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?
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.
1. Jorge Martin, Fantasy Life
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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).
1. Freddie Freeman (LAD - 1B) — Jorge Martin
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.
1. Jacob deGrom (TEX - SP) — Steven Psihogios
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 autodraft, 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.
1. Seiya Suzuki (CHC - OF) — Jorge Martin
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.
1. William Contreras (MIL - C) — Steven Psihogios
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.
1. Freddy Peralta (MIL - SP) — Jorge Martin
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.
1. Bryan Reynolds (PIT - OF) — Steven Psihogios
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.
1. Tanner Bibee (CLE - SP) — Jorge Martin
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.
1. Bo Bichette (TOR - SS) — Steven Psihogios
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.
1. Will Smith (LAD - C) — Jorge Martin
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.
1. Luis Castillo (SEA - SP) — Steven Psihogios
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.
1. Nick Castellanos (PHI - OF) — Jorge Martin
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.
1. Ryan Walker (SF - RP) — Steven Psihogios
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.
1. Jasson Domínguez (NYY - OF) — Jorge Martin
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.
1. Kristian Campbell (BOS - 2B,OF) — Steven Psihogios
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.
1. Sandy Alcantara (MIA - SP) — Jorge Martin
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dalton Del Don (2024, 2021, 2017)
Scott Jenstad (2023, 2018)
Ryan Boyer (2022. 2016)
Scott Pianowski (2020, 2014, 2010, 2008)
Michael Lazarus (2019)
D.J. Short (2015, 2013)
Andy Behrens (2012, 2007)
Jeff Erickson (2011)
Chris Liss (2009, 2006)
Brandon Funston (2005)
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It has been a special summer in Milwaukee so far, and now it's time for the Brewers to parlay their regular-season magic into a deep postseason push, something they've failed to accomplish in their five playoff appearances since they took the Dodgers to NLCS Game 7 in 2018. And just once have the Brewers finished with the best record in baseball: 1982, the last and only time they reached the World Series. With a clear path to repeating that feat in 2025, perhaps this season ends with not just a Fall Classic appearance but also the franchise's first World Series title. Milwaukee has an awfully long way to go to get to that point, but this season feels like it could be the one in which it all comes together for the Brew Crew. 2. Philadelphia Phillies (69-49) Enter October with momentum. Last year's Phillies notably sputtered in the second half and weren't an especially threatening club by the time they squared off with the rival Mets in October; that showed in their discouraging NLDS performance. This year's club appears far more focused on maintaining a level of excellence throughout 162 games, and the deadline reinforcements headlined by elite closer Jhoan Duran should only aid in those efforts. This squad has all the ingredients to be a championship club — now they just have to go out and do it. 3. Los Angeles Dodgers (68-51) Figure out who their 13 best pitchers are. For the Dodgers, holding off the Padres to claim yet another NL West title and/or winning enough games to avoid the wild-card round will not be easy and will certainly influence the club's chances to make another deep postseason run. That said, arguably even more important for L.A.'s October outlook is identifying which pitchers will be healthy and/or effective enough to be trusted in crunch time. Even with Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Shohei Ohtani returning to the rotation in recent weeks, this staff faces questions, especially in the bullpen. That a unit that looked overloaded on paper entering the season still has a lot to sort through at this stage is an ominous, if fascinating, storyline to monitor in the coming weeks. 4. Toronto Blue Jays (69-50) Win the AL East for the first time in a decade. A franchise that faced enormous existential questions during spring training, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. approaching free agency, has since extended its star slugger for the long haul and taken full advantage of its divisional rivals' uneven play to emerge as one of the best teams in the American League. Now it's on Toronto to capitalize on this unexpected opportunity and claim the AL East crown — and perhaps the AL's best record — to ensure a raucous home-field advantage north of the border in October. 5. Chicago Cubs (67-50) Restore juggernaut status as an offense. After an underwhelming trade deadline that featured just one addition to the rotation who is already injured (Mike Soroka), the Cubs' starting pitching is facing some difficult questions regarding the workload management of key arms Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton. But this club's calling card remains its offensive firepower, which has been notably inconsistent of late. Regardless of the exact construction of the pitching staff, Chicago's best chance of success come October is still rooted in its ability to overwhelm opponents with offense, the way this team often did in the first few months of the season. That superpower needs to return down the stretch for the Cubs to be taken seriously. 6. Detroit Tigers (69-51) Secure a top-two seed in the American League. A massive lead atop the AL Central built in the first half has shrunk to a more modest gap, but Detroit still has an excellent chance to claim its first division crown since 2014. With a pitching staff that looks to be a bit thinner than the 'Tarik Skubal and Pitching Chaos' strategy that thrived down the stretch a year ago, this is a team that would seriously benefit from avoiding the wild-card round and gaining a bye to ensure its top arms are rested and ready to roll in October. 7. Houston Astros (67-52) Reclaim full-blown villain status with Carlos Correa back in the fold. The Astros' reacquisition of Correa has made them look far more intimidating and far more familiar as the league's ultimate heel, which Houston should embrace in its pursuit of another AL West title. Josh Hader's shoulder ailment is the latest in an avalanche of injuries that have threatened to derail the latest chapter of this dynastic run, but Houston remains in position to assert itself as one of the most feared ballclubs in baseball. 8. San Diego Padres (67-52) Chase down the Dodgers at long last. They've had mixed results in the postseason against the 'dragon up the freeway' in recent years, but the Padres have yet to topple the Dodgers in the regular-season standings during this era. With L.A. failing to live up to the astronomical hype entering the season and San Diego loading up at the deadline in classic AJ Preller fashion, this season presents as good a chance as ever for the Padres to claim the NL West crown. 9. Seattle Mariners (66-53) Win the AL West for the first time since 2001. Cal Raleigh's magical, MVP-caliber season just keeps on rolling. The additions of Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor have made an already-strong lineup look like one of baseball's best offensive units. The pitching is healthier than it has been all season. Although the Mariners likely should've added at least one more reliever at the trade deadline, Andres Muñoz and Matt Brash give manager Dan Wilson two elite bullpen options. The Astros are navigating a litany of injuries, making them as vulnerable as they've been in years. As Ichiro said during his powerful speech at his number retirement ceremony, the time is now; the Mariners must seize the moment and ride their recent surge of momentum to a long-awaited division title. 10. Boston Red Sox (65-55) Finish with a better record than the Yankees and return to the postseason. Missing the playoffs would make this the first time in more than three decades that the Red Sox failed to reach October in four straight seasons, which highlights the stakes for a franchise that had fallen into a shocking pit of mediocrity in recent seasons. At this stage, a return to the postseason looks likely, but the Red Sox can't get too comfortable. Seven more games against the Yankees offer the chance for Boston to devastate its biggest rivals or falter and risk supreme embarrassment when the lights are brightest. For as drama-filled as Boston's season has already been, it feels like anything is possible from this point forward. 11. New York Yankees (63-56) Take advantage of the schedule and secure a wild card without having to sweat during the final week. For as bad as the vibes have been in recent weeks, the Yankees can take solace in this: No American League team has an easier slate the rest of the way than New York, including seven games left against both the White Sox and the Orioles. That fact doesn't magically fix some of the more glaring on-field issues the Yankees have demonstrated recently, but there is undeniably some margin for error. There's still a version of this team that could look like a formidable opponent come October; the Yanks have seven weeks to rediscover it. 12. New York Mets (63-55) Find stability on the mound and some mojo on the road. After a marvelous start to the season, the Mets' run prevention efforts have regressed to a troubling degree, leaving them in a precarious position in the NL postseason picture. Their bats have also cooled off recently, but I'm more confident about the lineup heating back up than I am the pitching staff rediscovering its stout form. A more concerning, big-picture trend has been New York's struggles on the road; no team currently in playoff position has a worse record away from home than the Mets' 25-34 mark. A pivotal three-city trip, featuring stops in Detroit, Cincinnati and Philadelphia, looms next month and could determine this team's fate. If the Mets' road woes continue, that stretch could prove especially costly. 13. Texas Rangers (61-59) Score more runs. There's no need to overcomplicate this one. The Rangers' lineup, despite featuring plenty of recognizable names with stellar reputations, has continued to underwhelm to a staggering degree while the pitching staff has outpaced expectations at every turn. Even an average run-production operation would likely have Texas in playoff position, and the rotation would make the Rangers a daunting postseason team, but they are running out of time to produce a worthwhile lineup. 14. Cincinnati Reds (62-58) Play up to the competition. The Reds have admirably hung around in the NL playoff picture, but their toughest test lies ahead: Cincinnati has baseball's most difficult remaining schedule, with showdowns still to come against every current NL playoff team, plus three interleague contests against Toronto. For the Reds to stay relevant deep into September, they'll need to prove themselves against the league's best. Catch them on the right night, and Cincinnati looks up to the task, but navigating the upcoming gauntlet is a lot to ask of a young team that hasn't proven much of anything in recent years. 15. Cleveland Guardians (61-56) Flush the unpleasant midseason vibes and finish strong. The Guardians have exhibited an impressive amount of resilience following a 10-game losing streak and having two key pitchers placed on the restricted list due to an ongoing gambling investigation. It wasn't long ago that this felt like a doomed season in Cleveland, yet here the team stands with the opportunity to prove that last year wasn't entirely a fluke and the foundation of a healthy and successful franchise remains intact. Whether the Guardians can rally into a surprise playoff spot remains to be seen, but their current positioning is already something of an achievement considering the context. 16. St. Louis Cardinals (61-59) Play spoiler for the division rivals. The schedule provides a golden opportunity for St. Louis to be an absolute headache for three of its NL Central foes in September. Four of the Cardinals' final five series are against divisional opponents, including six games against the Brewers, three against Cincinnati and three to finish the regular season at Wrigley Field. Perhaps a window opens up for a late playoff push of their own — the Cardinals aren't that far back — but at the very least, this team will have the chance to make its rivals' lives difficult down the stretch. 17. San Francisco Giants (60-60) Finish multiple games above .500. Since their shocking 107-win campaign in 2021, the Giants have been almost magnetically tethered to a .500 record, winning 81, 79 and 80 games the past three seasons. This year, they are tracking toward another maddeningly middling final record, but there's enough talent here for San Francisco to finish stronger than that. Besides, even if the Giants aren't quite good enough to return to October, it would be horribly disappointing — and fairly brutal optics — if the first year of Buster Posey's tenure overseeing his beloved franchise yielded the exact same mediocre result. Is 85 wins too much to ask? We'll see. 18. Arizona Diamondbacks (57-62) Give the new bats as many plate appearances as possible. It's no secret that the Snakes face a ton of difficult questions on the mound moving forward, but those concerns can't be fixed right now. A more realistic short-term goal is to find out what they have in their less-experienced young hitters such as Tyler Locklear, Adrian Del Castillo, Blaze Alexander and, hopefully, Jordan Lawlar once he returns from injury. These are talented hitters who could play key supporting roles in 2026 on another elite Arizona offense, which should remain the team's calling card no matter what happens on the mound. 19. Tampa Bay Rays (58-62) Become road warriors. The Rays are in the midst of a nearly unprecedented, four-city road trip on the West Coast, a partial byproduct of a schedule that frontloaded their home games to avoid the hotter and rainier conditions of late summer at their temporary outdoor home of George M. Steinbrenner Field. Two loss-filled trips in July already cost the Rays mightily in the standings; if they want to hang around in the AL wild-card race, they must find a way to win more games as the away team, because there are three more multi-city jaunts on their schedule after this lengthy West Coast journey. 20. Miami Marlins (57-61) Have more fun than everyone else. A rough weekend in Atlanta soured the vibes somewhat, but let's not lose sight of the bigger picture here. This is a team that was widely expected and projected to be one of the three worst squads in the league, along with the White Sox and Rockies, yet here the Marlins are in mid-August with a respectable record and a wealth of positive developments up and down the roster. What looked to be a franchise in the earliest stages of a deep and painful rebuild suddenly has a legitimately positive outlook for the not-so-distant future — and you can tell from watching them. The Fish continuing to embrace their youthful exuberance down the stretch should only fuel the optimism entering 2026. 21. Minnesota Twins (56-62) Let the kids play. The Twins' dramatic roster overhaul at the deadline cleared the way for some new characters to prove themselves down the stretch. Whether it's rookie infielder Luke Keaschall in the lineup or the two talented young hurlers acquired at the deadline in Mick Abel and Taj Bradley, it's important for Minnesota to let the young players find their footing now so as to better prepare them to make a real impact in 2026. 22. Kansas City Royals (59-60) Get to know the new guys. Kansas City has welcomed a number of fresh faces into the fold this summer, whether it be homegrown rookies (Jac Caglianone, Noah Cameron) or trade acquisitions (Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, Bailey Falter). Finding out what the team has in those players feels more important for the long haul than whether the cast of veteran deadline additions (Randal Grichuk, Mike Yastrzemski, Adam Frazier) can fuel a last-gasp playoff push. 23. Los Angeles Angels (57-62) Finish with a winning record. Asking this team to end baseball's longest postseason drought feels like quite the stretch, so there's no need to get greedy here. This year's Halos remain severely flawed but are clearly much more competent and talented than the Anaheim clubs that averaged 92 losses over the past three seasons. October feels like a far-off fantasy, but the 2025 Angels should surpass .500 for the first time since 2015. 24. Atlanta Braves (51-67) Finish with dignity — but don't win many games. A small silver lining amidst this nightmare of a season for Atlanta: The Braves are extremely likely to find themselves in premium position in December's draft lottery, especially with three other subpar teams ineligible for the lottery (Rockies, Nationals, Angels) due to the limits on being in the lottery multiple years in a row. Getting a top pick is small consolation for how sideways this Braves season has gone, but it's not nothing and could be a nice opportunity to add a premier talent to a farm system that sorely lacks star power. 25. Athletics (53-68) Clarify roles for the young pitchers. After the team assembled an enviable group of impact bats, it's now time to figure out which pitchers will make up the staff of the next good A's team. Some strong drafts and a series of trades have produced a number of intriguing young arms in the majors or upper-minors, but it's not readily apparent who deserves the chance to compete for a rotation spot and who should be transitioned to the bullpen. These last few weeks of 2025, as well as spring training next year, will be a great time to start crystalizing those roles. 26. Baltimore Orioles (53-65) Find more arms to believe in entering 2026. The Orioles still boast an impressive collection of hitters to build around but harbor more questions than ever on the mound. Baltimore desperately needs to uncover and nurture some more arms that can be dependable contributors to a competent pitching staff if the franchise wants to get back to being competitive in 2026. The resurgence of Trevor Rogers is an encouraging development, but that's merely a start; there's a ton of work to be done here. 27. Pittsburgh Pirates (51-69) Find someone, anyone who can be a good major-league hitter. The Pirates have done quite well in amassing competent major-league arms, and that goes well beyond a generational ace in Paul Skenes. But the Pittsburgh offense lags so far behind that this collection of talented pitchers is already in danger of being completely wasted, and the lack of consistent run production is the chief reason Pittsburgh has plummeted backward in a year that was supposed to feature progress toward contending. Guys such as Spencer Horwitz and Nick Gonzales look like modest building blocks, but many more will be needed to form a legitimate lineup. 28. Washington Nationals (47-71) Figure out what and who needs to stay and go. The Nationals' midseason firing of manager Davey Martinez and president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo was a dramatic first step toward altering the direction of a franchise seemingly stuck in the mud, but it was also only the beginning. Regardless of the team's record from now until the end of September, this is a critical evaluation period for interim GM Mike DeBartolo and the entire front office to better understand what internal processes and which members of the coaching and player development staff are worth investing in moving forward and what needs to be overhauled. It's a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff, but it's crucial for the next chapter of Nationals baseball. 29. Chicago White Sox (43-76) Identify more members of the 2026 Opening Day roster. The White Sox are still quite bad, but a key difference between this year's team and last year's abject disaster is the uptick in playing time for young players who could be part of the next good Sox team: Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, Edgar Quero, Kyle Teel and Grant Taylor all stand out as exciting building blocks. If Chicago can find a couple more such pieces by the end of this season to feel good about, that would go a long way toward providing some semblance of optimism entering 2026, even if the rebuild is still very much in progress. 30. Colorado Rockies (30-88) Don't lose 122 games. Improved play over the past month has made it far more plausible that the Rockies will avoid the ultimate infamy of losing more games than the 2024 White Sox, but it's by no means a sure thing. The Rockies must go 12-32 the rest of the way to reach the 42-win mark that Chicago could not. And with one of baseball's toughest remaining schedules, including seven more contests against both the Dodgers and the Padres, Colorado is going to have to earn it. Bold prediction: They'll get it done.
