What Positions Should I Draft First In Fantasy Baseball?

It’s fantasy baseball season! Here are some tips on what positions you should draft first in order to build a winning team.

Starting Pitchers

In most cases, you’ll want to prioritize drafting starting pitchers early in your fantasy baseball drafts. Starting pitchers are the backbone of any good fantasy baseball team, as they have the ability to rack up strikeouts, wins, and quality starts.

Aces

There are aces, and then there are fantasy aces. The intent of this article is to help you identify the latter. A fantasy ace is defined as a pitcher who satisfies all three of the following criteria: an ERA at or below 3.50, a WHIP at or below 1.20, and at least 190 strikeouts. We’ve also placed a limit of two starts per team in order to ensure that we’re recommendations are available in most mixed leagues.

Chris Sale (2)
Max Scherzer (2)
Clayton Kershaw (2)
Jacob deGrom (2)
Gerrit Cole (1)

Workhorses

In baseball, a workhorse is a starting pitcher who pitches a lot of innings and/or has a lot of starts. A workhorse is the ace of a pitching staff and is usually one of the team’s best pitchers.

In fantasy baseball, workhorses are highly coveted because they can provide a lot of value over the course of a season. Pitchers who make 30 or more starts and pitch 200 or more innings are considered workhorses. These pitchers are reliable and provide stability to a fantasy pitching staff.

Workhorses are often some of the first pitchers drafted in fantasy baseball drafts. This is because they are predictable and provide a high floor for fantasy owners. If you’re looking for a pitcher who will give you quality production week in and week out, then you want to target a workhorse in your draft.

Middle-of-the-rotation starters

The most fantasy-relevant starters are aces, which are typically defined as No. 1 starters on their respective teams. Aces are generally drafted in the early rounds of drafts, as they have the ability to anchor a fantasy pitching staff and provide significant value in strikeouts, wins, and ERA/WHIP. However, there are definitely fantasy-relevant starters that can be found outside of the ace label, most notably in the middle-of-the-rotation starter classification.

Middle-of-the-rotation starters typically sit behind an ace in their team’s rotation and before the backend starters. These pitchers are often referred to as No. 2 or No. 3 starters on their team. Middle-of-the-rotation starters don’t strike out batters at the same rate as aces (although there are some notable exceptions), but they can still provide fantasy owners with quality starts, wins, and strikeout totals. In addition, many middle-of-the-rotation starters have solidified themselves as reliable options that can provide fantasy owners with significant value if draft correctly.

Relief Pitchers

Fantasy baseball owners often forget about the importance of drafting relief pitchers. Relief pitchers can be the difference between winning and losing in fantasy baseball. They are often overlooked because they do not provide the same type of statistics as starters and position players. However, they can be a valuable part of your fantasy baseball team.

Closers

In fantasy baseball, a relief pitcher (RP) is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed. Relief pitchers are also commonly referred to as closers. A relief pitcher who enters the game with his team leading by three or fewer runs is considered a save situation for fantasy purposes. In order for a relief pitcher to earn a save, he must finish the game without surrendering the lead.

There are two types of relief pitchers in fantasy baseball: closers and setup men. Closers are typically the pitchers who pitch the ninth inning with their team leading by one or two runs. Setup men are typically the pitchers who pitch the eighth inning with their team leading by one or two runs.

The following is a list of some of the more popular closers in fantasy baseball:
-Aroldis Chapman
-Craig Kimbrel
-Kenley Jansen
-Roberto Osuna

Middle relievers

Middle relievers are a type of relief pitcher in baseball. They typically come into the game in the middle innings, after the starting pitcher and before the setup reliever or closer. Middle relievers are often used to protect a lead or keep the score close.

Some middle relievers are “swingmen,” meaning they can pitch in multiple roles. Swingmen are often used as spot starters or long relievers in addition to their duties as a middle reliever.

The term “middle reliever” can be misleading, as some pitchers who are classified as such actually have significant roles on their teams. For example, some setup men are considered to be more important than the typical middle reliever, and may even pitch in high-leverage situations.

Set-up men

In baseball, the set-up man is often the second-best reliever on a team, behind the closer. A set-up man typically throws one inning of work in relief, and almost always comes into the game when his team is leading by a slim margin. He is brought into try to protect the lead and keep his team in the game.

The set-up man is usually one of the most reliable pitchers on the team, and someone who can be counted on to get key outs when his team needs them. A good set-up man will often have an ERA below 3.00, and will strike out a lot of batters.

If you are drafting a fantasy baseball team, you should consider drafting a set-up man in one of your early rounds. Set-up men can be very valuable to your team, and can help you win a lot of games.

Catchers

In almost every fantasy baseball league, catchers are a scarce commodity. A lot of times, the top fantasy catchers will be gone by the time the fifth round rolls around. That’s why it’s important to know who the top fantasy catchers are and to draft them early.

Offensive catchers

In fantasy baseball, it is often said that you should wait on drafting a catcher. This is primarily due to the lack of depth at the position compared to other positions on the diamond. In shallower leagues (10-12 teams), you can definitely wait until the double-digit rounds to take your catcher, but in deeper leagues (14-16 teams), you may want to consider taking an offensive catcher a little earlier.

Here are a few things to look for when drafting an offensive catcher:

– Look for catchers who hit for a high average. A .275 batting average is solid for most positions, but it’s great for a catcher. Anywhere in the .280-.290 range is ideal.

– Look for catchers who have power potential. You don’t need 20+ home run power, but double digit home runs with a few stolen bases is always nice from the catcher position.

– Avoid catchers who strike out a lot. This is especially important in points leagues where strikeouts are negative points. You want your catcher to put the ball in play and let your hitters drive him in.

Some offensive catchers to keep an eye on during your draft:

Wilson Ramos (Tampa Bay Rays) – Ramos hits for a high average (.306 in 2018) and has nice power potential (15 HR in 2018). He also doesn’t strike out much (54 K in 2018). Ramos is currently being drafted as the 8th overall catcher, so he’s definitely someone to keep an eye on if you’re waiting to draft a catcher.

Yasmani Grandal (Los Angeles Dodgers) – Grandal hits for a solid average (.241 in 2018) and has good power (24 HR in 2018). He also doesn’t strike out much (84 K in 2018). Grandal is currently being drafted as the 9th overall catcher, so he’s someone else to keep an eye on if you’re waiting to draft a catcher.

Defensive catchers

Most fantasy baseball experts will tell you that the catcher is the most important position on a baseball team. And while it’s true that a good catcher can make a big difference to a team’s fortunes, there are a few things to bear in mind before you use up one of your early draft picks on a backstop.

First and foremost, it’s worth remembering that catchers are notoriously injury-prone. They spend more time than any other player on their feet, and they’re constantly bending, squatting and twisting as they try to catch high-speed projectiles hurled at them from just a few feet away. It’s not surprising that so many of them end up on the disabled list at some point during the season.

Secondly, while it’s true that a good catcher can be a real asset to a team, they tend to be less effective offensively than players at other positions. So if you’re looking for someone who’s going to score lots of runs for you, you might be better off looking elsewhere.

With all that being said, there are still some very good reasons to draft a catcher early in your fantasy baseball draft. A top-tier catcher can be a real game-changer, and they’re also generally much cheaper than players at other positions with similar levels of production. So if you can afford to take the risk on an injury-prone player, drafting a defensive catcher early on might just pay off for you in the long run.

Infielders

Infielders are the backbone of any fantasy baseball team. They provide the most consistent production on a week-to-week basis and usually have the longest shelf life of any position. You want to draft as many impactful infielders as possible early in your drafts to ensure that you have a strong foundation.

First basemen

Infielders typically man the first, second, and third base positions, as well as shortstop. Of all the infield positions, first base is often viewed as the most important offensive position. As a result, first basemen tend to be some of the best hitters in baseball. Because they don’t have to worry about playing defense, they can focus on hitting for power and average.

If you’re looking to draft a first baseman in fantasy baseball, you should target players who have a history of hitting for both power and average. Some first basemen who fit this criteria include Anthony Rizzo, Paul Goldschmidt, Joey Votto, and Freddie Freeman. These are all players who can help you win your fantasy league.

Second basemen

There are a few schools of thought on which positions to draft first in fantasy baseball. One is to take the best player available regardless of position. Another is to alternate between hitters and pitchers every other pick.

A third strategy, which has gained popularity in recent years, is to target specific positions early in the draft in an attempt to gain an advantage at that position.

One position that is often targeted early in drafts is second baseman. Second basemen have been among the top fantasy producers over the last few years, and there are a few reasons for this.

First, second basemen tend to be good contact hitters with above-average batting averages. They also tend to have good speed, which leads to higher totals in runs and stolen bases. Additionally, many second basemen also provide solid power numbers, with 20 or more home runs becoming more common.

Because of these factors, second basemen as a group tend to score a lot of fantasy points. In fact, over the last three years, second basemen have been the third-highest scoring position in standard 5x5 leagues behind only first basemen and third basemen.

If you are looking to target a specific position in your draft, second baseman should be high on your list. There are a number of quality options at the position who can provide terrific value for your team.

Third basemen

Infielders are the backbone of any baseball team. They are the players who are responsible for turning the double play, starting the rally, and driving in the runs. In fantasy baseball, infielders are some of the most important players on your team. They can help you win games with their power, their speed, and their ability to get on base.

Third basemen are some of the most important infielders in fantasy baseball. They are typically great hitters with a lot of power. They also tend to be some of the best defenders at their position. When you are drafting a third basemen, you should look for someone who is going to hit for a high average and provide you with a lot of home runs and RBIs.

Some of the best third basemen in fantasy baseball include Jose Cabrera, Anthony Rendon, Kris Bryant, and Nolan Arenado. These are all players who will hit for a high average and provide you with a lot of power. If you can draft one of these players, you will be in good shape.

Shortstops

Infielders are the backbone of any good fantasy baseball team. They provide the majority of the power and play a key role in run production. But with so many options available, it can be difficult to know which ones to draft first.

There are a few factors to consider when drafting infielders. Firstly, you need to decide whether you want a power hitter or someone who can provide a high average. Secondly, you need to decide which position you value most. Thirdly, you need to consider which player will provide the most value for your team.

With all of that in mind, here are the top five infielders to draft for your fantasy baseball team:

1) Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros – Altuve is one of the best hitters in baseball and is a lock for a high average and plenty of stolen bases. He’s also eligible at second base and shortstop, making him even more valuable.

2) Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks – Goldschmidt is one of the best power hitters in baseball and will provide plenty of home runs and RBIs for your team. He’s also eligible at first base and outfield, making him even more valuable.

3) Manny Machado, 3B/SS, Baltimore Orioles – Machado is one of the best all-around infielders in baseball and is eligible at both third base and shortstop. He’ll provide a high average and plenty of home runs and RBIs for your team.

4) Josh Donaldson, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays – Donaldson is one of the best power hitters in baseball and will provide plenty of home runs and RBIs for your team. He’s also eligible at third base and outfield, making him even more valuable.

5) Kris Bryant, 3B/OF, Chicago Cubs – Bryant is one of the best young players in baseball and is eligible at both third base and outfield. He’ll provide a high average and plenty of home runs and RBIs for your team.

Outfielders

Most fantasy baseball owners tend to focus on building a strong foundation in their infield positions first. However, in my opinion, investing in some quality outfielders first can be a wiser move. Lets explore the reasons why.

Corner outfielders

In fantasy baseball, there are five main hitting positions: catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop and third baseman. (Note: some leagues also use a utility player spot, which can be filled by any hitter.) Then there are the outfielders. Generally speaking, outfielders are more valuable than infielders because they have more opportunities to rack up statistics like home runs, batting average and stolen bases.

But not all outfielders are created equal. Just as you wouldn’t draft a first baseman before a third baseman, you wouldn’t want to draft a left fielder before a center fielder. So which outfield position is the most valuable? Here’s a look at the top three outfield positions in fantasy baseball, in order of importance:

Center field
The center fielder is typically the best all-around player on the team. He covers the most ground in the outfield and usually has the best arm. He also tends to be more athletic than his corner-outfield counterparts and thus can contribute more on the base paths. As a result, center fielders tend to be some of the most well-rounded fantasy players. Think Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Aaron Judge.

Right field
Right field is typically reserved for a team’s power hitter — the guy who hits lots of home runs but doesn’t do much else. That said, there are some right fielders who also contribute in other areas, like batting average and stolen bases. Giancarlo Stanton and Bryce Harper are two good examples.

Left field
Like right field, left field is often home to a team’s power hitter. But because left field tends to be less demanding defensively than right field, you will sometimes find players who don’t have quite as much power but make up for it with their batting average or base-running ability. Batting averages tend to be higher for lefties than righties (think David Ortiz), so left field is generally considered a good place to find hitters who will give you a high average but maybe not as many home runs as their right-field counterparts.

Center fielders

Some fantasy baseball experts will tell you that you should always draft a center fielder first, regardless of the league format or the specific player available. The logic behind this is that center field is the most demanding position on the field, both offensively and defensively. Center fielders typically have more range than other outfielders, which means they can make more plays on balls hit in their direction. They also tend to be better hitters than other outfielders, since they often bat leadoff or second in the lineup and therefore have more opportunities to rack up hits and steal bases.

If you’re looking for a dependable center fielder who can contribute in all areas of the game, keep an eye out for players like Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, and George Springer. These are some of the best all-around players in baseball, and they’re sure to put up big numbers regardless of where they bat in the lineup.