Team-by-Team Fantasy Projections: Baltimore Orioles

Here are the 2016 MLB fantasy projections for the Baltimore Orioles (ZiPS projections courtesy Dan Szymborski; Steamer projections courtesy Jared Cross, Dash Davidson and Peter Rosenbloom; Zeile projections courtesy FantasyPros):

Hitters

C Matt Wieters

From 2011 through 2013, Wieters had at least 500 at-bats, 22 home runs and 68 RBIs in each season; he only played 75 games in 2015 after returning from the Tommy John surgery that cut short his 2014 campaign. He likely won't hit for average, and Caleb Joseph could see 200 or so at-bats at catcher. Still, Wieters has a lot of upside as a late-round pick if he can remain healthy.

With that said, an elbow injury may limit Wieters' availability for opening day.

1B Chris Davis

Davis led baseball in home runs (47), with his strikeouts (208) and middling average (.262) the cost of doing business for that power. In four full seasons in Baltimore, Davis has hit between 26 and 53 home runs, and driven in between 72 and 138 runs. He's also had at least 60 walks in each of the last three seasons, and can be considered top-20 among first basemen and outfielders.

2B Jonathan Schoop

Schoop provides a cheap, late-round source of power (15 home runs in only 305 at-bats last season), but little else. He only drew nine walks last season, and generally isn't an asset in leagues where OBP and batting average are counted.

3B Manny Machado

Machado broke out in a big way with 35 home runs in 2015; he's projected to regress somewhat in that department, but is still among the top third basemen and an easy first-round pick in all fantasy leagues. His OBP has steadily improved throughout his four seasons, to a high of .359 last year.

SS J.J. Hardy

Hardy hit between 22 and 30 home runs each season from 2011 to 2013; in the last two seasons, he has 17 combined in 940 at-bats. He has never hit for average or gotten on base at a high clip, so without the power threat, he's nothing more than a late-round backup selection.

LF Hyun-Soo Kim

The 28-year-old Kim could bat leadoff thanks to his career .406 OBP in the Korean Baseball Organization. A lifetime .318 hitter, Kim is a strong power threat (28 home runs and 121 RBI last season). Whether those abilities will translate to MLB is the question, but Kim has upside as a late-round sleeper.

CF Adam Jones

Jones' 137 games played marked the first time in four seasons he failed to feature in at least 159. His 27 home runs and 82 RBI were in line with the production of recent seasons; his .308 OBP was an Orioles career-low, however. As the unquestioned every day starter, he's still a top-20 outfielder.

RF Mark Trumbo

Baltimore's signing of Pedro Alvarez should force Trumbo into RF for most of the 2016 season. A poor man's Chris Davis, Trumbo provides a significant power threat, having hit at least 22 home runs every time he has received at least 500 at-bats. He's a decent late-round pick because of that power and positional versatility.

DH Pedro Alvarez

Expect Alvarez to be the lead DH in Baltimore with Trumbo handling some work against lefties. Though Alvarez's career .203 average against southpaws will limit at-bats and production, his powerful bat is still capable of 20-30 homers. Draft-wise, Alvarez is late round option in mixed leagues thanks to his power.

Starters

RHP Chris Tillman

A somewhat underwhelming "ace," Tillman at least has durability in his favor, having started at least 31 games in three straight seasons. His strikeout rate has been steadily declining, however, and he averaged just under six innings per start in 2015. Projections show some favorable regression from last season, but he's still little more than a late-round selection.

RHP Yovani Gallardo

A late-February signing, Gallardo has started at least 30 games every season since 2009. 2015's 3.42 ERA was his best since 2009, though his WHIP was the highest of his career. His strikeout rate has been in rapid decline, and he could struggle against powerful lineups in the AL East. He's a late-round selection whose rate stats likely won't provide much help.

RHP Miguel Gonzalez

Gonzalez seems to always miss a handful of starts each season, and has never won more than 11 games in any of his four years in Baltimore. His ERA should improve from last season's 4.91, but his strikeout totals and rate stats don't make him particularly draft-worthy in mixed leagues.

RHP Ubaldo Jimenez

The up-and-down Jimenez likely isn't worth drafting in most mixed leagues, but is worth a waiver add if he's on a hot streak. He did win 12 games last year and provides solid strikeout totals, but his WHIP and ERA aren't going to help many fantasy owners.

RHP Kevin Gausman

Gausman should be in the majors full time after spending three years bouncing between the minors, the bullpen and Baltimore's starting rotation. He projects as having the staff's best ERA, and easily has the most upside of any of the team's starters. Last year's middling statistics may relegate him to late-round status, but he has the potential to exceed expectations.

Closer

LHP Zach Britton

Britton has posted a sub-2.00 ERA with 73 saves over the last two seasons, and his 2015 strikeout and walk rates both bested 2014's marks. He's among the best fantasy closers, and represents an early-to-mid-round selection during the run on relievers.