It’s time, once again, for your season debut of Category Power Rankings!
For those who are unfamiliar, I started this weekly piece at the beginning of the 2019 season in order to help simplify individual fantasy values for managers during the grind that is the fantasy baseball season.
At the beginning of each fantasy week, I will be ranking players using the standard 5×5 categories (AVG, R, HR, RBI, SB and W, SV, K, ERA, WHIP) as well as on-base percentage (OBP) and quality starts (QS). For each category, I will provide a top 25 overall and a top 10 for players who are widely unowned, roughly 65% owned or less, or should be targeted in deeper leagues. The rankings will be based on current and rest-of-season outlook and will take into account a player’s recent success as well as track record as it pertains to a specific category. With 2020 turning into a severely abbreviated season, this will adjust this seasons’ rankings accordingly. Other factors will include:
- Recent changes to a team construction (i.e. lineup changes, trade/signing, etc.)
- Recent changes to player batting/pitching profile
- Injury concern
- “Change of scenery”
- Strength/weakness of schedule
That being said, let’s get into the lists!
Batting Average (AVG)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | DJ LeMahieu | NYY | 1B/2B/3B | – |
| 2 | Jeff McNeil | NYM | 2B/3B/OF | – |
| 3 | Michael Brantley | HOU | OF | – |
| 4 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | – |
| 5 | Anthony Rendon | LAA | 3B | – |
| 6 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | – |
| 7 | Charlie Blackmon | COL | OF | – |
| 8 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | – |
| 9 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | – |
| 10 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | – |
| 11 | Rafael Devers | BOS | 3B | – |
| 12 | Xander Bogaerts | BOS | SS | – |
| 13 | Jose Altuve | HOU | 2B | – |
| 14 | Ketel Marte | ARZ | 2B/SS/OF | – |
| 15 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | – |
| 16 | Bryan Reynolds | PIT | OF | – |
| 17 | Justin Turner | LAD | 3B | – |
| 18 | Trea Turner | WSH | SS | – |
| 19 | Jorge Polanco | MIN | SS | – |
| 20 | Mookie Betts | LAD | OF | – |
| 21 | Tim Anderson | CHW | SS | – |
| 22 | Whit Merrifield | KC | 2B/OF | – |
| 23 | Juan Soto | WSH | OF | – |
| 24 | Nelson Cruz | MIN | UT | – |
| 25 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B/SS | – |
Off the list: N/A
With the season shortened to only 60 games, I was really tempted to put Cody Bellinger inside the top ten here. I went the conservative approach; at least for the first week. Through his first 60 games of 2019, the 25-year old was raking to a .370 clip. He clearly made the adjustments necessary to make him one of the most feared all-around hitters in baseball, and when he is hot, he can carry your team on his back. Here’s to hoping this is the Belli we will be watching for a very long time.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Luis Arraez | MIN | 2B/3B/OF | – |
| 2 | Miguel Andujar | NYY | 3B/UT | – |
| 3 | Daniel Murphy | COL | 1B | – |
| 4 | Nick Madrigal | CHW | 2B/SS | – |
| 5 | Hanser Alberto | BAL | 2B/3B | – |
| 6 | David Fletcher | LAA | 2B/3B/SS/OF | – |
| 7 | Corey Dickerson | MIA | OF | – |
| 8 | Howie Kendrick | WSH | 1B/2B/3B | – |
| 9 | Kolten Wong | STL | 2B | – |
| 10 | Shogo Akiyama | CIN | OF | – |
Off the list: N/A
Making the transition from Japan to the States isn’t always an easy one. Even in a super crowded Cincinnati outfield, Shogo Akiyama is going to get every opportunity to succeed in the Reds’ lineup. During his nine seasons overseas, Akiyama posted a .304 average including three campaigns of hitting over .320. While that doesn’t always translate to success in the Major Leagues, hitting in a stacked lineup and a superior hitters park will certainly help.
Runs (R)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Mookie Betts | LAD | OF | – |
| 2 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL | OF | – |
| 3 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | – |
| 4 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | – |
| 5 | Rafael Devers | BOS | 3B | – |
| 6 | Charlie Blackmon | COL | OF | – |
| 7 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | – |
| 8 | Anthony Rendon | LAA | 3B | – |
| 9 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B/SS | – |
| 10 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | – |
| 11 | DJ LeMahieu | NYY | 1B/2B/3B | – |
| 12 | Kris Bryant | CHC | 3B/OF | – |
| 13 | Trevor Story | COL | SS | – |
| 14 | Marcus Semien | OAK | SS | – |
| 15 | George Springer | HOU | OF | – |
| 16 | Francisco Lindor | CLE | SS | – |
| 17 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | – |
| 18 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | – |
| 19 | Jose Altuve | HOU | 2B | – |
| 20 | Xander Bogaerts | BOS | SS | – |
| 21 | Carlos Santana | CLE | 1B | – |
| 22 | Whit Merrifield | KC | 2B/OF | – |
| 23 | Ketel Marte | ARZ | 2B/SS/OF | – |
| 24 | Juan Soto | WSH | OF | – |
| 25 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | – |
Off the list: N/A
It may have taken a number of years, but Marcus Semien turned into a well-rounded fantasy stud in 2019. His walk rate spiked to over 11% which attributed to his career-high 123 runs scored a year ago. If the Athletics can get a bounce back from the likes of Khris Davis, Semien could easily replicate that pace again this year.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Shin-Soo Choo | TEX | OF | – |
| 2 | Cesar Hernandez | CLE | 2B | – |
| 3 | Mark Canha | OAK | 1B/OF | – |
| 4 | Brett Gardner | NYY | OF | – |
| 5 | Joc Pederson | LAD | 1B/OF | – |
| 6 | Joey Votto | CIN | 1B | – |
| 7 | Shogo Akiyama | CIN | OF | – |
| 8 | Kole Calhoun | ARZ | OF | – |
| 9 | Yoshi Tsutsugo | TB | 3B/OF | – |
| 10 | Miguel Andujar | NYY | 3B/UT | – |
Off the list: N/A
Set to lead off in front of the likes of Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, and Carlos Santana, Cesar Hernandez could be in line for a very nice season. Hernandez has always done a nice job of getting on base and has had success when made a focal point of his lineup. I could see Hernandez eclipsing 50 runs across this shortened season.
Home Runs (HR)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | – |
| 2 | Pete Alonso | NYM | 1B | – |
| 3 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | – |
| 4 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | – |
| 5 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | – |
| 6 | Jorge Soler | KC | OF | – |
| 7 | Nelson Cruz | MIN | UT | – |
| 8 | Joey Gallo | TEX | OF | – |
| 9 | Aaron Judge | NYY | OF | – |
| 10 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | – |
| 11 | Matt Olson | OAK | 1B | – |
| 12 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL | OF | – |
| 13 | Giancarlo Stanton | NYY | OF | – |
| 14 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | – |
| 15 | Matt Chapman | OAK | 3B | – |
| 16 | Eugenio Suarez | CIN | 3B | – |
| 17 | Mike Moustakas | CIN | 2B/3B | – |
| 18 | Trevor Story | COL | SS | – |
| 19 | George Springer | HOU | OF | – |
| 20 | Gary Sanchez | NYY | C | – |
| 21 | Yordan Alvarez | HOU | OF | – |
| 22 | Josh Donaldson | MIN | 3B | – |
| 23 | Franmil Reyes | CLE | OF | – |
| 24 | Juan Soto | WSH | OF | – |
| 25 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | – |
Off the list: N/A
I am not sure if there is a single player that benefits more from a shortened season than Giancarlo Stanton. The man is coming off of an injury-riddled 2019 and despite all of his shortcomings, he still barreled up the ball pretty well in his small sample of 72 PA’s. Heading into 2020 (presumably) healthy, Stanton should be able to handle the small workload of 50+games, and if that is the case, expect him to be a force once again in the middle of that Yankees lineup.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Hunter Renfroe | TB | OF | – |
| 2 | Joc Pederson | LAD | 1B/OF | – |
| 3 | Willie Calhoun | TEX | OF | – |
| 4 | Mark Canha | OAK | 1B/OF | – |
| 5 | Renato Nunez | BAL | 1B/3B | – |
| 6 | Michael Chavis | BOS | 1B/2B | – |
| 7 | C.J. Cron | DET | 1B | – |
| 8 | Randal Grichuk | TOR | OF | – |
| 9 | Sam Hilliard | COL | OF | – |
| 10 | Austin Riley | ATL | OF | – |
Off the list: N/A
The Colorado Rockies having a designated hitter is an exciting thought for fantasy owners. They have a plethora of hitters and having that extra spot will allow guys like Sam Hilliard more at-bats, which can only be a good thing. Hilliard is coming off a monster 35 home run season in Triple-A and has shown consistent power all throughout his time on the farm. If he can earn everyday playing time, he could be a league winner.
Runs Batted In (RBI)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | – |
| 2 | Anthony Rendon | LAA | 3B | – |
| 3 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | – |
| 4 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | – |
| 5 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | – |
| 6 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | – |
| 7 | Pete Alonso | NYM | 1B | – |
| 8 | Nelson Cruz | MIN | UT | – |
| 9 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | – |
| 10 | Xander Bogaerts | BOS | SS | – |
| 11 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | – |
| 12 | Jose Abreu | CHW | 1B | – |
| 13 | Juan Soto | WSH | OF | – |
| 14 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B/SS | – |
| 15 | Josh Bell | PIT | 1B | – |
| 16 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL | OF | – |
| 17 | Eugenio Suarez | CIN | 3B | – |
| 18 | Trevor Story | COL | SS | – |
| 19 | Yordan Alvarez | HOU | OF | – |
| 20 | Jorge Soler | KC | OF | – |
| 21 | Rafael Devers | BOS | 3B | – |
| 22 | Jorge Soler | KC | OF | – |
| 23 | Gleyber Torres | NYY | SS | – |
| 24 | Paul Goldschmidt | STL | 1B | – |
| 25 | Joey Gallo | TEX | OF | – |
Off the list: N/A
Yordan Alvarez’s status for Opening Day is still in question, therefore he finds himself conservatively placed on a couple of these lists. If I knew he would be ready to go by game number one, he would ultimately be a top ten option in both HRs and RBI.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Eric Hosmer | SD | 1B | – |
| 2 | David Peralta | ARZ | OF | – |
| 3 | Renato Nunez | BAL | 1B/3B | – |
| 4 | Nomar Mazara | CHW | OF | – |
| 5 | C.J. Cron | DET | 1B | – |
| 6 | Hunter Renfroe | TB | OF | – |
| 7 | Miguel Andujar | NYY | 3B/UT | – |
| 8 | Kyle Seager | SEA | 3B | – |
| 9 | Yoenis Cespedes | NYM | OF | – |
| 10 | Yoshi Tsutsugo | TB | 3B/OF | – |
Off the list: N/A
Can you believe it? Yoenis Cespedes is on track to be healthy and ready to go come Opening Day! After what feels like a decade since we last saw him on a Major League diamond, Cespedes has finally healed up and should see regular run in the Mets’ lineup this year. With the added DH, Cespedes also has a shot at remaining healthy for the shortened season and as long as he can still swing the stick, he should produce for what will be a very solid New York lineup.
Stolen Bases (SB)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Adalberto Mondesi | KC | 2B/SS | – |
| 2 | Trea Turner | WSH | SS | – |
| 3 | Mallex Smith | SEA | OF | – |
| 4 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL | OF | – |
| 5 | Jonathan Villar | MIA | 2B/SS | – |
| 6 | Victor Robles | WSH | OF | – |
| 7 | Starling Marte | ARZ | OF | – |
| 8 | Whit Merrifield | KC | 2B/OF | – |
| 9 | Dee Gordon | SEA | 2B | – |
| 10 | Fernando Tatis Jr. | SD | SS | – |
| 11 | Jose Ramirez | CLE | 3B | – |
| 12 | Garrett Hampson | COL | 2B/SS/OF | – |
| 13 | Billy Hamilton | SF | OF | – |
| 14 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | – |
| 15 | Elvis Andrus | TEX | SS | – |
| 16 | Luis Robert | CHW | OF | – |
| 17 | Tim Anderson | CHW | SS | – |
| 18 | Mookie Betts | LAD | OF | – |
| 19 | Jon Berti | MIA | 3B/SS/OF | – |
| 20 | Francisco Lindor | CLE | SS | – |
| 21 | Tommy Edman | STL | 2B/3B/OF | – |
| 22 | Byron Buxton | MIN | OF | – |
| 23 | Lorenzo Cain | MIL | OF | – |
| 24 | Jarrod Dyson | PIT | OF | – |
| 25 | Trevor Story | COL | SS | – |
Off the list: N/A
It is unfortunate that we will have to wait yet another year to see what the exciting Fernando Tatis Jr. can do across a full campaign. He is a special talent that will likely be atop draft boards for many years to come because of his power and speed combo. Expect the Padres to let Tatis run wild in this shortened season as they look to sneak into a Wild Card spot.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Dee Gordon | SEA | 2B | – |
| 2 | Billy Hamilton | SF | OF | – |
| 3 | Jon Berti | MIA | 3B/SS/OF | – |
| 4 | Jarrod Dyson | PIT | OF | – |
| 5 | Nick Madrigal | CHW | 2B/SS | – |
| 6 | Manuel Margot | TB | OF | – |
| 7 | Kevin Kiermaier | TB | OF | – |
| 8 | Nick Senzel | CIN | OF | – |
| 9 | Trent Grisham | SD | OF | – |
| 10 | Wil Myers | SD | 1B/OF | – |
Off the list: N/A
The guy to watch here is going to be Nick Madrigal. As soon as the word comes out that he will be the starting second baseman for the ChiSox, he will be scooped up faster than you can say “he gone!” Coming off of a 35 steal season across three levels of the minor leagues, Madrigal will complement the young, exciting lineup of the South Siders nicely if he does in fact earn the starting gig.
On-Base Percentage (OBP)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | – |
| 2 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | – |
| 3 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B/SS | – |
| 4 | Anthony Rendon | LAA | 3B | – |
| 5 | Carlos Santana | CLE | 1B | – |
| 6 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | – |
| 7 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | – |
| 8 | Juan Soto | WSH | OF | – |
| 9 | Anthony Rizzo | CHC | 1B | – |
| 10 | Mookie Betts | LAD | OF | – |
| 11 | Kris Bryant | CHC | 3B/OF | – |
| 12 | George Springer | HOU | OF | – |
| 13 | DJ LeMahieu | NYY | 1B/2B/3B | – |
| 14 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | – |
| 15 | Jeff McNeil | NYM | 2B/3B/OF | – |
| 16 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | – |
| 17 | Nelson Cruz | MIN | UT | – |
| 18 | Xander Bogaerts | BOS | SS | – |
| 19 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | – |
| 20 | Josh Donaldson | ATL | 3B | – |
| 21 | Yordan Alvarez | HOU | OF | – |
| 22 | Tommy Pham | SD | OF | – |
| 23 | Ketel Marte | ARZ | 2B/SS/OF | – |
| 24 | Aaron Judge | NYY | OF | – |
| 25 | Yasmani Grandal | CHW | C/1B | – |
Off the list: N/A
Mike Trout is the undisputed king of OBP, and, quite frankly, fantasy in general. But the man has a .447 OBP over the last three years and a career OBP of .419. Literally mind-boggling.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Shin-Soo Choo | TEX | OF | – |
| 2 | Mark Canha | OAK | 1B/OF | – |
| 3 | Joey Votto | CIN | 1B | – |
| 4 | Luis Arraez | MIN | 2B/3B/OF | – |
| 5 | Howie Kendrick | WSH | 1B/2B/3B | – |
| 6 | Ji-Man Choi | TB | 1B | – |
| 7 | Kolten Wong | STL | 2B | – |
| 8 | Carson Kelly | ARZ | C | – |
| 9 | David Fletcher | LAA | 2B/3B/SS/OF | – |
| 10 | Jason Heyward | CHC | OF | – |
Off the list: N/A
It is legitimately saddening to see Joey Votto on the under-owned list for OBP and not in the top tier on the overall list. But that is where he stands heading into 2020. I have all the faith in the world in Votto’s ability at the dish and would love nothing more than to see a rebound for the soon-to-be 37-year old.
Wins (W)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | SP | – |
| 2 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | – |
| 3 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | SP | – |
| 4 | Zack Greinke | HOU | SP | – |
| 5 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | – |
| 6 | Shane Bieber | CLE | SP | – |
| 7 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | – |
| 8 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | – |
| 9 | Walker Buehler | LAD | SP | – |
| 10 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | – |
| 11 | Jose Berrios | MIN | SP | – |
| 12 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | – |
| 13 | Luis Castillo | CIN | SP | – |
| 14 | Lucas Giolito | CHW | SP | – |
| 15 | Jack Flaherty | STL | SP | – |
| 16 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | SP | – |
| 17 | Blake Snell | TB | SP | – |
| 18 | Mike Soroka | ATL | SP | – |
| 19 | Corey Kluber | TEX | SP | – |
| 20 | Eduardo Rodriguez | BOS | SP | – |
| 21 | Lance Lynn | TEX | SP | – |
| 22 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | – |
| 23 | Trevor Bauer | CIN | SP | – |
| 24 | Ryan Yarbrough | TB | SP/RP | – |
| 25 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | SP | – |
Off the list: N/A
Despite the pure domination that is Jacob deGrom, you would typically be hard-pressed to find him near the top of the wins leaders. Well that all changes this year, goshdarnit! The Mets have built a winning ball club and are poised to make a playoff push this year. They will need their ace more than ever, and with a very underrated lineup supporting him, here’s to hoping deGrom can find himself on the winning side of all those 1-0 and 2-1 ballgames.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Rick Porcello | NYM | SP | – |
| 2 | J.A. Happ | NYY | SP | – |
| 3 | Jon Gray | COL | SP | – |
| 4 | Rich Hill | MIN | SP | – |
| 5 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | SP | – |
| 6 | Steven Matz | NYM | SP | – |
| 7 | Alex Wood | LAD | SP | – |
| 8 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | SP | – |
| 9 | Yonny Chirinos | TB | SP/RP | – |
| 10 | Dakota Hudson | STL | SP | – |
Off the list: N/A
After David Price chose to sit out the 2020 season, it all but shored up a spot for Alex Wood in the crowded Dodgers starting rotation. Wood is coming off of an injury-shortened season where he only made seven starts. Prior to 2019, the southpaw put together a 3.31 ERA across five seasons and averaged ten wins per year. Now back in L.A., and being supported by arguably the best lineup in baseball, Wood should find himself in the win column more often than not.
Earned Run Average (ERA)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | – |
| 2 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | – |
| 3 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | SP | – |
| 4 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | SP | – |
| 5 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | – |
| 6 | Walker Buehler | LAD | SP | – |
| 7 | Jack Flaherty | STL | SP | – |
| 8 | Zack Greinke | HOU | SP | – |
| 9 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | SP | – |
| 10 | Luis Castillo | CIN | SP | – |
| 11 | Shane Bieber | CLE | SP | – |
| 12 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | – |
| 13 | Mike Soroka | ATL | SP | – |
| 14 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | – |
| 15 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | – |
| 16 | Lucas Giolito | CHW | SP | – |
| 17 | Tyler Glasnow | TB | SP | – |
| 18 | Chris Paddack | SD | SP | – |
| 19 | Charlie Morton | TB | SP | – |
| 20 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | SP | – |
| 21 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | TOR | SP | – |
| 22 | Jose Berrios | MIN | SP | – |
| 23 | Sonny Gray | CIN | SP | – |
| 24 | Corey Kluber | TEX | SP | – |
| 25 | Frankie Montas | OAK | SP | – |
Off the list: N/A
Many people have just written off Corey Kluber as completely washed up but I beg to differ. The veteran right-hander only made seven, albeit bad starts last year before taking a liner off of his throwing arm which sidelined him for a couple of months and then was officially shut down after an abdominal strain. The guy has religiously been a slow starter and, I’m sorry, seven starts is just not a big enough sample size for me to count out a multiple time Cy Young award winner. Kluber will be fine.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Aaron Civale | CLE | SP | – |
| 2 | Rich Hill | MIN | SP | – |
| 3 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | SP | – |
| 4 | Yonny Chirinos | TB | SP/RP | – |
| 5 | Adrian Houser | MIL | SP/RP | – |
| 6 | Matt Shoemaker | TOR | SP | – |
| 7 | Miles Mikolas | STL | SP | – |
| 8 | Anibal Sanchez | WSH | SP | – |
| 9 | Nate Pearson | TOR | SP | – |
| 10 | Spencer Howard | PHI | SP | – |
Off the list: N/A
The two names that stand out here are at the bottom. Both Nate Pearson and Spencer Howard have strong cases to make their respective squad’s Opening Day starting rotation, but neither of them is a certainty at this point. Regardless, they both need to be on your radar because even if they do not break camp with the big clubs, it is safe to assume they will be in the starting five relatively soon.
Strikeouts (K)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | SP | – |
| 2 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | – |
| 3 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | – |
| 4 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | – |
| 5 | Jack Flaherty | STL | SP | – |
| 6 | Shane Bieber | CLE | SP | – |
| 7 | Trevor Bauer | CIN | SP | – |
| 8 | Charlie Morton | TB | SP | – |
| 9 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | – |
| 10 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | – |
| 11 | Matt Boyd | DET | SP | – |
| 12 | Yu Darvish | CHC | SP | – |
| 13 | Walker Buehler | LAD | SP | – |
| 14 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | SP | – |
| 15 | Luis Castillo | CIN | SP | – |
| 16 | Dinelson Lamet | SD | SP | – |
| 17 | Lucas Giolito | CHW | SP | – |
| 18 | Lance Lynn | TEX | SP | – |
| 19 | Corey Kluber | TEX | SP | – |
| 20 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | SP | – |
| 21 | Blake Snell | TB | SP | – |
| 22 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | – |
| 23 | Sonny Gray | CIN | SP | – |
| 24 | Robbie Ray | ARZ | SP | – |
| 25 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | – |
Off the list: N/A
Dinelson Lamet has been one of the fantasy industries’ biggest darlings or busts, depending on who you follow. One thing, though, is for certain: Lamet racks up the K’s. After averaging nearly 13 K/9 returning from Tommy John surgery in 2019, the Padres’ right-hander is poised to keep the punch outs coming.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Jon Gray | COL | SP | – |
| 2 | Rich Hill | MIN | SP | – |
| 3 | Freddy Peralta | MIL | SP/RP | – |
| 4 | Anthony Desclafani | CIN | SP | – |
| 5 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | SP | – |
| 6 | Steven Matz | NYM | SP | – |
| 7 | Mitch Keller | PIT | SP | – |
| 8 | Reynaldo Lopez | CHW | SP | – |
| 9 | Spencer Turnbull | DET | SP | – |
| 10 | J.A. Happ | NYY | SP | – |
Off the list: N/A
Rich Hill has found himself on several of these under-owned lists because, well, he is severely under-owned. Currently owned in about half of leagues, Hill is healthy and ready to go as the Twins fifth starter coming off of his second(!) Tommy John. We all know what the 40-year old is capable of in the strikeout department when healthy, therefore he is very much worth the flier.
Saves (SV)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Kirby Yates | SD | RP | – |
| 2 | Josh Hader | MIL | RP | – |
| 3 | Roberto Osuna | HOU | RP | – |
| 4 | Kenley Jansen | LAD | RP | – |
| 5 | Edwin Diaz | NYM | RP | – |
| 6 | Brad Hand | CLE | RP | – |
| 7 | Craig Kimbrel | CHC | RP | – |
| 8 | Liam Hendriks | OAK | RP | – |
| 9 | Raisel Iglesias | CIN | RP | – |
| 10 | Taylor Rogers | MIN | RP | – |
| 11 | Ken Giles | TOR | RP | – |
| 12 | Hector Neris | PHI | RP | – |
| 13 | Aroldis Chapman | NYY | RP | – |
| 14 | Archie Bradley | ARZ | RP | – |
| 15 | Alex Colome | CHW | RP | – |
| 16 | Brandon Workman | BOS | RP | – |
| 17 | Mark Melancon | ATL | RP | – |
| 18 | Sean Doolittle | WSH | RP | – |
| 19 | Nick Anderson | TB | RP | – |
| 20 | Ian Kennedy | KC | RP | – |
| 21 | Hansel Robles | LAA | RP | – |
| 22 | Jose Leclerc | TEX | SP/RP | – |
| 23 | Giovanny Gallegos | STL | RP | – |
| 24 | Joe Jimenez | DET | RP | – |
| 25 | Zack Britton | NYY | RP | – |
Off the list: N/A
With Aroldis Chapman testing positive for COVID-19 and showing mild symptoms, his status for the start of the season is certainly up in the air. It would appear that Zack Britton would be the favorite to get the save chances in the Bronx while Chapman recovers. Britton has had loads of success in the closer’s role in the past so he is definitely worth a look for the early going.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-Team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Zack Britton | NYY | RP | – |
| 2 | Daniel Hudson | WSH | RP | – |
| 3 | Brandon Kintzler | MIA | RP | – |
| 4 | Wade Davis | COL | RP | – |
| 5 | Kyle Crick | PIT | RP | – |
| 6 | Tony Watson | SF | RP | – |
| 7 | Hunter Harvey | BAL | RP | – |
| 8 | Mychal Givens | BAL | RP | – |
| 9 | Matt Magill | SEA | RP | – |
| 10 | Austin Adams | SEA | RP | – |
Off the list: N/A
Talk about dumpster diving. With the exception of Britton, none of these names are very desirable if you are in need of saves. Wade Davis appears to be the only one on this list who has been confirmed to be his team’s closer to start the year. So, do with that what you will.
WHIP (Walks+Hits/Innings Pitched)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | – |
| 2 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | SP | – |
| 3 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | SP | – |
| 4 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | – |
| 5 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | – |
| 6 | Shane Bieber | CLE | SP | – |
| 7 | Zack Greinke | HOU | SP | – |
| 8 | Walker Buehler | LAD | SP | – |
| 9 | Jack Flaherty | STL | SP | – |
| 10 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | – |
| 11 | Luis Castillo | CIN | SP | – |
| 12 | Charlie Morton | TB | SP | – |
| 13 | Tyler Glasnow | TB | SP | – |
| 14 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | SP | – |
| 15 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | – |
| 16 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | SP | – |
| 17 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | – |
| 18 | Yu Darvish | CHC | SP | – |
| 19 | Lucas Giolito | CHW | SP | – |
| 20 | Corey Kluber | TEX | SP | – |
| 21 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | SP | – |
| 22 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | – |
| 23 | Matt Boyd | DET | SP | – |
| 24 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | TOR | SP | – |
| 25 | Sonny Gray | CIN | SP | – |
Off the list: N/A
It’s a shame we did not get the chance to see Tyler Glasnow finish the entire season last year. In his twelve starts, he was looking like a Cy Young front runner and every bit of the top prospect we had hoped he would be. His command and control had improved leaps and bounds. Glasnow is looking like a good bet to finish towards the top of the league in ERA and WHIP during this shortened season.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Rich Hill | MIN | SP | – |
| 2 | Yonny Chirinos | TB | SP/RP | – |
| 3 | Aaron Civale | CLE | SP | – |
| 4 | Chris Bassitt | OAK | SP | – |
| 5 | Miles Mikolas | STL | SP | – |
| 6 | Griffin Canning | LAA | SP | – |
| 7 | Anthon Desclafani | CIN | SP | – |
| 8 | Alex Wood | LAD | SP | – |
| 9 | Nate Pearson | TOR | SP | – |
| 10 | Spencer Howard | PHI | SP | – |
Off the list: N/A
Recovering from elbow issues stemming from spring training, Griffin Canning appears to be on track for a spot in the Opening Day rotation out in Anaheim. The 24-year old has outstanding stuff and showcased that on several occasions last year. As long as his elbow cooperates, Canning could be a nice find for those wise enough to add him.
Quality Starts (QS)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | – |
| 2 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | SP | – |
| 3 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | – |
| 4 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | SP | – |
| 5 | Zack Greinke | ARZ | SP | – |
| 6 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | – |
| 7 | Jack Flaherty | STL | SP | – |
| 8 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | – |
| 9 | Shane Bieber | CLE | SP | – |
| 10 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | – |
| 11 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | SP | – |
| 12 | Aaron Nola | MIN | SP | – |
| 13 | Walker Buehler | LAD | SP | – |
| 14 | Luis Castillo | CIN | SP | – |
| 15 | Jose Berrios | MIN | SP | – |
| 16 | Lucas Giolito | CHW | SP | – |
| 17 | Madison Bumgarner | ARZ | SP | – |
| 18 | Corey Kluber | TEX | SP | – |
| 19 | Yu Darvish | CHC | SP | – |
| 20 | Sonny Gray | CIN | SP | – |
| 21 | Chris Paddack | SD | SP | – |
| 22 | Mike Soroka | ATL | SP | – |
| 23 | Lance Lynn | TEX | SP | – |
| 24 | Trevor Bauer | CIN | SP | – |
| 25 | Zac Gallen | ARZ | SP | – |
Off the list: N/A
Did you know Lance Lynn had more quality starts last year than guys like Max Scherzer, Walker Buehler, Aaron Nola, and Charlie Morton? The guy was really good in 2019.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Steven Matz | NYM | SP | – |
| 2 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | SP | – |
| 3 | Nathan Eovaldi | BOS | SP/RP | – |
| 4 | Anthony Desclafani | CIN | SP | – |
| 5 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | SP | – |
| 6 | Aaron Civale | CLE | SP | – |
| 7 | Miles Mikolas | STL | SP | – |
| 8 | Jon Gray | COL | SP | – |
| 9 | Rick Porcello | NYM | SP | – |
| 10 | Alex Wood | LAD | SP | – |
Off the list: N/A
Steven Matz posted a quality start in half of his starts from 2019, which is pretty remarkable considering he averaged only a little over five innings per start. Matz is the type of pitcher where when he is good, he is good. But when he is bad, he is bad.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@freshmeatcomm on Twitter)