20 Things to Watch: Robbie Ray, Clayton Kershaw, Lawrence Butler (Fantasy Baseball)

It is vital to look at important storylines and aspects this week to be ahead of the curve and gain an edge on your league mates.

Here are 20 things around the world of fantasy baseball to watch for Week 18.

Fantasy Baseball 20 Things to Watch: Week 18

Fantasy Baseball Week 18 Schedule Notes

No teams have just five games this week.
The following teams have seven games this week:
- Tampa Bay Rays at NYY, at TOR, vs. CIN
- Chicago White Sox at TEX, vs. SEA
- Cleveland Guardians vs. DET, at PHI
- Los Angeles Angels at SEA, vs. OAK
- Texas Rangers vs. CWS, at TOR
- Atlanta Braves vs. CIN, at NYM
- Miami Marlins vs. NYM, vs. BAL, at MIL
- New York Mets at MIA, at NYY, vs. ATL
- Los Angeles Dodgers vs. SF, at HOU
- San Francisco Giants (8 games) at LAD, vs. COL

Robbie Ray (SP – SF)

Robbie Ray is returning this week after spending all season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Typically, command and control can struggle when a player returns from this injury, so this is something to watch as Ray has a ton of upside.

Clayton Kershaw (SP – LAD)

Clayton Kershaw will also be making his debut this week. Kershaw had a couple of setbacks in his rehab this season but has progressed to the point where the Dodgers are ready to let him pitch. We need to see what his usage and pitch count will be, but when healthy, Kershaw can still be an elite pitcher.

Alex Cobb (SP – SF)

Alex Cobb looked great in his last rehab start and should rejoin the Giants shortly. When healthy, Cobb has been a very effective fantasy pitcher and will be in the best park to pitch in.

Jeffrey Springs (SP – TB) and Drew Rasmussen (SP – TB)

Both Rays breakout pitchers from last year are on rehab assignments recovering from Tommy John surgery. Both have looked great, but Jeffrey Springs is closer to being called back to the Major League roster. Keeping an eye on these talents will be important to swoop them up before others.

Lawrence Butler (OF – OAK)

Lawrence Butler has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball over the last month, hitting .304 with seven home runs and three stolen bases. Butler has always had loud tools with power and speed, but he struggles with contact. If he can continue to make contact he can be a massive player in fantasy.

Nacho Time

The Braves are expected to call up prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. with Ozzie Albies out with a wrist injury. Alvarez is a hit-first middle infield prospect who doesn’t have much pop or speed but can be an interesting accumulator with the playing time he may have coming. It remains to be seen if the Braves will commit to Alvarez or make a trade for someone to bridge the gap.

Julio Rodriguez (OF – SEA)

Julio Rodriguez left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury after a hard hit against the outfield wall. If he misses time it could cement more playing time for Victor Robles, who has been fantastic in his time with the Mariners. The Mariners could also make a trade, so this is something to watch.

Rockies Closer Chaos

Not many people care too much about the Rockies, but if you are desperate for saves, Victor Vodnik might be of interest. He received the Rockies’ most recent save opportunity and was able to lock it down. This is probably a short-term play, but one to keep an eye on for deeper leagues.

Dodgers Closer Chaos

Evan Phillips has been struggling quite a bit and it appears the Dodgers will move to a different option. Daniel Hudson is the logical next man up, but they could move to a committee or make a trade to address the back end of the bullpen.

Trade Rumors

With the trade deadline only a few weeks away, it is time to take a look at who may be traded at the deadline and which players could be hurt or benefit from those deals. Teams like the White Sox, Cubs, Marlins, Rockies, A’s, Angels and Blue Jays will likely be sellers and should trade away expiring contracts and talent to better teams, leaving vacancies on their current teams that may mean more playing time for others.

Streaming Options

Spencer Arrighetti (SP – HOU) at OAK

This isn’t a two-start week, but the back half is against the Dodgers, so only use Spencer Arrighetti if you can use this one start, not both.

Aaron Civale (SP – MIL) vs. MIA

Aaron Civale looked good in his last start and faces one of the worst offenses in baseball in the Marlins.

Lance Lynn (SP – STL) at PIT

Lance Lynn has been up and down all season, but he is getting a nice matchup here in a great pitcher’s park.

Hayden Birdsong (SP – SF) vs. COL

Hayden Birdsong is coming off the best start of his career and is going up against the team he just recorded 12 strikeouts against in his home park.

Two-Start Options

Zack Littell (SP, RP – TB) at NYY, vs. CIN

Zack Littell is facing two tough matchups in a good Yankees team in New York and a Reds offense that has a lot of upside. He had a couple of bad starts the month before the break. I think he is usable because the Yankees had been struggling before the break and the Reds aren’t as good offensively away from home.

Michael Lorenzen (RP, SP – TEX) vs. CWS, at TOR

Michael Lorenzen has been great since joining the Rangers but struggled in two of his last three starts before the break against the Angels, who aren’t very good, and the Orioles, who are. These are pretty good matchups but the risk is there with his walk rate and home run issues, but I would roll with him in a lot of leagues.

Christian Scott (SP – NYM) at MIA, vs. ATL

Christian Scott is a really good pitching prospect who has been up and down in his first season in the Majors. He has a nice matchup with the Marlins and a tough one versus the Braves, but he is such a talented pitcher you should use him in most formats.

Albert Suarez (RP, SP – BAL) at MIA, vs. SD

Albert Suarez has been great this season, throwing 70.1 innings with a 2.82 ERA and 55 strikeouts. However, he has struggled recently, allowing a 4.91 ERA over his last 25.2 innings of work. He has a great matchup to start the week, so he is worth using here, but there is some risk.

Javier Assad (SP, RP – CHC) vs. MIL, at KC

Javier Assad has been great this season, but he is going up against two of the better lineups in baseball that are good at making a lot of contact, something Assad can struggle with. You probably aren’t sitting him here, but there is risk.

MLB Weekly Advice Robbie Ray Clayton Kershaw Alex Cobb Jeffrey Springs Drew Rasmussen Lawrence Butler Nacho Alvarez Ozzie Albies Julio Rodriguez Victor Robles Victor Vodnik Evan Phillips Daniel Hudson Spencer Arrighetti Aaron Civale Lance Lynn Hayden Birdsong Zack Littell Michael Lorenzen Christian Scott Albert Suarez Javier Assad

About Author

Justin Mason

@JustinMasonFWFB

Justin Mason is the lead fantasy writer and analyst for Friendswithfantasybenefits.com. He is a writer at Fangraphs and Fantasy Pros. You can hear him on the Radio on the FWFB, TGFBI and the Sleeper and the Bust Podcasts. He also runs The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational and the Bay Area Roto Fantasy (BARF) league.