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 10 of the MLB campaign is shaping up. 

TEAM# GAMESHOMEAWAYOPPONENTS
Braves880vs. PHI (4), vs. NYM (4)
Marlins707at CHC (3), at PIT (4)
Mets606at TEX (2), at ATL (4)
Phillies707at ATL (4), at STL (3)
Nationals743at LAD (3), vs. BAL (1), vs. TEX (3)
Cubs770vs. MIA (3), vs. COL (4)
Reds743vs. STL (4), at LAD (3)
Brewers743vs. SF (4), at ARI (3)
Pirates642at BAL (2), vs. MIA (4)
Cardinals734at CIN (4), vs. PHI (3)
Diamondbacks660vs. SD (3), vs. MIL (3)
Rockies624vs. CLE (2), at CHC (4)
Dodgers660vs. WSH (3), vs. CIN (3)
Padres633at ARI (3), vs. KC (3)
Giants734at MIL (4), vs. MIN (3)
Orioles624vs. PIT (2), at WSH (1), at NYY (3)
Red Sox633at NYY (3), vs. DET (3)
Yankees660vs. BOS (3), vs. BAL (3)
Rays770vs. CWS (3), vs. OAK (4)
Blue Jays606at OAK (3), at SEA (3)
White Sox606at TB (3), at CLE (3)
Indians532at COL (2), vs. CWS (3)
Tigers633vs. LAA (3), at BOS (3)
Royals743vs. HOU (4), at SD (3)
Twins606at SEA (3), at SF (3)
Astros734at KC (4), vs. LAA (3)
Angels606at DET (3), at HOU (3)
A's734vs. TOR (3), at TB (4)
Mariners660vs. MIN (3), vs. TOR (3)
Rangers523vs. NYM (2), at WSH (3)

Analysis (Noteworthy information to keep in mind headed into the week)

 

  • There are a couple of five-game slates to be mindful of this week, as the Indians and Rangers will both have two of the next seven days off.

  • Right up at the top, the Braves eight-game load, all of which will be played at Atlanta’s SunTrust Park - currently MLB’s 5th-best hitting environment (ESPN Park Factors), certainly jumps off the page. The Braves and Mets will matchup Friday through Sunday with a doubleheader planned for Saturday. In addition, the Rays and A’s are also scheduled for a double-dip Saturday afternoon.

  • As far as starting pitchers for the upcoming weekend doubleheaders, the Mets reportedly plan to activate both Seth Lugo and Steven Matz from the DL in order to climb atop the mound in Atlanta on Saturday.  

  • Some other SPs that appear set for a return from the DL this week include Alex Wood (Sun vs. CIN), Taijuan Walker (Sat vs. MIL), Joe Musgrove (Tue @KC, Sun vs. LAA) and Jesse Hahn (Fri @TB).

*None of the Pitchers above will be found in the Rankings below.

Interleague Outlook Table

AWAY TEAMHOME TEAM# GAMESDH?PLAYER(S) IMPACTED
PiratesOrioles2YesJohn Jaso, Jose Osuna
OriolesNationals1NoTrey Mancini
IndiansRockies2NoAustin Jackson, Bradley Zimmer
RoyalsPadres3NoBrandon Moss
TwinsGiants3NoRobbie Grossman, Eddie Rosario
MetsRangers2YesWilmer Flores
RangersNationals3NoJoey Gallo, Mike Napoli

Analysis

  • Not too much to plan for regarding interleague play this week, but the Rangers three-day stay in D.C. over the weekend could result in decreased at-bats for sluggers Joey Gallo and Mike Napoli.

Top-50 SP Rankings Table

RANKPITCHERMATCHUP 1MATCHUP 2
1Max Scherzer@Dodgersvs. Rangers
2James Paxtonvs. Twinsvs. Blue Jays
3Chris Archervs. White Soxvs. A's
4Carlos Martinez@Redsvs. Phillies
5Robbie Rayvs. Padresvs. Brewers
6Dallas Keuchel@Royals 
7Zack Greinkevs. Padres 
8Clayton Kershawvs. Nationals 
9Chris Salevs. Tigers 
10Lance McCullers@Royals 
11Stephen Strasburg@Dodgers 
12Yu Darvishvs. Mets 
13Jacob deGrom@Rangers@Braves
14Jeff Samardzija@Brewersvs. Twins
15Carlos Carrascovs. White Sox 
16Luis Severinovs. Orioles 
17Ervin Santana@Giants 
18Michael Fulmervs. Angels 
19Adam Wainwright@Redsvs. Phillies
20Jimmy Nelsonvs. Giants 
21Jake Arrietavs. Marlinsvs. Rockies
22Sean Manaeavs. Blue Jays@Rays
23Gio Gonzalez@Dodgersvs. Rangers
24Trevor Bauervs. White Sox 
25Chase Andersonvs. Giants@Diamondbacks
26Jon Lestervs. Rockies 
27Dinelson Lamet@Diamondbacksvs. Royals
28Mike Foltynewiczvs. Phillies 
29Jose Berrios@Giants 
30Marco Estrada@A's 
31Mike Leake@Reds 
32Michael Pinedavs. Red Sox 
33Marcus Stroman@Mariners 
34Ivan Nova@Oriolesvs. Marlins
35Drew Pomeranz@Yankeesvs. Tigers
36Justin Verlander@Red Sox 
37Corey Kluber@Rockies 
38Jason Vargasvs. Astros 
39Jaime Garciavs. Philliesvs. Mets
40Junior Guerravs. Giants@Diamondbacks
41Dan Straily@Cubs@Pirates
42Lance Lynn@Reds 
43Johnny Cueto@Brewers 
44Dylan Bundy@Yankees 
45Kyle Hendricksvs. Rockies 
46Rick Porcello@Yankees 
47Mike Fiers@Royalsvs. Angels
48Jake Odorizzivs. White Sox 
49J.A. Happ@A's@Mariners
50David Price@Yankees 

Analysis

  • It’s quite difficult to pick a favorite between Max Scherzer and James Paxton for the top spot this week, but the slight edge goes to the N.L. ace. Even still, Paxton’s numbers on his home mound at Safeco Field, where he’ll make two starts this week, are simply ridiculous. Across four starts in Seattle so far this year, the sensational southpaw has surrendered just two runs (one earned) on 14 hits and eight walks while registering 29 punchouts over 25.2 innings.

  • A pair of Cardinals righties have taken up residence among the Top-20 starting pitchers for the week. Carlos Martinez, who put up a 2.03 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 8.3 K/9 in May, being in the Top-5 on a favorable two-start week should not be surprising. However, very few folks if any projected Adam Wainwright to regain “must-start” status at any point this year, or possibly the rest of his career for that matter. In case you’ve missed it, the three-time All-Star has given up only a single earned run across his last four outings (26.1 IP) while limiting opposing bats to a .172/.252/.215 slash line.

  • Speaking of surprises in the Top-20, Jimmy Nelson of the Brewers has been utterly dominant since the month of April wrapped up. Through six starts since the beginning of May, the hulking right-hander has rolled to the tune of a 1.77 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 42-to-6 K/BB ratio across 35.2 innings. A home start against the Giants (.648 OPS vs. RHP) is definitely inviting for Nelson.

Next 25 SP Rankings Table

RANKPITCHERMATCHUP 1MATCHUP 2
51Matt Moorevs. Twins 
52Eric Skoglund@Padres 
53Michael Wachavs. Phillies 
54Erasmo Ramirezvs. A's 
55Tanner Roarkvs. Rangers 
56Francisco Liriano@A's 
57Wade Mileyvs. Pirates 
58Sonny Gray@Rays 
59Ariel Mirandavs. Blue Jays 
60C.C. Sabathiavs. Red Sox 
61German Marquez@Cubs 
62Gerrit Colevs. Marlins 
63Julio Teheranvs. Mets 
64Jordan Montgomeryvs. Orioles 
65Patrick Corbinvs. Padres 
66Alex Cobbvs. White Sox 
67Zack Wheeler@Rangers 
68Jharel Cottonvs. Blue Jays@Rays
69Kevin Gausmanvs. Pirates@Yankees
70Derek Holland@Rays 
71Ty Blach@Brewers 
72John Lackeyvs. Marlins 
73Antonio Senzatelavs. Indians@Cubs
74Jeff Locke@Cubs@Pirates
75Adalberto Mejia@Mariners 
  • Francisco Liriano is an arm that affords attention among the secondary class this week. The veteran lefty returned to the Blue Jays’ rotation this past Friday following a three-week stint on the DL, holding the vaunted Yankees’ lineup to two runs on four hits over five frames. Perhaps more notable, Liriano struck out five while issuing just a pair of free passes in that promising outing. The A’s will carry a 25.9-percent K-rate vs. LHP into Wednesday’s meeting with Liriano.

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.