Biggest changes drafting a fantasy baseball team now compared to the start of the MLB season
Why does the Yahoo Friends & Family Fantasy Baseball Draft have to be in March? Why not do it early in the fresh season?
Advertisement
The conceit of an in-season draft is simple. We're adjusting to the market, recalibrating things. What hot starts do we believe in? What slumping players do we expect to come around? What FOMO players would we like to catch up with?
[Smarter waivers, better trades, optimized lineups — Yahoo Fantasy Plus unlocks it all]
With all this in mind, I assembled a bunch of colleagues and industry friends on Monday night and we did our 12-team mixed league draft. We'll play it out, of course. Side bets will fly around the room. Come examine the draft and see how we view the current landscape. And if you feel the itch, it's not too late for you to draft another team. Get your band back together.
It's our 21st year, amigos! Long live the Yahoo Friends and Family League.
Meet the drafters
1. Jorge Martin, Fantasy Life
Advertisement
2. Andy Behrens, Yahoo
3. Michael Lazarus, NFL.com
4. Mike Parrillo, Regular Guy
5. Dalton Del Don, Yahoo
6. Frank Schwab, Yahoo
7. *Scott Jenstad, Rotowire
8. D.J. Short, Rotoworld
9. Jeff Erickson, Rotowire
10. Fred Zinkie, Yahoo/Rotowire
11. Scott Pianowski, Yahoo!
12. Steven Psihogios, Free Lance Writer
* Scott Jenstad had a last-second commitment and had to autodraft. Given that Yahoo constantly updates its applet rankings even in season, this is still doable! Scott's an excellent player (champion in 2023 and 2018) and said he would compete with whatever team he was given.
Parrillo doesn't work in the industry but he's a skilled player; he's been drafting as long as I have. He elevates us.
Advertisement
Before we dive in, here are the roster specs:
1 Catcher
1 First Baseman
1 Third Baseman
1 Corner (1B or 3B)
1 Second Baseman
1 Shortstop
1 Middle (2B or SS)
4 Outfield
2 Utility
1 Starting Pitcher
1 Relief Pitcher
7 Pitchers (SP or RP)
Four bench spots
2 IL spots
Let's see what happened and try to figure out what it means.
Round 1
1. Shohei Ohtani (LAD - Util) — Jorge Martin
2. Aaron Judge (NYY - OF) — Andy Behrens
3. Bobby Witt Jr. (KC - SS) — Michael Lazarus
4. Corbin Carroll (AZ - OF) — Mike Parrillo
5. Tarik Skubal (DET - SP) — Dalton Del Don
6. Kyle Tucker (CHC - OF) — Frank Schwab
7. Elly De La Cruz (CIN - SS) — Scott Jenstad*
8. José Ramírez (CLE - 3B) — D.J. Short
9. Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD - OF) — Jeff Erickson
10. Juan Soto (NYM - OF) — Fred Zinkie
11. Francisco Lindor (NYM - SS) — Scott Pianowski
12. Mookie Betts (LAD - 2B,SS,OF) — Steven Psihogios
Advertisement
This first round doesn't look that different from what we'd see in March. Skubal is a riser, but that's more a statement about team building than Skubal's profile; he's been what we expected. Carroll's pressed injury woes early in 2024 are a distant memory now. Tucker is a perfect offensive player and the Chicago lineup around him has been better than expected; more on that in a moment.
Round 2
1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR - 1B,3B) --- Steven Psihogios
2. Bryce Harper (PHI - 1B) --- Scott Pianowski
3. Paul Skenes (PIT - SP) --- Fred Zinkie
4. Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC - OF) --- Jeff Erickson
Advertisement
5. Gunnar Henderson (BAL - SS) --- D.J. Short
6. Julio Rodríguez (SEA - OF) --- Scott Jenstad*
7. Kyle Schwarber (PHI - OF) --- Frank Schwab
8. Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL - OF) --- Dalton Del Don
9. Garrett Crochet (BOS - SP) --- Mike Parrillo
10. Hunter Brown (HOU - SP) --- Michael Lazarus
11. CJ Abrams (WSH - SS) --- Andy Behrens
12. Oneil Cruz (PIT - SS,OF) --- Jorge Martin
And this is why you do things like a fresh draft in mid-May — you want to get a price check on breakout stars like Crow-Armstrong. Erickson fully believes in PCA, using the No. 16 pick, and the room endorsed that choice — several others had PCA ready to go in this spot. I would have taken Cruz at 11 or 14 if not for the recent back issue — that and the fact that I'm already heavily invested in the Pittsburgh star. Sometimes you have to diversify. Brown figured things out about a year ago and has been an ace ever since; only Chris Sale has more pitcher WAR over the pst 365 days (Brown and Skubal are tied; Skenes slightly behind).
Round 3
1. Freddie Freeman (LAD - 1B) --- Jorge Martin
Advertisement
2. Manny Machado (SD - 3B) --- Andy Behrens
3. Alex Bregman (BOS - 3B) --- Michael Lazarus
4. Jackson Merrill (SD - OF) --- Mike Parrillo
5. Zack Wheeler (PHI - SP) --- Dalton Del Don
6. Max Fried (NYY - SP) --- Frank Schwab
7. Jackson Chourio (MIL - OF) --- Scott Jenstad*
8. Pete Alonso (NYM - 1B) --- D.J. Short
9. James Wood (WSH - OF) --- Jeff Erickson
10. Jarren Duran (BOS - OF) --- Fred Zinkie
11. Austin Riley (ATL - 3B) --- Scott Pianowski
12. Trea Turner (PHI - SS) --- Steven Psihogios
Bregman's swing and approach was always tailor made for Fenway Park; it will be interesting to see if he opts out of his deal or if the environment is worth sticking around. Wheeler is one of the safest horses to bet on, one of the rare pitchers you can project for 190 or more innings. I was hoping Chourio would slip a few more picks, where I would have snap-called at 3.11. Alonso was washed away in the free agent market, but he's been a star for the opening quarter, enjoying life in the loaded NYM lineup.
Round 4
1. Jacob deGrom (TEX - SP) --- Steven Psihogios
Advertisement
2. Wyatt Langford (TEX - OF) --- Scott Pianowski
3. Joe Ryan (MIN - SP) --- Fred Zinkie
4. Mason Miller (ATH - RP) --- Jeff Erickson
5. Teoscar Hernández (LAD - OF) --- D.J. Short
6. Yordan Alvarez (HOU - OF) --- Scott Jenstad*
7. Rafael Devers (BOS - 3B) --- Frank Schwab
8. Matt Olson (ATL - 1B) --- Dalton Del Don
9. Brent Rooker (ATH - OF) --- Mike Parrillo
10. Riley Greene (DET - OF) --- Michael Lazarus
11. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD - SP) --- Andy Behrens
12. Ozzie Albies (ATL - 2B) --- Jorge Martin
I took Langford over established stats Devers and Olson because I wanted to get a more balanced offensive profile — in short, give me some bags. Langford's also been a touch unlucky to this point, deserving a slugging percentage 56 points higher. When you autograft, you might wind up with more injured players than you want — Alvarez is the beginning of a theme. Albies has been an ordinary player for over a year now but still landed at the end of the fourth round.
Round 5
1. Seiya Suzuki (CHC - OF) --- Jorge Martin
Advertisement
2. Ketel Marte (AZ - 2B) --- Andy Behrens
3. Chris Sale (ATL - SP) --- Michael Lazarus
4. Logan Webb (SF - SP) --- Mike Parrillo
5. Spencer Strider (ATL - SP) --- Dalton Del Don
6. Josh Hader (HOU - RP) --- Frank Schwab
7. Cole Ragans (KC - SP) --- Scott Jenstad*
8. Dylan Cease (SD - SP) --- D.J. Short
9. Michael King (SD - SP) --- Jeff Erickson
10. Cal Raleigh (SEA - C) --- Fred Zinkie
11. Cody Bellinger (NYY - 1B,OF) --- Scott Pianowski
12. Framber Valdez (HOU - SP) --- Steven Psihogios
King has Cy Young contender written all over him and wouldn't look out of place a round or two earlier. Webb is probably more floor than upside but he's also one of the best pitchers around. The San Francisco park and defense will always help. We generally don't target catchers early when only one fill is required, but Zinkie can't ignore what Raleigh is doing.
Round 6
1. William Contreras (MIL - C) --- Steven Psihogios
Advertisement
2. Marcell Ozuna (ATL - OF) --- Scott Pianowski
3. Andrés Muñoz (SEA - RP) --- Fred Zinkie
4. Bryan Woo (SEA - SP) --- Jeff Erickson
5. Edwin Díaz (NYM - RP) --- D.J. Short
6. Jose Altuve (HOU - 2B,OF) --- Scott Jenstad*
7. Hunter Greene (CIN - SP) --- Frank Schwab
8. Emmanuel Clase (CLE - RP) --- Dalton Del Don
9. Corey Seager (TEX - SS) --- Mike Parrillo
10. Robert Suarez (SD - RP) --- Michael Lazarus
11. Corbin Burnes (AZ - SP) --- Andy Behrens
12. Zac Gallen (AZ - SP) --- Jorge Martin
The expected stats don't trust Burnes, saying his ERA should be over four. The strikeout rate is also suspicious, though he did whiff 10 in his last turn. Woo gets his strikeouts through volume, but plus control and efficiency help keep him deep in games. The Seattle park is a pitcher dream, too.
Round 7
1. Freddy Peralta (MIL - SP) --- Jorge Martin
Advertisement
2. Zach Neto (LAA - SS) --- Andy Behrens
3. Josh Naylor (AZ - 1B) --- Michael Lazarus
4. Ryan Helsley (STL - RP) --- Mike Parrillo
5. Michael Harris II (ATL - OF) --- Dalton Del Don
6. Kris Bubic (KC - SP,RP) --- Frank Schwab
7. Spencer Schwellenbach (ATL - SP) --- Scott Jenstad*
8. George Kirby (SEA - SP) --- D.J. Short
9. Spencer Torkelson (DET - 1B) --- Jeff Erickson
10. Lawrence Butler (ATH - OF) --- Fred Zinkie
11. Dansby Swanson (CHC - SS) --- Scott Pianowski
12. Junior Caminero (TB - 3B) --- Steven Psihogios
Fast starters Swanson, Bubic and Torkelson were raised to Round 7, while it's also the landing spot for slow starters Harris and Butler. Neto was comically discounted in the spring due to a minor injury — he's obviously in fine form now.
Round 8
1. Bryan Reynolds (PIT - OF) --- Steven Psihogios
Advertisement
2. Steven Kwan (CLE - OF) --- Scott Pianowski
3. Pablo López (MIN - SP) --- Fred Zinkie
4. Jhoan Duran (MIN - RP) --- Jeff Erickson
5. Ian Happ (CHC - OF) --- D.J. Short
6. Raisel Iglesias (ATL - RP) --- Scott Jenstad*
7. Brice Turang (MIL - 2B) --- Frank Schwab
8. Luis Robert Jr. (CWS - OF) --- Dalton Del Don
9. Bailey Ober (MIN - SP) --- Mike Parrillo
10. Carlos Rodón (NYY - SP) --- Michael Lazarus
11. Randy Arozarena (SEA - OF) --- Andy Behrens
12. Tanner Scott (LAD - RP) --- Jorge Martin
Lopez is the type of pitcher you draft as your SP2 knowing he could easily become your ace. Always a touch underrated. Happ is a classic Ibanez All-Star and with his IL return slated for Tuesday, he goes for close to full price, justified. Turang's not just a rabbit, he can offer a plus average and he'll hit a handful of homers. He's also getting a fair amount of time in the leadoff spot, a trend worth monitoring. I don't have any fresh theories on Robert, who's looked lost since the beginning of 2024.
Round 9
1. Tanner Bibee (CLE - SP) --- Jorge Martin
Advertisement
2. Victor Scott II (STL - OF) --- Andy Behrens
3. Wilyer Abreu (BOS - OF) --- Michael Lazarus
4. Matt McLain (CIN - 2B,SS) --- Mike Parrillo
5. Félix Bautista (BAL - RP) --- Dalton Del Don
6. MacKenzie Gore (WSH - SP) --- Frank Schwab
7. Logan Gilbert (SEA - SP) --- Scott Jenstad*
8. Willson Contreras (STL - C,1B) --- D.J. Short
9. Eugenio Suárez (AZ - 3B) --- Jeff Erickson
10. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (NYY - 2B,3B,OF) --- Fred Zinkie
11. Brendan Donovan (STL - 2B,3B,SS,OF) --- Scott Pianowski
12. Brenton Doyle (COL - OF) --- Steven Psihogios
Doyle's been a mess for 38 games, but he's still offering category juice and the expected average is 49 points higher. This looks like a value. Gore's breakout has looked legit at every step, so I'm surprised he lasted this long. Heck, the guy even struck out 181 batters last year. I can't help myself with Donovan, who has batting title written all over him, bats third and covers four positions.
Round 10
1. Bo Bichette (TOR - SS) --- Steven Psihogios
Advertisement
2. Byron Buxton (MIN - OF) --- Scott Pianowski
3. Nathan Eovaldi (TEX - SP) --- Fred Zinkie
4. Jacob Wilson (ATH - SS) --- Jeff Erickson
5. Kodai Senga (NYM - SP) --- D.J. Short
6. Shota Imanaga (CHC - SP) --- Scott Jenstad*
7. Vinnie Pasquantino (KC - 1B) --- Frank Schwab
8. Matt Chapman (SF - 3B) --- Dalton Del Don
9. Mark Vientos (NYM - 3B) --- Mike Parrillo
10. Tommy Edman (LAD - 2B,SS,OF) --- Michael Lazarus
11. Christian Walker (HOU - 1B) --- Andy Behrens
12. Willy Adames (SF - SS) --- Jorge Martin
Psihogios hails from Canada (along with Zinkie), so it's not surprising he's taking the plunge on Bichette. The ratio stats are similar to what Bichette posted in 2023. Pasquantino and Vientos took small drops from their March ADPs, but they look like good value plays here. Chapman is one of the five most underrated players in baseball.
Round 11
1. Will Smith (LAD - C) --- Jorge Martin
Advertisement
2. Pete Fairbanks (TB - RP) --- Andy Behrens
3. Cedric Mullins (BAL - OF) --- Michael Lazarus
4. Kyle Finnegan (WSH - RP) --- Mike Parrillo
5. Jeremy Peña (HOU - SS) --- Dalton Del Don
6. Jeff Hoffman (TOR - RP) --- Frank Schwab
7. Anthony Santander (TOR - OF) --- Scott Jenstad*
8. Nico Hoerner (CHC - 2B,SS) --- D.J. Short
9. Maikel Garcia (KC - 2B,3B) --- Jeff Erickson
10. Paul Goldschmidt (NYY - 1B) --- Fred Zinkie
11. Jordan Beck (COL - OF) --- Scott Pianowski
12. Marcus Semien (TEX - 2B) --- Steven Psihogios
Boring handshakes still spend the same, so Hoffman and Finnegan make sense here. Beck feels like a good value after a monster month; he's been a top 12 offensive producer over the past four weeks and he'll always be in the top three of the Colorado order. I hope this isn't the end for Semien, off to a sluggish .174/.267/.234 start. He's tumbled about 4-5 rounds here.
Round 12
1. Luis Castillo (SEA - SP) --- Steven Psihogios
Advertisement
2. Christian Yelich (MIL - OF) --- Scott Pianowski
3. Kerry Carpenter (DET - OF) --- Fred Zinkie
4. Tyler Soderstrom (ATH - 1B,OF) --- Jeff Erickson
5. Ezequiel Tovar (COL - SS) --- D.J. Short
6. Sonny Gray (STL - SP) --- Scott Jenstad*
7. Casey Mize (DET - SP) --- Frank Schwab
8. Robbie Ray (SF - SP) --- Dalton Del Don
9. Dylan Crews (WSH - OF) --- Mike Parrillo
10. Kyle Stowers (MIA - OF) --- Michael Lazarus
11. Trevor Megill (MIL - RP) --- Andy Behrens
12. Alec Bohm (PHI - 1B,3B) --- Jorge Martin
Lazarus clearly paid attention to the opening quarter of the year, with the Stowers selection underscoring that fact. Soderstrom's having a breakout year despite surprising struggles at home — he's only hit two homers at Sutter Health Park, and his average is 56 points higher on the road. Carpenter doesn't do a thing against lefties, but he's such a crusher against RHPs, it doesn't matter.
Round 13
1. Nick Castellanos (PHI - OF) --- Jorge Martin
Advertisement
2. Anthony Volpe (NYY - SS) --- Andy Behrens
3. Nick Pivetta (SD - SP) --- Michael Lazarus
4. Salvador Perez (KC - C,1B) --- Mike Parrillo
5. Jack Flaherty (DET - SP) --- Dalton Del Don
6. Heliot Ramos (SF - OF) --- Frank Schwab
7. Adley Rutschman (BAL - C) --- Scott Jenstad*
8. Cristopher Sánchez (PHI - SP) --- D.J. Short
9. Jesús Luzardo (PHI - SP) --- Jeff Erickson
10. Geraldo Perdomo (AZ - SS) --- Fred Zinkie
11. Carlos Estévez (KC - RP) --- Scott Pianowski
12. Adolis García (TEX - OF) --- Steven Psihogios
If Ramos were on a glamour team, he would have been drafted 2-4 rounds earlier. Rutschman was a notable ADP tumbler, though his slump is about a year old now. Perdomo seems to have marked his territory in Arizona for now, no matter the presence of Jordan Lawlar.
Round 14
1. Ryan Walker (SF - RP) --- Steven Psihogios
Advertisement
2. Aroldis Chapman (BOS - RP) --- Scott Pianowski
3. Luke Weaver (NYY - RP) --- Fred Zinkie
4. Clay Holmes (NYM - SP,RP) --- Jeff Erickson
5. Jung Hoo Lee (SF - OF) --- D.J. Short
6. Xavier Edwards (MIA - SS) --- Scott Jenstad*
7. Xander Bogaerts (SD - 2B,SS) --- Frank Schwab
8. Jordan Romano (PHI - RP) --- Dalton Del Don
9. Isaac Paredes (HOU - 1B,3B) --- Mike Parrillo
10. Masyn Winn (STL - SS) --- Michael Lazarus
11. Hunter Goodman (COL - C,OF) --- Andy Behrens
12. Michael Busch (CHC - 1B) --- Jorge Martin
The Rockies make sure Goodman is in the lineup just about every day, so even with much of the room not prioritizing catcher, Goodman is a classy pick in this spot. Lee's rookie year with the Giants was ruined by injury; he's on pace to score 100 runs and drive in 100 runs, along with a plus average and some category juice.
Round 15
1. Jasson Domínguez (NYY - OF) --- Jorge Martin
Advertisement
2. Ceddanne Rafaela (BOS - 2B,SS,OF) --- Andy Behrens
3. Mike Trout (LAA - OF) --- Michael Lazarus
4. Kenley Jansen (LAA - RP) --- Mike Parrillo
5. Yainer Diaz (HOU - C,1B) --- Dalton Del Don
6. Jonathan Aranda (TB - 1B,2B) --- Frank Schwab
7. Kevin Gausman (TOR - SP) --- Scott Jenstad*
8. Devin Williams (NYY - RP) — D.J. Short
9. Grant Holmes (ATL - SP,RP) — Jeff Erickson
10. Drew Rasmussen (TB - SP,RP) — Fred Zinkie
11. Bryson Stott (PHI - 2B,SS) — Scott Pianowski
12. Luis García Jr. (WSH - 2B) — Steven Psihogios
I've stopped waiting for health miracles with Trout, but Round 15 feels right. Gausman has a jagged ERA but a tidy WHIP and when those stats tell different stories, we generally trust the WHIP. Williams has started to come around in the Bronx, but Luke Weaver has been just about perfect as the New York closer. It's hard to say where that story is headed.
Round 16
1. Kristian Campbell (BOS - 2B,OF) — Steven Psihogios
Advertisement
2. Jorge Polanco (SEA - 2B,3B) — Scott Pianowski
3. Royce Lewis (MIN - 3B) — Fred Zinkie
4. Matthew Liberatore (STL - SP,RP) — Jeff Erickson
5. Josh Lowe (TB - OF) — D.J. Short
6. Seth Lugo (KC - SP) — Scott Jenstad*
7. Emilio Pagán (CIN - RP) — Frank Schwab
8. Gleyber Torres (DET - 2B) — Dalton Del Don
9. Yusei Kikuchi (LAA - SP) — Mike Parrillo
10. Will Vest (DET - RP) — Michael Lazarus
11. Brandon Lowe (TB - 1B,2B) — Andy Behrens
12. Brandon Pfaadt (AZ - SP) — Jorge Martin
A lot of my so-called sneaky targets were snapped up here — Campbell, Liberatore, Lugo (it's only a finger injury), Vest. It feels like five minutes since the Reds didn't have a closer — all of a sudden, Pagán has 12 saves.
Round 17
1. Sandy Alcantara (MIA - SP) — Jorge Martin
Advertisement
2. Andy Pages (LAD - OF) — Andy Behrens
3. Shea Langeliers (ATH - C) — Michael Lazarus
4. Yandy Díaz (TB - 1B) — Mike Parrillo
5. Josh Jung (TEX - 3B) — Dalton Del Don
6. Roman Anthony (BOS - OF) — Frank Schwab
7. Brandon Nimmo (NYM - OF) — Scott Jenstad*
8. Reese Olson (DET - SP) D.J. Short
9. Lars Nootbaar (STL - OF) — Jeff Erickson
10. Taylor Ward (LAA - OF) — Fred Zinkie
11. J.T. Realmuto (PHI - C) — Scott Pianowski
12. Nick Lodolo (CIN - SP) — Steven Psihogios
You want a boring value vet, Nimmo waves hello. Anthony hasn't hit for power in May but he's still the most interesting batter prospect in the minors. The Red Sox obviously have a glutted outfield, but they also have a losing record — find a place for this kid.
Round 18
1. Spencer Steer (CIN - 1B,OF) — Steven Psihogios
2. Logan O'Hoppe (LAA - C) — Scott Pianowski
3. Merrill Kelly (AZ - SP) — Fred Zinkie
4. Iván Herrera (STL - C) — Jeff Erickson
5. Justin Martinez (AZ - RP) — D.J. Short
6. Jordan Westburg (BAL - 2B,3B) — Scott Jenstad*
7. Jackson Holliday (BAL - 2B,SS) — Frank Schwab
8. George Springer (TOR - OF) — Dalton Del Don
9. Ryan Pepiot (TB - SP) — Mike Parrillo
10. Ronel Blanco (HOU - SP) — Michael Lazarus
11. Tyler Glasnow (LAD - SP) — Andy Behrens
12. Camilo Doval (SF - RP) — Jorge Martin
I knew Schwab was a Holliday guy before the year, and nothing has changed after a solid start. Despite a decent first quarter, Springer still lasted to Pick 212. How many starts should we project for Glasnow? Ten? Twelve? Fifteen?
Round 19
1. Blake Snell (LAD - SP) — Jorge Martin
2. Ryan Weathers (MIA - SP) — Andy Behrens
3. Dylan Moore (SEA - 1B,2B,3B,SS,OF) — Michael Lazarus
4. Jonathan India (KC - 2B,3B,OF) — Mike Parrillo
5. Chandler Simpson (TB - OF) — Dalton Del Don
6. Colt Keith (DET - 1B,2B) — Frank Schwab
7. Bryce Miller (SEA - SP) — Scott Jenstad*
8. Nick Kurtz (ATH - 1B) — D.J. Short
9. Luis Arraez (SD - 1B,2B) — Jeff Erickson
10. Kyle Manzardo (CLE - 1B) — Fred Zinkie
11. Ben Rice (NYY - 1B) — Scott Pianowski
12. Nolan Arenado (STL - 3B) — Steven Psihogios
Moore is having a sneaky season, sitting on seven homers and seven steals, along with a juicy 150 OPS+. And look at those lovely five positions. First-base filling was a priority here, with six different players covering that spot. Interesting to see breakout kids Manzardo and Rice land back to back.
Round 20
1. Agustín Ramírez (MIA - C,1B) — Steven Psihogios
2. Jake Burger (TEX - 1B,3B) — Scott Pianowski
3. AJ Smith-Shawver (ATL - SP) — Fred Zinkie
4. José Caballero (TB - 2B,3B,SS,OF) — Jeff Erickson
5. Zach Eflin (BAL - SP) — D.J. Short
6. Tyler O'Neill (BAL - OF) — Scott Jenstad*
7. Hayden Birdsong (SF - SP,RP) — Frank Schwab
8. Trevor Story (BOS - SS) — Dalton Del Don
9. Gavin Sheets (SD - 1B,OF) — Mike Parrillo
10. Andrew Abbott (CIN - SP) — Michael Lazarus
11. Matt Shaw (CHC - 2B,3B,SS) — Andy Behrens
12. Aaron Nola (PHI - SP) — Jorge Martin
Can we just give Burger a pass for a horrible April? His last two years have to mean something. Birdsong is an interesting spec play, recently promoted to the San Francisco rotation. Nola looks broken to me, but at least Martin can park him on an IL slot.
Round 21
1. Max Muncy (LAD - 3B) — Jorge Martin
2. José Soriano (LAA - SP) — Andy Behrens
3. Porter Hodge (CHC - RP) — Michael Lazarus
4. Jackson Jobe (DET - SP,RP) — Mike Parrillo
5. Tyler Fitzgerald (SF - 2B,SS,OF) — Dalton Del Don
6. TJ Friedl (CIN - OF) — Frank Schwab
7. Michael Toglia (COL - 1B,OF) — Scott Jenstad*
8. Alec Burleson (STL - 1B,OF) — D.J. Short
9. Trent Grisham (NYY - OF) — Jeff Erickson
10. Tyler Mahle (TEX - SP) — Fred Zinkie
11. Jason Adam (SD - RP) — Scott Pianowski
12. Nathaniel Lowe (WSH - 1B) — Steven Psihogios
The room shrugged at Grisham's fast start, so Erickson gets a nifty value in Round 21. Friedl has been underrated his entire career. I wish Fitzgerald slotted higher in the San Francisco lineup, but he does a lot of things well and covers three positions.
Round 22
1. Jorge Soler (LAA - OF) — Steven Psihogios
2. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (AZ - OF) — Scott Pianowski
3. Trevor Larnach (MIN - OF) — Fred Zinkie
4. Dustin May (LAD - SP) — Jeff Erickson
5. Sal Frelick (MIL - OF) — D.J. Short
6. Ryan Mountcastle (BAL - 1B) — Scott Jenstad*
7. Austin Hays (CIN - OF) — Frank Schwab
8. Rhys Hoskins (MIL - 1B) — Dalton Del Don
9. Ryan McMahon (COL - 3B) — Mike Parrillo
10. Daulton Varsho (TOR - OF) — Michael Lazarus
11. Tommy Kahnle (DET - RP) — Andy Behrens
12. Brandon Woodruff (MIL - SP) — Jorge Martin
The Twins have that "no stars, just talent" motif working, and Larnach symbolizes that. He's usually parked in a good lineup slot, too. It's typically a good idea to raid the bullpen of any winning team; Behrens does that here with Kahnle in Detroit. Hays might be having a post-hype breakout season.
Round 23
1. Michael Conforto (LAD - OF) — Jorge Martin
2. Matthew Boyd (CHC - SP) — Andy Behrens
3. Jake Cronenworth (SD - 1B,2B) — Michael Lazarus
4. Zach McKinstry (DET - 2B,3B,SS,OF) — Mike Parrillo
5. Ben Brown (CHC - SP,RP) — Dalton Del Don
6. Clarke Schmidt (NYY - SP) — Frank Schwab
7. José Berríos (TOR - SP) — Scott Jenstad*
8. Eury Pérez (MIA - SP) — D.J. Short
9. Gavin Williams (CLE - SP) — Jeff Erickson
10. Otto Lopez (MIA - 2B,SS) — Fred Zinkie
11. Josh Smith (TEX - 1B,3B,SS,OF) — Scott Pianowski
12. Shane Baz (TB - SP) — Steven Psihogios
Several of the hitters here cover multiple positions, which is often a theme for those top-of-bench options. Berríos is off to a slow start but given his track record, I'd expect him to be a top-60 pitcher from here out, a reliable staff option for a league of this size.
Round 24
1. Austin Wells (NYY - C) — Steven Psihogios
2. Randy Rodríguez (SF - RP) — Scott Pianowski
3. Chris Bassitt (TOR - SP) — Fred Zinkie
4. Willi Castro (MIN - 2B,3B,SS,OF) — Jeff Erickson
5. Gabriel Moreno (AZ - C) — D.J. Short
6. Roki Sasaki (LAD - SP) — Scott Jenstad*
7. Drake Baldwin (ATL - C) — Frank Schwab
8. Zebby Matthews (MIN - SP) — Dalton Del Don
9. Logan Henderson (MIL - SP) — Mike Parrillo
10. Yu Darvish (SD - SP) — Michael Lazarus
11. Ryan O'Hearn (BAL - 1B,OF) — Andy Behrens
12. JJ Bleday (ATH - OF) — Jorge Martin
Henderson looked outstanding in his first two starts — that dreamy change — and is an excellent speculation play this late. Matthews had a tidy ERA under two in the minors before a mediocre weekend debut for the Twins; he's still a high-upside arm worth consideration.
Round 25
1. Noelvi Marte (CIN - 3B) — Jorge Martin
2. Jesús Tinoco (MIA - RP) — Andy Behrens
3. Carson Kelly (CHC - C) — Michael Lazarus
4. Cam Smith (HOU - 3B,OF) — Mike Parrillo
5. Clayton Kershaw (LAD - SP) — Dalton Del Don
6. Will Benson (CIN - OF) — Frank Schwab
7. Andrés Giménez (TOR - 2B) — Scott Jenstad*
8. Luke Jackson (TEX - RP) — D.J. Short
9. Tylor Megill (NYM - SP) — Jeff Erickson
10. Shelby Miller (AZ - RP) — Fred Zinkie
11. Chase Meidroth (CWS - 2B,3B,SS) — Scott Pianowski
12. Max Meyer (MIA - SP) — Steven Psihogios
Benson's power show last weekend was enough to push him into our draft. Miller, Jackson and Tinoco all have a chance at saves, though Tinoco pitched early in Monday's game and was knocked around.
Round 26
1. Taj Bradley (TB - SP) — Steven Psihogios
2. Javier Báez (DET - 3B,SS,OF) — Scott Pianowski
3. Lucas Erceg (KC - RP) — Fred Zinkie
4. Sean Manaea (NYM - SP) — Jeff Erickson
5. Griffin Canning (NYM - SP) — D.J. Short
6. José Alvarado (PHI - RP) — Scott Jenstad*
7. Dennis Santana (PIT - RP) — Frank Schwab
8. Will Warren (NYY - SP) — Dalton Del Don
9. Brooks Lee (MIN - 2B,3B,SS) — Mike Parrillo
10. Walker Buehler (BOS - SP) — Michael Lazarus
11. Bryan Abreu (HOU - RP) — Andy Behrens
12. Tony Gonsolin (LAD - SP) — Jorge Martin
Gonsolin is your Mr. Irrelevant. May it work out as well as Brock Purdy. Pitching dominates our last wave of picks, covering 10 of 12 spots.
Wall of Fame: Past F&F Champions
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
15 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Dylan Beavers, Landen Roupp and Nolan McLean
FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS Dylan Beavers (OF Orioles): Rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues This has to be the time. With just 45 days left in the season as of Friday, the Orioles can now safely promote Beavers and keep him Rookie of the Year eligible in 2026. The move should have happened the day after Ramón Laureano was traded, and Beavers being trapped in Triple-A has only become more ridiculous with Tyler O'Neill and Colton Cowser landing on the IL. The Orioles have used Dylan Carlson, Daniel Johnson, Greg Allen, Ryan Noda and Jeremiah Jackson to cover the outfield in recent days, even as Beavers has hit .305/.420/.518 with 18 homers and 23 steals for Triple-A Norfolk. The 33rd overall pick in the 2022 draft, Beavers has taken a major step forward this year in simultaneously adding power and cutting back on his strikeouts. He fanned 23.5% of the time in a 2024 campaign spent mostly in Double-A. This year, he's at just 17.9% and has barely more strikeouts (74) than walks (67) in 413 plate appearances. His power potential is still in question. He's big-time flyball hitter with pretty average exit velocity numbers and only an average pull rate. Yanking more of his 360-foot flies down the right field line is going to be a must for him in the majors. Fortunately, Camden Yards is kind to left-handed power. Beavers might not be someone who succeeds right away. His patience at the plate has been greatly rewarded with the tight, ABS-controlled strike zone in Triple-A, and he'll be seeing pitchers with better stuff get strike calls off the corners in the majors. Hitting for average probably won't happen immediately. Still, he's been ready for his first look for weeks now, and even if he doesn't thrive immediately, his basestealing ability could help him amass some mixed-league value. Landen Roupp (SP Giants): Rostered in 29% of Yahoo leagues Roupp missed most of 2023 and spent much of 2024 in the bullpen, throwing just 76 2/3 innings, making one wonder how he was going to hold up as a full-time starter for the Giants this season. He was already up to 101 1/3 innings -- just six off his career high from 2022 -- when he went on the IL last month with elbow inflammation. That's not great, of course, but it did give him the break he probably needed to help remain strong into September. The 26-year-old Roupp has impressed for the most part in his return to the rotation. He had a 4.73 ERA in his first eight starts, but his peripherals were better than that suggested. Since then, he's come in at 5-3 with a 2.05 ERA in 12 turns. His 53/28 K/BB over 61 1/3 innings during the span isn't great, but Roupp gets plenty of grounders with his sinker and can punch guys out with his curve or change when he gets to two strikes. The Giants have tough road series next week in San Diego and Milwaukee, but after that, they'll finish up with a pretty easy schedule and play six of their last 10 series at home. It bodes well for the team's pitching and makes Roupp and Justin Verlander a little more interesting the rest of the way. Maybe hold Roupp out if he is activated to start against the Padres (he might make a second rehab start instead), but after that, he should be a nice play. Nolan McLean (SP Mets): Rostered in 16% of Yahoo leagues Looking for a boost, the Mets pulled the plug on Frankie Montas this week, sending him to the bullpen. Coming up in his place is the 24-year-old McLean, who will make his major league debut Saturday against the Mariners. He's earned the chance by going 8-5 with a 2.45 ERA and a 127/50 K/BB in 113 2/3 innings between Double- and Triple-A this year. Since the beginning of July, he's fanned 29.2% of the hitters he's faced. McLean has mostly thrown mid-90s fastballs and sinkers, mid-80s sliders and high-80s cutters this season. His curveball has gotten good reviews, but he's used it just nine percent of the time in Triple-A. He's more often around the strike zone with the other offerings, though walks still can be a problem. Fortunately, he gets plenty of grounders when hitters make contact against him, and he can erase some of those walks with double-play balls. The danger with McLean in the majors is that he'll rack up too high of pitch counts to get through five innings and qualify for wins. He should be pretty effective, though, and the Mets, on paper at least, have an excellent bullpen behind him, so if he does get through five with a lead, there's a good chance it'll be held on to. He seems well worth taking a chance on. Waiver Wire Quick Hits - Kyle Harrison has pitched 10 scoreless innings in his last two outings for Triple-A Worcester and has a 1.59 ERA in his last six starts, so it seems like time for Boston to give him a real shot. I'm not high on Red Sox starters for the most part, but Harrison is missing enough bats to be interesting. - Cubs prospect Owen Caissie would have gotten the thumbs up here if he was due to play regularly, but he's not likely to get that kind of opportunity unless an outfielder ahead of him gets hurt. Caissie, promoted to the majors for the first time Thursday as a result of Miguel Amaya's ankle injury, was batting .289/.389/.586 with 22 homers in Triple-A and is very likely ready to contribute against right-handed pitchers.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fantasy Football draft mistakes to avoid: Let's break these 6 bad habits in 2025
The following is an excerpt from the latest edition of Yahoo's fantasy football newsletter, Get to the Points! If you like what you see, you can subscribe for free here. All summer long, we talk about the Do's of fantasy football. Target this player. Trust this offense. Lean into this stat or this piece of film review. Do, do, do. But there's a yang to every yin, some ebb to every piece of flow. Sometimes you have to talk about the Don't side of things, the habits to clean up, the things to avoid. Today, that's the assignment. We will talk about mistakes that are commonly made in fantasy football. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Mistake 1: Not knowing the basics Sure, not knowing the league rules and settings is obvious. But it's also a common error. I know, because I make it myself sometimes — and there's no justification for it. It's no fun to read the rules or audit the settings, I get it. In some of the leagues I play in, the rulebook is long and unwieldy, a cumbersome read. And like so many fantasy managers, I'm in a ton of leagues (too many to count), so at times it becomes tempting to cut this corner. But if you're not clear on the game you're playing, errors are sure to follow. Let's make sure we put in the work I'm not just talking about checking scoring rules, but every league setting. Example of a common mistake: often managers are unaware of when free agency starts or when the waiver process begins. Thirty seconds in your online calendar today can cover you for a missed opportunity later. Mistake 2: Drafting insurance Modern baseball theory says that sacrifice bunts are rarely a good idea. The game is dominated by launch angles and home runs, to the point that giving up an out and advancing a runner from first to second is rarely the proper play. When you hand outs to the other team, you cap your scoring upside. What does this have to do with fantasy football? Well, when you go out of your way to draft the NFL backups of your primary starters (especially at running back), you're essentially bunting. You're capping your upside. You're playing for the small inning. Tips Early in the fantasy season, I want you to play for the big inning. I want you to try to build the most dynamic juggernaut possible. Sure, you can draft backup running backs, intriguing stash-and-hope runners, but do it when it's not tied to one of your primary starters. Draft the backups that benefit if your opponents encounter bad luck. Build a roster that can spike — not merely survive — when chaos happens. Stop playing it safe and hurting your ceiling. When to get RB insurance The understudy back can make sense later in the year — much like bunting can still make sense in baseball, later in a game. The winning scenario narrows the later we get in any contest, and with that in mind, you act accordingly. If you're crushing the league come early November and you want Tyler Allgeier to insure Bijan Robinson— because your roster doesn't have bigger problems that need solving — I can sign off. In August, that's the wrong way to think. Your goals should be much loftier the day you start assembling your roster. Mistake 3: Anchoring to previously-held opinions Fantasy sports are essentially a game of opinions, your best guess against my best guess. The top fantasy managers are going to have plenty of takes. You compete for a few years, take down a trophy or two, you get some confidence and even some ego. Things to remember The NFL is a snow-globe league, the American sport with the most year-over-year variance. It's also the fantasy sport where context matters the most.A journeyman running back might become fantasy royalty if he lands in the right a walk-in Hall of Famer like Randy Moss can fall off the planet when he's on a shipwrecked team like the 2006 Raiders. My philosophy I have plenty of strong player and strategy takes today, just like I did a month ago, three months ago or six months ago. But everything's written in pencil. When the facts shift, I'm certainly willing to change my mind. And when overlooked angles are brought to my attention, I'm willing to change my mind then, too. The goal Figure out the new season before your opponents do. And with that in mind, you have to be willing to be selectively aggressive when opportunities arise. Mistake 4: Being paralyzed by fear Paradox of Choice is a fascinating concept, the idea that otherwise-smart people can be overwhelmed by alternatives. It's not uncommon for a fantasy manager to tell me they prefer a roster of minimal depth over a roster of fantastic depth, because they aren't forced to make difficult choices each week. (Obviously, a deep team can allow for trades to build an even better starting lineup, but let's ignore that for now.) Some managers are afraid to bench a player because said player was a high pick, or required a lot of FAB on the waiver wire. Some managers are afraid to make a trade or a free agent move because they're obsessed with how bad they'll feel if the decision turns out to be wrong. Friendliest Loss remains a pox in our decision-making world Too many fantasy players will settle on the choice that will give them the least amount of pain if it doesn't go as planned — no matter if that choice reflects what they view the most likely winning scenario. Don't be afraid of making a mistake, friends. Tricky decisions are like bluffs in poker — if you don't have one blow up on you every so often, you are playing far too conservatively. Fortune favors the brave. I'm not suggesting you do wacky things just for the sake of it. I still want you to make good decisions, sound decisions. But focus on the likelihood of your decision working, and what the payoff may be. Don't get tripped up on what the regret will feel like if you're wrong. That's not how successful people think. Mistake 5: Not updating your queue during the draft I generally don't touch the preset rankings in any draft applet, because I want to know what most of the league is looking at. But that doesn't mean I rest back in my chair and scroll through emails between picks. I'm constantly working on some kind of list, be it an off-applet list I'm maintaining, or adding and arranging players in my online draft queue. Reasons to stay active during the draft A tidily-arranged queue will be your best friend if you get bumped offline mid-draft — and will spare you a possible-disastrous autopick. It's a good way to keep late-round sleepers fresh in your mind, especially with names who might be buried on the site's preset ranks. If you're doing an offline draft, you can still maintain a queue — a pen and sheet of paper will do. Just keep it away from curious neighbors. I'll also add that many of the new Yahoo Fantasy Plus features can help managers on draft day and all season long. Mistake 6: Ignoring ADP It's common to hear established fantasy players zealously proclaiming their disdain for average draft position, noting how they draft to the beat of their own drummer. And hey, I get it, at some point, you have to go get the players you believe in. But you at least want to have a general idea of where those players might come off the board in a typical draft. How to use ADP to your advantage When I examine ADP, I like to focus on the trending market, how rooms have been drafting in the past week or so — something you can track on Yahoo. Deeper-rooted ADP is going to be more buggy and less useful. At the end of the day, you want to undercut the market slightly on the later-round picks you covet, not blow the market out of the water. Don't take your hidden gem in the sixth round when context clues make it clear you could have waited until the 10th round or later.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘I'm A Professional CrossFit Athlete—These Are My Secrets to Staying Strong'
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." I never expected to be a professional athlete when I was introduced to CrossFit in 2013. I played competitive sports through high school and college, but when I graduated at 19, I felt lost—I craved a new community and routine. Then, one day, I stumbled on the Beauty in Strength promo video on the CrossFit YouTube channel, which was a marketing effort to recruit more women to the sport. I was so inspired by the athleticism and strength of women, I signed up for my local CrossFit gym and gave it a shot. The workout focused on short, fast intervals for a variety of movements pulled from Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, gymnastics, track, and rowing. I loved that it was both cardio and strength work, but the community is what really sold me. Everyone was so supportive, and I felt like I was part of a team again. I knew right then and there that CrossFit was going to be part of my life forever. And I was right. Almost 12 years later, I've now qualified for the CrossFit Games three times: 2019, 2023, and most recently, 2025 where it was my best finish to date and, most importantly, my favorite experience. I won the third event (out of 10 events total) by an entire minute and placed 17th out of 30 participants at the end of competition. My mindset and training regimen has looked different throughout the years, but as a professional CrossFit athlete, my goal is to be the strongest version of myself I can be. Here's how I stayed strong, physically and mentally, to train for the 2025 CrossFit Games. 1. I train intentionally to build muscle and improve endurance. I work out twice a day, six days a week, for three to four hours at a time. Every day looks different, but my training revolves around strength, gymnastics, and aerobic conditioning. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings are dedicated to building muscle, so I primarily focus on powerlifting moves like power cleans, back squats, and deadlifts, where I typically do three sets of one to five reps. Depending on the day, I also implement carrying and conditioning moves such as farmer's carries and sled pushes. Tuesday and Saturday mornings are dedicated to gymnastics, so my coach programs a variety of pull-ups, muscle-ups, and handstands. Thursday morning is dedicated to long aerobic conditioning (around 30 minutes), so I train anything from rowing to biking to running. The beauty of CrossFit is there's no same day, so there's a ton of variety. My afternoon workout sessions are usually devoted to high power interval training, which means I'll work really hard for two to four minutes at a time, before completely recovering. I also incorporate lower intensity accessory work in the afternoon which includes free weight exercises like dumbbell rows, lateral raises, and triceps Weights $14.68 at Dumbbells $151.96 at Bars $55.00 at 2. I don't shy away from carbs. A lot of women think they need to avoid carbohydrates, but for me, carbs are my primary source of energy. Since I work out six to eight hours a day, my carb intake takes priority over everything else since I need the most energy to perform with the most intensity. For breakfast, I typically eat toast with jelly and a side of eggs and a cup of juice, while lunch usually consists of white rice, sweet potato, ground beef, and lots of fresh and dried fruit. I tend to avoid veggies during the day since they're hard for me to digest between training sessions, so I load up on the vegetables during dinner whether it's a salad, stir fry, or side dish. I have gone through seasons of counting macros, but at this point, my eating is pretty intuitive. I know generally how many macros are in a meal, so I'm more focused on prioritizing fresh, whole foods and fueling my body in a way that feels good and satisfying. 3. I prioritize recovery. Given the amount of training I do on a daily and weekly basis, recovery is non-negotiable. Between my morning and afternoon training sessions, I try to recover as best I can. During my lunch break, I typically use a muscle stimulator machine, which increases circulation and boosts recovery since it causes my muscles to contract and relax without putting stress on the joints. Hot showers, ice baths, and saunas are also key for muscle relaxation and pain relief when I'm sore. To stay injury-free, I also see a massage therapist and physical therapist once a week. Sundays are my complete off day, and I honor that. I intentionally do nothing gym related. Instead, I love going for walks on the beach with my husband since we're lucky enough to live in Florida. It's my happy place and a time to collect my thoughts, pray, and reflect on the week. 4. I lean on community. When I first started CrossFit, the community is really what pulled me in. Now, 12 years later, the community is what keeps me going. As a professional athlete, when your sport becomes the thing that pays your bills, it's easy to put so much power into the value of who you are on paper. But I am more than just an athlete, and my CrossFit community constantly reminds me of that — they love me for who I am as a person and not just for who I am on the leaderboard. I met my best friends, mentors, and husband thanks to CrossFit and I'm forever grateful. My successes are truly a reflection of my community and the incredible people that have supported me to get where I am today. 5. I visualize competition day and mentally rehearse giving my best. In preparation for a competition, I do a lot of visualization work. Before bed each night, I visualize everything from the competition floor to the crowd to the stage to my competitors to picking up my barbell to crushing all my reps. Not only does it help settle my nerves, but mental visualization enhances my performance. By the time it's competition day, I've already ran through it in my mind 10 times and know what to expect. In a way, visualization techniques are like a pregame walk-through. Creating a mental movie of an upcoming competition is a way to condition my brain for successful outcomes, and the more I mentally rehearse my performance, the more it becomes habituated in my mind. As I reflect on my third CrossFit Games, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude. My job was to be the best athlete I could be, and my hard work and passion undoubtedly paid off. They say the most dangerous competitors are the happiest ones, and I fully believe that — I think I smiled the entire time. My experience at the Games was redemptive and transformative, but I walked away with so much more than a 17th place finish. I walked away as my strongest self. Get the Workouts Get the Workouts Get the Workouts Get the Workouts Get the Workouts Get the Workouts Get the Workouts Get the Workouts Get the Workouts Get the Workouts You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
