Fantasy Baseball Points League Strategy Tips Advice

Points leagues are not the most popular format in fantasy baseball, but some, like yours truly, greatly prefer the points format. Objectively speaking, it probably isnt the ideal way to determine the best overall fantasy baseballteam, but in points leagues, youll find the best fantasy baseballowners. Of course, if you're new to points leagues, you probably need some strategy tips and advice on how to dominate in 2020, and that's what we're here to provide.
I prefer points leagues because, in my experience, owners are le s likely to check out.Thats not to say owners never check out inpoints leagues, but if someone has a big lead in Roto points at the All-Star break, it can be discouraging.In a points league, its a head-to-head format, and similar to fantasy football, you're trying to run up the score on your opponent. Even more important, things can swing in a hurry.
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Points leagues require plenty of attention, but, like I mentioned earlier, you dont need to draft Jose Urena Jersey the best team. If youre smart enough, you can constantly pull out victories on a week-to-week basis and prove yourself to be the best manager in your league. Here are some things to keep in mind for doing just that.
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Fantasy Baseball Points League Strategy, AdviceKnow The Scoring
I hate to sound Caleb Smith Jersey like a broken record because its so easy to dedicate a section to this in every draft guide article, but if youre new to a points league, youll definitely want to familiarize yourself with your leagues scoring and rules. Here is a basic breakdown of most points leagues:
HittingPitchingSingle -- 1 pointIP -- 2.25-3 points (0.75-1 points/out)Double -- 2 pointsER -- -2 pointsTriple -- 3 pointsStrikeout -- 1 pointHR -- 4 pointsWalk -- -1 pointRun -- 1 pointWin -- 3-7 pointsRBI -- 1 pointQuality Start -- 3 pointsSB -- 2 pointsHold/Save -- 2/5 pointsWalk -- 1 pointLo s -- -5 pointsStrikeout -- -1 pointBlown Save -- -3 pointsTo sum up the table above, a solo home run equals six points if you account for the RBI, the run scored, and the total bases. So, a grand slam will equal nine points. Now, in a lot of mock drafts Ive done, Im seeing high-SB guys going much earlier. That doesn't nece sarily make sense. Steals is usually a standard metric in 5x5 or 7x7 head-to-head categories leagues. In points leagues, if a steal is only worth two points, you dont need to prioritize SBsas much. Of course, if youre grabbing, say,MikeTrout, Ronald Acuna Jr., orChristian Yelich, then the steals are an added bonus to the power, runs, and RBIs.Whit Merrifieldstole 45 bases in 2018, but that number dropped to 20 in '19. Fortunately, if you drafted him in a points league, the uptick in home runs, runs, and RBIs negated the points lost from steals. The juiced ball is a wondrous thing.
Pitching can be a premium if you know the scoring. The innings pitched can be a nice bonus. In most standard points leagues, an out is worth 0.75 points. So, a full inning is worth 2.25 points. If outs are worth a full point Corey Dickerson Jersey (a 33.3-percentincrease), then pitching is even more valuable. Again, pay attention to the values of wins, lo ses, saves, and holds.
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Typically, most start-up points leagues wont incorporate holds, and saves are just five points. And if your closer is only working one inning, thats just 7.75 points with the upside of 10.75 pointsifhe strikes out the side. Closers could lose points based on walks or hits allowed -- and even more if a runner scores. Unle s youre getting one of the true stud closers, this is typically a position you can punt. If required to start two relief pitchers, I recommend finding a couple SP/RP-eligible pitchers to slot into those spots for their value as starting pitchers.
Wins and lo ses play a big role, as well. Wins typically range from three-to-seven Neil Walker Jersey points, but I have played in leagues where theyre as valuable as 10 points. A lo s typically costs you five points. Most savvy points leagues will devalue wins since thats a statistic more reflective of the team than it is the pitcher. Look atJacob deGrom. In his past two seasons, hes 21-17, but hes won the NL Cy Young each year because of the non-team-related stats such as strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, etc. Some points leagues may reward for quality starts with an additional bonus for wins. deGrom has 95 starts in the past three seasons, throwing 200-plusinnings in each. He has 72 quality starts in that span, as well. While the wins may not be as abundant because he plays for the Mets, the quality starts can still return some value in points leagues.
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Walks vs. Strikeouts
In todays MLB, its hard to find a player with a walk rate higher than his strikeout rate, but they do exist.Alex Bregmanis such a valuable points league commodity because hes a patient, disciplined hitter. In addition to Sandy Alcantara Jersey the 41 home runs, 112 RBIs, and 122 runs scored last year, he was also third in baseballwith a 17.2-percentwalk rate.This is where we separate the Billy Beanes from the rest of the pack in points leagues. What made Bregman even more special was his 12-percent strikeout rate. Similarly, this is what madeJoey Vottoso valuable as a points league threat when he was a bit younger. For years he always posted walk rates either better thanor on par with his strikeout rate. Unfortunately, 2019 wasnt kind to him, as he walked in 12.5 percentof his plate appearances and struck out 20.2 percent of the time.
We are witne sing a revitalization in offense acro s the league. The juiced ball has elevated power and home runs to increase scoring. Last seasons top-10 Miami Marlins Jersey leaders in walk rate all had at least 28 home runs, with seven of them hitting at least 34. So, with more players in the league swinging for the fences, these players also tend to strikeout more. But dont forget that walks can lead to other points, as well. A strikeout may cost your hitter a point, but a walk equates to a point and can be more if they score or swipe a base. If youre having trouble deciding between two hitters during your leagues draft or if youre stuck on two waiver wire options, take a look at which one has the better walk rate. Its a fairly decent metric to consider if theyre in a good lineup.
On the opposite site of the ball, youll want to consider pitchers with an elevated K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings), or just a high strikeout-to-walk ratio (K:BB). Strikeouts earn your pitchers a point, while some leagues may punish your pitcher if they allow a walk or a hit. So, the previous metrics, as well as