Fantasy baseball: Milwaukee Brewers 2020 fantasy preview
By Mike Marteny
2020 Milwaukee Brewers projected starting lineup:
Eric Sogard, 3B (.290, 13 HR, 40 RBI, 8 SB in 396 AB with TBR/TOR)
Lorenzo Cain, CF (.260, 11 HR, 48 RBI, 18 SB in 562 AB)
Christian Yelich, LF (.329, 44 HR, 97 RBI, 30 SB in 489 AB)
Keston Hiura, 2B (.303, 19 HR, 49 RBI, 9 SB in 314 AB)
Justin Smoak, 1B (.208, 22 HR, 61 RBI, 0 SB in 414 AB with TOR)
Avisail Garcia, RF (.282, 20 HR, 72 RBI, 10 SB in 489 AB with TBR)
Omar Narvaez, C (.278, 22 HR, 55 RBI, 0 SB in 428 AB with SEA)
Luis Urias, SS (.223, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 1 SB in 215 AB with SDP)
Yes, Yelich still had a 40/30 season despite missing 32 games. I could even see taking him over Trout at number 1 if you’re so inclined. Yelich is a top three pick in any league, especially when you consider how quickly OF thins out.
If you want to make a case for Hiura being the top 2B, I’ll listen. He did all that damage in just 314 at bats last year, which could be about what he gets this year. There is a slight concern over a sophomore slump. Altuve and Merrifield are more proven commodities, but Hiura might outdo both of them.
It gets sketchy after that. Word in that Ryan Braun is going to platoon with Smoak at 1B, but I’ll believe it when I see it. Braun still slugged 22 homers last year in 459 at bats with a .285 average. He’s likely to start at 1B most of the time. Id take him over Smoak and probably over Avi Garcia as well. I do like Garcia as a later round OF.
Sogard should platoon with Jedd Gyorko and 3B and Urias is trying to hold off Orlando Arcia at SS. This will likely be good for the Brewers, but it’s horrible for fantasy. None of them are viable in standard leagues.
The power on Narvaez shoots him up the catcher rankings. 22 homers in 428 at bats is good power, especially at a position that doesn’t have a ton of it.
I like LoCain in late rounds. He hits for a decent average and will swipe some bags. You can do worse.
Prospects to watch:
The signing of Avi Garcia makes it a tougher road for Tyrone Taylor and Corey Ray to get to the majors. Taylor had two doubles and two singles in ten at bats last September. If he gets regular playing time, I would consider him in a bench slot. It’s a tough road for Milwaukee position players though.
Lucas Erceg’s struggles at AAA last year helped them bringing back Sogard again. Erceg has nice power, but the lower average is keeping him in the minors. So is the fact that he may be better suited for 1B than 3B.