Welcome to another season of Razz-matazz Fantasy Baseball. Now with more social distancing! (Jokes on them, basement social distancing is easy!) So despite the pandemic, here we are with another year of staff picks. So what’s the goal with this? Hashtag content, baby. (That’s the technical term.) There’s another goal though, one less self-fulfilling, unlike your mother. Despite the modern advancement of technology and science, we still have no way to have every writer provide their extended take on every single player in the MLB. We try though! And so we have this quick-and-easy (I regret burning my “yo momma” joke now…) presentation that provides you, the Razzmatazzball community a viewer-friendly and succinct breakdown of how we feel about the upcoming season. The general gist? WEAR YOUR MASK. True MVP’s stay together people.
So without further ado, here are our Official 2020 Razzball Picks! (Be sure to share yours in the comments section!)
Major League Baseball Picks
| Writer | ROY (NL) | ROY (AL) | Cy Young (NL) | Cy Young (AL) | MVP (NL) | MVP (AL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grey | Carter Kieboom | Luis Robert | Chris Paddack | Lucas Giolito | Juan Soto | Jose Abreu |
| Rudy | Sam Hilliard | Luis Robert | Jack Flaherty | Gerrit Cole | Cody Bellinger | Giancarlo Stanton |
| BDon | Dylan Carlson | Jo Adell | Josh Hader | Gerrit Cole | Javier Baez | Francisco Lindor |
| Coolwhip | Dustin May | Jo Adell | Max Scherzer | Shane Bieber | Mookie Betts | Anthony Rendon |
| Dan Richards | Sam Hilliard | Austin Hays | Max Scherzer | Gerrit Cole | Nolan Arenado | Anthony Rendon |
| Donkey Teeth | Dylan Carlson | Luis Robert | Josh Hader | Liam Hendriks | Fernando Tatis Jr. | Shohei Ohtani |
| EverywhereBlair | Dustin May | Luis Robert | Stephen Strasburg | Shane Bieber | Christian Yelich | Francisco Lindor |
| Hammer | Dylan Carlson | Casey Mize | Walker Buehler | Tyler Glasnow | Christian Yelich | Gleyber Torres |
| Hobbs | Dustin May | Luis Robert | Adrian Houser | Tyler Glasnow | Christian Yelich | Aaron Judge |
| Jeremy Brewer | Mackenzie Gore | Luis Robert | Stephen Strasburg | Shane Bieber | Christian Yelich | Nelson Cruz |
| JKJ | Gavin Lux | Jarred Kelenic | Walker Buehler | Gerrit Cole | JD Davis | Matt Olson |
| Kerry Klug | Sam Hilliard | Kyle Lewis | Walker Buehler | Charlie Morton | Nick Castellanos | Yoan Moncada |
| Laura Holt | Shogo Akiyama | Austin Hays | Max Scherzer | Shane Bieber | Max Muncy | Francisco Lindor |
| malamoney | Dustin May | Luis Robert | Stephen Strasburg | Gerrit Cole | Cody Bellinger | Mike Trout |
| MattTruss | Carter Kieboom | Luis Robert | Mike Soroka | Gerrit Cole | Ronald Acuna Jr. | Aaron Judge |
| Real Joey Bart | Gavin Lux | Luis Robert | Jacob deGrom | Justin Verlander | Ronald Acuna Jr | Giancarlo Stanton |
| Richardo | Gavin Lux | Austin Hays | Luis Castillo | Mike Clevinger | Bryce Harper | Gleyber Torres |
| Roto-Wan | Dylan Carlson | Luis Robert | Yu Darvish | Mike Clevinger | Fernando Tatis Jr. | Francisco Lindor |
| SON | Shogo Akiyama | Austin Hays | Walker Buehler | Lucas Giolito | Christian Yelich | Nelson Cruz |
| The Itch | Dylan Carlson | Luis Robert | Jack Flaherty | Justin Verlander | Ronald Acuna Jr. | Shohei Ohtani |
| TheTinDoor | Gavin Lux | Luis Robert | Clayton Kershaw | Gerrit Cole | Mookie Betts | Francisco Lindor |
| Thom | Dustin May | Jo Adell | Jacob deGrom | Zack Greinke | Pete Alonso | Josh Donaldson |
Indians starters are reportedly ahead of their normal Spring Training schedules, so I expect them to hit the ground running from the jump. While Clevinger has struggled with health in the past, he should thrive with the shortened schedule. I love him as a dark-horse option for the win!! – Richardo.
Not only is Houser my pick for NL Cy Young, he’s my de facto MVFP choice as well due to where he’s being drafted (ADP: SP70). Houser ranked in the top 9% in exit velocity against last year and top 13% in barrel %, just to name two of his sexier metrics – and the bottom line numbers weren’t bad either. I’m all in on Houser and Milwaukee in general in the abbreviated 2020 season – he gives me butterflies in my stomach like that of my dog, who ate an actual butterfly and tulip bulb in one foul swoop yesterday. – Hobbs.
Yes, a 40-year old DH is my favorite for AL MVP during this shortened season. After the all-star break last year, Cruz hit .344 with 25 long balls and 62 RBI across 58 games. I see no reason he can’t repeat that performance. – Jeremy Brewer.
This was undoubtedly my craziest pick but who knows in a 60-game season. Stanton is the only player in the league who could rip off 30 dingers in this short span and if the Yankees do as well as everyone expects, he’d have to be one of the favorites for MVP. It’s all about health for Giancarlo and there’s word that he’s in the best shape of his life. Not that ridiculous 600-LB squat shape but actually baseball shape! If he gets hot, don’t be surprised to see him gather some steam for that award and finish with some absurd numbers. You can actually find him at +4000 odds and that looks like a decent bet to throw $10 on. – Real Joey Bart.
Fantasy Baseball Picks
| Writer | Sleeper | Bust | Infatuation | Come Back | MVFP | MVFH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grey | Kyle Lewis | Alex Bregman | Pete Alonso | Travis Shaw | Adrian Houser | Miguel Sano |
| Rudy | Monte Harrison | Pete Alonso | Sam Hilliard | Giancarlo Stanton | Dylan Cease | Franmil Reyes |
| BDon | Alex Verdugo | Mike Trout | Ramon Laureano | Rhys Hoskins | Josh Hader | Kyle Schwarber |
| Coolwhip | Jo Adell | Alex Bregman | Mitch Garver | Andrew Benintendi | Jake Odorizzi | Javier Baez |
| Dan Richards | Bryan Reynolds | Kris Bryant | Nelson Cruz | Khris Davis | Matthew Boyd | Miguel Sano |
| Donkey Teeth | Yusei Kikuchi | Aaron Judge | Vladimir Guerrero | Miguel Cabrera | Kirby Yates | Adalberto Mondesi |
| Hammer | Howie Kendrick | Tim Anderson | Dansby Swanson | Andrew Benintendi | Clayton Kershaw | Adalberto Mondesi |
| Hobbs | Brian Anderson | Ketel Marte | Miguel Andujar | Andrew Benintendi | Adrian Houser | Christian Yelich |
| Laura Holt | Chris Bassitt | Alex Bregman | Tyler Glasnow | Maikel Franco | Frankie Montas | Jonathan Villar |
| malamoney | Dylan Bundy | Shohei Ohtani | Ryan Braun | Joey Votto | Trevor Bauer | Carlos Santana |
| MattTruss | Alex Verdugo | Jose Altuve | Yasiel Puig | Didi Gregorius | Trevor Bauer | Kyle Schwarber |
| SON | Reynaldo Lopez | Mike Trout | Isiah Kiner-Falefa | Khris Davis | Yusei Kikuchi | Adalbeto Mondesi |
| The Itch | Kyle Lewis | Alex Bregman | Shohei Ohtani | Miguel Cabrera | Shohei Ohtani | Adalbeto Mondesi |
| EverywhereBlair | Jake Odorizzi | Walker Buehler | German Marquez | Andrew Benintendi | Jake Odorizzi | Christian Yelich |
| JKJ | CJ Cron | Pete Alonso | Shohei Ohtani | Miguel Andujar | Rich Hill | Bryan Reynolds |
| Thom | Shogo Akiyama | Mike Trout | Nick Castellanos | Nathan Eovaldi | Josh Hader | Cody Bellinger |
| Kerry Klug | Dansby Swanson | Alex Bregman | Yoshi Tsutsugo | Jordan Montgomery | Kenta Maeda | Domingo Santana |
| Jeremy Brewer | Trent Grisham | Gleyber Torres | Charlie Morton | Wil Myers | Rich Hill | Trea Turner |
| TheTinDoor | Dansby Swanson | Anthony Rendon | Giancarlo Stanton | Corey Kluber | Zac Gallen | Adalberto Mondesi |
| Real Joey Bart | Daniel Murphy | Pete Alonso | Gary Sanchez | Khris Davis | Rich Hill | Miguel Sano |
| Roto-Wan | Garrett Hampson | Gerritt Cole | Adalberto Mondesi | Nick Senzel | Yu Darvish | Francisco Lindor |
Break Out Player of The Year (Sleeper)
You might think we’re describing someone who breaks through walls and then falls asleep really fast. Which seems weird. So I wouldn’t really put it past us… To limit the confusion, I’d better point out that these are our potential break out candidates that you should be grabbing long and grabbing hard.
Shogo Akiyama is the Japanese Michael Brantley, known for his .300 average, discerning eye and to all fields power, just landed as the leadoff hitter for the remade Cincinnati Reds lineup. The AL/NL Central ballparks are made for hitters, and Akiyama will get plenty of at bats in front of Moustakas, Castellanos, Votto, Sentzel and company. He could lead the NL in run scored just by staying healthy, and the Reds have had little to no Covid problems concerning their everyday lineup. – Thom.
Most Overrated Player of The Year (Bust)
These are the guys being held on a pedestals, who will, in return for all your worship and sacrifice, ruin everything thing you hold dear. See: 2014, Fielder, Prince. Or 2015, Longoria, Evan. Take heed Razzballers, avoid these guys at all costs.
Marte’s numbers last year were ridiculous (.329, 32 HR, 92 RBI, 97 R) and I’m simply not buying that he’s that level of player. Sure, there are a handful of batted ball metrics to back it up, but some are also very pedestrian and his BABIP went up .60 points from 2018 to 2019 (also .52 points higher than in 2017). He’s a bigger bust for me in 2020 than Mitch Haniger’s left nut. – Hobbs.
I Think I Love You, So What Am I So Afraid Of? (Infatuation)
Yep, we all have one. Find out which player your Razzball writer has an undying love for, despite any rational reason or purpose.
Giancarlo Stanton breaks hearts every year, because we all dream about what a full season stats in Yankee stadium could be. The chances he stays healthy are so much higher in a 60-game season; going at pick 67 (NFBC) with upside of top-10. – TheTinDoor.
Come Back Player of The Year (Come Back)
Again, pretty easy to figure out what this one means.
Most Valuable Fantasy Pitcher (MVFP)
This is where things get sticky. That’s what she said. Technically, this could be the best pitcher overall… but the key word here is value. You know this because I underlined it. While the vanilla top-5 pitcher pick could still technically be the most valuable pitcher at the end of the year, there’s still enough room in the definition to allow the possibility that Bruce Chen will come out of retirement, have an ERA of 2.50 and get 20 wins. Seeing as his ownership rate historically always stood in the nothing-to-negative digits and top-5 Starting Pitchers are gone by the first half of a draft, a performance like that would be the most valuable in the history of mankind. And probably destroy the universe as we know it.
Ole Rich “Still Ain’t Over The” Hill will be at least a top 10 SP if healthy. We all know how big that if is, and his draft stock is rising, but he still should be a huge bang for your buck. Just go check out his Baseball Savant profile and watch those Ws pile up with that run support he’ll get. – JKJ.
Most Valuable Fantasy Hitter (MVFH)
Same thing as the Most Valuable Pitcher, but with hitters. CRAZY, I know.
What are your picks for the year? Tell us below!
Jay is a longtime Razzball everything who consumes an egregious amount of Makers Mark as a vehicle to gain wisdom and augment his natural glow. Living in the D.C. area, he also likes spending time visiting the local parks and feeding lettuce to any turtles he encounters, including Mitch McConnell. You can follow him @jaywrong, or read his rarely (like never) updated blog Desultory Thoughts of a Longfellow.
