Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Busts: Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are in transition. Hunter Renfroe, Willy Adames, Rowdy Tellez, and Eric Lauer were great fantasy value in 2022. They are not as good as they were in 2023. They're the Milwaukee Brewer Sleepers and Busts for 20th century fantasy baseball.
Rowdy Tellez played in 153 games in 2022 and hit 35 home runs. He's the 17th 1B off the board in NFBC Draft Champions format. Tellez has a .219 AVG and a 20% strikeout rate. His .251 xBA is higher than his actual results. He profiles as a discount Hoskins. Milwaukee Brewers have a lot of 1b's in their draft. They're expected to be top-150 picks. The youngest of them is the youngest and as good a bet as any for 30 homers.
Garrett Mitchell is a sleeper pick in fantasy baseball drafts. He is one of the fastest players in baseball. Mitchell will play center field for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022. Sal Frelick is another outfielder to keep in mind in 15-team leagues. He has a high strikeout rate and a low BABIP. If things break right over a full season, Mitchell might get 10 homers and 20 steals. The value of Mitchell as a fantasy player is rooted entirely in his speed. It's rare to find players who can be a difference maker in the final rounds of roto drafts if they get the requisite at-bats.
Christian Yelich is a potential 2023 bust for fantasy baseball leagues. He's a good hitter but not a great one. His biggest fantasy asset is now stolen bases. He should be picked after pick 120.
Yelich's batted ball profile is more similar to his days in Miami than his All-Star campaigns. His strikeout rate has climbed the last few seasons. He's now into his 30s with an extensive injury history, including back strains. The Brewer could become less eager to steal given these factors. He has seen his sprint speed decline from the 81st percentile to 70th. It's tough to bet against former MVPs, but you shouldn't draft Yelich with the expectation he'll return elite production.
Eric Lauer is a fantasy baseball player drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers. He finished last season with a 3.69 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 157 K, 11 W, and a career-high 8.9 BB%. He has a 93 mph fastball and good command, but a low swinging strike rate and low groundball rate make him a risky play.
Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Busts: Milwaukee Brewers.
