Fantasy baseball first base rankings: Sluggers Harper, Guerrero lead the way
2024 was a down year overall at first base, with several stalwarts taking a step backwards. One who did stand out though is Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and sets the pace in the American League. But will failed contract extension talks with the Blue Jays this offseason carry over onto the field?
New arrival Christian Walker will take aim at the Crawford Boxes in Houston, as will Cody Bellinger with the short porch in Yankee Stadium. Bellinger and another former NL MVP, Paul Goldschmidt, joined the defending AL champs this offseason to help fill the void left by Juan Soto's departure. The AL East also boasts potential value picks Triston Casas and Ryan Mountcastle.
In the National League, Bryce Harper gets the nod as the top overall first baseman. He's just ahead of Freddie Freeman, who's coming off ankle surgery, and Matt Olson, who regressed considerably from his stellar 2023 numbers.
Returning to the Mets was the best thing that could happen to Pete Alonso's fantasy value, especially with Soto now hitting in front of him. Recently traded Josh Naylor joins last season's most prolific offense in Arizona and is a good bet for a second consecutive 100-RBI season. However, depth in the NL falls off sharply after those first five.
2025 fantasy baseball first base rankings
Eligibility based on a minimum of 20 games played at the position in 2024. Other eligible positions also noted.
Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.
Rank Player Team League 1 Bryce Harper Phi NL1 2 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Tor AL1 3 Freddie Freeman LAD NL2 4 Matt Olson Atl NL3 5 Pete Alonso NYM NL4 6 Christian Walker Hou AL2 7 Salvador Perez-C KC AL3 8 Cody Bellinger-OF NYY AL4 9 Josh Naylor Ari NL5 10 Jake Burger-3B Tex AL5 11 Vinnie Pasquantino KC AL6 12 Triston Casas Bos AL7 13 Spencer Steer-OF Cin NL6 14 Paul Goldschmidt NYY AL8 15 Michael Toglia Col NL7 16 Luis Arraez-2B Mia NL8 17 Yandy Diaz TB AL9 18 Rhys Hoskins Mil NL9 19 Michael Busch ChC NL10 20 Nathaniel Lowe Was NL11 21 Ryan Mountcastle Bal AL10 22 Christian Encarnacion-Strand Cin NL12 23 Jeimer Candelario-3B Cin NL13 24 Tyler Soderstrom Ath AL11 25 Jonathan Aranda TB AL12 26 Andrew Vaughn CWS AL13 27 Luke Raley-OF Sea AL14 28 Jake Cronenworth-2B SD NL14 29 Josh Bell Was NL15 30 Ryan O'Hearn-OF Bal AL15 31 Spencer Torkelson Det AL16 32 Carlos Santana Cle AL17 33 Nolan Schanuel LAA AL18 34 Pavin Smith-OF Ari NL16 35 LaMonte Wade SF NL17 36 Justin Turner ChC NL18 37 Spencer Horwitz Pit NL19 38 Jonah Bride Mia NL20 39 Deyvison De Los Santos Mia NL21 40 Seth Brown-OF Ath AL19
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
29 minutes ago
- USA Today
Indiana Fever take on Connecticut Sun: TV channel, time, how to watch Sunday's game
Expect fireworks when the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun face off for the fourth time this season on Sunday. The Sun took the first regular-season matchup 85-83 on May 30. The Fever bounced back and defeated the Sun 88-71 on June 17, but tempers flared and multiple scuffles broke out. Indiana's Caitlin Clark and Connecticut's Jacy Sheldon had a heated exchange after Sheldon made incidental contact with Clark's face and Clark pushed Sheldon. The Sun's Marina Mabrey jumped in and shoved Clark down on the floor. A flagrant foul was called on Sheldon, while Clark, Mabrey and Connecticut center Tina Charles were each charged with a technical foul. Later in the game, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham committed a hard foul on Sheldon. Sheldon and teammate Lindsay Allen immediately confronted Cunningham and more words were exchanged before being separated by officials. Cunningham, Sheldon and Allen were all ejected from the game. Sheldon has since been traded to the Washington Mystics. MORE: Caitlin Clark shoved onto court in scuffle-laden game vs Sun The Fever and Sun last faced off on July 15, with Indiana coming away with a 85-77 win. But the Fever's celebration was short-lived after Clark injured her right groin in the final minute of the matchup. Clark has been sidelined since and has missed 12 consecutive games. Sunday will likely mark her 13th straight absence. Here's what you need to know about Sunday's matchup between the Fever and Sun: What time is Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun? The Indiana Fever travel to Uncasville, Conn. Sunday to face the Connecticut Sun at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) on Sunday, Aug. 17 at Mohegan Sun Arena. The game will be broadcast on NBA TV. How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Washington Mystics: TV, stream The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Dodgers' Dave Roberts Breaks Silence On Viral Beef With Padres' Mike Shildt
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres are involved in one of the more bitter rivalries in baseball. This rivalry has especially gotten a bit chippy over the last few years as the two teams have remained near the top of the National League, often meeting at the end of the year with the season on the line. Earlier this season, the Dodgers and Padres got into it again, ending with the managers, Dave Roberts of the Dodgers and Mike Shildt of the Padres, in a shouting match during a benches-clearing incident. These two managers clearly aren't fond of each other, but months after, the latest dustup, Roberts is working to put it behind him. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 15: Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Mike Shildt #8 of the San Diego Padres meet with umpires before the game between the San Diego Padres and... LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 15: Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Mike Shildt #8 of the San Diego Padres meet with umpires before the game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on August 15, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. More"I'm past it. I'm focused on our club and winning tonight. So that's, I have no thought of it. I really don't. I just want us to play well," Roberts said recently, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya. Putting this incident behind him is the only way for Roberts to move forward. If he were to take to the media and continue to drag Shildt through the mud, the entire incident would turn into a bit of a circus. The only way for Roberts to keep his team on task and focused is to dismiss the entire event. It's a professional response from the professional Dodgers manager. But that doesn't necessarily mean he's put the entire ordeal behind him. There's likely always going to be a bit of animosity between the two parties. More MLB: Kyle Tucker $500 Million Deal? Cubs Free Agency Buzz Already Turning Heads
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cubs and Pirates meet in series rubber match
Pittsburgh Pirates (52-72, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Chicago Cubs (69-53, second in the NL Central) Chicago; Sunday, 2:20 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Carmen Mlodzinski (2-7, 4.20 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 62 strikeouts); Cubs: Javier Assad (0-1, 9.00 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, two strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cubs -199, Pirates +164; over/under is 8 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates meet on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game series. Chicago is 69-53 overall and 37-23 at home. The Cubs have the fourth-ranked team batting average in the NL at .252. Pittsburgh is 18-43 on the road and 52-72 overall. The Pirates have a 36-22 record in games when they did not allow a home run. The matchup Sunday is the 10th time these teams match up this season. The Cubs have a 6-3 advantage in the season series. TOP PERFORMERS: Nico Hoerner has a .294 batting average to lead the Cubs, and has 20 doubles, three triples and four home runs. Dansby Swanson is 10 for 38 with a home run and an RBI over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 4-6, .226 batting average, 2.83 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs Pirates: 3-7, .223 batting average, 5.86 ERA, outscored by 29 runs INJURIES: Cubs: Miguel Amaya: 10-Day IL (ankle), Mike Soroka: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jameson Taillon: 15-Day IL (calf), Eli Morgan: 60-Day IL (elbow), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow) Pirates: Oneil Cruz: 7-Day IL (concussion), Endy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Enmanuel Valdez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Justin Lawrence: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tim Mayza: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jared Jones: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
