Next week, the game schedule is tightly clustered. Only two teams are at the bottom of the pecking order with five games. Next, there are 14 teams with six games on the agenda. Finally, the remaining 14 teams will play seven games.
Notable Matchups
Chicago White Sox vs. BOS (3), vs. CHC (2)
A five-game week is suboptimal for the White Sox. However, there’s a notable silver lining. The Pale Hose will face at least three lefties, and almost all of their starters crush southpaws. So, don’t overreact to Chicago tying with the following team for the fewest games in the next scoring period.
Miami Marlins at TB (2), at ATL (3)
Next week, the Marlins are the other team at the bottom of the spectrum for games. Sadly, there isn’t an upshot with challenging pitching matchups in most of those games. So, downgrade all of Miami’s hitters accordingly.
San Francisco Giants vs. NYM (3), at CIN (3)
The Giants are the only team in this section with six games on the docket. The pitching matchups are a mixed bag, but all six games are against righties. Further, three are at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. Gamers in leagues with daily lineup changes should consider streaming hitters such as Brandon Belt, Tommy La Stella, LaMonte Wade Jr., and Brandon Crawford for the three-game series in Cincinnati.
Boston Red Sox at CWS (3), vs. BAL (4)
It’s an outstanding layout for the Red Sox next week. First, they’re one of the teams with a week-high seven games. Second, the pitching matchups are primarily good. Third, the final four-game series is at hitter-friendly Fenway Park. Finally, with at least five games versus righties, Franchy Cordero is a sneaky deep-league streaming option.
Cincinnati Reds vs. CHC (4), vs. SF (3)
The Reds are mostly a roaring tire fire this year. Nevertheless, they have a modest streaming appeal with seven home games next week. Specifically, right-handed hitters Tommy Pham and Brandon Drury are appealing short-term options since they are right-handed hitters, and four games should be versus southpaws.
Colorado Rockies at PIT (3), at WSH (4)
Unfortunately, both of Colorado’s series are on the road next week. Nonetheless, it’s not all doom and gloom. The Rockies will play seven games, and the pitching matchups are the best a team could hope for. Therefore, gamers shouldn’t panic and bench all their Rockies for the road trip.
Milwaukee Brewers at SD (3), at STL (4)
The Brewers will square off with five righties next week, enhancing the value of Kolten Wong, Rowdy Tellez, and Omar Narvaez in the upcoming week. However, gamers shouldn’t continue to sleep on infielder Luis Urias. The multi-position-eligible hitter is available in 36% of Yahoo! leagues and has been raking for the Beer Makers this year.
Minnesota Twins vs. DET (3), vs. KC (4)
The Twins’ hitters get a volume-based value bump next week. Additionally, the matchups are mainly good. Therefore, the stock is up for Minnesota’s hitters in the upcoming fantasy scoring period.
Hitter Notes
India is still recovering from a hamstring injury. He’s started working his way back, starting to hit, field, and run. However, India isn’t ready for a rehab assignment. Manager David Bell indicated the organization could “have a plan in place for sending him out on rehab” after he sees the team’s doctors next week.
Ryan Divish reports that Lewis’s 20-day rehab window closes after Sunday’s game. So, he should be reinstated from the Injured List (IL) on Monday unless the team asks for a second rehab assignment. Lewis has a clear path to playing time and could hit the ground running after tearing the cover off the ball in Triple-A.
Harper will hopefully return to Philadelphia’s lineup before the end of the week. However, he won’t play the field until later this summer. Harper had a platelet-rich plasma injection for a small tear in his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He won’t be able to throw for at least six weeks. Thankfully, Harper can serve as a designated hitter in the interim.
Lowe is on the IL with a stress reaction in his back and will miss at least a month.
Adames was put on the 10-day IL on Wednesday with a high-ankle sprain. However, the move was backdated to Monday.
On Tuesday, Perez was placed on the 10-day IL with a sprained thumb and is expected to miss at least two weeks. In the meantime, MJ Melendez is a viable option in leagues as shallow as 12-team mixers that use two catchers.
Pitcher Notes
Sale has resumed playing catch. So, there should be more clarity on a timeline for his return soon.
Baz began a rehab assignment on Thursday. He’s available in more than 30% of Yahoo! and ESPN leagues, and gamers in leagues as shallow as 10-team mixers should add and stash him immediately.
Sadly, Mad Max hurt his oblique on Wednesday night. He’ll be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks with a “moderate to high-grade internal oblique strain.”
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
