The lowest number of scheduled games for any team in the upcoming scoring period is six, and 10 teams are at the bottom of the heap. Then, there are 18 teams with seven games on the agenda. Finally, two teams are at the top of the heap, playing eight games next week.
Notable Matchups
New York Yankees at PIT (2), at BOS (4)
Sadly, the Bronx Bombers are one of 10 teams that drew the short stick for games next week. Nonetheless, there are two notable checks in the pros column for their hitters. First, their pitching matchups are good. Second, they’ll play four games at Fenway Park. According to the MLB park factors, Fenway Park is the second-highest scoring ballpark.
Tampa Bay Rays at BOS (3), at CIN (3)
The Rays are another team with a short week, at least relatively speaking. However, like the Yankees, they’ll get a park-factor boost. In fact, they get a double-up for great park factors since Great American Ball Park (GABP) is behind only Coors Field and Fenway Park for runs, and it’s first for homers (1.352). In addition, since they’re scheduled to face five righties in the two hitter-friendly venues, Ji-Man Choi is an intriguing streamer in 14-team mixed leagues or larger and available in more than 85% of Yahoo! leagues.
Boston Red Sox vs. TB (3), vs. NYY (4)
The Boston Red Sox have a voluminous schedule with seven games on the docket. They’re also home for all seven games, enhancing their fantasy outlook substantially. Unfortunately, because they’re facing a mostly split mix of lefties and righties, they’re a better streaming source in leagues with daily lineup changes. So, gamers in deeper daily leagues can consider churning and burning Bobby Dalbec and Rob Refsnyder against lefties and Franchy Cordero and Jarren Duran against righties.
Colorado Rockies at LAD (3), at ARI (4)
The Rockies are on the road for seven games next week. The volume makes Colorado’s hitters an option for desperate gamers in weekly formats. However, they’re awful on the road. According to FanGraphs, the Rockies have a .350 wOBA at home, and their wOBA craters to .283 on the road.
New York Mets at CIN (3), vs. MIA (4)
The Mets get a homer outlook pick-me-up for three games at GABP to open the week. Volume is also on their side, playing a seven-game week. Leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo is the most interesting among their widely available players.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. NYY (2), at CIN (2), at MIL (3)
The Pirates have an oddly constructed seven-game week. Nonetheless, seven games are seven games. So, their young lineup will get a volume boost. Additionally, a two-game series at GABP is optimal for their tater-mashing potential. Unfortunately, the pitching matchups are challenging. As a result, streaming is a risky proposition.
Nevertheless, adventurous gamers in 14-team leagues or larger can consider Daniel Vogelbach and Jack Suwinski. Pittsburgh projects to face at least five righties, giving the duo the platoon advantage in those contests. In 164 plate appearances against righties this year, Vogelbach has clubbed 10 round-trippers with a palatable .255 batting average. Suwinski has hit just .233, but he’s launched seven long-balls in 129 plate appearances against righties.
Cincinnati Reds vs. NYM (3), vs. PIT (2), vs. TB (3)
The Reds haven’t been anything to write home about. Nevertheless, playing a week-high eight games in their launching pad maximizes their outlook in the upcoming scoring period. The percentage of rosters Joey Votto has been on has ebbed and flowed this year, dipping below 50% at Yahoo! presently. He’s the top target among Cincinnati’s most-available options. Since May 20, Votto has slashed .270/.373/.525 with five homers in 142 plate appearances.
Detroit Tigers vs. CLE (4), at CWS (4)
Like the Reds, the Tigers are essentially a fantasy wasteland. Still, they also play a week-high eight games. Sadly, their pitching matchups are challenging, and the ballparks they’re playing in aren’t as hitter-friendly as GABP. Thus, high-upside rookie Riley Greene is the only intriguing option from the Tigers available in more than 40% of Yahoo! leagues.
Hitter Notes
Yordan Alvarez (HOU) & Jeremy Pena (HOU)
Alvarez and Pena weren’t in Houston’s lineup on Thursday night after a terrifying collision in Wednesday’s game.
A scary collision in left field between Jeremy Pena and Yordan Alvarez as they tracked down a Dom Smith pop up.
Alvarez was carted off and Pena departed the game. pic.twitter.com/DjNRnFiNI3
– SNY (@SNYtv) June 29, 2022
Both were being evaluated for a concussion on Thursday. Given the tricky nature of brain injuries, gamers should monitor the situation before setting their lineups for next week.
Jiminez has had a stop-and-start rehab assignment for his hamstring injury. He resumed playing on June 21, but he’s hitting below the Mendoza Line with only one homer through 30 plate appearances and no other extra-base hits. The White Sox might want to see positive results at the plate before recalling him.
Pitcher Notes
There might be a light at the end of the tunnel for deGrom. He faced hitters on Wednesday and might make a rehab start on Sunday.
According to manager Aaron Boone, Chapman will be activated from the Injured List (IL) tonight.
Aaron Boone says Aroldis Chapman will be activated tomorrow, as expected.
– Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) June 30, 2022
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
