Cleveland Indians: Three 2018 Fantasy Baseball sleepers
The Cleveland Indians are among the best teams in the American League, which means a deep roster for fantasy baseball.
It’s hard to believe the Cleveland Indians will be playing baseball that counts in a little over two weeks. Spring training is coming to an end and rosters are beginning to take shape. The Indians possess a deep roster chock-full of elite talent — both in the batter’s box and on the mound.
This is important to keep in mind while drafting your fantasy baseball team.
While the likes of Corey Kluber, Francisco Lindor, and Jose Ramirez are sure to be gone early, other Tribe players are falling to the later rounds in ESPN drafts. Especially in rotisserie leagues, receiving value in the later rounds is vital to success.
These three Indians are extremely valuable picks, with plenty of upsides:
Jason Kipnis – 2B
Jason Kipnis had a frustrating 2017 campaign. Plagued by injuries, Kipnis limped to a slash line of .232/.291/.414 in 373 plate appearances. The world of fantasy is very much a “what have you done for me lately” business.
Because of this, Kipnis is being drafted at an average position of 213 in ESPN leagues — a steal for any savvy owner.
Bare in mind, prior to 2017 Kipnis was coming off two of the finest seasons of his career (all stats according to Baseball-Reference.com):
| PA | AB | R | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | AVG. | OBP | SLG | WAR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 641 | 565 | 86 | 43 | 7 | 9 | 52 | .303 | .372 | .451 | 4.6 |
| 2016 | 688 | 610 | 91 | 41 | 4 | 23 | 82 | .275 | .343 | .469 | 4.2 |
By nearly every offensive metric, Kipnis was a top-10 second baseman in 2016. With a clean bill of health, he could be destined for the same in 2018.
His outstanding spring, accompanied with a proven track record, make for a low-risk, high-reward bargain in the later rounds.
Bradley Zimmer – CF
Bradley Zimmer is the budding superstar being slept on in ESPN fantasy leagues. With an average draft position of 224, Zimmer’s combination of gap power and speed make him valuable in multiple categories.
While he scuffled down the stretch in his rookie campaign, the lanky outfielder dazzled in May, June, and July:
| AB | R | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | AVG. | OBP | SLG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 36 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3 | .306 | .390 | .583 |
| June | 78 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 4 | .282 | .349 | .410 |
| July | 94 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 6 | .277 | .327 | .468 |
| Total | 208 | 30 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 37 | 13 | .284 | .346 | .466 |
Zimmer’s late season, rookie slump is being read into too much by fantasy baseball owners. The 6-foot-5 center fielder’s three-month stretch is what should be honed in on while pondering production.
Speed, extra-base hits, and RBI will be provided by Zimmer — all at an incredible bargain.
Trevor Bauer – SP
Trevor Bauer’s average draft position of 119.1 in ESPN leagues may make him the biggest steal among starting pitchers. Bauer won 17 games while punching out 196 batters — elite stuff.
Although, the first two months of the season were incredibly brutal for Bauer. After making some changes to his pitch usage, the right-hander went on a tear in the second half:
| W-L | GS | IP | SO | ERA | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Half | 7-7 | 17 | 92.2 | 103 | 5.24 | 1.41 |
| Second Half | 10-2 | 14 | 83.2 | 93 | 3.01 | 1.32 |
It’s worth noting Bauer’s past history of inconsistency while examining his draft stock. But his outstanding production in the second half and another year of maturity has Bauer prime to become the ace his abilities suggest he should be.
Next: Brantley being cautious and noncommital is the right approach
Drafting a consistent Trevor Bauer in the later rounds could become the steal of 2018 fantasy baseball.