The First Half All-Fantasy Team

Here’s a look at the best players by position through the first half:

CATCHER

J.T. Realmuto, MIA | .310 AVG, 12 HR, 45 RBI, 46 R, 1 SB in 303 PA, 109th ADP

Being stuck on a rough Marlins team hasn’t held Realmuto back, though there’s also the glaring fact that the position has been a dud on the whole this year. Gary Sanchez is hitting .190, Willson Contreras has just seven homers, and the late round standouts have only ascended to C2 status.

FIRST BASE

Freddie Freeman, ATL | .315 AVG, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 59 R, 6 SB in 420 PA, 21st ADP

Freeman is just amazing. He is indeed the new Joey Votto. There’s a good chance he’s a first rounder next year.

SECOND BASE

Javier Baez, CHC | .292 AVG, 19 HR, 72 RBI, 61 R, 18 SB in 365 PA, 105th ADP

In 143 fewer plate appearances than he had all of last year, Baez is just four homers, three RBIs, and 14 runs shy of his 2017 totals. He already has eight more steals than last year’s 10 and his .292 AVG is 19 points better. His 72 RBIs lead the National League, too. Throw in the fact that he has 2B/SS eligibility everywhere and 3B in many leagues (10 games, 7 starts) and we have a true superstar season in the making.

THIRD BASE

Jose Ramirez, CLE | .302 AVG, 29 HR, 70 RBI, 68 R, 20 SB in 419 PA, 20th ADP

Ramirez’s 49 HR+SB total is already better than last year’s 46 and that was already an excellent breakout season! There’s really only one other player with a case for the top fantasy hitter of the first hitter, but I’ll get to him later. Ramirez is just 25 years old and will be locked into the top half of the first round next year.

SHORTSTOP

Francisco Lindor, CLE | .291 AVG, 25 HR, 62 RBI, 85 R, 13 SB in 442 PA, 21st ADP

Holy smokes, the Cleveland keystone combo is so incredible. Lindor has now established himself atop the shortstop ranks. Only Trea Turner and Carlos Correa went ahead of him regularly in drafts this past spring. I could still see a surge from Turner in the second half that keeps him ahead of Lindor next draft season, but for me, Lindor is definitely ahead of Correa now.

OUTFIELD x3

Mookie Betts, BOS | .359 AVG, 23 HR, 51 RBI, 79 R, 18 SB in 355 PA, 8th ADP

The second best player in baseball has been the best fantasy player for the first half of 2018.

J.D. Martinez, BOS | .328 AVG, 29 HR, 80 RBI, 72 R, 2 SB in 397 PA, 23rd ADP

He’s been every bit as good as he was in that tremendous run with Arizona, leading baseball in both homers and RBIs so far.

Mike Trout, LAA | .310 AVG, 25 HR, 50 RBI, 71 R, 15 SB in 428 PA, 1st ADP

How is he so good at baseball? Remember when some people were trying to justify taking someone else with the #1 pick in drafts this year?

STARTING PITCHER x3

Max Scherzer, WAS | 2.41 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 35% K, 12-5 W-L, 10th ADP

The best performing as the best.

Justin Verlander, HOU | 2.29 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 33% K, 9-5 W-L, 40th ADP

Imagine if he hadn’t added a quarter of a run to his ERA in his final start before the break! His former team dropped five earned in six innings, but he still fanned 12 with zero walks.

Chris Sale, BOS | 2.23 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 37% K, 10-4 W-L, 12th ADP

There are no real surprises here in the top three or even the top . These three were drafted 2nd, 10th, and 3rd among starters, respectively, and all those drafted in between Scherzer and Verlander have been strong, too.

RELIEF PITCHER x2

Edwin Diaz, SEA | 2.25 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 44% K, 36 SV, 89th ADP

Blake Treinen, OAK | 0.94 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 31%, 24 SV, 171st ADP

The AL West has produced some interesting closer situations through the division, but these two studs have been next level and a key reason why both of their clubs are in contention this year. Diaz was a top 100 pick, so there were expectations with him, but Treinen was 171st due mostly to his team context and short track record, so he’s been a huge boon.

—

How many of y’all have three or more of these guys on a team?