A lot can change from April to October, and for these players, a lot did change. Some players turned in career years and made their first All-Star game. Others struggled to reach expectations, disappointing fans and fantasy owners alike. Looking ahead to the 2018 MLB season and fantasy baseball, here are the top players from the National League whose value has changed since the beginning of 2017.
Johnny Cueto, P, San Francisco
Johnny Cueto came into the season as one of the highest ranked pitchers in fantasy baseball. This season has not been kind to Cueto as he struggled with control and, like just about everyone on the San Francisco Giants had his worst season in years. Cueto will set a new career high in WHIP and home runs per nine innings this season. If you go back to 2015, when Cueto was traded to Kansas City at the trade deadline, Cueto has been as good as he has been bad. It is starting to look like the 177 innings pitched per season is taking a toll on Cueto’s ability to be consistent and because of that, he should see his draft ranking slip going forward in his career.
Matt Harvey, P, New York Mets
It was not that long ago that Matt Harvey looked like one of the bright young stars in the Show. Now, after a tumultuous season in New York, Matt Harvey may be out the door after the season is over and looking to revitalize his career elsewhere. Matt Harvey’s 2016 season at first seemed like an anomaly. Harvey had posted three straight seasons with an ERA of 2.73 or less to start his career. In 2016, the pitcher faltered a bit, posting an ERA of 4.86 in 17 starts. His 2017 season has been an unmitigated disaster. Harvey’s ERA has climbed to roughly 6.50 and his strikeout to walk ratio of 1.48 is the worst in the league. With the friction between Harvey and the Mets this season, due to his off-field actions, Harvey will be somewhere else next year and may start the season in the Minors.
Zack Cozart, SS, Cincinnati
Zack Cozart has turned into one of the more fun stories in the MLB this season. The seven-year vet, having played every season with the Cincinnati Reds, has turned in a career year, making his first All-Star game and setting career bests in just about every fantasy batting category. Going into the final ten days of the season, Cozart is crushing his career averages. The biggest jump is in his OPS. Cozart’s OPS for the season is currently .940, which is a huge jump from his career average of .715. Going forward presume to see Cozart climb from the bottom rung of shortstops into the mid-to-upper echelon for 2018.
Marcell Ozuna, LF, Miami
Even if Giancarlo Stanton is the one getting all the news in Miami, you could argue Marcell Ozuna has had the most impressive season for the Marlins in 2017. Ozuna could top his RBI total from the last two seasons combined if he can pick up just six more over the final week of the season, giving him a total of 121 for the season. Ozuna has already set career highs in home runs, doubles, RBIs, batting average and walks. Outside of the fact he strikeouts a little too much, Ozuna is having a top-12 outfield season and will see his stock raise going into next season.
Cody Bellinger, 1B/LF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Since he started the season in the Minors, rookie Cody Bellinger was an unlikely draft pick in most fantasy leagues, but since getting the call-up to the Dodgers, Bellinger has taken the NL by storm. Bellinger could finish his rookie season with 40 home runs, 95 RBIs and an OPS around .950. These numbers are even most outstanding when considering the fact he did not join the Dodgers until their 21st game of the season. Bellinger should see some positional flexible in fantasy, playing close to a third of his games this season in the outfield and the rest at first. Watch Bellinger’s pre-draft rankings soar going into 2018.
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