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MLB Playoffs Cheat Sheet

Here's a quick MLB Playoffs Cheat Sheet. This is for 5x5 leagues, assuming that you have a single draft before the playoffs start, without any redrafts after a round of the playoffs is completed. As such, we're trying to project who is going to play more games in addition to simply evaluating players. Positions are based on 20 games played during the 2016 regular season.

My operating assumptions:

  • I like the Giants and Blue Jays slightly better in the Wild Card games, but neither Wild Card winner to advance beyond the next round.
  • I'm picking against the Indians and Nationals in their respective Divisional Round matchups because their starting pitching is so decimated.
  • Even though I like the Giants and Jays to have better chances, many of their respective top players are buried in the rankings because of the risk that they play just one game, or none at all in the case of their starting pitchers. At best, they're 52-48 favorites.
  • My team preferences are pretty chalky - I like, in this order: Cubs, Dodgers, Rangers, Red Sox, if I'm building a stack in drafts.

Catcher

  1. Jonathan Lucroy, TEX
  2. Yasmani Grandal, LAD
  3. Willson Contreras, CHC
  4. Sandy Leon, BOS
  5. Buster Posey, SFG
  6. Jose Lobaton, WAS
  7. Russell Martin, TOR
  8. Matt Wieters, BAL
  9. Yan Gomes, CLE
  10. Travis d'Arnaud, NYM
  11. Roberto Perez, CLE
  12. Miguel Montero, CHC
  13. David Ross, CHC
  14. Carlos Ruiz, LAD
  15. Robinson Chirinos, TEX
  16. Rene Rivera, NYM
  17. Dioner Navarro, TOR
  18. Trevor Brown, SFG
  19. Chris Gimenez, CLE
  20. Christian Vasquez, BOS

First Base

  1. Anthony Rizzo, CHC
  2. Hanley Ramirez, BOS
  3. Carlos Santana, CLE
  4. Adrian Gonzalez, LAD
  5. Edwin Encarnacion, TOR
  6. Daniel Murphy, WAS
  7. Mike Napoli, CLE
  8. Mitch Moreland, TEX
  9. Brandon Belt, SFG
  10. Ryan Zimmerman, WAS
  11. Chris Davis, BAL
  12. Travis Shaw, BOS
  13. Lucas Duda, NYM
  14. Ryan Rua, TEX
  15. James Loney, NYM
  16. Justin Smoak, TOR
  17. Clint Robinson, WAS

Second Base

  1. Rougned Odor, TEX
  2. Ben Zobrist, CHC
  3. Dustin Pedroia, BOS
  4. Trea Turner, WAS
  5. Jason Kipnis, CLE
  6. Chase Utley, LAD
  7. Javier Baez, CHC
  8. Jonathan Schoop, BAL
  9. Daniel Murphy, WAS
  10. Joe Panik, SFG
  11. Devon Travis, TOR
  12. Howie Kendrick, LAD
  13. T.J. Rivera, NYM
  14. Aaron Hill, BOS
  15. Chris Coghlan, CHC
  16. Kelly Johnson, NYM
  17. Darwin Barney, TOR
  18. Stephen Drew, BOS
  19. Enrique Hernandez, LAD
  20. Kelby Tomlinson, SFG
  21. Wilmer Difo, WAS

Shortstop

  1. Corey Seager, LAD
  2. Xander Bogaerts, BOS
  3. Francisco Lindor, CLE
  4. Addison Russell, CHC
  5. Elvis Andrus, TEX
  6. Manny Machado, BAL
  7. Danny Espinosa, WAS
  8. Brandon Crawford, SFG
  9. Troy Tulowitzki, TOR
  10. Asdrubal Cabrera, NYM
  11. Javier Baez, CHC
  12. J.J. Hardy, BAL
  13. Eduardo Nunez, SFG
  14. Darwin Barney, TOR

Third Base

  1. Kris Bryant, CHC
  2. Adrian Beltre, TEX
  3. Jose Ramirez, CLE
  4. Justin Turner, LAD
  5. Josh Donaldson, TOR
  6. Anthony Rendon, WAS
  7. Manny Machado, BAL
  8. Travis Shaw, BOS
  9. Javier Baez, CHC
  10. Jose Reyes, NYM
  11. Pedro Alvarez, BAL
  12. Aaron Hill, BOS
  13. Eduardo Nunez, SFG
  14. Kelly Johnson, NYM
  15. Conor Gillaspie, SFG
  16. Jurickson Profar, TEX

Outfielder

  1. Kris Bryant, CHC
  2. Mookie Betts, BOS
  3. Ian Desmond, TEX
  4. Carlos Beltran, TEX
  5. Jose Ramirez, CLE
  6. Ben Zobrist, CHC
  7. Trea Turner, WAS
  8. Jackie Bradley, BOS
  9. Dexter Fowler, CHC
  10. Bryce Harper, WAS
  11. Joc Pederson, LAD
  12. Jose Bautista, TOR
  13. Mark Trumbo, BAL
  14. Josh Reddick, LAD
  15. Adam Jones, BAL
  16. Yasiel Puig, LAD
  17. Jayson Werth, WAS
  18. Carlos Gomez, TEX
  19. Rajai Davis, CLE
  20. Yoenis Cespedes, NYM
  21. Willson Contreras, CHC
  22. Jason Heyward, CHC
  23. Hunter Pence, SFG
  24. Curtis Granderson, NYM
  25. Nomar Mazara, TEX
  26. Michael Saunders, TOR
  27. Angel Pagan, SFG
  28. Shin-Soo Choo, TEX
  29. Tyler Naquin, CLE
  30. Denard Span, SFG
  31. Jay Bruce, NYM
  32. Jorge Soler, CHC
  33. Lonnie Chisenhall, CLE
  34. Kevin Pillar, TOR
  35. Hyun Soo Kim, BAL
  36. Andrew Benintendi, BOS
  37. Brandon Guyer, CLE
  38. Melvin Upton Jr., TOR
  39. Howie Kendrick, LAD
  40. Coco Crisp, CLE
  41. Michael Bourn, BAL
  42. Brock Holt, BOS
  43. Ryan Rua, TEX
  44. Michael Conforto, NYM
  45. Ezequiel Carrera, TOR
  46. Chris Young, BOS
  47. Ben Revere, WAS
  48. Delino DeShields Jr., TEX
  49. Alejandro De Aza, NYM
  50. Chris Heisey, WAS
  51. Clint Robinson WAS

Designated Hitter

  1. David Ortiz, BOS

Starting Pitcher

  1. Jon Lester, CHC
  2. Clayton Kershaw, LAD
  3. Kyle Hendricks, CHC
  4. Jake Arrieta, CHC
  5. Max Scherzer, WAS
  6. Corey Kluber, CLE
  7. Yu Darvish, TEX
  8. David Price, BOS
  9. Rich Hill, LAD
  10. Cole Hamels, TEX
  11. John Lackey, CHC
  12. Rick Porcello, BOS
  13. Madison Bumgarner, SFG
  14. Noah Syndergaard, NYM
  15. Tanner Roark, WAS
  16. Kenta Maeda, LAD
  17. Marcus Stroman, TOR
  18. Trevor Bauer, CLE
  19. Chris Tillman, BAL
  20. Julio Urias, LAD
  21. Johnny Cueto, SFG
  22. J.A. Happ, TOR
  23. Aaron Sanchez, TOR
  24. Bartolo Colon, NYM
  25. Marco Estrada, TOR
  26. Jeff Samardzija, SFG
  27. Matt Moore, SFG
  28. Kevin Gausman, BAL
  29. Gio Gonzalez, WAS
  30. Seth Lugo, NYM
  31. Robert Gsellman, NYM
  32. Clay Buchholz, BOS
  33. Martin Perez, TEX
  34. A.J. Griffin, TEX
  35. Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS
  36. Josh Tomlin, CLE
  37. Ubaldo Jimenez, BAL
  38. Colby Lewis, TEX
  39. Joe Ross, WAS
  40. Dylan Bundy, BAL

Relief Pitcher

  1. Aroldis Chapman, CHC
  2. Kenley Jansen, LAD
  3. Craig Kimbrel, BOS
  4. Sam Dyson, TEX
  5. Andrew Miller, CLE
  6. Mark Melancon, WAS
  7. Zach Britton, BAL
  8. Sergio Romo, SFG
  9. Jeurys Familia, NYM
  10. Roberto Osuna, TOR
  11. Brad Ziegler, BOS
  12. Joe Blanton, LAD
  13. Cody Allen, CLE
  14. Mike Montgomery, CHC
  15. Brad Brach, BAL
  16. Addison Reed, NYM
  17. Shawn Kelley, WAS
  18. Tony Barnette, TEX
  19. Derek Law, SFG
  20. Pedro Baez, LAD