Who To Pick Up In Your Fantasy Baseball League

It’s that time of year again where baseball fans all over the country are preparing for their fantasy baseball drafts. Here are a few tips on who you should pick up for your fantasy baseball team this season.

Fantasy baseball tips

Wondering who to pick up in your fantasy baseball league? Here are a few tips to help you make the best decision for your team. First, take a look at the player’s batting average. This will give you an idea of how often the player gets a hit. You also want to look at the player’s on base percentage. This stat will show you how often the player gets on base.

Know the scoring system of your league

One of the most important things to do when joining a fantasy baseball league is to understand the scoring system. Scoring systems can vary greatly from league to league, so it’s important to know how your league will be determining points.

Some leagues use a traditional 5×5 scoring system, which awards points for five hitting categories ( batting average, home runs, runs batted in, stolen bases, and runs scored) and five pitching categories (earned run average, wins, saves, strikeouts, and walks plus hits per inning pitched). Other leagues might use a modified version of this scoring system or entirely different scoring system altogether.

Once you know how your league will be scoring points, you can start to formulate a strategy for how you want to draft your team. If you’re in a 5×5 league and stolen bases are worth more points than home runs, then you might want to target speedier players who can rack up those stolen bases. If your league usesHead-to-Head Points style instead of the traditional Rotisserie style, then you’ll want to focus on drafting players who excel in all categories rather than specializing in just a few.

Every fantasy baseball league is different, so it’s important that you understand the scoring system before draft day. With that knowledge in hand, you can start putting together a winning team.

Understand player values

Success in fantasy baseball comes down to making the right decisions on which players to draft and start, and which ones to sit or drop. Part of making those decisions is understanding player values.
A player’s value is determined by how much better he is than a “replacement level” player at his position. A replacement level player is defined as the best available free agent in your league, someone who would theoretically be available to any team at any time.

For example, let’s say you have the sixth pick in a 12-team draft. After the first five picks are made, all of the shortstops are gone. The best available free agent shortstop has an ESPN Player Rater ranking of 100. So even though the sixth pick in the draft is considered a “late” pick, it’s actually quite valuable because it can be used to fill a position that’s in short supply.

On the other hand, let’s say you have the sixth pick in a 12-team draft and all of the second basemen are gone. The best available free agent second baseman has an ESPN Player Rater ranking of 150. In this case, the sixth pick isn’t as valuable because there are plenty of replacement level second basemen still available.

To get an idea of replacement level for each position, take a look at the ESPN Player Rater for hitters and pitchers . These numbers will change from year to year as player performance changes, but they give you a good starting point for understanding player values.

Do your research

No matter what type of league you’re in, or how you like to manage your team, consistently doing your research is the key to having a successful fantasy baseball season.

Whether you’re looking for the next big breakout player, trying to find a value in the later rounds of your draft, or just trying to stay ahead of the competition on a day-to-day basis, taking the time to do your research is always going to pay off in the long run.

There are a number of different ways you can go about doing your research, but one of the best is simply by reading as much as you can about the game. In addition to following along with the news on sites like MLB.com and Rotoworld, there are also a number of great books that have been written about fantasy baseball over the years.

Another great way to do your research is by talking to other people who are in similar leagues as you. This can be done either in person or online, but either way it’s a great way to get different perspectives on players and strategies.

Finally, don’t forget that there are a number of tools and resources available right here at Fantrax that can help you with your research. In addition to our world-class Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit, we also have a constantly updating Fantasy Baseball Rankings page, as well as an extensive selection of articles and analysis from our team of top-notch fantasy baseball writers.

Picking up players

You need to be on the lookout for players who are performing well and may be undervalued in your league. A lot of times, other owners in your league will not be paying attention to players on other teams and you can take advantage of that. You can also look for players who are injured and may be ready to come back soon.

Identify the needs of your team

Before you start looking for players to pick up, you need to take a step back and assess your team’s needs. This will help you zero in on the type of player that would be the best fit for your squad.

Are you looking for someone to fill a specific role? For example, do you need a power hitter to add some pop to your lineup, or are you in search of a stolen base specialist to help you catch up in that category?

Once you’ve pinpointed your team’s needs, you can start scouring the waiver wire for players who can help fill those holes.

Check the waiver wire

If you’re in a position to make a move in your fantasy baseball league, checking the waiver wire is a great place to start. You never know when you might find that missing piece to help push you over the top.

There are a few things to keep in mind when scouring the waiver wire, though. First, pay attention to who’s hot and who’s not. There’s no use picking up a player who’s in the middle of a slump. Second, take a look at matchups. If a player has a tough matchup coming up, he might not be worth picking up. And finally, don’t forget about injury risk. A player who’s nursing an injury is always more of a risk than one who’s healthy.

With all that in mind, here are a few players who are worth considering if they’re available in your league:

-Trevor Bauer, SP, Cleveland Indians: Bauer has been on fire lately, posting a 1.73 ERA and 0.86 WHIP over his last seven starts. He’s also racked up 11 strikeouts per nine innings over that span. Bauer has two starts this week (@KC, @MIN), and both are fairly favorable matchups.

-Mike Yastrzemski, OF, San Francisco Giants: Yastrzemski has been one of the biggest surprises of the season, hitting .281 with 17 homers and 50 RBIs. He’s also stolen five bases for good measure. Yastrzemski has five games on tap this week (@ARI, @SD), and he should be in line for plenty of production.

-Sandy Alcantara, SP, Miami Marlins: Alcantara has been one of the most consistent pitchers in fantasy baseball this season, posting a 3.37 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 127 strikeouts in 152 innings pitched. He has two starts this week (vs STL, @PHI), and both are decent matchups.

Monitor player trends

Keep an eye on player trends as the season goes on. You don’t want to be the one who drafted Kris Bryant in the fourth round only to watch him languish on your bench all season because he’s in a slump. By the same token, you don’t want to miss out on Snell because you didn’t realize he was eligible for your league.

Be sure to pay attention to your league rules too. Some leagues allow you to pick up players and drop them freely while others have transaction limits or require you to wait a certain amount of time before picking up a player you dropped. Knowing your league rules will help you make the best decisions for your team.

Finally, don’t be afraid to take risks. If you think a player is going to breakout or rebound from a down year, go for it! The worst that can happen is that it doesn’t work out and you have to drop them, but the rewards can be great if it does.

Free agents

Every year there are always a few key free agents who can make or break your fantasy baseball team. Picking up the right free agents can be the difference between winning and losing your fantasy baseball league. In this article, we will discuss some of the top free agents that you should pick up in your fantasy baseball league.

Evaluate players

As the baseball season progresses, fantasy baseball managers need to be aware of players who become free agents in their league. These players are typically available in the waiver wire and can be a great addition to your team. However, it is important to evaluate these players carefully before adding them to your roster.

Here are some factors to consider when evaluating potential free agents:

– Are they a consistent scorer? Look for players who have scored consistently throughout the season.
– What is their average? A player with a high average is more likely to produce consistent scoring than a player with a low average.
– What is their power potential? A player with more power potential is more likely to help your team in categories such as home runs and RBIs.
– What is their speed potential? A player with more speed potential is more likely to help your team in categories such as stolen bases and runs scored.
– How much playing time do they have left? A player who is nearing the end of their season may not have as much chance to produce scoring for your team.
– What is their history against the teams they will be facing? A player who has had success against the teams they will be facing is more likely to produce scoring for your team.

Compare players

After you have assessed your team’s needs, it is time to begin looking at the available players. The simplest way to do this is to generate a list of the top available players at each position. This can be done by looking at the player’s season statistics, or by using a ranking system generated by fantasy baseball experts. Once you have this list, you can begin to compare the players and decide which ones will be the best addition to your team.

There are a few things to keep in mind as you compare players. First, pay attention to how well the player has been performing recently. A player who has been hot lately is more likely to continue his good form than one who has been struggling. Second, take note of any injuries the player may be dealing with. An injured player is more likely to miss games or play less effectively than a healthy one. Finally, consider the schedules of the players you are considering. A player who is about to face a string of tough opponents may not be as valuable as one with an easier schedule. By taking all of these factors into account, you will be able to choose the best possible free agents for your team.

Make a decision

You’ve recently been drafted into a fantasy baseball league, but you’re not quite sure who to pick up as your free agents. Here is a list of some players that may be available in your league and that could help you make a decision.

George Springer- Houston Astros- OF

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer is one of the best pure hitters in baseball. He’s a career .264 hitter with 185 home runs and 430 RBIs. He also has speed, stealing 97 bases in his career. Springer is a five-tool player that can contribute in every facet of the game. He’s a first round talent that should be available in the later rounds of your fantasy draft.

Justin Verlander- Detroit Tigers- SP

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander is a former AL MVP and Cy Young award winner. He’s a six-time All-Star with over 2,500 strikeouts in his career. Verlander is still pitching at a high level, posting a 3.36 ERA last season. He’s a workhorse that will give you quality starts every time he takes the mound. Verlander is someone you can count on to anchor your fantasy pitching staff.

Miguel Cabrera- Detroit Tigers- 1B/DH

Detroit Tigers first baseman/designated hitter Miguel Cabrera is one of the best hitters of his generation. He’s a career .317 hitter with 446 home runs and 1,598 RBIs. Cabrera is a two-time AL MVP and has won four batting titles. He’s someone that can carry your fantasy team offensively. Cabrera should be available late in your fantasy draft due to his age (35) and injury history, but he’s still one of the best hitters in baseball and someone that can help you win your league.