It is vital to look at important storylines and aspects this week to be ahead of the curve and gain an edge on your league mates. We have 20 such storylines for you to monitor. This guide will help you navigate the waiver wire, pinpoint potential streamers and more.
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20 Fantasy Baseball Things to Watch
1. Schedule Notes
- Zero teams play five games this week.
- The following teams play seven games this week:
- Boston Red Sox vs. TOR, vs. CWS
- Toronto Blue Jays at BOS, at BAL
- Kansas City Royals vs. MIN, at CLE
- Minnesota Twins at KC, vs. DET
2. National League West
The top four teams in the National League West started hot, which will be fun to watch all season long. The combined record of the Dodgers, Giants, Padres and Diamondbacks is 27-7. The first time any of these teams play each other isn’t until the end of April, so they will all have the opportunity to beat up on non-National League West teams before they play each other.
3. Yankees Torpedo Bats
The Yankees are leading the Majors in home runs and are second in runs so far this season, but they are about to face some great pitchers in Detroit and with the Giants coming to New York. They will line up against Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Robbie Ray, Jordan Hicks and Logan Webb, who have all been great so far. This will be a fun test of the Yankees’ offensive strengths.
4. Sacramento A’s
After spending the weekend in Colorado, the A’s come to their new home for a week-long homestand. In their first series at home, they gave up 35 runs in three games to the Cubs. They now face strong offensive teams in the Padres and Mets. This will be a good time to stream hitters against the weak A’s pitching in their Minor League park.
5. Dylan Crews (OF – WSH)
Dylan Crews has struggled, hitting .040/.077/.040 with zero home runs and one stolen base. More importantly, he has been hitting at the bottom of the lineup. He has started in the bottom third of the Nationals’ lineup in every game except one this season.
Crews should be able to bounce back as he is just a much better hitter than this slow start has shown, but if he is going to hit seventh, eighth or ninth this season, it limits his upside.
6. Michael Harris (OF – ATL)
Michael Harris started the season going 1-15 while batting in the six-hole for the Braves. However, the Braves moved him up to leadoff after the Jurickson Profar suspension. He has been much better since the move, hitting .400/.400/.667 with a home run.
Harris hasn’t drawn a single walk this season, so it may not work being the leadoff hitter for super long, but he has a ton more value at the top of the lineup rather than in the back half.
7. Thomas Harrington (SP – PIT)
Thomas Harrington struggled in his season debut, throwing four innings and allowing six runs, four walks and seven hits, while striking out two in the loss. Harrington was struggling with nerves as he had shown really good control in the Minor Leagues. If he stays up, he could be a really good fantasy pitcher, but he will need to perform well.
8. Chicago Closer Chaos
There won’t be many saves for the White Sox, but even if there were, it is hard to figure out who the closer is. They have yet to register a save, but there seem to be three main options in Mike Clevinger, Jordan Leasure and Cam Booser.
9. Marlins Closer Chaos
Calvin Faucher has struggled, which means there is an opening for saves in Miami. The smart money is on Anthony Bender, but we need to keep an eye out to see if this is more fluid or if someone else emerges.
10. Pirates Closer Chaos
David Bednar was sent down after struggling. The closer role is now open in Pittsburgh. Dennis Santana was the first to get an opportunity, and he was able to close the door for his first save.
However, on Sunday, Santana came into the game in the eighth. Ryan Borucki was given the ninth inning, but he promptly blew the chance. Santana is likely the main guy, but this could be a committee situation.
11 -14. Streaming Options
Ben Lively (SP – CLE) vs. CWS
Ben Lively is a boring pitcher, but he faces a terrible White Sox team at home and then lines up for a two-start week next week, which means you may be able to keep him for a bit.
Mitchell Parker (SP – WSH) at MIA
Mitchell Parker has looked good to start the season and is facing a terrible Marlins team in a great pitching park.
Trevor Williams (SP – WSH) at MIA
Is Trevor Williams good? No, but neither are the Marlins, and with this game being in a great pitcher’s park, I am willing to roll the dice here.
Nick Martinez (SP, RP – CIN) at SF
I know the Giants have been hot to start the season, but Nick Martinez was unstoppable on the road last season. I just don’t have a lot of faith in the Giants to keep it going.
15-20. Two-Start Options
Shane Smith (SP, RP – CWS) at CLE, vs. BOS
Don’t let the stat line in Shane Smith’s first start trick you because he looked nasty. This is a tough set of matchups because Cleveland is a tough park for right-handed pitchers and Boston’s lineup is loaded. However, if you’re looking for a high-risk gamble, I am betting on Smith this week in several leagues.
Logan Allen (RP – CLE) vs. CWS, vs. KC
Logan Allen did not look great in his first start, but nothing can cure those woes like kicking off a two-start week versus the worst team in baseball. Allen was great in spring training, so I am willing to take the gamble he bounces back here in a big way against a terrible and mediocre tandem of offenses.
Casey Mize (SP – DET) vs. NYY, at MIN
Casey Mize looked fantastic in his first start. He will be starting this week in a majority of leagues, but there is a ton of risk with how amazing the Yankees’ offense looks with these new torpedo bats. You aren’t afraid of the Twins, and at least the Yankees game is in Detroit, but there is a huge risk that he gets blown up in the first half.
Shane Baz (SP – TB) vs. LAA, vs. ATL
Shane Baz was fantastic in his first start, and now he is getting a bad Angels team and a struggling Braves offense. He won’t go deep, but he should be started just about everywhere.
Hayden Wesneski (SP, RP – HOU) at SEA, vs. LAA
Hayden Wesneski looked pretty good in his first start, but did struggle a bit with control. These are two nice matchups versus two bad offenses in the Mariners and Angels, so you probably should roll with him in most formats.
Richard Fitts (SP – BOS) vs. TOR, at CWS
With the rainout over the weekend, Richard Fitts is being pushed to a two-start week this week for the Red Sox. It works out well for him as he now gets a matchup at the end of the week with the White Sox. Fitts has looked good and now gets a chance to mow down the worst team in baseball.
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