With the season in full swing, it is important to look at some 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 15.
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Tools
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Baseball 20 Things to Watch: Week 15
Fantasy Baseball Week 15 Schedule Notes
- No teams have just five games this week:
- The following teams have seven games this week:
- Toronto Blue Jays vs. HOU, at SEA
- Houston Astros at TOR, at MIN
- Washington Nationals vs. NYM, vs. STL
- Milwaukee Brewers at COL, at LAD
- Colorado Rockies vs. MIL, vs. KC
4th of July
Unlike most Thursdays, this Thursday is filled with a full schedule of games for the Fourth of July. There are only a few night games, but if you are not spending the day at a BBQ, then it is a great full slate of games to sit down and watch.
James Wood (CF, OF, RF – WAS)
Wood is making his Major League debut on Monday. He is widely considered a top-five prospect in baseball and was hitting .353/.463/.595 with 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases from 231 plate appearances in AAA. This is a priority pickup as Wood could be the best minor leaguer to arrive for fantasy this season.
Christian Scott (SP – NYM)
Scott is expected to return to the Majors this week after being fantastic in AAA. He was great in the Major prior to being sent down to manage his innings, so we’ll need to see if he can continue his success, as well as how deep into games they let him go.
Baltimore Orioles Rotation
Dean Kremer is expected to return to the Orioles from the IL this week. Kremer was up and down as a starter this season, but it seems likely he returns to the rotation. The question becomes: will the Orioles move to a six-man rotation or will someone lose their spot and if so, who?
Phillies Lineup
The Phillies lost both Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber to the IL last week, joining star catcher JT Realumto onthe list of injured Phillies. They have called up Kody Clemens to play first base and recalled Johan Rojas to play in the outfield. The Phillies are eight games up in the division, so will they make a move or just ride this out for now?
Noelvi Marte (3B – CIN)
Marte has returned from the suspended list after missing 80 games because of a PED suspension. He started his first games back hitting fifth in three of the four. Marte is a former top-50 prospect that has power and speed and he could be the spark the Reds offense has been missing. If Marte can move up the lineup and continue to play everyday, he could be a massive difference-maker in fantasy.
Francisco Alvarez (C – NYM)
Since returning from the IL, Alvarez has been on fire, hitting .375/.456/667 with three home runs in 57 plate appearances. In that time, he has been striking out at an impressive 15% rate and the underlying contact skills are backing it up. Alvarez has a history of poor contact skills but a ton of power, so if his underlying skills are improving, this could be a massive breakout.
Landon Knack (SP – LAD)
Knack has been great since joining the Dodgers’ rotation, throwing 30.1 innings with a 2.08 ERA and 25 strikeouts. Knack has gotten lucky and doesn’t go deep into games, so there may not be as much upside as other Dodgers pitchers, but anyone in this rotation is interesting, especially when the results are this good.
David Festa (SP – MIN)
Festa is a top-100 prospect that made his debut last week for the Twins, throwing five innings, but allowing five runs and only striking out two in the victory over the Diamondbacks. He has been great in the minors this season, getting a ton of strikeouts, but struggling with walks and home runs at times. The Twins are a good development organization, so if they can harness his stuff, then Festa could be a really nice pitcher down the stretch.
Jhonkensy Noel (1B, 3B, LF, OF, RF – CLE)
Noel made his Major League debut last week for the Guardians. He has started off strong with two home runs in his first four games. There is a ton of power in the bat, but he has struggled with contact throughout much of his minor league career. He has made improvements in the last two seasons, but it remains to be seen if Noel can continue that success at the Major League level.
Josiah Gray (SP – WAS)
Gray is expected back this week for the Nationals. He is a former top pitching prospect that has struggled with command throughout his Major League career, but he has looked good in his minor league rehab starts and the Nationals are looking like fringe contenders, so Gray will need to keep it together to stay in the rotation.
12-14. Streaming Options
Albert Suarez (RP, SP – BAL) at OAK
Suarez has been fantastic this season and he has a great matchup in a great park.
Michael Wacha (SP – KC) vs. TB
Wacha has been great since returning from the IL and he gets a mediocre Rays offense at home, which is a great place to pitch.
Gavin Williams (SP – CLE) vs CHW
Williams is making his season debut after missing the first half of the season with elbow trouble. Normally I bench guys coming off the IL, but this is about as good of a matchup as you can ask for.
15-20. 2-Start Options
David Peterson (SP, RP – NYM) at WAS, at PIT
Peterson has been great since coming off the IL, throwing 27 innings over five starts with a 3.67 ERA and 20 strikeouts. The stuff has been good even if the underlying numbers suggest regression. These are two matchups that should allow Peterson to continue his recent success, as the Nationals and Pirates are mediocre offenses at best.
Jose Soriano (RP, SP – LAA) at OAK, at CHC
Soriano is coming off of the IL and is expected to start on Tuesday. While I usually stay away from guys returning from the IL, the first matchup is against the terrible A’s in Oakland, which is a great pitchers park. The second half of the two-step is riskier, but Soriano has been good enough that it is worth the risk.
Mitch Spence (SP, RP – OAK) vs. LAA, vs. BAL
Spence had actually been pitching well before his last three outings, when the regression hit pretty hard. He has a really good matchup on tap versus the Angels and a really tough one versus the Orioles, but both are at home, which is a great place to pitch.
Spencer Arrighetti (SP – HOU) at TOR, at MIN
Arrighetti has been up and down all season. He is coming off the best start of his career, but he is also just two starts removed from his worst. These aren’t terrible matchups for Arrighetti, but they aren’t great either. This has a lot of upside and downside.
Simeon Woods Richardson (SP, RP – MIN) vs. DET, vs. HOU
Woods Richardson has been fantastic this season, throwing 66 innings with a 3.41 ERA and 56 strikeouts. He has a nice start to begin the week against the Tigers and a tougher one versus the Astros, but you are using him in most formats.
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