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
- Jonathan Lucroy, TEX
- Yasmani Grandal, LAD
- Willson Contreras, CHC
- Sandy Leon, BOS
- Buster Posey, SFG
- Jose Lobaton, WAS
- Russell Martin, TOR
- Matt Wieters, BAL
- Yan Gomes, CLE
- Travis d'Arnaud, NYM
- Roberto Perez, CLE
- Miguel Montero, CHC
- David Ross, CHC
- Carlos Ruiz, LAD
- Robinson Chirinos, TEX
- Rene Rivera, NYM
- Dioner Navarro, TOR
- Trevor Brown, SFG
- Chris Gimenez, CLE
- Christian Vasquez, BOS
First Base
- Anthony Rizzo, CHC
- Hanley Ramirez, BOS
- Carlos Santana, CLE
- Adrian Gonzalez, LAD
- Edwin Encarnacion, TOR
- Daniel Murphy, WAS
- Mike Napoli, CLE
- Mitch Moreland, TEX
- Brandon Belt, SFG
- Ryan Zimmerman, WAS
- Chris Davis, BAL
- Travis Shaw, BOS
- Lucas Duda, NYM
- Ryan Rua, TEX
- James Loney, NYM
- Justin Smoak, TOR
- Clint Robinson, WAS
Second Base
- Rougned Odor, TEX
- Ben Zobrist, CHC
- Dustin Pedroia, BOS
- Trea Turner, WAS
- Jason Kipnis, CLE
- Chase Utley, LAD
- Javier Baez, CHC
- Jonathan Schoop, BAL
- Daniel Murphy, WAS
- Joe Panik, SFG
- Devon Travis, TOR
- Howie Kendrick, LAD
- T.J. Rivera, NYM
- Aaron Hill, BOS
- Chris Coghlan, CHC
- Kelly Johnson, NYM
- Darwin Barney, TOR
- Stephen Drew, BOS
- Enrique Hernandez, LAD
- Kelby Tomlinson, SFG
- Wilmer Difo, WAS
Shortstop
- Corey Seager, LAD
- Xander Bogaerts, BOS
- Francisco Lindor, CLE
- Addison Russell, CHC
- Elvis Andrus, TEX
- Manny Machado, BAL
- Danny Espinosa, WAS
- Brandon Crawford, SFG
- Troy Tulowitzki, TOR
- Asdrubal Cabrera, NYM
- Javier Baez, CHC
- J.J. Hardy, BAL
- Eduardo Nunez, SFG
- Darwin Barney, TOR
Third Base
- Kris Bryant, CHC
- Adrian Beltre, TEX
- Jose Ramirez, CLE
- Justin Turner, LAD
- Josh Donaldson, TOR
- Anthony Rendon, WAS
- Manny Machado, BAL
- Travis Shaw, BOS
- Javier Baez, CHC
- Jose Reyes, NYM
- Pedro Alvarez, BAL
- Aaron Hill, BOS
- Eduardo Nunez, SFG
- Kelly Johnson, NYM
- Conor Gillaspie, SFG
- Jurickson Profar, TEX
Outfielder
- Kris Bryant, CHC
- Mookie Betts, BOS
- Ian Desmond, TEX
- Carlos Beltran, TEX
- Jose Ramirez, CLE
- Ben Zobrist, CHC
- Trea Turner, WAS
- Jackie Bradley, BOS
- Dexter Fowler, CHC
- Bryce Harper, WAS
- Joc Pederson, LAD
- Jose Bautista, TOR
- Mark Trumbo, BAL
- Josh Reddick, LAD
- Adam Jones, BAL
- Yasiel Puig, LAD
- Jayson Werth, WAS
- Carlos Gomez, TEX
- Rajai Davis, CLE
- Yoenis Cespedes, NYM
- Willson Contreras, CHC
- Jason Heyward, CHC
- Hunter Pence, SFG
- Curtis Granderson, NYM
- Nomar Mazara, TEX
- Michael Saunders, TOR
- Angel Pagan, SFG
- Shin-Soo Choo, TEX
- Tyler Naquin, CLE
- Denard Span, SFG
- Jay Bruce, NYM
- Jorge Soler, CHC
- Lonnie Chisenhall, CLE
- Kevin Pillar, TOR
- Hyun Soo Kim, BAL
- Andrew Benintendi, BOS
- Brandon Guyer, CLE
- Melvin Upton Jr., TOR
- Howie Kendrick, LAD
- Coco Crisp, CLE
- Michael Bourn, BAL
- Brock Holt, BOS
- Ryan Rua, TEX
- Michael Conforto, NYM
- Ezequiel Carrera, TOR
- Chris Young, BOS
- Ben Revere, WAS
- Delino DeShields Jr., TEX
- Alejandro De Aza, NYM
- Chris Heisey, WAS
- Clint Robinson WAS
Designated Hitter
- David Ortiz, BOS
Starting Pitcher
- Jon Lester, CHC
- Clayton Kershaw, LAD
- Kyle Hendricks, CHC
- Jake Arrieta, CHC
- Max Scherzer, WAS
- Corey Kluber, CLE
- Yu Darvish, TEX
- David Price, BOS
- Rich Hill, LAD
- Cole Hamels, TEX
- John Lackey, CHC
- Rick Porcello, BOS
- Madison Bumgarner, SFG
- Noah Syndergaard, NYM
- Tanner Roark, WAS
- Kenta Maeda, LAD
- Marcus Stroman, TOR
- Trevor Bauer, CLE
- Chris Tillman, BAL
- Julio Urias, LAD
- Johnny Cueto, SFG
- J.A. Happ, TOR
- Aaron Sanchez, TOR
- Bartolo Colon, NYM
- Marco Estrada, TOR
- Jeff Samardzija, SFG
- Matt Moore, SFG
- Kevin Gausman, BAL
- Gio Gonzalez, WAS
- Seth Lugo, NYM
- Robert Gsellman, NYM
- Clay Buchholz, BOS
- Martin Perez, TEX
- A.J. Griffin, TEX
- Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS
- Josh Tomlin, CLE
- Ubaldo Jimenez, BAL
- Colby Lewis, TEX
- Joe Ross, WAS
- Dylan Bundy, BAL
Relief Pitcher
- Aroldis Chapman, CHC
- Kenley Jansen, LAD
- Craig Kimbrel, BOS
- Sam Dyson, TEX
- Andrew Miller, CLE
- Mark Melancon, WAS
- Zach Britton, BAL
- Sergio Romo, SFG
- Jeurys Familia, NYM
- Roberto Osuna, TOR
- Brad Ziegler, BOS
- Joe Blanton, LAD
- Cody Allen, CLE
- Mike Montgomery, CHC
- Brad Brach, BAL
- Addison Reed, NYM
- Shawn Kelley, WAS
- Tony Barnette, TEX
- Derek Law, SFG
- Pedro Baez, LAD