A pair of teams play only five games next week, and one is featured in the notable matchups section. At the other end of the schedule spectrum is a team with eight games on the docket. The weekly check-in with the Rockies reveals some fantasy potential. An American League team plays twice in a National League park before returning home to their pitcher-friendly home digs for a four-game set with numerous brutal pitching matchups. The hitter notes section features updates on a half-dozen position players while a pair of pitching teammates comprise four of the six hurlers highlighted.
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Notable Matchups
Brewers vs. Twins (2), at Nationals (3)
The Brewers are one of the two teams with only five games next week. The short week hurts the value of their hitters, and the expected pitching matchups are split down the middle by handedness with one opposing starter a mystery at the moment. The short schedule coupled with at least two projected southpaws renders deep-league slugger Eric Thames a non-option in leagues with weekly lineup changes.
Rockies vs. Diamondbacks (3), vs. Marlins (3)
The Rockies were on the road all of this week, but they’ll return to MLB’s most hitter-friendly (1.344 for runs) and homer-friendly (1.280 for homers) park for a pair of three-game series next week. Stock up on all of Colorado’s hitters.
Twins at Brewers (2), at Rangers (4)
The Twins appear in this section essentially for Nelson Cruz watch. They’re visiting two organizations he previously played for, but he’ll likely be relegated to pinch-hitter duties for the two games at Miller Park — Cruz has yet to play in the field this season. He’s also not guaranteed to be healthy for the four-game series at Texas after getting hit on the wrist Thursday night. Regardless, if he avoids an IL stint, Cruz is a must-start player in leagues with weekly lineup changes. The burden of a short week should be eased by playing at MLB’s second-most hitter-friendly stadium for four games. Globe Life Park in Arlington has a park factor of 1.239 for runs and 1.145 for homers. The outlook is quite favorable for Minnesota’s hitters next week.
Athletics at Giants (2), vs. Astros (4)
The outlook is much less encouraging for Oakland’s hitters. First, they’ll lose the designated hitter for two games at Oracle Park, the toughest place in MLB to hit homers in with a park factor of 0.688 for dingers. Like Cruz, Khris Davis will likely be relegated to pinch-hitting appearances. As if that’s not bad enough, projected pitching matchups with Madison Bumgarner, the possibly resurgent Aaron Sanchez, Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke, and Gerrit Cole loom to make life even more difficult for A’s hitters next week.
Diamondbacks at Rockies (3), vs. Giants (4)
The Diamondbacks will get a pick-me-up for their offense with three games at Coors Field. The value of their hitters next week also gets a shot in the arm from playing a full complement of seven games.
Reds at Nationals (3), vs. Cardinals (4)
The Reds are another club with a seven-game week on the horizon, and at least six project to be against right-handed starters with only Monday’s starter for the Nationals up in the air. Left-handed hitting outfielder Jesse Winker has a substantial platoon split that favors facing right-handed pitchers, and he’s been a monster since the All-Star break with a .343/.443/.507 slash and a pair of homers in 79 plate appearances. The left-handed Joey Votto is also better against righties than lefties, and he’s flashed signs of life since shedding his choking-up ways late last month.
Angels vs. Pirates (3), vs. White Sox (4)
Much like I included the Twins in this section for their outstanding designated hitter, the Angels find themselves featured due to theirs. The Angels play all seven of their games at home next week, and at least six matchups project to be against right-handed pitchers. The layout is dreamy for Shohei Ohtani. The let-handed hitting designated hitter owns a .329/.382/.689 slash with 23 homers in 251 plate appearances at home against righties in his young MLB career.
Yankees vs. Orioles (4), vs. Indians (4)
The Yankees are the leaders in games scheduled next week with eight. All of them are at Yankee Stadium, home to a 1.060 park factor for runs and 1.265 park factor for homers. The pitching matchups are largely unimposing and mostly downright favorable for the Bronx Bombers. New York’s remaining healthy hitters should feast next week.
Hitter Notes
Alex Dickerson (OF – SF)
Dickerson has proven to be a nifty in-season acquisition for the Giants from San Diego’s crowded outfield, but San Francisco and fantasy gamers will have to wait longer than Sunday (when he’s first eligible to return from the IL) for more contributions. Dickerson has yet to begin taking batting practice, and manager Bruce Bochy, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic, indicates he could need a short rehab assignment before rejoining the parent club.
Dee Gordon (2B/OF – SEA)
Mitch Haniger (OF – SEA)
Gordon and Haniger both participated in pre-game work before Tuesday’s contest. Both could go out on a rehab assignment in the coming days, with Gordon closer to returning due to having been on the shelf for less time than Haniger, per Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish.
Christian Yelich (OF – MIL)
The Brewers were off Thursday, but Yelich has been out of the lineup in their past two games with a nagging back injury. According to an ESPN report, Yelich said it’s similar to issues he’s dealt with at other points throughout the season. Ideally, a few days off will do the trick for Yelich, but gamers will want to keep an eye on Milwaukee’s lineup Friday and make sure the reigning National League MVP doesn’t hit the IL in advance of setting next week’s lineup.
Luke Voit (1B – NYY)
Voit is on the IL with a hernia, but the decision to have season-ending surgery has yet to be made. There’s a chance more will be known in the coming days.
Anthony Rendon (3B – WAS)
Rendon was lifted early from Wednesday’s contest after getting hit by a pitch, but Jamal Collier of MLB.com tweeted word from manager Dave Martinez indicating the move was “for precautionary reasons.”
The Nationals were off Thursday, so, unfortunately, we haven’t yet seen him back in the lineup to confirm the stud third baseman is good to go. Gamers rostering Rendon will want to double-check Washington’s lineup Friday before rolling with him in their fantasy starting lineups.
Pitcher Notes
Yonny Chirinos (SP/RP – TB)
Blake Snell (SP – TB)
The injury news for Tampa Bay’s pitchers is a mixed bag. Chirinos will be shut down from throwing for a couple of weeks. He’ll need some time to build his innings back up, putting a potential return (without setbacks) in September. Surgery to remove loose bodies from Snell’s throwing elbow was a success. According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, he will start a throwing program while accompanying the team on a trip to Seattle.
Assuming no setbacks, Snell should return in September as well.
Brad Peacock (SP/RP – HOU)
Ryan Pressly (RP – HOU)
Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reported Pressly could be back Friday after throwing one clean rehab appearance for Double-A Corpus Christi. Rome’s colleague Hunter Atkins said Peacock is preparing to return as a reliever, which deals a significant blow to his fantasy value. Given the depth of Houston’s bullpen, Peacock is not even assured of hold opportunities for gamers holding out hope of usefulness in leagues using the stat.
Hyun-Jin Ryu (SP – LAD)
Ryu is set to return Sunday to start against the Diamondbacks, according to the Los Angeles Daily News‘ J.P. Hoornstra. Ryu has been nothing short of brilliant this season, but gamers wouldn’t be crazy to avoid starting him in his first turn back from the IL. The Diamondbacks are a tough assignment who rank fourth in wRC+ (115) against southpaws this season, per FanGraphs.
Craig Kimbrel (RP – CHC)
Kimbrel’s time with the Cubs hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts. He blew two saves while successfully converting nine and has an ugly 5.68 ERA (4.28 SIERA) and 1.66 WHIP through 14 appearances spanning 12.2 innings. He’ll have to wait to work on improving those numbers since he’s on the IL with knee inflammation. Kimbrel downplayed the significance of the injury and indicated he could probably pitch through it, but he and the Cubs are erring on the side of caution. Gamers in need of saves should hold tight.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
