MLB 2021: One fantasy sleeper for every position
MLB 2021: One fantasy sleeper for every position
Tag: fantasy baseball
10 fantasy baseball sleepers to target in your 2021 draft
Some names to look at later on in your drafts.
Major League Baseball returns next month, which also means … it’s fantasy baseball season!
We already got you covered with the best names for your teams (that we could print), and now it’s time to help you with your actual draft with a list of some sleepers to consider when it’s later in the night and you’re searching for names of players to add to your queue before it’s your next turn or two.
So here’s a look at some of the players we like ahead of the 2021 season but who aren’t going to be within the first bunch of rounds.
(All ADPs courtesy of FantasyPros)
The 9 best fantasy baseball team names (that we could print) for 2021
The season is just around the corner!
The 2021 Major League Baseball season is weeks away from Opening Day on April 1, so you know what that means: it’s time to start preparing for another fantasy baseball season.
Before you jump into doing your prep work with sleepers, busts, rankings and such — and we’ll have some of that stuff coming soon on For The Win, I promise — there’s the all-important first step of naming your team.
Luckily, that’s what we’re here for. As we’ve done in years past, we have a list of the 10 punny, fun names you could use for our team — that we could print — which we rounded up from around the web (we linked to sites where we got some of them).
MLB 2020: Bold predictions for the 60-game season
The MLB season is almost here and Charles Curtis has some bold predictions for the 60-game season.
The MLB season is almost here and Charles Curtis has some bold predictions for the 60-game season.
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.
Want more fantasy baseball? Visit SportsbookWire.com
2020 fantasy baseball busts to avoid
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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Fantasy Baseball: Don’t prioritize pitchers in your draft ahead of the 2020 MLB season
It’s hitters > pitchers in your draft this year.
Yes, the 2020 Major League Baseball season is coming. And that means fantasy baseball is coming, too.
But how do you approach a weird, bizarre season like no other with 60 games played, the universal designated hitter in the National League … and so much uncertainty?
So should you choose to play in a season that — as I’ve written — is a sprint, not a marathon as usual, here’s the best tip for your upcoming drafts: wait on pitchers.
Actually, if you’re a veteran fantasy baseball owner, this is already a thing. Pitchers — particularly closers — aren’t as sure of a thing as hitters. In this season? Teams could limit innings, there’s less time to improve if a pitcher struggles with command or mechanics and for National League hurlers, they now have to pitch to designated hitters, which will hurt their stats.
Our Charles Curtis breaks it all down as the season gets closer.
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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.
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!
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.
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 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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