NFBC Postseason Holdem Contest

The Major League Baseball regular season has come to a close. That does not mean that the fantasy season comes to a complete end. Some of you may participate in a playoff format fantasy league. This article is a quick guide to how I am approaching the NFBC Postseason Holdem Contest. The NFBC is accepting entries until noon Wednesday, as Tuesday will be a live look-in. This format requires a roster of 10 batters and 6 pitchers. For the batters, you must field a team consisting of every position in the infield, four outfielders and one utility player (any position). The pitchers can be any mix of starters and relievers. This is not a draft style league,you will be able to use a mix of the whole player field with the additional rules for roster construction as follows:

This avoids loading up of any one team, as well as requiring representation of each team. The scoring system is points based with the following stats and points :

BATTERS

PITCHERS

Finally, it is important to note that the scoring format uses a multiplier system when rostered players from one round, advance to the next. The multipliers are as follows:

It makes for some interesting roster construction approaches. As a general first step to this contest, I wanted to do my brackets-NCAA style. Pick my teams who I think would advance and try to line up which players I liked most on those teams. Then I wanted to establish what kind of scoring performances I would want to see maximized by multipliers and I decided that superior pitching performances would be my main target. If a pitcher throws seven innings, with two earned runs and eight strikeouts—thats a total of 13 points—add a win and you have 17 points. If you get a number one starting pitcher to give you two games as such in one round it will be a big difference maker with multipliers. Think 50 points a start in the Championship Series. A batter in the same round would need four home runs to match that 50 point performance and the pitcher has the possibility of throwing twice in that series. Something to factor in is that the teams will have no scheduled off days between series, after the wild card round as well as no off days within the series. The ability that the teams have in re-routing their pitching rotation for optimal use is limited. I personally like this because it mimics real life baseball during the regular season. Aside from the pitching strategy the only other positions I have a specific game plan for is catcher and relief pitcher. I prefer to “punt” the catcher position in that I am looking for a team that I find least likely to advance and go with that catcher. Even though Will Smith and Wilson Contreras might be the best hitting catchers to rosters, will you want to skip out on multiplying Betts, Bellinger, Kershaw or Darvish? Exactly. For relief pitchers I will consider using them later on in the series. With that I will go series by series and identify players I am considering for this specific contest, with a target on round one.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

(1) Tampa Bay Rays vs (8) Toronto Blue Jays

RAYS: B. Lowe (2B), Arozarena (OF), Adames (SS), Snell (P), Glasnow (P)

The Rays are always tricky with their pitchers so proceed with caution if you roster any of them. I think Lowe will be heavily owned. Being contrarian might be useful, but as to what level it’s hard to say. If you want to pivot, i would look to Arozarena. The Rays have some serious platoons they employ, but Arozarena has provided excellent total base and stolen base totals since he has been called up. Speed is crucial in the playoffs, and he is not Mallex Smith with the bat. Note Biggio’s ability to get on base with walks, as they count as much as a single, and the second base pool is shallow. I like the Rays to advance, although my prop bet of Toronto winning the World Series at the beginning of the season still remains in play!

(2) Oakland Athletics vs (7) Chicago White Sox

A’s: Olson (1B), Grossman (OF), Murphy (C), Bassitt (P)

WHITE SOX: Abreu (1B), Anderson (SS), Jimenez (OF), Giolito (P), Keuchel (P)

This is the toughest series for me to decipher. The White Sox offense is exciting to watch and addicting to own in fantasy. They have sputtered of late as a team but can instantly start grooving at the bat again. Giolito worries me from a “he can lose it at anytime” type situation. However, if he is on, is one of the stud pitchers in baseball. Big if as consistency is a worry from him but if you wanted to target him as part of a stable of arms for this contest I would not argue it. Keuchel provides so much consistency with the ability to take the ball multiple times in a round. If you are playing multiple entries he is a guy to target as that contrarian play (maybe more so in the next rounds). My go to Sox is Tim Anderson. He leads off and can add points on the base paths. The A’s have a tough bullpen, but their offense has ignited zero fear into opposing teams. I like Murphy here as a punt catcher play. Grossman can provide points with stolen bases and his on base ability. Bassitt is a guy who is taking the ball deep into games and depending on how you build your roster can be a solid choice. I have the Sox moving on.

(3) Minnesota Twins vs (6) Houston Astros

TWINS: Cruz (U), Polanco (SS), Rosario (OF), Maeda (P)

ASTROS: Tucker (OF), Brantley (U), Springer (OF), Bregman (3B), Greinke (P)

The Twins have not been the bomber squad of last year. They are still an imminent threat to be a force in an instant. Josh Donaldson and Byron Buxton enter with some question marks, physically (calf, concussion). Locking into Cruz here with Maeda a close second as he can provide ace performances on the mound. The Astros are tricky. I like Tucker for his ability on the base paths and penchant for extra base hits. Greinke is a strong consideration for one of your pitching spots if you feel that the Astros will advance. If you don’t, I would go with a bat. I am leaning against the grain and going with the Astros.

(4) Cleveland Indians vs (5) New York Yankees

INDIANS: J.Ramirez (3B), Lindor (SS), Bieber (P)

YANKEES: Voit (1B), Lemahieu (1B/2B/3B), Judge (OF), Cole (P)

This should be one of the more interesting series. Game 1- Bieber vs Cole- my oh my, I will be glued in to this one. I am going Indian pitching vs Yankee bats here in this series. I have a desire to use both Bieber and Cole in round one because I want the safety of having either or of the best pitchers in baseball going forward. If you want to go with a Ramirez or Lindor, theres nothing wrong with that approach as well as maybe you think the Yankee offense gets to Bieber.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

(1) Los Angeles Dodgers vs (8) Milwaukee Brewers

DODGERS: Seager (SS), Betts (OF), Bellinger (1B/OF), Kershaw (P), Buehler (P)

BREWERS: Yelich (OF), Woodruff (P)

The pick is the Dodgers here. I am a little hesitant to go Buehler because of the kind of season he has had so far. People are obviously aware and concerned of Kershaw’s performances in certain playoff games. You do not go wrong with any of the bats on the Dodgers. On the Brewers side there is not a lot to choose from. Yelich really needs help here in the future. If you have outfield set and want to go Woodruff, its a decent play.

(2) Atlanta Braves vs (7) Cincinnati Reds

BRAVES: Freeman (1B), Acuna (OF), Ozuna (OF),

REDS: Castellanos (OF), Bauer (P), Castillo (P)

I like the Reds here to win the series. Being a Met fan I know what the Braves have to send up to the plate. The big three have enjoyed marvelous seasons. Acuna has the edge from his stolen base potential, however Freeman is probably less prone to fall into a post season funk because of this consistent bat to ball skills. I am most likely going with one of the Reds pitchers here, probably Trevor Bauer. I am hinging on the fact that they advance and his willingness to pitch on three or four days rest. That can lead to massive multiplier round totals from him.

(3) Chicago Cubs vs (6) Miami Marlins

CUBS: Happ (OF), Schwarber (OF), Darvish (P), Hendricks (P)

MARLINS : Marte (OF), Aguilar (1B),B Anderson (3B/OF), Alcantara (P)

None of these teams excite me in the form of making an actual run in these playoffs. Marte seems like a no brainer on the Marlins side, although if you think they can win the series, Alcantara can be quite the contrarian play. I think you lock and load with Darvish here. He has been on fire since the second half of last year. I like the Cubs to advance on the backs of Darvish and Hendricks.

(4) San Diego Padres vs (5) St Louis Cardinals

PADRES: Tatis (SS), Machado (3B/SS)

CARDINALS: Molina (C), Goldschmidt (1B)

My pick is the Padres. It will be hard to pass on Machado or Tatis. Exciting to watch, ultra competitive and produce on the bases and with extra base hits. Yadi is my go to catcher and Cardinal. He is my ideal punt play option. If they happen to move on, I like the idea of having a catcher who will play every single game (either at C or DH). Plus the other options are not appealing. Jack Flaherty is slated to pitch game three, and in case they do no make it there you do not want to take a zero there.

Thats a snapshot of where my brain is looking at this format with eyes on the first round. This is the round to establish who you want to carry your team through the playoffs and multiplier rounds. Review the rules to make sure you understand how to play the game. Good luck if you decide to take the contest on and i hope this article was helpful in anyway. Hit me up on Twitter @deadpullhitter for any questions or comments. Thanks for taking the time out to read this!