2020 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: 10-team Head-to-Head (H2H) categories league with Yahoo lineups
The pitcher pool is changing in response to the shortened schedule, as our latest mock draft shows.
Oh yeah, we had some fun in this one.
It felt like the first mock draft where the shortened schedule was top of mind for everyone. The pitcher picks seemed especially deliberate. Granted, the early-rounders were who they usually are, but pitchers valued mostly for volume, like Madison Bumgarner and Lance Lynn, slipped several rounds behind those with workload concerns, like Jesus Luzardo and Zac Gallen. Half the closer crop was also gone by the time Bumgarner and Lynn went off the board.
Of course, the format may have had something to do with it. There's a higher standard for ERA and WHIP in a Head-to-Head categories league, and that's especially true with only 10 teams. Plus, Yahoo lineups, which are what we used here, feature four flexible pitcher slots to go along with two starting pitcher slots and two relief pitcher slots, allowing teams to stockpile relievers and their superior ratios A weekly innings minimum of 25 curtails the behavior somewhat, but a team could possibly make do with as few as four starting pitchers.
Still, I'd like to think those higher-skill, lower-volume pitchers got a bump in part because they no longer face the threat of an innings limit. And even if they aren't going as deep per start, the cumulative effect will be less over a shorter season. That thinking played a role in the later rounds, too, with pitchers like Nate Pearson (Round 21), Rich Hill (21) and MacKenzie Gore (22) going off the board. All three are picks you wouldn't have seen in a shallow 10-team league two months ago, not with Pearson and Gore certain to begin the year in the minors and Hill certain to begin the year on the IL. Now, Pearson and Hill are near locks for the opening day roster, and Gore at least has a chance.
The approach to hitters was closer to what we're used to seeing in 2020 mock drafts, though it's becoming increasingly clear that the need for stolen bases isn't so desperate in a 10-team league. Adalberto Mondesi slipped to Round 6 and Jonathan Villar to Round 7. And all the second base jobs were gobbled up so quickly that Cavan Biggio fell all the way to Round 18. I took him for my bench, because why not?
My favorite thing about my own team, though, is that Yahoo lineups, with their two utility spots, allow for someone to draft both Yordan Alvarez and Nelson Cruz. And by golly, I did it.
Here are the fine folks who took part in this draft:
1) Nick Mimikos, Stack Attack podcast (@NMimi)
2) Dave Shovein, Rotoworld (@DaveShovein)
3) Frank Stampfl, CBS Sports (@Roto_Frank)
4) Phil Ponebshek, Patton & Company
5) Dan Gilbert, Fantasy Fisticuffs podcast (@DabberDanLit)
6) Scott White, CBS Sports (@CBSScottWhite)
7) Chris Mitchell, Fantrax (@CJMitch73)
8) Bill Pivetz, FanSided (@BPiv_Sports)
9) Christopher Crawford, NBC Sports/Rotoworld (@Crawford_MILB)
10) Adam Aizer, CBS Sports (@AdamAizer)
And here are the results:
| Round 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 1 | Frank Stampfl | |
| 2 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 3 | Zac Morain | |
| 4 | Nick Fox | |
| 5 | Joe Orrico | |
| 6 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 7 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 8 | Blake Meyer | |
| 9 | Scott White | |
| 10 | Matt Morris | |
| 11 | Nick Francis | |
| 12 | Chris Towers | |
| Round 2 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 13 | Chris Towers | |
| 14 | Nick Francis | |
| 15 | Matt Morris | |
| 16 | Scott White | |
| 17 | Blake Meyer | |
| 18 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 19 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 20 | Joe Orrico | |
| 21 | Nick Fox | |
| 22 | Zac Morain | |
| 23 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 24 | Frank Stampfl | |
| Round 3 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 25 | Frank Stampfl | |
| 26 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 27 | Zac Morain | |
| 28 | Nick Fox | |
| 29 | Joe Orrico | |
| 30 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 31 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 32 | Blake Meyer | |
| 33 | Scott White | |
| 34 | Matt Morris | |
| 35 | Nick Francis | |
| 36 | Chris Towers | |
| Round 4 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 37 | Chris Towers | |
| 38 | Nick Francis | |
| 39 | Matt Morris | |
| 40 | Scott White | |
| 41 | Blake Meyer | |
| 42 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 43 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 44 | Joe Orrico | |
| 45 | Nick Fox | |
| 46 | Zac Morain | |
| 47 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 48 | Frank Stampfl | |
| Round 5 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 49 | Frank Stampfl | |
| 50 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 51 | Zac Morain | |
| 52 | Nick Fox | |
| 53 | Joe Orrico | |
| 54 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 55 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 56 | Blake Meyer | |
| 57 | Scott White | |
| 58 | Matt Morris | |
| 59 | Nick Francis | |
| 60 | Chris Towers | |
| Round 6 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 61 | Chris Towers | |
| 62 | Nick Francis | |
| 63 | Matt Morris | |
| 64 | Scott White | |
| 65 | Blake Meyer | |
| 66 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 67 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 68 | Joe Orrico | |
| 69 | Nick Fox | |
| 70 | Zac Morain | |
| 71 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 72 | Frank Stampfl | |
| Round 7 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 73 | Frank Stampfl | |
| 74 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 75 | Zac Morain | |
| 76 | Nick Fox | |
| 77 | Joe Orrico | |
| 78 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 79 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 80 | Blake Meyer | |
| 81 | Scott White | |
| 82 | Matt Morris | |
| 83 | Nick Francis | |
| 84 | Chris Towers | |
| Round 8 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 85 | Chris Towers | |
| 86 | Nick Francis | |
| 87 | Matt Morris | |
| 88 | Scott White | |
| 89 | Blake Meyer | |
| 90 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 91 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 92 | Joe Orrico | |
| 93 | Nick Fox | |
| 94 | Zac Morain | |
| 95 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 96 | Frank Stampfl | |
| Round 9 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 97 | Frank Stampfl | |
| 98 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 99 | Zac Morain | |
| 100 | Nick Fox | |
| 101 | Joe Orrico | |
| 102 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 103 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 104 | Blake Meyer | |
| 105 | Scott White | |
| 106 | Matt Morris | |
| 107 | Nick Francis | |
| 108 | Chris Towers | |
| Round 10 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 109 | Chris Towers | |
| 110 | Nick Francis | |
| 111 | Matt Morris | |
| 112 | Scott White | |
| 113 | Blake Meyer | |
| 114 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 115 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 116 | Joe Orrico | |
| 117 | Nick Fox | |
| 118 | Zac Morain | |
| 119 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 120 | Frank Stampfl | |
| Round 11 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 121 | Frank Stampfl | |
| 122 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 123 | Zac Morain | |
| 124 | Nick Fox | |
| 125 | Joe Orrico | |
| 126 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 127 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 128 | Blake Meyer | |
| 129 | Scott White | |
| 130 | Matt Morris | |
| 131 | Nick Francis | |
| 132 | Chris Towers | |
| Round 12 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 133 | Chris Towers | |
| 134 | Nick Francis | |
| 135 | Matt Morris | |
| 136 | Scott White | |
| 137 | Blake Meyer | |
| 138 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 139 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 140 | Joe Orrico | |
| 141 | Nick Fox | |
| 142 | Zac Morain | |
| 143 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 144 | Frank Stampfl | |
| Round 13 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 145 | Frank Stampfl | |
| 146 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 147 | Zac Morain | |
| 148 | Nick Fox | |
| 149 | Joe Orrico | |
| 150 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 151 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 152 | Blake Meyer | |
| 153 | Scott White | |
| 154 | Matt Morris | |
| 155 | Nick Francis | |
| 156 | Chris Towers | |
| Round 14 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 157 | Chris Towers | |
| 158 | Nick Francis | |
| 159 | Matt Morris | |
| 160 | Scott White | |
| 161 | Blake Meyer | |
| 162 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 163 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 164 | Joe Orrico | |
| 165 | Nick Fox | |
| 166 | Zac Morain | |
| 167 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 168 | Frank Stampfl | |
| Round 15 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 169 | Frank Stampfl | |
| 170 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 171 | Zac Morain | |
| 172 | Nick Fox | |
| 173 | Joe Orrico | |
| 174 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 175 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 176 | Blake Meyer | |
| 177 | Scott White | |
| 178 | Matt Morris | |
| 179 | Nick Francis | |
| 180 | Chris Towers | |
| Round 16 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 181 | Chris Towers | |
| 182 | Nick Francis | |
| 183 | Matt Morris | |
| 184 | Scott White | |
| 185 | Blake Meyer | |
| 186 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 187 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 188 | Joe Orrico | |
| 189 | Nick Fox | |
| 190 | Zac Morain | |
| 191 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 192 | Frank Stampfl | |
| Round 17 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 193 | Frank Stampfl | |
| 194 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 195 | Zac Morain | |
| 196 | Nick Fox | |
| 197 | Joe Orrico | |
| 198 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 199 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 200 | Blake Meyer | |
| 201 | Scott White | |
| 202 | Matt Morris | |
| 203 | Nick Francis | |
| 204 | Chris Towers | |
| Round 18 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 205 | Chris Towers | |
| 206 | Nick Francis | |
| 207 | Matt Morris | |
| 208 | Scott White | |
| 209 | Blake Meyer | |
| 210 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 211 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 212 | Joe Orrico | |
| 213 | Nick Fox | |
| 214 | Zac Morain | |
| 215 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 216 | Frank Stampfl | |
| Round 19 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 217 | Frank Stampfl | |
| 218 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 219 | Zac Morain | |
| 220 | Nick Fox | |
| 221 | Joe Orrico | |
| 222 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 223 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 224 | Blake Meyer | |
| 225 | Scott White | |
| 226 | Matt Morris | |
| 227 | Nick Francis | |
| 228 | Chris Towers | |
| Round 20 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 229 | Chris Towers | |
| 230 | Nick Francis | |
| 231 | Matt Morris | |
| 232 | Scott White | |
| 233 | Blake Meyer | |
| 234 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 235 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 236 | Joe Orrico | |
| 237 | Nick Fox | |
| 238 | Zac Morain | |
| 239 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 240 | Frank Stampfl | |
| Round 21 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 241 | Frank Stampfl | |
| 242 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 243 | Zac Morain | |
| 244 | Nick Fox | |
| 245 | Joe Orrico | |
| 246 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 247 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 248 | Blake Meyer | |
| 249 | Scott White | |
| 250 | Matt Morris | |
| 251 | Nick Francis | |
| 252 | Chris Towers | |
| Round 22 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 253 | Chris Towers | |
| 254 | Nick Francis | |
| 255 | Matt Morris | |
| 256 | Scott White | |
| 257 | Blake Meyer | |
| 258 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 259 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 260 | Joe Orrico | |
| 261 | Nick Fox | |
| 262 | Zac Morain | |
| 263 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 264 | Frank Stampfl | |
| Round 23 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 265 | Frank Stampfl | |
| 266 | Phil Ponebshek | |
| 267 | Zac Morain | |
| 268 | Nick Fox | |
| 269 | Joe Orrico | |
| 270 | Jeremy Heist | |
| 271 | Chris Mitchell | |
| 272 | Blake Meyer | |
| 273 | Scott White | |
| 274 | Matt Morris | |
| 275 | Nick Francis | |
| 276 | Chris Towers | |
| Frank Stampfl | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 1 | |
| 2 | 24 | |
| 3 | 25 | |
| 4 | 48 | |
| 5 | 49 | |
| 6 | 72 | |
| 7 | 73 | |
| 8 | 96 | |
| 9 | 97 | |
| 10 | 120 | |
| 11 | 121 | |
| 12 | 144 | |
| 13 | 145 | |
| 14 | 168 | |
| 15 | 169 | |
| 16 | 192 | |
| 17 | 193 | |
| 18 | 216 | |
| 19 | 217 | |
| 20 | 240 | |
| 21 | 241 | |
| 22 | 264 | |
| 23 | 265 | |
| Phil Ponebshek | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 2 | |
| 2 | 23 | |
| 3 | 26 | |
| 4 | 47 | |
| 5 | 50 | |
| 6 | 71 | |
| 7 | 74 | |
| 8 | 95 | |
| 9 | 98 | |
| 10 | 119 | |
| 11 | 122 | |
| 12 | 143 | |
| 13 | 146 | |
| 14 | 167 | |
| 15 | 170 | |
| 16 | 191 | |
| 17 | 194 | |
| 18 | 215 | |
| 19 | 218 | |
| 20 | 239 | |
| 21 | 242 | |
| 22 | 263 | |
| 23 | 266 | |
| Zac Morain | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 3 | |
| 2 | 22 | |
| 3 | 27 | |
| 4 | 46 | |
| 5 | 51 | |
| 6 | 70 | |
| 7 | 75 | |
| 8 | 94 | |
| 9 | 99 | |
| 10 | 118 | |
| 11 | 123 | |
| 12 | 142 | |
| 13 | 147 | |
| 14 | 166 | |
| 15 | 171 | |
| 16 | 190 | |
| 17 | 195 | |
| 18 | 214 | |
| 19 | 219 | |
| 20 | 238 | |
| 21 | 243 | |
| 22 | 262 | |
| 23 | 267 | |
| Nick Fox | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 4 | |
| 2 | 21 | |
| 3 | 28 | |
| 4 | 45 | |
| 5 | 52 | |
| 6 | 69 | |
| 7 | 76 | |
| 8 | 93 | |
| 9 | 100 | |
| 10 | 117 | |
| 11 | 124 | |
| 12 | 141 | |
| 13 | 148 | |
| 14 | 165 | |
| 15 | 172 | |
| 16 | 189 | |
| 17 | 196 | |
| 18 | 213 | |
| 19 | 220 | |
| 20 | 237 | |
| 21 | 244 | |
| 22 | 261 | |
| 23 | 268 | |
| Joe Orrico | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 5 | |
| 2 | 20 | |
| 3 | 29 | |
| 4 | 44 | |
| 5 | 53 | |
| 6 | 68 | |
| 7 | 77 | |
| 8 | 92 | |
| 9 | 101 | |
| 10 | 116 | |
| 11 | 125 | |
| 12 | 140 | |
| 13 | 149 | |
| 14 | 164 | |
| 15 | 173 | |
| 16 | 188 | |
| 17 | 197 | |
| 18 | 212 | |
| 19 | 221 | |
| 20 | 236 | |
| 21 | 245 | |
| 22 | 260 | |
| 23 | 269 | |
| Jeremy Heist | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 6 | |
| 2 | 19 | |
| 3 | 30 | |
| 4 | 43 | |
| 5 | 54 | |
| 6 | 67 | |
| 7 | 78 | |
| 8 | 91 | |
| 9 | 102 | |
| 10 | 115 | |
| 11 | 126 | |
| 12 | 139 | |
| 13 | 150 | |
| 14 | 163 | |
| 15 | 174 | |
| 16 | 187 | |
| 17 | 198 | |
| 18 | 211 | |
| 19 | 222 | |
| 20 | 235 | |
| 21 | 246 | |
| 22 | 259 | |
| 23 | 270 | |
| Chris Mitchell | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 7 | |
| 2 | 18 | |
| 3 | 31 | |
| 4 | 42 | |
| 5 | 55 | |
| 6 | 66 | |
| 7 | 79 | |
| 8 | 90 | |
| 9 | 103 | |
| 10 | 114 | |
| 11 | 127 | |
| 12 | 138 | |
| 13 | 151 | |
| 14 | 162 | |
| 15 | 175 | |
| 16 | 186 | |
| 17 | 199 | |
| 18 | 210 | |
| 19 | 223 | |
| 20 | 234 | |
| 21 | 247 | |
| 22 | 258 | |
| 23 | 271 | |
| Blake Meyer | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 8 | |
| 2 | 17 | |
| 3 | 32 | |
| 4 | 41 | |
| 5 | 56 | |
| 6 | 65 | |
| 7 | 80 | |
| 8 | 89 | |
| 9 | 104 | |
| 10 | 113 | |
| 11 | 128 | |
| 12 | 137 | |
| 13 | 152 | |
| 14 | 161 | |
| 15 | 176 | |
| 16 | 185 | |
| 17 | 200 | |
| 18 | 209 | |
| 19 | 224 | |
| 20 | 233 | |
| 21 | 248 | |
| 22 | 257 | |
| 23 | 272 | |
| Scott White | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 9 | |
| 2 | 16 | |
| 3 | 33 | |
| 4 | 40 | |
| 5 | 57 | |
| 6 | 64 | |
| 7 | 81 | |
| 8 | 88 | |
| 9 | 105 | |
| 10 | 112 | |
| 11 | 129 | |
| 12 | 136 | |
| 13 | 153 | |
| 14 | 160 | |
| 15 | 177 | |
| 16 | 184 | |
| 17 | 201 | |
| 18 | 208 | |
| 19 | 225 | |
| 20 | 232 | |
| 21 | 249 | |
| 22 | 256 | |
| 23 | 273 | |
| Matt Morris | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 10 | |
| 2 | 15 | |
| 3 | 34 | |
| 4 | 39 | |
| 5 | 58 | |
| 6 | 63 | |
| 7 | 82 | |
| 8 | 87 | |
| 9 | 106 | |
| 10 | 111 | |
| 11 | 130 | |
| 12 | 135 | |
| 13 | 154 | |
| 14 | 159 | |
| 15 | 178 | |
| 16 | 183 | |
| 17 | 202 | |
| 18 | 207 | |
| 19 | 226 | |
| 20 | 231 | |
| 21 | 250 | |
| 22 | 255 | |
| 23 | 274 | |
| Nick Francis | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 11 | |
| 2 | 14 | |
| 3 | 35 | |
| 4 | 38 | |
| 5 | 59 | |
| 6 | 62 | |
| 7 | 83 | |
| 8 | 86 | |
| 9 | 107 | |
| 10 | 110 | |
| 11 | 131 | |
| 12 | 134 | |
| 13 | 155 | |
| 14 | 158 | |
| 15 | 179 | |
| 16 | 182 | |
| 17 | 203 | |
| 18 | 206 | |
| 19 | 227 | |
| 20 | 230 | |
| 21 | 251 | |
| 22 | 254 | |
| 23 | 275 | |
| Chris Towers | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 12 | |
| 2 | 13 | |
| 3 | 36 | |
| 4 | 37 | |
| 5 | 60 | |
| 6 | 61 | |
| 7 | 84 | |
| 8 | 85 | |
| 9 | 108 | |
| 10 | 109 | |
| 11 | 132 | |
| 12 | 133 | |
| 13 | 156 | |
| 14 | 157 | |
| 15 | 180 | |
| 16 | 181 | |
| 17 | 204 | |
| 18 | 205 | |
| 19 | 228 | |
| 20 | 229 | |
| 21 | 252 | |
| 22 | 253 | |
| 23 | 276 | |

















