Fantasy Forecaster: Week 15
By Tristan H. Cockcroft | ESPN.com
On tap: Baseball's traditional "first half" draws to a close, as this is the final week of games before the All-Star break, scheduled for July 15-18. Historically, wacky things can happen with rotations during this week, specifically the weekend. One change in particular to the All-Star Game rules, which took effect in 2010, might have an impact: That rule states that any starting pitcher who competes for his team on the previous Sunday will not be allowed to pitch in the game. Take note of that, because the way rotations currently align, the Oakland Athletics' Bartolo Colon, the Seattle Mariners' Hisashi Iwakuma, the New York Mets' Matt Harvey, the Pittsburgh Pirates' Jeff Locke and the St. Louis Cardinals' Shelby Miller, all of whom make compelling cases for their respective leagues' squads, would each start on Sunday.
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Homer Bailey, fresh off his second no-hitter in the past nine months, is one of the week's more secure two-start candidates; his second turn is on Saturday, which wouldn't exclude him from All-Star Game consideration (though he's probably a long shot to make the team). Since and including that first no-hitter, on Sept. 28, 2012, he has had 12 quality starts, a 3.19 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 9.22 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio in 19 games, though he has only six wins to show for it. Bailey remains one of the most underrated pitchers in the game, and he'll make starts at Milwaukee's Miller Park and Atlanta's Turner Field.
New York Mets rookie Zack Wheeler, who has struggled in consecutive starts since his outstanding major league debut on June 18, returns to San Francisco Wednesday to face the team that drafted him; The No. 1 pick (sixth overall) by the San Francisco Giants in the 2009 amateur draft, and subsequently traded away for Carlos Beltran, Wheeler might have additional motivation against his former organization in career start No. 4.
Quick click by section, if you're seeking advice in a specific area:
ESPN lineup deadlines | Interleague impact | Projected starting pitchers
Pitching scuttlebutt | Week 15 pitcher rankings | Pitching advantages
Hitting ratings | Hitting advantages
[h=3]ESPN leagues: Lineup deadlines[/h]
We're back to night games only this Monday, the first game scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, that ESPN's Monday Night Baseball broadcast of the Washington Nationals at the Philadelphia Phillies. You'll have additional time to set your lineups in leagues with weekly transactions, and you will on Tuesday in daily leagues as well, as the first games on that day begin at 7:05 p.m. ET.
There are early games on both Wednesday and Thursday, however. Wednesday's Atlanta Braves at Miami Marlins game has a scheduled first pitch at 12:40 p.m. ET, while Thursday's Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Indians game is scheduled to begin at 12:05 p.m. ET. Be sure to set your lineups early in daily leagues on those days.
[h=3]Interleague impact[/h]
This week's interleague series:
• Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox (1 game, Monday)
• Houston Astros at St. Louis Cardinals (2 games, Tuesday-Wednesday)
• Los Angeles Angels at Chicago Cubs (2 games, Tuesday-Wednesday)
• Oakland Athletics at Pittsburgh Pirates (3 games, Monday-Wednesday)
• Chicago White Sox at Philadelphia Phillies (3 games, Friday-Sunday)
Adam Dunn, the White Sox's usual designated hitter, is also the team's hottest hitter and arguably their most valuable bat. He has also started 14 of the White Sox's past 18 games at first base, and with Paul Konerko now on the disabled list, he's almost guaranteed to play all three games at the position in Philadelphia. Jeff Keppinger, who has been getting the bulk of the recent time at DH, will have to split third base with Conor Gillaspie during those contests.
With Peter Bourjos (wrist) on the disabled list, the Angels can conveniently shift Mark Trumbo to left field and Albert Pujols to first base, benching J.B. Shuck, during their two-game series in Wrigley Field. There is a risk, however, that Pujols, battling plantar fasciitis in his left foot, might not be able to handle both games at first base. It's possible he could be limited to as few as three games this week, being relegated to pinch-hitting duties versus the Cubs.
The Astros will one fewer spot in St. Louis for their first base/left field/DH collection of Chris Carter, Carlos Pena and Brett Wallace, and Carter's 79 starts, tops of the three, make it seem as if he'll be the least affected despite his being the right-handed bat of the three in a series in which two right-handers are the opposing starters. Wallace is on the hotter streak than Pena, so Pena's owners -- in AL-only and larger mixed -- are the ones who should most temper their expectations.
As for the Athletics, while three games without the DH means one fewer spot for their five outfielders -- Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp, Josh Reddick, Seth Smith and Chris Young -- not one of the quintet is on the kind of streak Dunn is. Their series in Pittsburgh might play out as a straight platoon; Reddick and Smith might get starts in the two games against right-handed starters, Crisp and Young in the Sunday game against lefty Jeff Locke. Expect a slight decrease in at-bats all around.
Alfonso Soriano and Dioner Navarro have been alternating time at DH for the Cubs in American League parks this season, with Scott Hairston or Julio Borbon the ones getting starts in the outfield in Soriano's DH games. Borbon could be a handy one-week deep NL-only plug-in, thanks to his speed.
[h=3]Projected starting pitchers[/h]
The chart below lists each of the 30 MLB teams' schedules and projected starting pitchers, and provides a matchup rating for each day's starter. Pitchers scheduled to start at least twice this week are in gold/beige boxes.
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[h=3]Pitching scuttlebutt[/h]
• Wei-Yin Chen (oblique) made his final rehabilitation start for Double-A Bowie on July 4, and he'll likely rejoin the Baltimore Orioles' rotation on Tuesday, replacing Zach Britton as the team's second two-start pitcher.
• Anibal Sanchez (shoulder) was expected to rejoin the Detroit Tigers' rotation on July 6, replacing Jose Alvarez and setting him up for a Thursday turn.
• The Houston Astros, with off days on both Monday and Thursday, could choose to skip a starter if they wish. Dallas Keuchel would be the most likely candidate, in which case Bud Norris would pick up a second start.
• The Los Angeles Angels don't need a fifth starter this week, with off days on Monday and Thursday. Whomever they pick for their July 6 assignment, however, could get a start if the team chooses.
• Hiroki Kuroda (hip) is expected to reclaim his spot in the New York Yankees' rotation on Wednesday. It is unclear whether Ivan Nova will make a start this week or if the team will use six starters.
• The Toronto Blue Jays claim that Todd Redmond will assume their open rotation spot beginning on July 7, but it has been speculated that Marcus Stroman might instead be promoted from Double-A New Hampshire. Whomever gets the assignment would next be lined up for a Saturday start.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks were expected to recall Tyler Skaggs to assume Trevor Cahill's (hip) open rotation spot beginning on July 5, setting him up to take his next turn on Wednesday.
• The Cincinnati Reds simply pushed back their entire rotation by a day following their July 4 postponement, the new order reflected above.
• The Miami Marlins continue to shop Ricky Nolasco, though he's currently lined up to start both Monday and Sunday. In the event he's traded by Monday, the team wouldn't be able to recall Tom Koehler, who was demoted to Triple-A New Orleans on July 4, so it's unclear whom they'd summon to pitch. In the event Nolasco is traded mid-week, the team could give Tuesday starter Henderson Alvarez a second start on four days' rest.
• The New York Mets are practically guaranteed to move Matt Harvey, the projected National League All-Star Game starter at their own Citi Field, off his currently scheduled Sunday start. They could do this by having Dillon Gee pitch that game on four days' rest.
• A.J. Burnett (calf) was a candidate to be activated by the Pittsburgh Pirates in time for a July 7 start, which would set him up for another turn on Saturday.
• Dan Haren (shoulder) threw a simulated game on July 3 and could be ready to rejoin the Washington Nationals as early as Monday. He could replace currently projected two-start pitcher Taylor Jordan, working Tuesday and Sunday.
[h=3]Tristan's Week 15 pitcher rankings: Top 75[/h]1. Max Scherzer (DET) -- Mon-@CLE (Kazmir), Sat-TEX (Holland)
2. Clayton Kershaw (LAD) -- Fri-COL (Oswalt)
3. Matt Harvey (NYM) -- Mon-@SF (Lincecum), Sun-@PIT (Locke)
4. Adam Wainwright (STL) -- Wed-HOU (Lyles)
5. Homer Bailey (CIN) -- Mon-@MIL (Lohse), Sat-@ATL (Minor)
6. Madison Bumgarner (SF) -- Thu-@SD (Marquis)
7. Stephen Strasburg (WSH) -- Fri-@MIA (Eovaldi)
8. Matt Cain (SF) -- Wed-NYM (Wheeler)
9. Cliff Lee (PHI) -- Wed-WSH (Gonzalez)
10. Gio Gonzalez (WSH) -- Wed-@PHI (Lee)
11. Julio Teheran (ATL) -- Tue-@MIA (Alvarez), Sun-CIN (Cingrani)
12. Felix Hernandez (SEA) -- Mon-BOS (Lester), Sat-LAA (Weaver)
13. Yu Darvish (TEX) -- Thu-@BAL (Tillman)
14. Matt Garza (CHC) -- Mon-@CWS (Santiago), Sat-STL (Lynn)
15. Justin Verlander (DET) -- Tue-CWS (Quintana), Sun-TEX (Perez)
16. Jose Fernandez (MIA) -- Sat-WSH (Detwiler)
17. CC Sabathia (NYY) -- Mon-KC (Guthrie), Sat-MIN (Deduno)
18. Cole Hamels (PHI) -- Tue-WSH (Jordan), Sun-CWS (Quintana)
19. Mat Latos (CIN) -- Thu-@ATL (Maholm)
20. Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) -- Tue-BOS (Webster), Sun-LAA (Williams)
21. Bartolo Colon (OAK) -- Mon-@PIT (Locke), Sun-BOS (Webster)
22. Mike Minor (ATL) -- Mon-@MIA (Nolasco), Sat-CIN (Bailey)
23. Jordan Zimmermann (WSH) -- Thu-@PHI (Kendrick)
24. David Price (TB) -- Fri-HOU (Harrell)
25. Kyle Lohse (MIL) -- Mon-CIN (Bailey), Sat-@ARI (Delgado)
26. Patrick Corbin (ARI) -- Fri-MIL (Peralta)
27. Shelby Miller (STL) -- Tue-HOU (Norris), Sun-@CHC (Wood)
28. Justin Masterson (CLE) -- Wed-TOR (Rogers)
29. C.J. Wilson (LAA) -- Fri-@SEA (Saunders)
30. Jered Weaver (LAA) -- Sat-@SEA (Hernandez)
31. Chris Sale (CWS) -- Thu-@DET (Sanchez)
32. Travis Wood (CHC) -- Tue-LAA (Williams), Sun-STL (Miller)
33. Kris Medlen (ATL) -- Fri-CIN (Arroyo)
34. Ervin Santana (KC) -- Thu-@NYY (Pettitte)
35. Jeff Locke (PIT) -- Mon-OAK (Colon), Sun-NYM (Harvey)
36. Zack Greinke (LAD) -- Mon-@ARI (Delgado), Sat-COL (Chatwood)
37. John Lackey (BOS) -- Fri-@OAK (Parker)
38. Jarrod Parker (OAK) -- Fri-BOS (Lackey)
39. James Shields (KC) -- Tue-@NYY (Phelps), Sun-@CLE (Jimenez)
40. Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) -- Wed-KC (Davis)
41. Jhoulys Chacin (COL) -- Tue-@SD (Stults), Sun-@LAD (Capuano)
42. R.A. Dickey (TOR) -- Fri-@BAL (Hammel)
43. Derek Holland (TEX) -- Mon-@BAL (Feldman), Sat-@DET (Scherzer)
44. Tim Hudson (ATL) -- Wed-@MIA (Turner)
45. Francisco Liriano (PIT) -- Wed-OAK (Milone)
46. Matt Moore (TB) -- Thu-MIN (Pelfrey)
47. Eric Stults (SD) -- Tue-COL (Chacin), Sun-SF (Zito)
48. Jeff Samardzija (CHC) -- Wed-LAA (Blanton)
49. Hector Santiago (CWS) -- Mon-CHC (Garza), Sat-@PHI (Lannan)
50. Doug Fister (DET) -- Fri-TEX (Grimm)
51. Tony Cingrani (CIN) -- Tue-@MIL (Hand), Sun-@ATL (Teheran)
52. Josh Johnson (TOR) -- Tue-@CLE (Jimenez), Sun-@BAL (Chen)
53. Mike Leake (CIN) -- Wed-@MIL (Hellweg)
54. Lance Lynn (STL) -- Sat-@CHC (Garza)
55. Scott Feldman (BAL) -- Mon-TEX (Holland), Sat-TOR (Redmond)
56. Jeremy Hellickson (TB) -- Wed-MIN (Correia)
57. Andrew Cashner (SD) -- Wed-COL (De La Rosa)
58. Jorge De La Rosa (COL) -- Wed-@SD (Cashner)
59. Chris Tillman (BAL) -- Thu-TEX (Darvish)
60. Ricky Nolasco (MIA) -- Mon-ATL (Minor), Sun-WSH (Jordan)
61. Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD) -- Wed-@ARI (Skaggs)
62. Jon Lester (BOS) -- Mon-@SEA (Hernandez), Sat-@OAK (Griffin)
63. Felix Doubront (BOS) -- Wed-@SEA (Harang)
64. Anibal Sanchez (DET) -- Thu-CWS (Sale)
65. Jacob Turner (MIA) -- Wed-ATL (Hudson)
66. Tim Lincecum (SF) -- Mon-NYM (Harvey), Sat-@SD (Volquez)
67. Dillon Gee (NYM) -- Tue-@SF (Zito)
68. Ryan Dempster (BOS) -- Thu-@SEA (Bonderman)
69. Martin Perez (TEX) -- Tue-@BAL (Chen), Sun-@DET (Verlander)
70. Miguel Gonzalez (BAL) -- Wed-TEX (Tepesch)
71. Dan Straily (OAK) -- Tue-@PIT (Cole)
72. Samuel Deduno (MIN) -- Mon-@TB (Hernandez), Sat-@NYY (Sabathia)
73. A.J. Griffin (OAK) -- Sat-BOS (Lester)
74. Gerrit Cole (PIT) -- Tue-OAK (Straily)
75. Jeremy Hefner (NYM) -- Sat-@PIT (Burnett)
Two-start options for AL-/NL-only leagues:
Chris Archer (TB) -- Tue-MIN (Gibson), Sun-HOU (Bedard)
Chris Capuano (LAD) -- Tue-@ARI (Kennedy), Sun-COL (Chacin)
Wei-Yin Chen (BAL) -- Tue-TEX (Perez), Sun-TOR (Johnson)
Randall Delgado (ARI) -- Mon-LAD (Greinke), Sat-MIL (Lohse)
Donovan Hand (MIL) -- Tue-CIN (Cingrani), Sun-@ARI (Kennedy)
Roberto Hernandez (TB) -- Mon-MIN (Deduno), Sat-HOU (Keuchel)
Scott Kazmir (CLE) -- Mon-DET (Scherzer), Sat-KC (Guthrie)
Ian Kennedy (ARI) -- Tue-LAD (Capuano), Sun-MIL (Hand)
David Phelps (NYY) -- Tue-KC (Shields), Sun-MIN (Gibson)
Jose Quintana (CWS) -- Tue-@DET (Verlander), Sun-@PHI (Hamels)
Edinson Volquez (SD) -- Mon-COL (Chatwood), Sat-SF (Lincecum)
No-thank-yous, among two-start pitchers:
Tyler Chatwood (COL) -- Mon-@SD (Volquez), Sat-@LAD (Greinke)
Ross Detwiler (WSH) -- Mon-@PHI (Lannan), Sat-@MIA (Fernandez)
Kyle Gibson (MIN) -- Tue-@TB (Archer), Sun-@NYY (Phelps)
Jeremy Guthrie (KC) -- Mon-@NYY (Sabathia), Sat-@CLE (Kazmir)
Ubaldo Jimenez (CLE) -- Tue-TOR (Johnson), Sun-KC (Shields)
Taylor Jordan (WSH) -- Tue-@PHI (Hamels), Sun-@MIA (Nolasco)
John Lannan (PHI) -- Mon-WSH (Detwiler), Sat-CWS (Santiago)
Allen Webster (BOS) -- Tue-@SEA (Iwakuma), Sun-@OAK (Colon)
Jerome Williams (LAA) -- Tue-@CHC (Wood), Sun-@SEA (Iwakuma)
Barry Zito (SF) -- Tue-NYM (Gee), Sun-@SD (Stults)
[h=3]Pitching advantages[/h]
• It's another week of favorable Tampa Bay Rays pitching matchups, and keep in mind that this staff has 11 quality starts, a 2.69 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in its past 15 starts, and a 2.61 ERA and four saves from its bullpen during that same time span. Now the Rays play an entire week at Tropicana Field, where they have a 3.22 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 62.9 quality start percentage since the beginning of 2011.
Most notably, closer Fernando Rodney has seven consecutive scoreless appearances, tallying five saves and one win during that span thanks to 60 percent ground ball and 41.4 percent strikeout rates; and coupled with the schedule, he might be one of the week's most productive closers.
But it's the rotation in a curious spot, because fourth and fifth starters Chris Archer and Roberto Hernandez are the ones lined up to pitch twice. Jeremy Hellickson (Wednesday's scheduled starter), who has three consecutive quality starts facing a treacherous schedule (@BOS, TOR, DET); Matt Moore (Thursday), who has three consecutive quality starts of his own and 20 K's in his past two turns; and David Price (Friday), who shut out the Houston Astros for seven innings with 10 K's in his return start from the disabled list and gets to face them again, are no-brainer starts in any format. Archer is the more interesting of the two-start pitchers, thanks to his lifetime 9.57 K's per nine innings ratio at the Triple-A level and 9.00 in the majors. The Astros, remember, are the game's most K-prone team (25.3% rate).
• Scott Feldman makes his second and third starts for the Baltimore Orioles on Monday and Saturday, but he has a pair of challenging matchups in home games against the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays. In his defense, Feldman has five quality starts in his past seven games as well as a 2.49 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in seven career games (three starts) at Camden Yards, and he'll also be facing his former team the Rangers in that first start. He's ranked among the "start-worthy" class this week, but understand he's a risky play if you face an innings/starts cap.
• Bud Norris, even with only one start, would be an intriguing fantasy play judging by his history of success against his former division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals: He's 8-5 with a 2.74 ERA and 1.14 WHIP against them. Should he pick up a second start, however, it'd come on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays, a team he defeated on July 3 with seven innings of one-run, six-hit baseball.
• Here are this week's Streamer's Delight picks -- players need to be available in at least 75 percent of ESPN leagues as of our publishing time (Fridays):
1. Joe Blanton (@CHC, Wednesday): He has 47 K's compared to 6 walks in his past 6 starts, and a 2.93 ERA in 6 career starts versus the Chicago Cubs.
2. Jacob Turner (ATL, Wednesday): He's 5-for-6 in quality starts thus far, with a 53.3 percent ground-ball rate. Keep riding this hot streak.
3. Ross Detwiler (@MIA, Saturday): He's 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in seven career games (four starts) versus the Miami Marlins.
4. Jonathan Pettibone (CWS, Friday): He has a 2.55 ERA in his seven home starts, and the Chicago White Sox have .249/.298/.363 road rates since June 1.
5. Hector Santiago (CHC, Monday): He's 3-for-5 in quality starts since rejoining the rotation, and the Chicago Cubs have .230/.292/.379 rates since June 1.
[h=3]Hitting ratings[/h]
The chart below lists each of the 30 teams' total number of scheduled games, home games and games versus right- and left-handed pitchers, and provides a matchup rating for the week's games in terms of overall offense, offense for left- and right-handed hitters and base stealing. Matchup ratings for each individual game are listed under the corresponding date.
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[h=3]Hitting advantages[/h]
• Here are this week's "volume plays" -- defined as the teams that play the most home games, or games against right- or left-handed starters:
Home games: Baltimore Orioles 7, Cleveland Indians 7, New York Yankees 7, Seattle Mariners 7, Tampa Bay Rays 7, Arizona Diamondbacks 7, Philadelphia Phillies 7, San Diego Padres 7
Versus RH: Boston Red Sox 7, Cleveland Indians 6, New York Yankees 6, Texas Rangers 6, Atlanta Braves 6, Chicago Cubs 6
Versus LH: Detroit Tigers 5, Philadelphia Phillies 5
• Right-handed Detroit Tigers enjoy a noticeable advantage this week, what with the team scheduled to face five left-handed starters. Johnny Peralta gets the most sizable boost as a .363/.433/.525 hitter against southpaws this season. Omar Infante is also a .291/.333/.512 hitter against lefties, and he's available in 11.9 percent in ESPN leagues.
If you play in an AL-only or deep mixed (think 18-plus teams) league, keep in mind that the Tigers use a straight platoon of Andy Dirks and Matt Tuiasosopo in left field. Dirks has started just one of the team's 17 games against a lefty starter all year and Tuiasosopo 15, and Tuiasosopo is a .341/.500/.477 hitter against left-handers this season.
• The Boston Red Sox, meanwhile, enjoy a similar advantage thanks to all seven of their games being against right-handed starters. This team, after all, leads the majors in all three triple-slash categories (.291/.360/.475) as well as wOBA (.359) against righties, and the reason is simple: Daniel Nava and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are underrated options against that side.
Saltalamacchia is a .282/.335/.503 hitter against righties this year, .258/.322/.460 in his career, and he has started 52 of the team's 59 games against a righty starter in 2013. Nava, meanwhile, is a .303/.397/.472 hitter against righties this season, .277/.380/.427 in his career, and he has 56 starts against that side in 2013.
• Carl Crawford (hamstring) is due back with the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 5, and that puts the team's outfield under the microscope. Rookie Yasiel Puig has performed too well to return to the minors, meaning that at-bats will be up for grabs among Crawford, Puig, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.
Even with the potential loss of at-bats, however, all four Dodgers outfielders warrant your attention in most leagues thanks to the team's favorable schedule. This team avoids the Arizona Diamondbacks' best starter, Patrick Corbin, during its three-game, week-opening series at Chase Field and faces Jhoulys Chacin but not Jorge De La Rosa during a four-game, week-ending series at home against the Colorado Rockies. Ethier might be the most obvious candidate to sit, but keep this in mind: He's a .338/.402/.459 hitter in his past 21 games (entering July 5's play), and the Dodgers face five right-handed starters this week.
By Tristan H. Cockcroft | ESPN.com
On tap: Baseball's traditional "first half" draws to a close, as this is the final week of games before the All-Star break, scheduled for July 15-18. Historically, wacky things can happen with rotations during this week, specifically the weekend. One change in particular to the All-Star Game rules, which took effect in 2010, might have an impact: That rule states that any starting pitcher who competes for his team on the previous Sunday will not be allowed to pitch in the game. Take note of that, because the way rotations currently align, the Oakland Athletics' Bartolo Colon, the Seattle Mariners' Hisashi Iwakuma, the New York Mets' Matt Harvey, the Pittsburgh Pirates' Jeff Locke and the St. Louis Cardinals' Shelby Miller, all of whom make compelling cases for their respective leagues' squads, would each start on Sunday.
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Homer Bailey, fresh off his second no-hitter in the past nine months, is one of the week's more secure two-start candidates; his second turn is on Saturday, which wouldn't exclude him from All-Star Game consideration (though he's probably a long shot to make the team). Since and including that first no-hitter, on Sept. 28, 2012, he has had 12 quality starts, a 3.19 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 9.22 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio in 19 games, though he has only six wins to show for it. Bailey remains one of the most underrated pitchers in the game, and he'll make starts at Milwaukee's Miller Park and Atlanta's Turner Field.
New York Mets rookie Zack Wheeler, who has struggled in consecutive starts since his outstanding major league debut on June 18, returns to San Francisco Wednesday to face the team that drafted him; The No. 1 pick (sixth overall) by the San Francisco Giants in the 2009 amateur draft, and subsequently traded away for Carlos Beltran, Wheeler might have additional motivation against his former organization in career start No. 4.
Quick click by section, if you're seeking advice in a specific area:
ESPN lineup deadlines | Interleague impact | Projected starting pitchers
Pitching scuttlebutt | Week 15 pitcher rankings | Pitching advantages
Hitting ratings | Hitting advantages
[h=3]ESPN leagues: Lineup deadlines[/h]
We're back to night games only this Monday, the first game scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, that ESPN's Monday Night Baseball broadcast of the Washington Nationals at the Philadelphia Phillies. You'll have additional time to set your lineups in leagues with weekly transactions, and you will on Tuesday in daily leagues as well, as the first games on that day begin at 7:05 p.m. ET.
There are early games on both Wednesday and Thursday, however. Wednesday's Atlanta Braves at Miami Marlins game has a scheduled first pitch at 12:40 p.m. ET, while Thursday's Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Indians game is scheduled to begin at 12:05 p.m. ET. Be sure to set your lineups early in daily leagues on those days.
[h=3]Interleague impact[/h]
This week's interleague series:
• Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox (1 game, Monday)
• Houston Astros at St. Louis Cardinals (2 games, Tuesday-Wednesday)
• Los Angeles Angels at Chicago Cubs (2 games, Tuesday-Wednesday)
• Oakland Athletics at Pittsburgh Pirates (3 games, Monday-Wednesday)
• Chicago White Sox at Philadelphia Phillies (3 games, Friday-Sunday)
Adam Dunn, the White Sox's usual designated hitter, is also the team's hottest hitter and arguably their most valuable bat. He has also started 14 of the White Sox's past 18 games at first base, and with Paul Konerko now on the disabled list, he's almost guaranteed to play all three games at the position in Philadelphia. Jeff Keppinger, who has been getting the bulk of the recent time at DH, will have to split third base with Conor Gillaspie during those contests.
With Peter Bourjos (wrist) on the disabled list, the Angels can conveniently shift Mark Trumbo to left field and Albert Pujols to first base, benching J.B. Shuck, during their two-game series in Wrigley Field. There is a risk, however, that Pujols, battling plantar fasciitis in his left foot, might not be able to handle both games at first base. It's possible he could be limited to as few as three games this week, being relegated to pinch-hitting duties versus the Cubs.
The Astros will one fewer spot in St. Louis for their first base/left field/DH collection of Chris Carter, Carlos Pena and Brett Wallace, and Carter's 79 starts, tops of the three, make it seem as if he'll be the least affected despite his being the right-handed bat of the three in a series in which two right-handers are the opposing starters. Wallace is on the hotter streak than Pena, so Pena's owners -- in AL-only and larger mixed -- are the ones who should most temper their expectations.
As for the Athletics, while three games without the DH means one fewer spot for their five outfielders -- Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp, Josh Reddick, Seth Smith and Chris Young -- not one of the quintet is on the kind of streak Dunn is. Their series in Pittsburgh might play out as a straight platoon; Reddick and Smith might get starts in the two games against right-handed starters, Crisp and Young in the Sunday game against lefty Jeff Locke. Expect a slight decrease in at-bats all around.
Alfonso Soriano and Dioner Navarro have been alternating time at DH for the Cubs in American League parks this season, with Scott Hairston or Julio Borbon the ones getting starts in the outfield in Soriano's DH games. Borbon could be a handy one-week deep NL-only plug-in, thanks to his speed.
[h=3]Projected starting pitchers[/h]
The chart below lists each of the 30 MLB teams' schedules and projected starting pitchers, and provides a matchup rating for each day's starter. Pitchers scheduled to start at least twice this week are in gold/beige boxes.
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| <center>Team</center> | <center>Mon 7/8</center> | <center>Tue 7/9</center> | <center>Wed 7/10</center> | <center>Thu 7/11</center> | <center>Fri 7/12</center> | <center>Sat 7/13</center> | <center>Sun 7/14</center> |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEX Feldman (RHP) P: 6 | TEX Chen (LHP) P: 5 | TEX Gonzalez (RHP) P: 6 | TEX Tillman (RHP) P: 7 | TOR Hammel (RHP) P: 5 | TOR Feldman (RHP) P: 6 | TOR Chen (LHP) P: 5 |
| @SEA Lester (LHP) P: 5 | @SEA Webster (RHP) P: 1 | @SEA Doubront (LHP) P: 7 | @SEA Dempster (RHP) P: 6 | @OAK Lackey (RHP) P: 7 | @OAK Lester (LHP) P: 3 | @OAK Webster (RHP) P: 1 |
| CHC Santiago (LHP) P: 8 | @DET Quintana (LHP) P: 3 | @DET Axelrod (RHP) P: 1 | @DET Sale (LHP) P: 6 | @PHI Danks (LHP) P: 3 | @PHI Santiago (LHP) P: 7 | @PHI Quintana (LHP) P: 5 |
| DET Kazmir (LHP) P: 3 | TOR Jimenez (RHP) P: 4 | TOR Masterson (RHP) P: 8 | TOR Carrasco (RHP) P: 5 | KC Kluber (RHP) P: 4 | KC Kazmir (LHP) P: 5 | KC Jimenez (RHP) P: 4 |
| @CLE Scherzer (RHP) P: 8 | CWS Verlander (RHP) P: 6 | CWS Porcello (RHP) P: 5 | CWS Sanchez (RHP) P: 7 | TEX Fister (RHP) P: 7 | TEX Scherzer (RHP) P: 9 | TEX Verlander (RHP) P: 6 |
| @STL Norris (RHP) P: 6 | @STL Lyles (RHP) P: 4 | @TB Harrell (RHP) P: 5 | @TB Keuchel (LHP) P: 1 | @TB Bedard (LHP) P: 5 | ||
| @NYY Guthrie (RHP) P: 4 | @NYY Shields (RHP) P: 8 | @NYY Davis (RHP) P: 3 | @NYY Santana (RHP) P: 7 | @CLE Mendoza (RHP) P: 4 | @CLE Guthrie (RHP) P: 4 | @CLE Shields (RHP) P: 8 |
| @CHC Williams (RHP) P: 4 | @CHC Blanton (RHP) P: 5 | @SEA Wilson (LHP) P: 8 | @SEA Weaver (RHP) P: 6 | @SEA Williams (RHP) P: 5 | ||
| @TB Deduno (RHP) P: 7 | @TB Gibson (RHP) P: 5 | @TB Correia (RHP) P: 5 | @TB Pelfrey (RHP) P: 1 | @NYY Diamond (LHP) P: 3 | @NYY Deduno (RHP) P: 7 | @NYY Gibson (RHP) P: 5 |
| KC Sabathia (LHP) P: 8 | KC Phelps (RHP) P: 4 | KC Kuroda (RHP) P: 7 | KC Pettitte (LHP) P: 5 | MIN Hughes (RHP) P: 5 | MIN Sabathia (LHP) P: 8 | MIN Phelps (RHP) P: 4 |
| @PIT Colon (RHP) P: 9 | @PIT Straily (RHP) P: 3 | @PIT Milone (LHP) P: 4 | BOS Parker (RHP) P: 6 | BOS Griffin (RHP) P: 7 | BOS Colon (RHP) P: 8 | |
| BOS Hernandez (RHP) P: 7 | BOS Iwakuma (RHP) P: 6 | BOS Harang (RHP) P: 5 | BOS Bonderman (RHP) P: 2 | LAA Saunders (LHP) P: 2 | LAA Hernandez (RHP) P: 7 | LAA Iwakuma (RHP) P: 6 |
| MIN Hernandez (RHP) P: 4 | MIN Archer (RHP) P: 6 | MIN Hellickson (RHP) P: 7 | MIN Moore (LHP) P: 9 | HOU Price (LHP) P: 10 | HOU Hernandez (RHP) P: 5 | HOU Archer (RHP) P: 7 |
| @BAL Holland (LHP) P: 5 | @BAL Perez (LHP) P: 6 | @BAL Tepesch (RHP) P: 3 | @BAL Darvish (RHP) P: 7 | @DET Grimm (RHP) P: 1 | @DET Holland (LHP) P: 5 | @DET Perez (LHP) P: 5 |
| @CLE Johnson (RHP) P: 5 | @CLE Rogers (RHP) P: 4 | @CLE Buehrle (LHP) P: 5 | @BAL Dickey (RHP) P: 5 | @BAL Redmond (RHP) P: 1 | @BAL Johnson (RHP) P: 4 | |
| LAD Delgado (RHP) P: 2 | LAD Kennedy (RHP) P: 4 | LAD Skaggs (LHP) P: 4 | MIL Miley (LHP) P: 4 | MIL Corbin (LHP) P: 8 | MIL Delgado (RHP) P: 2 | MIL Kennedy (RHP) P: 4 |
| @MIA Minor (LHP) P: 7 | @MIA Teheran (RHP) P: 8 | @MIA Hudson (RHP) P: 9 | CIN Maholm (LHP) P: 7 | CIN Medlen (RHP) P: 8 | CIN Minor (LHP) P: 7 | CIN Teheran (RHP) P: 7 |
| @CWS Garza (RHP) P: 10 | LAA Wood (LHP) P: 6 | LAA Samardzija (RHP) P: 6 | STL Jackson (RHP) P: 3 | STL Villnueva (RHP) P: 5 | STL Garza (RHP) P: 9 | STL Wood (LHP) P: 7 |
| @MIL Bailey (RHP) P: 8 | @MIL Cingrani (LHP) P: 5 | @MIL Leake (RHP) P: 7 | @ATL Latos (RHP) P: 9 | @ATL Arroyo (RHP) P: 5 | @ATL Bailey (RHP) P: 9 | @ATL Cingrani (LHP) P: 6 |
| @SD Chatwood (RHP) P: 6 | @SD Chacin (RHP) P: 9 | @SD DeLaRosa (LHP) P: 9 | @LAD Pomeranz (LHP) P: 1 | @LAD Oswalt (RHP) P: 1 | @LAD Chatwood (RHP) P: 5 | @LAD Chacin (RHP) P: 7 |
| @ARI Greinke (RHP) P: 6 | @ARI Capuano (LHP) P: 5 | @ARI Ryu (LHP) P: 6 | COL Fife (RHP) P: 6 | COL Kershaw (LHP) P: 10 | COL Greinke (RHP) P: 6 | COL Capuano (LHP) P: 4 |
| ATL Nolasco (RHP) P: 6 | ATL Alvarez (RHP) P: 4 | ATL Turner (RHP) P: 8 | WSH Eovaldi (RHP) P: 5 | WSH Fernandez (RHP) P: 10 | WSH Nolasco (RHP) P: 6 | |
| CIN Lohse (RHP) P: 9 | CIN Hand (RHP) P: 5 | CIN Hellweg (RHP) P: 2 | @ARI Gallardo (RHP) P: 5 | @ARI Peralta (RHP) P: 6 | @ARI Lohse (RHP) P: 8 | @ARI Hand (RHP) P: 5 |
| @SF Harvey (RHP) P: 10 | @SF Gee (RHP) P: 4 | @SF Wheeler (RHP) P: 4 | @PIT Marcum (RHP) P: 4 | @PIT Hefner (RHP) P: 6 | @PIT Harvey (RHP) P: 10 | |
| WSH Lannan (LHP) P: 3 | WSH Hamels (LHP) P: 5 | WSH Lee (LHP) P: 9 | WSH Kendrick (RHP) P: 8 | CWS Pettibone (RHP) P: 5 | CWS Lannan (LHP) P: 3 | CWS Hamels (LHP) P: 6 |
| OAK Locke (LHP) P: 7 | OAK Cole (RHP) P: 6 | OAK Liriano (LHP) P: 8 | NYM Morton (RHP) P: 7 | NYM Burnett (RHP) P: 8 | NYM Locke (LHP) P: 8 | |
| HOU Miller (RHP) P: 8 | HOU Wainwright (RHP) P: 10 | @CHC Westbrook (RHP) P: 4 | @CHC Kelly (RHP) P: 6 | @CHC Lynn (RHP) P: 7 | @CHC Miller (RHP) P: 8 | |
| COL Volquez (RHP) P: 5 | COL Stults (LHP) P: 7 | COL Cashner (RHP) P: 7 | SF Marquis (RHP) P: 6 | SF Erlin (LHP) P: 6 | SF Volquez (RHP) P: 6 | SF Stults (LHP) P: 8 |
| NYM Lincecum (RHP) P: 6 | NYM Zito (LHP) P: 4 | NYM Cain (RHP) P: 10 | @SD Bumgarner (LHP) P: 10 | @SD Gaudin (RHP) P: 6 | @SD Lincecum (RHP) P: 6 | @SD Zito (LHP) P: 4 |
| @PHI Detwiler (LHP) P: 3 | @PHI Jordan (RHP) P: 5 | @PHI Gonzalez (LHP) P: 10 | @PHI Zimmrmnn (RHP) P: 8 | @MIA Strasburg (RHP) P: 10 | @MIA Detwiler (LHP) P: 5 | @MIA Jordan (RHP) P: 6 |
| P: The starting pitcher's matchup rating, which accounts for past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst. |
<thead>
</thead><tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]Pitching scuttlebutt[/h]
• Wei-Yin Chen (oblique) made his final rehabilitation start for Double-A Bowie on July 4, and he'll likely rejoin the Baltimore Orioles' rotation on Tuesday, replacing Zach Britton as the team's second two-start pitcher.
• Anibal Sanchez (shoulder) was expected to rejoin the Detroit Tigers' rotation on July 6, replacing Jose Alvarez and setting him up for a Thursday turn.
• The Houston Astros, with off days on both Monday and Thursday, could choose to skip a starter if they wish. Dallas Keuchel would be the most likely candidate, in which case Bud Norris would pick up a second start.
• The Los Angeles Angels don't need a fifth starter this week, with off days on Monday and Thursday. Whomever they pick for their July 6 assignment, however, could get a start if the team chooses.
• Hiroki Kuroda (hip) is expected to reclaim his spot in the New York Yankees' rotation on Wednesday. It is unclear whether Ivan Nova will make a start this week or if the team will use six starters.
• The Toronto Blue Jays claim that Todd Redmond will assume their open rotation spot beginning on July 7, but it has been speculated that Marcus Stroman might instead be promoted from Double-A New Hampshire. Whomever gets the assignment would next be lined up for a Saturday start.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks were expected to recall Tyler Skaggs to assume Trevor Cahill's (hip) open rotation spot beginning on July 5, setting him up to take his next turn on Wednesday.
• The Cincinnati Reds simply pushed back their entire rotation by a day following their July 4 postponement, the new order reflected above.
• The Miami Marlins continue to shop Ricky Nolasco, though he's currently lined up to start both Monday and Sunday. In the event he's traded by Monday, the team wouldn't be able to recall Tom Koehler, who was demoted to Triple-A New Orleans on July 4, so it's unclear whom they'd summon to pitch. In the event Nolasco is traded mid-week, the team could give Tuesday starter Henderson Alvarez a second start on four days' rest.
• The New York Mets are practically guaranteed to move Matt Harvey, the projected National League All-Star Game starter at their own Citi Field, off his currently scheduled Sunday start. They could do this by having Dillon Gee pitch that game on four days' rest.
• A.J. Burnett (calf) was a candidate to be activated by the Pittsburgh Pirates in time for a July 7 start, which would set him up for another turn on Saturday.
• Dan Haren (shoulder) threw a simulated game on July 3 and could be ready to rejoin the Washington Nationals as early as Monday. He could replace currently projected two-start pitcher Taylor Jordan, working Tuesday and Sunday.
[h=3]Tristan's Week 15 pitcher rankings: Top 75[/h]1. Max Scherzer (DET) -- Mon-@CLE (Kazmir), Sat-TEX (Holland)
2. Clayton Kershaw (LAD) -- Fri-COL (Oswalt)
3. Matt Harvey (NYM) -- Mon-@SF (Lincecum), Sun-@PIT (Locke)
4. Adam Wainwright (STL) -- Wed-HOU (Lyles)
5. Homer Bailey (CIN) -- Mon-@MIL (Lohse), Sat-@ATL (Minor)
6. Madison Bumgarner (SF) -- Thu-@SD (Marquis)
7. Stephen Strasburg (WSH) -- Fri-@MIA (Eovaldi)
8. Matt Cain (SF) -- Wed-NYM (Wheeler)
9. Cliff Lee (PHI) -- Wed-WSH (Gonzalez)
10. Gio Gonzalez (WSH) -- Wed-@PHI (Lee)
11. Julio Teheran (ATL) -- Tue-@MIA (Alvarez), Sun-CIN (Cingrani)
12. Felix Hernandez (SEA) -- Mon-BOS (Lester), Sat-LAA (Weaver)
13. Yu Darvish (TEX) -- Thu-@BAL (Tillman)
14. Matt Garza (CHC) -- Mon-@CWS (Santiago), Sat-STL (Lynn)
15. Justin Verlander (DET) -- Tue-CWS (Quintana), Sun-TEX (Perez)
16. Jose Fernandez (MIA) -- Sat-WSH (Detwiler)
17. CC Sabathia (NYY) -- Mon-KC (Guthrie), Sat-MIN (Deduno)
18. Cole Hamels (PHI) -- Tue-WSH (Jordan), Sun-CWS (Quintana)
19. Mat Latos (CIN) -- Thu-@ATL (Maholm)
20. Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) -- Tue-BOS (Webster), Sun-LAA (Williams)
21. Bartolo Colon (OAK) -- Mon-@PIT (Locke), Sun-BOS (Webster)
22. Mike Minor (ATL) -- Mon-@MIA (Nolasco), Sat-CIN (Bailey)
23. Jordan Zimmermann (WSH) -- Thu-@PHI (Kendrick)
24. David Price (TB) -- Fri-HOU (Harrell)
25. Kyle Lohse (MIL) -- Mon-CIN (Bailey), Sat-@ARI (Delgado)
26. Patrick Corbin (ARI) -- Fri-MIL (Peralta)
27. Shelby Miller (STL) -- Tue-HOU (Norris), Sun-@CHC (Wood)
28. Justin Masterson (CLE) -- Wed-TOR (Rogers)
29. C.J. Wilson (LAA) -- Fri-@SEA (Saunders)
30. Jered Weaver (LAA) -- Sat-@SEA (Hernandez)
31. Chris Sale (CWS) -- Thu-@DET (Sanchez)
32. Travis Wood (CHC) -- Tue-LAA (Williams), Sun-STL (Miller)
33. Kris Medlen (ATL) -- Fri-CIN (Arroyo)
34. Ervin Santana (KC) -- Thu-@NYY (Pettitte)
35. Jeff Locke (PIT) -- Mon-OAK (Colon), Sun-NYM (Harvey)
36. Zack Greinke (LAD) -- Mon-@ARI (Delgado), Sat-COL (Chatwood)
37. John Lackey (BOS) -- Fri-@OAK (Parker)
38. Jarrod Parker (OAK) -- Fri-BOS (Lackey)
39. James Shields (KC) -- Tue-@NYY (Phelps), Sun-@CLE (Jimenez)
40. Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) -- Wed-KC (Davis)
41. Jhoulys Chacin (COL) -- Tue-@SD (Stults), Sun-@LAD (Capuano)
42. R.A. Dickey (TOR) -- Fri-@BAL (Hammel)
43. Derek Holland (TEX) -- Mon-@BAL (Feldman), Sat-@DET (Scherzer)
44. Tim Hudson (ATL) -- Wed-@MIA (Turner)
45. Francisco Liriano (PIT) -- Wed-OAK (Milone)
46. Matt Moore (TB) -- Thu-MIN (Pelfrey)
47. Eric Stults (SD) -- Tue-COL (Chacin), Sun-SF (Zito)
48. Jeff Samardzija (CHC) -- Wed-LAA (Blanton)
49. Hector Santiago (CWS) -- Mon-CHC (Garza), Sat-@PHI (Lannan)
50. Doug Fister (DET) -- Fri-TEX (Grimm)
51. Tony Cingrani (CIN) -- Tue-@MIL (Hand), Sun-@ATL (Teheran)
52. Josh Johnson (TOR) -- Tue-@CLE (Jimenez), Sun-@BAL (Chen)
53. Mike Leake (CIN) -- Wed-@MIL (Hellweg)
54. Lance Lynn (STL) -- Sat-@CHC (Garza)
55. Scott Feldman (BAL) -- Mon-TEX (Holland), Sat-TOR (Redmond)
56. Jeremy Hellickson (TB) -- Wed-MIN (Correia)
57. Andrew Cashner (SD) -- Wed-COL (De La Rosa)
58. Jorge De La Rosa (COL) -- Wed-@SD (Cashner)
59. Chris Tillman (BAL) -- Thu-TEX (Darvish)
60. Ricky Nolasco (MIA) -- Mon-ATL (Minor), Sun-WSH (Jordan)
61. Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD) -- Wed-@ARI (Skaggs)
62. Jon Lester (BOS) -- Mon-@SEA (Hernandez), Sat-@OAK (Griffin)
63. Felix Doubront (BOS) -- Wed-@SEA (Harang)
64. Anibal Sanchez (DET) -- Thu-CWS (Sale)
65. Jacob Turner (MIA) -- Wed-ATL (Hudson)
66. Tim Lincecum (SF) -- Mon-NYM (Harvey), Sat-@SD (Volquez)
67. Dillon Gee (NYM) -- Tue-@SF (Zito)
68. Ryan Dempster (BOS) -- Thu-@SEA (Bonderman)
69. Martin Perez (TEX) -- Tue-@BAL (Chen), Sun-@DET (Verlander)
70. Miguel Gonzalez (BAL) -- Wed-TEX (Tepesch)
71. Dan Straily (OAK) -- Tue-@PIT (Cole)
72. Samuel Deduno (MIN) -- Mon-@TB (Hernandez), Sat-@NYY (Sabathia)
73. A.J. Griffin (OAK) -- Sat-BOS (Lester)
74. Gerrit Cole (PIT) -- Tue-OAK (Straily)
75. Jeremy Hefner (NYM) -- Sat-@PIT (Burnett)
Two-start options for AL-/NL-only leagues:
Chris Archer (TB) -- Tue-MIN (Gibson), Sun-HOU (Bedard)
Chris Capuano (LAD) -- Tue-@ARI (Kennedy), Sun-COL (Chacin)
Wei-Yin Chen (BAL) -- Tue-TEX (Perez), Sun-TOR (Johnson)
Randall Delgado (ARI) -- Mon-LAD (Greinke), Sat-MIL (Lohse)
Donovan Hand (MIL) -- Tue-CIN (Cingrani), Sun-@ARI (Kennedy)
Roberto Hernandez (TB) -- Mon-MIN (Deduno), Sat-HOU (Keuchel)
Scott Kazmir (CLE) -- Mon-DET (Scherzer), Sat-KC (Guthrie)
Ian Kennedy (ARI) -- Tue-LAD (Capuano), Sun-MIL (Hand)
David Phelps (NYY) -- Tue-KC (Shields), Sun-MIN (Gibson)
Jose Quintana (CWS) -- Tue-@DET (Verlander), Sun-@PHI (Hamels)
Edinson Volquez (SD) -- Mon-COL (Chatwood), Sat-SF (Lincecum)
No-thank-yous, among two-start pitchers:
Tyler Chatwood (COL) -- Mon-@SD (Volquez), Sat-@LAD (Greinke)
Ross Detwiler (WSH) -- Mon-@PHI (Lannan), Sat-@MIA (Fernandez)
Kyle Gibson (MIN) -- Tue-@TB (Archer), Sun-@NYY (Phelps)
Jeremy Guthrie (KC) -- Mon-@NYY (Sabathia), Sat-@CLE (Kazmir)
Ubaldo Jimenez (CLE) -- Tue-TOR (Johnson), Sun-KC (Shields)
Taylor Jordan (WSH) -- Tue-@PHI (Hamels), Sun-@MIA (Nolasco)
John Lannan (PHI) -- Mon-WSH (Detwiler), Sat-CWS (Santiago)
Allen Webster (BOS) -- Tue-@SEA (Iwakuma), Sun-@OAK (Colon)
Jerome Williams (LAA) -- Tue-@CHC (Wood), Sun-@SEA (Iwakuma)
Barry Zito (SF) -- Tue-NYM (Gee), Sun-@SD (Stults)
[h=3]Pitching advantages[/h]
• It's another week of favorable Tampa Bay Rays pitching matchups, and keep in mind that this staff has 11 quality starts, a 2.69 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in its past 15 starts, and a 2.61 ERA and four saves from its bullpen during that same time span. Now the Rays play an entire week at Tropicana Field, where they have a 3.22 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 62.9 quality start percentage since the beginning of 2011.
Most notably, closer Fernando Rodney has seven consecutive scoreless appearances, tallying five saves and one win during that span thanks to 60 percent ground ball and 41.4 percent strikeout rates; and coupled with the schedule, he might be one of the week's most productive closers.
But it's the rotation in a curious spot, because fourth and fifth starters Chris Archer and Roberto Hernandez are the ones lined up to pitch twice. Jeremy Hellickson (Wednesday's scheduled starter), who has three consecutive quality starts facing a treacherous schedule (@BOS, TOR, DET); Matt Moore (Thursday), who has three consecutive quality starts of his own and 20 K's in his past two turns; and David Price (Friday), who shut out the Houston Astros for seven innings with 10 K's in his return start from the disabled list and gets to face them again, are no-brainer starts in any format. Archer is the more interesting of the two-start pitchers, thanks to his lifetime 9.57 K's per nine innings ratio at the Triple-A level and 9.00 in the majors. The Astros, remember, are the game's most K-prone team (25.3% rate).
• Scott Feldman makes his second and third starts for the Baltimore Orioles on Monday and Saturday, but he has a pair of challenging matchups in home games against the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays. In his defense, Feldman has five quality starts in his past seven games as well as a 2.49 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in seven career games (three starts) at Camden Yards, and he'll also be facing his former team the Rangers in that first start. He's ranked among the "start-worthy" class this week, but understand he's a risky play if you face an innings/starts cap.
• Bud Norris, even with only one start, would be an intriguing fantasy play judging by his history of success against his former division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals: He's 8-5 with a 2.74 ERA and 1.14 WHIP against them. Should he pick up a second start, however, it'd come on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays, a team he defeated on July 3 with seven innings of one-run, six-hit baseball.
• Here are this week's Streamer's Delight picks -- players need to be available in at least 75 percent of ESPN leagues as of our publishing time (Fridays):
1. Joe Blanton (@CHC, Wednesday): He has 47 K's compared to 6 walks in his past 6 starts, and a 2.93 ERA in 6 career starts versus the Chicago Cubs.
2. Jacob Turner (ATL, Wednesday): He's 5-for-6 in quality starts thus far, with a 53.3 percent ground-ball rate. Keep riding this hot streak.
3. Ross Detwiler (@MIA, Saturday): He's 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in seven career games (four starts) versus the Miami Marlins.
4. Jonathan Pettibone (CWS, Friday): He has a 2.55 ERA in his seven home starts, and the Chicago White Sox have .249/.298/.363 road rates since June 1.
5. Hector Santiago (CHC, Monday): He's 3-for-5 in quality starts since rejoining the rotation, and the Chicago Cubs have .230/.292/.379 rates since June 1.
[h=3]Hitting ratings[/h]
The chart below lists each of the 30 teams' total number of scheduled games, home games and games versus right- and left-handed pitchers, and provides a matchup rating for the week's games in terms of overall offense, offense for left- and right-handed hitters and base stealing. Matchup ratings for each individual game are listed under the corresponding date.
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| <center>Team</center> | <center>Games</center> | <center>Overall Rating</center> | <center>Mon 7/8</center> | <center>Tue 7/9</center> | <center>Wed 7/10</center> | <center>Thu 7/11</center> | <center>Fri 7/12</center> | <center>Sat 7/13</center> | <center>Sun 7/14</center> |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| 7 total 7 home 2 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 7 L: 6 R: 6 S: 8 | TEX H: 5 L: 4 R: 5 S: 6 | TEX H: 4 L: 2 R: 6 S: 5 | TEX H: 7 L: 10 R: 1 S: 7 | TEX H: 3 L: 5 R: 2 S: 7 | TOR H: 5 L: 7 R: 4 S: 5 | TOR H: 6 L: 3 R: 9 S: 7 | TOR H: 6 L: 7 R: 5 S: 6 |
|
| 7 total 0 home 0 vs. L 7 vs. R | H: 4 L: 4 R: 5 S: 4 | @SEA H: 3 L: 4 R: 3 S: 3 | @SEA H: 4 L: 5 R: 3 S: 3 | @SEA H: 5 L: 6 R: 4 S: 3 | @SEA H: 7 L: 6 R: 7 S: 3 | @OAK H: 3 L: 3 R: 4 S: 6 | @OAK H: 3 L: 2 R: 5 S: 4 | @OAK H: 2 L: 4 R: 1 S: 4 |
|
| 7 total 1 home 2 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 7 L: 6 R: 7 S: 7 | CHC H: 2 L: 1 R: 4 S: 5 | @DET H: 5 L: 5 R: 6 S: 6 | @DET H: 7 L: 9 R: 3 S: 6 | @DET H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 7 | @PHI H: 7 L: 7 R: 6 S: 6 | @PHI H: 8 L: 6 R: 8 S: 6 | @PHI H: 6 L: 5 R: 6 S: 6 |
|
| 7 total 7 home 1 vs. L 6 vs. R | H: 6 L: 7 R: 5 S: 5 | DET H: 2 L: 4 R: 1 S: 6 | TOR H: 6 L: 6 R: 5 S: 6 | TOR H: 4 L: 6 R: 3 S: 5 | TOR H: 6 L: 5 R: 6 S: 5 | KC H: 7 L: 7 R: 5 S: 3 | KC H: 6 L: 7 R: 5 S: 3 | KC H: 3 L: 4 R: 3 S: 4 |
|
| 7 total 6 home 5 vs. L 2 vs. R | H: 8 L: 5 R: 9 S: 7 | @CLE H: 6 L: 1 R: 10 S: 3 | CWS H: 6 L: 7 R: 6 S: 6 | CWS H: 10 L: 10 R: 7 S: 7 | CWS H: 3 L: 1 R: 5 S: 6 | TEX H: 10 L: 10 R: 7 S: 6 | TEX H: 4 L: 4 R: 5 S: 6 | TEX H: 3 L: 2 R: 5 S: 5 |
|
| 5 total 0 home 1 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 1 L: 3 R: 1 S: 3 | @STL H: 3 L: 5 R: 1 S: 1 | @STL H: 1 L: 3 R: 1 S: 1 | @TB H: 1 L: 3 R: 2 S: 6 | @TB H: 7 L: 7 R: 5 S: 7 | @TB H: 4 L: 6 R: 2 S: 7 | ||
|
| 7 total 0 home 3 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 8 L: 5 R: 9 S: 3 | @NYY H: 4 L: 3 R: 4 S: 3 | @NYY H: 7 L: 8 R: 5 S: 3 | @NYY H: 4 L: 5 R: 4 S: 4 | @NYY H: 7 L: 1 R: 9 S: 3 | @CLE H: 7 L: 8 R: 6 S: 4 | @CLE H: 6 L: 1 R: 10 S: 3 | @CLE H: 8 L: 6 R: 8 S: 4 |
|
| 5 total 0 home 2 vs. L 3 vs. R | H: 2 L: 1 R: 4 S: 2 | @CHC H: 4 L: 1 R: 6 S: 5 | @CHC H: 4 L: 5 R: 3 S: 6 | @SEA H: 7 L: 1 R: 10 S: 2 | @SEA H: 3 L: 4 R: 3 S: 3 | @SEA H: 4 L: 5 R: 3 S: 3 | ||
|
| 7 total 0 home 2 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 6 L: 6 R: 5 S: 6 | @TB H: 7 L: 7 R: 5 S: 7 | @TB H: 4 L: 6 R: 2 S: 7 | @TB H: 3 L: 4 R: 3 S: 6 | @TB H: 2 L: 2 R: 3 S: 7 | @NYY H: 6 L: 7 R: 5 S: 3 | @NYY H: 4 L: 3 R: 4 S: 3 | @NYY H: 7 L: 8 R: 5 S: 3 |
|
| 7 total 7 home 1 vs. L 6 vs. R | H: 7 L: 8 R: 8 S: 6 | KC H: 7 L: 8 R: 5 S: 3 | KC H: 3 L: 4 R: 4 S: 4 | KC H: 8 L: 8 R: 7 S: 3 | KC H: 4 L: 5 R: 3 S: 5 | MIN H: 8 L: 10 R: 7 S: 6 | MIN H: 4 L: 2 R: 7 S: 6 | MIN H: 6 L: 7 R: 5 S: 7 |
|
| 6 total 3 home 3 vs. L 3 vs. R | H: 4 L: 4 R: 4 S: 8 | @PIT H: 1 L: 3 R: 1 S: 6 | @PIT H: 3 L: 4 R: 3 S: 5 | @PIT H: 4 L: 2 R: 5 S: 6 | BOS H: 3 L: 1 R: 6 S: 9 | BOS H: 6 L: 9 R: 5 S: 8 | BOS H: 10 L: 10 R: 4 S: 9 | |
|
| 7 total 7 home 3 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 8 L: 7 R: 8 S: 10 | BOS H: 7 L: 9 R: 5 S: 8 | BOS H: 10 L: 10 R: 4 S: 9 | BOS H: 4 L: 4 R: 4 S: 9 | BOS H: 6 L: 2 R: 10 S: 9 | LAA H: 3 L: 2 R: 5 S: 7 | LAA H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 7 | LAA H: 7 L: 8 R: 5 S: 7 |
|
| 7 total 7 home 2 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 8 L: 6 R: 10 S: 8 | MIN H: 3 L: 2 R: 7 S: 6 | MIN H: 5 L: 6 R: 5 S: 7 | MIN H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 5 | MIN H: 9 L: 7 R: 10 S: 6 | HOU H: 5 L: 4 R: 7 S: 8 | HOU H: 10 L: 7 R: 9 S: 7 | HOU H: 5 L: 4 R: 6 S: 7 |
|
| 7 total 0 home 1 vs. L 6 vs. R | H: 5 L: 4 R: 7 S: 3 | @BAL H: 4 L: 4 R: 5 S: 2 | @BAL H: 6 L: 4 R: 7 S: 1 | @BAL H: 5 L: 5 R: 6 S: 1 | @BAL H: 5 L: 4 R: 6 S: 1 | @DET H: 4 L: 3 R: 6 S: 5 | @DET H: 3 L: 5 R: 1 S: 6 | @DET H: 5 L: 5 R: 6 S: 6 |
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| 6 total 0 home 1 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 6 L: 6 R: 6 S: 1 | @CLE H: 8 L: 6 R: 8 S: 4 | @CLE H: 4 L: 6 R: 1 S: 3 | @CLE H: 6 L: 8 R: 3 S: 3 | @BAL H: 7 L: 7 R: 6 S: 1 | @BAL H: 4 L: 4 R: 5 S: 2 | @BAL H: 6 L: 4 R: 7 S: 1 | |
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| 7 total 7 home 2 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 7 L: 8 R: 6 S: 4 | LAD H: 8 L: 10 R: 4 S: 1 | LAD H: 7 L: 4 R: 8 S: 1 | LAD H: 5 L: 10 R: 2 S: 1 | MIL H: 7 L: 7 R: 7 S: 6 | MIL H: 5 L: 7 R: 4 S: 6 | MIL H: 4 L: 3 R: 5 S: 5 | MIL H: 3 L: 5 R: 3 S: 7 |
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| 7 total 4 home 1 vs. L 6 vs. R | H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 3 | @MIA H: 6 L: 7 R: 4 S: 3 | @MIA H: 7 L: 8 R: 5 S: 2 | @MIA H: 3 L: 1 R: 7 S: 4 | CIN H: 2 L: 4 R: 2 S: 4 | CIN H: 6 L: 8 R: 3 S: 3 | CIN H: 2 L: 4 R: 1 S: 4 | CIN H: 5 L: 3 R: 7 S: 3 |
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| 7 total 6 home 1 vs. L 6 vs. R | H: 7 L: 10 R: 5 S: 4 | @CWS H: 4 L: 7 R: 3 S: 6 | LAA H: 8 L: 9 R: 6 S: 7 | LAA H: 7 L: 8 R: 5 S: 7 | STL H: 7 L: 10 R: 4 S: 1 | STL H: 5 L: 7 R: 4 S: 1 | STL H: 5 L: 7 R: 3 S: 1 | STL H: 4 L: 6 R: 2 S: 1 |
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| 7 total 0 home 2 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 4 L: 3 R: 6 S: 8 | @MIL H: 3 L: 2 R: 4 S: 5 | @MIL H: 2 L: 4 R: 2 S: 7 | @MIL H: 7 L: 6 R: 7 S: 6 | @ATL H: 5 L: 1 R: 6 S: 7 | @ATL H: 3 L: 3 R: 4 S: 7 | @ATL H: 5 L: 3 R: 6 S: 6 | @ATL H: 4 L: 3 R: 6 S: 7 |
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| 7 total 0 home 3 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 3 L: 4 R: 4 S: 4 | @SD H: 5 L: 6 R: 3 S: 7 | @SD H: 1 L: 1 R: 2 S: 6 | @SD H: 3 L: 6 R: 1 S: 8 | @LAD H: 3 L: 2 R: 6 S: 1 | @LAD H: 1 L: 1 R: 1 S: 1 | @LAD H: 7 L: 9 R: 2 S: 1 | @LAD H: 6 L: 2 R: 7 S: 1 |
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| 7 total 4 home 2 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 10 L: 7 R: 10 S: 2 | @ARI H: 9 L: 10 R: 8 S: 1 | @ARI H: 8 L: 9 R: 5 S: 1 | @ARI H: 7 L: 4 R: 8 S: 1 | COL H: 10 L: 1 R: 10 S: 5 | COL H: 10 L: 10 R: 7 S: 4 | COL H: 6 L: 6 R: 6 S: 4 | COL H: 1 L: 2 R: 2 S: 3 |
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| 6 total 6 home 2 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 4 L: 3 R: 5 S: 6 | ATL H: 5 L: 3 R: 6 S: 6 | ATL H: 4 L: 4 R: 6 S: 7 | ATL H: 4 L: 4 R: 5 S: 6 | WSH H: 1 L: 4 R: 1 S: 5 | WSH H: 7 L: 4 R: 8 S: 4 | WSH H: 3 L: 4 R: 4 S: 5 | |
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| 7 total 3 home 3 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 7 L: 6 R: 8 S: 1 | CIN H: 2 L: 4 R: 1 S: 4 | CIN H: 5 L: 3 R: 8 S: 3 | CIN H: 4 L: 4 R: 5 S: 3 | @ARI H: 7 L: 5 R: 7 S: 1 | @ARI H: 3 L: 2 R: 5 S: 1 | @ARI H: 9 L: 10 R: 8 S: 1 | @ARI H: 8 L: 9 R: 5 S: 1 |
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| 6 total 0 home 2 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 2 L: 4 R: 3 S: 6 | @SF H: 6 L: 5 R: 6 S: 6 | @SF H: 8 L: 7 R: 8 S: 5 | @SF H: 2 L: 3 R: 3 S: 6 | @PIT H: 1 L: 7 R: 1 S: 6 | @PIT H: 3 L: 5 R: 2 S: 7 | @PIT H: 1 L: 3 R: 1 S: 6 | |
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| 7 total 7 home 5 vs. L 2 vs. R | H: 6 L: 6 R: 6 S: 6 | WSH H: 7 L: 4 R: 8 S: 4 | WSH H: 3 L: 4 R: 4 S: 5 | WSH H: 1 L: 1 R: 3 S: 5 | WSH H: 3 L: 3 R: 4 S: 5 | CWS H: 8 L: 10 R: 5 S: 6 | CWS H: 4 L: 7 R: 3 S: 6 | CWS H: 6 L: 6 R: 5 S: 6 |
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| 6 total 6 home 1 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 5 L: 6 R: 3 S: 4 | OAK H: 2 L: 5 R: 1 S: 4 | OAK H: 8 L: 10 R: 5 S: 6 | OAK H: 7 L: 7 R: 7 S: 4 | NYM H: 7 L: 8 R: 4 S: 4 | NYM H: 5 L: 7 R: 2 S: 4 | NYM H: 1 L: 1 R: 1 S: 3 | |
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| 6 total 2 home 1 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 4 L: 4 R: 5 S: 6 | HOU H: 4 L: 7 R: 2 S: 7 | HOU H: 6 L: 7 R: 5 S: 7 | @CHC H: 8 L: 6 R: 8 S: 6 | @CHC H: 6 L: 6 R: 5 S: 6 | @CHC H: 1 L: 1 R: 4 S: 5 | @CHC H: 4 L: 1 R: 6 S: 5 | |
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| 7 total 7 home 3 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 4 L: 3 R: 5 S: 6 | COL H: 5 L: 6 R: 5 S: 4 | COL H: 1 L: 1 R: 1 S: 3 | COL H: 3 L: 1 R: 4 S: 4 | SF H: 1 L: 1 R: 1 S: 6 | SF H: 3 L: 5 R: 2 S: 5 | SF H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 6 | SF H: 7 L: 6 R: 7 S: 5 |
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| 7 total 3 home 2 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 5 L: 7 R: 3 S: 7 | NYM H: 1 L: 1 R: 1 S: 3 | NYM H: 7 L: 10 R: 2 S: 4 | NYM H: 7 L: 8 R: 6 S: 8 | @SD H: 5 L: 7 R: 3 S: 7 | @SD H: 5 L: 7 R: 2 S: 7 | @SD H: 5 L: 6 R: 3 S: 7 | @SD H: 1 L: 1 R: 2 S: 6 |
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| 7 total 0 home 3 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 5 L: 4 R: 6 S: 5 | @PHI H: 8 L: 6 R: 8 S: 6 | @PHI H: 6 L: 5 R: 6 S: 6 | @PHI H: 2 L: 3 R: 2 S: 5 | @PHI H: 3 L: 2 R: 6 S: 5 | @MIA H: 4 L: 4 R: 4 S: 3 | @MIA H: 1 L: 1 R: 1 S: 2 | @MIA H: 6 L: 7 R: 4 S: 3 |
| Some of the data used to generate this chart is derived from Baseball Musings' Day-by-day database. H: Hitters' matchup rating, which accounts for the opposing starting pitcher's past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days) as well as ballpark factors. L: Hitters' matchup rating accounting only for left-handed hitters. R: Hitters' matchup rating accounting for only right-handed hitters. S: Base stealing matchup rating, which accounts for the opponent's catchers' ability to gun down opposing base stealers. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst. |
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[h=3]Hitting advantages[/h]
• Here are this week's "volume plays" -- defined as the teams that play the most home games, or games against right- or left-handed starters:
Home games: Baltimore Orioles 7, Cleveland Indians 7, New York Yankees 7, Seattle Mariners 7, Tampa Bay Rays 7, Arizona Diamondbacks 7, Philadelphia Phillies 7, San Diego Padres 7
Versus RH: Boston Red Sox 7, Cleveland Indians 6, New York Yankees 6, Texas Rangers 6, Atlanta Braves 6, Chicago Cubs 6
Versus LH: Detroit Tigers 5, Philadelphia Phillies 5
• Right-handed Detroit Tigers enjoy a noticeable advantage this week, what with the team scheduled to face five left-handed starters. Johnny Peralta gets the most sizable boost as a .363/.433/.525 hitter against southpaws this season. Omar Infante is also a .291/.333/.512 hitter against lefties, and he's available in 11.9 percent in ESPN leagues.
If you play in an AL-only or deep mixed (think 18-plus teams) league, keep in mind that the Tigers use a straight platoon of Andy Dirks and Matt Tuiasosopo in left field. Dirks has started just one of the team's 17 games against a lefty starter all year and Tuiasosopo 15, and Tuiasosopo is a .341/.500/.477 hitter against left-handers this season.
• The Boston Red Sox, meanwhile, enjoy a similar advantage thanks to all seven of their games being against right-handed starters. This team, after all, leads the majors in all three triple-slash categories (.291/.360/.475) as well as wOBA (.359) against righties, and the reason is simple: Daniel Nava and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are underrated options against that side.
Saltalamacchia is a .282/.335/.503 hitter against righties this year, .258/.322/.460 in his career, and he has started 52 of the team's 59 games against a righty starter in 2013. Nava, meanwhile, is a .303/.397/.472 hitter against righties this season, .277/.380/.427 in his career, and he has 56 starts against that side in 2013.
• Carl Crawford (hamstring) is due back with the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 5, and that puts the team's outfield under the microscope. Rookie Yasiel Puig has performed too well to return to the minors, meaning that at-bats will be up for grabs among Crawford, Puig, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.
Even with the potential loss of at-bats, however, all four Dodgers outfielders warrant your attention in most leagues thanks to the team's favorable schedule. This team avoids the Arizona Diamondbacks' best starter, Patrick Corbin, during its three-game, week-opening series at Chase Field and faces Jhoulys Chacin but not Jorge De La Rosa during a four-game, week-ending series at home against the Colorado Rockies. Ethier might be the most obvious candidate to sit, but keep this in mind: He's a .338/.402/.459 hitter in his past 21 games (entering July 5's play), and the Dodgers face five right-handed starters this week.
