Fantasy Baseball: 2015 Baltimore Orioles Fantasy Outlook

Aug 1, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman

Manny Machado

(13) doubles in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Mariners 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Here we are! Pitchers and catchers have reported, and Spring Training is in full swing (pun intended). Most of us will start having fantasy baseball drafts very soon, and we here at Fantasy CPR are no different. It is time to dust off the notes from last season, and check out which players could have an impact on your fantasy league.

Baltimore Orioles 2015 projected starting lineup:

C: Matt Wieters (.308, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 0 SB)
1B: Chris Davis (.196, 26HR, 72 RBI, 2 SB) Davis will miss the first game of the season because of suspension.
2B: Jon Schoop (.209, 16 HR, 45 RBI, 2 SB)
3B: Manny Machado (.278, 12 HR, 32 RBI, 2 SB)
SS: J.J. Hardy (.268, 9 HR, 52 RBI, 0 SB)
LF: Alejandro DeAza (.252, 8 HR, 41 RBI, 17 SB) hit .293 with 3HR and 10RBI in 20 games with Baltimore
CF: Adam Jones (.281, 29 HR, 96 RBI, 7 SB)
RF: Travis Snider (.264, 13 HR, 38 RBI, 1 SB) With Pittsburgh
DH: Steve Pearce (.293, 21 HR, 49 RBI, 5 SB)

Wieters is coming off of Tommy John surgery, but is expected to be ready by Opening Day or shortly after. If he is not, Caleb Joseph (.207, 9HR, 28RBI in 82 games) will fill in until Wieters is ready. Weiters is still a top five catcher when healthy. He had three consecutive 20 HR seasons from 2011-13. He is only a career .257 hitter, but you take what you can get at catcher. Wieters should still be in his prime at age 28, and could be had at a discount because of his injury concerns. Still, Tommy John surgery is not nearly as big of a deal for position players. If you miss out on one of the top catchers, Wieters is a solid pick in the middle of your draft.

This team does not have much for speed either. DeAza had more steals that the rest of the starters combined. DeAza should see the green light just as much, if not more than he did in Chicago. He also stands to score more runs in this lineup. Still, DeAza is a fringe standard league player at best, and should only be left for 12 team or large roster leagues.

Pearce could lose the DH job to Dmitri Young, who hit .302 with seven homers and 39 RBI in 83 games last year. At the very least, Young will platoon in right with Travis Snider, who is dreadful against left handed pitchers. That gives both Young and Pearce value in 12 team leagues. Snider is best left for deep leagues only unless the change of scenery turns him into the player many thought he could be.

The clear fantasy star on the team is Adam Jones, who led the team in HR and RBI. He is not the stolen base threat that he once was, but he has still been going in the late first or early second round of mock drafts. I think that may be a bit too early for him, but if he was around in the middle of the second round, I would take him.

Manny Machado is still only 22 years old, but had a disappointing year even before being derailed by injury last year. He attitude was also called into question after almost single-handedly starting a brawl with the Oakland A’s in a weekend series last May. Machado has the most upside on the team, and could hit 30 HR if he stays healthy. You may be able to get Machado at a bit of a discount because of last year, but there doesn’t seem to be anything to worry about just yet. Machado has been going as high as the 5th round. Even that may be a bargain if he can put things together this year.

Chris Davis is a tough guy to own. He likely won’t be as awful at the plate as he was in 2014, but he isn’t going to hit you 50 HR again like he did in 2013. A .240-30-90 season could be within reach, which makes him a solid pick in rounds 4-6. Just keep in mind that you have to find some ways to repair your average if you take Davis. He is closer to Adam Dunn than Joey Votto.

Schoop and Hardy are best left for deep leagues or leagues that start two of each position. Hardy is much more valuable in real life than fantasy. Schoop could turn out to be a good player, but that average is hard to take in a standard league. His power upside makes him a good sleeper option in 12 team or larger leagues.

Keep an eye on 1B Christian Walker and OF Dariel Alvarez. Both will be in camp this spring, and both could make the trip north. If Alvarez has a good spring, the 26 year old Cuban defector could find himself starting in right field soon. Possibly before the end of spring. Walker is already penciled in as the starting 1B on Opening Day while Davis finishes off his suspension. If Davis struggles like he did last year, he won’t have nearly the leash he did with Walker likely ready for the bigs. He has good power and hits for a decent average. Stash these guys if you are in a league with a deep bench or a dynasty league.

Next: 2015 Baltimore Pitchers

Oct 3, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher

Kevin Gausman

(39) throws against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of game two of the 2014 ALDS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

2015 Projected Rotation:

Chris Tillman (13-6, 3.34 ERA, 150K)
Wei-Yin Chen (16-6, 3.54 ERA, 136K)
Bud Norris (15-8, 3.65 ERA, 139K)
Miguel Gonzalez (10-9, 3.23 ERA, 111K)
Kevin Gausman (7-7, 3.57 ERA, 88K)
Zach Britton (3-2, 1.65 ERA, 37/41 saves, 62K)

None of these five will be the anchor of your rotation, but all of them can be valuable pieces. The one that may stand out is Gausman, who is only 24 years old, and put up those numbers in his first full season. He also had a strong postseason for the Orioles. All of these guys are worth owning in standard leagues, but due to their pedestrian strikeout totals, should only be drafted in the mid to later rounds. Still, none of them will hurt your ERA. Something can be said for that.

The Orioles have possibly the deepest pitching prospects in the minors. Should injury strike, be ready to pounce on Dylan Bundy or Hunter Harvey. They are the top two prospects in the organization, and will both likely make their major league debuts sometime in 2015. They are worth drafting in keeper or dynasty leagues.

Britton emerged as the closer in May of last year, and will likely stay there since the Orioles have a strong rotation. Britton was considered one of the best young arms in their system, and that success has followed to the closer role. Because of his success, he likely won’t return to the rotation anytime soon. He was dominant for most of last year, and will rack you up a good amount of strikeouts. Add to the fact that he plays for a winner, and Britton is likely to be one of the top five closers off the board.

Tommy Hunter (3-2, 2.97 ERA, 11/17 saves) will be the setup man, and the one who would ascend to closer should something happen to Britton. Closer is the most fickle position in any fantasy league, so it never hurts to carry a backup. If you are in a league that counts holds, Hunter(12 holds), Darren O’Day(25 holds), and Brian Matusz(14 holds) are your best bets.

Home/Fantasy Baseball