It’s virtually impossible to see some things coming, but by preplanning for each and every week of the Fantasy Baseball season, you can often get a jump on the trends that are brewing around the league. Let’s take a look at how Week 9 of the MLB campaign is shaping up.
| TEAM | # GAMES | HOME | AWAY | OPPONENTS |
| Braves | 6 | 0 | 6 | at LAA (3), at CIN (3) |
| Marlins | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs. PHI (3), vs. ARI (4) |
| Mets | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs. MIL (4), vs. PIT (3) |
| Phillies | 6 | 3 | 3 | at MIA (3), vs. SF (3) |
| Nationals | 6 | 0 | 6 | at SF (3), at OAK (3) |
| Cubs | 6 | 3 | 3 | at SD (3), vs. STL (3) |
| Reds | 6 | 3 | 3 | at TOR (3), vs. ATL (3) |
| Brewers | 7 | 3 | 4 | at NYM (4), vs. LAD (3) |
| Pirates | 6 | 3 | 3 | vs. ARI (3), at NYM (3) |
| Cardinals | 7 | 4 | 3 | vs. LAD (4), at CHC (3) |
| Diamondbacks | 7 | 0 | 7 | at PIT (3), at MIA (4) |
| Rockies | 7 | 2 | 5 | vs. SEA (2), at SEA (2), vs. SD (3) |
| Dodgers | 7 | 0 | 7 | at STL (4), at MIL (3) |
| Padres | 6 | 6 | 0 | vs. CHC (3), vs. COL (3) |
| Giants | 6 | 3 | 3 | vs. WSH (3), at PHI (3) |
| Orioles | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs. NYY (3), vs. BOS (4) |
| Red Sox | 7 | 0 | 7 | at CWS (3), at BAL (4) |
| Yankees | 7 | 0 | 7 | at BAL (3), at TOR (4) |
| Rays | 6 | 0 | 6 | at TEX (3), at SEA (3) |
| Blue Jays | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs. CIN (3), vs. NYY (4) |
| White Sox | 6 | 3 | 3 | vs. BOS (3), at DET (3) |
| Indians | 7 | 4 | 3 | vs. OAK (4), at KC (3) |
| Tigers | 6 | 3 | 3 | at KC (3), vs. CWS (3) |
| Royals | 6 | 6 | 0 | vs. DET (3), vs. CLE (3) |
| Twins | 7 | 3 | 4 | vs. HOU (3), at LAA (4) |
| Astros | 6 | 0 | 6 | at MIN (3), at TEX (3) |
| Angels | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs. ATL (3), vs. MIN (4) |
| A's | 7 | 3 | 4 | at CLE (4), vs. WSH (3) |
| Mariners | 7 | 5 | 2 | at COL (2), vs. COL (2), vs. TB (3) |
| Rangers | 6 | 6 | 0 | vs. TB (3), vs. HOU (3) |
- There are no short, five-game slates to plan for this week, as 16 teams will take the field during each of the next seven days while the other 14 will do so a minimum of six times.
- According to ESPN Park Factors, Arizona’s Chase Field, Atlanta’s SunTrust Park and Yankee Stadium have all played as Top-10 hitting environments to this point in 2017, but all three of those venues are completely off the board this week.
- In addition, Coors Field in Colorado will host games on Monday and Tuesday, but the first-place Rockies will then hit the road for the ensuing five days. Manager Bud Black’s club is slugging a hefty .479 while plating 5.4 runs per game at its home park compared to marks of .414 and 4.8 in those same categories on the road.
- Scooter Gennett is having an excellent season playing in a utility role for the Reds so far this season. The fifth-year big leaguer has not only manned four different positions but has also made significant contributions from the batter’s box. Headed into play Sunday, Gennett was sporting a .315/.344/.522 slash line with 11 extra-base hits and 18 RBI across 96 plate appearances. He should see additional opportunities as the Reds take a three-day (Mon-Wed) trip to Toronto.
- Ever since the Red Sox made an offseason trade for Chris Sale, the Boston faithful, and really all baseball fans, have waited to see the dynamic duo he would form with fellow All-Star lefty David Price. After an injury-forced delay, that time finally appears to be here, as Price (elbow) is scheduled to make his 2017 debut for the Red Sox on Monday in Chicago. Price has not performed all that well (9.53 ERA) in two rehab outings and is expected to see a lighter than normal workload to start off. Thus, the relatively conservative ranking out of the gate.
- Another ace-caliber hurler returning from injury this week is James Paxton. The oft-injured, Seattle southpaw was having a sensational season before a forearm issue sent him to the DL back on May 2. Proceed with caution for Wednesday’s meeting with the Rockies, but if Paxton delivers a strong effort in that one, he will catapult back up the SP ranks.
- Robbie Ray has been a veritable Road Warrior for the Diamondbacks. The 25-year-old lefty, who currently boasts a ridiculous 0.81 ERA and 43-to-13 K/BB ratio across 33.1 innings away from home this season, is set to take the mound in Pittsburgh and Miami this week.
- It has been a tale of two months so far here in 2017 for Tyler Anderson. Over six starts in April, he struggled to an ugly 7.71 ERA while posting a lackluster 7.1 K/9. Turn the page to May, Anderson has cruised to a 2.55 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 11.9 K/9 through 24.2 innings.
- Corey Kluber is yet another big-name starter set to return from the DL this week. Kluber is expected to take on the A’s either Wednesday or Thursday in what seems like an inviting matchup at home in Cleveland.
- The White Sox have dealt with weather-related interruptions to their schedule in recent days, so their starting rotation is a bit in flux at the moment. Jose Quintana could be in line for a two-start week, but that is not certain as of Sunday morning. In any case, a showdown with the Red Sox on Monday or Tuesday, which could be followed by an outing in Detroit on Sunday, is not very appealing for a guy carrying a 4.82 ERA following an eight-run onslaught his last time out.
Nate Miller is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and has been an analyst in the industry since 2013. You can follow him on Twitter @Miller_RotoDad, where he is always up for fielding any Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Football or DFS questions.
