Fantasy Baseball

Major League Baseball doesn't have a start date for the regular season yet because of the coronavirus pandemic, but fantasy players still have the option of at least getting their roster in place. 

There are still fantasy drafts going on, making it essential to have a strong plan before you begin in order to avoid falling behind your opponents as you chase a championship in 2020. 

Despite a limited spring schedule, there have already been notable developments that will have a profound impact on your draft. Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale won't pitch this season as he's set to undergo Tommy John surgery. 

Looking ahead to what your team will need to be successful, here is a handy guide to follow as you go through the process of filling out your roster. 

      

Fantasy Baseball First-Round Mock Draft

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves

3. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

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

5. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

6. Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros

7. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

8. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

9. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

10. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

11. Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals

12. Trea Turner, SS, Washington Nationals

       

Cheatsheet

Prioritize Elite Starting Pitchers

While there hasn't been an official announcement from MLB, conventional wisdom would seem to suggest that this season won't feature a full 162-game schedule. 

Per Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci, the possibility for a full season "all but evaporated when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended no gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks" on March 17. 

A shortened season doesn't benefit any players, but it figures to be particularly difficult on pitchers in the fantasy market. 

If we assume MLB keeps using the same type of baseball that some players, like Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros, felt was designed to improve offensive output, we could still see some big totals. Last season, there were 27 players who hit at least 30 homers before Sept. 1. 

From that group, only 13 players had played in at least 130 games. Mike Trout, Cody Bellinger, Pete Alonso and Christian Yelich all had at least 41 homers by Aug. 31, 2019. 

There will be plenty of high-upside offensive players you can find who will produce close to full-season results if the season is shortened. 

Pitchers, on the other hand, figure to be more impacted by a potential change in the number of games. Assuming a starting pitcher remains healthy all season, they will typically play between 32-34 games. 

Using the same Aug. 31 timeframe, there were nine pitchers who had at least 200 strikeouts and 160 innings. 

There is a wide gap between the number of elite-level hitters and elite-level pitchers in fantasy right now. If you have to reach early for one of the top starters, like Gerrit Cole or Jacob deGrom, don't think twice, because missing out on them will be more damaging than missing out on Mookie Betts or Alex Bregman. 

       

Bet on Rookies

One of the big questions in MLB with the delayed start to the season is how service time will be counted. 

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, there are options being discussed by MLB and the MLB Players Association related to service time:

"The solution in a shortened season would be relatively simple. If the schedule consisted of say, 100 games, the two sides could adjust the definition of a full season accordingly. The 2019 season consisted of 186 days, including off-days. A player's maximum service time was 172 days. A 100-game season, using the same proportions, would consist of 115 days, with a maximum service time of 106."

Whatever the solution ends up being, this could be a way for MLB teams to get their prized prospects in the upper levels of the minors to the big leagues quicker. 

In the case of a prospect like Luis Robert, it would make sense for the Chicago White Sox to start him in the big leagues after signing him to a six-year, $50 million contract in January before he played in an MLB game.

Per MLB.com, Robert is the No. 3 prospect entering the 2020 season. The 22-year-old outfielder hit .328/.376/.624 with 32 homers and 36 stolen bases in 122 games across three levels last season. 

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux, who the team didn't want to include in any offseason trade talks, is a known commodity after a 23-game tryout at the end of the regular season. 

Other high-end prospects poised to make their MLB debut either right at the start of the season or within the first couple weeks include Jo Adell of the Los Angeles Angels (MLB.com's No. 6 prospect), Jesus Luzardo of the Oakland Athletics (No. 12), Brendan McKay of the Tampa Bay Rays (No. 15) and Forrest Whitley of the Houston Astros (No. 19). 

There are no shortage of first-year players who will be available in your draft, potentially at a great value in the middle and later rounds. Don't be afraid to make a bold push for these players because the upside is huge relative to where they will be selected. 

         

Sleeper Picks

Amed Rosario, SS, New York Mets

The journey for Amed Rosario from MLB's top prospect to bust to valuable shortstop for the New York Mets over the past three seasons has been head-spinning, to say the least. 

Last season was the first time Rosario looked like he was going to be an everyday MLB player. He didn't have a great year with a .287/.323/.432 slugging percentage, 15 homers and 19 stolen bases in 157 games. 

If there are reasons to be encouraged, though, it's based on Rosario only being 24 years old—he's the same age as Rays' two-way prospect McKay—and his second-half improvement in 2019 (.319/.351/.453). 

Shortstop is a deep position right now with stars like Francisco Lindor, Trea Turner, Trevor Story, Javier Baez, Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Gleyber Torres at the top of the 2020 class. 

Per ESPN.com's rankings, Rosario is the No. 18 fantasy shortstop heading into this season. Tatis, Torres and Bo Bichette are the only players younger who are ranked ahead of him. 

If there is a year when Rosario is going to put everything together to become the player everyone expected in 2017, it will be this year. 

        

Franmil Reyes, DH, Cleveland Indians

If you get to a point late in the draft when it seems like your roster is lacking power, Franmil Reyes is a name to keep an eye on. 

Reyes has consistently shown off his prodigious power since being called up by the San Diego Padres in 2018. He had no problem bringing the thunder to the Cleveland Indians after a midseason trade last year, though his .237/.304/.468 slash line does leave something to be desired. 

Opposite field power looks easy when you're Franmil Reyes. 💪#TribeSpring pic.twitter.com/JDUmSDAwFh

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) February 28, 2020

Per FanGraphs projection model, Reyes is predicted to post a .258/.324/.515 slash line with 37 homers in 2020. 

The Indians had a quiet offseason, outside of trade speculation involving Lindor, so they are going to need their in-house options to have big years if they hope to challenge the Minnesota Twins atop the American League Central. 

Reyes isn't likely to hit for a high average because of his high strikeout rate (236 in 755 career at-bats), so power has to be his calling card. He hit 16 homers in 87 games as a rookie in 2018 and 37 in 150 games last season. 

There's the potential for at least 40 homers from Reyes next season as long as he stays healthy and cuts down even slightly on his strikeout rate. 

Every fantasy baseball team should have at least a couple of stars, barring injuries or some atrocious drafting.

So, the ability to identify sleepers is often what separates each league's haves from its have-nots.

We're here to point you in the right direction by identifying two hitters and one pitcher who are being drafted outside of the top 100—according to FantasyPros' average draft position (ADP)—but could deliver top-25 results by season's end.

                       

Top Sleepers To Target

Miguel Sano, 1B/3B, Minnesota Twins (ADP: 120.2)

Miguel Sano has never played more than 116 regular-season games at the major league level. That might sound like a knock—and it surely factors into the ADP—but it can be encouraging if framed a different way.

Between 2016 and 2017, he blasted 53 home runs and knocked in 143 runs. He did all of that while playing just 230 total games. Last season, he belted 34 bombs and drove in 79 over just 105 games. It's easy getting carried away when imagining what he could do at full strength. For reference, his career 162-game averages include 39 homers, 105 RBI and 95 runs.

Based on what he did last year, those numbers might undersell his upside—which is wild when considering he might be available in the 10th round of a 12-team draft.

He has 50-homer pop in his bat, and if he trims his strikeouts a bit, he could deliver a respectable .270 average. He'll have plenty of run-producing opportunities, too, as a loaded Twins lineup now features Josh Donaldson as well. All signs are pointing up for Sano, provided he can finally stay healthy.

                        

Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks (ADP: 120.8)

If this ADP holds true in your league, you can draft Zac Gallen as the 32nd starting pitcher in your league. There's a non-zero chance the 24-year-old enters next season regarded as a top-10 player at the position.

Sounds hyperbolic, right? Not so much when you look at the numbers.

He was comically dominant in the minors last season, delivering a 1.77 ERA with 11.0 strikeouts per nine innings and a 0.712 WHIP in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Then, he was promoted to the bigs and was nearly as razor-sharp. Over 15 appearances for the Miami Marlins and Diamondbacks, he pitched to a 2.81 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 80 innings.

And he did that without being able to limit his walks (4.1 per nine innings). If he brings that number down (it was 1.7 in AAA), he could ride an elite strikeout-to-walk ratio to ace status.

                    

Cavan Biggio, 2B/OF, Toronto Blue Jays (127.8)

Toronto's trio of high-ceiling youngsters looks strong from all sides, but the fantasy community has forgotten about the third. While Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (63.8) and Bo Bichette (69.4) typically must be taken by the seventh round, Cavan Biggio might not hear his name called until the 11th.

Here's the thing: Biggio might have the best fantasy season of the bunch. He is already an on-base machine and offers an intriguing power-speed blend. While he disappointed in batting average last season (.234), he has ways of elevating that number, and he still impressed in other areas in spite of it, as Scott White detailed for CBS Sports:

"Three numbers in particular stand out for Cavan Biggio after a mostly successful first stint in the majors. The first is a 16.5 percent walk rate that was bettered only by Mike Trout, Yasmani Grandal and Alex Bregman. The second is a 25.4 percent ground-ball rate that was bettered by Trout and Trout alone. The third is a perfect 14-for-14 success rate on stolen bases."

All of it indicates a more than solid foundation of fantasy skills, and there's hope for Biggio to increase his average. He could stand to be more aggressive at the plate, since that could cut down on his called third strikes and take advantage of the fact he elevates so many of the balls he hits.

He tallied 16 homers and 14 steals in 100 games last season. In an everyday big-league role, he could make a serious push at 30 and 30.

The 2020 MLB season remains on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fantasy baseball leagues yet to draft can wait until receiving more clarity on a potential new start date and season length. Others conducting an online draft may prefer to stick to the schedule.

For those still preparing for upcoming drafts, here's a look at my updated rankings (tailored to five-by-five rotisserie leagues). Let's then highlight some sleepers to targets and busts to avoid at their current average draft position (ADP).

      

2020 Top 50 Rankings

1 Mike Trout, OF, LAA

2 Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, ATL

3 Christian Yelich, OF, MIL

4. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, LAD

5. Mookie Betts, OF, LAD

6. Francisco Lindor, SS, CLE

7. Trevor Story, SS, COL

8. Gerrit Cole. SP, NYY

9. Jacob deGrom, SP, NYM

10. Trea Turner, SS, WAS

11. Nolan Arenado, 3B, COL

12. Juan Soto, OF, WAS

13. Alex Bregman, 3B/SS, HOU

14. Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL

15. J.D. Martinez, OF, BOS

16. Jose Ramirez, 3B, CLE

17. Anthony Rendon, 3B, LAA

18. Max Scherzer, SP, WAS

19. Rafael Devers, 3B, BOD

20. Walker Buehler, SP, LAD

21. Bryce Harper, OF, PHI

22. Starling Marte, OF, ARI

23. Xander Bogaerts, SS, BOS

24. Jose Altuve, 2B, HOU

25. Shane Bieber, SP, CLE

26. Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, SD

27. Charlie Blackmon, OF, COL

28. Stephen Strasburg, SP, WAS

29. Ozzie Albies, 2B, ATL

30. Jack Flaherty, SP, STL

31. Javier Baez, SS, CHC

32. Yordan Alvarez, OF, HOU

33. George Springer, OF, HOU

34. Gleyber Torres, 2B/SS, NYY

35. Adalberto Mondesi, 2B/SS, KC

36. Pete Alonso, 1B, NYM

37. Austin Meadows, OF, TB

38. Ketel Marte, 2B/SS/OF, ARI

39. Justin Verlander, SP, HOU

40. Blake Snell, SP, TB

41. Jonathan Villar, 2B/SS, MIA

42. Patrick Corbin, SP, WAS

43. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, CHC

44. Clayton Kershaw, SP, LAD

45. Mike Clevinger, SP, CLE

46. Nelson Cruz, DH, MIN

47. Luis Castillo, SP, CIN

48. Manny Machado, 3B/SS, SD

49. Kris Bryant, 3B/OF, CHC

50. Charlie Morton, SP, TB

                

Sleepers

J.D. Davis, 3B/OF, New York Mets

C.J. Cron, 1B, Detroit Tigers

Austin Hays, OF, Baltimore Orioles

Domingo Santana, OF, Cleveland Indians

Ian Happ, 2B/OF, Chicago Cubs

Mitch Keller, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Dylan Bundy, SP, Los Angeles Angels

Michael Kopech, SP, Chicago White Sox

Josh James, SP/RP, Houston Astros

Matt Barnes, RP, Boston Red Sox

            

Busts

Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, San Diego Padres

Trevor Bauer, SP, Cincinnati Reds

Joey Gallo, OF, Texas Rangers

Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees

Liam Hendriks, RP, Oakland Athletics

Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

Yuli Gurriel, 1B, Houston Astros

Danny Santana, 1B/OF, Texas Rangers

Gavin Lux, 2B/SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

Sean Doolittle, RP, Washington Nationals

             

Sleeper: Dansby Swanson, SS, Atlanta Braves

Former No. 1 pick Dansby Swanson finally arrived. In his age-25 season, the shortstop made a feasible All-Star case by batting .270/.330/.493 with 17 home runs and seven steals before the break.

Of course, that's not the full story. Shortly after the unofficial midway mark, the Atlanta Braves placed him on the injured list due to a partially torn ligament in his left hand. Clearly not fully right, he returned to bat .194 (19-for-98) with no homers in 27 games.

This cold conclusion turned a celebratory breakout into a mild output. Those looking at Swanson's .251/.325/.422 slash line won't think much of his 263 consensus ADP, per FantasyPros.

And yet, while the hot start alone is enough to bite at such a stunted cost, the batted-ball metrics should compel drafters to reach higher. 

According to Statcast data, courtesy of Baseball Savant, Swanson set personal bests in average exit velocity (89.8 mph), barrels (37) and hard-hit rate (41.6%). This strong quality of contact led him to post a higher expected weighted on-base average (.347 xwOBA) than Fernando Tatis Jr. (.346) and Gleyber Torres (.341).

Those newfound skills support his ability to maintain last year's early power gains while improving his batting average. Throw in a handful of steals from someone who poached 10 bases in back-to-back years, and Swanson is a worthwhile middle infielder to target late.

              

Bust: Eduardo Escobar, 2B/3B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Few hitters benefited from 2019's power boom more than Eduardo Escobar, who shattered 2018's modest career benchmark of 23 home runs with 35. This came despite just a 22-point uptick in slugging percentage and a weighted runs created plus (wRC+) that depreciated from 118 to 109.

Escobar didn't necessarily get better; the balls just traveled further. He also padded his numbers in 699 plate appearances, the 10th-most among all hitters.

If MLB cuts back to a smaller schedule, durable compilers become less valuable than those with standout skills. Suddenly, you're looking at a 31-year-old with one elite campaign who has yet to bat above .275 in a single season.

On the bright side, a 107 ADP does not demand anyone to truly believe in last season's breakout. It's not an egregious price to pay, preferably in deeper leagues where a stable floor rises in value. Yet drafters are still better off waiting 40 picks to snag Justin Turner, a .297/.378/.508 hitter since the start of 2015. 

              

Sleeper: Jordan Montgomery, SP, New York Yankees

The New York Yankees needed someone to rise to the occasion and claim a spot in their ransacked rotation. Jordan Montgomery answered the call.

Although he relinquished four home runs in four spring outings, the 27-year-old also opened eyes by recording 16 strikeouts to just one walk in 11.1 innings. 

In early March, per George A. King III of the New York Post, Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke strongly of Montgomery's chances to make the starting staff.

"This is a guy that's already had a really strong big league season under his belt," Boone said. "So I'm excited about where he is and feel like he's very much solidifying himself."

Prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2018, Montgomery submitted a 3.84 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 182.2 innings. A killer curveball and potent slider steered him to a career 11.9 percent swinging-strike rate, a mark topped by just 21 qualified starters last season.

Even if James Paxton is now able to return by Opening Day, Montgomery should join the fellow southpaw in the rotation alongside Gerrit Cole, Masahiro Tanaka and J.A. Happ. The buzz could build during an extended waiting period, but a 299 ADP still prices him as an end-of-draft dart throw in smaller mixed leagues. 

              

Bust: Aaron Nola, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

12 up, 12 down for Monty today 🔥🤩 pic.twitter.com/fDRkzQFPBt

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 10, 2020

Blind player comparisons using last year's results are often a misleading exercise that fails to take certain variables into account. So let's do one of those:

Player A: 3.51 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 27.1% K, 8.1% BB, 3.36 FIP

Player B: 3.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 26.9% K, 9.4% BB, 4.03 FIP

Player C: 4.14 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 26.2% K, 8.4% BB, 3.99 FIP

Player A is Jake Odorizzi, who is understandably not expected to repeat a career 2019 after tailing off in the second half. His ADP resides at 178.

Player C is Kenta Maeda, who now has a permanent spot as Odorizzi's replacement in the Minnesota Twins' rotation. While home runs remain a concern, the righty no longer needs to worry about the Los Angeles Dodgers limiting his innings. His ADP is three spots above Odorizzi.

Care to take a wild guess at Player B's identity? Hint: Look at the subheader and accompanying image.

This game does not account for Aaron Nola's youth and superior track record. The 26-year-old sports a career 3.49 ERA and 3.45 FIP despite the down 2019. He also, however, never issued a walk rate above 7.1 percent prior to last year's atypical control pains.

Having exceeded 200 innings in consecutive years, Nola has durability on his side. Assuming MLB runs out of time to make up lost games, drafters won't benefit from that skill this season. That especially makes his No. 47 ADP hard to digest when Manny Machado, Anthony Rizzo and Nelson Cruz are still on the board.

Nola should actually improve on last year's ERA and WHIP, so this is a matter of price. On a per-start basis, he's not significantly better than Maeda, David Price, Jesus Luzardo or Julio Urias. All of them carry an ADP outside the top 125. 

             

Note: Advanced statistics are courtesy of FanGraphs unless stated otherwise. All ADP, obtained from FantasyPros, updated as of Thursday, March 19. 

The coronavirus pandemic has seen the 2020 Major League Baseball season postponed indefinitely. But that doesn't mean we can't start prepping for the fantasy year.

The MLB season is always a long one, so given the uncertain road ahead, this upcoming season is sure to be as capricious and unforgiving as ever. This translates to fantasy baseball as well, where a few poor selections could prove fatal to your team's chances of claiming victory.

Though a lot can and will change between now and whenever the season begins, let's take stock of the fantasy baseball hierarchy as it stands.

                           

10-Team 1st-Round Fantasy Mock Draft

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

3. Cody Bellinger, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

4. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves

5. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

7. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

8. Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros

9. Trea Turner, SS, Washington Nationals

10. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

                 

1st Baseman Rankings

1. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves

2. Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs

3. Pete Alonso, New York Mets

4. Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals

5. Matt Olson, Oakland Athletics

6. Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates

7. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers

8. Rhys Hoskins, Philadelphia Phillies

9. Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians

10. Edwin Encarnacion, Chicago White Sox

                 

Lots of familiar names dot this list, from Freddie Freeman and Anthony Rizzo at the top to Edwin Encarnacion rounding out the top 10. Most of those veterans are known for their metronomic consistency, so barring injuries, you will likely be rewarded for drafting them.

However, keep an eye out for the rising stars. After a historic rookie season, Pete Alonso will be the focus of every starting pitcher's scouting report, so let's see how he responds to being the full-time focal point of the New York Mets starting lineup. Similar questions apply to Matt Olson and Josh Bell, both of whom smoked the ball last year to firmly establish themselves as menacing hitters. 

If those youngsters manage to stave off major regression this year or even improve, then first base will remain one of MLB's premier positions.

                    

2nd Baseman Rankings

1. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

2. Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves

3. Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

4. Jonathan Villar, Miami Marlins

5. DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees

6. Whit Merrifield, Kansas City Royals

7. Keston Hiura, Milwaukee Brewers

8. Mike Moustakas, Cincinnati Reds

9. Cavan Biggio, Toronto Blue Jays

10. Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays

                

There's a major drop-off between the top tier of second basemen (Jose Altuve and Ozzie Albies) and the remainder of this list.

That's not to say there are only two quality second basemen, however. Both Ketel Marte and Jonathan Villar burst on to the scene last season with career years, while DJ LeMahieu emerged as a fringe MVP candidate for the injury-ravaged New York Yankees. Even an ostensible journeyman like Mike Moustakas has resurrected his career in recent seasons.

But the fact that most of these guys are young or have had late-career breakouts make them prime candidates for some kind of regression.

If you're not fortunate enough to draft one of the top two, then you may be hemorrhaging key stats next season.

                   

Shortstop Rankings

1. Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians

2. Trea Turner, Washington Nationals

3. Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs

4. Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies

5. Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees

6. Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres

7. Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox

8. Marcus Semien, Oakland Athletics

9. Carlos Correa, Houston Astros

10. Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers

                  

More than nearly any other position, the ranking of starting shortstops is subject to high variance.

There's a world in which nearly all 10 of these players could be the top at their position this time next year. Even Carlos Correa and Corey Seager, both of whom have slumped in recent seasons, have as high ceilings as their more consistent peers. Each man plays for a contending roster with excellent lineup protection, making a return to form are eminently possible.

For now, it's probably safe to consider Francisco Lindor the best of the bunch. The four-time All-Star has put together quite a four-year stretch, slugging .284/.346/.495, hitting 118 home runs, recording 23.6 WAR and winning two Golden Gloves since 2016. But it wouldn't be a shock to see him surpassed this year by Turner, Baez, Torres, or any number of other worthy candidates.

              

3rd Baseman Rankings

1. Alex Bregman, Houston Astros

2. Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies

3. Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels

4. Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians

5. Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox

6. Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

7. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres

8. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays

9. Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics

10. Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati Reds

                 

When fantasy baseball experts talk about positions of value, they mean something like this.

Third base is chock-full of dynamite talent—so much, in fact, that it's prudent to address other positions with less depth in earlier rounds and then maybe draft a third baseman in the second or third round. What other position could boast as gifted a player as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the most exciting young player to come along in nearly a decade, as its eighth-best and not feel like that was a major underestimation?

Obviously, guys like Alex Bregman, Nolan Arenado and Anthony Rendon are elite, and their high placements don't require much explanation. It's when you look at the likes of Kris Bryant, a 28-year old former MVP, and Manny Machado, who's one year removed from hitting 37 home runs and slugging .905, towards the bottom of this top 10 that third base's depth comes into focus.

                

Catcher Rankings

1. J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies

2. Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees

3. Yasmani Grandal, Chicago White Sox

4. Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs

5. Mitch Garver, Minnesota Twins

6. Salvador Perez, Kansas City Chiefs

7. Wilson Ramos, New York Mets

8. Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers

9. Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals

10. Christian Vazquez, Boston Red Sox

                 

After batting .211 over the past two seasons and missing 128 of a possible 324 games, it's more than a bit shocking to see Gary Sanchez anywhere near the top of a list like this. But that's as much a testament to his tremendously high ceiling and his ability to accrue fantasy-worthy stats as it is the state of the catcher position in 2020.

Though catcher has never been an elite fantasy position (Joe Mauers of the world aside), this collection of players looks particularly grim. Will Smith has played 54 career MLB games. Yadier Molina, though a future Hall-of-Famer, is 37 and just posted his fewest RBI in a season since 2014. Mitch Garver has just a season's worth of starter-caliber play under his belt, and that was enough to place him fifth on this list. 

Inevitably, some of these guys (or some potential sleepers) will emerge as sustainable heirs to the catcher position in a post-Molina and Buster Posey league. But for now, this is one of the only positions on the diamond where it's OK to just select one of these guys at random and hope it works out.

                         

Outfield Rankings

1. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

2. Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

3. Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers

4. Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves

5. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

6. Juan Soto, Washington Nationals

7. J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox

8. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies

9. George Springer, Houston Astros

10. Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies 

             

If all 10 of these players went in the first two rounds of a 10-team fantasy draft, it would check out. That's how full of talent the outfield crop is, without even accounting for the injured Aaron Judge.

Two players on this list stick out the most: J.D. Martinez and Bryce Harper. Without Mookie Betts to protect him in the Boston Red Sox starting lineup anymore, it will be interesting to see how teams pitch to Martinez and whether he's able to continue mashing the ball despite declining steadily over the past three years.

Harper, on the other hand, is firmly past the honeymoon period with the Philadelphia Phillies, and expectations will be sky-high in the second year of his seemingly endless contract. Despite hitting 35 home runs and driving home 114 runs last year, the 27-year old failed to make the All-Star team, and the fate of the Phillies' eight-season playoff drought is largely on his shoulders.

                           

Starting Pitcher Rankings

1. Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees

2. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

3. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

4. Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

6. Jack Flaherty, St. Louis Cardinals

7. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

8. Patrick Corbin, Washington Nationals

9. Shane Bieber, Cleveland Indians

10. Charlie Morton, Tampa Bay Rays

                       

As if this group of starters could get much better, it would have included future first-ballot Hall of Famer Justin Verlander before he underwent groin surgery. He is scheduled to sit out several months—though at this rate, he might be healthy before the season starts. 

This list of 10 suggests a considerable consolidation of starting pitching talent in the league. There are three Nationals and two Dodgers here, and notable snubs include the Mets' Noah Syndergaard, the Indians' Mike Clevinger, and the Astros' Zack Greinke, all of whom would have been their teams' second inclusion in the top 10.

One starter who's a little lower in than usual in these kinds of rankings is Clayton Kershaw. After showing minor signs of decline in the 2019 regular season (in addition to another postseason underachievement), the all-time great is slowly but surely slipping in estimation, especially when compared to Walker Buehler, his rock star younger teammate.

Not that he's ever cared about legacy, but the lanky southpaw could use one more dominant campaign to solidify his reputation as the best pitcher of the 21st century.

                      

Relief Pitcher Rankings

1. Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees

2. Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers

3. Kirby Yates, San Diego Padres

4. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Roberto Osuna, Houston Astros

6. Liam Hendriks, Oakland Athletics

7. Taylor Rogers, Minnesota Twins

8. Brad Hand, Cleveland Indians

9. Ken Giles, Toronto Blue Jays

10. Raisel Iglesias, Cincinnati Reds

                          

Despite some relative anonymity on this list, there's some great value to be had at the reliever position.

Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Josh Hader are mainstays on any list of this kind, and all three remain in peak form. They have been joined at the top of the heap by Kirby Yates, who recorded 41 saves and struck out 101 batters last year for the San Diego Padres, and Taylor Rogers, who became the Minnesota Twins' full-time closer last season and impressed throughout, saving 30 games, recording a 2.61 ERA, and recording a ludicrous 90:11 strikeout: walk ratio.

A sleeper in this group would be Ken Giles. After a mostly rocky stint with the Houston Astros, he was excellent for the Toronto Blue Jays last year. And if his team emerges as a sleeper wild-card contender, then it will likely be at least in part to his heroics in close games.

Dynasty fantasy baseball is about more than one season, but you still want to put together a strong team for now.

The 2020 MLB season has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, which will likely create a shortened regular season. From a fantasy perspective, this means you should select players you can trust to perform at a high level right out of the gate.

The good news is there will still be several high-quality prospects available to help your team out in future seasons.

Here is a look at top players to draft going into 2020.

       

Dynasty Rankings

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves

3. Cody Bellinger, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

4. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

5. Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals

6. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

7. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

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

9. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

10. Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies

11. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

12. Yordan Alvarez, DH, Houston Astros

13. Trea Turner, SS, Washington Nationals

14. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Toronto Blue Jays

15. Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox

16. Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros

17. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

18. Bryce Harper, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

19. Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees

20. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Indians

21. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

22. Shane Bieber, SP, Cleveland Indians

23. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves

24. Walker Buehler, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

25. Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston Red Sox

26. Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

27. Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

28. Gleyber Torres, 2B, New York Yankees

29. Ozzie Albies, 2B, Atlanta Braves

30. Keston Hiura, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers

31. Max Scherzer, SP, Washington Nationals

32. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox

33. Yoan Moncada, 3B, Chicago White Sox

34. Javier Baez, SS, Chicago Cubs

35. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Washington Nationals

36. Chris Paddack, SP, San Diego Padres

37. Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs

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

39. Blake Snell, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

40. Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros

41. Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres

42. Mike Clevinger, SP, Cleveland Indians

43. Matt Olson, 1B, Oakland Athletics

44. Jack Flaherty, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

45. Ketel Marte, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

46. Lucas Giolito, SP, Chicago White Sox

47. Austin Meadows, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

48. Carlos Correa, SS, Houston Astros

49. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays

50. George Springer, OF, Houston Astros

51. Luis Castillo, SP, Cincinnati Reds

52. Aaron Nola, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

53. Justin Verlander, SP, Houston Astros

54. Gavin Lux, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers

55. Noah Syndergaard, SP, New York Mets

56. Joey Gallo, OF, Texas Rangers

57. J.T. Realmuto, C, Philadelphia Phillies

58. Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees

59. Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

60. Charlie Blackmon, OF, Colorado Rockies

61. Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Los Angeles Angels

62. Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Cincinnati Reds

63. Josh Bell, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates

64. Chris Sale, SP, Boston Red Sox

65. Willson Contreras, C, Chicago Cubs

66. Giancarlo Stanton, OF, New York Yankees

67. Tyler Glasnow, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

68. Matt Chapman, 3B, Oakland Athletics

69. Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels

70. Starling Marte, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

71. Victor Robles, OF, Washington Nationals

72. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs

73. Mike Soroka, SP, Atlanta Braves

74. Jose Berrios, SP, Minnesota Twins

75. Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago White Sox

76. Andrew Benintendi, OF, Boston Red Sox

77. Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals

78. Jesus Luzardo, SP, Oakland Athletics

79. Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros

80. MacKenzie Gore, SP, San Diego Padres

81. Michael Conforto, OF, New York Mets

82. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals

83. Ramon Laureano, OF, Oakland Athletics

84. Max Muncy, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers

85. Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

86. Patrick Corbin, SP, Washington Nationals

87. Jorge Soler, OF, Kansas City Royals

88. Jeff McNeil, 3B, New York Mets

89. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

90. Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies

91. Tim Anderson, SS, Chicago White Sox

92. Eddie Rosario, OF, Minnesota Twins

93. Josh Hader, RP, Milwaukee Brewers

94. Whit Merrifield, 2B, Kansas City Royals

95. Nick Senzel, OF, Cincinnati Reds

96. DJ LeMahieu, 3B, New York Yankees

97. Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins

98. Jonathan Villar, 2B, Miami Marlins

99. Zack Wheeler, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

100. Casey Mize, SP, Detroit Tigers

         

Top Stars to Watch

Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

It's hard to argue with anyone who wants to take Ronald Acuna Jr. with the first overall pick.

The 22-year-old is already one of the best players in the majors, finishing last season with 41 home runs and 101 RBI while leading the league with 37 stolen bases and 127 runs.

There is a strong chance Acuna will be the most productive player in baseball for the next five years.

However, Mike Trout is much more proven and as consistent as nearly anyone in history.

The outfielder has played eight full seasons in the majors and finished in the top four of MVP voting each season, ending in the top two in all but one year. He earned his third AL MVP award last year after hitting .291 with 45 home runs and 104 RBI.

The addition of Anthony Rendon could also strengthen the Angels lineup, giving Trout more opportunities for runs and RBI.

With no signs of slowing down, the 28-year-old should be the top pick in dynasty drafts.

      

Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, San Diego Padres

Some people want to select unproven prospects early in dynasty drafts, while others want players who have showed they can handle the majors.

Fernando Tatis Jr. is almost the best of both worlds.

At just 21 years old, the shortstop still has a lot of great years ahead of him but proved in 84 games last season that scouts were absolutely right about his ability.

Tatis filled up the stat sheet in 2019 with 22 home runs, 16 stolen bases and a .317 batting average. Adding in his .969 OPS, he likely would've competed with Pete Alonso for the Rookie of the Year award if he didn't get hurt.

Back to full strength in 2020, the young player has a chance to be an elite option this year and beyond.

        

Notable Prospects

Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays

As virtually the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball, including by MLB.com, Wander Franco will be taken early in dynasty drafts as each manager tries to grab the next big thing.

With a .336 career batting average in the minors, there is a good chance he will succeed in the majors.

The problem is he's just 19 years old in an organization that likely won't rush him to the Show. Franco spent last season in Single-A and has only played 175 total games as a professional.

Fantasy managers could be waiting a long time for production, an especially risky move for someone who hasn't proved himself yet at an upper level.

Pick him if he drops, but don't reach for the talented young player.

        

Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

Unlike Franco, Luis Robert started last season in Single-A and made his way up to Triple-A by the end of the year. Across three levels, he produced a .328 batting average with 32 home runs and 36 stolen bases.

He's such a sure thing the White Sox already signed him to a six-year extension worth $50 million before playing a single game in the majors.

The 22-year-old should not only play for Chicago in 2020, but he also has lofty expectations for himself.

"As every young player in the Major Leagues, I want to be Rookie of the Year and win a [World Series] championship," Robert said in January, per Russell Dorsey of MLB.com.

With his skill set, the Cuban has a chance to be a star early in his career.

Fantasy baseball will be delayed this year as Major League Baseball pushes back its season. But it will start back up at some point, and you'll want to be prepared when it does.

So below, you'll find my top-10 rankings for the fantasy baseball season and analysis for why I've ranked these players as first-round talents. 

                                     

1st-Round Rankings

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

3. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves

4. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

6. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland

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

8. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

9. Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals

10. Trea Turner, SS, Washington Nationals

                              

Analysis

Mike Trout will always be the safe pick. Yes, injuries have been a factor in his past three seasons. No, that hasn't hurt his fantasy output. In 134 games last year, Trout hit .291 with 45 homers, 110 RBI, 110 runs and 11 stolen bases. The steals were down, and that could remain the trend as Trout gets older, though it's easy to forget that he's only 28.

But he more than makes up for it in every other category. Maybe the injuries and his diminished steal numbers hurt his upside, but his floor is the highest in baseball. You can't go wrong sticking with Trout. 

I have a new theory regarding Mike Trout: He's a Terminator, sent back in time to destroy all baseballs before they mount a resistance against the machines. https://t.co/6ce2IZ6dPi

— Zachary D. Rymer (@zachrymer) March 6, 2020

Christian Yelich is an easy choice at No. 2. The numbers he put up in 2019 despite missing 32 games were absurd, hitting .329 with 44 homers, 97 RBI, 100 runs and 30 stolen bases. Trout gets the nod as the safer choice because he's been consistently good for longer, but a healthy Yelich boasts arguably the highest upside in baseball.

Then again, Ronald Acuna Jr. could make another leap. He's only 22 and just finished a season that saw him hit .280 with 41 homers, 101 RBI, 127 runs and 37 stolen bases. Not too shabby for his second year in the big leagues. To put that in perspective, Trout hit .326 with 30 homers, 83 RBI, 129 runs and 49 stolen bases as a 20-year-old. 

To date, that's one of Trout's most impressive seasons, and it's possible Acuna won't take another leap. But on pure upside, he makes sense as a top-three option. 

Gunning for 50-50 might seem to be an unrealistic goal. But Acuña has given us reason to anxiously anticipate what he will do this year https://t.co/l9IqPVeDzo

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) February 22, 2020

Like Acuna, Juan Soto is dripping with potential. Mookie Betts is a safer pick given his consistent production—imagine hitting 29 homers and 80 RBI in a "down year." Francisco Lindor offers more positional value at shortstop, where his power numbers can be hard to come by. Cody Bellinger's sheer power is hard to ignore, especially with another superstar like Betts now in the lineup.

But Soto is only 21 and just hit .282 with 34 homers, 110 RBI, 110 runs and 12 stolen bases. His steal numbers keep him out of the top tier of players, but like Acuna, he's not even in his prime yet and already raking. 

His teammate, Trea Turner, makes the top 10 for his speed and his positional value at shortstop. In an era that has moved away from base-stealing, Turner's four straight years with 30 or more steals becomes all the more valuable. Add in back-to-back seasons with 19 homers and at least 95 runs, and Turner is a safe bet to help your team in every category.

As for having two starting pitchers in the top 10, Cole is a safe pick because he routinely misses bats (an incredible 602 strikeouts the past two seasons) and is on a Yankees team that will win a lot of games this year. 

And deGrom is Mr. Consistent, with 230 or more strikeouts in three straight seasons and 200 or more K's in four out of the past five years. He probably won't hit Cole's overall strikeout numbers or wins, but he'll make up for it with ERA and WHIP.

The official start time and general status of the 2020 MLB season remains unknown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Monday the regular season would not begin in April. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported sometime in May would mark a best-case scenario for the commencement of the regular season.

Spring training has been suspended, and the MLB announced all activities would be stopped while also allowing players to return to their respective homes, should they so desire.

At this time, however, it seems the season will indeed take place, at least at some point. This means fantasy baseball players have time to consider some of the prospects they could look to draft.

A number of young players showed out at spring training prior to the suspension of play, and some of the best prospects in baseball are expected to make their big league debuts at some point in 2020.

With this in mind, here are some of the up-and-coming stars to keep an eye on in fantasy baseball leagues.

      

Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox

   

The White Sox made a hefty commitment to Luis Robert when they signed him to a six-year, $50 million extension before he played in his first big league game. However, Chicago already set this precedent by doing the same with fellow outfielder Eloy Jimenez last spring.

Robert was a menace in the minor leagues in 2019. He slashed .328/.376/.624 with 32 homers and 36 stolen bases across three different levels last season, and he will almost certainly be the starting center fielder on Opening Day.

The 22-year-old was impressive during spring training, too, slashing .333/.394/.567 with a homer and three stolen bases in 33 plate appearances. He showcased the kind of skills that make him such a marquee prospect: plus hit tool, power and speed. Robert was not caught stealing this spring, and he can stuff multiple categories for fantasy owners.

There might be a tendency for drafters to reach on Robert given his potential and the fact he will play immediately, but he has arguably the highest upside of any rookie position player in the bigs.

    

Nate Pearson, Toronto Blue Jays

   

The Blue Jays made a number of additions to their starting rotation this past winter. They signed 2019 ERA champion Hyun-Jin Ryu in addition to veterans Tanner Roark and Chase Anderson in an effort to bolster their pitching staff alongside a group of young and talented position players.

Do not forget about Nate Pearson. Toronto's top prospect has an electric fastball that touches the upper-90s, and he pairs that with a hard-biting slider in the upper-80s.

Like Robert, Pearson also played at three levels in 2019. He went 5-4 with a 2.30 ERA in 25 starts, including a 2.59 ERA in 16 Double-A starts.

The 23-year-old might make the big league roster out of camp after a strong spring. Pearson allowed one run and two hits across seven innings of work, posting 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

He will have to establish his command in the majors (3.9 walks per nine innings this spring), but there is no reason Pearson cannot become an impact arm for a Blue Jays team that will need their starters to go deep into games if they hope to take the next step forward in the American League East. He could be this year's version of Chris Paddack.

      

Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels

   

The Angels were insistent on keeping Jo Adell this past winter even as they discussed trading for arms like Corey Kluber, which is indicative of the organization's belief he could be in the bigs in the near future.

Adell played at four levels last year, slashing .289/.359/.475 with 10 homers and seven stolen bases, though he struggled in limited action at Triple-A with a .676 OPS.

Still, other than Mike Trout and Justin Upton, the Angels are not set in the outfield. Brian Goodwin figures to start in right field, but it is not incomprehensible to believe Odell could climb the ladder if he improves his walk rate and makes adjustments at the Triple-A level.

Not to mention, Adell is likely to be available in the late rounds of any fantasy draft, as owners might not be willing to select him based on the fact he will probably start the year in the minors.

     

MacKenzie Gore, San Diego Padres

   

MacKenzie Gore is the No. 5 prospect in the MLB.com Top 100, and he has long been hailed as San Diego's best pitching prospect. His chances of eventually making the big league club also improved when the Friars traded former start Nick Margevicius to the Milwaukee Brewers.

That said, Gore was shaky in a small sample size during spring training. The 21-year-old walked a pair and gave up three earned runs in 1 2/3 innings of work. But again, very small sample size.

It seems likely Gore starts the season in the minors. He dominated in High-A ball but threw just 21 2/3 innings at Double-A. The Padres shut Gore down in August after he hit the Injured List on three separate occasions, and they are clearly being cautious with rtheir top prospect.

Like Adell, Gore could be a late-round steal. Should he remain healthy and work out some of the kinks in the minors, he can be a strikeout pitcher with electric stuff. He might be worth a selection for a Padres team that needs their youngsters to accelerate the development process.

         

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted.

Silly fantasy team names aren't for everybody. Many might not even enjoy them. But all that matters is the spark of joy you get from forcing those haters to cringe as they look at the team name beating them on the virtual scoreboard.

Puns and dad jokes offer some sort of superstitious mojo. And we're here to help you annoy your opponents into submission.

An obvious, established team name that's bothered many a foe is "Acuna Matata," based on the Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. Acuna Matata, what a wonderful name. Acuna Matata, of the Atlanta Braves. It means scoring flurries and the best of your plays.

Incredibly annoying. And incredibly satisfying to bother your league-mates with.

There's just something so tangibly precious about talking trash to an opponent who just lost to your corny crew. We want you to be able to experience that joy, so we've compiled some of the top fantasy baseball team names for 2020 MLB leagues.

                   

Fun Fantasy Baseball Team Names: 

Ordered by player's average draft position.

• You Make Me Wanna Trout
• Big Acuna
• Lindor's Truffles
• Juan-cut Gems
• Cole World
• Ice Trea
• Beef Rendon 
• Jessica Albies
• Machado About Nothing
• Corbin Your Enthusiasm
• Marte McFly
• Gallovanting With Joey
• We Are Phamily
• Snell Ya' Later
• Hader? I Hardly Know Her
• Jacobim T. Realmugato
• Darvish Is My Command
• Bentinended Consequences

                   

You might notice a wide array of source material. Just look at consensus No. 1 fantasy pick, Mike Trout. You can recall the 1959 iconic song "You Make Me Wanna Shout" by the Isley Brothers to pay homage to the centerpiece of your team. 

From referencing the Indonesian popular dish, beef rendang, to the greatest film villain of all time: Zoolander's Mugato, this list should cover your bare necessities (unfortunately, no Jungle Book pun stands out at the moment). 

For good measure, here are some generic options if you ever want to play it safer: 

• Bunt-Drunk Love
• Armed and Dingerous
• Homer Simpson
• Ace Jam
• Lean, Mean Bean Machine
• Sweet Chin Music
• Hauling Mass and Throwing Gas

There will be baseball.

We may not know when or where just yet, but at some point, players will return to the diamond and fans will race to the nearest screens for fantasy drafting purposes.

Even without a starting date in mind, we know enough about the top of the fantasy ranks to build our strategy for the opening rounds. We'll share it while providing a glimpse at our first five picks in a mock draft using Fantasy Pros' draft simulator, plus we've compiled a cheat sheet of our top 25 players and five biggest sleepers, breakouts and busts for the 2020 campaign.

                      

Fantasy Baseball 2020 Cheat Sheet

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

                  

Sleepers

Mark Canha, OF, Oakland A's

Starlin Castro, 2B/3B, Washington Nationals

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies

Josh James, RP, Houston Astros

Kenta Maeda, SP/RP, Minnesota Twins

                     

Breakouts

Cavan Biggio, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays

Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Keston Hiura, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers

Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins

Luke Voit, 1B, New York Yankees

                 

Busts

Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

Kenley Jansen, RP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals

Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Los Angeles Angels

                     

Mock Draft Results, Early-Round Strategy

Round 1, Pick 7: Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

Round 2, Pick 18: Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Indians

Round 3, Pick 31: Shane Bieber, SP, Cleveland Indians

Round 4, Pick 42: Keston Hiura, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers

Round 5, Pick 55: Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs

      

Target Starting Pitching, Steals Early

It's tough to craft a catch-all strategy, since every draft room is different. But in general terms, I see a shortage of elite starting pitchers and multitalented steals sources, so I'm seeking out both as early as possible.

The first six picks in this 12-team mock went like this: Ronald Acuna Jr., Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger and Trevor Story. While that left Francisco Lindor on the board—and gave me plenty to think about—it also meant my No. 1 starting pitcher, Gerrit Cole, was still around. He was my choice, and hopefully he'll bring some of his 326 strikeouts from last season.

I'm not opposed to going pitcher-pitcher at the start of a draft, but Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Walker Buehler were all gone before I was back on the clock. Jose Ramirez was there, though, with his unique combination of power and speed. If he parties like it's 2018 again, he might be a league-winner (39 homers, 34 steals, 215 combined runs and RBI).

Only two pitchers went between picks 18 and 31 (Stephen Strasburg and Jack Flaherty), so grabbing another top-shelf arm was a no-brainer. Shane Bieber had a 3.28 ERA and 259 strikeouts in 214.1 innings last season. If he repeats those numbers, I might already have the league's best rotation.

With two top starters and a good (maybe great) steals source, I could pivot to a best-player-available strategy going forward. That first meant grabbing one of my top breakout pick in Keston Hiura, who might be an across-the-board fantasy standout. He only played 84 games in the majors last season and still totaled 19 homers and nine steals while hitting .303. Sign me up.

I debated taking Anthony Rizzo with the 42nd pick, so he was an obvious choice when he made it back to me at No. 55. He's almost a lock for 30 homers, 100 RBI and 90-plus runs every season. He hits for a good average, and he has great on-base skills. He might not hurt you in steals either (41 over the past five seasons). At this price point, it's hard to ignore the production.

Not every draft board will break this way. If yours sees early runs on starting pitchers and speedsters, you must decide on the fly whether you'll pay the increased rate or seek out bargains elsewhere. But if the fantasy gods shine in your favor, then you might have a chance to put your two biggest worry areas to rest early.