After this weekend, there are only two weeks of games left. If you’re still checking out this piece at this point in the year, kudos for being in the mix in your roto league or chasing a championship in head-to-head formats. Now’s not the time to rest on your laurels, though. Things can get a little dicey this time of year as pitchers get shut down at pre-determined inning caps. While it won’t happen next week, gamers will also want to look a little further ahead at what playoff squads might shuffle their rotations in an attempt to prepare for their preferred postseason rotation alignment. Getting back to next week, there are no teams saddled with a five-game week, and there are no doubleheaders currently scheduled for next week. As a result, 22 teams play six games and the other eight play seven games.
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Notable Matchups
Cubs @ Diamondbacks (3), @ White Sox (3)
The Cubs’ lineup gets a pick me up facing their American League, intrastate rival at Guaranteed Rate Field. They’ll be able to use a designated hitter for that three-game series, which will get an extra one of their shuffling pieces in the lineup. Lefty Patrick Corbin is the toughest pitching matchup they’ll draw, and the rest of the pitching matchups are fairly soft.
Indians vs. White Sox (3), Red Sox (3)
The Tribe has a top-10 offense whether they’re on the road or at home, but they are better in their home digs. That’s good news for their hitters since they’re home for both three-game series next week. On the road, they own a .173 ISO and 99 wRC+, per FanGraphs. At home, those tick up to a .180 ISO and 107 wRC+. If Chris Sale gets the ball as expected on Sunday, the Indians will be in line to face him next week. However, the Red Sox aren’t going to overwork their ace, so it could be an abbreviated “opener” turn again.
Rockies @ Dodgers (3), @ Diamondbacks (3)
The Rockies are on the road for both of their three-game series next week. That’s a huge hit to the value of their hitters. They do play a three-game series starting tonight in San Francisco, so at least they’ll have the weekend to adjust to being away from the thin air in Colorado. The pitching matchups next week project to be split down the middle in terms of handedness, but it’s also a brutal run of strong starters they’ll be facing that includes Hyun-Jin Ryu, Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Zack Greinke, and Patrick Corbin. With all of Colorado’s games on the road next week and such a challenging run of pitchers on tap, gamers with a decent alternative should consider sitting DJ LeMahieu (.236/.286/.457 on the road this season).
Brewers vs. Reds (3), @ Pirates (3)
The Brewers open the week in their hitter-friendly home digs before playing three at pitcher-friendly PNC Park. What stands out most, though, is that they’re projected to face right-handed probable starting pitchers exclusively. The handedness of the pitching matchups leads to stock up for left-handed hitting infielders Travis Shaw and Mike Moustakas, and stock down for Ryan Braun (.254/.292/.410 versus right-handed pitchers this season).
Twins @ Tigers (3), @ Athletics (3)
The Twins have rarely been highlighted in this piece as a team with massive home/road splits, but they’re dreadful on the road. This year, they have just a .144 ISO and 84 wRC+ (23rd) on the road. The silver lining for gamers who are using hitters from the Twins next week is that the pitching matchups are ho-hum.
Yankees vs. Red Sox (3), vs. Orioles (3)
The Yankees lead MLB in ISO (.211) and wRC+ (120) at home. They’ve earned their Bronx Bombers moniker this year, and they’re home for all six games next week. Projected matchups with David Hess, Alex Cobb, and Andrew Cashner to round out the week are drool-inducing. They should pile up runs in bunches.
Athletics vs. Angels (3), Twins (3)
The A’s have been the best offense in baseball on the road as measured by wRC+ (118), and they’ve hit for the most power (.203), too. Their fly-ball tendencies don’t play as well in their homer-suppressing park, though. At home, they have a 101 wRC+ and .170 ISO. They project to face at least five right-handed starters with a potential bullpen game in the mix.
Mariners @ Astros (3), @ Rangers (3)
The Mariners open next week with three games in the toughest park to score runs in (0.850 park factor for runs). They conclude it with three in the ballpark with the second highest park factor for runs (1.172).
Rangers vs. Rays (3), vs. Mariners (3)
I’ve treated the Rangers much the same way I’ve treated the Rockies in this piece this year. They’re almost always featured because they have massive home/road splits (which is to be expected playing in the second most hitter-friendly park). The Rangers have tallied just a .146 ISO and 83 wRC+ on the road, but they’ve knocked visitors around for a .188 ISO and 102 wRC+ at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
Mets @ Phillies (3), @ Nationals (4)
The Mets offense has struggled mightily at home (.139 ISO and 86 wRC+) while performing like a totally different club on the road (.171 ISO and 103 wRC+). They play a full complement of games on the road next week, and both Citizens Bank Park and Nationals Park enhance homer hitting with park factors for homers of 1.234 and 1.030, respectively. The bad news for the Mets is that they have some tough pitching matchups next week that includes Aaron Nola, Max Scherzer, and Stephen Strasburg.
Rays @ Rangers (3), @ Blue Jays (4)
The Rays have been world beaters at home (112 wRC+) while slinking to below-average hitters on the road (97). However, Globe Life Park in Arlington isn’t your average road venue. Their pitching matchups are extremely soft next week, too. Despite their home/road splits that greatly favor playing at home, the schedule looks favorable for their hitters overall next week on the road.
Hitter Notes
Aaron Judge (NYY)
As the season winds down, Judge is running out of time to return and help the Yankees in the regular season and fantasy owners in the fantasy season. He took batting practice earlier this week, but he remains without a timetable for return. Unless the Yankees announce over the weekend a firm return date, gamers in leagues with weekly lineup changes will have to continue to keep him out of their active lineup.
Kyle Schwarber (CHC)
Schwarber hasn’t played in a game since appearing as a pinch-hitter September 8. He hasn’t started a game since September 5. The expectation is that he’ll return tonight. Schwarber’s been dealing with a stiff back. Gamers with daily lineup changes can start him tonight. Those in leagues with weekly lineup changes will want to make sure he doesn’t aggravate the injury before putting him in for next week.
Pitcher Notes
Clay Buchholz (ARI)
Buccholz has had one of the most shocking excellent seasons this year, but he was scratched from Thursday’s start with tightness in his throwing arm. Gamers in leagues with weekly lineup changes will want to check in on his status over the weekend before setting lineups.
Tyler Skaggs (LAA)
Skaggs threw a 48-pitch simulated game Thursday, but Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Angeles tweets that there’s no decision on his next step. Skaggs is in the midst of a career year, and he’s been cut loose in many fantasy leagues. Forward-thinking gamers with a bench spot or disabled list spot to work with — namely in head-to-head leagues — should check their free-agent pool to see if he’s available.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
