USA TODAY International Edition
Top 20 players for new season
On Thursday the first pitch of the condensed MLB season will be thrown.
And my, how different things look from the first pitch of spring training in late February.
Despite whatever issues MLB has with testing problems, games being played in empty stadiums or one team being temporarily homeless, the players are still the center of attention.
Here’s a look at my top 25 players in fantasy baseball as we get ready to start the 60- game season – and see how they compare to the rankings from spring training.
1. OF Christian Yelich, Brewers ( previously 2)
2. OF Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves ( 1):
Over a full season, Acuña offers a higher upside in steals and runs scored, but as a two- time defending NL batting champ, Yelich has shown consistency over the past two seasons that is paramount in a short season.
3. OF/ 1B Cody Bellinger, Dodgers ( 4)
4. SP Gerrit Cole, Yankees ( 6)
5. OF Mookie Betts, Dodgers ( 5):
Bellinger and Betts give the Dodgers two MVPs at the top of the lineup. Will they make each other better? You bet. Cole moves up ever so slightly because proven aces are even more valuable when most starters won’t be pitching as deep into games.
6. SS Francisco Lindor, Indians ( 7)
7. SP Jacob deGrom, Mets ( 8)
8. SP Max Scherzer, Nationals ( 15):
The delayed start to the season reduces the odds of Cleveland trading Lindor during the season. The winners of the last four NL Cy Young awards come next. Scherzer moves into the top 10 after showing no signs of the issues with his right side that cropped up during the spring.
9. SS Trevor Story, Rockies ( 9)
10. SS Trea Turner, Nationals ( 10)
11. SP Justin Verlander, Astros ( 11)
12. OF Juan Soto, Nationals ( 13)
13. OF Mike Trout, Angels ( 3):
Multitalented shortstops always rate highly. Do you prefer Story’s power or Turner’s speed? Verlander is still in the top tier of starting pitchers, even though Scherzer moves past him in a slight reshuffling. It’s still hard to believe Soto is just 21 years old. And at last we find Trout, who is still the game’s best overall player but will most certainly miss time during the season when his wife is ready to give birth.
14. SS/ 3B Alex Bregman, Astros ( 14)
15. 3B Anthony Rendon, Angels ( 12)
16. 3B Jose Ramirez, Indians ( 16)
17. 3B Nolan Arenado, Rockies ( 18):
We call this group the hot corner collection.
18. OF J. D. Martinez, Red Sox ( 19)
19. OF Starling Marte, Diamondbacks ( 24):
Marte may look slightly out of place when grouped with these sluggers, but his ability to steal bases is a rarity these days. 20. OF Bryce Harper, Phillies ( 25)