Bold Predictions for the 2017 Fantasy Baseball Season
1. Noah Syndergaard will have the best Fantasy season of any pitcher. The Mets ace is looking absolutely dominant this Spring, and is building off an incredible 2016 season. Thor finished 2016 as the twelfth rated fantasy pitcher on ESPN while only making 60% of his starts. Considering some minor health concerns with Kershaw and Scherzer, who knows how valuable Thor can be by staying healthy for a whole season.
2. Yu Darvish will win 22 games barring good health. It seems like the statement “barring good health” is always important when it comes to Darvish. Over just seventeen starts last season, Darvish compiled a 3.41 ERA with a 132:31 K:BB ratio. These numbers are exceptional upon returning from Tommy John surgery, but Darvish needs to be healthy to put up better numbers. If so, the dynamic Rangers lineup will put Darvish in position to win a vast majority of the games he pitches in, which is why I’m giving him such a ridiculous win total to work toward.
3. Dustin Pedroia will score 120 runs atop the Red Sox lineup. Even without Big Papi in this lineup, the Red Sox still have a top lineup in the league. Manager John Farrell has announced that Pedroia will bat first atop the order, which puts him in position to earn the most runs in the MLB. Combine that with his high OPS, and pitchers avoiding throwing to Betts or other batters after him, puts Pedroia in an opportunity to score 120 runs this season.
4. Aledmys Diaz will be a top six Fantasy Short Shop in 2017. After Jhonny Peralta’s thumb injury early in 2016, Diaz exploded onto the scene. He hit .423 in April, and finished the year hitting .300 with 17 home-runs, 71 runs, and 65 RBIs. He should be in line for even more production with Fowler hitting atop the lineup, and Carpenter and Piscotty hitting after him. I expect Diaz to hit .290 with 20 home-runs, 85 runs, and 80 RBIs. With this stat-line, I expect Diaz to rank around Story and Bogaerts will be with these numbers.
5. Nomar Mazara will be a top 25 outfielder in 2017. The second year product had an electric start last season, but tapered off later in the season. Mazara has a lot of room to grow, and one of the highest ceilings this late in drafts. He also has a prime spot in the lineup in one of the best lineups in the league. Mazara looks to have a strong hold on right field for Texas, and having Beltre return to the lineup will only help his value. Look for Mazara to ball out this season and rank in the 25 outfielders for Fantasy.
