There are zero teams saddled with just five games next week. With every team playing six or seven games, the primary focus turns from volume to pitching matchups and park factors. The hitter notes section is jam-packed with injury updates, and the pitcher notes feature news on three National League Central hurlers and a former Cy Young Award winner who suffered a significant injury Wednesday night.
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Notable Matchups
Red Sox at Orioles (3), vs. Mariners (3)
The pitching matchups for the Red Sox next week are drool-inducing. Half of the starters they project to face have an ERA north of six, and only one sits south of four. It’s a righty-heavy layout with five on tap. Boston’s hitters will get a bump for dingers (1.121 park factor for homers) in Baltimore for three games and a run-scoring bump (1.100 for runs) in their home digs to close the week for three games.
White Sox at Indians (4), at Blue Jays (3)
The Pale Hose play a full slate of seven games next week, and all of them are on the road in hitter-friendly, homer-boosting parks. They’re also projected to face at least six righties, which is a boon to Yoan Moncada’s value. The switch-hitting infielder has hit all six of his homers this year against righties with a .316/.395/.618 slash line, and he entered the season with above-average numbers against them. Yonder Alonso also makes sense as a corner infield option in leagues as shallow as 12-team mixers. The left-handed hitting first baseman has been one of MLB’s unluckiest hitters. According to Baseball Savant’s Statcast numbers, he has a .263 expected batting average and .471 expected slugging despite currently batting .186/.301/.371.
Rockies vs. Giants (3), vs. Padres (3)
Next week is the type of week you draft Colorado’s hitters for. They’re home for back-to-back three-game series. Coors Field remains the cream of the crop for hitter-friendly venues, leading the way in park factor for runs (1.344) and homers (1.280).
Astros vs. Royals (3), vs. Rangers (4)
The Astros will be treated to some home cooking for a full slate of seven games in Houston next week. Minute Maid Park has the third-lowest park factor for runs (0.866) and also suppresses homers (0.945). The unfavorable park factors are offset by playing seven games and drawing some soft pitching matchups, with the exception of Mike Minor.
Dodgers vs. Braves (3), vs. Nationals (4)
The Dodgers, too, will play at home for seven games next week. Additionally, Dodger Stadium is also one of MLB’s most pitcher-friendly venues with the fourth-lowest park factor for runs (0.890). The Dodgers aren’t shy about mixing and matching players depending on the handedness of the opposing pitcher, and they project to face only two southpaws and five righties next week. The righty-heavy layout is favorable for Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, and Max Muncy.
Twins at Blue Jays (3), vs. Tigers (4)
The Twins — and for that matter, the Tigers — have a full seven-game week, but they get to that total as a result of a Saturday doubleheader. As I’ve done in previous years, I’ll suggest treating a seven-game week that includes a doubleheader as a six-game week with a cherry on top. The reason for this suggestion is simple: teams involved in doubleheaders will often sit regulars for one of the two contests instead of rolling out their normal lineup for both games.
Phillies at Cardinals (3), at Royals (3)
The Phillies open next week with three games in their homer-friendly ballpark (1.224) versus right-handed pitchers before picking up the services of a designated hitter for three games in Kansas City, also against only right-handed probable starters. Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto, and Maikel Franco all have reverse platoon splits for their careers, and Bryce Harper has a normal platoon split that favors facing righties. That makes the all-righty opposition of starters extremely favorable for some of Philadelphia’s top fantasy options.
Giants at Reds (1), at Rockies (3), vs. Reds (3)
There’s not much to like about San Francisco’s offense from a fantasy perspective. However, its hitters will get a lift from playing one game at Great American “Small” Park and three at Coors Field. Buster Posey has settled into a groove of late, and with at least six right-handed starters projected to face the Giants next week, Brandon Belt is a solid corner infield option in 12-team mixers or deeper leagues.
Mariners at Yankees (4), at Red Sox (3)
The Mariners have a two-series East Coast swing next week. Away from their pitcher-friendly home park, the hitters will get a pick-me-up from playing in a pair of hitter-friendly venues (1.060 for runs at Yankee Stadium and 1.100 at Fenway Park). The pitching matchups project to be against four southpaws and three righties, which isn’t great news for left-handed hitters Daniel Vogelbach and Omar Narvaez. The pitching split does enhance the values of Mitch Haniger, Domingo Santana, Edwin Encarnacion, and Tim Beckham.
Rangers at Pirates (2), at Astros (4)
Bad news abounds for hitters on the Rangers. First, they’ll be without a designated hitter for two games in Pittsburgh. Second, the pitching matchups are brutal. Third, both parks they’re playing in are run-suppressing environments.
Hitter Notes
Miguel Andujar (3B – NYY)
Troy Tulowitzki (SS – NYY)
Clint Frazier (OF – NYY)
Giancarlo Stanton (OF – NYY)
Aaron Hicks (OF – NYY)
This section of the Weekly Planner could be re-branded as the Bronx Bombers injury update, and I’d have plenty to write about. On that note, you can check out the progress — or lack thereof, in some cases — for this quintet of players here.
A.J. Pollock (OF – LAD)
Alex Verdugo (OF – LAD)
Pollock’s on the IL, and he’ll undergo surgery to remove a metal screw from his right elbow. He’ll miss significant time, seemingly opening the door for Verdugo to receive everyday playing time. The 22-year-old outfielder should be owned in all but the smallest of leagues. He joins the previously highlighted trio of Pederson, Seager, and Muncy in benefiting from the Dodgers facing five right-handed pitchers next week.
Odubel Herrera (OF – PHI)
Herrera’s nearing a return, and manager Gabe Kapler stated the outfielder could be activated from the IL on Sunday. He’ll have a golden opportunity to make up for lost time thanks to Philadelphia’s upcoming schedule against all right-handed starters in their six games next week.
Eloy Jimenez (OF – CHW)
Jimenez avoided a major injury crashing into a wall last week while chasing a fly ball that resulted in a homer. Still, he’s on the IL and will miss time with a sprained ankle. Despite his sluggish start, he’s one of the game’s top prospects and should be stashed in all but the shallowest of leagues.
Shohei Ohtani (Util – LAA)
Ohtani’s chomping at the bit to return, and that return could come next week. Gamers in leagues with weekly changes should keep him on the shelf for one more week, though.
Matt Olson (1B – OAK)
Olson began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Wednesday, and he’s nearing a return. He should be kept in an IL spot or on the bench for another week, but he could be good to go after that.
Pitcher Notes
Carlos Martinez (SP/RP – STL)
Alex Reyes (SP – STL)
Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch indicated Martinez could come back for the Red Birds in late May. The fact the hard-throwing righty is nearing a return is promising, but working out of the bullpen in a likely non-closing capacity crushes his fantasy value in most leagues. In the same highlighted piece, Gordon discusses Reyes getting stretched out to start later in the season. Reyes is presently dealing with a broken left pinkie that resulted from punching a wall. His control has eluded him in both the majors and minors this year, and he should be cut in most re-draft leagues. Prospect fatigue is probably setting in for managers holding him in dynasty leagues, but he’s a hold since his trade value is in the toilet and his upside remains high.
Jimmy Nelson (SP – MIL)
Nelson was supposed to begin a rehab assignment at the Triple-A level last Sunday, but that was pushed back as a result of joining his wife for the birth of twins. An update on when he’ll begin a rehab assignment hasn’t been given, but it should be around the corner. Nelson had a breakout 2017 season before undergoing surgery that September for a partially torn labrum and strained rotator cuff in his shoulder. Shoulder injuries are trickier to bounce back from than elbow injuries, but Michael Pineda serves as a recent example of a player coming back successfully. Pitching well at the Triple-A level would alleviate some concerns about his ability to return to pre-surgery success, but it’s best to exercise caution deploying him in fantasy leagues even after he rejoins the Brewers. For now, he’s a stash in leagues as shallow as 12-team mixers, but he’s not a must-stash player in leagues of that size if IL spots are at a premium.
Corey Kluber (SP – CLE)
Kluber was struck by a line drive Wednesday night, and he suffered a non-displaced fracture of the ulna. He’ll miss multiple weeks, but it could be multiple months. The Indians are expected to provide an update on Kluber’s timetable Friday.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
