2024 Active Rosters: Pisces
Baseball fans who are also video gamers should be very familiar with the top-scoring Pisces batter in 2024, since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. graced the cover of MLB The Show 24. The Silver Slugging first baseman actually got 12 games at his original position of third base this season. That’s not technically enough to qualify there going into next season’s fantasy league, but for I see no problem placing him at the hot corner, in order to open up first base for Rhys Hoskins, in his first season with the Brewers. Keep in mind, these machinations are only possible because Royals primary leadoff hitter Maikel Garcia added second base to his repertoire this season, allowing him to stay in the lineup outside of his customary third base position.
Pisces also had some positional eligibility shenanigans in the outfield: I slotted rookie Jackson Chourio in center field, based on his 200+ games there in the minor leagues, even though the Brewers used him exclusively in the corners. Using this alignment allows Padres late-career breakout Jurickson Profar and Phillies cleanup hitter Nick Castellanos to handle left and right, respectively, since Kyle Schwarber has settled in as a full-time designated hitter. Going by the books, the Fish would have to rely on an injury-shortened season from Michael Harris II in center field. Speaking of injury-shortened seasons, catcher J.T. Realmuto makes the third Philadelphia Phillie to appear in the Pisces starting lineup.
A few years ago, it would be unthinkable to imagine a Pisces starting rotation without Justin Verlander or Clayton Kershaw, but neither legacy option pitched well enough (or just plain enough) to make the starting five. Instead Tanner Bibee would start Game 1 of a hypothetical playoff series, as he did for the AL Central-winning Cleveland Guardians this season. Pablo Lopez of LAST year’s AL Central champion Twins was close behind in fantasy points to capture the two spot. Going back to real-life teams that made the playoffs in 2024, Luis Severino actually started Game 1 for the Mets, in his first season since moving across town from the rival Yankees. Speaking of the Yankees, Clarke Schmidt missed a large chunk of the season due to injury, but he came back in time to contribute for the Bronx Bombers during the postseason.
Emmanuel Clase reached heights that relief pitchers rarely glimpse for Cleveland, easily winning the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year award. But Pisces’s relief excellence doesn’t end there, as Robert Suarez held down the Padres closer role all year, even after the acquisition of Cancer Crab lefty Tanner Scott at the trade deadline. Need some firepower from the left side? Aroldis Chapman can still bring the heat. And Daniel Hudson’s veteran grit was a huge part of the Dodgers’ World Series push, given their dearth of healthy starting pitchers.