2019 Fantasy Baseball Rankings (AL)

As long as Mike Trout continues to put up 30+ homers, 20+ steals, 100+ runs and bat .300 every season, you can bet he will be worth the first overall pick. Chances are, we have another decade of this consistent dominance.

It may be tempting to snag Betts with the 1st pick over Trout, after the ridiculous season he just put together, but remember that he is just one year removed from batting .264 with 24 homers. There is a chance Betts outproduces Trout, but that isn't a risk you should gamble on.

It's funny how one healthy season can help you forget that a player missed 40+ games in three of the past four seasons. While Martinez has a legitimate shot at the Triple Crown, he is also a bit riskier than many of the other first round picks so proceed soberly.

Jose Ramirez may have been the best fantasy player in baseball last year, knocking 39 homers with 34 steals, 110 runs and 105 RBIs, but he is still 1-C behind both Trout and Mookie Betts because of their consistent production over the last three seasons

There are a handful of starting pitchers that stand out above the rest, but Sale and Scherzer may belong in a tier of their own at this point. Sale posted an unfathomable 0.861 WHIP last season and 13.5 K/9. As long as he returns to health, we could be looking at a 340 Ks

It can be easy to be discouraged by Altuve "only" batting .316 with limited power and steals, but the injury seemed to influence his performance much more than most realize. You can expect a return to his 20 homer, 30 steal, 110 runs season with a batting average north of .330

Judge had a down year in 2018 which means his OPS was merely .919. If he can get back to playing 150 games this year, fantasy owners can bank on 45 homers, 110 runs and 100 RBIs. That may have you ready to grab him in the first round, but he comes with more injury risk than anyone else in the top 20

Bregman had 83 extra-base hits last season to go with 105 runs and 103 RBIs despite being just 24 years old. Chances are high that his fantasy value continues to trend north. With that said, he is currently recovering from elbow surgery so be sure to keep an eye on his progress before picking him up in the 1st round this spring.

After obliterating pitchers in 2017, Stanton cooled off in a big way last year, striking out 211 times and hitting just .266 with 38 homers. There is upside for 60+ bombs this year, but believe it or not, he has only hit 40 or more once his entire career

Verlander may be turning 36 years old soon, but his velocity is still as impressive as ever and he 2018 was actually his best K% (34.8%, second best 28.1%) of his career while his BB% (4.4%) was his lowest. Don't avoid him because of his age. He is rocking better than ever before

Lindor kicked it up another notch in 2018, mashing 38 homers to go with 25 steals and his league-leading 129 runs. We can't bank on a repeat performance in 2019, but with even 80% of those numbers at shortstop, he'd return easy 1st round value.

You can look at Cole's 3.50 second half ERA and assume he got worse over the season, but all the underlying numbers suggest he was actually better. Don't shy away from him because of a false fear of his risk. Rather, expect another 250+ strikeouts with plenty of wins and excellent ratios

Each of the past five years, Kluber has given fantasy owners 200 innings while compiling 1,228 strikeouts. In four of those five seasons, he has provided 18 or more wins. If you draft him in the second round, you can be certain to get a true ace

Benintendi is a spectacular real life player, but in fantasy, he was extremely similar to Jean Segura who happens to be going five rounds later. The arrow is pointing up for Benintendi, but not enough to warrant a top 30 draft pick

Snell may have posted the single greatest second half of any pitcher in the last 50 years with a 1.17 ERA, .155 BAA and 12.7 K/9. There is a chance he finishes as the #1 fantasy pitcher this season, but both Scherzer and Sale are safer bets because of their sustained reliability

Although Cleveland doesn't pay him like it, Carrasco has been a true ace for five straight years, posting a sparkling 3.27 ERA with 193 Ks per season in that time. There is more upside with a pitcher like Syndergaard or Strasburg, but Carrasco's floor makes him one of the top 15 pitchers in this year's fantasy drafts

Prior to an injury in the second half, Bauer was among the top pitchers in baseball. He still struck out 221 batters in 175 innings, but with health, those numbers could easily climb to 270 in 215 innings

Looking for 40 homers? Draft Davis and write it in ink. He has knocked 133 over the last three seasons with 335 RBIs in that time. The floor is as high as you'll find in the first five rounds but the batting average is almost certainly going to be around .250 again

With the Royals not expected to compete in 2019, there is little doubt that Merrifield will surpass 40 stolen bases again. He doesn't have much in the way of power, nor will he score a load of runs in this offense, but the batting average should end up around .300 once again

Xander has been around for so long that it is easy to forget he is still just 26 years old. Although there have been periods of disappointment in the past, Bogaerts still has averaged 15 homers, 91 runs, 84 RBIs and a .295 BA over the last four seasons. Add in that 2018 was his best yet and we may be looking at another big step forward this season

Springer is one of a handful of stars who started off their season with a rough patch. He started to turn in around in the second half before his injury, but only enough to get his final line to 22 homers and a .265 batting average. If he can stay healthy, Springer might lead the AL in runs scored along with plenty of homers and RBIs, but the speed has essentially disappeared

Correa has missed a significant chunk of time in each of the past two seasons, and while he struggled in 2018, don't forget that he is still just 24 years old and one year removed from being the MVP front-runner prior to his injury. There is major upside here and he may prove to be a league winner

If you pro-rate Mondesi's 75 games to a full season, it comes out to 30 homers, 68 steals and 100 RBIs. I don't need to tell you that a season like that would put him above Mike Trout from a fantasy perspective. Granted, he is due for some regression, but don't hesitate to reach several rounds to get him on your roster.

Cruz has seen his batting average fall from .302 slowly down to .256 over the last four seasons, but the homers and RBIs are still firmly among the top of the league even despite his advanced again. You can rely on his durability and power in 2019 so don't hesitate to grab him in the 6th or 7th round.

Since Abreu joined the league, he is fifth in the majors with 288 RBIs and #1 among that group with a .295 batting average. As you know, he provides plenty of homers and runs as well. It may not feel interesting to draft Abreu, but with first base more shallow than years past, he is an excellent 6th round pick

Paxton was excellent last year with a whopping 208 Ks in just 160 innings, but this is also the first time he ever pitched above 140 innings. While the ceiling is clearly exciting with Paxton, re-injury is a significant risk, but he is moving from one of the best pitching parks in Seattle to one of the worst at Yankee Stadium.

Despite playing 34 fewer games than Andrew Benintendi over the last two seasons, Pham has outplayed him from a fantasy perspective. Pham is being drafted four rounds later and is coming off one of the best second-halfs in the MLB

Rosario has been remarkably consistent the past two years with a .290 and .288 batting average, 27 and 24 homers, 78 and 77 RBIs and 9 and 8 steals. Expect much of the same from him again this season, making him worthy of a 6th round pick in standard leagues.

The always conservative Steamer projection model sees Vlad Jr. as a similar player to Nolan Arenado from the get-go with a .300+ BA, 30 homers and both 100 RBIs and runs over a full season's at bats. This issue, however, will be whether he gets those at-bats. You can gamble on him as early as the 4th round, but it may not be early enough to beat others to the punch

Treinen was magical last season, floating a 0.78 ERA and 0.834 WHIP to go with 100 Ks and 38 saves. That made him the number two fantasy closer behind only Edwin Diaz, and that is precisely how he should be drafted this year. With that said, no closer taken in the first five rounds ever returns enough value so be patient.

Although Haniger hasn't done it for as long as someone like Nelson Cruz or Justin Upton, he was better than both last year thanks to a .285 batting average on top of his 90+ runs, 90+ RBIs and power. Projection models are fond of him once again this year, but there is a bit more risk than the aforementioned annual powerhouses.

Torres isn't a big contributor in stolen bases, but he is plenty useful in each of the other four main categories. If you expand his rates out to a full season, Torres would have posted 32 homers, 101 RBIs and a .271 batting average. You would be thrilled to get that type of production out of your seventh round shortstop.

After dominating in a smaller 2017 sample size, Clevinger took it up another notch in 2018, this time with 200 innings of proof. He might not win 16 games or strikeout 240 batters like some of the top tier aces, but his ratios and 200 Ks put him firmly in the 6th-8th rounds of this season's drafts

Castellanos was a disappointment for so long that it may still be hanging over his stock. The fact of the matter, however, is that he has been great the past two season, hitting .285 with 49 homers and 190 RBIs. He only qualifies as an outfielder now, but should be regarded every bit as high as someone like Justin Upton or Mitch Haniger.

There is a chance Berrios has another level of potential yet to be seen, but more likely, he has settled in as a third tier pitcher that will produce above average ratios with about 200 strikeouts. That is perfectly sufficient for an 8th round pick. He may not have finished the season strong on paper, but his underlying metrics showed no reason for lingering concern.

There is no getting past the fact that Sanchez was a train wreck last season., batting .186 with only 18 homers. With that said, he is still just 26 years old and we are talking about the fastest player to ever reach 50 homers in the MLB. Chance are high that he will bounce back in the batting average department, and if he can stay healthy, bank on 25 to 40 homers making him well worth a 7th or 8th round pick.

Chapman has been exceptional for nearly a decade now. It may surprise you to learn that he hasn't struck out 100 batters since 2015, though. Edwin Diaz, meanwhile, had 123 last year to go with 25 more saves than Aroldis. Chapman is obviously one of the top closers in baseball still, but doesn't deserve any consideration as a top 50 fantasy pick.

You may not love the idea of destroying your team's batting average with his .210 line, but you'll be hard-pressed to find 40 homers, and perhaps even 50 from anyone 50 picks early, let alone around the 9th round of drafts. If you combine him with Daniel Murphy in the 5th, you've got two players who combine for a .260 average with 65-70 homers. When you look at it that way, Gallo's value jumps off the page.

Over the past two seasons, only Scherzer, Sale, Verlander, deGrom and Kluber have a better ERA and more strikeouts than Severino, who is quickly becoming a true durable ace. He doesn't belong in that first tier, but may already lead the next group.

Upton is one of the only players with at least 30 homers in each of the last three seasons. You can also bank on 80+ RBIs and runs, and while his stolen bases have come down over the years, 10 is a good bet once again. Upton's batting average won't help you, but it should be enough to warrant a sixth round pick in standard leagues.

Andujar flew under the radar until his major breakout last season. We've seen players like that face major challenges in their sophomore campaign so beware of the risk associated with picking him, but as we've seen, the upside is tantalizing and may prove well worth a mid-round pick.

While it may be appealing to draft incredible real-life players, there is a major difference between fringe AL MVP candidate and top 80 fantasy baseball player. Chapman's defensive prowess doesn't transfer over, unfortunately, so rather, we are looking at a mediocre power hitter with some batting average concerns.

Cleveland isn't as great as they've been in the past few years, but Hand should still get a load of save opportunities for the clear AL Central favorites. He now has three straight years with over 100 saves and ERA under 3.00 so don't hesitate to snag him in the top 110 picks of your draft.

Osuna didn't accomplish much last year because of his legal issues and the time missed as a result, but he as still extremely efficient, driving a 2.37 ERA with a 0.97 WHIP. Assuming he stays on the field, you can bank on 30 saves and plenty of strikeouts on top of the strong ratios.

Despite fewer games over the last three years, Odor has 10 more homers than Javier Baez and is neck and neck with him in steals, runs and RBIs. There is a considerable difference in BA, but in terms of batted ball data, Baez was hardly above Odor in xBA last season so you may be getting a tremendous value in the 9th or 10th round of drafts this season.

Jimenez may not be Vlad Jr. but most other years, he would be the consensus top fantasy prospect. His game is in the mold of Manny Ramirez where he could be a mainstay in the middle of a lineup, hitting 30 homers with 100 RBIs and a .290 BA every year. That might not all come right away, but from the moment he is called up, you can expect a top 30 fantasy outfielder.

Price isn't going to thrill anyone as a workhorse ace anymore, but he still posts plenty of Ks to go with useful ratios each and every season. With Boston's lineup behind him, we can expect plenty of wins as well, making him one of the most appealing third-tier starting pitchers this year.

Villar was a major disappointment in 2017 after being selected in the third, and even second round of fantasy drafts. As a result, he was an afterthought in 2018, and for the first half of the season, it was a good call. Once Villar was dealt to the Orioles, though, he took off. In those 54 games, he managed eight homers and 21 steals, which over a full season would have been 24 and 64, respectively. Think that type of production is impossible? Rewind to 2016 when he hit 19 with 62 steals and a .285 batting average. Villar still has that ceiling and you can get him in the middle of your drafts this year.

 

 

Gordon is going to absolutely destroy you in two categories and his batting average isn't anything to write home about. With that said, the potential of 60 stolen bases makes him worth the price of admission toward the middle of drafts.

 

Encarnacion may be getting up there in age, but there are few hitters who have produced consistent power at the rate he has. There is little reason to expect a sudden drop-off but with that said, his RBIs and runs should take a hit with Seattle losing some of their best offensive pieces.

If it weren't for Vlad Jr, Eloy Jimenez would be the top prospect in baseball. He is one month older than Devers, who has already compiled 31 homers in 179 MLB games. He may have struggled last year, but let's not forget that when Alex Bregman was his age, he hadn't even been drafted yet. Devers is a former top prospect and while you may have been disappointed by his performance last year, that type of production is light years ahead of the best 21-year-old sluggers in the world.

 

 

Don't look now, but Leclerc may already be the most dominant reliever in baseball. His ERA last year was 1.56 with a 0.850 WHIP and 13.3 K/9. The saves could triple to 35+ this season so don't hesitate to reach a few rounds to secure a stud on draft day.

 

Anderson was remarkable in the first half but really slowed down to close the season. Even still, he managed 20 homers and 26 steals. While he may be hard pressed to repeat that this year, 15 and 15 would make him a useful mid-round pick so long as his batting average doesn't plummet further.

 

 

You may be inclined to believe Cabrera is done since he has had two subpar seasons in a row, but he is apparently in the best shape of his life. Add in the fact that he will be spending most of his time as the Tigers DH and we might just have the biggest bounceback player on our hands.

Moncada has both double-digit power and speed, but the batting average is lackluster. You can make the case that he has more potential as a former #1 overall prospect, but more likely, the holes in his game will prove too much for a big breakout to be a possibility.

 

 

Giles may have been an elite closer in 2015 and 2017, but his other two seasons have been disappointing for fantasy owners. Although he straightened is out with Toronto in his final 20 innings, we were still looking at a low K-rate and an ERA over 4.00. Plus, it isn't like there will be a ton of save opportunities in Toronto like he saw in Houston the past few years.

Profar finally got a full chance last year for Texas and posted 20 homers and 10 stolen bases. He takes a hit in projections moving from Texas to Oakland's ballpark, but keep in mind that he just turned 26 years old and very likely hasn't hit his prime yet.

Andrus was downright awful in the 97 games he played last year, batting .256 with 6 homers and 5 steals. With full health, however, don't be surprised if he returns to the .300 hitting, 20 homer, 25 steal player that finished 2017 as a top fantasy shortstop.

Santana had some of the worst BABIP luck in baseball last year so you can expect his batting average to jump back into the .250s this year to go with his usual 20+ homers and 80+ runs. That makes him a quality late-round corner infielder as always.

Schoop takes a hit this season in home ballpark factor, but even still, has been a consistent enough source of power that fantasy owners can accept his .233 batting average from last year. Keep in mind, also, he carried a .293 mark in 2017 so the upside is there for a big season again.

The Pirates had him buried on their depth chart for what seemed like forever thanks to the presence of Andrew McCutchen, Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte. Now that he has been freed to Tampa Bay (with Tyler Glasnow) in the Chris Archer trade, we will finally get to see the kid shine. Meadows was once considered a future all-star, and while he likely won't venture into that territory any time soon, if at all, we are looking at someone who, even as a rookie, should hold a mediocre batting average while contributing in all four of the other roto categories.

It seemed as though Ty Buttrey, Bedrosian and Anderson were going to compete for saves in LA, but then they signed Allen who figures to get the job. Don't be surprised if he losses the gig early, however, if he struggles like we saw last season. Don't consider him a lock for 25 saves again.

 

 

 

With a full season as the Rays' closer, Alvarado could end up one of the top 10 closers in baseball. There is some more risk with him than the guys who have done it for years, but we could be looking at 90 Ks with excellent ratios and 35 saves which makes him a total steal late in drafts.

The former top pitching prospect has struggled enough with his command that the Pirates relegated him back to Triple-A and eventually the bullpen. Once he was traded to Tampa, however, Glasnow showed flashes of his true-ace stuff. In the second half, his walk rate plummeted and he surrendered just a .195 batting average. Perhaps more impressive is the fact that he struck out 11 hitters per nine innings, which is the same as Blake Snell and Patrick Corbin and better than Stephen Strasburg and Luis Severino. With a full season, we could be looking at 220+ Ks to go with solid ratios.

Kikuchi's numbers from Japan translate to an MLB pitcher similar to Zack Wheeler last year, and like Wheeler, Kikuchi's arm could potentially blossom into much more to fantasy owners. He is by no means similar to Ohtani or Darvish before him, but 370 Ks and a 2.45 ERA in his last two seasons is nothing to sneeze at.

After lighting the world on fire as a rookie, Olson's small sample size didn't translate to the monster power numbers some were banking on in 2018. With that said, he still offers loads of power for a 10th round pick, and while the batting average isn't ideal, it won't kill you like Joey Gallo's.

Polanco batted .288 for fantasy owners in a shortened season last year and offers respectable power and speed. Don't be surprised if he knocks 15 homers with 15 steals this season.

Voit was extraordinary for the Yankees once they acquired him from St. Louis last year. In fact, he may have been one of the best hitters in baseball. Don't expect that for all of 2019, but don't be shocked if he puts up a Jesus Aguilar type of season either.

 

It is too bad we can't track web gems for fantasy baseball because Simmons just isn't as valuable in fantasy. Despite the lack of power, he doesn't offer some value in the fact that he should hit in the .280s with double-digit steals and near 70 runs scored.

It is too bad that we don't get to see Ohtani pitch this season since he was so dominant, but his bat is very nearly on the same level. His full season pace last year had him at 34 homers, 16 steals, 95 RBIs, 92 runs and a .285 BA. That is a second round level season. Granted, he likely won't debut until May since he is recovering from an injury, but remember that he was only 23 last year and will finally get to focus on just hitting for the first time in his life.

 

You won't get much help from Semien in terms of batting average, but he is a good bet for 15 homers and 15 steals, plus last season he provided fantasy owners with 89 runs scored. Expect more of the same from this durable and reliable depth piece.

Smoak may not have hit 38 homers with 90 RBIs again like he did in 2017, but there is certainly nothing wrong with the 25 and 77 line he put together. His .242 batting average hurts, but at this stage in the draft, you have to give a little to get this type of power.

Hamilton is going to give you no power, of course, and his batting average will almost certainly drag you down, but 50 steals will more than make up for both of those problem spots. If you are low on steals in the middle of your draft, Hamilton can quickly solve that problem.

 

 

 

 

 

Although Bauers was awful last year with a .201 batting average, there is plenty of reason for optimism. Bauers should provide 15 to 20 homers with double-digit steals and a significantly better batting average in 2019.

 

 

Gurriel isn't going to mash 25 homers like many of the others going in his late-round range, but he is a sure-bet to boost your batting average which is difficult to find as the draft comes to a close.

Mancini's batting average dropped 50 points last year, but much of that was due to a rough BABIP. While he likely won't bounce-back up to the .290's his batting average likely won't kill you while he provides another 25 homers for fantasy owners.

While he won't help much in batting average, Cron did hit 30 homers in just 140 games last season. He may see a further bump with full playing time and a ballpark upgrade from Tampa to Minnesota.

Although Baltimore may only win 50 games, Givens is one of the closers who has no competition for saves on his team. Even 25 save opportunities is better than what someone like Josh Hader or Zach Britton will get. Pair that with another 80 strikeouts and respectable ratios and we are looking at a top 30 fantasy reliever.

White closed out the season on a terror for Houston, finishing with an .888 OPS. He likely will open the season as their DH and has a chance at breaking out, but may be pushed out of the lineup by Kyle Tucker if he slips up.

Although you may expect Herrera to be the closer battle in Chicago, some reports are suggesting that Colome has the upper-hand in the competition. This will be one to watch in spring training to see how it plays out. If Colome gets the job, he would be a top 25 closer.

There may be no other relief pitcher who is slipping under the radar as much as Barnes. Unless the Red Sox sign Craig Kimbrel, it seems as though Barnes will be the closer for a team that should win around 100 games once again. Don't hesitate to grab him late if your draft happens before Kimbrel signs.

With LeMahieu now away from Coors, you can't expect him to hit .348 again, or even .300. His stolen bases have essentially disappeared over the past few seasons and we aren't likely to get double-digit homers either. At this point, LeMahieu is a replacement level fantasy asset.

Now that Martin was dealt to the Dodgers, Jansen is the favorite to start at catcher for the Blue Jays. He doesn't have much power, but his average will be quality and he should play enough that the RBIs and runs will make him a fringe top 12 fantasy catcher.

Adames broke onto the scene last year as a 22-year-old posting a 19-homer, 11 stolen base pace with a .278 batting average. It was a limited sample size, however, and there are still some holes in his swing. Think of him on the same terms as Dansby Swanson who also had a nice rookie campaign before everyone realized he had quite a bit to go offensively.

Plenty are suggesting that Blake Parker was brought in to be the closer for Minnesota, but

Now that Cabrera is with the Rangers and expected to play every day, we can feel comfortable grabbing him late in drafts as a reliable source of power to go with a decent batting average.

Betances is merely a closer in waiting, but besides Josh Hader, the best in the game. He is a sure bet for 90+ Ks, with upside ranging to nearly 130. Likewise, his ratios will be terrific each year and you can even rely on a handful of wins and saves too.

On a 162-game pace, Gurriel was a 27 homer hitter with a .281 batting average and 87 RBIs. He may not keep up that pace with a full season's worth of at bats, but you can argue that is his upside which would make for an exceptional value late in drafts.

 

 

You might not love Strickland's pure stuff or his sky-high WHIP, but he is one of the few closers who you can get late that isn't going to face any competition for the job. If you are in need for saves, don't hesitate to plug your nose and add Strickland.

 

 

Sano is out until at least May with a heel injury so he may not be worth drafting unless your league has DL spots available. If not, he is a great waiver wire pickup a few weeks into the season as his career per-162 profile is near identical to fifth round pick, Rhys Hoskins.

Outside of Marwin's huge 2017 season, he hasn't offered much from an offensive perspective. There is some power, but his batting average will hurt fantasy teams and the depth chart doesn't guarantee even 450 at-bats for him.

Josh James went from one of the best sleepers in fantasy baseball this year to a draft and stash when news surfaced that he has a strained quad and is now out of the rotation battle. Chances are that he will start in the minor leagues and be called up the moment a spot in the rotation becomes available. From the moment it happens, he should be a top 30 starter.

Although Greene had a rough 2018 season, he comes into this year as the expected closer for Detroit. Joe Jimenez might take over before long, but as long as Greene continues to offer saves and strikeouts, he deserves a roster spot.

It is easy to look at a .300 batting average and assume a rookie will only get better. Wendle likely played over his head last year, though, and was a 28-year-old rookie. There is no power to his game, and while he may offer 15 to 20 steals, it won't be enough to make him anything more than a late-round pick.

 

Alonso wasn't especially impressive last year with a .250 batting average and just 23 homers, but he is just one year removed from posting an .866 OPS with Oakland and Seattle so don't discount a big bounce-back campaign.

Castillo only saw 49 games worth of action last season, but his bat was still quality when he played. Over the last five years, he averages 26 homers with a .261 BA and 85 RBIs per 162 games, so now that he is starting, fantasy owners can expect useful production out of him.

 

 

 

 

 

After Parker signed with the Twins, many assumed he will be the closer, but it seems as though Trevor May is the favorite. In fact, Parker is likely the third-best reliever in this bullpen behind May and Rogers so beware on draft day.

Seager is starting the season on the DL after hand surgery and may miss the first six weeks. As a result, you may not want to draft him, but he should be in the back of your mind as a waiver wire pickup within a couple of weeks. He is a reliable source of power and shouldn't hurt you in batting average as much as we saw last year.

There is nothing sexy about drafting Candelario, but you can anticipate his batting average coming up 20 points this year, as he was among the most unlucky hitters in that department last year. Along with that, fantasy owners should get around 20 homers from him.

 

 

Zunino killed his fantasy teams in batting average last year, but he was up at .251 the year before so you'd have to think he will settle somewhere in between this year. When it comes with 20 homers and 50 RBIs at the catcher position, the batting average is much easier to swallow.

 

The Astros don't currently have a spot for Tucker with Michael Brantley now joining George Springer and Josh Reddick in the outfield. With prospects like Tucker, however, there is no need for a spot. He is good enough that they will make room. When he gets the call, expect him to be a top 35 fantasy outfielder right away, and perhaps even more. Tucker may be the top draft and stash prospect this year if you've got room on your bench.

 

 

 

Stewart is expected to start for the Tigers, but their offense is so barren that he can't be relied on for many RBIs or runs. His batting average might be ok, but more likely, his power would be the calling card. He is one worth keeping an eye on, but shouldn't be on your draft radar in standard-sized mixed leagues.

 

Assuming the Red Sox keep their word and don't re-sign Kimbrel, Braiser will be battling it out with Matt Barnes for one of the most coveted closer jobs in the league. If he wins it, you can count on stellar ratios to go along with all the save opportunities.

Oakland's rotation is a total mystery. We may not see Luzardo until September, or he could even break camp as their ace. The fact of the matter is that this 21-year-old lefty will answer the bell when it is time. He was dominant last year in the minors, striking out 129 in 109 innings with a 2.88 ERA and 1.088 WHIP. It was enough to cause his stock to soar from fringe top 100 prospect to fringe top 10. If it wasn't for Whitley in Houston, we'd be talking about Luzardo as perhaps the best pitcher in the minors.

Pressly isn't expected to pick up more than a save or two this season because of Roberto Osuna's presence, but if Osuna were to suffer an injury, Pressly would likely take over the job and be a top 10 closer right away.

 

 

 

Boxberger is expected to hold off Peralta for the Royals' closer job, and while it may not be the most envied role, he should still be able to compile 20 to 25 saves if he can hang onto the job. His ratios won't be ideal, but he does offer some K-upside as we've seen before.

 

The Astros replaced Keuchel with Wade Miley and Charlie Morton with rookie Josh James, but now that he is hurt, you'd better believe that as soon as Whitley is ready, the Astros will call him up. Assuming that is before the All-Star break, Whitley is an excellent draft and stash option if you have enough bench spots. He could have a Walker Buehler like impact from the get-go.

 

Herrera was presumably signed to close for the White Sox, but they also added Alex Colome who has closing experience. This one is too close to call for now so you may want to add both in a late round just to make sure you get some saves.

 

 

Most depth charts have Shane Greene slotted into the closer role for Detroit but this job is up in the air. Jimenez was an all-star last season, and while he pitched poorly down the stretch, don't sleep on him winning the job this spring.

Kipnis has been around forever and reached his peak long ago, but he is still just 32 years old and has plenty of baseball left in him. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, it will come without any speed or a quality batting average. Still, 20 homers and 70 RBIs will do the trick as a late-round pick.

Chirinos likely won't get 450 at-bats like some of the other names above him, but he is the starter for Houston which should come with it's share of runs and RBIs. The batting average clearly won't be ideal, but his 15 to 20 HR power off-sets that pain.

 

 

 

 

Green wasn't as electric in 2018 as the year before, but he still registered 94 strikeouts with excellent ratios and 8 wins. He isn't the closer, nor does he have a path to saves, but you can certainly make a case for drafting him even in standard sized leagues.

Ottavino might be stuck behind Chapman, Betances, Britton and Chad Green for the closer job, but he is a force of nature who could strike out 100 batters this season to go with sparkling ratios and a handful of wins. Don't hesitate to add him late in drafts to boost you in three categories.

 

 

 

 

 

If you play in a deeper league, Castillo can be a ratio master that racks up plenty of saves, or better yet, if you employ the Marmol Strategy, Castillo qualifies as a starting pitcher so you can plug him on days where you don't have enough starters going.

 

 

It is tempting to draft everyone's favorite short chubby catcher, but the fact of the matter is that he likely won't even open the season on the big league club. There is some intrigue here if/when he gets called up, but until then, he belongs on the waivers.

 

Cozart may miss time at the start of the season with a mild calf strain, and after his 2018 performance, it is fair to forget about him, but don't be so quick to forget how excellent he was in 2017 with the Reds, knocking 24 homers with a .297 batting average in just 122 games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregorius should be plenty useful with power and batting average when he returns, but it likely won't be until after the all-star break, so unless you have plenty of DL spots available, he is better left undrafted in standard-sized leagues.

 

 

Boxberger is expected to have the closer job in Kansas City to start the season, but he is among the worst closers in baseball so keep Peralta on speed dial in case he takes over the job.

Britton isn't going to be the closer in New York, nor is he likely the next man up since Dellin Betances is also ahead of him, but Britton is still well worth owning if your league allows you to start four or five relievers. He will help your ratios significantly while adding nearly 80 Ks as usual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May and Parker are seemingly in a batter at the top of Minnesota's depth chart, but Rogers is the type of guy who could find himself in the role at some point, and if it were to happen, he would dominate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honeywell was ready for the MLB rotation last year before he was shut down for the season. There is a chance he breaks camp with the big league club in Tampa, but more likely, he will get more seasoning in the minors before making the jump. When he does, we are probably looking at a top 60 fantasy starting pitcher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bichette is an excellent prospect and has a polished bat with plenty of speed. With that said, Bichette has never played above Double-A and the Blue Jays have no need to rush him (see Vlad Jr. last year) so don't be surprised if he doesn't sniff the bigs until September.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The closer job in Chicago seems to be between Herrera and Colome, but don't be shocked if Fry jumps in at some point in the season, as he has the best raw stuff and numbers.