2020 Razzball Fantasy Baseball Staff Picks

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

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

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.