Fantasy Baseball

Last week, two of my three “Buy Low” picks, Carlos Gomez (10-for-18, HR, 3B in last week) and Homer Bailey (8 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 10 K in last start), came through while the third, Ike Davis, finally broke out on Friday with a two-homer game.

Fantasy baseball is in full swing this season as Week 3 is upon us.

Waiver-wire adds and drops during this time are crucial in building a team that is bound to keep you—and your wallet—happy come September. 

This is also a time in the fantasy season that feels to me like a sort of limbo. Some perennial stars are experiencing early-season slumps, and young guys are coming out of nowhere and filling in for those slumping studs. 

It's been a surprising start to the MLB season, especially in the fantasy world.

Chris Davis, John Buck and Matt Harvey, players that most likely weren't the first players chosen on anyone's draft board, have taken the league by storm over the first week.

And a few other more recognizable names have let down their managers, both in major league and fantasy baseball.

Finding a bunch of players on the verge of a "breakout" season isn't necessarily all that hard. Finding a bunch of almost universally-undrafted players who are on the verge of a "breakout" season? That's a little tougher.

Anyone can make a case for the Rays' Matt Moore, the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo or the Mets' Matt Harvey, all young promising players ready to take the step from good to great as breakout candidates in 2013. But each of them were selected in every draft out there, often in the middle rounds.

There is something to be said about anchoring your fantasy baseball team with players that have already reached their potential.


That said, there is always a new crop, often made up of younger players, that take their game to the next level. Here’s a look at some National League Central fantasy baseball breakout candidates. 

Enjoy the first round of your 2013 fantasy baseball draft. When it's over, you'll still be left with nearly 20 or so positions to fill and a bench to outfit for an entire 162-game season.

As it usually is with fantasy drafts, it's the mid-to-late round hits that really make your team successful in any given sport, or any given season.

Baseball is no different.

Everyone knows players like Troy Tulowitzki and Miguel Cabrera are among the automatic selections in fantasy if you can get them, but finding sleepers in baseball is a tough task.

Opening Day in the major leagues is Sunday, and most fantasy baseball owners have already participated in at least one draft. If you're like me, you're likely open to joining a couple more leagues, even though you probably shouldn't.

This stuff is addictive.

In fantasy football, it’s usually a good idea to own both a team’s starting running back and his backup. If the starter gets hurt, you won’t have to scour the waiver wire for someone else you know will get regular carries. You already have him. 

Depending on your league, you may have the ability to stash guys on your bench that don’t necessarily have a lot of value, but could potentially be the best option available if the inevitable happens and one of your key players gets injured.

In this day and age where most pitchers can’t go a few years, much less one, without having some sort of elbow or shoulder trouble pop up, it’s very difficult to decide which ones are more at risk than others. 

With Opening Day just five days away, fantasy baseball players are busy studying mock drafts and figuring out who they should select with their picks. However, there are certain players that look good to the eye, but who simply cannot be trusted to perform well on your fantasy team. 

SP James Shields