Rest of Season Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Painter was considered neck-and-neck with Grayson Rodriguez as the top pitching prospect in baseball, but he's only 19 years old and now could be facing Tommy John surgery. (A.S., 3/15/23)

A return after the All Star Break is a best case scenario for Montas after shoulder surgery. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Skubal put together a very solid 2022 campaign before flexor tendon surgery cut his season short. He may not be ready by Opening Day, but could be a useful fantasy starter once healty. (A.S., 3/7/23)

He looks washed up. There, I said it. (A.S., 2/22/23)

Henlsey is old for a prospect, but he did go 10/20 in 104 games at Triple-A last year and then hit .345 in 34 plate appearances with the Astros. He'll at least be worth monitoring if he settles in as Houston's regular second baseman Read More while Jose Altuve is out. (A.S., 3/20/23)

Soto saved 30 games for the Tigers last year, but he may be fourth in line for saves in the Phillies' loaded bullpen. That could change based on performance, but Soto was pretty lucky to post a 3.28 ERA based on how he pitched Read More in 2022. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Jones was a highly-regarded prospect not too long ago and could get a shot in the Rockies' infield following the injury to Brendan Rodgers. (A.S., 3/8/23)

Barnes can be completely dominant at times, but his inability to consistently throw strikes has been his undoing on more than one occasion. He'll be in the mix for saves in the Marlins' committee, but will only be worth rostering if his walk rate Read More is manageable. (A.S., 3/13/23)

King was quietly quite good for the Yankees last year and could find himself in the mix for saves if Clay Holmes can't get back on track. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Castro has a decent chance at saves in Arizona, but bouts of wildness could be his undoing. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Somehow Moncada is still just 27 years old. That's about the best thing you can say about him at this point. (A.S., 2/22/23)

Alvarado is coming off of a breakthrough campaign in which he posted a career-best 14.29 K/9 along with his best ERA, WHIP and walk rate since 2018. He's virtually unusable when the walks get out of control, but if he can pitch like last Read More season he could work his way into the saves mix in Philadelphia. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Jimenez got off to a great start last season, but walks and injuries eventually proved too much to overcome. He could get some more looks in the ninth inning if/when the A's trade away Trevor May, but for now he's more of a watch Read More list guy. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Vogelbach isn't exactly a well-rounded player, but he could be a decent source of HRs and RBIs if he locks down the Mets' everyday DH job. (A.S., 3/6/23)

The Astros have no shortage of closing options behind Ryan Pressly, but the top set-up man is likely to be Montero after he closed out 14 games for them last season. Montero has had his ups and downs, but he was excellent last year Read More and could gain quite a lot of value if anything happens to Pressly. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Turang may not hit for much average or power, but he did swipe 34 bases last season in Triple-A and may have the inside track on the Brewers' starting second base job. (A.S., 3/20/23)

In addition to singing in Coldplay, Martin has established himself as a top-notch set-up man with pinpoint control. He is worth drafting in many formats for strong ratios and handcuff value behind Kenley Jansen. (A.S., 3/13/23)

The number 1.68 shows how excellent Swanson was last year -- that was both his ERA and his BB/9 rate (he also piled up the strikeouts). The Jays dealt Teoscar Hernandez to get Swanson over the offseason, so they clearly have big plans for Read More him. He'd likely ascend to the closer role if anything happend to Jordan Romano. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Harrison is a top pitching prospect who has dominated minor league hitters over the last two years. He is prone to bouts of wildness but will be in a great environment to mask any deficiences once he breaks into the Giants' rotation. (A.S., 3/8/23)

Vesia's walk rate can be worrisome at times, but he's proven he can pile up the strikeouts and keep runs off the board. He should also be part of the saves mix in the Dodgers' closer committee. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Like teammate Garrett Whitlock, Houck is a good reliever who may see a fair number of starts for the Red Sox this year. Unlike Whitlock, Houck has a bit of an issue with walks, which could limit his upside as a starter. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Heyward hasn't made much noise in fantasy over the last seven years, but he's slated for regular at-bats in the Dodgers' potent lineup and has been drawing raves reviews this spring for the changes he's made to his swing. (A.S., 3/8/23)

Tiedemann has flashed ace potential in the minors, and the hard-throwing lefty could make an immediate impact once he gets the call to Toronto's rotation. (A.S., 3/8/23)

McCutchen is boring at this stage of his career, but he can still be a sneaky source of 15-20 HRs and 5-10 SBs. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Shine has certainly worn off, but he still has some breakout potential. (A.S., 2/9/23)

It's too soon to give up on Adell, but he looks unlikely to win a job with the Angels coming out of Spring Training. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Decent bet for low-double digit HRs and SB with an ok batting average. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Schoop was awful last year, but he was a top-10 fantasy second baseman as recently as 2021. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Megill appeared on the verge of a breakout following an outstanding April, but then was blown up for eight runs in his seventh start and then spent most of the rest of the season on the injured list with biceps and shoulder injuries. He'll Read More need to fight to earn a spot in the Mets' crowded rotation, but if he does, there is still plenty of potential upside to be found here. (A.S., 3/7/23)

McGough struggled to make it to the Big Leagues for most of his career, but then went to Japan and saved 69 games over the last two seasons. He's a total wild card, but a name to keep an eye on in Arizona's wide-open Read More bullpen. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Lopez has a shot to lead the White Sox in saves while Liam Hendriks is sidelined, but he lacks dominant stuff and will need to keep his walk rate low to find sustained success. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Massey put up 20 HRs and 17 SBs between the minors and Majors last season and looks to have the inside track on the Royals' second base job. (A.S., 3/20/23)

Veen has just 34 games above Single-A on his resume, so he's unlikely to break camp with the Rockies. But the 21-year old has been swinging a hot stick in Spring Training. He'll bring huge stolen base upside -- and double digit HR power Read More -- to the table once he gets the call. (A.S., 3/8/23)

Pfaadt posted a cool 2.63 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 10.8 K/9 rate in the hitter-friendly PCL last year and will merit a pickup whenever the Diamondbacks give him a chance in their rotation. (A.S., 3/8/23)

May miss the entire season, but if not, he could be an impact player in the second half. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Duvall is essentially a one-dimensional power threat, but he did hit 38 homers and drive in 113 runs as recently as 2021. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Pollock has never been able to stay healthy, and that isn't likely to change at age 35. But perhaps playing DH will help. He was a very productive fantasy performer on a per-game basis as recently as 2021. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Carlson hasn't lived up to his prospect hype, but he should play regularly and is still just 24 years old. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Fulmer has reinvented himself as a solid-if-unspectacular reliever. Brandon Hughes has the ability to produce much more fantasy-friendly stats, but Fulmer looks like the favorite for saves. (A.S., 3/20/23)

Duran will likely begin the season in the minors, but he could be a decent source of HRs and SBs for fantasy managers before long. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Burke isn't really in the mix for saves in Texas, but he is coming off a season where he posted a 1.97 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 9.82 K/9 rate. He probably won't be quite that good again, but if he is, he won't need Read More saves to accrue ample fantasy value. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Myers is a .254 career hitter who hasn't topped 20 HRs since 2017 and doesn't run much anymore. His main hope for fantasy utility is that a move to hitter-friendly Cincinnati revives his power stroke. (A.S., 3/2/23)

He may not get enough playing time in Queens to matter, but he does have a roto-friendly skill set if he plays regularly. (A.S., 3/2/23)

He was flat-out awful last year, but very productive the preview two seasons. A classic bounceback candidate. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Grossman is coming off a very rough 2022 campaign, but he did go 23/20 in 2021. It's hard to count on a return to form at age 33, but the age curve isn't always linear so you never know. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Can hit for a decent average with low-double digit homers (if that kind of thing excites you). (A.S., 2/22/23)

Berti is not a well-rounded player and probably won't play everyday, but he did steal 41 bases last year. He's an interesting bench piece in daily lineup roto leagues. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Morel showed a nice blend of pop and speed as a rookie, but his 32.2% strikeout rate led to a low batting average and playing time could be an issue in 2023. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Andrus turned back the clock to finish as a top-13 fantasy shortstop last year, but it's tough to expect a repeat. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Hughes looked like a solid closer option last season, but the Cubs apparently prefer Michael Fulmer or Brad Boxberger in the role. (A.S., 3/20/23)

Mancini is yet another hitter who had a career year in 2019, but he has better excuses than most for his declining production since then. Now expected to serve as the Cubs' cleanup man, a .250/20 kind of season is the most likely outcome Read More for Mancini, but a return to .290/25 numbers is still conceivable if everything clicks in Chicago. (A.S., 3/6/23)

DeSclafani missed most of 2022 with an ankle injury, but he was more than serviceable in his first year in SF in 2021, posting a 3.17 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. He's not a big strikeout guy, but the ingredients are there for back-end fantasy starter production. (A.S., 3/8/23)

Coming off a nice season, but will there be enough playing time? (A.S., 2/9/23)

I was surprised to see him bat .260 last year, and the 15 HRs in just 72 games was nice. But it's the playing time that concerns me. Maybe he's better in a two catcher league? Or if you have a deep bench and Read More can set your lineup daily. He'd be higher for me if I thought he'd actually play 140 games. (BW 2/12/23)

Graveman could have a shot at some save chances while Liam Hendriks is out. It's hard to have too much trust in him, though. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Estevez is the tentative favorite to lead the Angels bullpen in saves, but there isn't much in his track record to suggest he'll be a standout in the role. (A.S., 3/13/23)

The Angels signed the 30 year old veteran this offseason to a two year contract, and it's possible he's the de facto closer to start the season. It's also interesting to think his numbers could be much better now that he's out of Colorado Read More for the first time in his career. (BW 3/13)

One of the better power bets at the position, but the batting average may not be pretty. (A.S., 2/9/23)

Big Dumper led all catchers with 27 homeruns, but he also hit just .211. I'd really like to have my starting catcher before now, but you could do worse if you wait. (BW 2/12/23)

Gore's prospect status has faded somewhat over the last couple years, but he could still be an impact starter at some point if he can just get the walks down. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Paredes hit 13 HRs in his first 39 games of 2022, but struggled badly over the rest of the season. Perhaps it will go down as a flash in the pan, but he's only 24 years old, so a bigger power breakout can't be completely discounted. (A.S., 2/22/23)

With a BB/9 over 4.00 and HR/9 over 2.00, it's no surprise that Gray has posted an ERA above 5.00 over his first 219 1/3 Big League innings. But he did a much better job of limiting free passes and keeping the ball in Read More the park while in the minors, so there is still hope for the 25-year old. Gray is not a player you draft and insert directly into your starting lineup, but he will be given every opportunity to succeed in Washington and will become a must-add player if it looks like something has clicked for him. (A.S., 3/8/23)

Reyes isn't a lock for a roster spot, let alone a starting job, but if he gets regular playing time he remains a solid bet for 30+ HRs. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Hudson has been a sneaky-good reliever over the last couple seasons and could be a prominent part of the Dodgers' closer committee. But durability is a concern and he is likely to miss the beginning of the season as he recovers from ankle and Read More knee injuries. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Thomas' Big League debut left something to be desired, but the 23-year old showed a nice blend of power, speed and batting average in the minors. He could take a nice step forward this year. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Thor underwent TJ surgery after the 2019 season, and 2022 was basically his first year back from it. He wasn't bad overall, as his ERA/WHIP were well in line with his 2019 season. But his K/9 went from 9 down to almost 6. Read More That's a concern. But now a Dodger, maybe they can get his stuff working again. It's easy to see a comeback season for Syndergaard. (BW 3/8)

Blackmon's days as a fantasy star are well behind him. At this point, you just hope for a .270/15/5 kind of season from him. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Karinchak struggles badly with walks at times, but he is also a strikeout machine and the clear handcuff to top-tier closer Emmanuel Clase. (A.S., 3/13/23)

The Marlins aren't going to have a set closer under new manager Skip Schumaker, but Floro should see his fair share of chances. He's not a big strikeout guy, but has proven himself capable of posting solid ratios nonetheless. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Decent shot at 20 homers, but not much else to be excited about. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Hit .283 with 26 HRs and 7 SBs in 360 at-bats between Phillies' and Angels' Double-A affiliates last year. (A.S., 2/9/23)

Dominguez made a successful return from Tommy John surgery last season, but his velocity and spin rate have been down this spring. If healthy, he'll compete with Craig Kimbrel, Jose Alvarado and Gregory Soto for save chances in a loaded Phillies 'pen. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Yaz has really fallen off in the batting average department over the last two seasons, and his underlying Statcast numbers don't provide a lot of reason for optimism about a big bounceback. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Hendricks has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and his status for 2023 is up in the air. His health obviously comes first, but he should slide back into the closer role once he's able to return. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Stroman is an ERA-specialist who has posted an ERA of 3.50 or lower in four of the last five seasons. Unfortunately, he's not much of a fantasy asset anywhere else. (A.S., 3/8/23)

Drury's 28 home runs in 2022 were easily a career high, and Statcast data suggests he's due for a correction. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Ashby is out until at least mid-May, but he will bring plenty of upside once he returns. He should bring plenty of strikeouts, but a high walk rate could lead to a high WHIP. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Like Austin Hays, Benintendi is a former top prospect who has settled in as a solid regular who lacks category juice. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Grichuk's first season in Colorado was a little disappointing statistically, but 25-30 HRs are still a possibility for him this time around. (A.S., 3/1/23)

After driving in 106 runs for the Rays in 2021, injuries and illness limited Meadows to just 36 games for the Tigers last year. He doesn't steal many bases anymore, and is no longer a great bet for batting average, either. But a return Read More to 25-30 HRs and 80+ RBIs is certainly possible if he remains healthy. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Put up huge numbers in 2020 and 2021 when he wasn't hurt. Numbers were down last year, but a rebound in Toronto wouldn't be shocking. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Kelly posted an impressive 3.37 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 200 1/3 innings last year, but those ratios seem like an outlier compared to 2019 and 2021. His strikeout-to-walk rate remained uninspiring and a correction to his BABIP and HR rate should push his ERA back over 4.00 in 2023. (A.S., 3/7?23)

Colas may not win a job out of Spring Training, but once he does, he'll bring intriguing batting average and home run potential with him. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Essentially a source of run production and little else at this stage of his career. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Lopez is the frontrunner to lead the Twins in saves, but his ratios could be fairly suspect. He's worth drafting, but should be less valuable than teammate Jhoan Duran. (A.S., 3/13/23)

It's impossible to trust Kelenic after his immense struggles, but if he does finally put it together at age 23 he will be the dictionary definition of a post-hype sleeper. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Schmidt was a solid reliever for the Yankees last year but could get a chance in this rotation this season. He's posted an excellent strikeout-to-walk ratio at Triple-A over the last two years and could be a sneaky breakout candidate if given an extended Read More audition. (A.S., 3/8/23)

Lauer has outperformed his xERA and xFIP two years in a row, so perhaps that is a skill he owns. The rest of his numbers are just ok, though, including a middling strikeout rate, walk rate, and WHIP. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Cruz is now 42 years old and coming off easily his worst season since his breakout campaign in 2009. But he is slated for regular at bats at DH for the Padres, and could benefit from eye surgery to correct a vision issue that Read More may have impacted him last season. Cruz was still a very productive fantasy player in 2021, so a last hurrah cannot be completely discounted. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Wong rarely plays over 140 games, but he tends to be quite productive on a per-game basis. Another .250/15/15 season is well within reach in his first season in Seattle. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Reached double digit homers and steals last year, but the former first round pick hasn't shown much beyond that yet. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Taylor will need to perform more like the 2021 version than 2022 version if he wants regular playing time in L.A. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Taylor is a super utility player who hits in one of the best lineups in all of baseball. Now with Gavin Lux out for the season, he could be in for even more playing time. He is a solid but not spectacular contributor at Read More really all categories. (BW 3/1/23)

Top-12 catcher in standard 5x5 leagues four years running, and nobody seems to care! (A.S., 2/9/23)

Minter isn't really a threat to Raisel Iglesias in the ninth inning, but he is one of the league's better set-up men and fantasy handcuffs. His 6.27 K/BB ratio last year trailed only Joe Mantiply, Emmanuel Clase, Edwin Diaz and Andres Munoz among relievers Read More who threw 60+ innings. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Ruiz was simply unreal in the minors last year, hitting .332 with 16 HRs and 85 SBs over 437 at bats between AA and AAA. The average and power may not translate right away, but the steals alone are a good reason to invest Read More in Ruiz in roto/categories leagues. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Fell off after a hot start in 2022, but he's only 24 and has hit 55 HRs in 237 games between the minors and Majors over the last two seasons. (A.S., 2/14/23)

The Marlins aren't going to have a set closer under new manager Skip Schumaker, but Puk could see a decent number of save chances while posting good strikeouts and decent ratios. (A.S., 3/13/23)

After successful stints in Milwaukee, San Francisco, Atlanta and Houston, Smith is slated to serve as the primary set-up man in Texas this season. With two 30+ save seasons on his resume, Smith is more than capable of handling closing duties should Jose LeClerc Read More falter. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Kim's huge numbers in Korea haven't really translated to MLB, but he should at least chip in across the board and could hit leadoff in the Padres' potent lineup. (A.S., 2/22/23)

While his production declined a bit in 2020 and 2021, it wasn't until last year that he completely fell off a cliff. In particular, his strikeout rate spiked from 14.8% to 25.2%, perhaps due to the vision issues he addressed with laser eye surgery. Read More The early reports in Spring Training are positive, so a bounceback for the 31-year old could be in store. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Once a coveted prospect, Hays has settled in as a solid regular who lacks categorical upside in fantasy circles. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Jeff McNeil 2.0. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Intriguing power potential, but will he hit enough homers to make up for lack of contributions elsewhere? (A.S., 2/14/23)

May is coming off a down year, but it likely had more to do with bad luck than skills erosion. Look for the A's to use May as their closer in order to build up his trade value for a deal to a contender Read More this summer. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Brown is likely to be a batting average drain, but he did hit 25 HRs and steal 11 bases last year and should hit in a prime spot in Oakland's lineup. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Surprisingly the number 15 fantasy first baseman in 2022, Seth Brown launched 25 HRs while batting just .230. But his 11 stolen bases are alluring, and getting those at the first base position aren't nothing! (BW 2/14/23)

At 26 years old, it feels like there could still be significantly more power potential in his bat than he's shown to date. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Mahle has been a good pitcher over the last three seasons, but trouble with walks and home runs has prevented him from being a great one. Escaping Cincy's launching pad should help address the homer issues, bringing his ERA back down to the mid-3.00s, Read More but he may still walk too many batters to be much help in WHIP. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Sneaky top-15 potential due to his run production numbers. Positional versaltility is a plus. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Another multi-position guy, Cronenworth isn't exceptional at any one category but very solid in most. I expect the playing time to decrease some when Tatis is done serving his suspension, and he'll likely drop in the batting order when he does play. I think Read More he'll still have an OK season, but I'm not sure how useful he'll be on an everyday basis. (BW 2/20/23)

Stripling got back on track in a big way in 2022 following two down years. His pitch-to-contact approach limits his upside and makes him more dependent than most on a favorable BABIP, but moving from Toronto to San Francisco should give him more margin Read More for error. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Little more than a SB specialist unless/until his power develops. (A.S., 2/22/23)

Hayes has been in the Pirate organization since the age of 18, and he just turned 26 in January. He's flashed a bit more speed on the base paths but so far lacked the power. Still, I think there's potential for more with his Read More age and first round pedigree. A 20/20 season isn't out of the question. (BW 2/22/23)

Like Jordan Montgomery, maybe a change of scenery is just what Taillon needs. He's with a worse team than Montgomery, but the Cubs have an improved lineup and Wrigley can be an OK place to pitch when the wind is blowing in anway. (BW 3/8)

Mateo is likely to be a drain in batting average, but he is the kind of player that needs to be rostered in leagues that value stolen bases. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Wood's 5.10 ERA last season was hideous, but his expected ERA was more than a full run lower, while his xFIP was more than a run and a half lower. Wood is in a good situation in SF and he has a long track Read More record of helping fantasy teams, when healthy, so a nice bounceback could be in store. (A.S., 3/6/23)

He's a late round flier to potentially bounce back to his 2021 numbers. He's always had a high BABIP, but his xFIP last season shows he can get that ERA back down a bit and he has nice strikeout potential. But the ERA was Read More over 5.00 over the course of 26 starts last season, and I don't want to sugar coat that too much. (BW 3/8)

As a hitter, Verdugo's main attributes are that he hits for a decent average and is in the lineup just about everyday to accumulate stats. He'd be more appealing if the Red Sox lineup was looking more menacing. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Verdugo doesn't excite me in any category. I suppose he hits for average, but he hasn't shown much power nor stolen more than 6 bases in a season. (BW 3/1/23)

After struggling in 2021, Carrasco had a decent bounceback campaign with the Mets last year. He may be able to put up similar numbers this year, but that would only make him a back-end fantasy starter at best. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Thanks in large part to his minuscule walk rate, Eovaldi has settled in as a solid back-end fantasy starter. And the move from Boston to Texas should only help. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Maeda missed the 2022 season following Tommy John surgery, but should be ready to roll for 2023. Before the injury, he was a steady helper in strikeouts and WHIP with an ERA that tended to hover around 4.00 due to a high home run Read More rate. Expect a return to that kind of production if he can stay healthy. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Still one of the best pure hitting prospects in baseball. He just needs to get -- and stay -- healthy. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Gallegos is unlikely to match the 14 saves he collected last year, following the emergence of Ryan Helsley as the team's undisputed closer. But in addition to being a strong closer handcuff, he should be able to chip in a few saves and wins Read More here and there while posting helpful ratios and strikeout totals. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Rogers is a good pitcher and a proven closer, but he should be on the short end of a committee with Camilo Doval in San Francisco. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Winker had a career year in Cincinnati in 2021, but followed it up with a career-worst season last year in Seattle. Perhaps a return to a hitter-friendly home ballpark -- this time, Milwaukee -- can get him back on track. (A.S., 3/2/23)

After just one year in Seattle, Winker is now in Milwaukee and in a more hitter-friendly ballbark, His splits are pretty wild. He's terrible against lefties but smashes righties, so he could platoon a bit and be more valuable in daily vs weekly leagues. Read More Still, I like his overall numbers and I like his projections to be somewhere between 2021 (CIN) and 2022 (SEA). It all depends on how much he actually plays. (BW 3/1/23)

Sandoval's 2.91 ERA last year looks nice, but he's probably more of a mid-to-high-3.00s guy with a subpar walk rate and WHIP. He should be a decent innings eater but is more of a low-end fantasy asset. (A.S., 3/7/23)

In his third year in the big leagues, Sandoval finally got his ERA under 4.00 and his WHIP around 1.20 in 2021. Then last season, his ERA went even lower but his underlying numbers suggest he's still a 4.00ish ERA pitcher. Oh and his Read More WHIP of 1.34 is hard to deal with. He has decent strikeout stuff, and he's still just 26 years old. He showed better strikeout potential in the minors, so there's still hope he could improve there (and really everywhere). (BW 3/8)

Gurriel hit .291 last season, but he hit just 5 home runs in 121 games after belting 21 in 141 games the previous season. He doesn't run much, so he'll have to get the power numbers back up to have any real appeal in fantasy leagues. (A.S., 3/2/23)

He has hit over .275 each of his 5 seasons in the majors, and he's also hit 20 HRs twice. One of those seasons was in just 84 games, but the power ws down last year. Some of that could have been due to Read More injury, so I'm interested in him in 2023 even though he has moved to Arizona. (BW 3/1/23)

Fresh off a 10 HR/20 SB season, Hoerner profiles as a poor man's Amed Rosario. (A.S., 2/27/23)

With Dansby Swanson coming to Chicago, Hoerner should be the everyday second baseman this year. The former first round pick could bat .300, hit 10 HRs and steal 20 bases. That's basically what Amed Rosario did last year too. (BW 2/27/23)

His rookie year was disappointing, but it is far too early to give up on a 23-year old with elite prospect pedigree. (A.S., 2/14/23)

McNeil is technically a source of "empty batting average," but that average was high enough last year to make him a top-6 fantasy second baseman in 5x5 categories leagues. (A.S., 2/21/23)

His 2021 season now looks like an outlier with McNeil getting back to his .326 average last season. He has now batted at least .311 in 4 of his 5 seasons in the majors. But no one will be too excited to draft someone Read More who has hit double digit homeruns just once in his career. I'll take the solid average and run potential on a good lineup though. He could really keep that average afloat in a roto league. (BW 2/20/23)

It's impossible to count on Mondesi at this point, but the upside to hit 20 HRs and lead the league in steals is still there. (A.S., 2/27/23)

He was being ranked as a top-5 option a couple of years ago, then a top-12 option last year, all the way to an afterthought in 2023. He's somehow still the betting favorite to lead the league in steals on DraftKings. But with his Read More injury history, I can't imagine placing that bet. But even half of a season from Mondesi could help your team in that category in a Roto league. And now at the low pricetag, the risk isn't there. It's not just the steals either, as he has shown the power to hit 20+ HRs and would likely score over 100 runs if he made his way to the top of the order and actually played 140-150 games. (BW 2/27/23)

Volpe is considered one of the top prospects in baseball and he stole 50 bases in the minors last year, but he may have to patiently wait for his turn in New York. (A.S., 2/23/27)

A shoulder injury wiped out Conforto's 2022 season, but he was a solid fantasy producer for 2017-2020. The Giants are famous for reclamation projects and invested a fair amount of money in Conforto, making him an intriguing sleeper for 2023. (A.S., 3/2/23)

I've never quite understood the hype with Manaea, but am a little more intrigued now that he's in San Francisco and showing a big spike in velocity following a trip to Driveline. It's still hard to be overly bullish based on his track record, Read More but he's at least a decent lottery ticket. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Manaea had too many walks and gave up too many homeruns in 2022. Now he has a fresh start with a division opponent going from San Diego to San Francisco, and with a late round flier I might see what he can do in Read More April. (BW 3/8)

Ozuna has had countless issues off the field, and his play on the field has also nosedived over the last two seasons. But he's still in the prime of his career and should again get regular playing time in a loaded Braves lineup. He Read More was a fantasy monster as recently as 2020, so the potential for a big season is still there. (A.S., 3/2/23)

Rojas has averaged 11 HRs and 18 SBs per 162 games since entering the Majors and has hit .264 or better each of the last two seasons. He could also post decent run production numbers if he hits in the middle of the Diamondbacks Read More lineup, as projected by Roster Resource. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Outside of his career year in 2019, Marte hasn't shown the ability to do much other than hit for a high average. And even that was lacking in 2022. (A.S., 2/21/23)

After breaking out in 2019, Ketel Marte has dealt with a lot of injuries. Somehow he finished as a top-10 fantasy second baseman last season, but I'm not sure how he actually did that looking at his mediocre numbers. This is more about an Read More accummulator who will finish as a top-20 second baseman versus someone who I'm actually excited to draft. (BW 2/20/23)

Urquidy doesn't strike out many batters, so he is best suited to points leagues and/or leagues without innings caps. Still, he can help enough elsewhere to have significant fantasy value in all formats as long as he can stay healthy. He has never posted Read More an ERA over 4.00 or WHIP above 1.20, and he's a strong bet for wins in Houston. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Yes, his ERA has been under 4.00. But the underlying numbers suggest it could be closer to 5.00 if things go slightly differently for him. Still, he's kept a low BABIP in his young career, and the Astros have a good defense behind him. Read More I worry with Hunter Brown coming up and if McCullers gets healthy, someone will be the odd man out of the rotation. It could be Urquidy. (BW 3/9)

Ober's peripherals suggest last year's 3.21 ERA is due for a lot of regression, but his pinpoint accuracy may help limit the damage. The question is whether he can continue to avoid getting bit by the home run ball while living around the strike Read More zone as much as he does. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Shoulder issues have derailed Flaherty's once-promising career, but he's still only 27 years old. Expectations need to be kept in check at this point, but he could at least be worth a flier to see if the old Flaherty reemerges. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Still just 27 years old, Flaherty has certainly dealt with him fair share of injuries (and not the fluky kind that Chris Sale has dealt with). Still, the price is low for someone who we have seen be a dominant SP in the league, Read More although that was a long time ago at this point. (BW 3/9)

Laureano has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game, so the batting average may not be pretty, but a 20-20 season is still within the realm of possibility for him. (A.S., 3/2/23)

He started last season serving part of a suspension for a banned substance, and we haven't seen him play more than 123 games in a season yet. But he'd likely be a 20/20 guy in a full season. (BW 3/1/23)

With a good eye at the plate but lack of category juice, Nimmo is a player who has always been better in points leagues than roto/categories formats. However, he finished as a top-20 OF in 5x5 leagues last year thanks to scoring over 100 Read More runs -- and a down year at the position overall. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Nimmo was quietly a top-12 fantasy outfielder last season, and a lot of that was his run production (102 runs scored). I wish he stole more bases (and maybe he will), but the Mets invested a huge contract in the young outfielder, and he's Read More not going to hurt you at any category really. (BW 3/1/23)

Peraza flashed his fantasy upside by hitting 19 HRs and stealing 33 bases in 99 games at Triple-A in 2022, but he'll have to fight for playing time on the Yankees' crowded roster. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Lange is tentatively expected to serve as the Tigers' closer in 2023, and he displayed enough bat-missing ability last year to carry some fantasy appeal in the role. That said, walks have been an issue for him at every level and he led MLB Read More in wild pitches last year, so his hold on the closer job could be tenuous. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Whitlock has been very good as a reliever over his first two seasons, and was also solid-if-not-spectacular in nine starts last year. He may begin the season on the IL as he ramps up from offseason hip surgery, but could be quite good for Read More however many innings he's able to throw. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Whit isn't getting any younger, but he's still a decent bet for 10 HRs, 20 SBs and a .270 AVG with a decent run total. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Merrifield had been a top-6 fantasy second baseman every season since his rookie year, and I ranked him as such last season. Maybe his age has caught up to him. He swiped 40 bases at age 32 but just 16 last season. Some of Read More that was due to his lowest OBP of his careeer, but that's not good either. I thought the midseason trade to Toronto would be a good thing for him last year, but it really wasn't. As for 2023, I'm not too interested in rostering the 34 year old. (BW 2/20/23)

Hype has cooled considerably, but he's still just 26. (A.S., 2/14/23)

The 2018 #3 overall draft pick had a decent MLB debut during the 2020 season. But then he followed it up with a much lower average and ISO over a much larger sample size. He has the draft pedigree to lead me to believe Read More the potential is there, but like a guy like Ke'Bryan Hayes, that might be more with the speed and not the power. (BW 2/14/23)

Tovar bludgened minor league pitching in 2022, hitting .318 with 13 HRs and 17 SBs in 66 games at Double-A, but he didn't have enough time to make much of a dent in the Big Leagues. He's an intriguing breakout candidate if he plays Read More regularly for the Rockies this year. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Nootbar has a shot at 20 HRs and 5 SBs, but there's not much else in his profile to get excited about. (A.S., 3/2/23)

He has 20 HR potential, but can he bat for average? There's a bit of an unknown with Nootbar, but I can't put him much higher than this. (BW 3/1/23)

Power was lacking last year, but his contact skills are elite and he still has superstar potential. May start out on short-end of a platoon with Carson Kelly, though. (A.S., 2/9/23)

He isn't sexy, but McMahon is a steady source of a .250 average, 20-25 HRs, and a handful of steals. Last year, that translated to top-10 second baseman production. (A.S., 2/21/23)

At this point, I feel like we know what we're getting with Ryan McMahon: 25 HRs and a .250 average. He has gotten his K rate well below 30%, so that's good. But his numbers are hard to stomach without much stolen base potential.

He's no longer a great bet to make it through the entire season unscathed, but the 32-year old Segura is still a steady across-the-board contributor when healthy. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Segura was among the top-30 betting favorites on Draft Kings to lead the league in hits last season. He's not likely to steal a ton of bases anymore, but maybe double digits (same goes for HRs). I also think he can get back to Read More hitting .290, so he feels like discount Jeff McNeil to me. (BW 2/20/23)

Fresh off a breakthrough 2021 campaign, Rogers was flat-out awful in 2022 as he dealt with injuries and mental/mechanical issues. But he did show some signs of life late in the year and is still just 25 years old. He's shaping up as Read More a major risk/reward fantasy option this season. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Rogers was a first round draft pick in 2017, and he flashed his elite strikeout potential in 7 starts during the 2020 season. Then we saw the Marlins ramp him up to 133 innings in 2021, and the high walk rate was the only Read More major concern with him. Then there was 2022, which was a disaster. So which pitcher is he? Last year he was a bottom-10 pitcher in the league in ERA, but his xFIP was only 4.11. Silver lining! (BW 3/8)

Cabrera's rotation spot isn't assured, and he is due for a fair amount of regression based on how he pitched last year. But this is a pitcher who posted elite strikeout totals in the minors and cruised to a 3.01 ERA and 1.07 WHIP Read More in 14 starts with the Marlins. Wildness is an issue, but he could also take a step forward at any time. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Kimbrel was not the elite strikeout pitcher last year that he's been throughout his career, and his other numbers have also trended downward over the last few seasons. But he was excellent as recently as 2021, and was at least serviceable last season. He'll Read More compete for saves with Seranthony Dominguez, Jose Alvarado and Gregory Soto in the Phillies' loaded 'pen. (A.S., 3/13/23)

The closer role for the Phillies is completely muddled right now, but it will likely clear up before April ends. I would likely draft Kimbrel first, but as of right now I'm not confident in any of the options for the most saves. (BW 3/13)

Injuries have derailed his career, but he's not too old for a bounceback campaign if he can stay off the IL. (A.S., 2/22/23)

After a hip injury derailed his 2021, I gave him a mulligan and ranked him as a top-12 fantasy third baseman last year heading into the season. I feel like I'm back to where I was last year, and he's healthy and likely to Read More bat cleanup in a solid Angel lineup. But I can't trust the health, so he's way down for me. (BW 2/22/23)

Singer posted a strong 3.23 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 2022, and has looked sharp so far this spring. That said, his peripherals didn't fully match his ratios and he doesn't project to be an asset in wins or Ks, either. (A.S., 3/7/23)

He doesn't have huge strikeout potential, but Singer is still just 26 years old and has shown improvement in his young career. Last season he showed much better control, improving his walk rate, ERA, and WHIP significantly. (BW 3/8)

Projection systems are bullish on his shot at 30 homers, but fact is he's only done it once in his career and he's also a major drain on batting average. (A.S., 2/22/23)

Like Suarez, you can expect a K rate around 30% and you'll need to stomach the low average for the 30 HR potential. (BW 2/22/23)

Montgomery made the Yankees regret trading him with a strong second half performance, but it didn't really change who he is as a pitcher. He's capable of posting a sub-4.00 ERA, but shouldn't do a whole lot elsewhere. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Getting out of Yankee Stadium looked like what the doctor ordered last season. Montgomery looks like a different pitcher in St. Louis, and I love getting him later in drafts as my third or fourth starter. He could get you a strikeout per inning, Read More work deep into games, and maybe be a solid 14 or 15 win guy for a really good team in a bad division. (BW 3/8)

Bellinger's final two seasons in L.A. were an unmitigated disaster, but he'll look to get a fresh start in Chicago. He's still only 27 years old, so if he can just fix his swing, a return to form is theoretically possible. Just don't count Read More on it. (A.S., 3/2/23)

I'm not sure he'll ever get back to hitting .250, but a change of scenery to the Cubs couldn't hurt, right? Well, maybe it could. It's hard to ignore the MVP level potential for a guy who is still just 27 years old. (BW 3/1/23)

A lefty slugger who belted 21 HRs in 331 ABs against right-handed pitchers last year, Pederson is the ideal platoon player in daily lineup leagues. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Pederson is coming off a season that saw a career best .274 batting average. If he can actually continue to hit lefties decently, he could be a serviceable third outfielder. (BW 3/1/23)

Bader is not a great bet to stay healthy and may not have the skill set of an everyday regular, but he has proven throughout his career that he can pick up HRs and SBs in bunches. He should be able to score and Read More drive in plenty of runs in New York, and should at least be worth using when he's running hot. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Bader never really broke out in St. Louis, but he also has had a hard time staying healthy the last couple of seasons. If he can just play 140 games, we could see a 20/20 season with a .250 average with potential for more Read More at Yankee Stadium. (BW 3/1/23)

After posting 14 HRs and 27 SBs with an average well above .300 in 96 minor league games, Grissom impressively hit .291 with 5 HRs and 5 SBs over his 41-game Major League debut. He's far and away my favorite sleeper at 2B this year. (A.S., 2/21/23)

It was a small sample size last year (just 41 games), but Grissom batted .291 and had 5 HRs to go along with 5 SBs. If he can get the playing time, I'm excited to see what he can do in a full season (BW 2/20/23)

Power appears limited, but can help in AVG and should play almost every day. (A.S., 2/9/23)

Stephenson has hit .296 in 190 career games in the majors. While he doesn't appear to have a ton of power, his OBP and BABIP were top-3 among qualifying catchers in 2021. It's just the injuries that are concerning, especially the concussions. If he Read More can stay on the field for once, Cincinnati sure is a great home ballpark to hit in. (BW 2/12/23)

Power output was disappointing in '22, but plate skills were top-notch. I still believe. (A.S., 2/9/23)

The biggest piece in a trade that sent Trea Turner and Max Scherzer to the Dodgers, the switch-hitting Ruiz looked good with the Nats at the end of 2021. He hit for average and had a K rate under 10%. Those numbers dipped a Read More bit in 2022, but he has the potential to be somewhere between Alejandro Kirk and Christian Vazquez. (BW 2/12/23)

Abrams has yet to do much of note, but he's just 22 years old and has barely played 100 professional games between the minors and Majors. There is still plenty of five-category potential here if things click. (A.S., 2/21/23)

The number 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft was dealt to the Nats in the Juan Soto deal. He should get the chance to play every day, and I think he could lead the NL in stolen bases. He could be a special Read More player beyond that and I'd like to draft him late to find out early. (BW 2/20/23)

He's still only 25, but it's starting to feel like his game translates better to real life than to fantasy baseball. (A.S., 2/14/23)

It's easy to get excited about the former number three overall pick in the 2019 draft. He improved his production a great deal from 2021 to 2022, so it's fair to project at least similar numbers to last season or maybe continued growth. With Read More Abreu gone and Eloy often on the IL, Vaughn should be in the lineup every day. It could be his year to break out. (BW 2/14/23)

Contreras was an elite bat-misser in the minors, but that skill did not immediately translate in his 21 appearances with the Pirates last season. Wins will be tough to come by in Pittsburgh and he'll need to cut down on the walks if he Read More wants to post a strong WHIP, but he still possesses quite a bit of upside based on his minor league track record. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Detmers posted a decent 3.77 ERA and 1.21 WHIP last year, but his peripherals weren't quite that good and his numbers were inflated by a hot six-start stretch in July and August. His ERA was well over 4.00 during the other four months. He Read More may need to develop the bat-missing ability he showed in the minors in order to have sustained success in the Big Leagues, but the good news is that his velocity is way up this spring. (A.S., 3/15/23)

This isn't about his no hitter last year because that felt a bit fluky the way it went down. But to have the stuff to do that shouldn't be ignored. This is more about how he was sent down to the minors mid season Read More and then was a much better pitcher after that. He's super young and there's reason to believe he could keep that second half going into 2023. Lots of upside for the Angel late in drafts. (BW 3/9)

Finnegan was already a solid contributor in terms of ERA and Ks, but he trimmed his walk rate enough last year to also help out in WHIP. He's looking like the Nationals' closer by default, and could hold some solid value in that role. Read More (A.S., 3/13/23)

Lacking high-end power or speed, he has the kind of profile that tends to get ignored by fantasy managers. Yet he's managed to finish as a top-12 1B in back-to-back seasons. (A.S., 2/14/23)

France should hit for a high average as far as a lot of first basemen go, but 30 HRs is out of the question. It's worth noting he also has eligibility at third base which helps some, but overall France is a relatively boring Read More fantasy option. (BW 2/14/23)

Martinez's power numbers have tailed off over the last few years and he doesn't steal bases. But he's still a solid source of batting average and run production who should be able to get back into the 20-25 HR range. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Kopech's ratios were similar in 2021 and 2022, but his strikeout rate completely cratered when he moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation. He can be a solid innings eater for the White Sox, but he'll need to refind his bat-missing ways to Read More be of much use in fantasy circles. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Power may be drying up as he approaches 40, but he can still hit for average and drive in runs when healthy. (A.S., 2/22/23)

The only reason you're getting a guy who can hit for a little bit of power and average this late in a fantasy draft is because Turner is 38 years old. His career batting average is a whopping .290, and he hasn't hit below Read More .275 since 2012. Now with the Red Sox, he should replace J.D. Martinez in that DH spot. He could put up some nice numbers even in the twilight of his career. (BW 2/22/23)

Greene didn't show much as a 21-year old rookie, but I'll still bet on the talent. A breakout should happen sooner or later. (A.S., 3/2/23)

A first round pick in the 2019 draft, Greene chased a lot of pitches and struck out a ton in 93 games last year. But he could certainly hit 20 HRs and steal 10 bases. Will that be this season? We shall see. (BW 3/1/23)

While he's never been a true fantasy ace, Berrios was a very useful pitcher every year from 2017 to 2021. Then, out of nowhere, he completely fell apart. He probably deserves the benefit of the doubt for at least a modest bounceback, if not Read More more. The fact he's reportedly revamped his mechanics can only help. (A.S., 3/7/23)

I ranked him in the top-30 last year, and that was pretty wrong. Berrios had an ERA over 5.00 (bottom 10 in the league for pitchers who threw over 100 innings) and his worst strikeout rate since his rookie season. I thought this guy Read More was supposed to be a solid third starter in a fantasy rotation not someone who could bring down all of your ratios! He has a solid track record but nothing that jumps off the page. He went from a boring mid round pick to a risky mid to late round pick. (BW 3/8)

The Dodgers took on Heaney as a reclamation project, and he responded with a 13.62 K/9 rate that was second to Spencer Strider among pitches who threw 70+ innings in 2022. Now with the Rangers, it's anybody's guess how many innings Heaney throws -- Read More he's only topped 130 once in his career. But he could be very valuable on a per-start basis. (A.S., 3/6/23)

It's hard to ignore that rough 2021 season which ended with a ton of HRs given up in Yankee Stadium. And to be honest, he has never had a good ERA or WHIP...until last season with the Dodgers. So did the Dodgers fix Read More him? Was he just good in LA and now won't be in Texas. He has shown great strikeout upside throughout his career, so a late round pick is worth finding out. (BW 3/9)

Santander finally played a full complement of games in 2022, and it led to a 33 HR season and top-24 OF finish in standard 5x5 leagues. A repeat performance is certainly plausible, but even then, he's not going to help you in batting average Read More or stolen bases. (A.S., 3/1/23)

I ranked Santander as my 68th outfielder last year, and Andrew was giving me crap! I think it was because I liked him over his teammate Austin Hays, but either way I'm taking this as a win because I really liked the switch hitter Read More as a late round value (relatively speaking). This also goes to show you the value you can get after the top-50 OFs. Santander just needed to stay healthy because we hadn't seen him play more than 110 games in a season before 2022. The .240 average wasn't great, but the 33 HRs and 89 RBIs sure was. I think he could do that again in this lineup. (BW 3/1/23)

Gray's K rate was down last year, but so was his walk rate, ERA and WHIP. Getting out of Cincinnati was a good thing for his fantasy value, and he should be able to again post SP4 or SP5 numbers. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Polanco struggled badly in 2022, particularly in the second half. Knee soreness may have been partly to blame, but there's no guarantee the issue won't arise again as he approaches 30. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Another guy who missed a lot of time last season due to injury, Polanco seems like a guy who has finally put it all together with the power. His hard hit rate and barrel rate have increased over his time in the majors as Read More he has developed, and I like him to get back to that 30 HR mark and push for 100 runs and RBIs. If he gives you 8-10 stolen bases, I see that as a bonus with the power he can bring. (BW 2/20/23)

Happ is a sneaky 20/10 candidate, but the question is whether he can come anywhere close to repeating last year's .271 batting average. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Like Anthony Santander, Ian Happ and many others in my top-50 preseason ranked OFs this year were well outside of that range last year during Spring Training. Happ had career bests in average and K rate in 2022, and 20+ HRs and 10 Read More steals is likely for him. He'll also likely bat 3rd or 4th in a weak lineup. So the RBI potential is there, but I'm not expecting big things from the Cubs in 2022. (BW 3/1/23)

Phillips threw 63 dominant innings last year and could see his fair share of save chances now that the Dodgers are going closer-by-committee for 2023. Still, you should pay for the ratios and strikeouts, not the saves. (A.S., 3/13/23)

He doesn't have much of a track record, but he had the best ERA last season of any pitcher who threw at least 40 innings. His 1.14 ERA likely should've been more like 2.00 based on the underlying numbers, but you can say that Read More for most relievers. Also that ERA is still great to go along with a 0.76 WHIP and 11 K/9 rate. If he get the closer job in LA, he could be a steal late in drafts. (BW 3/13)

Struggled in his first taste of the Big Leagues, but he's got nothing left to prove in the minors after dominating Double-A in 2021 and Triple-A last year. Has the inside track on the Dodgers' 2B job and could be a five-category stud if Read More he can put it all together. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Rasmussen has posted a 2.84 ERA in back-to-back seasons, both times with a strong accompanying WHIP. Sometimes it feels like he's doing it with smoke and mirrors, but the favorable pitching environment in Tampa certainly helps. (A.S., 3/6/23)

After hitting 31 homers in the minors in 2021 and nine more over 41 games to begin last season, Gonzalez more than held his own in Cleveland, hitting .296 with 11 HRs in his first 91 Major League games. That batting average may be Read More tough to maintain, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the 25-year old hit for more power this time around. (A.S., 3/1/23)

In 91 games last year (his first in the majors), Gonzalez nearly batted .300 and hit 11 HRs. His xBA was was .279, and his projections this year are below that, but 20 HRs, 80 RBIs, and a .275 average would play nicely as Read More a third outfielder. That could be his ceiling though, so he's not exactly a target for me in fantasy drafts. (BW 3/1/23)

Emerged from virtual obscurity at 30 years old. But what if he's just good? (A.S., 2/14/23)

Brown may cycle between the starting rotation and the bullpen in 2022, but he'll have the upside to contribute to fantasy teams whenever he gets a start. Walks could be an issue, but he'll bring a lot of win and strikeout potential. (A.S., 3/6/23)

He'll likely be in the rotation to start the year, so he'll be a SPARP before long. He could be very valuable depending on your league format, and he just might be valuable regardless if he can just be a good starter for Houston Read More as a rookie. Based on his minor league numbers, there's reason to believe he can. But he only started two games last year at the major league level, so a lot of unknown here. (BW 3/13)

Batting average has plummeted in recent years, but he still has 30-HR pop, a little stolen base potential, and plenty of run-production juice in the Bronx. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Rizzo was a nice surprise last year and finished as a top-12 fantasy first baseman, but his .224 average hurt. He also had a much better first half versus second half, so he's hard to trust beyond hitting plenty of bombs to the short Read More porch in right field at Yankee Stadium. (BW 2/14/23)

A former top prospect, May's career was sidetracked by Tommy John surgery but he still possesses plenty of upside. Expect limited innings in 2022, but they could be very useful ones for fantasy purposes. (A.S., 3/6/23)

May had Tommy John surgery in May of 2021, so pitching at all last season was pretty incredible. If I thought the Dodgers would let him pitch 150-160 innings, I'd rank him in my top-25. As it is, I think he can still be Read More quite valuable with however many starts he gets in 2023. (BW 3/8)

Some players have limited upside in roto/categories leagues due to a lack of stolen bases; with Kwan it's a lack of power. He managed to finish as a top-15 OF last year, but that speaks more to the lack of depth at the position Read More than his own value. It wouldn't be shocking to see him finish top-24 again if he plays 150+ games again, but I generally like to aim higher with my draft picks. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Better in points leagues batting at the top of Cleveland's order, but he a young version of Jeff McNeil who can carry your batting average and has way more stolen base upside. (BW 3/1/23)

Coming off a career year in 2021, injuries bit Haniger again last season. Now in San Francisco, another 30-HR season is possible if he can stay healthy, but he won't move the needle much elsewhere. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Haniger tied for the most homeruns by an outfielder in 2021 (39), and he also had 110 runs and 100 RBIs. His 2022 season was derailed by injury, and it'll be interesting to see what the move from Seattle to San Francisco means for Read More his fantasy value. But I like the power potential and don't think his average will kill you like some other homerun hitters. He could be a sneaky value in the middle rounds. (BW 3/1/23)

Last year, LeClerc returned from Tommy John surgery at midseason and handled closing duties down the stretch for the Rangers. He was pretty good for the most part, although his strikeout rate wasn't quite what it had been before the injury. He should begin Read More the 2023 season as closer under new manager Bruce Bochy, but the Rangers have a viable fallback option in place in reliable veteran Will Smith. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Leclerc hasn't had great stuff at the major league level and also hasn't had more than 14 saves in a season, so he's down in this tier. Still, it's possible he could put it all together. I just expect new addition Will Smith could Read More be in the mix for saves, and there's some uncertainty all around with Bruce Bochy the new manager in Texas now. (BW 3/13)

Senga posted an impressive 2.59 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 over 11 seasons in Japan. You never know how those stats will translate to MLB, but he is certainly in a good environment to succeed with the Mets. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Adam is probably behind Pete Fairbanks in the Rays' closer committee, but he should still see around 10 saves and could pick up his fair share of wins, too. If he can approximate last year's terrific ratios, he'll be a must-roster fantasy asset. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Regarded by many as the top pitching prospect in baseball, Rodriguez dominated AAA batters last year after doing the same at the lower levels in 2021. He's penciled into an Opening Day spot in Baltimore's rotation, and will pitch his home games in a Read More ballpark that was pitcher-friendly last year with its new dimensions. He's unlikely to pitch more than 120-130 innings, but could be an impact fantasy player nonetheless. (A.S., 3/7/23)

Even if he doesn't have an Opening Day roster spot, I have to think Rodriguez will be in the show by May. His minor league numbers are very exciting, and Camden Yards is turning into more of a pitchers park. I'll be drafting him Read More where I can this season. (BW 3/8)

Estrada finished as a top-8 second baseman in 2022 despite getting 50-100 fewer at bats than the other guys. The performance came out of nowhere, but that doesn't mean he can't repeat it. (A.S., 2/21/23)

Estrada was a top-10 fantasy 2B last season and it was all about the 21 stolen bases. Still, if he can even just be a 15/15 guy and bat .260, that's good enough for a starting fantasy second baseman. (BW 2/20/23)

After posting a solid season in relief in 2021, Springs was a surprise standout as a starter last season. He's due for some regression, but the underlying numbers largely support his case as a solid fantasy starter. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Move from Cincy to Seattle surprisingly had negligible impact on his power output, but the swing-and-miss in his game makes him a major batting average risk in any ballpark. (A.S., 2/2/23)

Suarez basically has the power potential of Matt Chapman, but he's likely to tank your fantasy team's batting average even more. He went to a less hitter friendly park in Seattle last year and still hit 31 HRs (the same number he hit the Read More previous year in Cincinnati). You know what you're getting here, but the power is there. (BW 2/22/23)

Garcia is a solid across-the-board contributor who may go somewhat overlooked because he doesn't excel in any one statistical category. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Cobb's 3.73 ERA last year wasn't too bad, but his underlying numbers indicate that he deserved far better. He was in fact much better than that from June onward, but a high BABIP and LOB% were just too much to overcome. He's a good Read More bet to at least modestly outperform last year's numbers. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Cobb was a bit unlucky last season. He had an xERA lower than guys like Zac Gallen, Alek Manoah...even Gerritt Cole! His FIP and xFIP were also below 3.00. He didn't give up a lot of homeruns, kept his strikeout rate high while lowering Read More his walk rate. I'm starting to wonder why I have him this low to be honest... (BW 3/9)

His numbers from last year don't jump off the page, but Suzuki has the potential to put up a 20 HR/10 SB season if his health cooperates. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Assuming the oblique injury doesn't keep him out for more than a month or so, Suzuki could break out in 2023. The Cubs signed him to a 5-year $70 million contract, and I expect him to build on his modest "rookie" season in the majors. (BW 3/1/23)

Glasnow has some of the best stuff in baseball, but he just can't stay healthy. He's going to miss the first month or two of the season with an oblique strain and will be a high-variance fantasy asset once he returns. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Baez made more contact than ever in 2022, but it was awfully weak contact. That didn't help his batting average, and led to a precipitous dropoff in power. That said, he's still only 30 years old, so a bounceback season could be in store. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Baez has always had a high strikeout rate, and he's had some very productive seasons despite it. Still, it's hard to look past a guy who strikes out a third of the time at the plate and who is now with his third team Read More in a calendar year. At just 29 years old though, he hasn't shown signs of a decline and could still hit 30 HRs in Detroit to go along with double digit steals and solid stats across the board. (BW 3/2)

Numbers fluctuate a lot from year to year, but they usually add up to the top-15 fantasy 1B production. (A.S., 2/14/23)

I've always liked Josh Bell. He was a good prospect who took a while to bloom with the Pirates. He finally hit 37 HRs in 2019 when a lot of players had career years. Since then he's bounced around a bit and now finds Read More himself in Cleveland at the age of 30. Still, I believe he can bat .260 and hit 30 HRs, so I guess I still like Josh Bell. (BW 2/14/23)

Lopez finally made it through a full season mostly healthy in 2022, and his numbers were solid across the board. He's a solid SP4. (A.S., 3/6/23)

His ERA and WHIP both went back up last year, but maybe he could be a poor man's Alcantara again (albeit now for a different team in Minnesota). He's a solid pitcher but nothing spectacular. I don't believe in a big strikeout potential with Read More him anymore. (BW 3/8)

Defense (and contract) should ensure he's in the lineup regularly, and it's quite a lineup upgrade from Oakland, too. (A.S., 2/9/23)

Did you realize Murphy was the #3 fantasy catcher last year? He was also a top-12 catcher in 2020 and 2021. He's moving from the AL to NL and we saw a former teammate of his Matt Olson struggle a bit with this exact Read More team move from Oakland to Atlanta. But this is a good offense to be hitting in, so I can't rank Murphy outside of my top-10. (BW 2/12/23)

Top-8 fantasy catcher last year and should hit in the middle of the lineup for Milwaukee. (A.S., 2/9/23)

Like Melendez, the younger Contreras is not someone I was even ranking this time last year. What a difference a year makes! I don't mind the move from Atlanta to Milwaukee, and this guy has pop: 20 HRs in just 93 games last year. Read More But the .278 is misleading with a .243 xBA and nearly a 30% strikeout rate.(BW 2/12/23)

Bard made for an incredible comeback story when he returned to the Majors in 2020 after seven years away, but his story got even better last year, when he posted a career-best 1.79 ERA and 34 saves. Pitching in Colorado at 37 years of Read More age, the risk factors here are evident, but Bard is also impossible to count out at this point. (A.S., 3/13/23)

His 34 saves last year kind of came out of nowhere, as it's always been hard to trust a closer for the Rockies. I still kind of don't, but Bard was solid last season with his best ratios since 2011. (BW 3/13)

Barlow had a grand total of 3 saves in his career entering his age-28 season, but he's added 40 more to that tally over the last two seasons. He's unlikely to come close to last year's ratios unless he gets his strikeout rate back Read More up, but he's still a solid mid-tier closer. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Barlow finally got his WHIP below 1.20 for the first time in his career last season, but his strikeout rate dipped a bit too. He should get the most save opportunities for a mediocre team, but the addition of Aroldis Chapman certainly adds a Read More player with closer experience looming behind him, and that hasn't been there the last couple of seasons. (BW 3/13)

Wright came out of nowhere to win 21 games for the Braves in 2022, posting a smooth 3.19 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. While his underlying numbers didn't quite back up those numbers, they did suggest he can be a mainstay in Atlanta's rotation. He's Read More a reasonable back-end fantasy starter but don't pay for the wins. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Yelich's days as a fantasy superstar are likely over, but he was quietly production last year, finishing as the 21st-most valuable OF in standard 5x5 leagues. He should be capable of similar production in his age-31 season. (A.S., 3/1/23)

The numbers Yelich put up in the 2018 & 2019 seasons feel like a lifetime ago at this point. He could still be a 20/20 player with a .250 to .260 average, but that is the ceiling. (BW 3/1/23)

Bassitt is not a big strikeout guy, but he's proven very adept at limiting baserunners via a low walk rate and BABIP allowed. He's once again an excellent bet for a low-to-mid-3.00s ERA and WHIP in the 1.15-1.20 range. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Signed to a 3 year $63 million contract with Toronto this offseason, Bassitt just turned 34 and has been a really solid pitcher for the last four years or so. He's a boring pick without a ton of K potential, but he'll eat innings Read More and is a guy who will end up as a top-40 SP but one I don't really want to draft in most leagues. (BW 3/8)

Rosario quietly finished as a top-7 fantasy shortstop in 2022 without standing out in any category. Subtle across-the-board contributors like him are always underrated, and while he doesn't offer much ceiling, he's a very safe pick in his age-27 season. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Rosario has just enough speed and power to make him a startable fantasy shortstop. He'll hit near the top of that Guardian lineup again, where he has consistently batted .282 and .283 the last two seasons. (BW 2/27/23)

Greene is an elite prospect with massive strikeout potential, but he struggled with walks and home runs as a rookie. He'll need to show big improvement in one or both areas to reach his potential, and pitching in Cincinnati is no easy task. (A.S., Read More 3/6/23)

At just 23 years old, the sky is the limit for Hunter Greene. He throws as hard or harder than anyone in baseball, and he could lead the league in strikeouts. But he also is wild at times, gave up a ton of HRs Read More last year, and may have trouble harnessing his speed. He also plays half of his games in the most hitter friendly parks in the league, so I might miss the breakout because he has some things that scare me off. (BW 3/8)

An offseason shoulder injury eliminated most of Jung's 2022 campaign, and he looked overmatched when he did finally debut at the end of the season. But he showed both power and batting average upside in the minors, and could break out now that he's Read More healthy. (A.S., 2/22/23)

The Rangers selected Jung in the first round of the 2019 draft, and he finally made his MLB debut last year. He played just 26 games and struggled to hit over .200 while belting 5 HRs. The potential is there, and third base is Read More rough after you get past the top-10 or so. Might as well take a shot on a prospect in this area of the draft. (BW 2/22/23)

Yoshida was a .327 career hitter during his seven seasons in Japan, while also regularly swatting 20+ HRs. It's hard to know exactly how that will translate to MLB, but it stands to reason he'll be a plus in batting average with some pop Read More and decent run production numbers. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Yoshida was a career .326 hitter in Japan, but we'll have to see how that translates to the MLB. If he can bat .300 and hit 15-20 HRs, I might have him too low. (BW 3/1/23)

Castellanos followed up a career year in 2021 with a statistical dud in 2022, although toe and oblique injuries may have played a part. Expect a modest bounceback into the 20-HR range, but he'll need to also get his batting average back up into Read More the .300 range to make a real dent in fantasy. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Castellanos had been roughly a 30 HR/90 Runs/90 RBIs in recent seasons, but he struggled in his first year in Philly. Still, he feels like he has a safe floor and plenty of upside based on his history, so I really like him as Read More my third OF. (BW 3/1/23)

Homers were way down last year, thanks in part to Camden Yards' new dimensions. But his .509 xSLG trailed only Freddie Freeman among first basemen, so at least some bounceback in the power department is likely. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Mountcastle doesn't profile as someone who will hit anywhere near .300 like he did in the minor leagues, so I expect him to hover around the .250-.260 range like he did the last couple of seasons. Baltimore moving the left field fences back hurt Read More his homerun production last season, and he could once again find RBI opportunities few and far between unless the Orioles improve. (BW 2/14/23)

India showed boatloads of potential as a rookie in 2021, but his numbers fell off a cliff last year. Nagging injuries may have been partly to blame, but the jury is still out on just how good he can be. (A.S., 2/21/23)

The 2018 first round pick was mostly unimpressive in the minor leagues before spending all of the 2020 COVID shortened season at the team's alternate training facility. Then he had an impressive MLB debut in 2021 and finished as a top-10 second baseman. Last Read More year was a textbook sophomore slump that included an on again off again hamstring injury. Still, India has the prospect pedigree and plays half of his games in a nice hitter's ballpark. I'm buying back in at a cheaper price this year. (BW 2/20/23)

Diaz burst onto the scene as a rookie with a 1.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 11.73 K/9 and 10 saves in 2022. But his struggles with walks carried over from the minors, and his ERA is likely to rise into the 4.00 range as well. Read More Still, the Reds don't have much competition for him in the ninth inning, so he could be a steady source of Ks and saves. (A.S., 3/13/23)

With 10 saves last season and 4 in his final 7 appearances of the season, it's possible the Reds have found their closer in the 26 year old. It was just his first year in the majors though, so there's very little track record. Read More Still, if he starts the season as the team's closer, that's something! Like Bard though, Diaz pitches half of his game in a hitter's ballpark. So I have them ranked back to back. (BW 3/13)

Renfroe was a top-14 fantasy outfielders in 2021, and he mostly matched those numbers last year on a per-game basis -- he just played 19 fewer games. Now with his fifth team in as many years, Renfroe should bat in the middle of a Read More solid Angels lineup and is set up for another .250/30 season with decent accompanying run production numbers. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Renfroe has hit 25+ HRs in every season he's played at least 100 games, and he's hit 29+ in each of his last three full seasons. He's a former first round pick who has quietly had a nice career. I think the 31 year Read More old has another nice season left in him now with the Angels. (BW 3/1/23)

Held his own in Major League debut, but massive minor league numbers in 2021 hint at untapped upside. (A.S., 2/14/23)

The third base eligibility definitely bumps him up a couple of spots for me, but I also just like what I've seen so far with him in the majors and I think he has a big year in him...and soon. He had a great Read More July and some average months otherwise. This could be a year early, but I like Minnesota's lineup, and he could bat right in the heart of it. (BW 2/14/23)

Gray's first season outside Colorado wasn't quite as good as hoped, but a 3.96 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 9.47 K/9 aren't bad -- and his peripherals indicate he pitched even better. A career year is possible in 2023 if he can stay healthy. (A.S., 3/6/23)

He dealt with a lot of injuries last year, but he looked good when he did pitch. It's not difficult to imagine he just needed to get out of Coors to post some better ratios. Gray could be a solid fourth or fifth SP Read More depending on how many teams are in your league. (BW 3/9)

McCarthy wasn't on many people's radars heading into 2022, but after swinging a hot bat in Triple-A, he remained productive over 99 games with the Diamondbacks. All told, he put up 13 HRs and 34 SBs with a plus batting average between the two Read More levels. It's hard to expect a full repeat based on his middling minor league numbers prior to last season, but you never know. (A.S., 3/1/23)

In 99 games last year, McCarthy batted .283 with 8 HRs and 23 steals. I trust the speed more than the power, and the average is what will determine if he's a top-20 OF or maybe just a 4th or 5th fantasy OF. Playing Read More time could be a concern, but I like McCarthy to stick in this DBack lineup. (BW 3/1/23)

If Gilbert was a little unlucky in his 2021 MLB debut, his luck swung the other way last year. Barring some skills progression, the true Gilbert likely lies somewhere in between. Look for a high-3.00s ERA, 1.20-ish WHIP and K/9 right around 9.0. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Gilbert certainly needs to figure some things out at the major league level, but he's an exciting young prospect. He showed an ERA under 2.00 in the minors, and his K/9 was steady around 10 at all levels before it dipped last year in Read More his first full year in the majors. His xERA last year suggests he's more of a 4.00 ERA rather than 3.00 ERA, so he may get overdrafted a bit. (BW 3/8)

A 38-year old Morton continued to miss bats at a high clip in 2022, but uncharacteristic struggles with walks and homers pushed his ERA over 4.00. Expect a modest bounceback, but also some time on the IL. (A.S., 3/6/23)

He's getting up there in age and he struggled out of the gates last year, but he rebounded and you can't ignore those high strikeouts this late in a fantasy draft. (BW 3/9)

Fairbanks isn't going to be the Rays' exclusive closer (nobody is), but if he can repeat last year's filthy ERA, WHIP and strikeout-to-walk ratio, he's still going to be a very appealing fantasy option. (A.S., 3/13/23)

The Rays always go closer by committee, but they often have multiple guys who are worth rostering for fantasy. I suppose I would take Fairbanks over Jason Adam, but honestly both guys could have 15 saves, great ratios, and add plenty of strikeouts. I'm Read More starting to think I should have them closer to back to back too. (BW 3/13)

Rookie year was a little underwhelming but the power potential is still there and the batting average should rebound some. (A.S., 2/9/23)

Not even through the top-10 catchers and already have ranked two Blue Jays and two Royals. This is a new tier for me though because while Melendez finished as the #7 fantasy catcher last year, that .217 average is worrisome. Like Rutschman, he's a Read More good young prospect on a bad squad. But he's a different player with more power potential and a much higher strikeout rate. Still, the potential is there. Just expect a different output than Rutschman, who is more well rounded. (BW 2/12/23)

Gonsolin may not strike out a batter per inning, but he has a 2.51 career ERA and 0.99 WHIP through 272 2/3 career innings. It's unclear how many innings the Dodgers will let him throw, but he should be very good for however many he gets. (A.S., 3/6/23)

He had an amazing season, but his underlying numbers suggest BABIP and ERA regression, and he wasn't a big strikeout guy last year. Still, he pitches for the Dodgers and he's coming off a really good year. At some point, you can't just look Read More at the underlying numbers with Gonsolin, right? (BW 3/8)

Stanton's K rate ticked up over 30% last year, and that combined with a low BABIP took a major toll on his batting average. However, he should remain a strong source of HRs and RBIs, when healthy, and the average should rise into the Read More .240 range as the BABIP normalizes. (A.S., 3/1/23)

I feel like Stanton is the poor man's Judge at this point in his career, and the discount is certainly for his age and injury history. But if you look at their numbers, we know they can both produce serious power in that Yankee Read More lineup. I'm perfectly fine with Stanton as my second outfielder, but I'm drafting a couple more after him considering he might not play half the season. (BW 3/1/23)

No frills, but reliable 20-HR bat at a shallow position. (A.S., 2/7/23)

If you remove his first season in the bigs in which he only played 76 games, Contreras has been a top-6 catcher every year but one (and he was 9th that year - 2019 -and hit 24 HRs). After the top 3 or 4 Read More catchers, I can make a case for the consistency Contreras has brought at the position to draft him near the top-5. Oh and the move to St. Louis keeps him in the same division with familiarity with pitchers, and he'll now be in a lineup that should produce a lot more runs than the Cubs did in 2022. (BW 2/12/23)

Munoz is expected to share closing duties with Paul Sewald and others, but the saves are really just gravy on top of loads of strikeouts and dominant ratios. (A.S., 3/13/23)

How much is half a season of Harper worth to you? He's expected to return from Tommy John surgery in a DH-only role around the All Star Break. (A.S., 3/2/23)

It's difficult to rank a former NL MVP recovering from a serious injury, but if I've already drafted three outfielders, I'll go ahead and select Harper with the huge upside that could come even before the All Star Break. (BW 3/1/23)

Pena started and finished his rookie season very strong but slumped badly over the summer. It was still good enough to finish as a top-12 shortstop and is a pretty good baseline for what to expect in year two. (A.S., 2/2723)

Pena had a great rookie season, hitting 22 HRs and stealing 11 bases on his way to a top-12 finish as the SS position. He could have a sophomore slump, and I don't expect him to hit for a high average. But he's in Read More a good lineup, and if he falls in drafts, I'm fine grabbing him. (BW 2/27/23)

A late bloomer, Ward cooled off considerably after a blazzing hot start to the 2022 season, but also finished strong. He's not as good as he looked initially, but it's conceivable that he settles into Bryan Reynolds-esque production for the next few seasons. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Ward proved to be a late bloomer in 2022, and I like his chances to continue to produce at the top of that Angel lineup. He could have 20 HRs, double digit steals, and push for 100 runs if his teammates behind him can stay healthy. (BW 3/1/23)

He's quietly finished as a top-11 1B in 3 of the last 4 years in standard 5x5 formats. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Another barely-ranked first baseman last season who had a career year. Can he replicate it? Like Hoskins, Walker has hit under .250 the last couple of seasons, but his 36 homeruns and 94 RBIs really jump off the page from last year. He batted Read More under .200 in three separate months though, which is hard to ignore. The inconsistency makes worries me that if he didn't have a red hot August last year, he would've basically been Cal Raleigh. (BW 2/14/23)

Snell is an elite strikeout pitcher with control issues that also limit his ability to work deep into games and collect wins. He's a reasonable mid-tier starter as long as you're willing to take the good with the bad. (A.S., 3/6/23)

He was barely a top-50 SP in 2020 and 2021, so I didn't fully trust him last year. But aside from the high WHIP (walks are always an issue), the strikeouts pair nicely with a pitcher friendly park with a good lineup behind him. Read More As long as he can keep the homeruns to a minimum (like he did last year), he still has a lot of upside. (BW 3/6)

Good bet to lead catchers in batting average. If he can grow into 20-25 HR power, look out. (A.S., 2/7/23)

He led all catchers in batting average among guys with at least 60ish starts. He’s in a great lineup in Toronto, but Danny Jansen and even Brandon Belt could keep his number of starts lower than I'd want it to be. He finished as Read More the #5 fantasy catcher just above Rutschman, so they have to be in the same tier. (BW 2/12/23)

Ryan's first full season with the Twins was a successful one, and he should be a strong SP3 or SP4 even if he failts to miss bats with quite the same frequency he did in the minors. (A.S., 3/6/23)

I want to know where 10-12 K/9 Joe Ryan went, but I'm afraid if he comes back then so will an ERA over 4.00. We barely have a combined full season's worth of MLB data on him, so there's a bit of unknown. This Read More is more taking a shot in the middle rounds on a potential breakout versus a solid option. (BW 3/8)

Duran has some of the best stuff of any reliever in baseball, so he's quite capable of providing a huge boost to your strikeouts and ratios. Just don't expect him to serve as the Twins' primary cloiser. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Now we're really getting into committees, but Duran is the better pitcher in a two-headed monster with Jorge Lopez in Minnesota. Both should get double digit saves, but I'd bet on Duran being the better of the two and getting most of the high Read More leverage situations. That could mean he'll just be mostly the ninth inning guy by midseason if not sooner. (BW 3/13)

Luzardo followed up a disastrous 2021 campaign with a breakout year in 2022, although he did miss 2 1/2 months in the middle of the season with a forearm strain. When healthy, he got his walk rate under control, boosted his Ks, and put Read More up an excellent 3.32 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 18 starts. He carries injury risk, but also lots of upside. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Aside from a higher than average walk rate, Luzardo had some really great numbers last season. The problem is, it was in just 100 innings (and that was the most he's thrown in any season so far in his young career). Still, his price Read More isn't too high. He has breakout potential although for a bad team. (BW 3/8)

Sewald won't be the Mariners' exclusive closer, but he's a solid bet to be their primary guy. His K rate wasn't quite as amazing in 2022 as it was in 2021, but it was still quite strong and his ratios were also excellent. (A.S., 3/13/23)

I was disappointed to see his K rate go down last year, but the 20 saves were nice. With Andres Munoz likely to work some ninth innings too, it's hard for me to get Sewald into a tier above this. (BW 3/13).

Flaws in his game rob him of elite upside, but he finishes as a top 10-15 fantasy 1B year after year. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Hoskins is entering his 7th year in the league, and he hasn't hit .250 since his rookie season. That's clearly who he is, so understand he will bring your average down. But then again a lot of first basemen will. He was a top-10 Read More fantasy first baseman last season, and he showed his power potential with 30 HRs. He hits in a good lineup and has high RBI and run potential. (BW 2/14/23).

Lodolo is a high-end prospect and elite bat-misser who posted strong numbers as a rookie, but it wouldn't be surprising for walks and homers to lead to some growing pains in his sophomore campaign. Still, he has true breakout potential. (A.S., 3/6/23)

As long as Greene is being drafted before Lodolo, I think I'd rather have Lodolo. He also has big strikeout potential, but he feels like he's a better bet for lower ratios. (BW 3/8)

Elite prospect showed five-category superstar potential in Double-A last year. But he may not make the team or start right off the bat. (A.S., 2/22/23)

One of the top prospects in all of baseball, Walker has shown speed, power, and the ability to hit for high average in the minors. He could be this year's Julio Rodriguez if he gets called up sooner rather than later. But that's the Read More question right now is whether that will happen early enough this season for it to matter for fantasy. (BW 2/22/23)

Valdez is not great in terms of strikeouts or walks, but he generates a ton of ground balls and avoids the home run ball. That allows him to be an asset in ERA, and the win potential is always good in Houston. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Mister Groundball led the league in Quality Starts last season (26), but he also walked the third most batters of any pitcher (behind Cease and Nick Pivetta). He nearly got to 200 innings though, and he is still an Astro. All of that counts Read More for something, and I think he makes for a fine number 2 SP. (BW 3/6)

O'Neill was extremely fortunate to hit .286 in 2021, but his luck shifted the other direction last year, as he made more consistent contact but his average plummeted to .228. Expect his average to settle in the .240 range with solid contributions in the Read More other roto categories. (A.S., 3/1/23)

He had a great 2021 season and the power feels legit, but I worry about the batting average. If he continues to chip in 14-15 steals, that will help his value in ROTO leagues, but if he can't get his average back to .250 Read More or so, he'll be a serious liability. (BW 3/1/23)

The lack of steals limits his upside, but Correa is essentially a poor man's Corey Seager. He's more than capable of producing solid-if-unspectacular numbers in AVG, HRs, and runs/RBIs. (A.S., 2/27/23)

He has now been a zero at steals the last three seasons, but he has the right combination of power and average that should keep him in the heart of the Twins lineup. Still just 28 years old, the 2012 #1 overall pick could Read More have a career year left in him. But especially considering the way his offseason went, presumably failing medicals with multiple teams, injuries are always a concern. (BW 2/27/23)

He was a top-8 1B while hitting .257 last year. Batting average could easily rebound into the .280 range as long as he's playing his home games at Coors. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Cron had a career year in 2021, and he followed it up with similar production with the batting average regressing a bit. He does the vast majority of his damage at Coors Field, as his home/road splits are drastic. It would be great if Read More you could somehow just have the home field Cron, but you can't. For that reason, he doesn't excite me much. But I do think over a full season, he'll likely be a top-12 fantasy first baseman. (BW 2/14/23)

Lowe dealt with back pain throughout a lost 2022 campaign. He was a top-5 second baseman in 2021, though, so a bounceback could be in store if the back cooperates. (A.S., 2/21/23)

He strikes out a ton, but you can't ignore getting this kind of power at the second base position. In his first season playing more than 82 games, Lowe slugged 39 homers in 2021 and was a top-5 fantasy second baseman. A stress fracture Read More in his back derailed his 2022 season, but I'm interested in a healthy Brandon Lowe. (BW 2/20/23)

Ray has been one of the most volatile fantasy players out there over the years, but he's trimmed his walk rate enough over the last two years that he finally brings some stability to the table. The reduction in walks is well worth a Read More slight decrease in Ks. He's still homer-prone, but is as safe a bet as ever for a sub-.400 ERA in pitcher-friendly Seattle. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Robbie Ray was coming off an AL Cy Young last season, so he couldn't really go anywhere but down. But moving to a more pitcher friendly ballpark (Toronto to Seattle), I thought there was hope for him to maintain. Not the case. While he Read More kept the walk rate reasonable (for Robbie Ray standards), his strikeout rate was his lowest since 2015. He's a bit of a risky pick but is only a year removed from that Cy Young year. Like Snell, it's hard to ignore the talent we've seen here. (BW 3/6)

Torres is a tough player to figure out, but he's only entering his age-26 season and has shown the ability to collect homers and steals in bunches when he's playing well. Plus, the run production stats will always be solid in the Bronx. (A.S., Read More 2/21/23)

After his first two years in the league, people were drafting Torres like he was the next A-Rod. Then I'm not sure what happened. His launch angle and barrel rate decreased, and his ground ball rate increased. In 2022, he got all of those Read More metrics back to 2019 levels and hit 24 HRs and 76 RBIs. He also had double digit steals, so I like him in this tier of second basemen. (BW 2/20/23)

I wasn't a big believer heading into 2022, but he proved me wrong by posting almost identical numbers to his excellent 2021 campaign. (A.S., 2/21/23)

I like to get steals from my middle infielders, and Edman is a good way to get exactly that. He's had 30+ in each of his last two seasons and is still just 27 years old. He also wont' hurt your batting average and Read More is in a really good lineup in St. Louis. I do worry he could be this year's Whit Merrifield if he struggles and loses out on playing time to someone younger (like Nolan Gorman), but Edman is still just 27 himself and Gorman showed last year that he may not be ready. (BW 2/20/23)

Muncy was horrendous for four months following offseason elbow surgery, but he finished the 2022 season on a tear. If his health cooperates, another .250/35/100 season isn't out of the question. (A.S., 2/21/23)

This guy scared the heck out of me last year as he was recovering from a torn UCL in his non throwing arm during Spring Training, and I stayed away from him. But now that he's a year removed from all of that, I Read More still see the potential for a .240 average, 35 HRs, and 90 RBIs. (BW 2/20/23)

Held his own as a rookie, and he could take a big leap in Year 2. (A.S., 2/7/23)

The first overall selection of the 2019 draft had a nice start to his career in 2022, but I think he's only going up from there (especially with the batting average based on what he did in the minors). He's a special talent and Read More an emerging leader on this team. He should be in the lineup every day if healthy, and I like him slightly ahead of Alejandro Kirk. But maybe I'm biased... (BW 2/12/23)

Odds-on favorite to lead the position in HRs again this year. (A.S., 2/7/23)

Excluding the 2019 campain due to Tommy John surgery, Perez was a top-3 catcher in HRs and RBIs every other season 2017-2022. Yes, that includes last season when he finished third in each category even though he only played in 114 games. (BW 2/12/23)

He's no superstar, but Adames finished as a top-10 fantasy shortstop last year and there's no good reason he can't replicate most of that production this season. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Adames has increased his launch angle and hard hit rate year after year in the majors, and he's in the prime of his career. He plays half of his games in a good ballpark and has hit at least 25 homers in back to Read More back seasons. He's not a huge stolen base threat, but he's not a zero either. He's a solid fantasy SS, and the batting average is the only real concern. I'd be more than fine with him being my starting shortstop in fantasy. (BW 2/27/23)

Webb looked like an emerging ace in 2021, but a drop in velocity and strikeouts took a little helium out of the balloon last year, even though he improved on his already-excellent ERA. A sub-3.00 ERA will be very tough to maintain without the Read More Ks coming back up, but Webb should at least be a solid mid-tier fantasy starter. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Webb will get a ton of ground balls but won't strike out a ton of batters. He'll go deep into games, log plenty of quality starts, and likely be in the mix for 12-15 wins. He's not high exceptional, but I expect him Read More to have a big workload and certainly not hurt your fantasy team. He might even keep it nice and steady as your number 2 or 3 starter. (BW 3/6)

Loads of power and he is due for some positive batting average regression. (A.S., 2/14/23)

With new rules banning the shift, players like Tellez stand to benefit a great deal. He also plays in Milwaukee and can smash the ball, so if he brings up his batting average, he profiles as the prototypical fantasy first baseman for me. (BW 2/14/23)

Lynn's overall numbers from 2022 don't look amazing, but he was terrific in the season's second half. Durability is a concern at age 36, but he should be quite good again on a per-start basis. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Lynn's first two seasons in Chicago have a bit up and down with some IL stints and some bad first half/second half splits. If he can stay healthy, he'll eat up innings while keeping his ERA below 4.00 and will get you better than Read More a strikeout per inning. (BW 3/8)

Peralta gets overshadowed a bit by rotation mates Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, but he is a fine pitcher in his own right. Walks can be an issue at times, but he misses a ton of bats and should be able to post a Read More mid-3.00s ERA. (A.S., 3/6/23)

I had high hopes for Peralta entering last year, but multiple injuries (shoulder, lat) derailed his season. He had just 17 starts and his strikeout rate was way down. I'm ready to buy back in at a lower price though, so don't forget what Read More a healthy Peralta can look like mowing down batters. (BW 3/6)

Doval is expected to see around 2/3 of the Giants' save opportunities. He is capable of posting high strikeout rates and while he walks too many batters to post incredible ratios, but he won't kill you there, either. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Before last season, the Giants tended to use more of a closer by committee approach, but Doval had the job to himself basically all year. They signed Taylor Rogers this offseason though, and there's reason to believe this could go back to a bit Read More more of a committee with lefty/righty situational saves. Still, I can't rank Doval much lower because he really thrived in 2022 as their closer. (BW 3/13)

Kirby put up excellent strikeout-to-walk ratios in the minors and that carried over quite well in his Seattle debut. It remains to be seen whether he can miss enough bats to be a true fantasy ace, but he should settle in as a solid Read More SP2 or SP3 t worst. (A.S., 3/6/23)

There was plenty of reason to be excited about Bryant moving to Colorado at this time last year, and then foot injuries completely derailed his season. The injury risk is obvious, but if he's able to stay healthy, all the reasons we liked him Read More last year still apply. (A.S., 3/1/23)

He lost his 1B/3B eligibility after an injury-plagued first season in Colorado, but if you throw out the last couple of seasons, you're looking at a player who is averaging roughtly .275, 27 HRs, 95 runs, and 80 RBIs each year. If he can Read More actually stay healthy, he's at a much better value this year. He could bat near .300 and have a solid season in Colorado. (BW 3/1/23)

After three excellent seasons from 2019-2021, it's hard to explain what happened to Giolito in 2022. His velocity and strikeout rate dipped a little, his BABIP spiked, and his home run and walk rates were both on the higher side of what we would Read More expect. The BABIP was the biggest factor, as his 4.90 ERA was way higher than his 4.23 xERA and 3.66 xFIP. Still just 28, he's a prime bounceback candidate. (A.S., 3/6/23)

I ranked him as a top-12 SP heading into 2022, and boy was that wrong! Still, his underlying numbers weren't terrible, and his body of work suggests a bounceback to a solid workhorse pitcher. (BW 3/8)

Rostering Buxton is an ordeal. He's always hurt and runs hot and cold when healthy. There's no doubting his talent, but he simply can't be counted on at this point. (A.S., 3/1/23)

I ranked Buxton in a similar area last season in a tier of his own because his injury history flat out scares me. But the guy hit 28 homeruns in just 92 games last year, although the average was BAD. We've seen him hit Read More for a much better average before though, and if he somehow plays 140 games (like he last did in 2017), we could finally see a top-10 season from him. The tools are there. (BW 3/1/23)

Put together a great season in '22, but it feels more like a career year than a breakout. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Like Vinny P, I also didn't have Nathaniel Lowe ranked as a top-30 first baseman entering the 2022 season. Lowe got out of Tampa and quickly found a full time role in Texas in 2021, and it was his 8 stolen bases that year Read More (third most among first basemen) that intrigued me for last season. While he only swiped two bags in 2022, it was his big power increase and batting over .300 which had him ending up as a top-10 fantasy first baseman. (BW 2/14/23)

Sale used to be one of the best pitchers in the game, but he's thrown less than 50 innings since 2019. It's impossible to know how many he'll throw this year, or how good he'll be when he throws them, but the most likely Read More outcome is very good per-game production with at least one or two IL stints mixed in. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Sale has had some unlucky injury history, and last year he missed the beginning of the season with a broken rib and basically the rest of the season after breaking his wrist in a bike accident. But when he's right, he could be a Read More top-10 SP. He just hasn't really been that since 2019, so you're getting a discount on a guy who could still be that as he turns 34 before the season starts. (BW 3/8)

Franco has elite contact skills, but the rest of his game simply doesn't translate that well to fantasy...yet. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Franco will have just turned 22 years old before this season starts, and I think he'll bat around .300 for the next decade in Tampa. It's hard to project him for more than 15 HRs, but double digit steals seems reasonable. He feels like Read More the younger, shortstop version of Jeff McNeil but with steals and way more upside. Just know that could be what he is for fantasy in 2023. (BW 2/27/23)

Musgrove has proven to be a real asset in ERA and WHIP over his two seasons in San Diego, while posting solid enough strikeout and win totals. He's expected to miss at least two starts to begin the season with a toe injury, but Read More he's worth the wait. (A.S., 3/6/23)

As long as the toe injury doesn't keep him out for more than a month, I actually like the draft discount you might be getting with that injury (at least it's not his pitching arm!). Musgrove has been a consistent pitcher similar to Zack Read More Wheeler, but you're getting him several rounds later. (BW 3/6)

The Guardians' lanky right-hander cut his walk rate in half last year, and while his K rate also dipped below a batter-per-inning, it was a worthwhile tradeoff for fantasy purposes. McKenzie's control issues in 2021 were out of character based on both his Major Read More and minor league track records, so perhaps he can boost the Ks back up this year without issuing more free passes. (A.S., 3/6/23)

The main thing I'd love to see from McKenzie this year: consistency. His splits show good months and bad months, and his game log shows 12+ strikeouts in three different games last year. He improved his walk rate last season but his strikeout rate Read More got worse overall. With those spike games though, he has the stuff and just needs to put it all together. He pitched at least 5 innings in every game from June 27th through the end of the season last year, so I like that. I'd just love to see the strikeouts increase. (BW 3/6)

Holmes was completely dominant over the first half of 2022, posting a microscopic 1.31 ERA as he laid claim to the closer job in the Bronx. But he wasn't nearly so convincing in the season's second half, as he dealt with back and shoulder Read More issues and put up an ERA close to 5.00. Still, he is clearly the best reliever in the Yankees' bullpen entering the 2023 season and is set up for another strong season as long as his health cooperates. (A.S., 3/13/23)

With Aroldis Chapman now out of the picture, Holmes has a high ceiling for a closer going in the middle rounds. He also has a low floor because he doesn't have much of a track record as a closer. It's possible the role isn't Read More for him and the Yankees have someone else in the ninth inning by June. (BW 3/13)

As reliable as they come for AVG, runs and homers, and the stolen bases returned in 2022. But he'll be out until late May or June with a broken thumb. (A.S., 3/20/23)

Outside of Astros fans, I find a lot of people don't like to draft Altuve (I think we all know why). But purely from a fantasy perspective, he's still very productive in every category. And last season, that included 18 steals. That was his Read More highest total in that category since he had 17 in 2018. I don't expect to see 18 again, and he might not even hit .300 again. But he doesn't have to in order to be considered in the conversation for a top-5 second baseman. We're talking about the number 2 fantasy second baseman each of the last two seasons, so he's a "set it and forget it" player at the position. (BW 2/20/23)

Marte has begun to run less as he's entered his mid-30s and is always likely to end up with an IL stint at some point, but he is still a pretty good bet for a 20-20 season with a plus batting average. (A.S., 3/1/23) Read More

After leading the majors steals in 2021 (47), he had just 18 in 118 games last season at age 33. Now at 34, you have to wonder if the stolen base dropoff is here to stay. But even if he steals around 20 bags, Read More he can still hit for a high average in a good Met lineup. He's not in my top-20 with guys like Mullins and Robert, but he might be a cheaper version of those young guys without a ton of upside. (BW 3/1/23)

Didn't do a ton in his cup of coffee with the Orioles last year, but he's an elite prospect who showed five-category potential in the minors. (A.S., 2/22/23)

Henderson is the top prospect on a lot of lists, so it's tempting to want to draft him in what should be his first full year in the majors. But he struggled mightily against left handed pitching in his debut last season (.130 average Read More in 26 plate appearances). But his pedigree and minor league numbers are exciting. I put him in a tier of his own, and I fear he could be overdrafted this year. (BW 2/22/23)

Fried has a middling strikeout rate, but he generates a lot of ground balls and does a good job of keeping the ball in the yard. That has allowed him to be a solid asset in ERA, WHIP and wins for three straight seasons Read More and there is little reason to doubt he can make it four. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Fried doesn't have the elite strikeout potential other top-20 fantasy SPs possess, so I have him just outside of my top-20. His ERA/WHIP have been consistently good in his career, and he doesn't give up homeruns either. He gets a ton of ground balls Read More and is a solid pitcher with a great lineup behind him for run support. He's a boring pick, but you know what you're getting. (BW 3/6)

Save chances could be hard to come by in Pittsburgh, but when Bednar gets them, he'll convert them. In the meantime, he'll provide plenty of strikeouts and ratio help. (A.S., 3/13/23)

I was ranking him much lower last year, but of course most of that was due to the fact he was the closer for the Pirates. What's that? He still is...? Well, he was really good last year in the role, and his ratios Read More and K rate have been pretty good the last couple of years. If you're in the middle rounds and don't have a closer yet, Bednar is the last guy I trust to be my number one RP. (BW 3/13)

Castillo can be a tough pitcher to figure out sometimes, but the bottom line is that he tends to be quite useful in ERA and strikeouts. He's been much dicier in terms of wins and WHIP, but perhaps a full season in pitcher-friendly Seattle Read More can help him avoid baserunners. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Castillo was shipped from Cincinnati to Seattle after a stellar July last year, and he maintained his ratios while improving his strikeout totals. Now in his first full season in Seattle, I like him to improve on his numbers with the better ballpark versus Read More Cincy. (BW 3/6)

Javier has shown impressive bat-missing ability over the last two seasons, and that skill held over when he moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation. He does run into trouble with walks, which limits his upside in terms of both ratios and wins, Read More but he should post solid enough numbers there with tons of Ks. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Like Strider, Javier has RP eligibility so keep that in mind. He had a better K/9 than Cole or Burnes last year and that rate increased slightly from 2021 to 2022 while lowering his ERA & WHIP. He turns 26 this month so he's Read More in the prime of his career. If he gets 30+ starts, we could be talking about him in the top-5 SPs next year. He feels like an even bigger breakout waiting to happen in Houston. (BW 3/6)

Cease is a big-time strikeout pitcher, but he can run into trouble with walks and home runs. Last year was close to a best-case scenario for him, so his 2021 numbers feel like a more realistic expectation. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Cease had just a 2.20 ERA last season, but he nearly walked 4 batters per 9 innings (his BB/9 rate was worse than Nick Pivetta's in 2022). Expect some regression in the ERA department to likely over 3.00, but the strikeout rate is elite. Read More He's a wild young hurler. If you want to come along for the ride, I can't blame you. (BW 3/6)

Cruz is one of the most physically gifted players in the game today, but he's also still quite raw, as last year's 34.9% strikeout rate demonstrated. The Pirates should remain patient with him, but his batting average and run numbers may be disappointing and Read More the HR/SB totals may not be quite big enough to make up for it. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Cruz flashed his power/speed combo in the minors, and we saw it in half of a season in 2022. But we also saw a .233 average and a 35% strikeout rate. But the potential to be great is there, so I wouldn't let him Read More fall outside of the top-10 shortstops off the board. (BW 2/27/23)

Groin and shoulder injuries prolonged Severino's return from Tommy John surgery, but once he was back, he immediately returned to the dominant form he showed back in 2017 and 2018. Pitching in Yankee Stadium isn't easy, but Severino is still only 29 years old Read More and there is an awful lot to like about his outlook moving forward. (A.S., 3/6/23)

He was one of my favorite sleepers heading into 2022, but now the cat's out of the bag. He could still be a nice value if he repeats last season's .297 batting average or develops more over-the-fence power in his age-24 season. (A.S., 2/21/23)

This is a guy I wasn't even ranking this time last season, but Gimenez was someone from Opening Day who hit the ground running. At this position to be a potential 20/20 player and hit near .300, he's at the top of this tier Read More after Albies/Chisholm for me. (BW 2/20/23)

Jansen isn't quite as dominant as he used to be, but he's still racking up strikeouts and saves with good ratios. He was brought in to Boston to do just that, and should still be up for the task at age 35. (A.S., 3/13/23)

He hasn't had sparkling ratios in quite some time, but Jansen was still one of the most solid closers in the game last season in Atlanta, and there's no reason to think he can't continue it this season in Boston. His K rate has Read More declined slightly as he's aged, but it's still very good. I'm not worried about the 35 year old holding up all season as the closer for the Red Sox. (BW 3/13)

Bogaerts has always been a little underrated in fantasy because he doesn't excel in any one statistical category. But it remains to be seen how he'll fare outside of Boston, where he was much more productive at Fenway than he was on the road. Read More (A.S., 2/27/23)

In 2021, Xander finished outside of the top-6 shortstops for the first time since 2014. But he still finished in the top-10 in 2021 and 2022, so he's clearly super consistent at a deep position. He's not going to steal 15 bases like he Read More did in 2017, and his power and run production could be down slightly with the move from Boston to San Diego. (BW 2/27/23)

While Darvish was fairly wild early in his career, he has dramatically improved his walk rate in recent seasons. His K rate was down last year, but his velocity was fine, so it's easy to imagine the strikeouts jumping back up. A tendency to Read More give up homers means his ERA usually lags behind his other numbers, but pitching his home games in San Diego can help offset that to some degree. (A.S., 3/6/23)

A top-5 fantasy SP during the short 2020 season, Darvish ended up being highly overdrafted in 2021 (his first in San Diego). His strikeouts were down last year, but so were the walks and the homeruns. He threw his most innings in a season Read More since 2013 and at times he looked amazing. His inconsistency and susceptibility to the long ball may hurt at times, but overall he's a solid pitcher who has a proven track record and plays for a team with a great lineup behind him. (BW 3/6)

After bouncing around several franchises early in his career, something clicked for Cortes in 2021 -- and he was even better last year. It's tough to maintain a sub-3.00 ERA and sub-1.00 WHIP while pitching in Yankee Stadium, but nothing in Cortes' profile screams Read More major regression. He's legit. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Nasty Nestor is a crafty lefty who doesn't always need to strike out a ton of guys to get the job done. His K rate isn't terrible though. He was really good in his first full season (28 starts last season), and there's reason Read More to believe he can keep the ERA under 3.00 and maintain a low WHIP. (BW 3/6)

Swanson was a sneaky-valuable fantasy performer heading into 2022, but a spike in run production and steals made his value impossible to miss last year. After signing a big deal with the Cubs, Swanson may find it more difficult to score or drive in Read More runs, and his SB total could also tail off a bit now that he's not in a walk year. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Swanson broke out in 2021 with 27 HRs (5th most among shortstops), but he also batted just .248 (lowest since 2018). Then in 2022 he slugged 25 HRs and set career highs in all of the categories that count for fantasy. He's now a Read More Chicago Cub, which means the run production is likely down versus being in that Atlanta lineup. But Swanson has shown the last couple of seasons he's a great shortstop, and I trust the talent. (BW 2/27/23).

Big run production numbers carry his fantasy value at this stage of his career. (A.S., 2/22/23)

Bregman is a very skilled player in a good lineup, and he could likely hit 20-25 HRs and get close to 100 runs/RBIs. That type of production lands him in this tier of a thin position, and there feels like a big dropoff coming Read More at this position after Bregman. (BW 2/22/23)

Hernandez's numbers were down last year following a 2021 season in which he finished as the number one fantasy outfielder, but he still finished 16th at the position. He'll now have to adjust to Seattle's pitcher-friendly confines, though. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Teoscar has always had a high BABIP and super high K rate, and that K rate crept back up last year with his average falling. He has moved from Toronto to Seattle, which isn't a great move for a hitter. But I like his Read More power potential even in a worse ballpark, and he's not a zero in steals. (BW 3/1/23)

Even at 35, Kershaw remains one of the best bets in the game for a low ERA and WHIP with plenty of Ks and wins. The only drawback is that he's all-but-assured to spend some time on the IL. Fantasy managers should hope for Read More 150 innings from him; anything beyond that is gravy. (A.S., 3/6/23)

He was a top-5 fantasy pitcher as recent as the shortened 2020 season, and of course we've seen some elite seasons from the veteran lefty. But I don't expect him to pitch 150 innings anymore. Still, even if he only throws 140 innings, those Read More will be some quality innings. Just don't expect a workhorse. (BW 3/6)

Posted nearly identical numbers in 2021 and 2022, finishing as a top-3 fantasy catcher both times. Strong bet for .260 average, 25 HRs, and 70+ runs/RBIs. (A.S., 2/7/23)

The former first round pick is in the prime of his career and could end up being the #1 fantasy catcher for a team that led the majors in runs scored in 2022. He's basically Realmuto without the stolen bases. (BW 2/12/23)

A groin injury appeared to sap Anderson's power last year, and a finger injury cut his season short in August. But he still hit over .300 once again and was on pace to again make useful contributions in runs and stolen bases. With a Read More healthy season, it would be no surprise to see him return to the top-50 overall production he put up in 2021. (A.S., 2/27/23)

If he can stay off the IL, he's a lock at a 20/20 season. But the injury bug has bitten him a bit of late. Still. he's batted .300 four years in a row, so I had to keep him in this tier with Read More Wander Franco because I don't see much difference between the two of them. (BW 2/27/23)

Reynolds is the definition of a boring-but-steady fantasy producer with a high floor and low ceiling. He's unlikely to finish as a top-12 outfielder, but a very good bet to finish inside the top-24. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Reynolds had a quiet top-10 OF finish in 2021 followed by a quiet top-20 finish last year. He's a master of none, but he is an accumulator. If he could get traded, he'd be more interesting. Either way, I have a hard time ranking Read More him outside of my top-20 OFs. (BW 3/1/23)

Finished second among catcher-eligible players in fantasy value last year. Should regularly play the OF in TOR and again surpass 20 HRs and 10 SBs. (A.S., 2/7/23)

Varsho spent most of his time at the bottom of the lineup in 2021, and that changed last year along with mostly playing outfield. The trade to Toronto could help the value for the former second round pick and like Realmuto could have double Read More digit steals as one of the fastest catchers in the league. However, he batted leadoff in 63 games last year, and I don't expect that to be the case for the Jays, so his counting stats could go slightly down. (BW 2/12/23)

Power was way down last season, but Statcast numbers provide reason for optimism of a late-career rebound. Counting stats should be plentiful in Houston. (A.S., 2/14/23)

If you thought Paul Goldschmidt was old, let me introduce you to Jose Abreu. But in that lineup in Houston, I'm not shying away from the 36 year old. He led all first basemen in RBIs in 2021, and he finished as a top-10 Read More fantasy first baseman in a slightly down year in 2022. The days of 30 HRs might be gone, but he should have plenty of RBI opportunities in this lineup, and he has shown the ability to hit for a high averag. (BW 2/14/23)

After an unimpressive first three years in the Big Leagues, Helsley experienced a true breakthrough in 2022, showing increased velocity, a massive increase in his strikeout rate, and a big drop in his walk rate, ERA and WHIP. While last season may have been Read More a best-case scenario, there's no reason he can't hold onto most of the gains that he made and remain an elite fantasy closer. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Last year I wes ranking his teammate Giovanny Gallegos in this same area, so how can I not rank Helsley here now? Gallegos will still get some saves, but Helsley should get the bulk of them. His K rate went way up and his Read More WHIP way down last year, so I'm hoping that wasn't a career year. It's certainly possible he could regress, but I tend to think he'll just continue to pitch well for likely the best team in the NL Central. (BW 3/13)

Rare combination of plate discipline, contact skills and power. Could develop into a four-category monster sooner rather than later. (A.S., 2/14/23)

The Italian Breakfast. What a great nickname. But the young first baseman is more than a nickname. He's a great young hitter who could push for a .300 season while still giving you some power with 25-30 homeruns. He batted .328 with 7 HRs Read More and 21 RBIs in 52 games down the stretch. (BW 2/14/23)

Manoah's strikeout rate dropped off significantly last year, but it was offset by a big improvement in his walk rate. He's still due for a fair amount of regression to his ERA, but should be able to settle in as a 3.50 ERA/1.15 WHIP Read More guy, if not better. Unlike Shane Bieber, Manoah's strikeout decline was not accompanied by a loss of velocity, so perhaps he can regain some Ks this year. (A.S., 3/6/23)

With an xERA of 3.31 last season, you have to expect the actual ERA of 2.24 to come up quite a bit, but I like Manoah as a pitcher and think he can continue to improve. The big question is where did the strikeouts Read More go and will they come back? He went deep into games a lot last season (2nd in Quality Starts) but often having just 4 or 5 Ks. (BW 3/6)

After dominating hitters in the minors in 2021, Bautista was just as good in the Majors last year. He's a bonafide top-10 closer on an emerging team. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Before last season, Baltimore hadn't really had a consistent closer under manager Brandon Hyde. Bautista was that guy down the stretch, converting 15 saves to go along with his 13 holds he had in that role. His ratios were good and his strikeout potential Read More is great. It doesn't bother me that he pitches for a bad team. Baltimore is on the rise, and mediocre teams often find themselves in close games. (BW 3/13)

Springer's numbers have fluctuated quite a bit over the years, but it's always added up to solid fantasy production. His power and run production numbers are well established, but the key to him finishing as a top-10 fantasy outfielder is whether he continues to Read More steal bases at the clip he did last year. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Now 33 years old, I debated dropping Springer to the next OF tier because his risk for injury feels even higher now. If you look back at 2021, he got off to a rough start coming back from a quad injury that he seemed Read More to have a hard time playing through. He had a brutal first half that season, but he was the usual Springer after that and looked the part in 2022 as well. He still has 30 HR potential even withouth playing a full season, and he even stole 14 bases last year! (BW 3/1/23)

Like his teammate Luis Robert, Jimenez has fantasy superstar potential if he can just stay healthy. He doesn't steal bases, but has shown the potential to be an impact player in the other four roto categories. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Another exciting White Sox player with injury history, Eloy could legit be a cheaper version of Yordan Alvarez if he can stay healthy. I think he could actually hit 40 homeruns and has a shot to lead the league in RBIs, but that's obviously Read More a best case scenario. That's why I have him this high in my rankings though! (BW 3/1/23)

Bieber's strikeout rate plummeted in 2022, but thankfully his walk rate did, too. The end result was that he posted strong ERA and WHIP numbers yet again, but he may need to regain some lost velocity if he wants to continue to be a Read More top-tier starter for the long term. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Bieber came into last season with a shoulder injury concern, and his velocity and strikeouts were down. But he had a solid season logging 200 innings and 23 quality starts (top-5), and like Nola had a career best walk rate. We've seen him as Read More recent as the shortened 2020 season be the #1 fantasy SP in all of baseball, and he was top-5 in 2019. He's having a good Spring Training, and while he might not return to a top-5 fantasy SP, he feels like a locked in top-20 guy. (BW 3/6)

Carroll is a top-tier prospect who hit 27 HRs and stole 33 bases between Double-A, Triple-A and the Majors last year. His K rate rose once he reached the Big Leagues, which isn't unusual, but he displayed true five-category potential in the minors. It's Read More tough to predict how quickly he'll acclimate to the Majors, but it could be worth reaching a round or two in drafts to find out. (A.S., 3/1/23)

A first round pick in 2019, Carroll came up at the end of 2022 and was solid in 32 games. It feels aggressive to rank him as a top-20 OF, but he also profiles like a Randy Arozarena (maybe with even more speed). We Read More haven't seen him be this in the majors yet, so this takes a leap to draft him here. I'd rather him be my second outfielder and not my first. (BW 3/1/23)

Garcia isn't the most disciplined hitter, but does it matter when you have the natural hitting ability and power-speed combo that he posssesses? Adolis has 58 HRs and 41 SBs in 305 games over the last two seasons, with a perfectly reasonable .247 batting Read More average. It's past time to take him seriously as a fantasy asset. (A.S., 3/1/23)

I barely ranked him as a top-40 outfielder last year, and he went on to finish in the top-5 OFs after a top-20 finish in 2021. Still, he just turned 30 years old, and I expect his average to be a problem. The power/speed Read More combination is nice, and the Rangers tend to run. You could do worse with your second outfielder. (BW 3/1/23)

Seager posted his first 30-HR season in 2022, but his batting average plummeted to a career-worst .245. Positive regression and the shift ban should help his average rebound, but the home run total should drop, so it could even out. Ultimately, the lack of Read More steals keeps him out of the top couple tiers of shortstops in roto/categories formats. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Seager isn't much of a threat to steal bases, but the former first round draft pick has shown that he can bat .300 and hit for power. He was a top-3 fantasy SS in 2016 and 2017, and then he needed Tommy John surgery Read More in 2018. A hand injury saw him miss nearly half of the 2021 season, and his average dipped considerably in his first year in Texas last season. The new shift rules could benefit a player like Seager though, so his average could creep back up near that .300 mark. If he can stay healthy, I like for him to be a great 4 category player at the position. (BW 2/27/23)

Gausman had a solid first season in Toronto, and it would have been even better if not for an unusually-high .363 BABIP. It was always going to be tough for him to match 2021's 2.81 ERA outside of San Francisco, but if he can Read More repeat last season's 1.44 BB/9, he could actually do it. (A.S., 3/6/23)

He was top-20 in K/9 in 2022 with a double digit rate for the fourth year in a row. His ratios were a bit worse after the move from San Fran to Toronto, but he has shown he's likely good for 180-190 innings and Read More with a good team and the BABIP should positively regress. I like him as a number two SP. 9BW 3/6)

Gallen experienced a dropoff in both strikeouts and walks last season, but the end result was a third sub-3.00 ERA in four seasons. He's probably due for a bit of regression, but then again he's a pitcher who outperforms his peripherals more often than Read More not. (A.S., 3/6/23)

I was concerned with his injury history entering 2022, but he proved me wrong. His 2.54 ERA and 0.96 WHIP were stellar, but his strikeout rate was surprisingly down. If he can get his K/9 back into double digits, he could be a top-10 fantasy pitcher. (BW 3/6)

Outside of the shortened 2020 Covid year, Pressly has posted an ERA under 3.00, a WHIP of 1.11 or better, and a K/9 of at least 11.93 in four straight seasons. He's also emerged as the unquestioned closer in Houston over the last couple seasons. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Pressly has great control and it shows with a WHIP under 1.00 each of the last two seasons. His K rate has been much better since coming to Houston, and he has been really good as the closer there. Houston should win a lot Read More of games this year, so I like him in my top-10 RPs. (BW 3/13)

Romano's K rate was down a bit last year, but he made up for it by allowing fewer home runs. He may be due for some regression, but the fact remains that he's been an excellent fantasy closer in back-to-back seasons and should be Read More top-10 again this year. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Toronto is one of the top 7 or 8 teams who are favorites to win the World Series, so you have to think Romano will get a healthy amount of save opportunities. He has performed well in his two years as a closer, and Read More he's one of the few guys who really has no competition for the job. He did blow 6 saves last season, but I don't think it matters much. The job is his and he could save 40 games. (BW 3/13)

Rodon has now put together back-to-back dominant seasons and possesses some of the best swing-and-miss stuff in the game. But he's always carried some durability questions and will now miss the beginning of the season with a forearm strain. He will also have to Read More cope with pitching at hitter-friendly Yankee stadium. Still, he should be great if/when healthy. (A.S., 3/9/23)

Like Verlander, I wasn't high enough on Rodon entering the 2022 season. He was great for the Giants in 31 starts (the most of his career in any season), and he logged the third most Ks behind just Cole and Burnes. I had questions Read More about how many innings he'd throw before the injury, and now I'm concerned he'll actually get to 150. The move back to the AL to a more hitter friendly park in the Bronx isn't ideal either. (BW 3/6)

Schwarber is coming off a massive fantasy season, even though he hit just .218. His average should rise, but as long as he puts up 40 HRs, 90+ runs, 90+ RBIs and a handful of steals, it doesn't really matter if he's a batting average liability. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Schwarbs was a distant second to Judge in the HR category last season, but he still finished in second with 46. He also decided he could steal 10 bases somehow, which boosted him up to a top-10 fantasy outfielder last year despite the .218 Read More average. That average can be a serious liability, but I can't help but like a guy who can hit bombs like Schwarber. (BW 3/1/23)

Wheeler has put together his best fantasy seasons since he hit 30. He has now posted a K/9 rate over 9.5 and sub-1.05 WHIP two years in a row, with a sub-3.00 ERA three years in a row. He may lack the upside to Read More finish as the number one fantasy pitcher, but he's one of the safer fantasy aces out there. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Wheeler is turning 33 this season, but that's young compared to some of the other guys I've ranked well ahead of him. He pitched just 153 innings last year, but I fully expect him to get back to 180-200 innings and be a solid Read More fantasy SP. His strikeout rate has been better the last couple of seasons than it was earlier in his career, so hopefully he can keep those Ks up. (BW 3/6)

Iglesias is as reliable as they come at closer, posting a sub-2.75 ERA and sub-1.15 WHIP in six of the last seven seasons. His strikeout-to-walk ratio remains excellent and saves should be plentiful in Atlanta. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Iglesias had at least 28 saves in every full season he'd been the closer for a team, but that streak ended last year when he was traded midseason and didn't have that role in Atlanta. Now with Kenley Jansen gone, he should have the Read More job to himself. His strikeout rate is great, and the Braves should give him plenty of chances to close out games. (BW 3/13)

Williams took over as the Brewers' closer following the Josh Hader trade and didn't look back, finishing with a 1.93 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 14.24 K/9 that trailed only Edwin Diaz and Jacob DeGrom among pitchers who threw 60+ innings last year. If he Read More can keep the walks under control, it would be no surprise to see Williams emerge as the top closer in fantasy baseball. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Williams has always had good stuff (including a great K rate), and he finally got the closer job to himself when Josh Hader was traded last year. He looked good in the role, and we've seen closers in Milwaukee have the job all to Read More themselves. (BW 3/13)

Despite his prospect pedigree, Urias is not a huge strikeout guy. But his pinpoint accuracy and favorable team environment have made him a huge asset in wins, ERA and WHIP. That's unlikely to change anytime soon. (A.S., 3/6/23)

For the last four seasons now, we've seen low ERA/WHIP from Urias, and last year it was even better! He had some expected regression from 20 to 17 wins, but that's still very good and you can expect plenty of win opportunities for the Read More Dodgers. Urias is good at keeping opponent hard hit rate down, and while he's not an elite strikeout guy, he's still an ace in my book. (BW 3/6)

Alcantara's fantasy value is largely format dependent. As a total workhorse with a subpar strikeout rate, he holds much more value in leagues without innings caps. While his win total is repeatable based on how many innings he can throw, his ERA and WHIP Read More are due for a little regression based on how often he allows the ball to be put in play. (A.S., 3/6/23)

He registered 15 losses (third most in all of the majors) and was still a top-12 fantasy SP in 201. Then last year he won the NL Cy Young with a 14-9 record, and great ratios due to amazing control and going deep into Read More games. He doesn't have the same strikeout potential as other pitchers near the top of this list, and 14 wins could be his ceiling in Miami. (BW 3/6)

Hader was somewhat lucky to avoid homers in 2021, leading to a career-best 1.23 ERA. Last year, his luck swung dramatically the other way, and he finished with an ugly 5.22 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. Still, he saved 36 games and struck out 81 Read More batters in 50 innings, so it wasn't all bad. Expect him to split the difference between 2021 and 2022, which should equate to borderline top-5 closer numbers. (A.S., 3/13/23)

Hader has filthy stuff when he's right, but he wasn't right at times last season. He righted the ship in September and October though (and that included some great stuff in the playoffs). Assuming he's back to good Josh Hader, he could easily be Read More the number one fantasy closer in his first full season in San Diego. (BW 3/13)

Nola boasts one of the best strikeout-to-walk ratios in baseball, and it led to big improvements in his ERA and WHIP last year after bad luck hurt him in 2021. He may not have the ceiling of the top-tier of fantasy aces, but the Read More fact that 2021 was a worst-case scenario proves that he has a very high floor. (A.S., 3/6/23)

He had the 5th worst ERA among qualifying SPs in 2021 (4.63), and he gave up a ton of HRs. But Nola bounced back in a big way and last year basically mimicked his stellar 2018 numbers (the best of his career). He has Read More double digit K/9 each of the last 4 seasons, and he had a career best walk rate last season. A true workhorse with great strikeout potential and a good lineup behind him to hopefully get some wins to boot. (BW 3/6)

Clase has had a remarkable start to his career, posting a 1.47 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 67 saves over his first 165 2/3 Major League innings. He won't give you quite as many strikeouts as the other top closers, but is about as safe Read More a bet as you can get at this volatile position. (A.S., 3/13/23)

He doesn't have the elite strikeout rate some other closers do but Clase has the job all to himself and I like that he doesn't give up homeruns. His 0.26 HR/9 rate in 2021 was just incredible, and it was still just 0.37 last Read More year. His walk rate was fine for a closer, and he improved that last season. He gets the ground balls he needs to finish the job, and you just can't argue with the results for the young closer who led all of MLB in saves last year. (BW 3/13)

A virtual lock for 20-20, but may not have the counting stats of some of the other top second basemen. (A.S., 2/21/23)

It's difficult to project what Jazz Chisholm's 2023 season will look like. He made a less than stellar MLB debut during the short 2020 season with Miami, had a solid 2021 season, then missed most of last year due to a back injury. On Read More the one hand, it's hard for me to trust a young guy with a recent injury and a strikeout rate around 30%. On the other hand, Jazz was on his way to a potential 40/40 season in 2022. This is high risk/high reward territory here. (BW 2/20/23)

Ohtani's hitting exploits seem to get more attention than his pitching performances, but make no mistake: he was an outstanding fantasy hurler in 2022. The only real concern is how many innings he'll throw, but it's possible the Angels let him loose in a Read More potential walk year. (A.S., 3/6/23)

An amazing season from Aaron Judge kept Ohtani from winning the AL MVP, but this has to be the year it's his, right? One of the best hitters in baseball, Ohtani won 15 of his 28 starts as a pitcher last year too. He Read More improved in basically every pitching category from 2021 to 2022. and I don't have much negative to say about the guy. I think he belongs in this second tier of SPs and you could make a case for him in the top tier if I thought he could actually pitch 200 innings, but I don't. (BW 3/6)

Robert has flashed the skills to be an elite five-category contributor, but he just hasn't been able to stay healthy. He's still looking for his first season of 100+ games, but if he can make it through the season in one piece, look out. Read More (A.S., 3/1/23)

Robert's ADP was in Round 2 last year, but now he's barely in the top-50 overall players (which is a bit easier to stomach). Still, he hasn't even managed to play 100 games in a season yet, so the injuries are a concern. He Read More led all OFs in batting average in 2021 hitting .338 (although it was in just 68 games), and he batted .284 in 98 games last year. He certainly has the power and speed to be a 20/20 player, so he fits in this tier with similar guys for me. (BW 3/1/23)

Finished as the top fantasy catcher for four of last five seasons. (A.S., 2/7/23)

Last year I mentioned how with Buster Posey retiring, the new face of the consistent fantasy catcher is Realmuto. He's a lock to finish as one of the top of fantasy catchers, and he's coming off a 20/20 season (yeah that's stolen bases!). But Read More keep in mind Sal Perez was locked in as most people's #1 fantasy catcher by a long shot last year. I'm not willing to use a Round 3 pick on the catcher position, so I'd much rather wait on someone else in this tier. (BW 2/12/23)

Mullins was never going to repeat his massive 2021 numbers, but he was still awfully good last year, finishing as a top-10 fantasy outfielder once again. A .250/15/30 season feels close to his floor for 2023. (A.S. 3/1/23)

The lone fantasy bright spot for the O's in 2021, he was joined by a few other fantasy-relevant players last year and this lineup isn't looking too shabby anymore. I expect him to hit leadoff in that improved lineup, and his combination of power Read More and speed is good in ROTO but also will play in points leagues considering he has over 600 ABs each of the last two seasons. (BW 3/1/23)

McClanahan put togeher a terrific season in 2022, but his numbers tailed off considerably in the second half. That creates a touch of uncertainty about just how good he is, but even his floor is likely a top-20 fantasy starter. (A.S., 3/6/23)

To show the depth at the SP position, I had guys like McClanahan, Cease, and Manoah all in the 30s this time last season. Now all of these young guns are considerations for the first SP you may select in your fantasy drafts. Shane Read More was dominant in the first half last year and was looking like the best pitcher in baseball at the All Star break. But his strikeouts were down and his ERA rose in the second half. Will he be able to put it all together? Will the Rays let him throw more than 170 innings? (BW 3/6)

Arozarena is a dynamic athlete coming off back-to-back seasons as a top-13 fantasy outfielder. His stolen bases shot up from 20 in 2021 to 32 last year, but it will be worth watching whether he continues to get the green light given his subpar Read More success rate. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Arozarena had a 20/20 season in 2021 and batted .274. His average fell a few points last year, but he hit exactly 20 HRs again but swiped 12 more bags. He feels like a discounted Kyle Tucker at this point, but he certainly strikes Read More out a bit more and likely won't hit for as high an average. Still, he's a really solid player who can provide at every category. (BW 3/1/23)

Strider was equally dominant as a starter and reliever in 2022, and he'll now get a chance to show what he can do with a full season in the rotation. His stuff is filthy, it's merely a question of whether he can hold up Read More as a workhorse. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Not only did he have a sub 3.00 ERA and sub 1.00 WHIP in his rookie year, but Strider also led all SPs in K/9 at nearly 14. The next closest guys at 12 K/9 last season were Blake Snell, Carlos Rodon, and Shohei Read More Ohtani. He was amazing in his 131.2 innings, but how many innings will you get out of him in 2022? For that reason, he's at the top of the third SP tier for me. He's also a SPARP who can be plugged into your RP slot, so he's the number one "RP" for me too. (BW 3/6)

Still a great bet for 30-100 in his age-32 season. (A.S., 2/22/23)

I'm not sure any third baseman has been more consistent the last 8 seasons than Nolan Arenado. He's basically the 3B equivalent of his teammate Paul Goldschmidt. He has continued to produce outside of Coors Field the last two seasons, and the only reason Read More he's not in that second tier of third basemen for me is the advanced age. (BW 2/22/23)

DeGrom is still the most dominant pitcher in baseball when healthy, but he hasn't even thrown 100 innings in a season since 2019. (A.S., 3/6/23)

The best ability often is availability, and that's so true for pitchers in fantasy. It's basically my only concern for Jacob deGrom, as I'm not overly concerned about the move from the Mets to the Rangers (though Texas is slightly a better hitter park). Read More He's already dealing with an injury in Spring Training, but if you get 150 innings from him, deGrom will likely be the number 1 fantasy SP. (BW 3/6)

Numbers look an awful lot like Pete Alonso's with a little less power and batting average. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Olson tied Guerrero for second in RBIs at the first base position in 2021, and he had the second most HRs behind Vlad with 39. Then he switched leagues and had a slow start in Atlanta in 2022. But he got much better as Read More the year progressed and ended up as a top-5 fantasy first baseman (just above Vlad, actually!). If he can avoid the slow start to 2023, he could find himself in the top-3 again. (BW 2/14/23)

He just turned 26 and is one year removed from a .259/103/30/106/20 season. (A.S., 2/21/23)

With the recent injury history, I feel like it makes sense to have Chisholm and Albies in the same 2B tier. Albies is just a year removed from hitting 30 HRs and stealing 20 bases when he was the top fantasy second baseman in Read More all of baseball. He's already finished as a top-3 fantasy second basemen three times in his young career, so I would argue with putting him in the tier above this. (BW 2/20/23)

Woodruff has now posted ace fantasy numbers for three straight seasons. The only thing left to prove is that he can be a workhorse. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Woodruff missed some time in the middle of 2022 after being diagnosed with Raynaud's Syndrome, which impacting feeling in his pitching hand. Still, he had good ratios and a high K rate to go along with his 13 wins in just 153 innings. If Read More he's fully healthy and can get back to throwing 180ish innings, he will be a nice complement to Burnes in that Brewer rotation. (BW 3/6)

The normal rules don't apply to Justin Verlander; he came back from Tommy John surgery at age 39 and was the best pitcher in fantasy baseball. His strikeout rate wasn't what it once was, and he's due for some ERA regression, but Verlander feels Read More like a shockingly reliable source of quality innings for a pitcher his age. (A.S., 3/6/23)

I was way too low on the old man coming into last season, and he won the AL Cy Young at age 39 with a 1.75 ERA and an 18-4 record for the WS Champion Astros. Now he's a Met at age 40, and Read More I'm done doubting him. He'll likely fall off at some point, and maybe this is the year. But I'm fine drafting him in this tier of SPs with his teammate Scherzer. (BW 3/6)

Lindor's first year in Queens was a slog, but he returned to his productive ways in 2022, finishing second to Trea Turner in 5x5 value among shortstops. There's no reason to expect a big decline in his age-29 season. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Lindor bounced back in a big way after a 2021 season which was the worst of his career. He was the number two fantasy shortstop last year behind only Trea Turner, and if he can keep his average in the .275-.290 range, he's basically Read More the same player as Bo Bichette a round or two later. (BW 2/27/23)

Doubt Harris at your own risk. He was a five-category stud from Day One, and while most people expect him to take a slight step back as a sophomore, it's just as likely he takes another step forward. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Harris burst onto the scene in 2022 and nearly ended up with a 20/20 season in just 114 games, all while batting at the bottom of the order in most of those games (just 11 games batting 1-5 in the order, 64 as 9th). Read More You're paying for the great rookie year, but he also could just do it again. (BW 3/1/23)

Scherzer was as dominant as ever at age 37, and there's little reason to doubt he can do it again at 38. The only question is how many innings he'll be able to throw -- he hasn't topped 180 since 2018. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Excluding 2020, Scherzer has a sub-3.00 ERA and a WHIP of 1.03 or lower every season since 2014 (his last in Detroit). He's 38 years old now, and his K/9 has decreased the last couple of seasons. Still, I trust Mad Max to continue his consistent dominance. (BW 3/6)

He was never going to repeat his absurd 2021 numbers, but Semien still finished as a top-20 hitter in roto/categories leagues for the third straight season (excluding the Covid-shortened 2020 campaign). (A.S., 2/21/23)

The #1 SS and 2B from 2021, Semien had an interesting 2022. He batted below .200 and had just one homerun through the month of May. And yet, he still finished as the number one fantasy second baseman last season. That's pretty incredible. I Read More expect him to produce solid numbers and could still swipe 20+ bags at the age of 32. (BW 2/20/23)

Not a true .300 hitter, but .270 will more than suffice with his huge run, HR and RBI totals. (A.S., 2/22/23)

His 2021 average was a bit inflated considerting his xBA was just .279, and we saw his average last year drop to around there. But it's nice to see that average still quite high considering he also easily led all third basemen with 38 Read More HRs last year. He's in a great lineup in Atlanta with plenty of RBI opportunities. (BW 2/22/23)

Cole's ERA has steadily risen since he joined the Yankees, but a 3.50 ERA will play just fine when it comes with elite strikeouts and win potential. (A.S., 3/6/23)

Another ace likely to throw 200+ innings, Cole's numbers in New York have been very consistent. There's some speculation he gave up more homeruns at the end of the season due to different balls with the Aaron Judge HR chase. Either way, you can Read More easily make the case for him over Burnes as the top pitcher off the board in fantasy drafts. Cole was first and Burnes second in strikeouts in 2022. (BW 3/6)

Middling batting average and SB totals limit his upside, but he's a great bet to again approach 40 HRs and 100 RBIs with a .260+ average. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Call me old fashioned, but I love my first basemen to be launching 500 ft bombs during the homerun derby in July. I also like for them to hit for a decent average, and Alonso's .271 was a new career best last year. As Read More long as he keeps that average up, he's my favorite in this second tier of first basemen. (BW 2/14/23)

Advancing age (35) and Statcast numbers suggest he's due for a downswing, but betting against Goldy has rarely paid dividends. (A.S., 2/14/23)

In his last 8 seasons (omitting 2020), Goldschmidt is averaging over 32 HRs, 100 runs, and 100 RBIs. And while he's not going to swipe 32 bases like he did way back in 2016, he could steal 9 or 10. He has hit under Read More .286 just once since his rookie year in 2011. He's super consistent and coming off one of the best years of his long career (and the number one fantasy first baseman in 2022). If he wasn't 35 years old, I'd consider him in the top tier with Freddie and Vlad. (BW 2/14/23)

As talented as they come, and was the most valuable player in fantasy on a per-game basis in 2021. But he'll miss the first 20 games due to his ongoing suspension and also carries some injury risk. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Tatis was a top-5 fantasy player in 2021 even though he missed 1/5 of the season because of a shoulder injury and COVID-19. When you hit 42 homeruns (which led the NL) and steal 25 bases, that helps. But Tatis didn't see the field Read More last year due to a broken wrist followed by an 80 game suspension for PEDs which goes into 20 games of this season. Add on the offseason shoulder surgery, and there's a ton of risk to taking him in the first couple of rounds of a draft. I likely wouldn't select him until the 4th or 5th round, but at some point the talent is obviously worth the risk. (BW 2/27/23)

Trout doesn't run anymore and his strikeout rate has risen in recent seasons, making him less likely to hit .300. But he is still a solid bet to approach 40 HRs, 100 runs and 100 RBIs in his age-31 season. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Trout was basically an iron man his first 6 seasons in the league, and then his last 6 have been littered with injuries. The three time AL MVP slugged 40 HRs in just 119 games last year. And while he's not really stealing bases Read More anymore, that's probably a good thing to try to keep him healthy. That health is a huge risk, which has me not drafting him in Round 1. (BW 3/1/23)

Four-category stud in his prime. (A.S., 2/22/23)

His K rate and average have been a bit up and down, but he has been a top-6 fantasy third baseman each of the last four seasons and is in the prime of his career. Boston's lineup is a bit lacking this year, but Read More Devers will still produce. (BW 2/22/23)

Outside of 49 rough innings in 2019, Burnes has posted an ERA of 2.94 or better and WHIP of 1.02 or better every year since he debuted in 2018. Entering his age-28 season, he provides the best combo of floor and ceiling among starting Read More pitchers -- and could see his value rise further if he can just win a few more games. (A.S., 3/6/12)

Burnes followed up his 2021 NL Cy Young season with a 200+ inning 2022. He kept his ERA under 3.00 and WHIP under 1.00. The wins have been lacking in Milwaukee and the decrease in K rate isn't ideal, but there's no clear-cut number Read More one pitcher in fantasy and his numbers show that. Still, I like the workhorse role last season, and his K/9 is still around 11. (BW 3/6)

Sprint speed declined in 2022 and he was caught on 8 of his 21 SB attempts. May no longer be a 20 SB guy, but he'll still reach double figures with strong numbers in the other four categories -- and potential for more HRs. (A.S., 2/27/23)

Like Fernando Tatis, Bichette debuted in 2019 and immediately showed his power and ability to bat .300 in the show. Then in 2021, he swiped 25 bases and took his fantasy value to another level. The stolen bases fell back down to earth Read More a bit in 2022, but he certainly has the speed to swipe 20 bags while hitting 30 HRs. (BW 2/27/23)

Went 20-30 as a rookie and could be even better in year two. (A.S., 2/22/23)

The number 2 overall pick from the 2019 draft, Witt had elite minor league numbers that translated right away to the big leagues. Last year he was only eligible at SS, but now with 3B eligibility, his value is even higher. Not many players Read More can push for a 30/30 season, and Jose Ramirez is the only other guy who can do it at this position. (BW 2/22/23)

Ohtani's 2022 numbers were nowhere near as wild as his 2021 output, but he still finished as the 22nd-most valuable player in standard 5x5 formats based on his hitting numbers alone. A repeat of last year's production seems likely, with the potential for more Read More stolen bases. (A.S., 3/6/23)

An amazing season from Aaron Judge kept Ohtani from winning the AL MVP, but this has to be the year it's his, right? One of the best hitters in baseball, Ohtani won 15 of his 28 starts as a pitcher last year too. He Read More improved in basically every pitching category from 2021 to 2022. and I don't have much negative to say about the guy. I think he belongs in this second tier of SPs and you could make a case for him in the top tier if I thought he could actually pitch 200 innings, but I don't. (BW 3/6)

Only thing separating him from Jose Ramirez is 10-15 steals, and Machado could be motivated to run more with new rule changes. (A.S., 2/22/23)

Machado's numbers dipped slightly when he left Baltimore for San Diego, but he has been a a top-5 fantasy third baseman in each of the past three seasons. He's a career .282 hitter who is a virtual lock for 30 HRs and 100 RBIs Read More in a good Padre lineup. (BW 2/22/23)

Last year was a little disappointing by his immense standards, but he showed his league-winning upside in 2021 and is still just 23 years old. (A.S., 2/14/23)

He was the number 1 fantasy first baseman by quite a bit in 2021, and he was the betting favorite to lead all of MLB in HRs and RBIs last year. But his production fell slightly, mostly due to a rough month of May. Read More He's a first round pick, but how high do you draft Vlad with zero stolen base potential? (BW 2/14/23)

Last year's top 1B hasn't finished outside the top-3 at the position since 2017. (A.S., 2/14/23)

Like Vlad, you can expect Freeman to bat .300 and have an OBP around .400. He's nearly averaged those numbers for his career, and he's averaged over those benchmarks in his last 7 seasons. He's likely to hit under 30 HRs, but he's been Read More a top-3 fantasy first baseman each of the last 5 seasons. (BW 2/14/23)

Alvarez is a proven four-category monster, like Aaron Judge without the steals. (A.S., 3/1/23)

While he has dealt with some injuries in his young career and will likely be a complete zero in the steals department, he could battle for the triple crown and be at the top of the list in the other fantasy categories. (BW 3/1/23)

Soto had a disappointing 2022 campaign, but he basically put up his typical numbers other than a .242 batting average that was dragged down by an unusually-low BABIP. His average is sure to rise, it's just a question of whether it will rise high Read More enough to return him to first round fantasy value. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Many people were ranking Soto as THE number one outfielder heading into last season, and he had a bit of a down year (mostly impacting his batting average/RBI production). He was traded to San Diego at the beginning of August, and well, not much Read More changed with his lack of production. Still, he's in a great lineup there and I like buying elite players coming off a down year. He's still one of the best in the game, and I fully expect his average to come back up closer to .300 rather than .250. (BW 3/1/23)

Still a five-category stud, even if the steals and AVG aren't what they once were. (A.S., 2/21/23)

It feels like cheating getting Betts with second base eligibility in Yahoo leagues, since he played EXACTLY 7 games at the position each of the last two seasons. But I'll take advantage of it if I'm able to use him there. The former 2018 Read More AL MVP saw his numbers dip in 2021, but he was the number 2 fantasy outfielder behind Judge last year. A true 5 category player, Betts would be worth a look in the first round as an outfielder. If you can use him at second base, that's a bonus. (BW 2/20/23)

Tucker was a fantasy stud in 2022, and that was with a BABIP that was over 40 points below his typical mark. Look for him to repeat the counting stats with a better batting average. (A.S., 3/1/23)

His K rate is decreasing and walk rate increasing year after year. His average dipped a bit last year, but his 25 stolen bases surprised me a bit. my only real concern is whether or not he'll bat higher in this good Astros lineup. Read More It feels like he should and it's only a matter of time. He has great skills and can produce at all categories. (BW 3/1/23)

The clear top dog at fantasy's strongest position. He was the most valuable shortstop by a wide margin last year and has been top-3 for five straight seasons. (A.S., 2/27/23)

His age and speed make him a top-10 favorite to lead the league in steals, and his average and run production make him one of the few elite 5 category fantasy players. I wouldn't take him at the number one overall spot in fantasy Read More drafts, but he's definitely a high first round pick. Going from the Dodgers to the Phillies, he's staying in a good lineup. There could be an adjustment period, but there also might not be much of one. (BW 2/27/23)

Rodriguez fully lived up to the hype in his 132-game MLB debut. A .280/30/30 season is within the realm of possibility for Year Two. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Ranked as my number 75 outfielder before Spring Training began last year, Rodriguez was one of the top prospects in all of baseball, but there was concern he'd be blocked by the likes of Winker/Haniger/Kelenic...even Kyle Lewis. But we got 132 games from the Read More 21 year old, and he showed he could produce in fantasy with the likes of Acuna. (BW 3/1/23)

Still a five-category monster at age 30. (A.S., 2/22/23)

No one else at the hot corner has the true 5 category production Ramirez does, as he's a threat to steal 25 bases to contribute to his other elite categories. With the third base position being so thin, you could make a case to Read More draft Ramirez first overall. (BW 2/22/23)

Injuries have hampered Acuna over the last two seasons, but he's still been a stud when on the field. He's one of the best bets in baseball to go 30-30. (A.S., 3/1/23)

Coming off a torn ACL last year, the big concern was whether or not he'd still steal a ton of bases. Well, he did. He finished top-10 in steals, but the power wasn't quite there in 2022. Now a full year removed from the Read More injury, you have to think he could be the number 1 overall player in all of MLB with his ability in all categories. (BW 3/1/23)

Judge was the most valuable player in fantasy last year and it wasn't close. He can afford to have his numbers drop off across the board and still be elite. The main questions are can he stay healthy and will he continue to steal Read More bases? (A.S., 3/1/23)

It's not just the 62 HRs that jump off the page from Judge's career season. He also batted .311 and even stole 16 bases! Even if there's some regression (and there likely will be), it's hard not to recommend him at the top of Read More drafts. Nothing has really changed for Judge, and the only thing that can likely slow him down is an injury. (BW 3/1/23)