Week 1 of the fantasy baseball season is just about in the books, and wow, there is a lot to take in. The first week was riddled with significant injuries, underachieving and overachieving, but also a lot of exciting developments. Whether it be young talent flashing potential or players performing well seemingly out of nowhere, the first week of the fantasy campaign was one to behold.
That being said, it is also still just Week 1. The majority of the numbers we have to go by from the past 10 days are not exactly the stats we can hang our hats on moving forward. Therefore, this is a disclaimer: With the exception of movements due to injuries or ownership increases, there will not be a ton of drastic changes to this week’s edition of the CPR.
One of the biggest mistakes fantasy baseball players make is overreacting to early results. As I said last week, it is a long year, and the majority of these slow starts will be turned around before you know it. Patience is a virtue, my friends.
Batting Average (AVG)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Jose Altuve | HOU | 2B | N/A |
| 2 | Mookie Betts | BOS | OF | N/A |
| 3 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | +1 |
| 4 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | +1 |
| 5 | Joey Votto | CIN | 1B | -2 |
| 6 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | +1 |
| 7 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | +1 |
| 8 | Christian Yelich | COL | OF | +1 |
| 9 | Jean Segura | PHI | SS | +2 |
| 10 | Justin Turner | LAD | 3B | N/A |
| 11 | Michael Brantley | HOU | OF | +1 |
| 12 | Charlie Blackmon | COL | OF | +1 |
| 13 | Paul Goldschmidt | STL | 1B | +4 |
| 14 | Lorenzo Cain | MIL | OF | +1 |
| 15 | Robinson Cano | NYM | 2B | -1 |
| 16 | Kris Bryant | CHC | 3B/OF | +2 |
| 17 | Buster Posey | SF | C/1B | -1 |
| 18 | Xander Bogaerts | BOS | SS | +1 |
| 19 | Anthony Rendon | WSH | 3B | +2 |
| 20 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B/SS | N/A |
| 21 | Jose Abreu | CHW | 1B | +1 |
| 22 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | Unranked |
| 23 | Whit Merrifield | KC | 1B/2B/OF | +1 |
| 24 | David Dahl | COL | OF | Unranked |
| 25 | Jose Ramirez | CLE | 2B/3B | -2 |
Off the List: Daniel Murphy (injury), Trea Turner (injury)
The majority of the changes on this list are due to the removal of both Daniel Murphy and Trea Turner because of their hand-related injuries and expected extended absence. Bryce Harper makes this ranking one week after being unranked, as I was on the fence about including him in the top 25. Harper has shown inconsistencies in the average department in the past, but he is showing every reason why the Phillies locked him up for the remaining years of his career.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Jeff McNeil | NYM | 2B | N/A |
| 2 | DJ Lemahieu | NYY | 2B | N/A |
| 3 | Yandy Diaz | TB | 1B/3B/DH | +6 |
| 4 | Kolten Wong | STL | 2B | Unranked |
| 5 | Andrelton Simmons | LAA | SS | N/A |
| 6 | Willians Astudillo | MIN | c/3B | -3 |
| 7 | Gerardo Parra | SF | OF | N/A |
| 8 | Jeimer Candelario | DET | 3B | Unranked |
| 9 | Starlin Castro | MIA | 2B | Unranked |
| 10 | Jesse Winker | CIN | OF | Unranked |
Off the List: Matt Duffy (injury), Joey Wendle (injury), Nick Markakis, Ramon Laureano
It took a slow start and a couple of benchings for Jesse Winker to make this list, ironically. The fact is, now that he has been dropped in many leagues, it would be wise to keep an eye on him. I am a firm believer in “the cream always rises to the top,” and I feel like it will only be a matter of time before he overtakes Matt Kemp in the Reds lineup. Also, Kolten Wong can’t be ignored. While this stretch may not be sustainable, it cannot go unnoticed.
Runs (R)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Charlie Blackmon | COL | OF | N/A |
| 2 | Mookie Betts | BOS | OF | N/A |
| 3 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | N/A |
| 4 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | N/A |
| 5 | George Springer | HOU | OF | N/A |
| 6 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | +1 |
| 7 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | +1 |
| 8 | Jose Altuve | HOU | 2B | +1 |
| 9 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | +5 |
| 10 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL | OF | +5 |
| 11 | Andrew McCutchen | PHI | OF | +5 |
| 12 | Aaron Judge | NYY | OF | N/A |
| 13 | Jean Segura | PHI | SS | +6 |
| 14 | Tommy Pham | TB | OF | +7 |
| 15 | Matt Carpenter | STL | 1B/2B/3B | +2 |
| 16 | Andrew Benintendi | BOS | OF | -5 |
| 17 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B/SS | +1 |
| 18 | Lorenzo Cain | MIL | OF | Unranked |
| 19 | Juan Soto | WSH | OF | +3 |
| 20 | Adam Eaton | WSH | OF | Unranked |
| 21 | Kris Bryant | CHC | 3B/OF | +1 |
| 22 | Paul Goldschmidt | STL | 1B | +1 |
| 23 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | +1 |
| 24 | Joey Votto | OAK | 3B | Unranked |
| 25 | Matt Chapman | OAK | 3B | Unranked |
Off the List: Francisco Lindor (injury), Trea Turner (injury), Giancarlo Stanton (injury)
Adam Eaton was barely an exclusion last week, but with a couple of guys dropping off the list, he is now firmly entrenched in the top 20 while hitting atop the Nationals lineup. The top five stays put, but Christian Yelich could find himself creeping up to the top of this list soon if he keeps up this pace.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Brett Gardner | NYY | OF | N/A |
| 2 | Joc Pederson | LAD | OF | +5 |
| 3 | Kolten Wong | STL | 2B | Unranked |
| 4 | Ian Kinsler | SD | 2B | -1 |
| 5 | Shin-Soo Choo | TEX | OF | -3 |
| 6 | Kole Calhoun | LAA | OF | -2 |
| 7 | Trey Mancini | BAL | 1B/OF | +3 |
| 8 | Jorge Polanco | MIN | SS | Unranked |
| 9 | Ben Zobrist | CHC | 2B/OF | Unranked |
| 10 | Jeimer Candelario | DET | 3B | -2 |
Off the List: Brian Anderson, Jake Bauers, Curtis Granderson
Brett Gardner still leads the charge here with the surplus of injuries to the Yankees lineup, which only reassure his playing time. Jorge Polanco is a guy who should be owned in many more leagues, and those who need a replacement for Trea Turner should give him a long look, as he his consistently hitting in the 2-hole of the Minnesota lineup.
Home Runs (HR)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Khris Davis | OAK | OF | N/A |
| 2 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | N/A |
| 3 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | +2 |
| 4 | Aaron Judge | NYY | OF | N/A |
| 5 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | +1 |
| 6 | Joey Gallo | TEX | 1B/OF | +1 |
| 7 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | +1 |
| 8 | Paul Goldschmidt | STL | 1B | +2 |
| 9 | Nelson Cruz | MIN | UT | N/A |
| 10 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | +4 |
| 11 | Edwin Encarnacion | SEA | 1B | N/A |
| 12 | Rhys Hoskins | PHI | 1B/OF | N/A |
| 13 | Manny Machado | SD | 3B/SS | N/A |
| 14 | Javier Baez | CHC | 2B/3B/SS | +2 |
| 15 | Trevor Story | COL | SS | N/A |
| 16 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | Unranked |
| 17 | Mookie Betts | BOS | OF | N/A |
| 18 | Jose Ramirez | CLE | 2B/3B | N/A |
| 19 | Mike Moustakas | MIL | 2B/3B | +4 |
| 20 | Kris Bryant | CHC | 3B/OF | +4 |
| 21 | Matt Chapman | OAK | 3B | Unranked |
| 22 | Charlie Blackmon | COL | OF | -2 |
| 23 | Anthony Rizzo | CHC | 1B | +2 |
| 24 | Jesus Aguilar | MIL | 1B | -2 |
| 25 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | Unranked |
Off the List: Giancarlo Stanton (injury), Francisco Lindor (injury), Justin Upton (injury)
The stagnant ranking of Aaron Judge and his leapfrogging by J.D. Martinez is merely a result of the injuries in the Yankees lineup. With Judge being the biggest bopper in the New York lineup, he will likely be worked around more than a fair share until the Bronx Bombers get back to full health. Matt Chapman debuts on the home run rankings, as he is off to a scorching start, showing that his offseason shoulder surgery is firmly behind him. A 35-homer season could be in the cards for the slick-fielding third baseman.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Randal Grichuk | TOR | OF | +2 |
| 2 | C.J. Cron | MIN | 1B | -1 |
| 3 | Maikel Franco | PHI | 3B | +6 |
| 4 | Trey Mancini | BAL | 1B/OF | +4 |
| 5 | Hunter Renfroe | SD | OF | Unranked |
| 6 | Jay Bruce | SEA | 1B/OF | N/A |
| 7 | Ryan Zimmerman | WSH | 1B | Unranked |
| 8 | Adam Jones | ARZ | OF | Unranked |
| 9 | Rowdy Tellez | TOR | 1B | Unranked |
| 10 | Christian Walker | ARZ | 1B | Unranked |
Off the List: Pete Alonso, Franmil Reyes, Tyler White, Daniel Palka, Domingo Santana
There are a handful of new faces on the power front. Maikel Franco’s hot start is coinciding with the Phillies’ hot start, as he could be a valuable power source hitting behind those big bats in the middle of the Philadelphia lineup. Hunter Renfroe is an exciting one, as his path to playing time may become a little more clear with Franmil Reyes struggling mightily. Rowdy Tellez is a big, lumbering lefty slugger who looks like he could just fall into about 25+ home runs with regular playing time. And with Kendrys Morales now in Oakland, it looks like Tellez will be getting every opportunity to keep the first base job.
Runs Batted In (RBI)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | N/A |
| 2 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | N/A |
| 3 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | +2 |
| 4 | Khris Davis | OAK | OF | +2 |
| 5 | Edwin Encarnacion | SEA | 1B | -1 |
| 6 | Paul Goldschmidt | STL | 1B | +3 |
| 7 | Manny Machado | SD | 3B/SS | N/A |
| 8 | Nelson Cruz | MIN | UT | N/A |
| 9 | Rhys Hoskins | PHI | 1B/OF | +1 |
| 10 | Juan Soto | WSH | OF | +1 |
| 11 | Trevor Story | COL | SS | +1 |
| 12 | Anthony Rizzo | CHC | 1B | +1 |
| 13 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | +2 |
| 14 | Aaron Judge | NYY | OF | N/A |
| 15 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | +2 |
| 16 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B/SS | N/A |
| 17 | Mookie Betts | BOS | OF | +1 |
| 18 | Javier Baez | CHC | 2B/3B/SS | +3 |
| 19 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | +3 |
| 20 | Jesus Aguilar | MIL | 1B | -1 |
| 21 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL | OF | Unranked |
| 22 | Anthony Rendon | WSH | 3B | +3 |
| 23 | Charlie Blackmon | COL | OF | N/A |
| 24 | Jose Abreu | CHW | 1B | Unranked |
| 25 | Jose Ramirez | CLE | 2B/3B | -5 |
Off the List: Giancarlo Stanton (injury), Francisco Lindor (injury)
Ronald Acuna Jr. officially cracks the top 25 after opening the season hitting cleanup in a solid Atlanta offense. He should be getting plenty of RBI opportunities with on-base machines Josh Donaldson and Freddie Freeman hitting in front of him. Jose Ramirez is on the verge of falling off this list, as the Indians offense looks helpless, so there really is no reason for pitchers to pitch to him. And I do not see that changing until Francisco Lindor returns.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Randal Grichuk | TOR | OF | Unranked |
| 2 | Ryan Zimmerman | WSH | 1B | Unranked |
| 3 | C.J. Cron | MIN | 1B | -2 |
| 4 | Josh Bell | PIT | 1B | -1 |
| 5 | Jay Bruce | SEA | 1B/OF | +4 |
| 6 | Maikel Franco | PHI | 3B | Unranked |
| 7 | Hunter Renfroe | SD | OF | Unranked |
| 8 | Mitch Moreland | BOS | 1B | -1 |
| 9 | Ryon Healy | SEA | 1B | Unranked |
| 10 | Albert Pujols | LAA | 1B | -8 |
Off the List: Pete Alonso, Jake Bauers, Nick Markakis, Jake Lamb, Yonder Alonso
The recent signee of a five-year extension, Randal Grichuk got off to a slow start but has picked it up and appears to be a mainstay hitting in the upper third of the Jays’ lineup. Ryan Zimmerman seems to be healthy and hitting in the middle of the still potent Washington offense. Health has always been the issue for Zimmerman, but he had some pretty favorable Statcast data last season, so keep an eye on him, as he is only two years removed from driving in 108 runs.
Stolen Bases (SB)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Whit Merrifield | KC | 1B/2B/OF | +1 |
| 2 | Adalberto Mondesi | KC | 2B/SS | +1 |
| 3 | Mallex Smith | SEA | OF | +1 |
| 4 | Jonathan Villar | BAL | 2B/SS | +2 |
| 5 | Billy Hamilton | KC | OF | N/A |
| 6 | Dee Gordon | SEA | 2B/SS/OF | +1 |
| 7 | Starling Marte | PIT | OF | Unranked |
| 8 | Mookie Betts | BOS | OF | N/A |
| 9 | Jose Altuve | HOU | 2B | N/A |
| 10 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | N/A |
| 11 | Lorenzo Cain | MIL | OF | N/A |
| 12 | Victor Robles | WSH | OF | N/A |
| 13 | Jose Peraza | CIN | SS | +1 |
| 14 | Jean Segura | PHI | SS | +1 |
| 15 | Jose Ramirez | CLE | 2B/3B | -2 |
| 16 | Tim Anderson | CHW | SS | +1 |
| 17 | Ender Inciarte | ATL | OF | -1 |
| 18 | Andrew Benintendi | BOS | OF | N/A |
| 19 | Tommy Pham | TB | OF | +6 |
| 20 | Elvis Andrus | TEX | SS | Unranked |
| 21 | Byron Buxton | MIN | OF | N/A |
| 22 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | +1 |
| 23 | Trevor Story | COL | SS | +1 |
| 24 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL | OF | -4 |
| 25 | Javier Baez | CHC | 2B/3B/SS | Unranked |
Off the List: Trea Turner (injury), Francisco Lindor (injury), Garrett Hampson
As it was pointed out to me in the comments in last week’s CPR, I completely overlooked Starling Marte for whatever reason. He is firmly in the top 10 among base thieves, as he is about as sure of a bet for 30 swipes as anyone. With the injury to Trea Turner, there is a new No. 1 in Whit Merrifield, who is about as safe as they come when it comes to steals.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Delino DeShields | TEX | OF | +2 |
| 2 | Garrett Hampson | COL | 2B/SS | -1 |
| 3 | Eduardo Nunez | BOS | 2B/3B | Unranked |
| 4 | Brett Gardner | NYY | OF | N/A |
| 5 | Jarrod Dyson | ARZ | OF | N/A |
| 6 | Anthony Alford | TOR | OF | Unranked |
| 7 | Greg Allen | CLE | OF | -5 |
| 8 | Kolten Wong | STL | 2B | Unranked |
| 9 | Kevin Kiermaier | TB | OF | -3 |
| 10 | Ramon Laureano | OAK | OF | -2 |
Off the List: Adam Engel, Kevin Pillar, Jackie Bradley Jr.
With the trade of Kevin Pillar to San Francisco, Toronto proceeded to call up former top prospect Anthony Alford to take his place. Alford is not a great hitter, but his speed is definitely worth a place on this list for those in need. While Eduardo Nunez is seeing fairly regular playing time at second base for the BoSox, he is worth a look for some steals, but this may change as soon as Dustin Pedroia finally returns.
On-Base Percentage (OBP)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | N/A |
| 2 | Joey Votto | CIN | 1B | N/A |
| 3 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | N/A |
| 4 | Aaron Judge | NYY | OF | N/A |
| 5 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | N/A |
| 6 | Paul Goldschmidt | STL | 1B | N/A |
| 7 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B/SS | N/A |
| 8 | Kris Bryant | CHC | 3B/OF | N/A |
| 9 | Mookie Betts | BOS | OF | N/A |
| 10 | Jose Altuve | HOU | 2B | N/A |
| 11 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | N/A |
| 12 | Lorenzo Cain | MIL | OF | +1 |
| 13 | Anthony Rendon | WSH | 3B | +1 |
| 14 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | +4 |
| 15 | Matt Carpenter | STL | 1B/2B/3B | +2 |
| 16 | Juan Soto | WSH | OF | -4 |
| 17 | Jose Ramirez | CLE | 2B/3B | -2 |
| 18 | Anthony Rizzo | CHC | 1B | +1 |
| 19 | Andrew McCutchen | PHI | OF | +1 |
| 20 | Brandon Nimmo | NYM | OF | -4 |
| 21 | Shin-Soo Choo | TEX | OF | N/A |
| 22 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | N/A |
| 23 | Rhys Hoskins | PHI | 1B/OF | N/A |
| 24 | Travis Shaw | MIL | 1B/2B/3B | Unranked |
| 25 | Josh Donaldson | ATL | 3B | -1 |
Off the List: Michael Conforto
I haven’t seen a whole lot in this first week-and-a-half to feel the need to shake up my top 10 or even the majority of this list. Travis Shaw just missed this list in the first week but has shown a whole new level of patience so far on the young season.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Ben Zobrist | CHC | 2B/OF | +1 |
| 2 | Brett Gardner | NYY | OF | +2 |
| 3 | Joc Pederson | LAD | OF | Unranked |
| 4 | Maikel Franco | PHI | 3B | Unranked |
| 5 | Nick Markakis | ATL | OF | -3 |
| 6 | Josh Bell | PIT | 1B | -5 |
| 7 | Niko Goodrum | DET | 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF | Unranked |
| 8 | Yonder Alonso | CHW | 1B | Unranked |
| 9 | Curtis Granderson | MIA | OF | N/A |
| 10 | Domingo Santana | SEA | OF | Unranked |
Off the List: Justin Bour, Brian Anderson, Jake Bauers, Jed Lowrie, Jeimer Candelario
Joc Pederson needed a strong start to get regular playing time against right-handed pitching, and he has certainly done that. He has always been a good source of OBP, so if he can solidify the playing time, he could turn into a legitimate fantasy asset.
Wins (W)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | N/A |
| 2 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | +1 |
| 3 | Corey Kluber | CLE | SP | -1 |
| 4 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | N/A |
| 5 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | SP | N/A |
| 6 | Blake Snell | TB | SP | +1 |
| 7 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | SP | +1 |
| 8 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | +2 |
| 9 | Chris Sale | BOS | SP | -3 |
| 10 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | SP | -1 |
| 11 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | N/A |
| 12 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | +1 |
| 13 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | SP | +1 |
| 14 | Miles Mikolas | STL | SP | -2 |
| 15 | German Marquez | COL | SP | +2 |
| 16 | Jameson Taillon | PIT | SP | N/A |
| 17 | Zack Greinke | ARZ | SP | -2 |
| 18 | Kyle Freeland | COL | SP | +3 |
| 19 | Walker Buehler | LAD | SP | N/A |
| 20 | Jose Berrios | MIN | SP | +2 |
| 21 | J.A. Happ | NYY | SP | -3 |
| 22 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | SP | +1 |
| 23 | Jon Lester | CHC | SP | +2 |
| 24 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | Unranked |
| 25 | Luis Severino | NYY | SP | -5 |
Off the List: Rick Porcello
There were no major changes to this ranking. German Marquez has picked up right where he left off in the second half of 2018 and looks primed to pick up a good amount of wins with the stout Colorado offense backing him up. With Chris Sale’s recent struggles and question marks surrounding his velocity, he drops a few spots this week. No need to panic just yet, as he very well might be saving his bullets for later in the year, but if this continues without any explanation, Boston may have no choice but to place him on the IL.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | SP | Unranked |
| 2 | Jhoulys Chacin | MIL | SP | +1 |
| 3 | Matthew Boyd | DET | SP | +1 |
| 4 | Zach Eflin | PHI | SP | +1 |
| 5 | Ryan Yarborough | TB | SP/RP | +1 |
| 6 | Marcus Stroman | TOR | SP | Unranked |
| 7 | Matt Strahm | SD | SP/RP | -5 |
| 8 | Matt Shoemaker | TOR | SP | Unranked |
| 9 | Mike Fiers | OAK | SP | Unranked |
| 10 | Collin McHugh | HOU | SP/RP | Unranked |
Off the List: Gio Gonzalez, Sean Newcomb, Sonny Gray, Tanner Roark
It is very difficult to ignore Marco Gonzales, who, as I am writing this, has racked up three victories. He is at the very least a respectable streamer. Also, Matt Shoemaker?! He has looked like an absolute waiver wire steal to this point, and while he has had a couple of easy matchups, he should absolutely be owned until the wheels fall off.
Earned Run Average (ERA)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | +1 |
| 2 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | -1 |
| 3 | Chris Sale | BOS | SP | N/A |
| 4 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | SP | +1 |
| 5 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | +1 |
| 6 | Blake Snell | TB | SP | +2 |
| 7 | Corey Kluber | CLE | SP | -3 |
| 8 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | -1 |
| 9 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | SP | N/A |
| 10 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | SP | +1 |
| 11 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | SP | -1 |
| 12 | Walker Buehler | LAD | SP | N/A |
| 13 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | SP | +3 |
| 14 | Miles Mikolas | STL | SP | -1 |
| 15 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | SP | +6 |
| 16 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | +1 |
| 17 | Jameson Taillon | PIT | SP | +2 |
| 18 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | N/A |
| 19 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | SP | +1 |
| 20 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | SP | -6 |
| 21 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | +1 |
| 22 | Luis Severino | NYY | SP | -7 |
| 23 | German Marquez | COL | SP | Unranked |
| 24 | Zack Greinke | ARZ | SP | -1 |
| 25 | Charlie Morton | TB | SP | Unranked |
Off the List: David Price, Jack Flaherty
The flip-flop at the top of the list is more so a nod to Jacob deGrom’s start to the season as it is a slight to Max Scherzer. They are 1 and 1A to me.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Trevor Williams | PIT | SP | +1 |
| 2 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | SP | Unranked |
| 3 | Matthew Boyd | DET | SP | N/A |
| 4 | Marcus Stroman | TOR | SP | Unranked |
| 5 | Matt Strahm | SD | SP/RP | -4 |
| 6 | Matt Shoemaker | TOR | SP | Unranked |
| 7 | Brad Keller | KC | SP | +2 |
| 8 | Eric Lauer | SD | SP | N/A |
| 9 | Dereck Rodriguez | SF | SP | -3 |
| T10 | Caleb Smith, Pablo Lopez, Sandy Alcantara, Trevor Richards | MIA | SP | Unranked |
Off the List: Alex Wood, Alex Reyes, Ryan Yarborough, Brandon Woodruff
It was very difficult to rank the four young arms of the Marlins, so I took the easy way out. They are all worthy of a look in 12-team leagues, with an edge toward Caleb Smith and Pablo Lopez. Also, Marcus Stroman has looked awfully sharp in his first two starts of the year, sitting with a 1.42 ERA. Another good start and it may be too late to find him on your wire in shallower leagues.
Strikeouts (K)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | N/A |
| 2 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | +2 |
| 3 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | -1 |
| 4 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | SP | +1 |
| 5 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | SP | +1 |
| 6 | Chris Sale | BOS | SP | -3 |
| 7 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | N/A |
| 8 | Blake Snell | TB | SP | N/A |
| 9 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | SP | +1 |
| 10 | Corey Kluber | CLE | SP | -1 |
| 11 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | SP | +1 |
| 12 | German Marquez | COL | SP | +1 |
| 13 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | -2 |
| 14 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | N/A |
| 15 | Walker Buehler | LAD | SP | N/A |
| 16 | Jose Berrios | MIN | SP | +1 |
| 17 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | SP | +1 |
| 18 | Charlie Morton | TB | SP | +1 |
| 19 | Robbie Ray | ARZ | SP | +2 |
| 20 | Jack Flaherty | STL | SP | N/A |
| 21 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | +2 |
| 22 | Zack Greinke | ARZ | SP | N/A |
| 23 | Chris Archer | PIT | SP | +1 |
| 24 | Luis Castillo | CIN | SP | Unranked |
| 25 | Luis Severino | NYY | SP | -9 |
Off the List: Nick Pivetta
I may be a little quick to pull the trigger on Luis Castillo in the top 25, but I don’t care. I love him and his filthy changeup. Corey Kluber has had a concerning start to the year. He has gotten hit hard and isn’t getting the K’s you would like out of your ace. He could very well be one of those strikeout accumulators from here on, who tallies a bunch of innings and by default will have a high total come season’s end. It is still too early to speculate too much, though.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Matthew Boyd | DET | SP | +7 |
| 2 | Corbin Burnes | MIL | SP/RP | +5 |
| 3 | Freddy Peralta | MIL | SP | N/A |
| 4 | Matt Strahm | SD | SP/RP | -3 |
| 5 | Collin McHugh | HOU | SP/RP | N/A |
| 6 | Brad Peacock | HOU | SP/RP | N/A |
| 7 | Dylan Bundy | BAL | SP | -3 |
| 8 | Zack Godley | ARZ | SP | -6 |
| 9 | Caleb Smith | MIA | SP | Unranked |
| 10 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | SP/RP | -1 |
Off the List: Reynaldo Lopez
Remember last week when I said I was high on Matthew Boyd because of his Patrick Corbin-like repertoire? Well, I never thought he would be leapfrogging Corbin and going right into Randy Johnson territory. He is striking out everyone, and that slider is looking like a serious weapon. The young Milwaukee arms cannot be overlooked at the moment, either. If Corbin Burnes can keep the ball in the ballpark, his upside is through the roof.
Saves (SV)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Edwin Diaz | NYM | RP | N/A |
| 2 | Blake Treinen | OAK | RP | +1 |
| 3 | Kenley Jansen | LAD | RP | +2 |
| 4 | Aroldis Chapman | NYY | RP | -2 |
| 5 | Roberto Osuna | HOU | RP | -1 |
| 6 | Brad Hand | CLE | RP | +1 |
| 7 | Felipe Vazquez | PIT | RP | -1 |
| 8 | Jose Leclerc | TEX | RP | N/A |
| 9 | Kirby Yates | SD | RP | N/A |
| 10 | Josh Hader | MIL | RP | +15 |
| 11 | Sean Doolittle | WSH | RP | N/A |
| 12 | Wade Davis | COL | RP | N/A |
| 13 | Ken Giles | TOR | RP | +2 |
| 14 | Jordan Hicks | STL | RP | N/A |
| 15 | Greg Holland | ARZ | RP | +7 |
| 16 | Craig Kimbrel | FA | RP | -6 |
| 17 | Jose Alvarado | TB | RP | +7 |
| 18 | Alex Colome | CHW | RP | +2 |
| 19 | Cody Allen | LAA | RP | -1 |
| 20 | Raisel Iglesias | CIN | RP | -7 |
| 21 | Arodys Vizcaino | ATL | RP | N/A |
| 22 | Will Smith | SF | RP | +1 |
| 23 | David Robertson | PHI | RP | -7 |
| 24 | Pedro Strop | CHC | RP | -5 |
| 25 | Shane Greene | DET | RP | Unranked |
Off the List: Hunter Strickland (injury)
Yes, I know, Shane Greene leads the majors in saves. But I just cannot place him any higher yet. I am not sold that he won’t be on most waiver wires come June. Josh Hader is the big mover here. He is firmly entrenched as the Brewers closer, and if I knew with confidence that he would keep that job once Jeremy Jeffress returns, he would at least be in the top three. Please, Milwaukee, do the right thing.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-Team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Blake Parker | MIN | RP | Unranked |
| 2 | Anthony Swarzak | SEA | RP | Unranked |
| 3 | A.J. Minter | ATL | RP | +4 |
| 4 | Michael Givens | BAL | RP | +1 |
| 5 | Sergio Romo | MIA | SP/RP | +1 |
| 6 | Ian Kennedy | KC | SP/RP | Unranked |
| 7 | Jeremy Jeffress | MIL | RP | +2 |
| 8 | Seranthony Dominguez | PHI | RP | Unranked |
| 9 | Brandon Morrow | CHC | RP | +1 |
| 10 | Ryan Brasier | BOS | RP | -2 |
Off the List: Hunter Strickland (injury), Greg Holland, Shane Greene, Trevor May
A.J. Minter was just activated from the injured list and figures to factor into the mix for saves in Atlanta. He was super effective last year closing in place of Arodys Vizcaino, so take a long look at him if you are in short supply of the category. With the terrible struggles of David Robertson to begin the year, Seranthony Dominguez makes for an interesting speculative add in most formats. Another bad outing for Robertson, and Dominguez very well may get the next save opportunity.
WHIP (Walks+Hits/Innings Pitched)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | N/A |
| 2 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | N/A |
| 3 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | +1 |
| 4 | Chris Sale | BOS | SP | -1 |
| 5 | Blake Snell | TB | SP | +1 |
| 6 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | SP | +2 |
| 7 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | SP | +2 |
| 8 | Corey Kluber | CLE | SP | -3 |
| 9 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | -2 |
| 10 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | SP | +4 |
| 11 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | +1 |
| 12 | Zack Greinke | ARZ | SP | -1 |
| 13 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | SP | -3 |
| 14 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | +1 |
| 15 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | SP | +3 |
| 16 | Jameson Taillon | PIT | SP | +1 |
| 17 | Jose Berrios | MIN | SP | +3 |
| 18 | Luis Severino | NYY | SP | -5 |
| 19 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | SP | N/A |
| 20 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | SP | +1 |
| 21 | German Marquez | COL | SP | +4 |
| 22 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | SP | N/A |
| 23 | Miles Mikolas | STL | SP | -7 |
| 24 | Charlie Morton | TB | SP | Unranked |
| 25 | David Price | BOS | SP | -2 |
Off the List: Jack Flaherty
Jose Berrios continues to limit baserunners and is looking like the stud he was poised to be when he was a top prospect in the Twins system. If he can maintain the low walk rate and improved swinging-strike rate, he could be in for a big year.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Trevor Williams | PIT | SP | Unranked |
| 2 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | SP | N/A |
| 3 | Jhoulys Chacin | MIL | SP | +2 |
| 4 | Matthew Boyd | DET | SP | +4 |
| 5 | Jakob Junis | KC | SP | -2 |
| 6 | Zach Eflin | PHI | SP | +3 |
| 7 | Matt Shoemaker | TOR | SP | Unranked |
| 8 | Mike Minor | TEX | SP | -4 |
| 9 | Matt Strahm | SD | SP/RP | -8 |
| 10 | Pablo Lopez | MIA | SP | N/A |
Off the List: Anibal Sanchez, Joe Musgrove
As boring as Trevor Williams is, he just gets the job done. He is the quintessential streamer and always borders on “should be owned.” Zach Eflin is another guy who manages to limit free passes and misses enough bats to keep his WHIP at a more than respectable level.
Quality Starts (QS)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | N/A |
| 2 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | N/A |
| 3 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | N/A |
| 4 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | SP | +2 |
| 5 | Corey Kluber | CLE | SP | -1 |
| 6 | Chris Sale | BOS | SP | -1 |
| 7 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | N/A |
| 8 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | SP | N/A |
| 9 | Blake Snell | TB | SP | +1 |
| 10 | Zack Greinke | ARZ | SP | -1 |
| 11 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | SP | N/A |
| 12 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | SP | +1 |
| 13 | Jameson Taillon | PIT | SP | +2 |
| 14 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | N/A |
| 15 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | SP | +1 |
| 16 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | +1 |
| 17 | Jose Berrios | MIN | SP | +8 |
| 18 | German Marquez | COL | SP | +3 |
| 19 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | +1 |
| 20 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | SP | -8 |
| 21 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | SP | +1 |
| 22 | Kyle Freeland | COL | SP | +1 |
| 23 | Miles Mikolas | STL | SP | -5 |
| 24 | Charlie Morton | TB | SP | N/A |
| 25 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | SP | Unranked |
Off the List: Luis Severino
Madison Bumgarner is proving a lot of critics wron in the early season, posting back-to-back quality starts—albeit in losing efforts. He could still prove to be a decent buy from an owner who may not be a total believer just yet.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | SP | Unranked |
| 2 | Matthew Boyd | DET | SP | +2 |
| 3 | Marcus Stroman | TOR | SP | Unranked |
| 4 | Matt Shoemaker | TOR | SP | Unranked |
| 5 | Mike Leake | SEA | SP | N/A |
| 6 | Matt Strahm | SD | SP/RP | –4 |
| 7 | Mike Minor | TEX | SP | Unranked |
| 8 | Steven Matz | NYM | SP | N/A |
| 9 | Jakob Junis | KC | SP | N/A |
| 10 | Jordan Zimmerman | DET | SP | Unranked |
Off the List: Dylan Bundy, Tanner Roark, Julio Teheran, Kyle Gibson, Reynaldo Lopez
Holy cow, that is a lot of names that start with M!
Featured Image by Justin Paradis (@freshmeatcomm on Twitter)