On offense: why hitters are more valuable than pitchers in fantasy baseball

When it comes to building your fantasy baseball team, whether it’s the draft or the season, there is some very valuable information to keep in mind: hitters are ALWAYS more valuable than pitchers. Keep this in mind at the draft table and when it comes to trades. With that said, your particular fantasy baseball league will always dictate its own market for players, but this is a good rule of thumb for a number of reasons.

First, a hitter brings more value to your team due to the fact that he plays every day. Starting pitchers only get on the mound every five days (at best) and poor performance can have a devastating effect on your team, especially in weekly head-to-head formats. On the other hand, if an offensive player has a bad start, they will return the next day in an attempt to redeem themselves (and their fantasy stats count).

Second, when it comes to relief pitchers, the position is extremely volatile and unpredictable. As a result, savings can (and will be) collected from the waiver wire throughout the season. If you used an early draft pick (or spent a large chunk of your salary allocation) on closing pitchers, you’re probably dealing with a degree of disappointment (not to mention the fact that you’ve had to deal with multiple roster decisions as a result) . By contrast, offensive stats are much more difficult to pick up from the waiver once the season begins.

Additionally, pitchers are generally more susceptible to injury than their offensive counterparts. Let’s face it, the human arm wasn’t naturally designed to throw a 95 mph fastball or a devastating curveball. As a result, the tension of pitching can lead to more physical breakdowns, putting pitchers at higher fantasy risk.

Even though most fantasy formats are designed so hitting and pitching stats are equally important, solid hitters who produce stats are much harder to come by than pitchers. When it comes to drafting your fantasy gear or evaluating trades, keep this general rule of thumb in mind. There are never certain things in fantasy baseball. However, knowing the risks and rewards can go a long way toward improving your team.