It is that time of the week! It is already time to start setting those weekly lineups for Week 2*. Twelve teams are scheduled to play seven games next week, while the other 18 line up for six games. There are no teams scheduled for five games like last week, so you do not need to worry about factoring that into your lineup decisions.

It is still early, and we have minimal data on hitters for the 2022 season. Following how these grades stack up each week as the season marches on will be fun. Last week Seiya Suzuki ranked fourth among all hitters for week two, and so far, that has looked like an excellent pick. Just as a reminder, here are the four factors that go into the Quick Grades. If you have any questions regarding Quick Grades, please reach out on Twitter @RotoClegg.

*Editor’s Note: The previous article in the Quick Grades series was also “Week 2,” but we made an editorial decision to consider the Monday, April 18 through Sunday, April 24 period “Week 2” to keep our tools and content consistent across the site.

The Quick Grade Series

Each week, I will provide breakdowns of hitters with a grade range from 40 to 100. Think about a school grade (90-100 being an A, 80-89 equaling a B, and 70-79 = C, and so on). Grades are weighted based on several different factors that I discuss below.

Week 2 covers games for the week of Monday, April 18, through Sunday, April 24.

How It Works

We established that each hitter would have a grade based on four categories that would land them a total score between 40 and 100. Each of the four categories will are graded from 10 to 25, which lands us at that total score. Here is what goes into it:

• Games Played – Let’s start simple. The more games played in a week, the more stats a player can accumulate. Maximizing plate appearances for fantasy baseball is huge. If the player you roster has seven games versus a different player having five games, it is a no-brainer. If a team is scheduled to play seven games that week, the team’s hitter will get 25 points. Six games earn a hitter 22 points, and five games drop you down to 18.
• Ballpark Factors – Is a hitter playing four games in Coors? What about three in Oakland? These things matter. We will use the FantasyPros’ park factors to help us out there. I have created an algorithm that gives each ballpark a score from 10-25. Then factoring in how many games a hitter plays where each week, a score of 10-to-25 is given.
• Matchups – Does a hitter have strong splits against a left or right-handed pitcher? What if they face three lefties this week with a poor split against lefties. We factor that in. What about facing a murderers’ row of pitchers like Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta back to back to back. All that is taken into account with the matchups grade.
• Projections – Finally, we will factor in projections. I will update using FantasyPros projections and scale them down to a weekly projection. It is not perfect, but using projections with the other factors can help project how a player might perform.

Week 2 Hitter Grades (4/18-4/24)

Surprising Hitters

• Rhys Hoskins comes in tied for fourth with a couple of Phillies hitters this week. Projections love the matchups and a trip to Coors Field is a chance for Hoskins to get his bat going. To this point, Hoskins is slashing .238/.360/.476 with a home run in 25 plate appearances.
• Josh Bell comes in with a strong score that is 16th among all hitters for week three. If you have followed Bell this season, it is not surprising that he comes in so high. He currently has a .310 batting average, and a .980 OPS with two home runs through his first 35 plate appearances.
• Daulton Varsho cracks the top-30 despite a very slow start to the season. Could this be the week he gets back on track? Quick Grades thinks so!

Teams to Stream

• Washington Nationals - The Nationals get four games against a weak Diamondbacks rotation and then three games with the Giants. The team is slated to face Logan Webb on Sunday, but it is a favorable week for Nationals hitters.
• Philadelphia Phillies - The Phillies go to Coors field and get some great matchups, as you can see from the Quick Grades. They face Milwaukee in the second half of the week but are scheduled to avoid Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff.

Teams to Fade

• Atlanta Braves - The Braves are heading out west in the first half of the week to face the Dodgers and get matchups against Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, and Tony Gonsolin. They get the Marlins in the second half of the week and have tough matchups with Trevor Rogers and the smoking hot Jesus Luzardo.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio

If you want to dive deeper into fantasy baseball, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Baseball Tools as you navigate your season. From our Lineup Assistant - which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections - to our Waiver Wire Assistant - that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much - we've got you covered this fantasy baseball season.

Chris Clegg is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Chris, check out his archive and follow him @RotoClegg.