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The Baltimore Orioles have made incremental improvements over the last four seasons, but few people saw a 101-win season on the horizon entering last year. The Orioles had a 31-win improvement from 2021 to 2022 to win 83 games and then won an additional 18 contests last year to make the playoffs. Gunnar Henderson, who was considered one of the top prospects in baseball, won the American League Rookie of the Year and ended up being one of the top Fantasy baseball sleepers. Baltimore had Fantasy baseball breakouts throughout their lineup, such as Adley Rutschman, Anthony Santander and even Aaron Hicks performing well after being released from the Yankees.
How high should you target these Orioles in 2024 Fantasy baseball drafts? Will they be overvalued this season, or could there be opportunities to find value in them even after coming off quality seasons? Before going on the clock in any 2024 Fantasy baseball drafts, be sure to see the Fantasy baseball rankings 2024 and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
Last season, SportsLine’s Projection Model identified several top Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts and busts, including Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon. The team at SportsLine was all over Rodon as a Fantasy bust from the start after he signed a six-year, $162 million contract in the offseason. Rodon posted a 27-13 record with a 2.67 ERA and 422 strikeouts over 310 2/3 innings in 2021 and 2022, but the model predicted he’d finish well below his ADP of 76.88. The result: Rodon made only 14 starts and went 3-8 with a 6.85 ERA and anybody who followed SportsLine’s advice avoided a major headache.
Their model is powered by the same people who powered projections for all three major Fantasy sites. And that same group is sharing its 2024 Fantasy baseball rankings and cheat sheets over at SportsLine, helping you find Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts and busts long before your competition. Their cheat sheets, available for leagues on many major sites, are updated multiple times every day.
Any time more MLB news comes out about trades, signings or Fantasy baseball injuries, the team at SportsLine updates its projections. Go to SportsLine now to see these proven Fantasy baseball cheat sheets.
Top 2024 Fantasy baseball sleepers
One of the 2024 Fantasy baseball sleepers the model is all over: Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford. The 29-year-old set career-highs in home runs (19), RBI (65), runs scored (94) and OPS (.818) last season. The seven-year veteran has shown growth at the plate in every season with his patience being a huge benefit last year. Crawford led the American League in walks (94), and his patience was rewarded with seeing better pitches to drive, resulting in increased power numbers.
Crawford finished 16th in the AL MVP voting last year. Crawford’s numbers last season better reflect the player who was selected No. 16 overall in the 2013 MLB Draft after a slight dip in production in 2022 from the prior season. The model projects Crawford to continue and grow his keen eye at the plate, resulting in sustained or increased production offensively and ranking as a top-10 Fantasy baseball shortstop despite being drafted well below players the model has ranked in the same tier. See more Fantasy baseball sleepers at SportsLine.
Top 2024 Fantasy baseball breakouts
One of the 2024 Fantasy baseball breakouts the model is jumping on: Rangers outfielder Evan Carter. A 2020 second-round pick, Carter made his MLB debut in September and looked like he should have been in the majors all season long. He posted a .306/.413/.645 slash line across 75 regular season plate appearances and had similar success in the postseason. During Texas’ run to its first World Series championship, Carter hit .300 across 72 playoff PAs, with two multi-hit efforts across five World Series contests.
Carter will have little competition for 600 plate appearances in 2024 after the Rangers decided to not bring back outfielders Travis Jankowski and Robbie Grossman. Carter has potential for double-digit homers and upwards of 25 stolen bases as he had at least 11 home runs and 22 stolen bases in both 2022, while in A-plus, and in 2023 when he was in Double-A ball. The 2024 Fantasy baseball rankings have Carter as a top-eight left fielder and ahead of Nolan Jones, despite the former being drafted multiple rounds later on average. See more Fantasy baseball breakouts at SportsLine.
Top 2024 Fantasy baseball busts
As for players to avoid, the model has pinpointed Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones as one of its biggest 2024 Fantasy baseball busts. The 25-year-old had 20 home runs, 62 RBI, 60 runs scored and 20 stolen bases over 106 games with the Rockies in his first full MLB season. He had a slash line of .297/.389/.542 for an OPS of .931 and finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
A look beyond just the numbers, however, shows an element of fortunate luck in Jones’ success last year. His xBA (expected batting average) was nearly 50 points lower at .249, finding some good luck for some of those hits. His hard-hit rate was 41.3%, just above the average in baseball last season. While there are parts of his game to like from his rookie campaign, Jones is being selected roughly 100 picks higher in ADP than players he shares a tier with in the model’s projections. The model projects Fantasy baseball players are overreacting to his rookie season and the fact he plays at Coors Field, ultimately projecting Jones as a 2024 Fantasy baseball bust. See more Fantasy baseball busts at SportsLine.
How to find proven 2024 Fantasy baseball rankings
SportsLine’s model is also high on a surprising starting pitcher who bounces back in the top 10 of its positional rankings. This player is going outside the top 100 picks but is projected to outperform starters going in the top 35 like Corbin Burnes, Logan Webb and Aaron Nola. This pick could be the difference between winning your league or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.
So which 2024 Fantasy baseball busts, breakouts and sleepers should you target or fade in your drafts? Visit SportsLine now to get 2024 Fantasy baseball rankings for every single position, all from the model that called Carlos Rodon’s disappointing season, and find out.