San Francisco Giants:Fantasy Value Is In The Lineup

The San Francisco Giants have been known as a team of arms over the last several years. Has it come time for the offense to take over the load? Fantasy owners may have more Giants in their lineups this season.

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Top to bottom, the Giants have a very scary lineup. It doesn’t feature anyone who will hit 40-50 home runs, but there aren’t that many guys who strikeout either. With Denard Span at the top, the team has re-energized the speed game. Joe Panik is the prototypical two hitter, and if Matt Duffy is the three guy, well then he gets the best seat in the house (between Panik and Buster Posey).

After Posey it projects to be Brandon Belt, Hunter Pence, Brandon Crawford and Angel Pagan. When the bottom of the order looks like the top in reverse, you’ve got yourself a team.

The fantasy value of the individual players should go up with increased opportunities. And while the additions of Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija were wonderful, the addition of Span solves several lineup questions at once. Pagan is now in a spot more favorable to a hitter who knows how to control the bat and has speed.

As for the pitching. The fantasy value is really in Madison Bumgarner. The team is hoping that Cueto is back to his ace-like self. But they would be content with a strong number two guy who pitches a lot of innings. Samardzija is a good-not-great three, who could have an increase in value at AT&T. Just have to see a few games before knowing for sure. But his arm is big, and his work with Posey will help.

Now is where it is questionable, Jake Peavy and Matt Cain (and Chris Heston). None of these guys can be relied on in fantasy baseball. You are definitely going to see a great outing here and there, but the main focus in fantasy is consistency.

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The San Francisco Giants should be one of the top teams in fantasy baseball play given a top to bottom lineup loaded with .280-.300 hitters with the proper approach at the plate. Not a lot of home runs, as compared to the Toronto Blue Jays, but most will be in the 15-20 range. Duffy and Panik are good value picks.