2018 Fantasy Baseball Preview: Sleepers and Busts Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Luis Castillo (58) throws during a bullpen session at the Cincinnati Reds Spring Training facility. Godley is one of the best starting pitcher sleepers in fantasy baseball in 2018 despite pitching half of his starts at Chase Field. The soon-to-be 28-year old won just eight games last year in 25. 2018 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: All-Breakout Team Catcher: Chance Sisco, Orioles. Sisco was an accomplished hitter in the minors (.311/.390/.426) and had a nice little 10-game major league debut.

1. Best Mlb Sleepers
2. Top Mlb Fantasy Sleepers
3. 2018 Mlb Fantasy Sleepers 2020
4. 2020 Mlb Fantasy Sleepers

'Sleeper' has absorbed a multitude of different definitions in the fantasy baseball world, from undervalued player to player worth much more than his ADP (average draft position) to late-round pick with upside. As an old-school player, I still prefer to think of a sleeper by its true dictionary definition:

Someone or something unpromising or unnoticed that suddenly attains prominence or value.

To me, a true 'sleeper' is a player practically no one expects to do a darned thing. These are players people would hardly notice, the types who, upon their selection in your league, would more than likely elicit a reaction or two of, 'Who?!'

Now here's the fun part: This is my annual column identifying 12 deep sleepers, which can either help you in your deep-mixed or AL-/NL-only drafts or could become worthwhile pickups in shallow mixed teams in-season, but it is paradoxical in nature. By mentioning and familiarizing you with their names, these players' profiles become raised and they're potentially less likely to fit the description of being relative unknowns.

That said, they're all still highly unlikely to be drafted in many ESPN standard leagues, if any, and frankly they probably shouldn't be except as a dart throw with your final pick if their profiles speak to you. Chances are, each will still cost you practically nothing in your drafts, as illustrated by their accompanying price tags from the recent League of Alternative Baseball Reality (LABR, auctioned March 3-4) and Tout Wars (auctioned March 17) auctions. (Note: Tout Wars uses on-base percentage in place of batting average in its Rotisserie 5x5 seasonal scoring system.)

As always, my goal with these picks is for the players to provide at least $10 of fantasy value in 'only' leagues. Here we go!

Steven Duggar, OF, San Francisco Giants

We're six days from Opening Day, and Duggar remains in Giants camp. Considering his name was floated as a candidate to start in center field as far back as Thanksgiving, he might well emerge in that prominent role. Even if Duggar begins in the minors, it's clear his arrival in San Francisco is imminent. From a prospect perspective, he's a lot more interesting than his seemingly glove-and-speed profile, having shown uncharacteristic lift on the ball for the first time last season. Duggar's fly-ball rate in the minors was 42.7 percent, and while it's easy to play it down because it came in a 44-game sample, he's showing some pop this spring as well, with four homers in 45 at-bats. He could sneak his way into double digits in both homers and steals, and he's a walker, too, which helps those in leagues that reward for them.

Price points: Third-round reserve in LABR, $1 in Tout Wars.

Wilmer Difo, 2B/SS, Washington Nationals

His pedestrian 2017 stats have probably caused many to forget the fact he was quite the adept base stealer during his minor league days, including a 49-steal campaign in Class A ball in 2014 and an average of 41 per 162 games played in the professional ranks. Difo is a capable batsman, evidenced by his 84.3 percent career minor league contact rate, and a player the Nationals clung to dearly in their winter trade talks. He's also capable of playing all over the infield, on a team that has seen both Anthony Rendon and Trea Turner miss time due to injuries the past few years and has Daniel Murphy ticketed for the DL to begin the season. Difo should get more at-bats than your typical utility infielder, and with more experience he's likely to get more green lights.

Price points: $2 in LABR, $2 in Tout Wars (my bid).

Carl Edwards Jr., RP, Chicago Cubs

His inclusion is twofold: First, he possesses filthy stuff, between a 95.2-mph average fastball that was worth 12.5 runs above average per FanGraphs, 17th-best among 155 qualified relievers, and a 12-to-6 curveball that generated a 19.2 percent swinging-strike rate that ranked 12th-best among 87 pitchers who threw at least 300. Second, Brandon Morrow, the presumed Cubs' closer, has been no model of health throughout his big-league career, and he was heavily used the final four months of last season, including 14 appearances in 15 postseason games. Edwards' critics point out that his control has been inconsistent, and that's fair, but he has also seemingly improved it this spring, with zero walks in 26 batters faced and 48 strikes in 49 pitches thrown.

Price points: $4 in LABR, $1 in Tout Wars (my bid).

Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

Consider the Rays' announcement that they plan to use a four-man rotation good news for Eovaldi, because it increases the chances that he'll give you a solid number of innings in this, his first full season since recovering from Tommy John surgery. He has always been a hard thrower, routinely hitting 97-98 mph with his fastball, but it was the addition of a splitter during his stint with the New York Yankees that had him on the precipice of a significant breakthrough. So far, Eovaldi has shown no velocity loss this spring, and his 10 strikeouts compared to zero walks in 42 batters faced this spring are encouraging signs. If everything clicks, he could give you a top-60 starter's level of production for a price that's practically nothing.

Price points: $1 in LABR, $3 in Tout Wars.

Jack Flaherty, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals' rotation might be deep in numbers, but it's not necessarily so in terms of track record, with Michael Wacha having dealt with his share of injuries in the past, Miles Mikolas no lock to translate his success overseas into the same during his return stint in the U.S. and Adam Wainwright looking closer to the end than prime of his career. Flaherty is almost certain to see extended time in the team's big-league rotation, and once he arrives, he's going to be one of the better strikeout candidates of any young starter out there. His slider is positively filthy: After his Sept. 1 debut last season, he generated a 30.7 percent swinging-strike rate and .065 well-hit average with the pitch, which were third- and 25th-best of 91 pitchers who threw at least 75.

Price points: $3 in LABR, $4 in Tout Wars (my bid).

Wilmer Flores, 1B/3B, New York Mets

Nothing against Todd Frazier, a good signing by the Mets at a cheap price, but on raw skills alone, I think Flores probably would've been the Mets' most productive infielder in fantasy terms had he received the at-bats. He has boosted his isolated power and well-hit average in each of the past two seasons and posted back-to-back years of at least a 40 percent fly ball rate, and also made huge skills advances by batting .262/.306/.459 against right-handed pitching last season. Flores no longer deserves platoon treatment, and it's a shame the Mets haven't yet found a place to play him regularly. Wait, they might! After all, Adrian Gonzalez is coming off an awful 2017 and not-much-better spring, and Dominic Smith has been limited by injury all spring.

Price points: $3 in LABR, $3 in Tout Wars.

Adam Frazier, 2B/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

Not that I object to the Pirates' acquisition of Corey Dickerson, which was worthwhile considering its dirt-cheap price, but it was a shame to see them block Frazier's wide-open chance at claiming the left-field job. Nevertheless, Frazier does have a few paths to at-bats, between second and third base and the corner infield spots, and it's a reasonable guess to assume that he'd take over at the former should Josh Harrison get traded. Frazier brings some of the best contact-hitting skills of anyone in baseball, with 86.0 percent contact and 12.6 percent strikeout rates last season, giving him excellent odds of a batting average in the .280-.290 and on-base percentage in the .350-.360 ranges. While he's not much of a power hitter, that could be enough to vault his stolen base total into the teens (or perhaps even twenties).

Price points: $2 in LABR, $2 in Tout Wars.

Kyle Gibson, SP, Minnesota Twins

He has posted ERAs higher than five in back-to-back seasons of at least 25 starts, and has a career mark of 4.70 in 127 starts, so he's an easy name to discard. Gibson, though, has never seemed to lean as heavily upon his slider and changeup, his two best pitches, as he should. Strangely, it was more reliance upon his four-seam fastball during the second half of last season, including boosting its average velocity to 92.7 mph, that planted the seeds of a potential 2018 breakthrough. (Slightly greater usage of his slider did help, though.) Gibson managed seven quality starts, a 3.76 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 22.1 percent strikeout rate in 13 turns after the All-Star break, and so far this spring he seems to be carrying that over, including posting a 1.80 ERA in his three starts. This could be a 'Fool me once/fool me twice' scenario, but I trust my scouting and think a long-range viewpoint is smart.

Price points: $1 in LABR, $2 in Tout Wars.

Tommy Kahnle, RP, New York Yankees

Among the clear non-closers, the ones I think stand minimal chance of recording even five saves, Kahnle pops off the page as the highest-upside arm of the current setup crop. Thanks to shortening his leg kick last season, he slashed his walk rate by more than half (6.6 percent, compared to 13.4 percent in his professional career entering the season), and boosted his average fastball velocity for the third consecutive year (to 97.9 mph on average). If you watched this guy during the postseason, you saw how filthy his stuff, which could be good enough to vault him to the 100-strikeout plateau. By the way, the bloated price point in LABR illustrates just how much I like him, though had he gone a few rounds later in that auction, he'd have surely cost $1-2.

Price points: $4 in LABR (my bid), first-round reserve in Tout Wars.

Chad Pinder, SS/OF, Oakland Athletics

The 'launch angle revolution' was a popular topic of the past calendar year, and while you know many of the obvious candidates (Yonder Alonso, Logan Morrison and Justin Smoak, to name three), Pinder was one of the more beneath-the-radar such types. During the season's first half, before a hamstring injury cost him more than a month's time around mid-year, Pinder elevated his launch angle from 9.2 degrees in 2016 to 13.8 degrees, while lowering his ground-ball rate from 50.0 percent to 34.7 percent, and he bumped his well-hit average to a healthy .238. This largely explained how he was able to sock eight homers in a 31-game span at one point, but the forgettable second half of his year has caused him to since be forgotten. As someone the Athletics can play almost anywhere, however, Pinder plays an important role for a team that loves to mix and match its lineups, and he could provide a sneaky 20-plus homers while netting eligibility at even more positions than his current shortstop/outfield.

Best Mlb Sleepers

Price points: $4 in LABR, $3 in Tout Wars.

Nick Pivetta, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

I can hear your reaction now: 'This guy was horrible last year!' Yes, he was, but beneath Pivetta's 6.02 ERA and 1.51 WHIP, which were sixth- and 17th-worst among 122 pitchers who made at least 20 starts, were ghastly 'luck'-category rates of a .336 batting average on balls in play, 67.1 left-on-base percentage and 12.3 percent home run/fly ball rate. Few pitchers could claim such poor fortune on batted balls, something that should correct this year, though his strikeout rate is also likely to drop somewhat to correct for a low swinging-strike rate as well as a more so-so number during his minor league career. Pivetta's slider is his key to success, but it might on its own be enough for him to provide value: It was worth 2.3 runs above average per FanGraphs, and generated a 18.7 swinging-strike percentage (the league's average was 16.9) and .078 well-hit average that was 20th-best among 153 pitchers who threw at least 300.

Price points: $1 in LABR, $1 in Tout Wars.

Drew Robinson, 3B/OF, Texas Rangers

His ceiling might be the lowest of any of the 12, but his role is among the more secure of the bunch, considering he's the Rangers' likely starter in left field against right-handers (at least at the season's onset) after the team demoted Willie Calhoun. Robinson has never been regarded much more than a utility prospect, but he brings an underrated mix of pop and speed, having averaged 19 home runs and 16 stolen bases per 162 career games as a professional with .189 isolated power. He also walks a lot -- 14.0 percent rate as a pro -- and was more apt to hit the ball in the air in the minors than during his 48-game stint for the Rangers last season, having posted 46.6 and 45.3 percent rates in Double- and Triple-A ball, something that would enhance his power potential if he brings it to Globe Life Park.

Price points: Undrafted in LABR, second-round reserve in Tout Wars.

Other deep sleepers to consider: Albert Almora Jr., Harrison Bader, Corbin Burnes, Nate Karns, Dominic Leone, Keynan Middleton, Sal Romano, Drew Steckenrider, Robert Stephenson, Matt Strahm, Blake Swihart, Brandon Woodruff.

The draft is the most exciting date on the fantasy baseball calendar, as the decisions you make during the draft set the table for your season.

Are you prepared to find the hidden gems that will set your team apart? Have you scouted the next superstar waiting to rise to the top of the Player Rater? Can you navigate the player pool and avoid the busts that will leave you with regrets all season long?

Below, our experts predict the players they consider to be sleepers, breakouts and busts for the 2018 season. Here's a quick guide to what we mean by these categories ...

Sleeper: A player set to exceed the value implied by his average draft position. Each analyst has provided an early-round sleeper, a midround sleeper and a sleeper you can find at the end of your drafts.

Breakout: A player poised to enter the upper echelon of the fantasy game via a big step forward, reaching a new level of play for the first time in his career. Our analysts have picked an early breakout player who could deliver first-round value, a midround sleeper who could return value of a top-50 player and a rookie who could jump straight to fantasy stardom.

Bust: A player who will disappoint relative to his average draft position. Our experts have picked players set to disappoint as expected first-round selections, disappointments in the early to middle rounds and rookies who won't live up to expectations.

Yoan Moncada: Moncada boasts power, speed, plate discipline, a middle-infield starting spot and a place near the top of a potentially interesting lineup, all at age 22. OK, he could have been better last year, but he was still a rookie. This is a 20-homer, 30-steal profile, at least, and even if he hits only .260 or so thanks to the strikeouts, that makes him a top-100 player with the potential for considerably more, considering he can contribute in every offensive category. The breakout is still coming! -- Eric Karabell

Manuel Margot: Margot always profiled as a leadoff option with stolen base potential, and then in his rookie season, he swatted 13 home runs in 126 games as well. The Padres should score many more runs than they did in 2017, and Margot at the top is key as a potential five-category option. Margot was not supposed to hit for much power, but the underlying figures show that his rookie power was legit. Margot is certainly capable of more than 30 stolen bases, with expected gains in batting average and runs pending as well. -- Eric Karabell

Bryce Harper: Harper has achieved historic numbers, with 150 home runs before turning 25, but he is a risk in Round 1. Durability is a problem, but the numbers are inconsistent as well. Sure, Harper could hit 50 home runs ... but he has topped 30 once in six seasons. He could win a batting title ... but he has hit .275 twice. Finally, Harper attempted all of six stolen bases last season. It would not be surprising if Harper matches his 2015 MVP campaign and tops Mike Trout in value ... but it is fair to point out that Harper has reached expectations in only one of his six seasons for fantasy. -- Eric Karabell

Byron Buxton: Some might claim he already 'broke out,' as Buxton's .300/.347/.546 slash rates, 11 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 57 games played after the All-Star break made him a top-40 performer in terms of fantasy baseball earnings, but to this point of his career, including that stretch, he has been a wildly unpredictable performer. One of the reasons I believe in Buxton's strong finish -- and note, I expect him to regress to closer to a .260 batting average but with similar power/speed -- is that a significant tweak to his batting stance fueled much of it. -- Tristan H. Cockcroft

Willie Calhoun: There's always a rookie who comes from nowhere to put forth near-Rookie of the Year numbers, and the ones I typically draft possess high floors, likely to translate smoothly to the big leagues, and are rarely noticed. Calhoun fits the bill: He's a virtual lock to start -- or at least be on the strong side of a platoon -- in left field for the Texas Rangers, and he was one of three players in pro ball last season with at least 30 home runs and an 85 percent contact rate (along with Francisco Lindor and Joey Votto). -- Tristan H. Cockcroft

Alex Reyes: While I like Reyes' skill set a lot -- he'll be someone I acquire in dynasty formats -- his 2018 role is uncertain, as it's his first year following Tommy John surgery, and he has never exceeded 111 1/3 innings in a single pro year. Coming off a year in which the multi-inning reliever was back in vogue, especially during the postseason, Reyes makes a heckuva lot of sense to the St. Louis Cardinals in a Chris Devenski-esque role as he works his way back. That, unfortunately, is a role of limited fantasy appeal. -- Tristan H. Cockcroft

Matt Duffy: Here's a guy who finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2015 behind Kris Bryant. In 2016, he was traded to the Rays for the stretch drive but almost immediately got hurt and then had to sit out all of last season due to surgery. All signs point to Duffy being 100 percent healthy headed into 2018, and Tampa Bay has doubled-down on the third baseman, having traded Evan Longoria to the Giants. If everything clicks, we could have 20-20 production from a guy who might not even show up on some fantasy draft lists due to the goose egg in stats he had in 2017. That's not too shabby. -- AJ Mass

Top Mlb Fantasy Sleepers

Luis Castillo: In his final five starts of the 2017 season, Castillo had a 1.86 ERA, a .158 BAA and a 12.1 K/9. He has a fastball that averages 97.5 mph and clearly was able to adjust to the majors after his leap from Double-A in June after a rocky start (4.05 ERA, .243 BAA in his first seven starts of the season). Sure, he could flame out like far too many young arms before him. However, it's also not unrealistic that he'll finish the season in the top five in strikeouts, with an ERA around 3.00 and at least a dozen wins under his belt. I'd call that a breakout. -- AJ Mass

2018 Mlb Fantasy Sleepers 2020

Tyler Chatwood: We always upgrade hitters in a big way when they go to Colorado, so why do we not treat pitchers leaving the thin air with similar levels of excitement? Over the past two seasons, Chatwood's road ERA is lower than that of Max Scherzer and Chris Sale. Heard of those guys? I'm not saying he is on that level, but for those of you who draft an ace to lead your staff and then wait on pitching ... Chatwood should be on your radar. -- Kyle Soppe

Elvis Andrus: None of his production from last season is going to help you this year, so be careful about how high you draft him. Andrus' stock skyrocketed last season thanks in large part to 20 homers ... or, you know, three more than he hit in the previous three seasons combined. He has been successful on less than 71 percent of his stolen base attempts the past four seasons, so I worry that both his ceiling and his floor aren't as high as most seem to be assuming. -- Kyle Soppe

2020 Mlb Fantasy Sleepers

Alex Bregman: It's easy to find power in today's fantasy baseball landscape. Everything else seems to come at a premium. As such, a player who can do 'everything else' while essentially keeping up with the power guys is incredibly valuable. Enter Bregman, who was fantastic during the second half of last season, finishing with a post-All-Star break wRC+ on par with names such as Arenado, Judge and Lindor. He's delivering on his prospect promise and should take another step forward in 2018. -- Leo Howell