, Los Angeles Angels 

Upon first glance, Andrew Heaney's career numbers are not promising, but if you dig a bit deeper, there are some qualities that make him a low-risk, high-reward draft pick.

When he went 9-10 in 2018, the left-handed hurler struck out 180 batters in 180 innings. A year ago, the 28-year-old fanned 118 opponents over 95.1 innings in 18 appearances.

Heaney was named the Los Angeles Angels' Opening Day starter, and he trusts that he has the quality to succeed in 2020, per Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times.

"I know how good I can be when I go out and pitch for a long stretch," Heaney said. "To myself, I've proven that I know how good I can be whenever I have long stretches where I'm healthy and am able to take the ball every five or six days. I definitely have all the confidence in the world in myself."

If Heaney maintains his high strikeout rate and brings his ERA under 4.00, he could turn into a solid fantasy contributor.

Since he has a single season with a record over .500, Heaney should not be taken earlier than the middle rounds of any draft. But in a 12-team league, he could provide value right away with his strikeout ability.

                  

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

Gerrit Cole's New York Yankees debut is currently on hold, but when he does toe the rubber for the American League East side, he is projected to deliver on high expectations. 

The 29-year-old's dominant 2019 campaign with the Houston Astros handed him a massive deal with the Yankees and a spot in the first round of many fantasy baseball drafts.

Cole should be the first pitcher off the board in most drafts, with Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer his top competition for that honor. 

Once the Yankees star is selected, deGrom and Scherzer could follow closely after as owners look to put marquee starters on their rosters. 

Missing out on one of the top three pitchers will not be a make-or-break decision at the top of drafts, but it should give owners an advantage to start the regular season. 

              

Starting Pitcher Fantasy Rankings

1. Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees

2. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

3. Max Scherzer, Washington

4. Justin Verlander, Houston 

5. Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Jack Flaherty, St. Louis

7. Stephen Strasburg, Washington

8. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

9. Blake Snell, Tampa Bay

10. Shane Bieber, Cleveland

          

Gerrit Cole

Cole will likely be chosen in the middle of the first round in most drafts. 

Once the upper echelon of outfielders is taken with the first few picks, the opportunity will be there around No. 7 to choose the right-handed hurler. 

In most drafts, the owner who takes Cole would then turn around in the second round to take an infielder such as Freddie Freeman, Jose Ramirez or Nolan Arenado. 

If Juan Soto is available in the second round, he could be a good option at that part of the draft as well.

No matter which player is chosen in the second round, he can be combined with Cole to give you a strong draft opening. 

Cole is coming off a 20-win season in which he struck out 326 batters and earned a 2.50 ERA in 212.1 innings. He ended the regular season with double-digit strikeouts in nine consecutive appearances. In total, he fanned at least 10 batters in 21 contests. 

The high volume of strikeouts combined with 15 outings of seven innings or more should be enough to draw you to Cole in the first round. 

Even if he does not eclipse the 300-strikeout mark again, his consistency throughout his career in certain stat categories make him a trustworthy fantasy player.

Cole has six 10-win seasons in his seven-year career with the Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates, he has had an ERA over 4.00 once and struck out 200 batters on three occasions. 

                  

Jacob deGrom

If you are in a 10-team league, there is a chance you could land Cole and deGrom with your first two selections.

It would be a risky strategy to ignore the top sluggers, but it could pay off if the two hurlers come close to replicating their 2019 performances.

That would be harder to pull off in a 12-team league since deGrom likely will not be available past the No. 12 overall pick. 

Although the 31-year-old lacked victories on a consistent basis in 2019, he produced in every other category. The right-handed hurler struck out 255 batters, had 11.3 strikeouts-per-nine innings and a 2.43 ERA.

DeGrom has 21 wins over the last two seasons because of the New York Mets' inability to provide run support when he takes the hill.

In July and August, he had five decisions in 10 starts and did not receive more than six runs from his offense in that stretch. That sequence also included losses of 1-0, 2-1 and 4-1 in which he held up his end of the bargain by lasting at least seven innings. 

If the Mets' offensive production improves, deGrom could increase his win total to go along with his reliable ERA and strikeout numbers.

                     

Max Scherzer

The primary difference between Scherzer and deGrom is the Washington hurler should be in line for more winning situations in 2020. 

The 35-year-old had a down year by his standards in 2019 by recording 11 wins, a total that extended his double-digit victory streak to 10 years. Before last year, he had an average of 17 victories per season with the Nationals. 

Just like Cole and deGrom, Scherzer has been consistent in the strikeout department, as he has fanned 200 batters in every season since 2012. In that same span, he put up an ERA over 3.00 on two occasions and has had over 10 strikeout-per-nine innings. 

It seems unlikely Scherzer will last past the No. 15 overall pick, so if you take a position player at the back end of the first round, he would be a strong second-round option.

Teams at the top end of the first round may not come away with a star hurler in the first two rounds, especially in a 12-team league.

If you miss out on Cole, deGrom or Scherzer, Walker Buehler or Justin Verlander could be available in the third round as an anchor for your pitching staff.

               

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.

There is a certain art to finding a sleeper in fantasy sports. 

Oftentimes, the depth pieces are the ones who can make or break a league. This is especially true in fantasy baseball. While star players are expected to produce and injuries tend to play a role, winning rosters are normally predicated on depth and shrewd moves on the waiver wire.

The best way fantasy owners can set themselves up for success is by having a successful draft, and that means being locked in from start to finish. Occasionally, quality players will slip through the cracks or show up far down the board in terms of draft rankings, which makes for good value.

Here are a few MLB players who could turn out to be sleeper picks in fantasy this season.

                    

Willie Calhoun, Texas Rangers

   

Willie Calhoun is almost sure to be overlooked as a guy who played in just 83 games last season for a Texas Rangers squad that still might finish towards the bottom of the American League West in 2020.

Nevertheless, what he did in those 83 games hints he would be an excellent value pickup.

Calhoun slashed .269/.323/.524 with 21 homers in just 337 plate appearances, and those numbers should look far better stretched across a full season now that he is projected to be a starter in the Rangers outfield.

The 25-year-old suffered a broken jaw before spring training was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, but he has already been cleared to resume baseball activities. 

The Rangers did not do much in terms of making positional upgrades in the offseason, and they will be banking on Calhoun to have a big year and increase the overall production in the lineup. Look out for him in the later rounds.

                    

Kenta Maeda, Minnesota Twins

   

The Minnesota Twins failed to land any of the marquee starting pitchers in free agency, but they did upgrade their pitching staff by trading for Kenta Maeda.

Although Maeda took a slight step back in 2019, he will have every chance to excel pitching in a more friendly environment at Target Field.

One of the reasons Maeda struggled was due to the home run ball. He gave up 1.3 homers per nine innings last season, mostly because Dodger Stadium was the ninth-friendliest park in terms of the long ball, according to ESPN. Target Field, on the other hand, ranked 24th in that capacity last season.

Minnesota needs Maeda to take a big step forward in the rotation if it hopes to improve in 2020. The 31-year-old has posted at least 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings in each of his first four seasons in the big leagues, and his peripherals suggest he could excel pitching in front of a Twins defense that should be vastly improved following the addition of Josh Donaldson and a healthy Byron Buxton in center field. 

                        

Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers

   

The Los Angeles Dodgers have such a star-studded lineup—even more so now that they added Mookie Betts in February—it is sometimes easy to forget Justin Turner is one of the best hitters in baseball.

Turner slashed .290/.372/.509 with 27 homers and a 131 OPS+ last season. More importantly, he remained mostly healthy, appearing in 135 games.

More importantly, Turner has been a model of consistency for years. He ranks 18th in fWAR between 2016 and 2019 and 15th in weighted runs created plus (wRC+) during that same span.

Turner is way down on most draft boards in terms of average draft position (ADP). According to Fantasy Pros, he had an ADP of 147 across all leagues, below the likes of Tommy Edman from the St. Louis Cardinals and Danny Santana from the Texas Rangers. 

The 35-year-old is a consummate professional at the plate, and he should get even more RBI chances with Betts hitting at the top of the lineup. He would be a premium pickup at the hot corner.

                  

A.J. Puk, Oakland Athletics

   

A.J. Puk has been a top arm in the Oakland A's system for years, and he finally got the chance to prove his merit during a September call-up last season.

The left-hander had a 3.18 ERA in 11 1/3 innings of work out of the bullpen, displaying some of the dynamic stuff that made him such a coveted prospect.

Puk figures to be something of a flex arm, similar to how Maeda was used during his tenure with the Dodgers, making spot starts while also throwing out of the pen. His strikeout stuff might give him tremendous value depending on how categories are ordered, and he should also rack up a few quality starts here and there.

The 24-year-old is going around 236 in terms of ADP, which makes him a pretty good buy as someone who can throw innings at the start or at the back end of games.

                       

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference or FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted. Draft information obtained via Fantasy Pros.

Snoozing on a fantasy baseball sleeper won't sting you on draft night, but by season's end, it could mean the difference between securing a playoff spot or missing out on the festivities.

Consider this your alarm clock warning, then. And hands off the snooze button.

After laying out our top 25 fantasy baseball rankings for the 2020 season, we'll identify three hidden gems—with an average draft position (ADP) outside of the top 150, per FantasyPros—to put on your radar and target at the draft.

                  

Top 25 Rankings

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

3. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves

4. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

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

6. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

7. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

8. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

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

10. Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals

11. Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies

12. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

13. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves

14. Trea Turner, SS, Washington Nationals

15. Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox

16. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

17. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Indians

18. Bryce Harper, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

19. Max Scherzer, SP, Washington Nationals

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

21. Walker Buehler, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

22. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Washington Nationals

23. Javier Baez, SS, Chicago Cubs

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

25. Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros

                 

Deep Sleepers To Target

Edwin Encarnacion, 1B/DH, Chicago White Sox (ADP: 157.0)

Fantasy owners are always overly cautious about spending too much on an aging player. It sort of makes sense, since the end of a career can be swift and severe. But too often it involves leaving proven production on the board in the off-chance that this year is finally it.

That's the case with 37-year-old Edwin Encarnacion, who has one of the safest power bats in baseball.

Sure, you'll probably have to manage around an injury at some point—he battled a stiff back and a sore hip before spring training was shut down—but at least you don't have to wonder whether his numbers are legitimate or inflated by a juiced ball. He has clubbed at least 32 home runs in each of the last eight seasons. He had 104-plus RBI in six of those campaigns.

Last year, he only made it through 109 games and still delivered 34 bombs and drove in 86 runs. Hitting in the heart of a loaded White Sox lineup, the veteran slugger should continue sending balls over the fence and clearing the bases.

               

Willie Calhoun, OF, Texas Rangers (ADP: 178.4)

A former top prospect, Willie Calhoun finally got a chance to validate that status with his first consistent playing time at the big-league level last season.

He exceeded even the most optimistic expectations. He only played 83 games and still produced 21 home runs with 48 RBI. Over a 162-game pace, that becomes 40 homers and 93 runs driven in.

For as much as fantasy players fawn over youngsters, it's surprising to see a 25-year-old with this much pop go outside of the top 175 selections. Unlike some other young boppers, he won't destroy you in batting average or strikeouts. He owns a respectable .258/.311/.468 slash line over 131 MLB games.

He suffered a fractured jaw in spring training, but that concern likely dissipated with the delayed start. He announced Thursday he's already been cleared to resume daily workouts and baseball activities.

              

Justin Upton, OF, Los Angeles Angels (ADP: 202.2)

Owning Justin Upton last season was no fun. Injuries limited him to 63 games, and when he did play, he wasn't himself. He batted a career-worst .215 and had his lowest on-base percentage in more than a decade (.309).

Maybe some will frame that as the beginning of the end for the 31-year-old, but it felt like the results of just not being able to shake the injury bug. He had multiple bouts of knee tendinitis and lost over two months to a toe injury.

"In a sense, it's been a lost season from an injury perspective," then-Angels manager Brad Ausmus told reporters in September. "Never really got rolling, then another injury. I think he's really looking forward to an offseason where he can get going."

Fantasy owners should be looking forward to this, too.

Upton has been one of baseball's more reliable hitters in recent years. From 2013 to 2018, his average season output featured 30 homers, 11 stolen bases, 86 runs and 89 RBI. With Anthony Rendon joining Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, this lineup should yield no shortage of run-producing opportunities for Upton.

As rough as his 2019 season was, he's being overly discounted for what looks like a fluky year. If he's healthy, he could be one of the biggest steals in fantasy.  

One of the hardest parts of fantasy baseball draft preparation is determining which players are capable of carrying over good form from the prior season.

Some names could be viewed as potential sleeper picks based off second-half performances, while others could fly under the radar due to a change of scenery. Owners also have to be wary of which stars from previous years could develop into fantasy busts.

While that may be hard to predict in March, a few trends from recent seasons may lend a hand in figuring out who to avoid in drafts.

                         

Fantasy Baseball 1st-Round Mock Draft

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

3. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves

4. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

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

6. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

7. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

8. Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros

9. Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals

10. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

11. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

12. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

           

Sleepers

Aaron Civale, SP, Cleveland

Aaron Civale performed well during a 10-game run that began June 22.

Despite going 3-4, the Cleveland Indians hurler limited nine of his 10 opponents to two earned runs or fewer. However, the small sample size could cause some owners to become skeptical of his 2020 numbers, which may keep him available in the middle-to-late rounds.

He finished with a 2.34 ERA and allowed just 15 earned runs, but he did not produce a high volume of strikeouts.

Civale totaled 46 punchouts, and he reached the five-strikeout mark once in his last seven outings. The consistency over 10 games is a promising sign for the Indians and for owners looking to add back-end starting rotation talent before drafts conclude.

There could be some concern with how Civale will throw over the course of a full regular season, but if you are fine with taking that risk, he could bring value to the roster.

                   

C.J. Cron, 1B, Detroit

The Detroit Tigers' roster may not be the first area owners turn to for fantasy help, but if you dig through it, you will find a reliable power hitter at first base.

C.J. Cron hit 55 home runs in the last two seasons, with 30 coming for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 and 25 for the Minnesota Twins last season. He also produced over 70 RBI in those campaigns, which us leads to believe he could do the same with the Tigers in 2020.

However, Cron is far from perfect at the dish since he has a propensity to strike out. He fanned on 107 occasions in 2019 after he was sat down on strikes 145 times in 2018. His batting average could also be a concern since it remained stagnant at .253 from his final year with the Rays to his lone season with the Twins.

Cron started spring training with three home runs and five RBI in 31 plate appearances, but he struck out on five occasions.

If you are willing to weather the mediocre batting average and a good chunk of strikeouts, Cron could be a good backup option with power at first base.

              

Busts

Trevor Bauer, SP, Cincinnati

Trevor Bauer has five consecutive 10-win seasons, but putting up eye-popping numbers with the Cincinnati Reds could be an issue.

He has to face the lineups of the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers on a few occasions and could spend a shorter amount of time on the mound now that he is in the National League.

After he was acquired from the Indians in July, Bauer lasted seven innings in four of 10 starts, and he put together one set of back-to-back seven-inning outings. His high ERA could also turn him into a fantasy bust in 2020, after he finished at 4.48 between two teams in 2019.

The 29-year-old has had one full season with an ERA under 4.00, and he issued the highest amount of walks in his career last season.

Bauer could still hit the double-digit win mark, but if he reaches that total, it could be with an imperfect line of statistics.

                  

Joey Gallo, OF, Texas 

Joey Gallo faces a similar issue to Bauer as he is known for producing in the top stat categories, but he has some flaws when you break down his entire resume.

The Texas Rangers outfielder eclipsed 40 home runs in 2017 and 2018, but he struck out on 403 occasions and has hit over .210 once in his MLB career.

In an injury-shortened 2019, Gallo fanned 114 times in 70 games while mashing 22 home runs. The large amount of strikeouts is concerning for a player who could be selected in the seventh or eighth round.

Gallo should not be in the elite echelon of outfielders, but his power warrants a middle-round choice to either solidify your starting trio or be used as a rotational piece.

While the power will draw him to fantasy owners, he comes with some flaws that could be under the microscope more if he does hit for power in 2020.

                 

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

The back end of a fantasy baseball draft may not produce any flashy names, but it could hand some owners advantages when it comes to positional depth.

Deciphering which sleepers make the most sense for your team could take some research, but it may pay off at the end of the regular season. 

The players to target in the latter rounds could be intriguing for a variety of factors. They may be a young player looking to make a mark, such as San Diego Padres catcher Francisco Mejia, or a versatile infielder trying to replicate a solid 2019, like Kevin Newman of the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

On the mound, Atlanta Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz may not stand out right away because of his overall numbers from a year ago, but he could bolster your rotation if he extends his late-season form into 2020.

                

Sleepers To Target Deep In Drafts

Francisco Mejia, C, San Diego

Mejia is under pressure to thrive more in both aspects of his game. 

The 24-year-old produced eight home runs and 22 RBI in 244 plate appearances over 79 games in 2019. But in order to improve his offensive totals, he needs to showcase defensive progress behind the dish to earn more starts.

Mejia is working on defensive improvements, but Padres manager Jayce Tingler still mentioned a possible split between Mejia and Austin Hedges, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

"No matter what, we're going to have some type of combination," he said. "You look around the game, there are very few guys catching 140, 150 games. There is going to be some type of combination. Is that 50-50? Is that 70-30? We'll see where we're at."

Mejia is a low-risk, high-reward selection in the latter rounds because he could beat out Hedges with his offensive prowess.

Hedges appeared in 102 games in 2019, but he only produced 11 home runs and 36 appearances in 347 plate appearances. 

If you want to wait until the back end of the draft to select a second catcher, Mejia would work in that role since he has an average draft position of No. 285, per FantasyPros. 

He could also be stashed as a final bench selection, and if he gets off to a fast start, he may be worth plugging into the lineup in a catcher rotation.

Even though there is some promise there if he beats out Hedges, Mejia should not be taken until the final three or four rounds since he would still split some time. 

              

Kevin Newman, 2B/SS, Pittsburgh

Versatility is one of the factors that plays into the final few draft picks. 

Newman possesses that, as he is listed as a second baseman and shortstop. At the moment, his average draft position is No. 210.

The 26-year-old hit .308 with 12 home runs and 64 RBI in 2019. He also had 20 doubles, six triples and a .800 OPS. 

He may be an intriguing acquisition in the middle-to-late rounds to provide depth at the middle infield positions, but there could also be a concern about him replicating his form from a year ago.

Another deciding factor could be the expected struggles of the Pirates, who could finish fifth in the National League Central. 

Josh Bell is the only player in the projected order who had more than 20 home runs a year ago, and depending on how well Newman swings the bat, he could be rotated around the order to provide a spark. 

Even though he could run into issues discovering team success, Newman could be poised for more individual success, which would make him a decent backup option at either position. 

                     

Mike Foltynewicz, SP, Atlanta

The reluctance of some owners to draft Foltynewicz could benefit those willing to take a risk on the Atlanta Braves hurler. 

The 28-year-old went 8-6 with a 4.54 ERA, 1.248 WHIP and 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 21 regular-season starts.

Foltynewicz produced a solid seven-inning postseason outing against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 2 of the NLDS, but he was one of many Braves to struggle to contain them in Game 5. 

If you look at his September output, he turned a corner by giving up five earned runs in five starts. In the final four regular-season games, he was consistent with at least five strikeouts and the concession of three or four hits. 

If Foltynewicz parlays that form into the start of the 2020 campaign, he could be a reliable option at the back end of a fantasy rotation, and he could be available in the latter rounds since his average draft position is No. 185.

          

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference

Luis Robert's power across three levels of minor league baseball in 2019 turned him into one of the most hyped incoming prospects for the 2020 Major League Baseball campaign. 

The 22-year-old Chicago White Sox outfielder is expected to be one of the breakout stars of the upcoming campaign because of his production in the minors and the early impression he made in spring training. 

The buzz surrounding Robert should make him an intriguing option in fantasy baseball drafts, and he could be the most coveted prospect in many leagues. 

Oakland Athletics pitcher Jesus Luzardo also experienced a push through the minors in 2019, and toward the end of the regular season, he provided a glimpse of how strong he can be on the mound.

The left-handed pitcher should be one of the most sought after pitching prospects in fantasy drafts since he has an ounce of big league experience on his resume.

                  

Top prospects to target in fantasy baseball

Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

Robert produced 32 home runs and 92 RBI with Single-A Winston-Salem, Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte last season. 

After he shot up the White Sox system to Triple-A, he put up 16 long balls and drove in 39 runs over 47 appearances. Not only did he hit for power, but he was also consistently on base with a .328 batting average and a .376 on-base percentage. 

Robert extended that form into spring training and drew plenty of rave reviews from his teammates, per NBC Sports Chicago's Chuck Garfien.

"He's a special player. I don't think there's anything he can't do on a baseball field,” White Sox catcher James McCann said. "You hear the label of a five-tool player, but you don't hear it thrown around very often. I have a hard time saying that he's not a five-tool player."

The 22-year-old's average draft position in leagues that selected their squads was No. 91, per FantasyPros. If you entered a 12-team league, that means he will likely be off the board by the end of the eighth round.

Until he proves himself, Robert will not be considered as high of a fantasy option as Ronald Acuna Jr. or Mike Trout, but he could be a solid complementary option to those stars. 

Stocking up on one or two of the top-20 outfielders is a wise strategy in the opening rounds, and if you feel confident in Robert's abilities, you could go for him as early as the seventh round.

A pick before that feels like a reach because he is still an unproven commodity, and plenty of outfielders are worth your attention before Robert is the best available player.

                 

Jesus Luzardo, LHP, Oakland Athletics

After making his MLB debut September 11, Luzardo earned 16 strikeouts over 12 innings in six appearances. 

He impressed enough in those outings to earn a spot on Oakland's postseason roster. In his playoff debut, he gave up one hit over three innings versus the Tampa Bay Rays.

In 8.1 innings of spring work, the 22-year-old conceded four hits and a single run while striking out 13 batters. 

Based off his early success with the Athletics, the indication is Luzardo will be a key part of their rotation for the long term.

The southpaw's average draft position is No. 122, per FantasyPros, and it could be higher in some leagues because of his potential. 

The key with Luzardo and other prospects is to buy into the hype but not at an astronomical level where you draft him too early. He isn't worth selecting over the first few tiers of pitchers yet, but if you get to the ninth or 10th round or beyond, he could be a solid value selection.

The Peru-born player is expected to be a valuable part of rosters at some point in 2020, but that could accelerate if he thrives against hitters on both sides of the plate. He gave up one hit to left-handed hitters in 2019 and four base knocks to right-handed batters. 

If Luzardo excels against both types of hitters again in 2020, he could be one of the most effective southpaws in your fantasy rotation.

                 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference