Fantasy Forecaster: Week 11
On tap: Better to be early than late, and to that end, I was apparently a week premature in touting a rash of rookie debuts. This appears to be the week we'll get our first glimpse of one of Keith Law's top five pitching prospects from the preseason, No. 2 (4 in his May update) Gerrit Cole, who is ticketed for his major league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. He'll take the space vacated when Wandy Rodriguez suffered tightness in his forearm and was forced to be pushed back two days, and he'll be lined up for a two-start week. As for New York Mets top prospect Zack Wheeler, it appears his debut will wait another week following the team's June 7 rainout, though it's always possible that he could be summoned should Matt Harvey (back) need to miss a turn.
But debuts aren't the only rookie-related pitching story of Week 11: Now we get the delayed, first-in-his-career two-start week for St. Louis Cardinals freshman Michael Wacha, and we're likely to get another rookie two-start week should Tony Cingrani be promoted to take Johnny Cueto's spot in the Cincinnati Reds' rotation. Wacha struggled in big-league start No. 2 (4 2/3 IP, 10 H, 6 ER), but he gets a pair of favorable road matchups, pitching at New York's Citi Field and Miami's Marlins Park. Cingrani, who had a 2.12 ERA and 12.18 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio in his three starts for Triple-A Louisville since being returned there on May 18, would pitch at Chicago's Wrigley Field, then at home versus the Milwaukee Brewers, should he be summoned.
In another holdover from last week, it's another important week for the Cleveland Indians, who dropped three in a row in New York from June 3-5, and were set to play three more in Detroit June 7-9. This week, they play a three-game road series at the Texas Rangers, then a three-game set at home against the Washington Nationals. Besides the obvious -- Indians hitters get a boost from games at Rangers Ballpark, Justin Masterson is pitching too well to sit against the Nationals -- it's time to be choosier with your Indians players in fantasy leagues. Jason Kipnis, Carlos Santana, Michael Bourn and Masterson are their only no-brainers.
[h=3]ESPN leagues: Lineup deadlines[/h]
It's another late deadline on Monday, as the first game of the week kicks off at 7 p.m. ET: Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays on ESPN's Monday Night Baseball. There are nothing but night games on Monday, Tuesday and Friday this week, so you'll have some extra time to make lineup decisions on those days in leagues with daily transactions. Wednesday's first game starts at 12:35 p.m. ET -- Los Angeles Angels at Baltimore Orioles -- so be prepared earlier that day.
[h=3]Interleague impact[/h]
This week's interleague series:
• Philadelphia Phillies at Minnesota Twins (3 games, Tuesday-Thursday)
• Washington Nationals at Cleveland Indians (3 games, Friday-Sunday)
There isn't a single interleague game scheduled at a National League park this week, only the second time that has been true all year. Week 4 was the last such instance, and there are only four such weeks all season.
Instead, the Phillies and Nationals head to American League venues and gain the designated hitter, meaning additional at-bats for both squads. The Phillies' DH plans have been obvious, judging by their previous four games in AL parks: Delmon Young is their DH, freeing up right field for John Mayberry Jr. Granted, both outfielders are right-handed and the Phillies face nothing but right-handed starters this week, but keep in mind that those past four were also against righty starters.
The Nationals, meanwhile, don't have as clear a plan with Bryce Harper on the disabled list and Tyler Moore struggling. Adam LaRoche and Chad Tracy alternated starts during the team's two-game trip to Baltimore May 29-30, with the other manning first base, and that might be their arrangement in their Friday and Sunday games against right-handed starters. But might Moore get the call at DH, with LaRoche at first base, against left-handed Saturday starter Scott Kazmir? At best, Moore and/or Tracy could warrant a desperate look in deep NL-only leagues.
[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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</tbody>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.
[h=3]Pitching scuttlebutt[/h]
• The Boston Red Sox's June 7 rainout -- and subsequent June 8 doubleheader -- will force the team to either find a Wednesday spot starter or pitch either Felix Doubront or Clay Buchholz on three days' rest.
• The Cleveland Indians recalled Carlos Carrasco for a June 8 start, but he's expected to now drop the appeal of an eight-game suspension, leaving the team with a four-man rotation through Week 11.
• Anibal Sanchez (shoulder) was forced to skip his June 9 start, but the Detroit Tigers expect him to be ready for his next scheduled turn on Saturday. Jose Alvarez, who filled in for him on June 9, would presumably pitch then if needed.
• The Los Angeles Angels, whose rotation was also affected due to the aforementioned June 7 rainout, will either need a Wednesday spot starter or pitch either Tommy Hanson or C.J. Wilson on three days' rest.
• Alexi Ogando (biceps) reported soreness during a June 7 between-starts bullpen session and is now questionable to start for the Texas Rangers on Monday. Josh Lindblom might be recalled to fill in.
• Chien-Ming Wang, who opted out of his minor league contract with the New York Yankees on June 7, is expected to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays and assume the vacant spot in the rotation beginning Tuesday.
• There has been no formal announcement of Tony Cingrani's promotion to take Johnny Cueto's spot in the Cincinnati Reds' rotation, but after Pedro Villarreal struggled on June 6, it's likely Cingrani will take that turn next time around.
• The Colorado Rockies need a starter for Saturday after designating Jon Garland for assignment. Tyler Chatwood could be a candidate.
• The Miami Marlins' rotation is unclear due to their 20-inning marathon on June 8; they'll probably need a Wednesday spot starter. Kevin Slowey might have pitched then, but he pitched seven innings of relief June 8.
• Tom Gorzelanny will assume Marco Estrada's (DL, hamstring) rotation spot on June 8, but it's unclear whether the Milwaukee Brewers will then use Thursday's off day to skip that turn in the rotation. Wily Peralta would pick up a second start, Sunday at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park, in that event.
• Matt Harvey (back) is expected to make his next start for the New York Mets on Friday.
• Wandy Rodriguez (forearm) is expected to be ready to join the Pittsburgh Pirates' rotation on Thursday, but that leaves Tuesday's spot open. Gerrit Cole is likely to assume it, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
• The Washington Nationals have an open spot in their rotation on Wednesday, the result of a June 7 rainout, and Ross Detwiler is unlikely be ready to take it. He's scheduled for a June 10 rehabilitation start and might be ready by the weekend, while Stephen Strasburg is eligible to return on Sunday.
[h=3]Tristan's Week 10 pitcher rankings: Top 75[/h]
1. Clayton Kershaw (LAD) -- Mon-ARI (Miley), Sun-@PIT (Cole)
2. Max Scherzer (DET) -- Tue-@KC (Davis)
3. Cliff Lee (PHI) -- Thu-@MIN (Correia)
4. Adam Wainwright (STL) -- Thu-@NYM (Harvey)
5. Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) -- Mon-HOU (Keuchel), Sun-@OAK (Colon)
6. Yu Darvish (TEX) -- Thu-TOR (Buehrle)
7. Mike Minor (ATL) -- Sat-SF (Gaudin)
8. Alex Cobb (TB) -- Mon-BOS (Lackey), Sat-KC (Guthrie)
9. Chris Sale (CWS) -- Wed-TOR (Rogers)
10. Julio Teheran (ATL) -- Mon-@SD (Marquis), Sun-SF (Lincecum)
11. Felix Hernandez (SEA) -- Sat-@OAK (Griffin)
12. Shelby Miller (STL) -- Wed-@NYM (Gee)
13. Homer Bailey (CIN) -- Mon-@CHC (Feldman), Sat-MIL (Lohse)
14. Matt Harvey (NYM) -- Thu-STL (Wainwright)
15. CC Sabathia (NYY) -- Tue-@OAK (Colon), Sun-@LAA (Blanton)
16. Jeff Samardzija (CHC) -- Thu-CIN (Latos)
17. Anibal Sanchez (DET) -- Sat-@MIN (Deduno)
18. Doug Fister (DET) -- Mon-@KC (Guthrie), Sun-@MIN (Walters)
19. Jordan Zimmermann (WSH) -- Fri-@CLE (Masterson)
20. Justin Verlander (DET) -- Wed-@KC (Shields)
21. Lance Lynn (STL) -- Sat-@MIA (Koehler)
22. Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD) -- Wed-ARI (Corbin)
23. Zack Greinke (LAD) -- Tue-ARI (Kennedy)
24. Gio Gonzalez (WSH) -- Thu-@COL (Francis)
25. Clay Buchholz (BOS) -- Fri-@BAL (Tillman)
26. Mat Latos (CIN) -- Thu-@CHC (Samardzija)
27. Madison Bumgarner (SF) -- Fri-@ATL (Medlen)
28. Derek Holland (TEX) -- Tue-CLE (Kluber), Sun-TOR (Wang)
29. Patrick Corbin (ARI) -- Wed-@LAD (Ryu)
30. A.J. Burnett (PIT) -- Fri-LAD (Fife)
31. Matt Moore (TB) -- Fri-KC (Mendoza)
32. Jered Weaver (LAA) -- Mon-@BAL (Garcia)
33. Jon Lester (BOS) -- Tue-@TB (Hernandez)
34. Matt Cain (SF) -- Thu-@PIT (Rodriguez)
35. Matt Garza (CHC) -- Tue-CIN (Cingrani), Sun-@NYM (Hefner)
36. Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) -- Thu-@OAK (Parker)
37. John Lackey (BOS) -- Mon-@TB (Cobb), Sun-@BAL (Gonzalez)
38. James Shields (KC) -- Wed-DET (Verlander)
39. Francisco Liriano (PIT) -- Wed-SF (Zito)
40. Michael Wacha (STL) -- Tue-@NYM (Hefner), Sun-@MIA (Nolasco)
41. Justin Masterson (CLE) -- Fri-WSH (Zimmermann)
42. Cole Hamels (PHI) -- Tue-@MIN (Walters), Sun-@COL (Chacin)
43. Jose Fernandez (MIA) -- Fri-STL (Lyons)
44. Ricky Nolasco (MIA) -- Mon-MIL (Gallardo), Sun-STL (Wacha)
45. A.J. Griffin (OAK) -- Sat-SEA (Hernandez)
46. Bartolo Colon (OAK) -- Tue-NYY (Sabathia), Sun-SEA (Iwakuma)
47. Miguel Gonzalez (BAL) -- Tue-LAA (Vargas), Sun-BOS (Lackey)
48. Jarrod Parker (OAK) -- Thu-NYY (Kuroda)
49. Tony Cingrani (CIN) -- Tue-@CHC (Garza), Sun-MIL (Gallardo)
50. Kris Medlen (ATL) -- Fri-SF (Bumgarner)
51. R.A. Dickey (TOR) -- Mon-@CWS (Axelrod), Sat-@TEX (Ogando)
52. Mike Leake (CIN) -- Wed-@CHC (Wood)
53. Gerrit Cole (PIT) -- Tue-SF (Lincecum), Sun-LAD (Kershaw)
54. Jeff Locke (PIT) -- Sat-LAD (Magill)
55. Ervin Santana (KC) -- Thu-@TB (Hellickson)
56. Bronson Arroyo (CIN) -- Fri-MIL (Gorzelanny)
57. Yovani Gallardo (MIL) -- Mon-@MIA (Nolasco), Sun-@CIN (Cingrani)
58. Tommy Milone (OAK) -- Fri-SEA (Saunders)
59. Scott Feldman (CHC) -- Mon-CIN (Bailey), Sat-@NYM (Niese)
60. Tim Lincecum (SF) -- Tue-@PIT (Cole), Sun-@ATL (Teheran)
61. C.J. Wilson (LAA) -- Sat-NYY (Phelps)
62. Tim Hudson (ATL) -- Tue-@SD (Cashner)
63. Paul Maholm (ATL) -- Wed-@SD (Volquez)
64. Wandy Rodriguez (PIT) -- Thu-SF (Cain)
65. Eric Stults (SD) -- Fri-ARI (Cahill)
66. Tyler Lyons (STL) -- Fri-@MIA (Fernandez)
67. Trevor Cahill (ARI) -- Fri-@SD (Stults)
68. Andrew Cashner (SD) -- Tue-ATL (Hudson)
69. Wade Miley (ARI) -- Mon-@LAD (Kershaw), Sun-@SD (Marquis)
70. Phil Hughes (NYY) -- Wed-@OAK (Straily)
71. Chris Tillman (BAL) -- Fri-BOS (Buchholz)
72. Jorge De La Rosa (COL) -- Wed-WSH (TBD)
73. Dan Haren (WSH) -- Tue-@COL (Chacin), Sun-@CLE (Kluber)
74. Dan Straily (OAK) -- Wed-NYY (Hughes)
75. John Danks (CWS) -- Fri-@HOU (Bedard)
Two-start options for AL-/NL-only leagues:
Dylan Axelrod (CWS) -- Mon-TOR (Dickey), Sun-@HOU (Keuchel)
Jhoulys Chacin (COL) -- Tue-WSH (Haren), Sun-PHI (Hamels)
Jeremy Guthrie (KC) -- Mon-DET (Fister), Sat-@TB (Cobb)
Jeremy Hefner (NYM) -- Tue-STL (Wacha), Sun-CHC (Garza)
Dallas Keuchel (HOU) -- Mon-@SEA (Iwakuma), Sun-CWS (Axelrod)
Jason Marquis (SD) -- Mon-ATL (Teheran), Sun-ARI (Miley)
Alexi Ogando (TEX) -- Mon-CLE (Kazmir), Sat-TOR (Dickey)
No-thank-yous, among two-start pitchers:
Wade Davis (KC) -- Tue-DET (Scherzer), Sun-@TB (Hernandez)
Freddy Garcia (BAL) -- Mon-LAA (Weaver), Sat-BOS (Dempster)
Roberto Hernandez (TB) -- Tue-BOS (Lester), Sun-KC (Davis)
Scott Kazmir (CLE) -- Mon-@TEX (Ogando), Sat-WSH (Karns)
Corey Kluber (CLE) -- Tue-@TEX (Holland), Sun-WSH (Haren)
P.J. Walters (MIN) -- Tue-PHI (Hamels), Sun-DET (Fister)
Chien-Ming Wang (TOR) -- Tue-@CWS (Quintana), Sun-@TEX (Holland)
[h=3]Pitching advantages[/h]
• Brandon Beachy might be only days away from being ready to rejoin the Atlanta Braves' rotation, but the obvious man he'd replace, Julio Teheran, isn't pitching at all like a man in need of demotion. Teheran is the No. 7 starting pitcher on our Player Rater the past 30 days (as of June 7), and he has six consecutive quality starts and 20 K's over 14 2/3 innings in his past two games combined. He faces a brilliant pair of matchups, including a Monday assignment at San Diego's Petco Park, then a Sunday home game against a San Francisco Giants team that he defeated May 9 (7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER), and should be in all lineups this week.
But who goes if Teheran doesn't? Colleague Eric Karabell took a closer look at the options on Thursday, but the upshot for fantasy lineup planning is that all Braves starters face job motivation -- no one really wants to go. It's perhaps in some small part the reason behind every incumbent member having tossed a quality start in his most recent turn, and it's a rationale for using every Braves pitcher even in shallow mixed leagues this week. Again, these are favorable matchups: The San Diego Padres have .247/.319/.374 triple-slash rates at home, their .693 OPS there sixth worst in the game, while the Giants have .257/.307/.365 rates, their .671 a bottom-10 number, in the past three weeks (May 17-June 6).
• Two-start Michael Wacha is the headliner for a brilliant week worth of pitching matchups for the St. Louis Cardinals: They play three games apiece at New York's Citi Field and Miami's Marlins Park, facing teams that rank last and next-to-last in OPS in home games -- the New York Mets have .215/.296/.351 rates at home, the Miami Marlins .225/.286/.305 at home. The reason Wacha gets such faith in both ratings and my rankings is simple: He has a brilliant changeup and the Mets and Marlins are among the worst teams in baseball against that pitch, with the Mets sporting a .571 OPS and 26.1 percent K rate against changeups, the Marlins a .564 OPS and 24.8 percent K rate against them. That's to say nothing about Wacha's command of his arsenal of pitches, which was largely the problem behind his poor second big-league start, but at least his matchups offer promise.
Tyler Lyons' ownership percentage in ESPN leagues (29.0) rose above the cutoff for Streamer's Delight candidacy, but he's well worth consideration facing the Marlins in their pitching-friendly ballpark on Friday. He continues to minimize walks (1.77 per nine) and generates a high rate of ground balls (53.3 percent), diminishing the Marlins' already slim hopes of getting anything going against him.
• 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. Phil Hughes (@OAK, Wednesday): He has made two career starts at O.co Coliseum, and has a 1.80 ERA and 9.60 K's per nine ratio in them.
2. Tony Cingrani (@CHC, Tuesday): He already has a 0.69 WHIP and 14 K's in 13 innings in two starts versus the Chicago Cubs this season.
3. Bud Norris (@SEA, Tuesday): He has a filthy slider (.209/.244/.312, 32.6 K% since 2011) and the Seattle Mariners have a 35.8 percent K rate against sliders.
4. Corey Kluber (WSH, Sunday): He has 9.85 K-per-nine and 6.00 K-to-walk ratios, and the Washington Nationals are the sixth most whiff-prone team since May 1.
5. Tyler Skaggs (@SD, Saturday): Petco Park is an ideal place to expect good things from a high-strikeout (10.03 K/9 in 2013), fly-baller (47.7 career FB%).
[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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</tbody>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.
[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, Tampa Bay Rays 7, Texas Rangers 7
Versus RH: Boston Red Sox 7, Kansas City Royals 6, New York Mets 6, St. Louis Cardinals 6
Versus LH: Arizona Diamondbacks 4, Toronto Blue Jays 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 3, Pittsburgh Pirates 3, San Diego Padres 3, San Francisco Giants 3, Washington Nationals 3
• Look at that Philadelphia Phillies schedule: All six games against right-handed starters -- assuming that Tyler Chatwood gets the call for the Colorado Rockies on Saturday -- three of them at Colorado's Coors Field. This is a week of dream matchups for Domonic Brown and fellow left-handed slugger Ryan Howard. Brown has hit 14 of his 18 home runs against right-handers, while Howard is a .286/.359/.538 hitter in 23 career games at Coors.
• A seven-game, all-at-home week is a plus for the Texas Rangers, especially with four of them due to come against the injury-riddled Toronto Blue Jays rotation. That five of those games come against right-handed starters presents particularly intriguing opportunities for Jurickson Profar, A.J. Pierzynski and Chris McGuiness. Profar's inclusion is obvious, though to cite his stats, he's a .314/.324/.486 hitter against righties. Pierzynski is a .322/.344/.506 hitter against righties. And McGuiness, due to replace Mitch Moreland as the Rangers' left-handed side of a first-base platoon, was a .286/.388/.507 hitter against righties in Triple-A.
• Don't underestimate those favorable Baltimore Orioles stolen-base ratings. After all, the Orioles pace the majors in stolen-base success rate (86.0 percent), have the second-most successful steals (48) and the fourth-most attempts (56). There's no reason to expect Nate McLouth, second in the majors in steals (21), to slow down facing weak-armed Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox catchers Chris Iannetta and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and you might be able to squeeze a cheap steal or two out of Chris Dickerson or Ryan Flaherty in AL-only leagues.
On tap: Better to be early than late, and to that end, I was apparently a week premature in touting a rash of rookie debuts. This appears to be the week we'll get our first glimpse of one of Keith Law's top five pitching prospects from the preseason, No. 2 (4 in his May update) Gerrit Cole, who is ticketed for his major league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. He'll take the space vacated when Wandy Rodriguez suffered tightness in his forearm and was forced to be pushed back two days, and he'll be lined up for a two-start week. As for New York Mets top prospect Zack Wheeler, it appears his debut will wait another week following the team's June 7 rainout, though it's always possible that he could be summoned should Matt Harvey (back) need to miss a turn.
But debuts aren't the only rookie-related pitching story of Week 11: Now we get the delayed, first-in-his-career two-start week for St. Louis Cardinals freshman Michael Wacha, and we're likely to get another rookie two-start week should Tony Cingrani be promoted to take Johnny Cueto's spot in the Cincinnati Reds' rotation. Wacha struggled in big-league start No. 2 (4 2/3 IP, 10 H, 6 ER), but he gets a pair of favorable road matchups, pitching at New York's Citi Field and Miami's Marlins Park. Cingrani, who had a 2.12 ERA and 12.18 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio in his three starts for Triple-A Louisville since being returned there on May 18, would pitch at Chicago's Wrigley Field, then at home versus the Milwaukee Brewers, should he be summoned.
In another holdover from last week, it's another important week for the Cleveland Indians, who dropped three in a row in New York from June 3-5, and were set to play three more in Detroit June 7-9. This week, they play a three-game road series at the Texas Rangers, then a three-game set at home against the Washington Nationals. Besides the obvious -- Indians hitters get a boost from games at Rangers Ballpark, Justin Masterson is pitching too well to sit against the Nationals -- it's time to be choosier with your Indians players in fantasy leagues. Jason Kipnis, Carlos Santana, Michael Bourn and Masterson are their only no-brainers.
[h=3]ESPN leagues: Lineup deadlines[/h]
It's another late deadline on Monday, as the first game of the week kicks off at 7 p.m. ET: Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays on ESPN's Monday Night Baseball. There are nothing but night games on Monday, Tuesday and Friday this week, so you'll have some extra time to make lineup decisions on those days in leagues with daily transactions. Wednesday's first game starts at 12:35 p.m. ET -- Los Angeles Angels at Baltimore Orioles -- so be prepared earlier that day.
[h=3]Interleague impact[/h]
This week's interleague series:
• Philadelphia Phillies at Minnesota Twins (3 games, Tuesday-Thursday)
• Washington Nationals at Cleveland Indians (3 games, Friday-Sunday)
There isn't a single interleague game scheduled at a National League park this week, only the second time that has been true all year. Week 4 was the last such instance, and there are only four such weeks all season.
Instead, the Phillies and Nationals head to American League venues and gain the designated hitter, meaning additional at-bats for both squads. The Phillies' DH plans have been obvious, judging by their previous four games in AL parks: Delmon Young is their DH, freeing up right field for John Mayberry Jr. Granted, both outfielders are right-handed and the Phillies face nothing but right-handed starters this week, but keep in mind that those past four were also against righty starters.
The Nationals, meanwhile, don't have as clear a plan with Bryce Harper on the disabled list and Tyler Moore struggling. Adam LaRoche and Chad Tracy alternated starts during the team's two-game trip to Baltimore May 29-30, with the other manning first base, and that might be their arrangement in their Friday and Sunday games against right-handed starters. But might Moore get the call at DH, with LaRoche at first base, against left-handed Saturday starter Scott Kazmir? At best, Moore and/or Tracy could warrant a desperate look in deep NL-only leagues.
[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 6/10 </center> | <center> Tue 6/11 </center> | <center> Wed 6/12 </center> | <center> Thu 6/13 </center> | <center> Fri 6/14 </center> | <center> Sat 6/15 </center> | <center> Sun 6/16 </center> |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAA Garcia (RHP) P: 3 | LAA Gonzalez (RHP) P: 6 | LAA Hammel (RHP) P: 3 | BOS Gausman (RHP) P: 1 | BOS Tillman (RHP) P: 2 | BOS Garcia (RHP) P: 3 | BOS Gonzalez (RHP) P: 6 |
| @TB Lackey (RHP) P: 8 | @TB Lester (LHP) P: 4 | @TB TBD P: 1 | @BAL Doubront (LHP) P: 3 | @BAL Buchholz (RHP) P: 8 | @BAL Dempster (RHP) P: 4 | @BAL Lackey (RHP) P: 6 |
| TOR Axelrod (RHP) P: 5 | TOR Quintana (LHP) P: 5 | TOR Sale (LHP) P: 9 | @HOU Danks (LHP) P: 8 | @HOU Santiago (LHP) P: 6 | @HOU Axelrod (RHP) P: 5 | |
| @TEX Kazmir (LHP) P: 1 | @TEX Kluber (RHP) P: 3 | @TEX Jimenez (RHP) P: 2 | WSH Masterson (RHP) P: 7 | WSH Kazmir (LHP) P: 3 | WSH Kluber (RHP) P: 5 | |
| @KC Fister (RHP) P: 8 | @KC Scherzer (RHP) P: 10 | @KC Verlander (RHP) P: 7 | @MIN Porcello (RHP) P: 6 | @MIN Sanchez (RHP) P: 8 | @MIN Fister (RHP) P: 8 | |
| @SEA Keuchel (LHP) P: 5 | @SEA Norris (RHP) P: 7 | @SEA Lyles (RHP) P: 6 | CWS Bedard (LHP) P: 5 | CWS Harrell (RHP) P: 7 | CWS Keuchel (LHP) P: 5 | |
| DET Guthrie (RHP) P: 3 | DET Davis (RHP) P: 2 | DET Shields (RHP) P: 6 | @TB Santana (RHP) P: 6 | @TB Mendoza (RHP) P: 4 | @TB Guthrie (RHP) P: 4 | @TB Davis (RHP) P: 3 |
| @BAL Weaver (RHP) P: 7 | @BAL Vargas (LHP) P: 3 | @BAL TBD P: 1 | NYY Hanson (RHP) P: 2 | NYY Wilson (LHP) P: 5 | NYY Blanton (RHP) P: 5 | |
| PHI Walters (RHP) P: 3 | PHI Pelfrey (RHP) P: 2 | PHI Correia (RHP) P: 3 | DET Diamond (LHP) P: 3 | DET Deduno (RHP) P: 5 | DET Walters (RHP) P: 1 | |
| @OAK Sabathia (LHP) P: 6 | @OAK Hughes (RHP) P: 5 | @OAK Kuroda (RHP) P: 6 | @LAA Pettitte (LHP) P: 7 | @LAA Phelps (RHP) P: 6 | @LAA Sabathia (LHP) P: 5 | |
| NYY Colon (RHP) P: 7 | NYY Straily (RHP) P: 8 | NYY Parker (RHP) P: 6 | SEA Milone (LHP) P: 8 | SEA Griffin (RHP) P: 9 | SEA Colon (RHP) P: 9 | |
| HOU Iwakuma (RHP) P: 10 | HOU Harang (RHP) P: 5 | HOU Bonderman (RHP) P: 3 | @OAK Saunders (LHP) P: 4 | @OAK Hernandez (RHP) P: 7 | @OAK Iwakuma (RHP) P: 8 | |
| BOS Cobb (RHP) P: 8 | BOS Hernandez (RHP) P: 4 | BOS Archer (RHP) P: 6 | KC Hellickson (RHP) P: 7 | KC Moore (LHP) P: 8 | KC Cobb (RHP) P: 10 | KC Hernandez (RHP) P: 6 |
| CLE Ogando (RHP) P: 7 | CLE Holland (LHP) P: 6 | CLE Tepesch (RHP) P: 6 | TOR Darvish (RHP) P: 9 | TOR Grimm (RHP) P: 1 | TOR Ogando (RHP) P: 7 | TOR Holland (LHP) P: 5 |
| @CWS Dickey (RHP) P: 8 | @CWS Wang (RHP) P: 3 | @CWS Rogers (RHP) P: 5 | @TEX Buehrle (LHP) P: 5 | @TEX Johnson (RHP) P: 6 | @TEX Dickey (RHP) P: 6 | @TEX Wang (RHP) P: 1 |
| @LAD Miley (LHP) P: 5 | @LAD Kennedy (RHP) P: 4 | @LAD Corbin (LHP) P: 9 | @SD Cahill (RHP) P: 4 | @SD Skaggs (LHP) P: 5 | @SD Miley (LHP) P: 5 | |
| @SD Teheran (RHP) P: 9 | @SD Hudson (RHP) P: 8 | @SD Maholm (LHP) P: 8 | SF Medlen (RHP) P: 10 | SF Minor (LHP) P: 10 | SF Teheran (RHP) P: 9 | |
| CIN Feldman (RHP) P: 6 | CIN Garza (RHP) P: 7 | CIN Wood (LHP) P: 8 | CIN Samardzija (RHP) P: 8 | @NYM Jackson (RHP) P: 5 | @NYM Feldman (RHP) P: 8 | @NYM Garza (RHP) P: 8 |
| @CHC Bailey (RHP) P: 8 | @CHC Cingrani (LHP) P: 6 | @CHC Leake (RHP) P: 6 | @CHC Latos (RHP) P: 9 | MIL Arroyo (RHP) P: 7 | MIL Bailey (RHP) P: 7 | MIL Cingrani (LHP) P: 6 |
| WSH Chacin (RHP) P: 5 | WSH DeLaRosa (LHP) P: 5 | WSH Francis (LHP) P: 2 | PHI Nicasio (RHP) P: 5 | PHI TBD P: 1 | PHI Chacin (RHP) P: 5 | |
| ARI Kershaw (LHP) P: 10 | ARI Greinke (RHP) P: 6 | ARI Ryu (LHP) P: 10 | @PIT Fife (RHP) P: 5 | @PIT Magill (RHP) P: 1 | @PIT Kershaw (LHP) P: 10 | |
| MIL Nolasco (RHP) P: 7 | MIL Turner (RHP) P: 7 | MIL TBD P: 1 | STL Fernandez (RHP) P: 9 | STL Koehler (RHP) P: 4 | STL Nolasco (RHP) P: 7 | |
| @MIA Gallardo (RHP) P: 6 | @MIA Peralta (RHP) P: 6 | @MIA Figaro (RHP) P: 5 | @CIN Gorzelanny (LHP) P: 4 | @CIN Lohse (RHP) P: 5 | @CIN Gallardo (RHP) P: 4 | |
| STL Hefner (RHP) P: 6 | STL Gee (RHP) P: 3 | STL Harvey (RHP) P: 9 | CHC Marcum (RHP) P: 9 | CHC Niese (LHP) P: 8 | CHC Hefner (RHP) P: 7 | |
| @MIN Hamels (LHP) P: 6 | @MIN Cloyd (RHP) P: 3 | @MIN Lee (LHP) P: 9 | @COL Kendrick (RHP) P: 5 | @COL Pettibone (RHP) P: 2 | @COL Hamels (LHP) P: 4 | |
| SF Cole (RHP) P: 6 | SF Liriano (LHP) P: 10 | SF Rodriguez (LHP) P: 8 | LAD Burnett (RHP) P: 9 | LAD Locke (LHP) P: 9 | LAD Cole (RHP) P: 7 | |
| @NYM Wacha (RHP) P: 8 | @NYM Miller (RHP) P: 10 | @NYM Wainwright (RHP) P: 10 | @MIA Lyons (LHP) P: 8 | @MIA Lynn (RHP) P: 9 | @MIA Wacha (RHP) P: 8 | |
| ATL Marquis (RHP) P: 5 | ATL Cashner (RHP) P: 6 | ATL Volquez (RHP) P: 4 | ARI Stults (LHP) P: 8 | ARI Richard (LHP) P: 4 | ARI Marquis (RHP) P: 4 | |
| @PIT Lincecum (RHP) P: 6 | @PIT Zito (LHP) P: 5 | @PIT Cain (RHP) P: 8 | @ATL Bumgarner (LHP) P: 8 | @ATL Gaudin (RHP) P: 6 | @ATL Lincecum (RHP) P: 5 | |
| @COL Haren (RHP) P: 1 | @COL TBD P: 1 | @COL Gonzalez (LHP) P: 7 | @CLE Zimmrmnn (RHP) P: 8 | @CLE Karns (RHP) P: 1 | @CLE Haren (RHP) P: 1 |
<thead>
</thead><tbody>
</tbody>
[h=3]Pitching scuttlebutt[/h]
• The Boston Red Sox's June 7 rainout -- and subsequent June 8 doubleheader -- will force the team to either find a Wednesday spot starter or pitch either Felix Doubront or Clay Buchholz on three days' rest.
• The Cleveland Indians recalled Carlos Carrasco for a June 8 start, but he's expected to now drop the appeal of an eight-game suspension, leaving the team with a four-man rotation through Week 11.
• Anibal Sanchez (shoulder) was forced to skip his June 9 start, but the Detroit Tigers expect him to be ready for his next scheduled turn on Saturday. Jose Alvarez, who filled in for him on June 9, would presumably pitch then if needed.
• The Los Angeles Angels, whose rotation was also affected due to the aforementioned June 7 rainout, will either need a Wednesday spot starter or pitch either Tommy Hanson or C.J. Wilson on three days' rest.
• Alexi Ogando (biceps) reported soreness during a June 7 between-starts bullpen session and is now questionable to start for the Texas Rangers on Monday. Josh Lindblom might be recalled to fill in.
• Chien-Ming Wang, who opted out of his minor league contract with the New York Yankees on June 7, is expected to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays and assume the vacant spot in the rotation beginning Tuesday.
• There has been no formal announcement of Tony Cingrani's promotion to take Johnny Cueto's spot in the Cincinnati Reds' rotation, but after Pedro Villarreal struggled on June 6, it's likely Cingrani will take that turn next time around.
• The Colorado Rockies need a starter for Saturday after designating Jon Garland for assignment. Tyler Chatwood could be a candidate.
• The Miami Marlins' rotation is unclear due to their 20-inning marathon on June 8; they'll probably need a Wednesday spot starter. Kevin Slowey might have pitched then, but he pitched seven innings of relief June 8.
• Tom Gorzelanny will assume Marco Estrada's (DL, hamstring) rotation spot on June 8, but it's unclear whether the Milwaukee Brewers will then use Thursday's off day to skip that turn in the rotation. Wily Peralta would pick up a second start, Sunday at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park, in that event.
• Matt Harvey (back) is expected to make his next start for the New York Mets on Friday.
• Wandy Rodriguez (forearm) is expected to be ready to join the Pittsburgh Pirates' rotation on Thursday, but that leaves Tuesday's spot open. Gerrit Cole is likely to assume it, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
• The Washington Nationals have an open spot in their rotation on Wednesday, the result of a June 7 rainout, and Ross Detwiler is unlikely be ready to take it. He's scheduled for a June 10 rehabilitation start and might be ready by the weekend, while Stephen Strasburg is eligible to return on Sunday.
[h=3]Tristan's Week 10 pitcher rankings: Top 75[/h]
1. Clayton Kershaw (LAD) -- Mon-ARI (Miley), Sun-@PIT (Cole)
2. Max Scherzer (DET) -- Tue-@KC (Davis)
3. Cliff Lee (PHI) -- Thu-@MIN (Correia)
4. Adam Wainwright (STL) -- Thu-@NYM (Harvey)
5. Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) -- Mon-HOU (Keuchel), Sun-@OAK (Colon)
6. Yu Darvish (TEX) -- Thu-TOR (Buehrle)
7. Mike Minor (ATL) -- Sat-SF (Gaudin)
8. Alex Cobb (TB) -- Mon-BOS (Lackey), Sat-KC (Guthrie)
9. Chris Sale (CWS) -- Wed-TOR (Rogers)
10. Julio Teheran (ATL) -- Mon-@SD (Marquis), Sun-SF (Lincecum)
11. Felix Hernandez (SEA) -- Sat-@OAK (Griffin)
12. Shelby Miller (STL) -- Wed-@NYM (Gee)
13. Homer Bailey (CIN) -- Mon-@CHC (Feldman), Sat-MIL (Lohse)
14. Matt Harvey (NYM) -- Thu-STL (Wainwright)
15. CC Sabathia (NYY) -- Tue-@OAK (Colon), Sun-@LAA (Blanton)
16. Jeff Samardzija (CHC) -- Thu-CIN (Latos)
17. Anibal Sanchez (DET) -- Sat-@MIN (Deduno)
18. Doug Fister (DET) -- Mon-@KC (Guthrie), Sun-@MIN (Walters)
19. Jordan Zimmermann (WSH) -- Fri-@CLE (Masterson)
20. Justin Verlander (DET) -- Wed-@KC (Shields)
21. Lance Lynn (STL) -- Sat-@MIA (Koehler)
22. Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD) -- Wed-ARI (Corbin)
23. Zack Greinke (LAD) -- Tue-ARI (Kennedy)
24. Gio Gonzalez (WSH) -- Thu-@COL (Francis)
25. Clay Buchholz (BOS) -- Fri-@BAL (Tillman)
26. Mat Latos (CIN) -- Thu-@CHC (Samardzija)
27. Madison Bumgarner (SF) -- Fri-@ATL (Medlen)
28. Derek Holland (TEX) -- Tue-CLE (Kluber), Sun-TOR (Wang)
29. Patrick Corbin (ARI) -- Wed-@LAD (Ryu)
30. A.J. Burnett (PIT) -- Fri-LAD (Fife)
31. Matt Moore (TB) -- Fri-KC (Mendoza)
32. Jered Weaver (LAA) -- Mon-@BAL (Garcia)
33. Jon Lester (BOS) -- Tue-@TB (Hernandez)
34. Matt Cain (SF) -- Thu-@PIT (Rodriguez)
35. Matt Garza (CHC) -- Tue-CIN (Cingrani), Sun-@NYM (Hefner)
36. Hiroki Kuroda (NYY) -- Thu-@OAK (Parker)
37. John Lackey (BOS) -- Mon-@TB (Cobb), Sun-@BAL (Gonzalez)
38. James Shields (KC) -- Wed-DET (Verlander)
39. Francisco Liriano (PIT) -- Wed-SF (Zito)
40. Michael Wacha (STL) -- Tue-@NYM (Hefner), Sun-@MIA (Nolasco)
41. Justin Masterson (CLE) -- Fri-WSH (Zimmermann)
42. Cole Hamels (PHI) -- Tue-@MIN (Walters), Sun-@COL (Chacin)
43. Jose Fernandez (MIA) -- Fri-STL (Lyons)
44. Ricky Nolasco (MIA) -- Mon-MIL (Gallardo), Sun-STL (Wacha)
45. A.J. Griffin (OAK) -- Sat-SEA (Hernandez)
46. Bartolo Colon (OAK) -- Tue-NYY (Sabathia), Sun-SEA (Iwakuma)
47. Miguel Gonzalez (BAL) -- Tue-LAA (Vargas), Sun-BOS (Lackey)
48. Jarrod Parker (OAK) -- Thu-NYY (Kuroda)
49. Tony Cingrani (CIN) -- Tue-@CHC (Garza), Sun-MIL (Gallardo)
50. Kris Medlen (ATL) -- Fri-SF (Bumgarner)
51. R.A. Dickey (TOR) -- Mon-@CWS (Axelrod), Sat-@TEX (Ogando)
52. Mike Leake (CIN) -- Wed-@CHC (Wood)
53. Gerrit Cole (PIT) -- Tue-SF (Lincecum), Sun-LAD (Kershaw)
54. Jeff Locke (PIT) -- Sat-LAD (Magill)
55. Ervin Santana (KC) -- Thu-@TB (Hellickson)
56. Bronson Arroyo (CIN) -- Fri-MIL (Gorzelanny)
57. Yovani Gallardo (MIL) -- Mon-@MIA (Nolasco), Sun-@CIN (Cingrani)
58. Tommy Milone (OAK) -- Fri-SEA (Saunders)
59. Scott Feldman (CHC) -- Mon-CIN (Bailey), Sat-@NYM (Niese)
60. Tim Lincecum (SF) -- Tue-@PIT (Cole), Sun-@ATL (Teheran)
61. C.J. Wilson (LAA) -- Sat-NYY (Phelps)
62. Tim Hudson (ATL) -- Tue-@SD (Cashner)
63. Paul Maholm (ATL) -- Wed-@SD (Volquez)
64. Wandy Rodriguez (PIT) -- Thu-SF (Cain)
65. Eric Stults (SD) -- Fri-ARI (Cahill)
66. Tyler Lyons (STL) -- Fri-@MIA (Fernandez)
67. Trevor Cahill (ARI) -- Fri-@SD (Stults)
68. Andrew Cashner (SD) -- Tue-ATL (Hudson)
69. Wade Miley (ARI) -- Mon-@LAD (Kershaw), Sun-@SD (Marquis)
70. Phil Hughes (NYY) -- Wed-@OAK (Straily)
71. Chris Tillman (BAL) -- Fri-BOS (Buchholz)
72. Jorge De La Rosa (COL) -- Wed-WSH (TBD)
73. Dan Haren (WSH) -- Tue-@COL (Chacin), Sun-@CLE (Kluber)
74. Dan Straily (OAK) -- Wed-NYY (Hughes)
75. John Danks (CWS) -- Fri-@HOU (Bedard)
Two-start options for AL-/NL-only leagues:
Dylan Axelrod (CWS) -- Mon-TOR (Dickey), Sun-@HOU (Keuchel)
Jhoulys Chacin (COL) -- Tue-WSH (Haren), Sun-PHI (Hamels)
Jeremy Guthrie (KC) -- Mon-DET (Fister), Sat-@TB (Cobb)
Jeremy Hefner (NYM) -- Tue-STL (Wacha), Sun-CHC (Garza)
Dallas Keuchel (HOU) -- Mon-@SEA (Iwakuma), Sun-CWS (Axelrod)
Jason Marquis (SD) -- Mon-ATL (Teheran), Sun-ARI (Miley)
Alexi Ogando (TEX) -- Mon-CLE (Kazmir), Sat-TOR (Dickey)
No-thank-yous, among two-start pitchers:
Wade Davis (KC) -- Tue-DET (Scherzer), Sun-@TB (Hernandez)
Freddy Garcia (BAL) -- Mon-LAA (Weaver), Sat-BOS (Dempster)
Roberto Hernandez (TB) -- Tue-BOS (Lester), Sun-KC (Davis)
Scott Kazmir (CLE) -- Mon-@TEX (Ogando), Sat-WSH (Karns)
Corey Kluber (CLE) -- Tue-@TEX (Holland), Sun-WSH (Haren)
P.J. Walters (MIN) -- Tue-PHI (Hamels), Sun-DET (Fister)
Chien-Ming Wang (TOR) -- Tue-@CWS (Quintana), Sun-@TEX (Holland)
[h=3]Pitching advantages[/h]
• Brandon Beachy might be only days away from being ready to rejoin the Atlanta Braves' rotation, but the obvious man he'd replace, Julio Teheran, isn't pitching at all like a man in need of demotion. Teheran is the No. 7 starting pitcher on our Player Rater the past 30 days (as of June 7), and he has six consecutive quality starts and 20 K's over 14 2/3 innings in his past two games combined. He faces a brilliant pair of matchups, including a Monday assignment at San Diego's Petco Park, then a Sunday home game against a San Francisco Giants team that he defeated May 9 (7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER), and should be in all lineups this week.
But who goes if Teheran doesn't? Colleague Eric Karabell took a closer look at the options on Thursday, but the upshot for fantasy lineup planning is that all Braves starters face job motivation -- no one really wants to go. It's perhaps in some small part the reason behind every incumbent member having tossed a quality start in his most recent turn, and it's a rationale for using every Braves pitcher even in shallow mixed leagues this week. Again, these are favorable matchups: The San Diego Padres have .247/.319/.374 triple-slash rates at home, their .693 OPS there sixth worst in the game, while the Giants have .257/.307/.365 rates, their .671 a bottom-10 number, in the past three weeks (May 17-June 6).
• Two-start Michael Wacha is the headliner for a brilliant week worth of pitching matchups for the St. Louis Cardinals: They play three games apiece at New York's Citi Field and Miami's Marlins Park, facing teams that rank last and next-to-last in OPS in home games -- the New York Mets have .215/.296/.351 rates at home, the Miami Marlins .225/.286/.305 at home. The reason Wacha gets such faith in both ratings and my rankings is simple: He has a brilliant changeup and the Mets and Marlins are among the worst teams in baseball against that pitch, with the Mets sporting a .571 OPS and 26.1 percent K rate against changeups, the Marlins a .564 OPS and 24.8 percent K rate against them. That's to say nothing about Wacha's command of his arsenal of pitches, which was largely the problem behind his poor second big-league start, but at least his matchups offer promise.
Tyler Lyons' ownership percentage in ESPN leagues (29.0) rose above the cutoff for Streamer's Delight candidacy, but he's well worth consideration facing the Marlins in their pitching-friendly ballpark on Friday. He continues to minimize walks (1.77 per nine) and generates a high rate of ground balls (53.3 percent), diminishing the Marlins' already slim hopes of getting anything going against him.
• 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. Phil Hughes (@OAK, Wednesday): He has made two career starts at O.co Coliseum, and has a 1.80 ERA and 9.60 K's per nine ratio in them.
2. Tony Cingrani (@CHC, Tuesday): He already has a 0.69 WHIP and 14 K's in 13 innings in two starts versus the Chicago Cubs this season.
3. Bud Norris (@SEA, Tuesday): He has a filthy slider (.209/.244/.312, 32.6 K% since 2011) and the Seattle Mariners have a 35.8 percent K rate against sliders.
4. Corey Kluber (WSH, Sunday): He has 9.85 K-per-nine and 6.00 K-to-walk ratios, and the Washington Nationals are the sixth most whiff-prone team since May 1.
5. Tyler Skaggs (@SD, Saturday): Petco Park is an ideal place to expect good things from a high-strikeout (10.03 K/9 in 2013), fly-baller (47.7 career FB%).
[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 6/10 </center> | <center> Tue 6/11 </center> | <center> Wed 6/12 </center> | <center> Thu 6/13 </center> | <center> Fri 6/14 </center> | <center> Sat 6/15 </center> | <center> Sun 6/16 </center> |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| 7 total 7 home 2 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 6 L: 4 R: 9 S: 10 | LAA H: 3 L: 4 R: 3 S: 7 | LAA H: 7 L: 5 R: 8 S: 7 | LAA H: 6 L: 6 R: 6 S: 10 | BOS H: 7 L: 6 R: 7 S: 7 | BOS H: 2 L: 2 R: 4 S: 6 | BOS H: 6 L: 4 R: 10 S: 7 | BOS H: 3 L: 1 R: 9 S: 8 |
|
| 7 total 0 home 0 vs. L 7 vs. R | H: 8 L: 10 R: 7 S: 4 | @TB H: 1 L: 4 R: 1 S: 8 | @TB H: 6 L: 8 R: 2 S: 7 | @TB H: 4 L: 8 R: 1 S: 6 | @BAL H: 10 L: 10 R: 10 S: 1 | @BAL H: 8 L: 6 R: 10 S: 1 | @BAL H: 7 L: 8 R: 4 S: 2 | @BAL H: 4 L: 3 R: 7 S: 1 |
|
| 6 total 3 home 2 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 7 L: 8 R: 6 S: 7 | TOR H: 4 L: 5 R: 4 S: 4 | TOR H: 9 L: 10 R: 6 S: 5 | TOR H: 3 L: 6 R: 2 S: 4 | @HOU H: 8 L: 8 R: 7 S: 7 | @HOU H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 8 | @HOU H: 7 L: 7 R: 7 S: 8 | |
|
| 6 total 3 home 1 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 7 L: 6 R: 8 S: 7 | @TEX H: 5 L: 3 R: 8 S: 6 | @TEX H: 6 L: 4 R: 7 S: 6 | @TEX H: 3 L: 6 R: 2 S: 7 | WSH H: 3 L: 5 R: 2 S: 5 | WSH H: 10 L: 10 R: 10 S: 7 | WSH H: 10 L: 6 R: 10 S: 6 | |
|
| 6 total 0 home 1 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 7 L: 6 R: 7 S: 5 | @KC H: 6 L: 8 R: 4 S: 3 | @KC H: 7 L: 8 R: 6 S: 4 | @KC H: 3 L: 3 R: 5 S: 4 | @MIN H: 6 L: 5 R: 6 S: 6 | @MIN H: 4 L: 3 R: 6 S: 6 | @MIN H: 8 L: 6 R: 9 S: 6 | |
|
| 6 total 3 home 2 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 6 L: 6 R: 4 S: 3 | @SEA H: 2 L: 3 R: 3 S: 2 | @SEA H: 6 L: 6 R: 5 S: 2 | @SEA H: 9 L: 10 R: 4 S: 2 | CWS H: 4 L: 5 R: 4 S: 5 | CWS H: 4 L: 4 R: 5 S: 6 | CWS H: 4 L: 5 R: 5 S: 5 | |
|
| 7 total 3 home 1 vs. L 6 vs. R | H: 4 L: 5 R: 3 S: 9 | DET H: 4 L: 4 R: 4 S: 5 | DET H: 1 L: 2 R: 1 S: 7 | DET H: 4 L: 5 R: 5 S: 7 | @TB H: 4 L: 4 R: 5 S: 6 | @TB H: 3 L: 3 R: 4 S: 7 | @TB H: 1 L: 4 R: 1 S: 8 | @TB H: 6 L: 8 R: 2 S: 7 |
|
| 6 total 3 home 2 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 5 L: 4 R: 6 S: 1 | @BAL H: 7 L: 8 R: 4 S: 2 | @BAL H: 4 L: 3 R: 7 S: 1 | @BAL H: 7 L: 7 R: 6 S: 1 | NYY H: 3 L: 1 R: 5 S: 3 | NYY H: 3 L: 4 R: 3 S: 3 | NYY H: 4 L: 4 R: 5 S: 4 | |
|
| 6 total 6 home 2 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 4 L: 5 R: 3 S: 6 | PHI H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 5 | PHI H: 8 L: 10 R: 6 S: 4 | PHI H: 2 L: 3 R: 2 S: 3 | DET H: 5 L: 6 R: 3 S: 7 | DET H: 3 L: 4 R: 3 S: 7 | DET H: 3 L: 4 R: 4 S: 5 | |
|
| 6 total 0 home 1 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 5 L: 5 R: 4 S: 8 | @OAK H: 2 L: 5 R: 1 S: 5 | @OAK H: 1 L: 3 R: 1 S: 6 | @OAK H: 3 L: 3 R: 5 S: 6 | @LAA H: 9 L: 9 R: 7 S: 9 | @LAA H: 6 L: 5 R: 6 S: 8 | @LAA H: 5 L: 4 R: 7 S: 7 | |
|
| 6 total 6 home 2 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 4 L: 2 R: 5 S: 2 | NYY H: 4 L: 4 R: 4 S: 4 | NYY H: 5 L: 4 R: 7 S: 4 | NYY H: 4 L: 5 R: 3 S: 4 | SEA H: 6 L: 1 R: 8 S: 1 | SEA H: 2 L: 4 R: 1 S: 2 | SEA H: 2 L: 3 R: 3 S: 2 | |
|
| 6 total 3 home 2 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 4 L: 5 R: 4 S: 7 | HOU H: 7 L: 7 R: 7 S: 8 | HOU H: 5 L: 6 R: 4 S: 8 | HOU H: 5 L: 4 R: 6 S: 7 | @OAK H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 5 | @OAK H: 2 L: 3 R: 3 S: 4 | @OAK H: 2 L: 5 R: 1 S: 5 | |
|
| 7 total 7 home 1 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 8 L: 9 R: 7 S: 7 | BOS H: 2 L: 1 R: 8 S: 8 | BOS H: 6 L: 8 R: 5 S: 7 | BOS H: 6 L: 6 R: 6 S: 9 | KC H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 5 | KC H: 7 L: 8 R: 5 S: 4 | KC H: 6 L: 8 R: 4 S: 3 | KC H: 7 L: 8 R: 6 S: 4 |
|
| 7 total 7 home 2 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 10 L: 8 R: 10 S: 5 | CLE H: 10 L: 5 R: 10 S: 3 | CLE H: 7 L: 7 R: 7 S: 4 | CLE H: 8 L: 7 R: 9 S: 4 | TOR H: 6 L: 3 R: 7 S: 4 | TOR H: 4 L: 4 R: 7 S: 6 | TOR H: 4 L: 5 R: 4 S: 4 | TOR H: 9 L: 10 R: 6 S: 5 |
|
| 7 total 0 home 3 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 7 L: 5 R: 8 S: 8 | @CWS H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 5 | @CWS H: 6 L: 5 R: 7 S: 5 | @CWS H: 3 L: 1 R: 4 S: 5 | @TEX H: 2 L: 4 R: 1 S: 7 | @TEX H: 10 L: 10 R: 8 S: 6 | @TEX H: 5 L: 3 R: 8 S: 6 | @TEX H: 6 L: 4 R: 7 S: 6 |
|
| 6 total 0 home 4 vs. L 2 vs. R | H: 3 L: 1 R: 4 S: 6 | @LAD H: 1 L: 1 R: 2 S: 4 | @LAD H: 6 L: 6 R: 6 S: 4 | @LAD H: 1 L: 2 R: 1 S: 3 | @SD H: 1 L: 1 R: 3 S: 7 | @SD H: 6 L: 1 R: 8 S: 7 | @SD H: 6 L: 8 R: 3 S: 8 | |
|
| 6 total 3 home 1 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 5 L: 6 R: 4 S: 8 | @SD H: 6 L: 8 R: 3 S: 8 | @SD H: 5 L: 4 R: 5 S: 8 | @SD H: 6 L: 7 R: 4 S: 8 | SF H: 2 L: 4 R: 3 S: 6 | SF H: 2 L: 7 R: 1 S: 5 | SF H: 6 L: 4 R: 7 S: 7 | |
|
| 7 total 4 home 2 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 5 L: 7 R: 4 S: 3 | CIN H: 4 L: 6 R: 3 S: 3 | CIN H: 6 L: 3 R: 7 S: 2 | CIN H: 6 L: 6 R: 6 S: 2 | CIN H: 3 L: 5 R: 2 S: 3 | @NYM H: 3 L: 6 R: 1 S: 4 | @NYM H: 4 L: 5 R: 4 S: 4 | @NYM H: 5 L: 7 R: 2 S: 4 |
|
| 7 total 3 home 2 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 6 L: 8 R: 6 S: 8 | @CHC H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 7 | @CHC H: 4 L: 6 R: 3 S: 5 | @CHC H: 4 L: 1 R: 5 S: 5 | @CHC H: 3 L: 5 R: 1 S: 7 | MIL H: 6 L: 10 R: 2 S: 7 | MIL H: 6 L: 5 R: 7 S: 5 | MIL H: 7 L: 7 R: 7 S: 6 |
|
| 6 total 6 home 2 vs. L 3 vs. R | H: 8 L: 9 R: 7 S: 6 | WSH H: 10 L: 8 R: 10 S: 6 | WSH H: 7 L: 7 R: 7 S: 6 | WSH H: 3 L: 5 R: 4 S: 6 | PHI H: 6 L: 6 R: 6 S: 3 | PHI H: 8 L: 10 R: 4 S: 5 | PHI H: 6 L: 6 R: 7 S: 5 | |
|
| 6 total 3 home 3 vs. L 3 vs. R | H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 4 | ARI H: 6 L: 5 R: 6 S: 1 | ARI H: 8 L: 7 R: 8 S: 1 | ARI H: 3 L: 1 R: 5 S: 1 | @PIT H: 3 L: 6 R: 2 S: 8 | @PIT H: 2 L: 5 R: 2 S: 6 | @PIT H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 7 | |
|
| 6 total 6 home 1 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 6 L: 7 R: 7 S: 3 | MIL H: 7 L: 7 R: 6 S: 6 | MIL H: 7 L: 7 R: 6 S: 6 | MIL H: 8 L: 7 R: 8 S: 6 | STL H: 3 L: 9 R: 2 S: 1 | STL H: 4 L: 7 R: 2 S: 1 | STL H: 3 L: 1 R: 10 S: 1 | |
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| 6 total 0 home 1 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 4 L: 4 R: 4 S: 3 | @MIA H: 4 L: 5 R: 3 S: 4 | @MIA H: 3 L: 1 R: 5 S: 5 | @MIA H: 6 L: 6 R: 6 S: 4 | @CIN H: 4 L: 7 R: 2 S: 2 | @CIN H: 4 L: 5 R: 3 S: 3 | @CIN H: 5 L: 3 R: 7 S: 2 | |
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| 6 total 6 home 0 vs. L 6 vs. R | H: 3 L: 3 R: 5 S: 3 | STL H: 3 L: 1 R: 10 S: 1 | STL H: 1 L: 5 R: 1 S: 1 | STL H: 2 L: 3 R: 4 S: 1 | CHC H: 7 L: 7 R: 7 S: 6 | CHC H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 7 | CHC H: 4 L: 6 R: 2 S: 5 | |
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| 6 total 0 home 0 vs. L 5 vs. R | H: 9 L: 7 R: 9 S: 5 | @MIN H: 8 L: 6 R: 9 S: 6 | @MIN H: 8 L: 8 R: 6 S: 6 | @MIN H: 8 L: 6 R: 9 S: 5 | @COL H: 6 L: 6 R: 7 S: 4 | @COL H: 7 L: 7 R: 7 S: 4 | @COL H: 6 L: 4 R: 8 S: 3 | |
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| 6 total 6 home 2 vs. L 4 vs. R | H: 6 L: 7 R: 6 S: 6 | SF H: 6 L: 4 R: 7 S: 7 | SF H: 7 L: 8 R: 6 S: 6 | SF H: 3 L: 5 R: 2 S: 6 | LAD H: 8 L: 7 R: 8 S: 5 | LAD H: 10 L: 10 R: 5 S: 4 | LAD H: 1 L: 1 R: 2 S: 4 | |
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| 6 total 0 home 0 vs. L 6 vs. R | H: 4 L: 6 R: 2 S: 4 | @NYM H: 5 L: 7 R: 2 S: 4 | @NYM H: 7 L: 8 R: 5 S: 4 | @NYM H: 1 L: 2 R: 2 S: 5 | @MIA H: 1 L: 3 R: 1 S: 4 | @MIA H: 6 L: 7 R: 4 S: 4 | @MIA H: 4 L: 5 R: 3 S: 4 | |
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| 6 total 6 home 3 vs. L 3 vs. R | H: 4 L: 1 R: 4 S: 3 | ATL H: 1 L: 4 R: 1 S: 7 | ATL H: 2 L: 3 R: 3 S: 6 | ATL H: 3 L: 2 R: 4 S: 6 | ARI H: 6 L: 5 R: 6 S: 2 | ARI H: 5 L: 1 R: 7 S: 1 | ARI H: 6 L: 5 R: 6 S: 1 | |
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| 6 total 0 home 3 vs. L 3 vs. R | H: 1 L: 1 R: 1 S: 7 | @PIT H: 5 L: 5 R: 5 S: 7 | @PIT H: 1 L: 1 R: 3 S: 7 | @PIT H: 4 L: 3 R: 4 S: 7 | @ATL H: 1 L: 3 R: 2 S: 6 | @ATL H: 1 L: 2 R: 1 S: 6 | @ATL H: 2 L: 5 R: 1 S: 7 | |
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| 6 total 0 home 3 vs. L 3 vs. R | H: 8 L: 5 R: 8 S: 4 | @COL H: 6 L: 4 R: 8 S: 3 | @COL H: 7 L: 8 R: 7 S: 4 | @COL H: 10 L: 4 R: 10 S: 4 | @CLE H: 4 L: 6 R: 1 S: 3 | @CLE H: 9 L: 3 R: 10 S: 3 | @CLE H: 6 L: 6 R: 6 S: 4 |
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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.
[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, Tampa Bay Rays 7, Texas Rangers 7
Versus RH: Boston Red Sox 7, Kansas City Royals 6, New York Mets 6, St. Louis Cardinals 6
Versus LH: Arizona Diamondbacks 4, Toronto Blue Jays 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 3, Pittsburgh Pirates 3, San Diego Padres 3, San Francisco Giants 3, Washington Nationals 3
• Look at that Philadelphia Phillies schedule: All six games against right-handed starters -- assuming that Tyler Chatwood gets the call for the Colorado Rockies on Saturday -- three of them at Colorado's Coors Field. This is a week of dream matchups for Domonic Brown and fellow left-handed slugger Ryan Howard. Brown has hit 14 of his 18 home runs against right-handers, while Howard is a .286/.359/.538 hitter in 23 career games at Coors.
• A seven-game, all-at-home week is a plus for the Texas Rangers, especially with four of them due to come against the injury-riddled Toronto Blue Jays rotation. That five of those games come against right-handed starters presents particularly intriguing opportunities for Jurickson Profar, A.J. Pierzynski and Chris McGuiness. Profar's inclusion is obvious, though to cite his stats, he's a .314/.324/.486 hitter against righties. Pierzynski is a .322/.344/.506 hitter against righties. And McGuiness, due to replace Mitch Moreland as the Rangers' left-handed side of a first-base platoon, was a .286/.388/.507 hitter against righties in Triple-A.
• Don't underestimate those favorable Baltimore Orioles stolen-base ratings. After all, the Orioles pace the majors in stolen-base success rate (86.0 percent), have the second-most successful steals (48) and the fourth-most attempts (56). There's no reason to expect Nate McLouth, second in the majors in steals (21), to slow down facing weak-armed Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox catchers Chris Iannetta and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and you might be able to squeeze a cheap steal or two out of Chris Dickerson or Ryan Flaherty in AL-only leagues.
