Steve Buchanan's Fantasy Baseball Rankings for the 2020 MLB Season

Steve Buchanan brings his ranking of the top 150 hitters and pitchers as the 2020 season looms. He looks into why Eduardo Escobar continues to be overlooked despite seeing an uptick in his power of the last three seasons, why Justin Verlander could be one of the biggest disappointments of the season and a sleeper pick who is set to become the everyday second baseman for the Dodgers.

MLB RANKINGS SPOTLIGHT

1. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels – OF
2. Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves – OF
3. Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers – OF
4. Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers – 1B,OF
5. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers – OF
6. Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies – 3B
7. Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees – SP
8. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets – SP
9. Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies – SS
10. Juan Soto, Washington Nationals – OF
11. Trea Turner, Washington Nationals – SS
12. Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians – SS
13. Alex Bregman, Houston Astros – 3B,SS
14. Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres – SS
15. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals – SP
16. Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels – 3B
17. J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox – OF
18. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves – 1B
19. Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers – SP
20. Jack Flaherty, St. Louis Cardinals – SP
21. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies – OF
22. José Ramírez, Cleveland Indians – 3B
23. Starling Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks – OF
24. Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees – 2B,SS
25. Pete Alonso, New York Mets – 1B
26. Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros – OF
27. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals – SP
28. Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox – 3B
29. Shane Bieber, Cleveland Indians – SP

30. Justin Verlander, Houston Astros
Everybody is going to be flocking to Verlander since taking down the 2019 Cy Young Award (which he robbed Gerrit Cole of). Let’s not forget though, he’ll be 37 when the season begins and is coming off a season where he allowed a career-high 36 home runs. It’s no coincidence, as opposing hitters had a 41.8% hard contact rate against him, which was by far the highest of his career. At some point, we’re going to see Verlander break down and I think 2019 was the beginning of that. In a division that saw both the Angels and Rangers make improvements to their team, I think Verlander is finally going to see a dramatic fall from grace.

31. Javier Báez, Chicago Cubs – SS
32. Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox – SS
33. Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies – OF
34. Keston Hiura, Milwaukee Brewers – 2B
35. George Springer, Houston Astros – OF
36. Austin Meadows, Tampa Bay Rays – OF
37. Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks – 2B,SS,OF
38. Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs – 3B,OF
39. Adalberto Mondesi, Kansas City Royals – SS
40. Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves – 2B
41. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres – 3B,SS
42. Patrick Corbin, Washington Nationals – SP
43. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox – SP
44. Eugenio Suárez, Cincinnati Reds – 3B
45. Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds – SP
46. Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals – 1B
47. José Abreu, Chicago White Sox – 1B
48. Whit Merrifield, Kansas City Royals – 2B,OF
49. Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays – SP
50. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros – 2B
51. Mike Clevinger, Cleveland Indians – SP
52. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees – OF
53. DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees – 1B,2B,3B
54. Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies – SP
55. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays – 3B
56. Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs – 1B
57. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers – SP
58. Chris Paddack, San Diego Padres – SP
59. Tyler Glasnow, Tampa Bay Rays – SP
60. Eloy Jiménez, Chicago White Sox – OF
61. Charlie Morton, Tampa Bay Rays – SP
62. J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies – C
63. Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays – SS
64. Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers – OF
65. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers – 1B,2B,3B
66. Tommy Pham, San Diego Padres – OF
67. Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates – 1B
68. Matt Olson, Oakland Athletics – 1B
69. Yoán Moncada, Chicago White Sox – 3B
70. Nick Castellanos, Cincinnati Reds – OF
71. Mike Moustakas, Cincinnati Reds – 2B,3B

72. Eduardo Escobar, Arizona Diamondbacks
People continue to sleep on Escobar despite improving in some important stats over the past three years. During that span, we’ve seen home runs, hard contact, SLG and OPS all improve year after year. Also, 2019 was by far his best season as a hitter, compiling 35 home runs, 118 RBI and a 41.3% hard-hit rate. You may not realize it, but the Diamondbacks are loaded when it comes to offense and Escobar should have a multitude of RBI opportunities hitting in the heart of their lineup. While the rest of the league continues to overlook Escobar, be prepared for him to make plenty of noise as the season progresses.

73. Victor Robles, Washington Nationals – OF
74. Jonathan Villar, Miami Marlins – 2B,SS
75. Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets – SP
76. Nelson Cruz, Minnesota Twins – DH
77. Jorge Soler, Kansas City Royals – OF
78. Eddie Rosario, Minnesota Twins – OF
79. Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics – 3B
80. Josh Donaldson, Minnesota Twins – 3B
81. Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees – OF
82. Zack Greinke, Houston Astros – SP
83. Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs – SP
84. Gary Sánchez, New York Yankees – C
85. Jeff McNeil, New York Mets – 2B,3B,OF
86. Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox – OF
87. Kirby Yates, San Diego Padres – RP
88. Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers – RP
89. Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees – RP
90. Corey Kluber, Texas Rangers – SP
91. Sonny Gray, Cincinnati Reds – SP
92. Michael Conforto, New York Mets – OF
93. Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins – 1B, 3B
94. Marcus Semien, Oakland Athletics – SS
95. José Berríos, Minnesota Twins – SP
96. Trevor Bauer, Cincinnati Reds – SP
97. Ramón Laureano, Oakland Athletics – OF
98. Tim Anderson, Chicago White Sox – SS
99. Carlos Correa, Houston Astros – SS
100. Yasmani Grandal, Chicago White Sox – C,1B
101. Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox – OF
102. Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta Braves – OF
103. Mitch Garver, Minnesota Twins – C
104. Cavan Biggio, Toronto Blue Jays – 2B,OF
105. David Dahl, Colorado Rockies – OF
106. Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins – OF
107. Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers – 3B
108. Edwin Encarnación, Chicago White Sox – 1B
109. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels – DH, SP
110. Roberto Osuna, Houston Astros – RP
111. Mike Soroka, Atlanta Braves – SP
112. Rhys Hoskins, Philadelphia Phillies – 1B
113. Trey Mancini, Baltimore Orioles – 1B,OF
114. Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies – SP
115. Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians – SP,RP
116. Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks – SP
117. Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers – SS
118. Danny Santana, Texas Rangers – 1B,2B,3B,SS,OF
119. Robbie Ray, Arizona Diamondbacks – SP
120. Franmil Reyes, Cleveland Indians – OF
121. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers – SP
122. Lance McCullers, Houston Astros – SP
123. Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays – 1B, 2B
124. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics – SP
125. Dinelson Lamet, San Diego Padres – SP
126. Madison Bumgarner, Arizona Diamondbacks – SP
127. Michael Brantley, Houston Astros – OF
128. Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers – SP
129. Hyun-Jin Ryu, Toronto Blue Jays – SP
130. Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs – C
131. Yuli Gurriel, Houston Astros – 1B,3B
132. Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians – 1B
133. Raisel Iglesias, Cincinnati Reds – RP
134. Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers – SS
135. David Price, Los Angeles Dodgers – SP
136. Bryan Reynolds, Pittsburgh Pirates – OF
137. Jorge Polanco, Minnesota Twins – SS
138. Sean Manaea, Oakland Athletics – SP

139. Gavin Lux, Los Angeles Dodgers
You’re likely able to draft Lux in the later rounds of your draft. Appearing in just 23 games last season, he hit .240/.305/.400 with two home runs and nine RBI. However, there’s a reason he’s ranked as the Dodgers’ top prospect and the No. 2 prospect in baseball. This is a player that is projected to hit 25-plus home runs and swipe 15-plus bags. Tabbed to be their starting second baseman, we’ll now see what a full season of Lux will bring and the value you’re currently getting on him in the later parts of the draft are too good to pass up. If Lux lives up to the hype and has the type of season many are thinking he will, you’ll never, ever get Lux in the latter half of your draft ever again.

140. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels- SP
141. Didi Gregorius, Philadelphia Phillies – SS
142. Justin Upton, Los Angeles Angels – OF
143. Kyle Schwarber, Chicago Cubs – OF
144. Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees – SP
145. Liam Hendriks, Oakland Athletics – RP
146. James Paxton, New York Yankees – SP
147. Edwin Díaz, New York Mets – RP
148. Aristides Aquino, Cincinnati Reds – OF
149. Lance Lynn, Texas Rangers – SP
150. Max Fried, Atlanta Braves – SP

Click on a name to see each of the rankings with additional analysis

Top 150

Zach Thompson

Julian Edlow

Tim Finnegan

Greg Ehrenberg

Mike Barner

Garion Thorne

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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is steveazors) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.