Fantasy Baseball: Top Five Outfielders of the First Half

By Vincent Frank on Saturday, July 16th 2016
Fantasy Baseball: Top Five Outfielders of the First Half

1. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

2016 Statistics: .322 average, 18 homers, 58 RBI, 68 runs, 41 extra-base hits and 15 steals (381.0 fantasy points) 

Trout continues to prove himself to be the best all-around player in the game. Still just 24 years old, the former AL MVP is coming off a 2015 campaign that saw him lead the Majors with a .590 slugging percentage and .991 OPS. He also posted a .402 on-base percentage with 79 extra-base hits, including 41 homers. 

Thus far this season, Trout is hitting at a .322 clip with a .425 on-base percentage and a .991 OPS. He has 41 extra-base hits in 89 games and is on pace to put up his second 100-plus RBI season. Adding to these ridiculous numbers, Trout could very well under up with 35-plus homers and 30-plus stolen bases. This has him as the third-best fantasy position player in the game. 

 

2. Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

2016 Statistics: .304 average, 18 homers, 59 RBI, 75 runs, 45 extra-base hits and 15 steals (377.0 fantasy points) 

Already considered a star, it's quite possible that Betts could end the 2016 season as one of the best pure hitters in MLB. The 23-year-old All-Star is on pace for 33 homers, 110 RBI, 28 stolen bases, 84 extra-base hits and a ridiculous 140 runs scored. He's also posting a .304/.344/.869 split heading into the second half of the season. Yeah, Betts is absolutely dominating at a young age. 

 

3. Mark Trumbo, Baltimore Orioles

2016 Statistics: .288 average, 28 homers, 68 RBI, 55 runs and 45 extra-base hits (330.3 fantasy points) 

Trumbo his just 13 homers while driving in 41 runs for the Seattle Mariners a season ago. That was by far the worst season of his otherwise pedestrian career. Rarely does a 30-year-old veteran put up a career-best performance, but that's been the case with Trumbo this year.

The All-Star is leading the AL in total bases (202) while posting a .288/.341/.923 split. He also leading the league with 28 homers while driving in 68 runs. This has Trumbo as the 17th-best fantasy hitter on the year. Not too shabby. 

 

4. Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

2016 Statistics: .256 average, 19 homers, 52 RBI, 44 runs, 30 extra-base hits and 13 steals (327.0 fantasy points)

Harper is actually having a down season nearly across the board. The All-Star is hitting 74 points lower than last season. Though, he's still on pace to hit 35-plus homers while stealing 25-plus bases. Not too shabby. And even in a down year, he's the fifth-best fantasy outfielder heading into the second half of the season. 

 

5. Ian Desmond, Texas Rangers

2016 Statistics: .322 average, 15 homers, 55 RBI, 65 runs, 35 extra-base hits and 15 steals (340.8 fantasy points) 

Desmond is currently hitting 89 points higher than a season ago. He's also on pace for career highs in hits, doubles, extra-base hits, homers, RBI and steals. More than this, Desmond's splits suggest he's more than capable of being considered a near every-day DFS play. 

Here's a guy that's hitting .398 with a .457 BAbip against left-handed pitchers. What's amazing about this is the fact that he's also posting a .295/.379 split against righties. Just think about that for a second before calling him a fluke. 

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Scores

Rockies
2
Rangers
3
Diamondbacks
3
Giants
2
Mariners
0
White Sox
0
6:40 PM ET
Tigers
-
Guardians
-
6:40 PM ET
Marlins
-
Braves
-
6:45 PM ET
Nationals
-
Mets
-
7:05 PM ET
Yankees
-
Blue Jays
-
7:40 PM ET
Royals
-
Red Sox
-
7:40 PM ET
Cubs
-
Brewers
-
7:45 PM ET
Cardinals
-
Pirates
-
8:40 PM ET
Padres
-
Dodgers
-
9:38 PM ET
Angels
-
Athletics
-
Phillies
4
Reds
9
Rays
5
Orioles
3
Twins
4
Astros
1
Rockies
0
Rangers
10
Diamondbacks
1
Giants
3
Mariners
1
White Sox
0
Bottom of 5th
Padres
4
Dodgers
3
Bottom of 4th
Angels
4
Athletics
6
Marlins
4
Braves
8
Tigers
3
Guardians
4
Rays
4
Orioles
1
Phillies
1
Reds
4
Nationals
9
Mets
6
Yankees
5
Blue Jays
4
Royals
1
Red Sox
7
Twins
1
Astros
2
Cubs
2
Brewers
5
Cardinals
9
Pirates
6
1:10 PM ET
Tigers
-
Guardians
-
1:15 PM ET
Cardinals
-
Pirates
-
4:05 PM ET
Nationals
-
Mets
-
6:40 PM ET
Marlins
-
Braves
-
7:05 PM ET
Yankees
-
Blue Jays
-
9:38 PM ET
Angels
-
Athletics
-
9:40 PM ET
Diamondbacks
-
Rockies
-