2024 Cancer Preview
Historically speaking, Cancer has generally had a strong offense with a weak pitching staff. Barring some crazy unforeseen circumstances, that will hold true for the Crabs this year, especially since their ace Shohei Ohtani (ranked #11 by MLB.com as a DH-only player) will not pitch this season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Here’s my position-by-position preview of Cancer heading into the 2024 Fantasy Astrology Baseball League season.
Rankings from MLB.com’s top 300, as of Valentine’s Day.
Depth is what makes Cancer’s offense great, as they are at least two deep at all positions. Catcher is a battle between two switch hitters, Keibert Ruiz (177), whose strength is his hit tool, and Jonah Heim (180), who excels in power and defense. At first base, Josh Naylor (121) has a big leg up on Nahaniel Lowe (173) in the preseason rankings. As far as primary second basemen, Jorge Polanco (239) and Brandon Lowe (241, no relation to Nathaniel) are both injury risks. Another name to keep in mind is Christopher Morel (185) who fell ONE game shy of the 20 needed to qualify at the keystone, spending most of his time at DH and center field for the Cubs.
The top ranked Cancer third baseman is reigning AL Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson (31), although he split his time almost evenly between third base and shortstop for the Orioles. Since my custom league settings allow any middle infielder to play second base, that allows Henderson to shift to the keystone to make room for Manny Machado (51) at the hot corner. The Padres slugger is recovering from a shoulder injury that will limit him to DH duties for the beginning of the season, but that doesn’t matter for fantasy eligibility. Shortstop is home to the top-ranked Crabs position player (if you don’t count DH as a position), Trea Turner (13) of the Phillies.
The Cancer outfield only really makes sense when you don’t take defense into account. Yordan Alvarez (15) is one of the game’s top hitters, but I’m frankly surprised that the Astros keep giving him enough reps in left field to qualify as anything but a DH. When the Cubs re-signed Cody Bellinger (50), they gave the Crabs their only non-iron-gloved fantasy-relevant outfielder. That’s because the other corner spot would go to Masataka Yoshida (154), a great contact hitter who is better suited as a DH. However, the sign does have some defensively gifted outfielders, such as Daulton Varsho (197) and Jose Siri (273), who could serve as late-inning defensive replacements in a simulation setting.
Rankings from Lindy’s magazine, by position.
What do you get when you take an already-weak rotation and subtract two of their top options? The 2024 Cancer Crabs, that’s what. Ohtani’s TJS was a foregone conclusion before the end of last season, but losing Lucas Giolito (ranked 224 as of Valentine’s Day) was a more recent development. Justin Steele (97) is the projected Opening Day starter, but the Cubs lefty is the lowest-ranked number one starter in all of Fantasy Astrology. The 6’9” Bailey Ober (178) throws deceptively slow for his size, but he has made that combo work for the Twins. Ohtani’s former rotation-mate Reid Detmers (278) will head up an Angels pitching staff in transition.
Before Giolito’s injury, Michael Wacha (300) gave Cancer a full starting five ranked within MLB.com’s top 300, by the slimmest of margins. With the new Royals acquisition now slotting in the fourth spot, the Crabs will have to look outside the top 300 to round out the staff. Options include Colin Rea, who will at least pitch for a competitive Brewers team, Patrick Corbin, who will continue to get reps for the Nationals as long as he’s under contract, and Tanner Houck, who has flirted with bullpen work in his career. And then there’s always the pipe dream of pipe dreams that Stephen Strasburg might return to the majors one day…
In contrast to their rotation, Cancer’s bullpen is both strong and deep. Camilo Doval (66) is a dynamic young closer for the Giants. Ryan Helsley (110) has tremendous upside, but missed most of last season due to injuries. Tanner Scott (139) should have a firm hold on the Marlins’ ninth inning job with A.J. Puk’s move to the rotation. Will (M.) Smith should get what few save opportunities the Royals will provide. Daniel Bard was a closer as recently as last year. And then there are injury risk wild cards, such as Blake Treinen and Nick Anderson.