Skip to main content

MLB WEEKLY PLANNER: WEEK 15 (7/20 – 7/26)

MLB WEEKLY PLANNER: WEEK 15 (7/20 – 7/26)

FTA-LogoJamie Calandro breaks down week 15’s top matchups and streaming options.

This piece is part of our article program that features quality content from experts exclusively at FantasyPros. For more insight from Jamie head to Fantasy Team Advice.

Welcome to this edition of the fantasy baseball planner for Week 15 (7/20-7/26). Whether you play in a league that offers weekly or daily lineup changes, you can still gain a distinct advantage by scouring the matchups for the week ahead and by planning accordingly. This is the time to get your FAAB bids in or to make your waiver claims, and I’m here to help target to right guys.

STREAMING PITCHERS

TWO-START OPTIONS

Brett Anderson (LAD) – @ATL, @NYM
I think Anderson is a tremendous two-start streamer this week with two road starts against the Braves and Mets. He is posting an elite 66.6% GB rate this season and the Braves and Mets rank 23rd and 27th in team wOBA, respectively. Anderson’s problem has never been talent, only health, and he’s rocking right now.

Danny Salazar (CLE) – @MIL, vs CWS
Salazar has been scuffling at bit lately, but you don’t sit him when he has two starts. The prospect of getting 20, or even 25 strikeouts from him in a week is too good to pass up, and one of his starts is at home against the White Sox who rank dead last in both team wOBA and wRC+. Salazar has a 10.58 K/9 and a sparkling 2.95 xFIP (a run lower than his ERA).

Mat Latos (MIA) – @ARI, @SD
Latos has one favorable park (San Diego) and one unfavorable one (Arizona), but his two opponents are both heavily right-handed and rank in the bottom ten in the majors in wOBA against RHP. Latos’ K/9 is a respectable 8.00, and his xFIP is also a full run lower than his actual ERA. The scouts say his velocity is back to normal as well.

ONE-START WONDERS

Jordan Zimmermann (WAS) – vs NYM
Zimmermann is one of my prime bounce-back candidates for the second half, and it starts this week against the Mets, who has I said before, rank 27th in overall wOBA. They should struggle against Zimmermann, who keeps the ball on the ground incredibly well and has solid H/R splits too.

Trevor Bauer (CLE) – vs CWS
Bauer is a touchy play because he’s very inconsistent, but his matchup against the White Sox is great, as they rank last in both wOBA and wRC+. Strikeouts often reign supreme in fantasy, and Bauer has a healthy 8.74 K/9 while only allowing a 9.4 HR/FB%. Definitely worth the risk.

Andrew Cashner (SD) – vs MIA
I’m attacking Miami wherever possible now, as they rank 29th in wOBA against RHP and now Dee Gordon joins Giancarlo Stanton on the sidelines. Cashner hasn’t been spectacular, but he’s been effective, and some of his struggles are due to bad luck (3.70 FIP). He is still sporting a solid 7.96 K/9, and the matchup and park factor couldn’t be better.

STREAMING HITTERS – SIT OR START

START

Chris Carter (HOU)
The Astros face some very underwhelming pitchers next week, and now that the Red Sox have announced Brian Johnson as Tuesday’s starter, that’s another LHP for the Astros to face (who I love to target them against). Even with his ridiculous 33.8% K rate (ugh!), Carter has serious power appeal this week with his career .230 ISO.

Preston Tucker (HOU)
It’s likely Tucker isn’t owned in a lot of leagues, and he makes a great streamer this week. I mentioned the caliber of pitchers the Astros are facing, and as of right now, five of them are right-handed. Tucker has been batting second in Springer’s absence (right between Altuve and Correa), and Tucker has a .360 wOBA and .216 ISO vs RHP this season.

Adam Eaton (CWS)
Eaton has been absolutely brutal for most of the season, but he’s picked it up the past month big time, slashing a .347/.420/.569 against RHP, who the Sox are currently scheduled to face five of. Eaton still hits atop that lineup, and if their offense finally does what it’s projected to do, Eaton could be in for a lot of runs and stolen bases.

SIT

Curtis Granderson (NYM)
The Mets face a stiff challenge this coming week in terms of opponents. After this weekend’s bout with the Cardinals (ranked first in ERA), they have to face Washington and the Dodgers who are ranked ninth and fourth in ERA, respectively. Now that Clayton Kershaw has been pushed back to Saturday, he aligns with the Mets, making Grandy’s week that much tougher. I’d err on the side of caution this week for someone better, especially if you’re in a points league that takes away for strikeouts.

Evan Longoria (TB)
When I feel strongly about sitting a big name player, I’m not shy about putting it down, and Longo fits that bill for me this week. Of course, you have to have a viable alternative, but I think there are plenty. The Rays have struggled against RHP all season, and are scheduled to face six of them this coming week. Longoria has a terrible .138 ISO and 20.4% K rate, and the Rays as a whole have struck out the most against RHP since July 1.

Jung Ho Kang (PIT)
There is a lot of appeal to owning Kang this week based on his likelihood to start every day for Josh Harrison, but man does he face some tough pitchers this week. Kang’s biggest appeal by far has been against LHP, but he only faces one of them this week. Considering he has to see names like Max Scherzer and Sonny Gray, Kang is best avoided in week 15.

Jamie is the Lead Baseball Writer for Fantasy Team Advice. Be sure to check back next Sunday for his Weekly Planner. For questions and answers, find him on Twitter @jac3600.

More Articles

Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Jordan Romano, Michael Kopech, Paul Sewald (2024)

Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Jordan Romano, Michael Kopech, Paul Sewald (2024)

fp-headshot by Austin Lowell | 4 min read
13 Bold Predictions from the Experts (2024 Fantasy Baseball)

13 Bold Predictions from the Experts (2024 Fantasy Baseball)

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 5 min read
Fantasy Baseball Injury Stash Rankings: Walker Buehler, Matt McClain, Josh Lowe (2024)

Fantasy Baseball Injury Stash Rankings: Walker Buehler, Matt McClain, Josh Lowe (2024)

fp-headshot by Joel Bartilotta | 4 min read
Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice: Players to Buy Low & Sell High (Week 1)

Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice: Players to Buy Low & Sell High (Week 1)

fp-headshot by Brett Ussery | 4 min read

About Author

Hide

Current Article

3 min read

Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Jordan Romano, Michael Kopech, Paul Sewald (2024)

Next Up - Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Jordan Romano, Michael Kopech, Paul Sewald (2024)

Next Article