#1: Cincinnati

Rotation: A-







Cincinnati has put together a solid rotation. Three solid command 5 pitchers, with good x-zones, and 6 IP. Castillo can be used as an Ace with command 5 +2 R, and solid defense. Bauer offers some pop with +3 Clutch, and the K icon for 65 less salary. Sonny Gray has found a new home in Cincy, with a 1 x-zone for 470 salary. Any one of these pitchers would be a good addition to your rotation.

Bullpen: B









Lineup: B-















This lineup isn’t deep, but it offers several unique cards. Eugenio Saurez may be the most affordable power hitter at third base. He’s slow, has solid +3 defense, a 6 out chart, 18+ HR, +2 Clutch, and HR icon. A sub-400 salary makes him a very good option to build with. Joey Votto is once again the most affordable on-base batter (13 OB) for 315 salary. It’s not even close. The only other sub 400 salary on-base 13 is J.D Martinez for 390. Switch-hitting catcher Tucker Barnhart is another great card with a 4 out chart, and +7 defense for 170 salary.

#2: Milwaukee

Rotation: C







Bullpen: B-









Josh Hader still reigns supreme as one of the top RP in Clutch Baseball. He’s dominant against lefties with a 19 out chart, 2 icons, 2 IP, and +2 Clutch. So forget about the Wild Card game, and double down with Hader in your bullpen. The rest of the Milwaukee bullpen offers some value RP with handedness bonuses. Peralta can be a command 4 (against righties), with an 18 out chart, 2 x-zone, and 3 IP!

Lineup: B















Christian Yelich has everything you could ever need in a batter, but he’s not the most interesting card in this lineup. Keston Hiura has a 13-16 double, 17 triple, and 18+ HR. A very unique second basemen. For an affordable 345 salary, A LOT of people will be playing Hiura this year. Lorenzo Cain will be used for his GG icon, 5 out chart, and speed A 21.

#3: St. Louis

Rotation: B







Jack Flaherty has really settled into the Ace role in St. Louis. He’s not “cheap”, but his +3 Clutch and +1 R is worth paying 500+ salary. Miles Mikolas is solid for his value, and Dakota Hudson’s only weakness is his command 2. It will be interesting to see how many managers take advantage of the +3 handedness this season.

Bullpen: C+









Lineup: B+















This St. Louis squad has a bunch of high on-base, speedy, and defensive players that are very affordable. Goldschmidt is incredible for 345 salary. He has a powerful chart, 15 B speed, and +3 Clutch. Yadier Molina is a great value for 145 salary, and Yairo Munoz is the ultimate utility/bench role.

#4: Chicago

Rotation: B+







Your best option of this trio may be Kyle Hendricks, who has a 1 x-zone, 18 out chart, 6 IP, +4 defense, and +3 Clutch for 430 salary. Jose Quintana and Yu Darvish aren’t bad options, either. Quintana is a solid command 6 L+1 for 485 salary. Darvish offers his command 4 R+2 for 370 salary.

Bullpen: B-









Lineup: B















The Chicago offense is built around powerful charts. The only icon is Anthony Rizzo’s GG, but nearly all of these batters have a handedness bonus. They are all very cheap, with adequate defense (the exception is Kris Bryant). Javy Baez will probably be the most used card because he plays both positions up the middle with perfect defense. Players will become addicted to his 14-17 double range, and his Speed 20 A.

#5: Pittsburgh

Rotation: C







Bullpen: C









I’ve said it in earlier blogs; managers are going to become a lot friendlier to 15/16 out pitcher charts. Chris Stratton is a bargain 3 IP RP, with a command 5 R+1. Yeah the 15 outs may make you cringe, but he doesn’t give up a HR until 24+. This is a MUCH more expensive pitcher with 17/18 outs. He’s worth it as an innings-eater. Stick Keone Kela in your bullpen, and you have another hidden gem with his 1 x-zone, 19 out chart, and R+3.

Lineup: B-















Pittsburgh saw a few stars emerge last season. Bryan Reynolds ended his rookie campaign with a .314 average, and a solid Clutch Card to show for it. He’s a switch-hitting outfielder that covers all 3 positions, with a 5 out chart, 15-18 double, on-base 11 R+1, and +3 Clutch for 350 salary. In the infield is first basemen Josh Bell, who was an All-Star last season. Bell’s card is fairly expensive for an on-base 10, but it’s kind of worth it. He too is a switch-hitter with +3 Clutch. His chart is even BETTER with a 14-17 double range, and 19+ HR. He’s also R+3, making him a 500+ salary level player against righties. Honestly this card may be better than you think this year with the new 3 batter minimum. It will be a lot harder for managers to play match ups against batters like this.