Next week, only one team is scheduled for a week-low five games. One club is at the other end, scheduled for eight games. The remaining teams play six games (11 teams) or seven games (17).
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Notable Matchups
Texas Rangers at HOU (2), vs. MIN (3)
You’ve gotta ding all of the Rangers hitters next week, as they’re scheduled for a week-low five games. Further, matchups with Zack Greinke, Michael Pineda, and Jose Berrios are all potentially challenging, each owning a sub-4.00 ERA.
Philadelphia Phillies at LAD (3), at SF (3)
The Phillies will spend next week on the west coast, squaring off with the Dodgers and Giants. The Phillies have been a middle-of-the-pack offense on the road, ranking 16th in wRC+ (90), per FanGraphs. However, I’m more concerned about a handful of tricky pitching matchups. If you have viable alternatives to your Phillies’ hitters, it’s not a bad week to consider using them.
Colorado Rockies vs. SD (3), vs. MIL (4)
It’s a seven-game week, and all of the games are at Coors Field for the Rockies next week. Putting their home field’s impact in perspective, they have the fourth-highest wOBA (.343) at home. Colorado’s hitters’ stock is up next week.
Los Angeles Angels at OAK (3), vs. DET (4)
The Angels have a full seven games on the docket next week. Further, both series are in American League ballparks, so Shohei Ohtani won’t be relegated to pinch-hitting duties, as has been the case in National League parks (except when he’s pitched).
Milwaukee Brewers vs. CIN (3), at COL (4)
The Brewers are one of the two teams getting a boost offensively with a trip to Coors Field. Further, they draw four games there. They’re also scheduled to face at least five right-handed probable pitchers next week, giving the platoon advantage to the likes of Christian Yelich and Omar Narvaez, as well as deep-league streamer options such as Daniel Vogelbach and Jackie Bradley Jr.
San Diego Padres at COL (3), vs. CIN (4)
The Padres are the other club visiting Coors Field next week. They open the week there with a three-game series. San Diego’s hitters’ value is further bolstered by a seven-game week. Additionally, the pitching matchups aren’t especially daunting.
Washington Nationals vs. PIT (3), vs. NYM (4)
Nationals Park isn’t Coors Field. However, it’s still one of the most hitter-friendly venues in MLB. According to the FantasyPros MLB Park factors, it has the fifth-highest park factor for runs (1.066) and sixth-highest mark for dingers (1.135). They also have seven games scheduled. Having said that, not all seven-game weeks are created equal. They reach that number with a Saturday doubleheader. Regardless, the layout of games and ho-hum pitching matchups is favorable for Washington’s hitters.
New York Mets vs. CHC (4), at WSH (4)
The Mets are the opposition for Washington’s Saturday doubleheader, pushing their week total for games out to a week-high eight. Again, volume is king, providing intrigue for streaming their hitters. Additionally, their pitching matchups are thoroughly underwhelming, boosting the value of New York’s hitters.
Hitter Notes
It feels like the Giants are playing whack-a-mole this season. Brandon Belt returned from the injured list this week. However, Evan Longoria will be on the injured list for four-to-six weeks with a sprained shoulder resulting from a collision with Brandon Crawford. Circling back to positive news, Mike Yastrzemski could be activated from the injured list when he’s first eligible on Saturday.
Byron Buxton’s on a rehab assignment, and he reports that he feels 100%. He needs a little time to round back into form, but he should soon be back on the parent club. In leagues with weekly lineup changes, gamers should revisit his availability for next week, as he may be back by then.
Jarred Kelenic was demoted to Triple-A. He serves as a perfect reminder; not every prospect hits the ground running. He’s saying all the right things regarding the demotion. Even amidst his struggles in his first taste of big-league Joe, he swiped three bases and hit a couple of taters. In 10-team mixers, I can’t fault gamers if they cut him. In 12-team mixers, I advise holding, as his upside remains massive.
Pitcher Notes
Every recovery from Tommy John surgery is different. Still, Luis Severino’s appears to be trending in the right direction, with his second scheduled rehab start on the horizon Saturday.
Gamers should check their league free-agent pool to see if he’s available, as he can be a needle mover and rostered in just 42% of ESPN leagues and 53% of Yahoo! leagues.
Adbert Alzolay will have to wait a bit to resume a breakout season. He’s on the 10-day injured list. Thankfully, the injury isn’t serious, and it’s merely a blister. This could be a blessing in disguise for gamers rostering him in head-to-head formats. His season-high for innings pitched is 120.1 in 2016. The Cubs might have an innings cap on their 26-year-old hurler, so missing some starts now could help him avoid hitting that mark during the fantasy baseball playoffs.
Sonny Gray is on the injured list with a groin strain. Regarding the injury, Reds manager David Bell said, “I think the best guess is missing two starts.” Injuries are always a bummer. However, this one appears to be minor.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.