Category: Fantasy Baseball

Buyer beware: Avoid these fantasy baseball busts this season

Highlighting potential fantasy baseball busts you’ll need to avoid in your drafts for the 2020 MLB season.

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The 2020 fantasy baseball season will be one like never before and will require owners to have near-perfect drafts. Below, we call attention to the players most likely to be a bust in 2020 and who you should be avoiding in your fantasy baseball drafts.

There’ll be no time to wait on slow-starters and early-season slumps in the 60-game MLB season. This means it’ll be incredibly important to avoid a draft bust, particularly in the early rounds.

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2020 fantasy baseball busts to avoid

Mar 5, 2020; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez. (Photo Credit: Matt Kartozian – USA TODAY Sports)

Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Indians

Here is where the term “bust” comes under scrutiny every year. By all means, draft Ramirez. He’s a fantastic player, but he won’t be worth a mid-second-round pick in 2020.

He has slashed .272/.347/.469 in the first half of the season for his career, compared to a .288/.356/.504 line in the second half – that split was even worse in 2019. Part of the problem is likely due to the cold March and April weather in Cleveland, but it’s also a sign he usually starts the year behind pitchers. There’s no time for that in a 60-game season.

Mitch Garver, C, Minnesota Twins

Garver crushed 31 home runs in just 93 games and 359 plate appearances for the Twins last year. He did it with a .357 ISO and 29.0% home run to fly ball ratio compared to his .146 and 8.0% marks across 103 games in 2018.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Salvador Perez, C, Kansas City Royals

Perez’s start to the season is already in jeopardy after testing positive for COVID-19. Though he’s asymptomatic, he’s also recovering from a season lost to an elbow injury. Expect a serious power decline from his 27-home run seasons of 2017 and 2018.

Mallex Smith, OF, Seattle Mariners

Smith offers little fantasy value outside of his great contributions in the stolen bases category. He’s also another poor starter with a career .629 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) in March and April.

Jon Berti, IF/OF, Miami Marlins

Berti is viewed by some as a sleeper this season after stealing 17 bases in 73 games last season. He struck out in 25.4% of his plate appearances, walked in just 8.4% and can’t get on base consistently enough to contribute at the same pace in the shortened campaign. He had a .273 batting average in 2019, but it was mainly the result of an inflated .360 BABIP (batting average on balls in play).

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Josh Hader, RP, Milwaukee Brewers

Hader is one example of the high-priced closers to fade this season, along with the saves category. There’ll be fewer opportunities in the unpredictable season as teams use less-defined pitcher roles. The mid-round pick isn’t worth leaving better and more predictable hitters on the board.

German Marquez, SP, Colorado Rockies

Two factors work against Marquez. He’ll play 30 of his 60 games in the hitter-friendly Coors Field, where he has a career 5.01 ERA compared to a 3.72 mark on the road, and he has also performed best in the second half of the season. Owners won’t be able to sit through those rough starts this season.

Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Gallen was viewed as a favorite sleeper target by many back in March. He pitched to a stellar 2.81 ERA, but 4.15 xFIP across 15 starts and 80 innings in 2019. He won’t have the necessary time to develop in his shortened sophomore season and can’t be expected to pick up right where he left off.

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Top Fantasy Baseball rookies to bank on in 2020

Analyzing the best MLB rookies to target in your 2020 fantasy baseball draft.

Fantasy baseball season is quickly approaching and we at SportsbookWire have you covered. We have looked at top sleepers and some value pitchers to target. Below, we’ll look at five MLB rookies who are poised to make major impacts on the 60-game 2020 fantasy season.

Fantasy baseball rookies to target

Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

Robert, 22, totaled 32 home runs and 36 stolen bases across three different levels of the minor leagues in 2019. He had been expected to start the 2020 season patrolling center field for a much-improved White Sox team even before the season was shortened and the minor-league season was canceled.

He slashed .297/.341/.634 over 47 games in Triple-A last season, but needs to cut down on strikeouts and draw more walks in order to have success at the majors. He’ll be given a long leash.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Jesus Luzardo, SP, Oakland Athletics

Luzardo tossed 12 innings across six games last season and recorded two saves while striking out 16 batters with just three walks and two earned runs allowed. The former top prospect is currently slated as the No. 4 starter in the Athletics rotation.

Gavin Lux, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers

Lux hit two homers and stole two bases while slashing .240/.305/.400 across 82 plate appearances in 23 MLB games last season. He’s expected to be the everyday second baseman in 2020, and though he’ll likely bat ninth in the order, he’ll be followed by OF Mookie Betts, 1B Max Muncy and 3B Justin Turner as the lineup turns over.

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Nate Pearson, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays’ top pitching prospect, Pearson will likely be the first name called upon in the event of an injury to another starter. He’ll probably open the season on the taxi squad, but will still have a direct path into the rotation and can still make an early impact. He pitched to a 2.59 ERA across 62 2/3 innings in Double-A last season.

Carter Kieboom, SS, Washington Nationals

Kieboom will open 2020 as the replacement to Anthony Rendon at third base for the Nationals. He trailed only OF Victor Robles in the Nats’ prospect rankings last season, as he slashed .303/.409/.493 with 16 homers over 109 games in Triple-A. He hit two homers, but struck out in 37.2% of his plate appearances over 11 MLB games after his call-up. He gained some experience ahead of what’s expected to be a full 60-game season at the hot corner.

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Top Fantasy Baseball sleepers to bank on in 2020

Highlighting the top 5 sleepers to target in your 2020 fantasy baseball drafts.

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The key to the shortened 2020 fantasy baseball season will be getting every bit of production out of players and not letting them toil away on the waiver wire during a hot streak, especially at the start of the season. With this in mind, we look at the top fantasy baseball sleepers to target in your drafts for the 60-game MLB season.

Fantasy baseball sleepers

Ryan Braun, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

Average Draft Position (ADP): 255

Braun is one of the many National League players who will benefit from the universal designated hitter this season. The 36-year-old’s 144 games played last year were his most since 2012. A poor fielder late in his career, Braun will be able to focus predominantly on offense and will be at a much lower risk of injury.

He has hit 42 home runs over the last two seasons and hasn’t stolen fewer than 11 bases in a season since playing just 61 games in 2013. He’ll hit behind OFs Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich in the top-heavy Brewers lineup and will have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Cesar Hernandez, 2B, Cleveland Indians

ADP: 269

Hernandez moves over to the American League after spending the first seven seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, and will get to play a lot of games against the weak pitching staffs of the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox. He’s able to contribute in all categories and is assured the bulk of the playing time in the center of the infield.

Nick Solak, 2B/3B/DH, Texas Rangers

ADP: 295

Solak isn’t guaranteed a regular position in the Rangers lineup, but his versatility and talent should keep him involved, especially if any Rangers position player suffers an early injury. He slashed .293/.393/.491 with five home runs across 33 games in Texas’ lost 2019 season. He needs to be drafted before becoming a hot commodity on the waiver wire.

Playing fantasy baseball? A Draft Day like no other deserves a fantasy baseball Cheat Sheet like no other. Weekly HQBasics from BaseballHQ is $4.95 with coupon code SBW5. Sign up now!

Amed Rosario, SS, New York Mets

ADP: 168

Rosario developed some power last season and finished with a career-high 15 home runs to go with 19 stolen bases. He struggles with strikeouts and needs to draw more walks, but his batting average improved greatly over the second half of last season and his defense will keep him in the lineup every day for a competitive team.

Jonathan Schoop, 2B, Detroit Tigers

ADP: 317

Schoop swatted 23 homers and drove in 59 runs over 121 games with the Minnesota Twins last season. He struck out in 25% of his plate appearances and walked in just 4.3%, but he’ll be fully allowed to take his cuts while hitting in the center of a bad Tigers lineup.

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Target these 5 Fantasy Baseball rookies

Previewing the fantasy baseball landscape and highlighting the top 5 rookies to draft for the 2020 MLB season.

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Every year, a few rookies step up and unexpectedly become difference-makers in the world of Fantasy Baseball. Here, we take a look at a few possibilities for 2020, beyond the most obvious breakout rookies, such as Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Gavin Lux and Chicago White Sox OF Luis Robert.

Also see:

Fantasy baseball: Top 5 sleeper rookies

Washington Nationals 3B Carter Kieboom

Kieboom struggled in his first taste of the big leagues, as he collected just five hits in 39 at-bats for a .128 batting average in 2019. He punished Class AAA pitching all season, posting a .303/.409/.493 line with 16 home runs across 494 plate appearances.

Kieboom, who has been a middle infielder for the vast majority of his minor league career, has been anointed the starting third baseman for the Nationals heading into the season. He doesn’t offer a ton of immediate upside but should fare much better this time around, providing a decent average and some pop in a strong Washington lineup.

Playing fantasy baseball? A Draft Day like no other deserves a fantasy baseball Cheat Sheet like no other. Weekly HQBasics from BaseballHQ is $4.95 with coupon code SBW5. Sign up now!

Chicago White Sox 2B Nick Madrigal

Madrigal had a solid year in 2019, as he put up a .311/.377/.414 line across three levels of the minors. Two things stand out in his profile: He brings plenty of speed to the table, as shown by the 35 bags he swiped a season ago, and he also puts the ball in play at an extremely high rate. He struck out in just 16 of his 532 plate appearances (3.0% K%).

It appears there is a strong chance Madrigal won’t start the season on the active roster. If he does, he may be behind Leury Garcia in the pecking order at second base, but it probably won’t be long before he becomes a regular, and while the power is lacking, he should help in the batting average and stolen base categories.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

St. Louis Cardinals OF Dylan Carlson

Carlson spent most of the 2019 season terrorizing Class AA pitching. When he finally got a chance in Class AAA, he hit the ground running, as he recorded an absurd .361/.418/.681 line in 79 plate appearances.

Carlson can’t be expected to produce at that level in the majors, and there’s a chance he doesn’t open the season on the active roster, so the team can gain an extra year of control. It won’t be long before he gets a shot, and he should put up respectable numbers across all categories.

Oakland Athletics C Sean Murphy

Murphy missed much of the 2019 season due to injuries, but he mashed whenever he was on the field. He hit .308 with 10 homers in 140 plate appearances at Class AAA. He made a splash once called up to the majors in September, hitting .245 with four home runs in 60 plate appearances.

Murphy is set to get the majority of playing time behind the plate for Oakland in 2020. Look for him to continue to provide plus power, along with a batting average that won’t kill you.

Los Angeles Dodgers SP Dustin May

May showed he was ready for the majors when he got an opportunity in 2019. In 14 appearances (four starts), he put up a 3.63 ERA across 34 2/3 innings, with 32 strikeouts against just five walks.

May’s role for 2020 is unclear at this point. The Dodgers still have rotation depth, despite the recent losses of David Price and Jimmy Nelson, and even if May does start, the outings may be short at the beginning of the season. Even so, the skills are strong, and the pitcher-friendly park and offense behind him help make May a pitcher worth targeting in the middle rounds.

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Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Top 5 Fantasy Baseball sleepers for 2020

Looking at the top 5 sleeper picks for the 2020 Fantasy Baseball season.

As the adjusted 60-game MLB season approaches, we take a closer look at some fantasy baseball sleeper picks. In a season that will involve more use of organizational depth and have a wider strength-of-schedule disparity than perhaps any other in the modern era, sleeper candidates figure to loom large in clocking points this season.

Let’s look at the top five players who fall into this category.

Top 5 Fantasy Baseball sleepers

Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Gavin Lux

Lux scuffled in his debut season, batting a whiff-heavy .240 in a 23-game stint. The Dodgers’ second sacker has a skill set to get to an OPS in the high 700s. The former first-round draft pick (Dodgers – 2016) has potential in all the fantasy scoring categories.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Boston Red Sox OF Alex Verdugo

The 24-year-old comes over to the Red Sox after batting .294 with 12 home runs for the Dodgers in 377 plate appearances last year. A lot of line drives and a lot of Fenway Park on the schedule is a combination that never hurt anyone, unless you pitch for a living. The Statcast analytics – improved launch angle, an uptick in exit velocity – and improved performance against southpaws were factors somewhat masked by late-season injury issues (oblique strain). Verdugo benefits from the delayed start to the season, and fantasy managers will, as well.

Also see:

Colorado Rockies RP Scott Oberg

Oberg logged a 2.25 ERA across 56 innings pitched a year ago, and he figures to have a very real opportunity to unseat RP Wade Davis as the incumbent closer in Denver. The 30-year-old right-hander is an extreme groundball pitcher, and that’s helped him post tremendous numbers at Coors Field the last couple seasons.

Playing fantasy baseball? A Draft Day like no other deserves a fantasy baseball Cheat Sheet like no other. Weekly HQBasics from BaseballHQ is $4.95 with coupon code SBW5. Sign up now!

Miami Marlins OF Jon Berti

Berti registered an impressive late-bloomer rookie season in 2019. Position-wise, the 30-year-old is a Swiss Army Knife, and a year ago he clocked a .348 on-base percentage and stole 17 bases. A thief of 270 bags in nine Minor League seasons, Berti’s straight-line sprint speed measured as 13th-fastest in the 2019 MLB season.

The .348 OBP would appear ripe for regression, but the 2020 season brings more roster flexibility and playing-time potential for down-roster types.

Oakland Athletics SP Frankie Montas

Can a 16-start, 2.63 ERA pitcher still be considered a sleeper the following season? In this case, yes. Montas returned from a PED suspension last year to strike out 9.66 batters per nine innings over 96 frames. An improved splitter last summer, improved velocity this summer, and a shortened season that mitigates some potential durability issues all point to good things for Montas.

He certainly wouldn’t be the first MLB pitcher to really get in high gear around the age of 27 (his current age). A schedule featuring 67% of games against the AL West doesn’t hurt. An early look at average draft positioning shows the Oakland hurler being undervalued.

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Top 5 Fantasy Baseball sleeper pitchers

Previewing the fantasy baseball landscape and highlighting the top 5 sleeper pitchers for the 2020 MLB season.

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Fantasy baseball managers will need to act quickly in the shortened 2020 MLB season. The 60-game campaign will mean smaller sample sizes of both successes and struggles will carry more weight, and fantasy owners will need to be ready to pounce on the waiver wire and cut ties sooner than usual. Below, we’ll help you get a head start on the 2020 fantasy baseball season with a look at the top-five sleeper pitchers to target in drafts.

Fantasy baseball: Top 5 sleeper pitchers

Kenta Maeda, SP, Minnesota Twins

Average Draft Position (ADP): 171

Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason, Maeda joins Jose Berrios and Jake Odorizzi at the front of the Twins’ rotation. Maeda went 10-8 over 37 games (26 starts) and 153 2/3 innings last year while pitching to a 4.04 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 169 strikeouts against just 51 walks.

Maeda will benefit greatly from the change of scenery. He’ll no longer need to pitch in the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field and Chase Field, and will instead get to feast on the expected cellar-dwelling Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Steven Matz, SP, New York Mets

ADP: 277

Matz went 11-10 in 32 games (30 starts) while throwing a career-high 160 1/3 innings in 2019. He posted a lackluster 4.21 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, but both those figures improved greatly in the second half of the season, as did his K-BB percentage. The Mets lineup should be much stronger this season and can help provide more win opportunities with improved run support.

Andrew Heaney, SP, Los Angeles Angels

ADP: 198

Heaney was limited to 18 starts and 95 1/3 innings in 2019. He averaged more than 11 strikeouts per nine innings for the second time in his career and walked fewer than three batters per nine for the second straight year. The 29-year-old has been named the Angels’ Opening Day starter and will front a new-look rotation.

Playing fantasy baseball? A Draft Day like no other deserves a fantasy baseball Cheat Sheet like no other. Weekly HQBasics from BaseballHQ is $4.95 with coupon code SBW5. Sign up now!

Kyle Hendricks, SP, Chicago Cubs

ADP: 144

Hendricks hasn’t been able to replicate his breakout 2016 campaign in which he pitched to a 2.13 ERA, while going 16-8, but a regression to a 3.44 ERA in 2018 and a 3.46 ERA in 2019 are being viewed too unfavorably. He won’t steal matchups with strikeout totals, but his reliability and consistency will pay off nicely in an otherwise unpredictable season.

Ken Giles, RP, Toronto Blue Jays

ADP: 128

Giles recorded just 23 saves over 53 games last season, but pitched to a sparkling 1.87 ERA with a career-best 14.09 strikeouts per nine innings. He may still struggle to get save opportunities while backing the middling Blue Jays, but should get into games more regularly with teams expected to limit the usage of their top starters in 2020.

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Fantasy baseball expert answers 6 burning questions on how to approach 2020 season

Fantasy baseball analyst, Ray Murphy, from BaseballHQ.com, shares thoughts on how to approach the abbreviated 2020 fantasy baseball season.

The MLB season, albeit significantly abbreviated, is a go for the 2020 season. While MLB bettors are breaking down where they are going to place their MLB futures bets, fantasy baseball participants are also scratching their heads on how to best approach the new season.

We sat down with fantasy baseball analyst Ray Murphy, co-GM of award-winning fantasy baseball service BaseballHQ.com, to pick his brain on some burning fantasy baseball questions entering the upcoming season. Because there are so many types of fantasy baseball leagues, we focused on standard 5×5, mixed-league scoring.

If there were ever a year we could all use some expert help, 2020 looks to be it and there is no better source than BaseballHQ, who has been in the fantasy baseball business for almost three decades.

SportsbookWire (SBW): What fantasy baseball strategy would you recommend to fantasy baseball participants to set themselves up best for a championship? 

Ray Murphy (RM): Everything depends on your league format, first and foremost. But generally speaking, the shortened season (and the abbreviated “summer camp” preceding it) is hurting pitcher values: fewer innings, fewer Wins (especially to start the season), more volatility in ratios.

You should compensate by pushing batters up your ranking lists. Focus on building a solid foundation on offense and then fill in your pitchers.

SBW: A shorter season means less time where you can sit on struggling players or evaluate trends in general. How do you plan to approach day-to-day, week-to-week roster management this season?

RM: Absolutely right.

“Our normal mantra in a full season is ‘practice excruciating patience’. That doesn’t apply this year.” — Ray Murphy, BaseballHQ.com

Every counting stat you can accumulate is critical. Every day a player sits on the bench while they are in your active lineup is a lost opportunity. You’ll need to have a very quick hook to make changes.

SBW: How do you see the shorter season impacting rookie players? 

RM: This is likely to vary widely team-by-team. Lots of top prospects are being added to the 60-man rosters, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to play… at least at the start. But once you get later in the season, expect to see teams (especially non-contenders) trying to create opportunities for those prospects to catch up on missed development time, as they turn eyes to 2021.

SBW: Who are some of your favorite fantasy baseball prospects that you’d still bank on?

(Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports)

RM: Mostly the same ones as we liked back in the offseason.

In the 2020 Baseball Forecaster, our top prospects for 2020 impact were Gavin Lux (LA), Nick Solak (TEX), Nick Madrigal and Luis Robert (CHW), Jo Adell (LAA). That said, the urgency of a short-season is a double-edged sword.

Take Robert for example: He has a ton of talent, but also some significant warts, namely a lot of swing-and-miss. If he starts out striking 50% of the time in the first couple of weeks of the season, the White Sox might well be less patient with him than they would have been in April.

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SBW: Which player(s) have fantasy baseball bust written all over them that you are avoiding at all costs?

RM: I don’t have too many absolutely avoid-at-all-costs guys… it’s all context/price dependent.

But I’ll give you a couple of categories of guys I’m avoiding:

1. You can’t take chances on injuries in a short season. Guys are going to get hurt (or sick), we’re all going to deal with that. I don’t need to start the season with guys who are already hurt. For instance, the news on Aaron Judge seems ominous: He’s been fighting a rib problem since the end of last year, and it sounds like he’s not at full strength yet. I’m out on him. And as guys inevitably get hurt during camp, I’m going to react the same way.

2. Young pitchers need to be evaluated closely: There may be pockets of value there as the year goes on, roles shift, some teams look to 2021. But for young pitchers who were hyped back in March (OAK’s Jesus Luzardo is a prime example), I’m devaluing them quite a bit, because I think their workload will still be heavily monitored, they could be used as relievers rather than starters, etc.

SBW: Lets flip that coin — Which fantasy baseball sleepers are among your favorites in 2020?

(Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan – USA TODAY Sports)

RM: There is a whole group of cheap/late-round power-hitting OFs that I liked a lot in the spring and still do: Randall Grichuk and Teoscar Hernandez in TOR, Domingo Santana in CLE, Jesse Winker in CIN.

A more recent entry is Yoenis Cespedes, the additional time to recover from injury and the addition of the DH in the NL, make him a really nice target as the Mets DH.

SBW: We can’t let you out of here without picking your brain on the World Series… if you were spending $200 on MLB futures bets, which team(s) would you place your bet(s) on to win?

RM: If I’m throwing some darts at some of the longer odds:

  • AL: I’ll spend $40 on Los Angeles Angels (+4000), $40 on Chicago White Sox (+2500), and $20 on Toronto Blue Jays (+10000)
  • NL: Give me $50 on Cincinnati Reds (+2500), $30 on San Diego Padres (+5000), and $20 on Philadelphia Phillies (+2500)

Sign up for Weekly HQBasics from BaseballHQ for just $4.95 with coupon code SBW5. Time is running out, sign up now!

MLB betting odds via BetMGM. If you’re looking to place a wager on the MLB this season in CO, IN, NJ or WV, place your bets now at BetMGM.

Disclosure: BaseballHQ.com is owned by USA TODAY Sports Media Group, which also owns SportsbookWire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Fantasy baseball sleepers: Target these hidden stolen base gems

Analyzing five fantasy baseball sleepers who can help you win your 2020 fantasy baseball league’s stolen-base category.

The MLB and fantasy baseball season will be upon soon, and now is the time to hone in on targets to bolster your fantasy baseball lineup. Stolen bases have dropped by nearly 20% since 2014, and 20-steal producers have become more rare … and more of a commodity. Below, we investigate some hidden stolen-base gems, players who can produce in the category but at the right price point or at a value slot in a fantasy baseball draft.

Fantasy baseball sleepers

Jon Berti, SS-OF-3B, Miami Marlins

Berti logged an impressive late-bloomer rookie season in 2019. The now-30-year-old can play all over the diamond, and that led to 256 at-bats a year ago. Berti clocked a .348 on-base percentage and 17 stolen bases, and he was up with the big club from July 31 to the end of the season.

A thief of 270 bags in nine Minor League seasons, Berti’s straight-line sprint speed measured as 13th-fastest in the 2019 MLB season. The .348 OBP would appear ripe for regression, but the 2020 season brings a 26th roster spots for MLB clubs and that much more opportunity for a diverse talent.

Garrett Hampson, 2B-OF, Colorado Rockies

Hampson was a negative-WAR, .247 batter in his age-25 rookie season in 2019. What’s intriguing is his elite speed and the numbers he cobbled together in the second half last season. Hampson logged a .284/.348/.462 (batting/on-base/slugging) slash line in 188 second-half plate appearances.

The opportunities led to 11 stolen bases in 12 attempts. Only three players posted faster StatCast times than Hampson’s 30.1 feet per second. The upside here is upwards of 25 steals.

Cesar Hernandez, 2B, Cleveland Indians

Hernandez comes over from Philadelphia as a free agent. A durable sort with previous OBP norms near .360, the 29-year-old scuffled his way to a .333 OBP (and nine SB) in 2019.

A return to a double-digit walk rate (which Hernandez had each season from 2016-18) would be a boon to fantasy baseball drafters looking for more thefts. The speedy second sacker logged a 7% walk rate in 2019. A different philosophy in Cleveland is likely, and so is a potential doubling of last year’s stolen base figure.

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Nick Madrigal, 2B, Chicago White Sox

Madrigal will likely record his first steals of 2020 with the Charlotte Knights. The crazy-fast Pale Hose prospect swiped 35 bases in 120 MiLB games last year. (In those 120 games, Madrigal walked 44 times while striking out just 16 times.)

The 23-year-old might not be a prospect we see until after Derby Day, but he profiles as a very interesting fantasy baseball asset. He could arrive in May and still end up 20-plus steals this season.

Also see:

Trent Grisham, OF, San Diego Padres

Another 23-year-old prospect, Grisham registered a .328 OBP (and one stolen base) in 51 games with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019. After being traded for, he’s the heir apparent for the Padres’ center field job this season.

Grisham’s skills have upside across the board, and for a highly athletic player whose StatCast speed numbers put him in very good company, stolen base numbers can certainly be in the mix. He had 25 steals in 55 games as an 18-year-old in 2015, and stole 38 in 133 games in advanced A-ball two years later. Grisham is having a big spring for the Padres. He may well be worth having in a few categories, one of them being stolen bases.

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Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: 3 Prospects to Target on Draft Day

Analyzing three lesser-know MLB prospects entering the 2020 season as fantasy baseball sleepers who have the upside to help win your league.

Drafting prospects can be one of the most fun parts of fantasy baseball. It’s always exciting to get a share of MLB’s new wave of top, young talent, whether they’ll be starting the season in the majors or auditioning for an early season promotion. Here, we look at three sleeper prospects available toward the end of your fantasy baseball draft who’ll be able to make big contributions upon their MLB debut this season.

2020 Fantasy baseball sleepers: Prospects

Alec Bohm, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies

Bohm comes into the 2020 season just 23 years old and without having played a game above Class AA. Hit hit 14 home runs across 63 games at the second-highest minor-league level last year. Additionally, he has shown promising plate discipline in the minors with a 10.4% walk rate and stomachable 14.1% strikeout rate last year in AA ball.

Also see: 2020 Fantasy Baseball Busts: 5 Players to Avoid on Draft Day

The Phillies have a crowded infield following the signing of SS Didi Gregorius this offseason. Scott Kingery is expected to handle third base duties to open the season, but he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations through his first two seasons. Kingery’s versatility and ability to play multiple positions defensively also makes him an easy injury replacement whether it by around the infield or in the outfield.

The Phillies are all in, and they’ll make room for Bohm if he can get off to a hot start at Class AAA. He’s a top option in keeper leagues or redraft leagues with Inactive slots.

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Nate Pearson, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays finally splurged in free agency this offseason, reeling in SP Hyun-Jin Ryu as one of the top starters on the open market. He’ll front the starting rotation this year, but he’s followed by an uninspiring corps of veterans with potential injury concerns in Tanner Roark, Matt Shoemaker and Chase Anderson.

Pearson has been dominant in spring training and could be forcing the Blue Jays’ hand. The team is in need of a top-level No. 2 starter behind Ryu, and it may be best for his development to be up in the majors and working with the veteran ace while facing MLB hitters rather than toiling away in the minors.

Ryan Mountcastle, 1B, Baltimore Orioles

Mountcastle is the top hope for an Orioles club in dire need of adding excitement and offensive talent. The 23-year-old hit 25 home runs across 127 games at Class AAA last season, and he has little left to prove.

He’s stuck behind highly paid, but struggling veteran Chris Davis at first base, but he could force the Orioles to admit the mistake of Davis’ lofty extension and make them swallow salary to clear room. If not, he’s likely to get his shot in left field, as the Orioles are in need of an upgrade at several positions.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire.

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Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: 4 Late-Round Closer Targets

Assessing 2020 fantasy baseball sleepers and looking at four late-round closer options who can pile up saves this season.

Drafting closers who can rack up saves is one of the most difficult parts of fantasy baseball. The inherent volatility of the position — with many managers having short leashes for any sort of struggles in the latter innings — adds to the difficulty. It’s often not worth the price to take unproven closers in the early-to-mid rounds only for them to lose their job before the end of April. Here, we’ll look at four relief pitchers with a chance to take over the ninth-inning duties for their respective teams who are worth a late-round flier in your 2020 fantasy baseball drafts.

2020 Fantasy baseball sleepers: Closers

Ty Buttrey, Los Angeles Angels

Buttrey is expected to start the 2020 season behind Hansel Robles on the Angels’ closer depth chart. Robles has struggled this spring, however, and new manager Joe Maddon will have little allegiance to a player who converted 23 of 27 save opportunities in 2019.

The soon-to-be 27-year-old Buttrey appeared in 72 games last season but converted just 2 of 6 save opportunities. Still, he had a better strikeout rate than Robles and could certainly earn a shot if Robles takes his spring issues into the season. The Angels are expecting to be much better in 2020 after a busy offseason, and Robles’ leash will be kept tight while closing for a team with playoff aspirations.

Also see: 2020 Fantasy Baseball Busts: 5 Players to Avoid on Draft Day

Luke Jackson, Atlanta Braves

Jackson begins the 2020 season in a middle- relief role, while Mark Melancon and Will Smith occupy the late-inning roles. Jackson ranked inside the top 20 of qualified relievers last season in both strikeout rate (33.7%) and ground-ball rate (60.5%).

The 28-year-old converted just 18 of 25 save opportunities in 2019, but he did gain a reasonable amount of experience. He may need only to overcome Melancon, who hasn’t saved more than 12 games since 2016, with Smith preferred for the set-up role.

WIN YOUR FANTASY BASEBALL LEAGUE

Sign up for BaseballHQ.com‘s award-winning, insider services and dominate. Sign up now; use the code “PREP20” at checkout to take 25% OFF a Draft Prep subscription.

Dellin Betances, New York Mets

Betances, who’s recovering from a torn Achilles which limited him to 2/3 of an inning with the New York Yankees last year, is still targeting Opening Day for his return to a major league mound. Used almost exclusively as a set-up man by the Yanks, Betances has converted 36 of 55 save opportunities over his career. He has an elite strikeout rate year-over-year and he induces more soft contact than hard. Betances will be available to replace Edwin Diaz if the latter’s 2019 struggles persist in the early going of 2020.

Andrew Miller, St. Louis Cardinals

Another veteran with considerable ninth-inning experience, Miller will start the season behind Giovanny Gallegos for closer duties. Gallegos, 28, pitched to a 2.31 ERA across 74 innings and 66 games last season, but he’s just 2-for-6 in career save opportunities. Miller has mostly been a set-up man the last four seasons, but he has 59 career saves and just 16 blown chances. He’s available at the end of drafts and will get enough work even in middle relief to provide value from the RP slot with strong ratios and high strikeout totals.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire.

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