- Tim Haberin - Fantasy Focus
Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha tossed 5.2 shutout innings and fanned four on Wednesday, March 25, edging Max Scherzer and the Nationals in a 1-0 Spring Training victory. The performance is good news for MLB fantasy owners counting on the young starter to do big things in 2015.
Last season saw him start just 19 games as a shoulder injury sidelined him for two and a half months. Referred to as a "stress reaction" of the shoulder rather than a fracture, the injury was deemed not as severe as similar ones suffered by pitchers such as Brandon McCarthy. Wacha has shown no lingering effects of the ailment, posting a 1.76 ERA and walking only one batter in 15.1 innings this spring.
Though he pitched through discomfort for significant stretches of last year, Wacha still managed some impressive numbers that point toward the front-end rotation piece St. Louis hopes he can be.
At only 23 years old, Wacha appears well-suited to rebound quickly from his shoulder woes and continue improving during the upcoming season. However, his youth may also spell some disadvantages as far as fantasy owners are concerned.
In two big league seasons, Wacha has logged only 171.2 innings, and the Cardinals may try to take things slow on the heels of his shoulder issue and not push him. It's possible he might be limited to around five innings some nights and miss out on some valuable wins and quality starts.
Regardless, the talent and potential are there, and you shouldn't hesitate to pick Wacha around the 130th selection of your draft. If he takes the ball every five days, he can certainly be a top-25 starting pitcher in 2015. He should prove an asset in terms of ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts even if wins are a bit inconsistent.
- Tim Haberin - Fantasy Focus
1. Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
Although playing for the low-key D'backs may somewhat limit his national exposure, Paul Goldschmidt is without a doubt, the best first base option in this year's fantasy campaign. Even though he missed 53 games last season, he still managed significant offensive production with a .938 OPS. His performance in 2013 provided a far more comprehensive demonstration of Goldschmidt's outstanding talent. He led the National League in a host major offensive categories - 36 HR, 125 RBI, .551 SLG, and .952 OPS - en route to finishing second in MVP voting. And at 27 years old, his star may still be trending upward.
2. Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
Miguel Cabrera has been eclipsed by the likes of Mike Trout in "best in the game" arguments, but he remains an elite talent and a fantasy cornerstone. Last season was a bit of a down year for him, yet still one virtually every player in baseball would love to have. A slow start contributed to a drop in HR (25) and RBI totals (109), but he still batted over .310 (.313) like he has in 9 of the last 10 seasons. Cabrera has also been remarkably durable, playing fewer than 150 games only once since his debut season. There is some reason for caution, however. He turns 32 next month, meaning some signs of offensive decline last year (his .183 drop in OPS, for example) might continue.
3. Anthony Rizzo - Chicago Cubs
With two full MLB seasons to his name, Rizzo should enjoy his best one yet in 2015 and assert his place among the game's premier first basemen. He has shown considerable power since entering the league and last year improved his on-base ability, posting a .386 OBP to go with his 32 HR. And considering he missed 21 games, 35 HR and 100 RBI seem like a minimum benchmark if he plays a complete season. Like Goldschmidt, the 25-year-old Rizzo's youth only enhances his appeal.
4. Edwin Encarnación - Toronto Blue Jays
In a league where power numbers are increasingly precious, Encarnación has become one of the more reliable sluggers in the game. He's exceeded .900 OPS in each of the previous three seasons, and though limited to 128 games in 2014 he still smacked 34 homers and drove in 98 runs. Injury woes remain a concern and he won't help you much in terms of batting average, but the 40 HR/100 RBI potential is much too enticing to ignore.
Bonus Sleeper: Brandon Belt - San Francisco Giants
If you miss out on some of the bigger names at first base, don't panic. A variety of buy-low candidates like Brandon Belt are primed to defy expectations this season. The 26-year-old Belt seems particularly ready to break out if he stays healthy. Injuries kept him out of 101 games in 2014, but he capped it off with an exclamation point by hitting .295 in the postseason. In 150 games the year prior he hit .289 with 17 HR and 67 RBI. He also appears to be developing a bit of a power stroke: his home run to fly ball ratio jumped to 18% last season. Belt should be available around the 200th selection in the draft, but consider taking him a little earlier.
There are obviously always going to be players who have been cramming for the upcoming fantasy draft for weeks now. They are reading every fantasy trade publication, listening to sports radio in the car and watching Baseball Tonight podcasts into the wee hours of the morning. However, all is not lost. With a little bit of common sense and a some sensible research, the average sports fan can be ready for the draft in about 90 minutes.
Fantasy Sports championships are rarely won during the initial fantasy draft, but building a decent fantasy squad NEVER hurts. Here are 3 tips to help smooth out the bumps in this year's fantasy draft:
Make, borrow or steal a 1-PAGE cheat sheet -
Have a notebook, laminated placard or scrap of paper that has at least 3 players listed that you really want at each position. This takes a little more homework, but it gives you a rough strategy on how to run your draft.
Feel free to stray away if you see a juicy player sitting on the board, but keep the list handy. When those seconds start ticking away, having a cheat sheet could mean the difference between drafting a solid player or another completely wasted pick.
Phones can die, computers can lose signal, magazines are too hard to navigate, one piece of paper is all that you need. Your cheat sheet must limited to ONE-PAGE. There’s nothing more entertaining that watching someone with 2 open magazines and 30 sheets of paper flying around like a sand storm while they are trying to remember the name of that hotshot minor leaguer that’s supposed to set the league on fire.
Don’t be a Charles Barkley!
Sir Charles obviously has no business calling NCAA Men’s college games because he could care less. During the first half of the Kansas vs. Wichita State game, he mentioned that Cliff Alexander was playing pretty good. The only problem is that Cliff Alexander in under investigation by the NCAA and hasn’t stepped foot on basketball court in the nearly a month.
My point is, even if you are a casual player, READ an MLB INJURY REPORT!
It never ceases to amaze me during a fantasy draft when some genius scoops up a player who is injured, suspended or is already done for the year. It takes about 20 minutes for that bit of research and saves you from a wasted pick or being the laughing stock of your fantasy league.
Only draft players you have actually heard of -
This seems like common sense, but many people still feel compelled to roll the dice.
WOW – You found a top-50 ranked pitcher – And he’s still on the board, what a steal!!
Maybe, maybe not? It doesn’t matter how this player slipped under your notice, drafting someone you don’t know is tempting, but not worth the risk. There are 1,200 active players to choose from and it only makes sense to draft someone you have heard of before.
The Buffalo Bills have made some big moves (with fantasy football implications) during the offseason and now arguably have one of the most talented teams in the NFL. It all started with the hiring of Rex Ryan as their head coach and the blockbuster trade that landed NFL fantasy stalwart LeSean McCoy in exchange for Kiko Alonso. The Bills have been busy in free agency as well with the notable signings of Percy Harvin and Charles Clay.
If the season started today, the Bills would have LeSean McCoy, Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin, Robert Woods, and Charles Clay as the focal pieces of their offense. What's missing in that All-Star lineup? Only the most important piece, the quarterback. The Bills will need either EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel or a quarterback they get in the upcoming draft to play some quality football to win the AFC East and dethrone the defending Superbowl champion Patriots.
The Bills now have one of the best defensive minds in the NFL as their head coach, a defense that led the NFL in sacks last year with 54, and all the offensive weapons a quarterback could ask for. With that said, it's still hard to imagine the Bills winning the AFC East this year because of the uncertainty at the quarterback position. At the same time, it's hard to imagine the Bills not making the playoffs as a Wild Card team and being a team that nobody wants to face in the playoffs.
It will be a pleasure to see some competitive AFC East match-ups this upcoming season, but as long as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick reside in New England, the Patriots will be the class of the AFC East.
Stay tuned for the latest NFL player news!
- Greg Pokriki - Fantasy Focus
In most MLB fantasy leagues, you only need to start one catcher and carry a max of two on your roster. Taking a chance at the position is a high risk, low reward proposition unless you snag Buster Posey. Orioles catcher Matt Wieters is returning from Tommy John surgery, a rare injury for a player at his position. The rarity itself is cause for concern on his return and how completely he will recover.
Catching nearly everyday of a MLB season is arguably one of the most strenuous jobs in the league, leaving Wieters’ risk for re-injury presumably somewhat high. In addition to the Tommy John surgery, Wieters has recently been diagnosed with elbow tendinitis.
The diagnosis is likely just a bump in the road, causing him only to miss a few days. However, when it comes to your fantasy team, with the amount of more reliable options around him, it makes sense to leave Wieters for someone else to draft.
When it comes to Wieters, why risk it? With fantasy trophies often decided by which team stays the healthiest, you should err on the side of caution. Better options include catchers like Brian McCann or Russell Martin.
- Tim Haberin - Fantasy Focus
Brandon Phillips - 2B, Cincinnati Reds
Phillips' name recognition, along with the overall dearth of fantasy production at second base, has exaggerated perceptions of his MLB fantasy value for a while now. Once a good bet for around 20 homers and 80 RBI, his offensive numbers have steadily declined and there is little reason to think that won't continue as he turns 34 this year. His OPS plummeted from .810 to .678 in the last four seasons, and his increasing lack of plate disciple (15% strikeout rate last year) won't help matters. The speed element of his game has evaporated as well: after averaging 22 steals from 2006-2012, he has swiped only seven total in the last two seasons. Don't fool yourself into thinking Phillips is still top-15 at his position.
Victor Martinez - 1B, Detroit Tigers
V-Mart enjoyed a tremendous 2014 campaign, putting up a Major League-best .974 OPS on his way to All-Star honors and a second-place finish in AL MVP voting. But there are more than a few reasons to be skeptical of an encore performance in the upcoming season. Not many players have a career year at age 35, and Martinez has been battling familiar knee trouble this spring. His 32 home runs last year were a career-high by a decent margin; he had not broken 20 since 2009. Though his ability and track record are undeniable, his preseason value is inflated by the striking numbers he produced last year. Several rankings place him as a top-50 player, which is too bold for 2015.
Yadier Molina - C, St. Louis Cardinals
Like Phillips, the preeminent Molina brother is another player whose popular reputation will lead to him being drafted too early. As far as catchers go, he's still one of your better options, but unless his name is Buster Posey, I'm not using a premium pick on a backstop. Renowned for his consistence and durability, Molina showed some cracks in 2014. A thumb injury limited him to 110 games, the lowest total since his debut season. His batting average dipped below .300 for the first time since 2010, and his power numbers have taken a nosedive as well (.386 SLG last year, down from .501 in 2012). At 32 years old, the physical demands of the position often take their toll, so it's hard to see Molina reasserting himself as a top-5 catcher.
Ryan Braun - OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Braun's various issues are well-documented, but he has remained a relevant player for fantasy purposes. It's hard to justify, however, ranking him as a top-10 outfielder for 2015 as some have done. He's missed significant time to injury the last two seasons and has seen a fair amount of pop leave his bat, due in large part to the career-low 8% home run to fly ball ratio he posted last year. His 2014 second half was particularly brutal, in which he hit .226 with 8 home runs and 29 RBI. Even if offseason thumb surgery helps keep him on the field, Braun is yet another player on the wrong side of 30 unlikely to reclaim past glory and not worth risking with a first or second round pick.
- Greg Pokriki - Fantasy Focus
With the upcoming draft, we have been covering a wide variety of fantasy baseball sleepers, but this list is more about the potential busts. Pitchers who have limited upside and would be better off on any other team besides yours.
Mike Fiers - Milwaukee Brewers
Calling Fiers’ 2014 campaign lucky is unfair and a discredit to a collection of solid outings. Plenty of owners saw Fiers fall into their lap late off the waiver wire. He registered an outstanding August and a fine September, though he wasn’t going as deep into games. Fiers September included an increase in hits and walks allowed. In 2015, he likely will return to those workman like numbers. His personal dip is indicative of the entire Brewers team in 2014, which saw the wheels fall off the wagon of their division lead and playoff spot late in the regular season. There is no need to avoid Fiers like the plague, but certainly be aware that his previous production certainly isn’t sustainable for 2015.
CC Sabathia - New York Yankees
Though Sabathia was injured for the majority of 2014 and it’s unfair to judge him on that alone, his steady decline in production over this latter half of his career is reason enough to avoid. In his last full season of work, 2013, Sabathia allowed the most runs in MLB. He tallied his worst ERA+ in his career and also allowed 28 home runs, a career high for the former ace. Sabathia’s decline is written on the wall. Add a trying injury recovery to that and you have a player to steer clear of in 2015.
Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
Kluber put in an outstanding 2014, securing the Cy Young Award—and rightfully so. But, there is reason for hesitation. A Cy Young Award does not guarantee future continued dominance—just ask RA Dickey. There is no reason to solely look at Kluber’s 2014 campaign in the same sense that you can’t just assume Justin Verlander is a bum pitcher because he struggled last season. When drafting a fantasy baseball team, you have to factor in a pitchers' entire body of work. 2014 was Kluber’s first year with more than 25 games started and 150 innings pitched. He also had never previously had a season with an ERA+ over 100, the league average, or a FIP under 3.30. It’s fair to think that Kluber figured it out in 2014 and will be a stud from now until the day he calls it quits. But it’s also fair to hold out reservations and not overspend on him in an auction draft.
A. J. Burnett - Pittsburgh Pirates
At 38-years-old, Burnett has announced that this will be his final season. He obviously sees his own decline, and you should too. Last season he posted one of his highest career WHIP and worst career ERA+. He is headed back to the Pirates, so he should see an increase in wins from last year, where he only posted eight. However, Burnett is no longer investing in his own future, and neither should you. With his age and decline, Burnett’s best days are behind him.
- Tim Haberin - Fantasy Focus
Season-ending pitching injuries have piled up recently, including two suffered by players we recently named as potential fantasy baseball sleepers. Blue Jays hurler Marcus Stroman underwent a procedure to repair a torn ACL, while Tommy John surgery will snuff out Zack Wheeler's hopes of pitching for the Mets this season. Fortunately for fantasy owners, there are still plenty of appealing starters who could provide unexpected boosts to their rotations.
Kevin Gausman - Baltimore Orioles
Starting 20 games for the O's in 2014, Gausman put up respectable numbers within a challenging division in his first extended action at the Major League level. He surrendered less than a hit per inning on his way to 7 wins and a 3.57 ERA. His youth (age 24) and fastball (topping out near 100 mph) make him an intriguing prospect for fantasy owners. If the walks come down a bit (3.0 BB/9 last year), he has a shot to reach even greater heights this season and is worthy of a late-round flyer.
Drew Pomeranz - Oakland Athletics
Leaving the rarefied air of Coors Field for spacious Oakland Coliseum paid dividends for Pomeranz last year. Though he started just 10 games for the A's, they were promising ones in which he put up a 2.58 ERA over 52.1 IP and held opposing batters to a miniscule .205 average. With the departures of Jon Lester and Jason Hammel, the 26-year-old lefty will be counted on for more innings in 2015 and is primed for the taking with one of your last few draft selections.
Shane Greene - Detroit Tigers
Imported by the Tigers from the Bronx this offseason, Greene quietly did a very admirable job filling in for a plethora of injured Yankees starters in 2014. Though his stuff doesn't pop quite as much as some of the other pitchers on this list, Greene throws four different pitches capably and posted a strong 9.3 K/9 rate last season. Moving out of a hitter's park and support from a more potent offense should help him improve significantly on last year's 5 wins and 3.78 ERA.
Noah Syndergaard - New York Mets
A legitimate fantasy alternative to Wheeler may be the man who could replace him on the Mets' staff. Scouts rave about Syndergaard's high-90s fastball and all-around overpowering stuff, which helped him rack up an impressive 145 Ks in 133 IP for Triple-A Las Vegas last year. Even if the Mets don't break camp with the 22-year-old in their rotation, it's a good bet he'll be first in line to receive a big league call-up. Though his control needs some refining, Syndergaard will likely offer some immediate punch in the strikeout department whenever he makes his debut. Owners looking to get ahead can stash him with a late draft pick.
- Aneesh Ahuja - Fantasy Focus
Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels
Arguably the best player in MLB Fantasy, Trout is poised for another MVP season. Trout, just 23 years old has been on a tear since he has come into the league. The 2014 MVP finished batting .287 with 36 HR and 11 RBI. That was his lowest batting average since he has come into the league but his power numbers continue to get better. Trout has vowed to become a better hitter and strikeout less. He will help your fantasy team in every facet of the game is worth the first overall selection in the draft.
Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates
The 2013 MVP, is next up on our list. Andrew McCutchen has been unbelievable for the Pirates in the last few seasons finishing in the top 3 in MVP voting the past couple of years. If it wasn’t for Clayton Kershaw’s remarkable 2014 season, McCutchen could have easily been holding 2 MVP trophies. He finished last season batting .314 with 25 HR an 83 RBI. He's been dealing with a lower back issue, but is expected to be completely healthy for the upcoming season. Look for his power numbers to stay steady as well as his batting average. McCutchen is as close to a sure thing you can find in this years draft.
Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins
Stanton is coming off an incredible 2014 campaign. His season was cut short after his terrifying injury but he is completely healthy for the 2015 season. Stanton finished last season with 37 HR and 105 RBI batting .288. Stanton is often considered the most feared hitter in the league because of his ability to take any pitch to any part of the park. His unbelievable power to go along with his great eye makes Stanton one of the premier players in our game today. Stanton will look to lead the Marlins to the playoffs, and will only do so by having a similar season to last years.
Paul Goldschmidt - Arizona Diamondbacks
Goldschmidt’s 2014 season ended only 109 games because of a left hand fracture. We only saw glimpses of the type of player Goldschmidt can become. In 2013, Goldschmidt had a stellar campaign batting .302 with 36 HR and 125 RBI. He brings a big power bat to your lineup as well as the ability to hit for a high average. If he is able to stay healthy throughout the 2015 season, he will likely have another great season and prove to fantasy owners that he is one of the top bats in the league.
- Aneesh Ahuja - Fantasy Focus
American League
Felix Hernandez - Seattle Mariners
Hernandez is coming off another stellar MLB fantasy season in 2014. Corey Kluber took home the 2014 AL CY Young trophy but Hernandez was not far behind. Hernandez pitched 236 innings with a 15-6 record. More importantly, Hernandez had a 2.14 ERA and 248 strikeouts. To put it in simple terms, the guy is unhittable. He has recorded more than 200 strikeouts in the past six seasons and that stuff does not seem to be going away. Hernandez has been able to stay healthy throughout his career, so that is not an issue. Look for Hernandez to continue to put up unbelievable numbers and maybe win the CY Young award.
David Price - Detroit Tigers
Price was traded to the Tigers mid season and was somewhat of a disappointment for the Tigers. Don’t expect that trend to continue with David Price in 2015. Price talked about how he was drained out at the end of last season and did not have his best stuff. After a healthy offseason for Price, look for him to get back to his CY Young numbers from a couple years ago. Price is entering a contract year and is looking to make Max Scherzer type of money. The only way for him to do so is have a CY Young type of year.
National League
Clayton Kershaw - Los Angeles Dodgers
Clayton Kershaw is undoubtedly the best pitcher in the game today. He has won three of the last four NL CY Young Awards and also won the 2014 MVP. His production has been unbelievable and does not look like he is slowing down anytime soon. He has a 1.77 ERA last season which is unheard of in the modern era, but it looks like he’s going to continue to get better. After his first bullpen session, AJ Ellis , the Dodgers catcher, said that was the best he has seen Kershaw thrown. Kershaw, on the other hand, described the session as terrible. That shows that Kershaw will never be content with the way he is pitching. Major League Baseball needs to watch out because Kershaw is not just going for the CY Young three peat but back-to-back MVP awards.
Max Scherzer - Washington Nationals
Max Scherzer signed a 7 year $210 million contract with the Washington Nationals this offseason. He joins arguably the top rotation in the MLB this season and will not look to disappoint. Last season, Scherzer was 18-5 with a 3.15 ERA and 252 strikeouts. He will look to grow on those numbers this season and become a better all around pitcher. Scherzer has always had the strikeout number but will now look to be smarter on the mound with his pitches. Now pitching in the NL, Scherzer has an advantage and will be better than his days in Detroit. Scherzer will try and join a short list of pitchers to win CY Young in both leagues.
