MLB Postseason Cheatsheet

MLB Postseason Cheatsheet

This article is part of our Rounding Third series.

Postseason leagues can be played in multiple formats, with some contests allowing for substitutions upon each round, others locking and loading for the duration of the playoffs. For the purposes of this set of rankings, I'm going to use the NFBC's Postseason Holdem Contest as the default format. In their contest, you can adjust your roster after each round of the playoffs, to account for eliminated players. There's a multiplier for each round that you have a player advance - if you take a player in the first round and he makes it all the way to the World Series, he gets 4x his score. This format requires you to draft 10 hitters (a player at each infield position, a UT, and four outfielders) and six pitchers. For the first round, you have to draft one player, and only one player, from every team. In the next round, the floor is one player from the eight remaining teams, with a max of three, then two and six respectively for the LCS's, and finally a floor of six and a max of 10 for the World Series. Finally, this is a points league - here's the scoring system:

We're operating under a new playoff format, making our game a bigger challenge than ever. Many have speculated that we'll see more upsets than ever, with the three-game series format in the first round perhaps taking away the advantage from a higher-seeded team, especially if the lower seed has strong starting pitching. The

Postseason leagues can be played in multiple formats, with some contests allowing for substitutions upon each round, others locking and loading for the duration of the playoffs. For the purposes of this set of rankings, I'm going to use the NFBC's Postseason Holdem Contest as the default format. In their contest, you can adjust your roster after each round of the playoffs, to account for eliminated players. There's a multiplier for each round that you have a player advance - if you take a player in the first round and he makes it all the way to the World Series, he gets 4x his score. This format requires you to draft 10 hitters (a player at each infield position, a UT, and four outfielders) and six pitchers. For the first round, you have to draft one player, and only one player, from every team. In the next round, the floor is one player from the eight remaining teams, with a max of three, then two and six respectively for the LCS's, and finally a floor of six and a max of 10 for the World Series. Finally, this is a points league - here's the scoring system:

We're operating under a new playoff format, making our game a bigger challenge than ever. Many have speculated that we'll see more upsets than ever, with the three-game series format in the first round perhaps taking away the advantage from a higher-seeded team, especially if the lower seed has strong starting pitching. The two most frequent examples of this have been the Reds and the Indians - well, at least until the Indians passed the White Sox to become the fourth-seed against the Yankees. I'm not wholly convinced of that likelihood, but that might be my Reds-fan pessimism settling in.

There's also one more idiosyncrasy you should be aware of when you're setting your first round lineup - you are allowed a "free look" at Tuesday's game, as the deadline to set your lineup is Wednesday at noon ET. There are going to be some outlier performances on Tuesday night, and it's going to put us to the test whether that one game should outweigh our initial opinion. At the very least, in your preparation should prepare a few different scenarios at each position, given that contest requires a player from each team in the first round.

Finally, I'm going to list the rankings by position, rather than an overall set, given the rules of this contest, where the entire field can select anyone, rather than be subject to a draft. I'll first list the matchups (along with run differentials), then my positional rankings.

American League

#1 Tampa Bay Rays (+60) vs. #8 Toronto Blue Jays (-10)

#2 Oakland A's (+42) vs. #7 Chicago White Sox (+60)

#3 Minnesota Twins (+54) vs. #6 Houston Astros (+4)

#4 Cleveland Indians (+39) vs. #5 New York Yankees (+45)

National League

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers (+136) vs. #8 Milwaukee Brewers (-17)

#2 Atlanta Braves (+60) vs. #7 Cincinnati Reds (0)

#3 Chicago Cubs (+25) vs. #6 Miami Marlins (-41)

#4 San Diego Padres (+84) vs. #5 St. Louis Cardinals (+11)

Catchers

  1. Will Smith, Dodgers
  2. Willson Contreras, Cubs
  3. Travis d'Arnaud, Braves
  4. Austin Nola, Padres
  5. Gary Sanchez, Yankees
  6. Yasmani Grandal, White Sox
  7. Sean Murphy, A's
  8. Yadier Molina, Cardinals
  9. Martin Maldonado, Astros
  10. Ryan Jeffers, Twins
  11. Curt Casali, Reds
  12. James McCann, White Sox
  13. Roberto Perez, Indians
  14. Jorge Alfaro, Marlins
  15. Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays
  16. Jacob Nottingham, Brewers
  17. Danny Jansen, Blue Jays
  18. Omar Narvaez, Brewers
  19. Mike Zunino, Rays
  20. Mitch Garver, Twins

First Basemen

  1. Freddie Freeman, Braves
  2. Jose Abreu, White Sox
  3. Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
  4. Luke Voit, Yankees
  5. DJ LeMahieu, Yankees
  6. Max Muncy, Dodgers
  7. Eric Hosmer, Padres
  8. Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
  9. Matt Olson, A's
  10. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals
  11. Miguel Sano, Twins
  12. Jesus Aguilar, Marlins
  13. Vladimir Guerrero, Blue Jays
  14. Carlos Santana, Indians
  15. Joey Votto, Reds
  16. Jake Cronenworth, Padres
  17. Yuli Gurriel, Astros
  18. Edwin Encarnacion, White Sox
  19. Daniel Vogelbach, Brewers
  20. Mitch Moreland, Padres
  21. Tommy La Stella, A's
  22. Garrett Cooper, Marlins
  23. Jedd Gyorko, Brewers
  24. Edwin Rios, Dodgers
  25. Travis Shaw, Blue Jays
  26. Marwin Gonzalez, Twins

Second Basemen

  1. Brandon Lowe, Rays
  2. DJ LeMahieu, Yankees
  3. Ozzie Albies, Braves
  4. Max Muncy, Dodgers
  5. Gleyber Torres, Yankees
  6. Chris Taylor, Dodgers
  7. Jake Cronenworth, Padres
  8. Cavan Biggio, Blue Jays
  9. Tommy La Stella, A's
  10. Cesar Hernandez, Indians
  11. Jurickson Profar, Padres
  12. Jose Altuve, Astros
  13. Keston Hiura, Brewers
  14. Joey Wendle, Rays
  15. Tommy Edman, Cardinals
  16. Jonathan Villar, Blue Jays
  17. Jon Berti, Marlins
  18. Mike Moustakas, Reds
  19. David Bote, Cubs
  20. Kolten Wong, Cardinals
  21. Enrique Hernandez, Dodgers
  22. Freddy Galvis, Reds
  23. Mike Brosseau, Rays
  24. Marwin Gonzalez, Twins
  25. Luis Arraez, Twins

Shortstops

  1. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
  2. Corey Seager, Dodgers
  3. Manny Machado, Padres
  4. Francisco Lindor, Indians
  5. Dansby Swanson, Braves
  6. Tim Anderson, White Sox
  7. Willy Adames, Rays
  8. Bo Bichette, Blue Jays
  9. Javier Baez, Cubs
  10. Jorge Polanco, Twins
  11. Gleyber Torres, Yankees
  12. Chris Taylor, Dodgers
  13. Marcus Semien, A's
  14. Carlos Correa, Astros
  15. Alex Bregman, Astros
  16. Jake Cronenworth, Padres
  17. Tommy Edman, Cardinals
  18. Paul DeJong, Cardinals
  19. Miguel Rojas, Marlins
  20. Jonathan Villar, Blue Jays
  21. Jon Berti, Marlins
  22. Orlando Arcia, Brewers
  23. Freddy Galvis, Reds
  24. Tyler Wade, Yankees
  25. Johan Camargo, Braves
  26. Luis Urias, Brewers

Third Basemen

  1. Jose Ramirez, Indians
  2. Manny Machado, Padres
  3. DJ LeMahieu, Yankees
  4. Max Muncy, Dodgers
  5. Justin Turner, Dodgers
  6. Eugenio Suarez, Reds
  7. Vladimir Guerrero, Blue Jays
  8. Brian Anderson, Marlins
  9. Gio Urshela, Yankees
  10. Miguel Sano, Twins
  11. Mike Moustakas, Reds
  12. Yoan Moncada, White Sox
  13. Yuli Gurriel, Astros
  14. Alex Bregman, Astros
  15. Josh Donaldson, Twins
  16. Kris Bryant, Cubs
  17. Jon Berti, Marlins
  18. Tommy La Stella, A's
  19. Joey Wendle, Rays
  20. Tommy Edman, Cardinals
  21. Austin Riley, Braves
  22. Brad Miller, Cardinals
  23. Yoshi Tsutsugo, Rays
  24. Jedd Gyorko, Brewers
  25. David Bote, Cubs
  26. Edwin Rios, Dodgers
  27. Travis Shaw, Blue Jays
  28. Yandy Diaz, Rays

Outfielders

  1. Mookie Betts, Dodgers
  2. Ronald Acuna, Braves
  3. Marcell Ozuna, Braves
  4. Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
  5. Brandon Lowe, Rays
  6. Eddie Rosario, Twins
  7. Trent Grisham, Padres
  8. Teoscar Hernandez, Blue Jays
  9. Wil Myers, Padres
  10. Kyle Tucker, Astros
  11. George Springer, Astros
  12. Aaron Judge, Yankees
  13. Adam Duvall, Braves
  14. Luis Robert, White Sox
  15. A.J. Pollock, Dodgers
  16. Eloy Jimenez, White Sox
  17. Randal Grichuk, Blue Jays
  18. Chris Taylor, Dodgers
  19. Nick Castellanos, Reds
  20. Ian Happ, Cubs
  21. Franmil Reyes, Indians
  22. Robbie Grossman, A's
  23. Jurickson Profar, Padres
  24. Byron Buxton, Twins
  25. Brian Anderson, Marlins
  26. Starling Marte, Marlins
  27. Lourdes Gurriel, Blue Jays
  28. Christian Yelich, Brewers
  29. Cavan Biggio, Blue Jays
  30. Mark Canha, A's
  31. Max Kepler, Twins
  32. Stephen Piscotty, A's
  33. Aaron Hicks, Yankees
  34. Jason Heyward, Cubs
  35. Ramon Laureano, A's
  36. Michael Brantley, Astros
  37. Jesse Winker, Reds
  38. Clint Frazier, Yankees
  39. Tommy Edman, Cardinals
  40. Austin Riley, Braves
  41. Kyle Schwarber, Cubs
  42. Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees
  43. Ryan Braun, Brewers,
  44. Manuel Margot, Rays
  45. Yoshi Tsutsugo, Rays
  46. Garrett Cooper, Marlins
  47. Joc Pederson, Dodgers
  48. Corey Dickerson, Marlins
  49. Dylan Carlson, Cardinals
  50. Nick Markakis, Braves
  51. Kris Bryant, Cubs
  52. Jon Berti, Marlins
  53. Brian Goodwin, Reds
  54. Josh Reddick, Astros
  55. Randy Arozarena, Rays
  56. Enrique Hernandez, Dodgers
  57. Hunter Renfroe, Rays
  58. Tyler O'Neill, Cardinals
  59. Brett Gardner, Yankees
  60. Mike Tauchman, Yankees
  61. Tommy Pham, Padres
  62. Dexter Fowler, Cardinals
  63. Tyler Naquin, Indians
  64. Lewis Brinson, Marlins
  65. Avisail Garcia, Brewers
  66. Shogo Akiyama, Reds
  67. Luis Arraez, Twins
  68. Jake Cave, Twins
  69. Austin Meadows, Rays
  70. Harrison Bader, Cardinals
  71. Nick Senzel, Reds

Designated Hitters

  1. Nelson Cruz, Twins
  2. Khris Davis, A's

Starting Pitchers

  1. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
  2. Yu Darvish, Cubs
  3. Walker Buehler, Dodgers
  4. Shane Bieber, Indians
  5. Gerrit Cole, Yankees
  6. Kyle Hendricks, Cubs
  7. Kenta Maeda, Twins
  8. Trevor Bauer, Reds
  9. Lucas Giolito, White Sox
  10. Max Fried, Braves
  11. Tyler Glasnow, Rays
  12. Zach Plesac, Indians
  13. Blake Snell, Rays
  14. Zach Davies, Padres
  15. Dinelson Lamet, Padres
  16. Brandon Woodruff, Brewers
  17. Carlos Carrasco, Indians
  18. Julio Urias, Dodgers
  19. Dustin May, Dodgers
  20. Dallas Keuchel, White Sox
  21. Tony Gonsolin, Dodgers
  22. Luis Castillo, Reds
  23. Hyun-Jin Ryu, Blue Jays
  24. Ian Anderson, Braves
  25. Zack Greinke, Astros
  26. Jose Berrios, Twins
  27. Chris Bassitt, A's
  28. Kwang Hyun Kim, Cardinals
  29. Mike Clevinger, Padres
  30. Lance McCullers, Astros
  31. Jesus Luzardo, A's
  32. Charlie Morton, Rays
  33. Sean Manaea, A's
  34. Jack Flaherty, Cardinals
  35. Sixto Sanchez, Marlins
  36. Framber Valdez, Astros
  37. Sonny Gray, Reds
  38. Rich Hill, Twins
  39. Michael Pineda, Twins
  40. Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
  41. Masahiro Tanaka, Yankees
  42. Aaron Civale, Indians
  43. J.A. Happ, Yankees
  44. Dylan Cease, White Sox
  45. Sandy Alcantara, Marlins
  46. Chris Paddack, Padres
  47. Cristian Javier, Astros
  48. Pablo Lopez, Marlins
  49. Taijuan Walker, Blue Jays
  50. Triston McKenzie, Indians
  51. Alec Mills, Cubs
  52. Tyler Mahle, Reds
  53. Corbin Burnes, Brewers
  54. Brett Anderson, Brewers
  55. Ryan Yarbrough, Rays
  56. Mike Fiers, A's
  57. Dane Dunning, White Sox
  58. Garrett Richards, Padres
  59. Jose Urquidy, Astros
  60. Deivi Garcia, Yankees
  61. Josh Tomlin, Braves
  62. Josh Lindblom, Brewers
  63. Jordan Montgomery, Yankees
  64. Jon Lester, Cubs
  65. Matt Shoemaker, Blue Jays
  66. Frankie Montas, A's

Relief Pitchers

  1. Kenley Jansen, Dodgers
  2. Liam Hendriks, A's
  3. Brad Hand, Indians
  4. Trevor Rosenthal, Padres
  5. Nick Anderson, Rays
  6. Raisel Iglesias, Reds
  7. Jeremy Jeffress, Cubs
  8. Mark Melancon, Braves
  9. Aroldis Chapman, Yankees
  10. Taylor Rogers, Twins
  11. Alex Colome, White Sox
  12. Josh Hader, Brewers
  13. Ryan Pressly, Astros
  14. Anthony Bass, Blue Jays
  15. Brandon Kintzler, Marlins
  16. Devin Williams, Brewers
  17. Andrew Miller, Cardinals
  18. Craig Kimbrel, Cubs
  19. Diego Castillo, Rays
  20. Archie Bradley, Reds
  21. Alex Reyes, Cardinals

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Erickson
Jeff Erickson is a co-founder of RotoWire and the only two-time winner of Baseball Writer of the Year from the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. He's also in the FSWA Hall of Fame. He roots for the Reds, Bengals, Red Wings, Pacers and Northwestern University (the real NU).
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