This spring is a little different than most for those putting together their 2023 Fantasy baseball draft prep, as the World Baseball Classic has been the primary focus of the baseball preseason. One player that has seen his stock improve since the start of the WBC is White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada. The Cuban international was shot out of a cannon with batting splits of .412/.522/.737, five RBI and a home run in his first five WBC games.
After a breakout season in 2019, and a decent year in 2021, Moncada had pedestrian 2022 numbers in just 104 games played. Players like Moncada might be best considered in Fantasy baseball tiers with other similar options, rather than pinning a hard value on his potential as a 2023 Fantasy sleeper or bust. If you’re looking for 2023 Fantasy baseball advice, be sure to check out the 2023 Fantasy baseball cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
Last season, SportsLine’s Projection Model identified several top Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts and busts, including Reds first baseman Joey Votto. The team at SportsLine was all over Votto as a Fantasy bust from the start after a resurgent 2021 season that saw him going as one of the top 12 first basemen off the board in 2022 Fantasy baseball drafts. After slashing .266/.375/.563 with 36 homers and 99 RBI the year prior, Votto slashed .205/.319/.370 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI in 2022. He finished outside the top 45 players at his position and anybody who followed SportsLine’s advice avoided a major headache.
Their model is powered by the same people who powered projections for all three major Fantasy sites. And that same group is sharing its 2023 Fantasy baseball rankings and cheat sheets over at SportsLine, helping you find Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts and busts long before your competition. Their cheat sheets, available for leagues on many major sites, are updated multiple times every day.
Any time more MLB news comes out about the updated 2023 MLB schedule or Fantasy baseball injuries, the team at SportsLine updates its projections. Go to SportsLine now to see these proven Fantasy baseball cheat sheets.
Top 2023 Fantasy baseball CF rankings
Here’s a look at SportsLine’s top three 2023 Fantasy baseball CF picks:
1. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees: It will be hard to Judge to top last year’s historic 62-homer season, but he doesn’t have to in order to remain the top center fielder. Judge contributes enough in other areas to remain elite at his position even with a drop-off in home runs. Last year, he set career-highs in batting average (.311), runs scored (133), RBI (131) and stolen bases (16), giving him a high floor to couple with his high ceiling.
2. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels: Last year saw Trout hit home runs at the highest rate (8.0%) of his career as he smacked 40 long balls. This came as he missed 43 games, so he was projected to hit 54 home runs over a 162 game season. The back injury which limited him in 2022 is now a thing of the past, and he’ll look to reclaim his throne as, perhaps, the best all-around player in the game.
3. George Springer, Toronto Blue Jays: Springer has struggled to stay on the field in recent years, but Toronto acquiring Kevin Kiermaier should lessen the demand of Springer at center field. When the former Astro is in the lineup, few are better as he’s hit 47 homers over the last two seasons, despite missing one-third of the games. He also had a resurgent year on the base paths in 2022, swiping more bags (14) than he had over the previous three seasons combined (11). See more top Fantasy baseball center fielders here.
Top 2023 Fantasy baseball 3B rankings
Here’s a look at SportsLine’s top three 2023 Fantasy baseball 3B picks:
1. Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians: Ramirez couldn’t have gotten off to a faster start last season, and his Fantasy owners will be looking for him to repeat that. Indications are that he could pull that off, after he has hit .364 with a .923 OPS through his first nine spring training games. Ramirez has also been a prolific extra-base hitter, and has led the American League in doubles twice during his career.
2. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres: Machado hasn’t flashed much power this spring, but he also built up to it last season. Not only did Machado see his power numbers ascend over the course of the year, he was remarkably consistent. He hit six home runs in July and August, and finished the season with eight homers in 29 games between September and October.
3. Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals: Arenado has been one of the more impactful players for USA at the World Baseball Classic. Prior to his international duties, he was lighting it up for the Cardinals in spring training, posting offensive splits of .571/.571/.1.143 through his first six games. Excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Arenado has hit at least 30 home runs every year since 2014. See more top Fantasy baseball first basemen and be sure to check out the Fantasy baseball tiers for each position here.
How to find proven 2023 Fantasy baseball rankings, advice
SportsLine’s model is also high on a surprising starting pitcher who lands in the top 10 of its positional rankings. This player is barely going off the board in the top 125 picks, but is projected to outperform starters such as Aaron Nola, Shane McClanahan and Brandon Woodruff. This pick could be the difference in winning your league or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.
So how should your 2023 Fantasy baseball tiers look and when exactly should you be targeting each position? And which starting pitcher is coming from off-the-radar to finish as one of the top 10 players at his position? Visit SportsLine now to get 2023 Fantasy baseball rankings for every single position, all from the model that called Joey Votto’s disappointing season, and find out.