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12-team fantasy mock draft with analysis

Daniel Shirey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

No two drafts are alike, as you shall see from the results of theScore's 12-team mock ahead of the fantasy baseball season. And in breaking down the results, it should provide a look into the flow of the draft, the reasoning behind certain selections, and the various strategies and approaches that can be utilized - all while acting as a reminder that anything can happen.

This 12-team draft uses standard rotisserie categories with the following roster spots: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, MI, CI, OF, OF, OF, OF, UTIL, SP, SP, SP, RP, RP, P, P, P, BN, BN, BN, BN. We wanted to get as many players off the board as possible, so the draft goes 24 rounds.

Draft participants: Lucas Casaletto, Esten McLaren, Jonathan Soveta, Jonah Birenbaum, Michael Bradburn, Josh Wegman, James Bisson, Brandon Wile, Dan Levine, Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb, Bryan Mcwilliam, Jason Wilson.

(ADPs courtesy the National Fantasy Baseball Championship; position eligibility courtesy FantasyPros):

Round 1

PICK PLAYER OWNER
1 Mike Trout (OF1) Casaletto
2 Jose Altuve (2B1) McLaren
3 Giancarlo Stanton (OF2) Soveta
4 Bryce Harper (OF3) Birenbaum
5 Paul Goldschmidt (1B1) Bradburn
6 Kris Bryant (3B1/OF4) Wegman
7 Trea Turner (SS1) Bisson
8 Nolan Arenado (3B2) Wile
9 Mookie Betts (OF5) Levine
10 Clayton Kershaw (SP1) Sharkey-Gotlieb
11 Carlos Correa (SS2) Mcwilliam
12 Max Scherzer (SP2) Wilson

This is a fairly standard group of first-round names, though the order is a bit different from usual ADP expectations. Arenado is typically being drafted as the No. 1 third baseman ahead of Bryant, while both Goldschmidt and Turner are often being taken within the first four picks. The biggest leap here is Bryant, whose current ADP is 15.

Your first-round pick is essentially your biggest building block. Positional flexibility shouldn't be a concern yet, and you want to make sure your selection will contribute across the board. Trout and Altuve are going 1-2 on average because they're the most likely to offer a full five categories of production. Harper and Goldschmidt have that potential, too. Stanton won't steal bases, but he's likely going to be elite in the other four standard categories, which helps alleviate pressure later.

Just make a note - especially if you pick in the second half of Round 1 - of which categories you need to make up later. A harsh wake-up call is entering the season and realizing you have nobody who will steal bases or score an ample amount runs. It's less damaging in head-to-head leagues, but being poised to finish last in any rotisserie category means the season will be tough sledding from the outset.

Round 2

Player Pick Owner
13 Joey Votto (1B2) Wilson
14 Josh Donaldson (3B3) Mcwilliam
15 Francisco Lindor (SS3) Sharkey-Gotlieb
16 Charlie Blackmon (OF6) Levine
17 Jose Ramirez (2B2/3B4) Wile
18 Chris Sale (SP3) Bisson
19 Manny Machado (3B5) Wegman
20 Corey Seager (SS4) Bradburn
21 Corey Kluber (SP4) Birenbaum
22 Freddie Freeman (1B3/3B6) Soveta
23 Anthony Rizzo (1B4/2B3) McLaren
24 Aaron Judge (OF7) Casaletto

Team Levine might have the bargain of the early going by snagging Blackmon with the 16th overall pick. His ADP is 8, so chances are he won't drop this far often. It may seem crazy for Judge and his 52 home runs to barely eke into the second round, but Team Casaletto didn't get him too far past his ADP of 18. Perhaps Judge's 30.7 percent strikeout rate is scaring people away. Team Wegman went with back-to-back third basemen, but Machado is expected to gain shortstop eligibility within the first couple weeks.

The biggest leap in Round 2 came when Team Bradburn took Seager with the 20th pick. The Dodgers shortstop is typically being selected with the 39th pick, but if he plays up to his potential - and if his back issues are behind him - it could look savvy, though he may have still been on the board when Team Bradburn picked next.

Round 3

Pick Player Owner
25 Noah Syndergaard (SP5) Casaletto
26 Justin Upton (OF8) McLaren
27 Stephen Strasburg (SP6) Soveta
28 George Springer (OF9) Birenbaum
29 Madison Bumgarner (SP7) Bradburn
30 Gary Sanchez (C1) Wegman
31 Cody Bellinger (1B5/OF10) Bisson
32 Marcell Ozuna (OF11) Wile
33 J.D. Martinez (OF12) Levine
34 Christian Yelich (OF13) Sharkey-Gotlieb
35 Jose Abreu (1B6) Mcwilliam
36 Brian Dozier (2B4) Wilson

Catcher is largely a fantasy wasteland, and Team Wegman was the first to jump in by snatching the Yankees backstop. You might not be able to exercise the same patience, however, as Sanchez is typically being selected around the 20th pick.

Team Sharkey-Gotlieb must be very confident in Yelich's abilities in his new Milwaukee home. The outfielder's ADP is 63, making him the biggest reach in the first three rounds.

Team Levine wasn't intending to select three outfielders to kick off his draft, but he couldn't resist Martinez, who dropped well below his ADP of 25 (note: draft was completed prior to Martinez signing with the Red Sox).

Round 4

Pick Player Owner
37 Andrew Benintendi (OF14) Wilson
38 Buster Posey (C2/1B7) Mcwilliam
39 Willson Contreras (C3) Sharkey-Gotlieb
40 Dee Gordon (2B5) Levine
41 Nelson Cruz (OF15/UT1) Wile
42 Luis Severino (SP8) Bisson
43 Daniel Murphy (2B6) Wegman
44 Zack Greinke (SP9) Bradburn
45 Alex Bregman (3B7/SS5) Birenbaum
46 Jacob deGrom (SP10) Soveta
47 A.J. Pollock (OF16) McLaren
48 Carlos Carrasco (SP11) Casaletto

Neither Posey nor Contreras are typically being selected until the fifth or sixth rounds, but the position is dire once they're off the board. If you miss out on the top three, it's probably best to wait.

This could also explain why deGrom (35) and Carrasco (36) fell well below their ADPs. All drafters to this point had been exercising patience when it comes to pitching, with only seven hurlers being selected in the first three rounds. In fact, after Round 4, there were still five teams without a pitcher at all. Four teams (Casaletto, Soveta, Bradburn, Bisson) took advantage by selecting two top-tier arms by that point in the draft.

Team Wile grabbed the ageless wonder Cruz about a round early based on ADP, but you can't argue with results. He's averaged 42 home runs and 106 RBIs while batting .287 over the last four seasons. In formats where he has outfield eligibility (they exist!) he will be worth this draft slot.

Round 5

Pick Player Owner
49 Anthony Rendon (3B8) Casaletto
50 Xander Bogaerts (SS6) McLaren
51 Byron Buxton (OF17) Soveta
52 Justin Verlander (SP12) Birenbaum
53 Rhys Hoskins (1B8/OF18) Bradburn
54 Starling Marte (OF19) Wegman
55 Billy Hamilton (OF20) Bisson
56 Chris Archer (SP13) Wile
57 Edwin Encarnacion (1B9) Levine
58 Andrew McCutchen (OF21) Sharkey-Gotlieb
59 Jonathan Schoop (2B7) Mcwilliam
60 Elvis Andrus (SS7) Wilson

Team McLaren must believe Bogaerts was the victim of bad injury luck in 2017, as he reached more than 30 spots relative to his ADP of 86. Believe it or not, Andrus is being drafted right around this spot. His ADP of 58 may seem high, but there's always a premium to be paid for speed, and he's stolen at least 20 bases in nine straight seasons.

Team Wile waited until the fifth to grab a starter, and proceeded to take two more in the following rounds and wound up with a trio of Archer, David Price, and Jose Quintana, which allowed him to focus on other positions before returning to the well.

Wary about Hoskins after a small sample size? Team Bradburn isn't, and neither is the consensus. Hoskins is being drafted right around the 50th pick in most drafts, and it's easy to understand. He crushed 18 home runs across 131 plate appearances last season. He'll have plenty of lineup protection in Philly, including Carlos Santana and Odubel Herrera ahead of him. If you were hoping to wait on him, that's not going to be an option.

Round 6

Pick Player Owner
61 Carlos Martinez (SP14) Wilson
62 Yasiel Puig (OF22) Mcwilliam
63 Marcus Stroman (SP15) Sharkey-Gotlieb
64 Yu Darvish (SP16) Levine
65 David Price (SP17) Wile
66 Shohei Ohtani (SP18) Bisson
67 James Paxton (SP19) Wegman
68 Justin Turner (3B9) Bradburn
69 Kenley Jansen (RP1) Birenbaum
70 Lorenzo Cain (OF23) Soveta
71 Robinson Cano (2B8) McLaren
72 Craig Kimbrel (RP2) Casaletto

(Note: Above round was completed prior to Darvish signing with the Cubs)

Had Darvish signed before the draft, there's little chance he falls to the sixth round, especially because he's in line to get a ton of wins as the premier starter in Chicago. Stroman was the biggest reach of the draft so far, and the first selection whose ADP is in the hundreds (126). Know your draft partners, and where their allegiances lie. Fans of specific teams will occasionally favor those players over others.

Jansen and Kimbrel both fell below their ADPs, but the principle is the same. If Jansen goes, Kimbrel will soon follow. This can happen sooner in the draft, and if it does, you have to expect closer ADPs to go out the window.

Remarkably, Team Bisson only took Ohtani slightly earlier than his ADP of 73, but chances are Ohtani wouldn't have lasted until his next pick. It's risk vs. reward, as Ohtani's success in the majors is purely hypothetical, but he's Team Bisson's third option behind more concrete choices in Chris Sale and Luis Severino.

Round 7

Pick Player Owner
73 Tommy Pham (OF24) Casaletto
74 Dallas Keuchel (SP20) McLaren
75 Felipe Rivero (RP3) Soveta
76 Khris Davis (OF25) Birenbaum
77 Robbie Ray (SP21) Bradburn
78 Aroldis Chapman (RP4) Wegman
79 Whit Merrifield (2B9/OF26) Bisson
80 Jose Quintana (SP22) Wile
81 Wil Myers (1B10) Levine
82 Jake Lamb (3B10) Sharkey-Gotlieb
83 Masahiro Tanaka (SP23) Mcwilliam
84 Aaron Nola (SP24) Wilson

By selecting Merrifield, Team Bisson basically put a stamp on stolen bases. He quietly assembled a team with Turner, Hamilton, and now Merrifield. Together, they stole a total of 139 bases in 2017, which means Team Bisson didn't need to think much about adding more speed later, when it's even more scarce.

Myers was another player Team Levine saw as a value pick based on his ADP of 69, although with first base being deep, he may have fallen further if not for this league's inclusion of the CI position.

Team Soveta's pick of Rivero was curious on the surface, but the Pirates reliever's ADP isn't too far off. Still, he's typically not being drafted as a top-three reliever.

Round 8

Pick Player Owner
85 Domingo Santana (OF27) Wilson
86 Steven Souza Jr. (OF28) Mcwilliam
87 Chris Taylor (2B10/SS8/OF29) Sharkey-Gotlieb
88 Jake Arrieta (SP25) Levine
89 Jean Segura (SS9) Wile
90 Corey Knebel (RP5) Bisson
91 Lance McCullers (SP26) Wegman
92 Yoenis Cespedes (OF30) Bradburn
93 Joey Gallo (1B11/3B11/OF31) Birenbaum
94 J.T. Realmuto (C4) Soveta
95 Gerrit Cole (SP27) McLaren
96 Miguel Cabrera (1B12) Casaletto

This round might be the closest to ADP projections since the first, as none of these players were taken egregiously early or late.

The only player who was selected far from his usual spot was McCullers, whose ADP sits at 150. His appeal to Team Wegman isn't surprising, though. When healthy, McCullers is one of baseball's best strikeout artists, punching out more than 10 batters per nine innings throughout his career. The problem is that Wegman anchored his pitching staff with McCullers and the oft-injured James Paxton. If they each blow a tire, which is possible, it could be a long season.

Team Soveta landed the last of the really appealing catchers, though Realmuto falls slightly below the best at the position since his chances to drive in runs may be few and far between as long as he stays in Miami.

Round 9

Pick Player Owner
97 Trevor Story (SS10) Casaletto
98 Kyle Seager (3B12) McLaren
99 Eduardo Nunez (2B11/3B13/SS11/OF32) Soveta
100 Roberto Osuna (RP6) Birenbaum
101 Ryan Braun (OF33) Bradburn
102 Kyle Hendricks (SP28) Wegman
103 Eric Hosmer (1B13) Bisson
104 Carlos Santana (1B14/OF34) Wile
105 Travis Shaw (3B14) Levine
106 Wade Davis (RP7) Sharkey-Gotlieb
107 Ken Giles (RP8) Mcwilliam
108 Adrian Beltre (3B15) Wilson

And here come the closers. A closer run is bound to happen, but it's entirely dependent on when the best get taken. That said, Osuna, Davis, and Giles aren't far off their relative ADPs.

Beltre feels like robbery at the tail end of the ninth round, even though I picked him 50 spots ahead of his ADP. As the 15th third baseman off the board, it's a solid investment and I wasn't about to risk someone else reaching for him over the next 22 picks. When you pick on an end, it's imperative to have a strategy in place and a reasonable understanding of who your rivals may be targeting.

Hosmer dropped well below his ADP of 72. He's a polarizing option, as he's been selected as late as 122 in some drafts. He was a four-category stud in 2017, though his move to San Diego has question marks surrounding it. Team Bisson can use him as his primary first baseman, but has flexibility in the form of Bellinger and Desmond later on.

Round 10

Pick Player Owner
109 Adam Eaton (OF35) Wilson
110 Jose Berrios (SP29) Mcwilliam
111 Matt Carpenter (1B15/2B12/3B16) Sharkey-Gotlieb
112 Edwin Diaz (RP9) Levine
113 Justin Smoak (1B16) Wile
114 Mike Moustakas (3B17) Bisson
115 Miguel Sano (1B17/3B18) Wegman
116 Greg Bird (1B18) Bradburn
117 Yoan Moncada (2B13) Birenbaum
118 Eric Thames (1B19/OF36) Soveta
119 Rafael Devers (3B19) McLaren
120 Mike Zunino (C5) Casaletto

Team Birenbaum made the first big rookie splash by taking Moncada, but it's right around his expected selection. With the White Sox poised to be bad, Moncada will get his hacks in the upper half of the lineup, and this could be the only time he'll be available beyond the early rounds.

The same could apply to Devers, who impressed in his short stint with the Red Sox in 2017. However, with a better supporting cast, he could find himself batting near the bottom of the lineup, or even back in Triple-A if he struggles.

Based on his ADP of 151, few believe in Smoak's breakout. If the numbers are sustainable, he's a steal in the 10th. But the closest Smoak ever came to the 38 homers he hit in 2017 was 20 in 2013.

Round 11

Pick Player Owner
121 Raisel Iglesias (RP10) Casaletto
122 Gregory Polanco (OF37) McLaren
123 Cody Allen (RP11) Soveta
124 Johnny Cueto (SP30) Birenbaum
125 Marwin Gonzalez(1B20/2B14/3B20/SS12/OF38) Bradburn
126 Rich Hill (SP31) Wegman
127 Eddie Rosario (OF39) Bisson
128 Adam Jones (OF40) Wile
129 Didi Gregorius (SS13) Levine
130 Ian Kinsler (2B15) Sharkey-Gotlieb
131 Jon Lester (SP32) Mcwilliam
132 Ender Inciarte (OF41) Wilson

Versatility is Gonzalez's prime appeal, as he hits in one of baseball's most potent offenses and is the perfect insurance policy at almost every offensive position.

Team Casaletto and Team Soveta became the second and third teams to add a second outstanding ninth-inning option. With four teams still avoiding closers to this point, getting that extra edge can be a viable strategy.

Team Mcwilliam grabbed a solid group of starting pitchers, as Lester is his third option behind Tanaka and Berrios. It's not a bad haul after waiting until the seventh round to target pitching. He was the last team to draft a starter, and it didn't leave him worse for wear.

Round 12

Pick Player Owner
133 Sean Doolittle (RP12) Wilson
134 Jay Bruce (1B21/OF42) Mcwilliam
135 Sonny Gray (SP33) Sharkey-Gotlieb
136 Alex Wood (SP34) Levine
137 Michael Conforto (OF43) Wile
138 Nicholas Castellanos (3B21/OF44) Bisson
139 Matt Olson (1B22/OF45) Wegman
140 Manuel Margot (OF46) Bradburn
141 Ryan Zimmerman (1B23) Birenbaum
142 Javier Baez (2B16/SS14) Soveta
143 Zack Godley (SP35) McLaren
144 Jon Gray (SP36) Casaletto

Team Wegman waited the longest to grab a first baseman. Olson has tantalizing pop, but he's operating on a very small sample size and plays in Oakland Coliseum.

Doolittle's injury history is worrisome, but he's a fine pick-up this late with Washington expected to win a boatload of games.

Perhaps feeling the crunch on starting pitching, Teams McLaren, Casaletto, and Levine each grabbed their third options. Godley is a solid value play considering his ADP is 131, while Gray came off the board a few rounds earlier than projected. He's shaky due to Coors Field, but was excellent in limited action last season.

Round 13

Pick Player Owner
145 Nomar Mazara (OF47) Casaletto
146 Odubel Herrera (OF48) McLaren
147 DJ LeMahieu (2B17) Soveta
148 Salvador Perez (C6) Birenbaum
149 Alex Colome (RP13) Bradburn
150 Brett Gardner (OF49) Wegman
151 Brad Hand (RP14) Bisson
152 Greg Holland (RP15) Wile
153 Rougned Odor (2B18) Levine
154 Adam Duvall (OF50) Sharkey-Gotlieb
155 Andrew Miller (RP16) Mcwilliam
156 Jameson Taillon (SP37) Wilson

Team Mcwilliam took the first reliever who isn't his team's primary closer. However, Miller's K-rate is elite, he can throw multiple innings out of the bullpen, and he's bound to vulture the odd save.

Team Wegman grabbed Gardner 30 spots ahead of his ADP, but his floor is high for a pick this late. Though no longer a 40-SB threat, Gardner's averaged 21 stolen bases over the last five seasons. Still, Team Wegman may be wishing he'd taken his second outfielder a few rounds earlier.

LeMahieu is a bargain in the 13th round, but likely fell because he's largely unremarkable. His value, especially in rotisserie formats, lies securely in his consistent .300 batting average. Just don't expect much else.

Round 14

Pick Player Owner
157 Josh Bell (1B24) Wilson
158 Chase Anderson (SP38) Mcwilliam
159 Kelvin Herrera (RP17) Sharkey-Gotlieb
160 Brandon Morrow (RP18) Levine
161 Trey Mancini (1B25/OF51) Wile
162 Ian Desmond (1B26/OF52) Bisson
163 Josh Reddick (OF53) Wegman
164 Andrelton Simmons (SS15) Bradburn
165 Evan Longoria (3B22) Birenbaum
166 Tyler Chatwood (SP39) Soveta
167 Aaron Sanchez (SP40) McLaren
168 Ian Happ (2B19/OF54) Casaletto

By this point, the precipitous drop-off at shortstop is very apparent, as teams are grabbing reinforcements more aggressively at other positions. But Simmons is a potentially good addition for Team Bradburn after a surprising offensive campaign.

Team Soveta eschewed starting pitching after grabbing Strasburg and deGrom early, but Chatwood could be a solid third option. He'll be backed by a strong lineup and is no longer starting half his games at Coors, where he was absolutely demolished last season. However, he was taken well below his ADP of 278.

Round 15

Pick Player Owner
169 Paul DeJong (2B20/SS16) Casaletto
170 Alex Reyes (SP41) McLaren
171 Josh Harrison (2B21/3B23) Soveta
172 Jeff Samardzija (SP42) Birenbaum
173 Archie Bradley (RP19) Bradburn
174 Zach Britton (RP20) Wegman
175 Luis Castillo (SP43) Bisson
176 Trevor Bauer (SP44) Wile
177 Corey Dickerson (OF55) Levine
178 Luke Weaver (SP45) Sharkey-Gotlieb
179 Avisail Garcia (OF56) Mcwilliam
180 Mark Melancon (RP21) Wilson

Dickerson was drafted before the Rays cut ties with him, but his fantasy prospects should improve now that he's with the Pirates. He'll provide exceptional power value if he hits high in the lineup, as he's projected to.

Garcia could be a bargain, even though he was selected ahead of his 198 ADP. The knock on Garcia is that he won't sustain a high batting average after posting a .392 BABIP in 2017, the highest among qualified hitters. Outfield is probably Mcwilliam's weakest position, but there's plenty of upside.

Bradley is poised to be the Diamondbacks' closer, and yet he was the 19th reliever selected. Team Bradburn made a conscious decision to fill his FLEX spots with relievers. It should provides flexibility during the season, but he'll need to stream starters to rack up wins and strikeouts.

Round 16

Pick Player Owner
181 Evan Gattis (C7) Wilson
182 Cesar Hernandez (2B22) Mcwilliam
183 Michael Fulmer (SP46) Sharkey-Gotlieb
184 Wilson Ramos (C8) Levine
185 Yadier Molina (C9) Wile
186 Welington Castillo (C10) Bisson
187 Brad Brach (RP22) Wegman
188 Hector Neris (RP23) Bradburn
189 Kyle Schwarber (OF57) Birenbaum
190 Tim Beckham (2B23/SS17) Soveta
191 Danny Salazar (SP47) McLaren
192 Charlie Morton (SP48) Casaletto

I grabbed Gattis well past his ADP of 147, but catchers certainly aren't flying off the board. However, it's also a pick I probably wouldn't make again because Gattis' playing time may not be guaranteed with Brian McCann in the fold. If the Astros add a last-minute DH, both Gattis and McCann will see their values plummet.

Team Soveta snagged Beckham with belief that his second half was a sign of things to come. He was already tapping into his power before being traded to Baltimore, and then ramped it up by hitting 10 homers in 50 games while batting .306. He's also getting a shot at third base, so he'll gain extra eligibility.

Team Casaletto may have made a savvy pick with Morton, who had a breakout campaign in 2017 - his first with the Astros. However, Morton could lose his rotation spot if he struggles, as Houston is stacked with relievers who were effective starters (Brad Peacock, Collin McHugh).

Round 17

Pick Player Owner
193 Ronald Acuna (OF58) Casaletto
194 Garrett Richards (SP49) McLaren
195 Michael Brantley (OF59) Soveta
196 Ozzie Albies (2B24) Birenbaum
197 Bradley Zimmer (OF60) Bradburn
198 Zack Cozart (SS18) Wegman
199 Kevin Gausman (SP50) Bisson
200 Jeurys Familia (RP24) Wile
201 Arodys Vizcaino (RP25) Levine
202 Dellin Betances (RP26) Sharkey-Gotlieb
203 Yuli Gurriel (1B26) Mcwilliam
204 Dylan Bundy (SP51) Wilson

Here's another closer run. Vizcaino was Team Levine's third, while Familia was Team Wile's second foray into relievers. Team Sharkey-Gotlieb elected to veer away from guaranteed saves in hopes that Betances can be more efficient in the strike zone. If anything happens to Aroldis Chapman, he could be next in line.

Acuna could be the steal of the draft. At this point, even if he isn't as ready for the big stage as he thinks he is, if he's your fifth outfielder, you can afford a bit of leeway.

Cozart is a solid depth play for Team Wegman, and with Simmons entrenched at shortstop, he's going to gain 3B eligibility quickly. Team Mcwilliam also may benefit from from added eligibility, as the Astros are expected to move Gurriel around the infield this season.

Round 18

Pick Player Owner
205 Jonathan Villar (2B25/OF61) Wilson
206 Eugenio Suarez (3B24) Mcwilliam
207 Chris Davis (1B27) Sharkey-Gotlieb
208 Justin Bour (1B28) Levine
209 Danny Duffy (SP52) Wile
210 Jacob Faria (SP53) Bisson
211 Mitch Haniger (OF62) Wegman
212 Alex Avila (C11) Bradburn
213 Fernando Rodney (RP27) Birenbaum
214 Cole Hamels (SP54) Soveta
215 Blake Snell (SP55) McLaren
216 Yonder Alonso (1B29) Casaletto

Team McLaren selected his fifth consecutive starting pitcher in Snell, and he has not - and will not - draft a reliever. The strategy is that closers are too volatile to put much stock into on draft day, and he'll instead aim to find saves on the waiver wire throughout the season. He's also elected to stock up on high-upside starters in hopes of striking gold. If he doesn't, one of them will likely be dropped for a set-up man getting a promotion. This is not a fool-proof plan, especially in a draft this deep, but you have to admire the commitment.

The Davis and Bour picks are great here. They both have powerful upside and neither Sharkey-Gotlieb nor Levine are relying on them to be a cornerstone. We're only three years removed from Davis hitting 47 homers, which is big potential this late.

Round 19

Pick Player Owner
217 Chad Green (RP28) Casaletto
218 Russell Martin (C12) McLaren
219 Taijuan Walker (SP56) Soveta
220 Gleyber Torres (SS19) Birenbaum
221 Blake Parker (RP29) Bradburn
222 Hanley Ramirez (UT2) Wegman
223 Kevin Kiermaier (OF63) Bisson
224 Scooter Gennett (2B26/3B25/OF64) Wile
225 Gio Gonzalez (SP57) Levine
226 Jackie Bradley Jr. (OF65) Sharkey-Gotlieb
227 Zach Davies (SP58) Mcwilliam
228 Mark Trumbo (OF66) Wilson

Team Casaletto's one area of weakness is starting pitching depth - he took only five starters total, second fewest in the mock - and went with another high-end middle reliever here. With this kind of strategy, you're committing to streaming starters throughout the season.

Gennett may not hit 27 homers again, but he's projected to hit fifth in the Reds' lineup, which should provide ample of RBI opportunities. At this stage, the flexibility he offers is gold.

Team Birenbaum shored up his infield youth movement with Torres after already drafting Moncada and Albies. They're fine lottery tickets, and if all of them hit the ground running, one could be a viable trade chip to help fortify starting pitching.

Round 20

Pick Player Owner
229 Kenta Maeda (SP59) Wilson
230 Patrick Corbin (SP60) Mcwilliam
231 J.A. Happ (SP61) Sharkey-Gotlieb
232 Blake Treinen (RP30) Levine
233 Drew Pomeranz (SP62) Wile
234 Chris Owings (2B27/SS20/OF67) Bisson
235 Julio Teheran (SP63) Wegman
236 Alex Claudio (RP31) Bradburn
237 Addison Reed (RP32) Birenbaum
238 Brad Peacock (SP64/RP33) Soveta
239 Tim Anderson (SS21) McLaren
240 Todd Frazier (3B26) Casaletto

Reed isn't a closer now, but he may be in the best position to earn that role. Fernando Rodney is entering camp as Minnesota's expected closer, but he's both 40 years old and very erratic.

Anderson fell multiple rounds to Team McLaren, and while shortstop is fairly top-heavy, he's not bad insurance. Perhaps he can hit higher in Chicago's lineup if he improves his on-base ability.

Pomeranz (ADP 184) sank like a stone in this draft, and Team Wile managed to pick up his sixth starter at a bit of a discount. Injuries pose the biggest threat, but Pomeranz has been solid for years, owning a 38-28 record with a 3.24 ERA and 9.1 K/9 in almost 500 innings since 2014.

Round 21-24

Pick Player Owner
241 Carl Edwards Jr. (RP34) Casaletto
242 Hunter Renfroe (OF68) McLaren
243 Ryon Healy (1B30/3B27) Soveta
244 Dansby Swanson (SS22) Birenbaum
245 Lewis Brinson (OF69) Bradburn
246 Jason Kipnis (2B28) Wegman
247 Jose Peraza (2B29/SS23) Bisson
248 Addison Russell (SS24) Wile
249 Sean Manaea (SP65) Levine
250 Marcus Semien (SS25) Sharkey-Gotlieb
251 Jorge Polanco (SS26) Mcwilliam
252 Luke Gregerson (RP35) Wilson
253 Orlando Arcia (SS27) Wilson
254 A.J. Ramos (RP36) Mcwilliam
255 Maikel Franco (3B28) Sharkey-Gotlieb
256 David Robertson (RP37) Levine
257 Kyle Barraclough (RP38) Wile
258 Yangervis Solarte (2B30/SS28/3B29) Bisson
259 Lance Lynn (SP66) Wegman
260 Matt Chapman (3B30) Bradburn
261 Devon Travis (2B31) Birenbaum
262 Dustin Pedroia (2B31) Soveta
263 Max Kepler (OF70) McLaren
264 Austin Barnes (C13/2B33) Casaletto
265 Troy Tulowitzki (SS29) Casaletto
266 Jaime Garcia (SP67) McLaren
267 Alex Cobb (SP68) Soveta
268 Brad Ziegler (RP39) Birenbaum
269 Jimmy Nelson (SP69) Bradburn
270 Delino DeShields (OF71) Wegman
271 Lucas Giolito (SP70) Bisson
272 Jedd Gyorko (3B31) Wile
273 Amed Rosario (SS30) Levine
274 Mike Clevinger (SP71) Sharkey-Gotlieb
275 Matt Joyce (OF72) Mcwilliam
276 Starlin Castro (2B34) Wilson
277 Nick Williams (OF73) Wilson
278 Joe Mauer (1B31) Mcwilliam
279 David Dahl (OF74) Sharkey-Gotlieb
280 Aaron Altherr (OF75) Levine
281 Rick Porcello (SP72) Wile
282 Tony Watson (RP40) Bisson
283 Tanner Roark (SP73) Wegman
284 Matt Duffy (3B32) Bradburn
285 Jesse Winker (OF76) Birenbaum
286 Albert Pujols (1B32) Soveta
287 Adrian Gonzalez (1B33) McLaren
288 Aaron Hicks (OF77) Casaletto

The last four rounds are typically lottery tickets, and Team Sharkey-Gotlieb may have picked the right one by selecting Dahl in the 24th, especially if he lands a starting gig. Team Soveta may be laughing with Pujols on his bench if the "best-shape-of-his-life" narrative actually pulls through. And Mauer has a stronger lineup around him than ever, so Team Mcwilliam could benefit from solid, if unspectacular, production.

Happy drafting. Remember, form a plan and be prepared to abandon it (or, at the very least, alter it) if your opponents throw a few curveballs. They will.

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