7 Fantasy Baseball Bold Predictions - Joey Pollizze's 2026 Picks

March 11, 2026

Joey Pollizze's 7 fantasy baseball bold predictions for the 2026 MLB season, including predictions for Elly De La Cruz, Ronald Acuna Jr., Dylan Cease and more.

Every season, there are things in baseball that many people don't see coming. Last year, Cal Raleigh hit the most home runs by a catcher in major league Baseball history, Josh Naylor stole 30 bases despite having a bottom 5% sprint speed, and Pete Crow-Armstrong had a 30-home run, 30-stolen base season.

Last year, Crow-Armstrong was on this exact same bold predictions list. I predicted that the Cubs center fielder would hit over 25 home runs and steal 50 bases en route to a breakout 2025 campaign. Although he didn't quite steal the 50 bases, we were right in the fact that he was headed for a breakout season.

So, let's dive into my seven boldest predictions heading into the 2026 MLB season. You can also check out some other awesome bold predictions in our yearly Bold Predictions series from the MLB team here at RotoBaller.

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Elly De La Cruz Has A 30-60 Season

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz put together a solid all-around campaign in 2025. He hit .264 with 22 home runs, 86 RBI, and 37 stolen bases across 162 games. However, there's real potential for De La Cruz to be even better this upcoming season. That's why a 30-home run, 60-stolen base campaign is certainly attainable for him in 2026.

Don't forget, De La Cruz was close to hitting these numbers during the 2024 season, when he hit 25 home runs and stole 67 bases. A large reason why his overall numbers were a bit down last year was because of a quad injury that he dealt with for most of the second half. But with the Reds shortstop now fully healthy, there is a real chance he does join the 30-60 club this year.

Just another typical Elly De La Cruz homer:

🔴 438 feet
🔴 114.5 exit velo pic.twitter.com/ulE76d0WWY

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) March 5, 2026

He has already stolen over 60 bases in a season in his career before and has the power to launch upward of 30 home runs. His average exit velocity (91 mph), barrel rate (10.2%), and bat speed (74.5 mph) all ranked in the upper half of the league last year. If he can get closer to his 2024 barrel rate (12.7%), De La Cruz could total a career-high in homers.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Returns To 2023 Form and Wins MVP

It was a bit expected that Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. wasn't going to be an all-around fantasy superstar in his first season back from a torn ACL. Acuna did post solid hitting numbers with a .290 batting average and 21 home runs across 412 plate appearances, but the stolen base numbers were lacking for him. He only stole nine bases across 95 games in 2025.

With Acuna almost two years removed from that torn ACL, though, the five-time All-Star could return to that 2023 form and win the National League MVP again. There's no doubt that the Braves outfielder is one of the best players in the game when fully healthy. That was on display during that 2023 season, as he hit .337 with 41 home runs, 106 RBI, and 73 stolen bases across 159 games.

Acuna showed last year that he still has the power to be one of the best hitters in the game. He ranked in the 93rd percentile or better in expected slugging (.535), hard-hit rate (52.5%), barrel rate (15.7%), and bat speed (76.4%). Considering he stole 73 bases two years removed from his first ACL in 2021, the slugger could follow a similar path this time. The Braves could let him run wild, leading to a 40-home run, 60-stolen-base campaign.

Daniel Palencia Saves 30+ Games

Chicago Cubs closer Daniel Palencia showed a ton of great things as a first-time closer last year. He finished with a 2.91 ERA, 61 strikeouts, and 22 saves across 52 2/3 innings pitched. Palencia saved a career-high 22 games during the 2025 season despite not earning the closer role until mid-May and missing two weeks due to a shoulder injury in early September.

If Palencia was the Cubs' closer throughout the 2025 campaign, he could have hit the 30-save mark. However, this season will be the year that the hard-throwing right-hander saves upward of 30 games. He is set to be Chicago's primary closer to open the season and will close games for a Cubs team that is projected to win 88.5 games in 2026.

¡VICTORIA DE VENEZUELA! 🇻🇪

Daniel Palencia trajo velocidad y Ezequiel Tovar puso la defensa para cerrar la victoria venezolana. pic.twitter.com/ni7ylAUhIP

— MLB Español (@mlbespanol) March 6, 2026

The save opportunities will be there for Palencia to save 30+ games. He also has the skill set to accomplish that this season. His expected batting average against (.225), average fastball velocity (99.6 mph), strikeout rate (28.4%), and barrel rate (4.4%) all were elite in 2025. Being able to close games on a top team in the National League will put him in a position to be a high-end closer in fantasy baseball. 

Agustin Ramirez Is The Best Fantasy Catcher

In Roto leagues, it's hard to really determine who the best players are at every position. Some players are good sources of batting average, some are good sources of home runs, and others will have plenty of stolen base upside. However, Miami Marlins catcher Agustin Ramirez will be the best fantasy catcher by the end of the 2026 season due to his five-category profile.

Ramirez showed a lot of great things in his rookie campaign in 2025. He hit .231 with 21 home runs, 67 RBI, and 16 stolen bases across 136 games. He was a fantastic source of home runs and stolen bases at the catcher position, and there's room for him to post even better numbers in both of those categories this year. That means a 20-home run, 20-stolen base season is there for the taking in 2026.

The Marlins catcher should also have a better batting average than last season. His .259 expected batting average was 28 points higher than his actual average (.231). There is a lot to love about Ramirez's game, and he is just scratching the surface. If he hits over 20 home runs and steals at least 20 bases while hitting around .260, he would be the most impactful catcher in fantasy. Those numbers could easily happen.

Braxton Ashcraft Emerges As A Fantasy Star

Pittsburgh Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft will go from late-round fantasy draft pick to fantasy star in just a couple of months. That's how high his fantasy ceiling is entering his first full year in the majors. He has the chance to really establish himself as the second-best arm in this Pittsburgh rotation this season.

Now, I might be a bit too high on Ashcraft heading into the 2026 season, but the potential is definitely there for him to be a consistent fantasy option in 2026. In his first taste of the big leagues last year, the right-hander had a 2.71 ERA and 71 strikeouts across 26 appearances (eight starts) for the Pirates. In those eight starts, he had a 2.16 ERA and a 25.9% strikeout rate.

Braxton Ashcraft, Expelliarmus 98mph Fastball. 🪄 pic.twitter.com/DdfJd4Fyc0

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 15, 2025

With how quickly Ashcraft came onto the scene last year, he has the talent to take his game a step further this year. He has some elite off-speed pitches (slider and curveball) and has a fastball that tops out at 99 mph. The potential to break out is there for the Pirates pitcher in his second major league season. The 26-year-old has the stuff to emerge as a fantasy star.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. Is The Biggest Fantasy Bust 

There's no doubt that New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. had the best season of his career in 2025. He hit .242 with 31 home runs, 80 RBI, and 31 stolen bases across 130 games. However, fantasy managers should be skeptical about drafting Chisholm at his late second-round ADP. There is some risk surrounding him entering the 2026 season.

For starters, Chisholm has dealt with his fair share of injuries throughout his career. He has played over 135 games just once in his career and missed over 30 games last year due to several injuries. Additionally, he might be due for some negative regression at the plate this season. His expected batting average (.234), average exit velocity (89 mph), hard-hit rate (43.4%), and squared-up rate (20.4%) all ranked in the bottom half of the league.

That's why Chisholm is going to be the biggest fantasy bust this year. It's hard to see him replicating that 30-30 season from 2025, and the injury concerns are always present for the 28-year-old. Trusting a player with one of your first two picks who has a bottom 10% whiff rate (32.2%) and strikeout rate (27.9%) is just too risky.

Dylan Cease Finishes Top-3 In American League Cy Young Voting

Dylan Cease pitched better than his actual numbers suggested last year. His expected ERA (3.46) was more than a whole point lower than his actual ERA (4.55), and Cease finished in the 80th percentile or better in expected batting average against (.214), chase rate (31%), whiff rate (33.4%), and strikeout rate (29.8%). So, Cease should see some positive regression in 2026.

He also lands in a much better situation with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays had one of the best defenses in Major League Baseball last season, which should only help the right-hander's numbers on the mound. If you also believe in that every other year trend that Cease is currently on, he should be in for a dominant Cy Young season.

It seems like every time Cease struggles during a season, he follows it up with a strong pitching campaign. That's exactly what happened in 2022 and 2024. Given that the veteran is one of the best swing-and-miss pitchers in all of baseball, he will finish in the top 3 in American League Cy Young voting this year. That Cy Young finish would mean that the Blue Jays pitcher would be a fantasy superstar in 2026 and a great value at his current price tag.

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