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 | # GAMES | HOME | AWAY | OPPONENTS |
Braves | 8 | 8 | 0 | vs. PHI (4), vs. NYM (4) |
Marlins | 7 | 0 | 7 | at CHC (3), at PIT (4) |
Mets | 6 | 0 | 6 | at TEX (2), at ATL (4) |
Phillies | 7 | 0 | 7 | at ATL (4), at STL (3) |
Nationals | 7 | 4 | 3 | at LAD (3), vs. BAL (1), vs. TEX (3) |
Cubs | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs. MIA (3), vs. COL (4) |
Reds | 7 | 4 | 3 | vs. STL (4), at LAD (3) |
Brewers | 7 | 4 | 3 | vs. SF (4), at ARI (3) |
Pirates | 6 | 4 | 2 | at BAL (2), vs. MIA (4) |
Cardinals | 7 | 3 | 4 | at CIN (4), vs. PHI (3) |
Diamondbacks | 6 | 6 | 0 | vs. SD (3), vs. MIL (3) |
Rockies | 6 | 2 | 4 | vs. CLE (2), at CHC (4) |
Dodgers | 6 | 6 | 0 | vs. WSH (3), vs. CIN (3) |
Padres | 6 | 3 | 3 | at ARI (3), vs. KC (3) |
Giants | 7 | 3 | 4 | at MIL (4), vs. MIN (3) |
Orioles | 6 | 2 | 4 | vs. PIT (2), at WSH (1), at NYY (3) |
Red Sox | 6 | 3 | 3 | at NYY (3), vs. DET (3) |
Yankees | 6 | 6 | 0 | vs. BOS (3), vs. BAL (3) |
Rays | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs. CWS (3), vs. OAK (4) |
Blue Jays | 6 | 0 | 6 | at OAK (3), at SEA (3) |
White Sox | 6 | 0 | 6 | at TB (3), at CLE (3) |
Indians | 5 | 3 | 2 | at COL (2), vs. CWS (3) |
Tigers | 6 | 3 | 3 | vs. LAA (3), at BOS (3) |
Royals | 7 | 4 | 3 | vs. HOU (4), at SD (3) |
Twins | 6 | 0 | 6 | at SEA (3), at SF (3) |
Astros | 7 | 3 | 4 | at KC (4), vs. LAA (3) |
Angels | 6 | 0 | 6 | at DET (3), at HOU (3) |
A's | 7 | 3 | 4 | vs. TOR (3), at TB (4) |
Mariners | 6 | 6 | 0 | vs. MIN (3), vs. TOR (3) |
Rangers | 5 | 2 | 3 | vs. 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 TEAM | HOME TEAM | # GAMES | DH? | PLAYER(S) IMPACTED |
Pirates | Orioles | 2 | Yes | John Jaso, Jose Osuna |
Orioles | Nationals | 1 | No | Trey Mancini |
Indians | Rockies | 2 | No | Austin Jackson, Bradley Zimmer |
Royals | Padres | 3 | No | Brandon Moss |
Twins | Giants | 3 | No | Robbie Grossman, Eddie Rosario |
Mets | Rangers | 2 | Yes | Wilmer Flores |
Rangers | Nationals | 3 | No | Joey 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
RANK | PITCHER | MATCHUP 1 | MATCHUP 2 |
1 | Max Scherzer | @Dodgers | vs. Rangers |
2 | James Paxton | vs. Twins | vs. Blue Jays |
3 | Chris Archer | vs. White Sox | vs. A's |
4 | Carlos Martinez | @Reds | vs. Phillies |
5 | Robbie Ray | vs. Padres | vs. Brewers |
6 | Dallas Keuchel | @Royals | |
7 | Zack Greinke | vs. Padres | |
8 | Clayton Kershaw | vs. Nationals | |
9 | Chris Sale | vs. Tigers | |
10 | Lance McCullers | @Royals | |
11 | Stephen Strasburg | @Dodgers | |
12 | Yu Darvish | vs. Mets | |
13 | Jacob deGrom | @Rangers | @Braves |
14 | Jeff Samardzija | @Brewers | vs. Twins |
15 | Carlos Carrasco | vs. White Sox | |
16 | Luis Severino | vs. Orioles | |
17 | Ervin Santana | @Giants | |
18 | Michael Fulmer | vs. Angels | |
19 | Adam Wainwright | @Reds | vs. Phillies |
20 | Jimmy Nelson | vs. Giants | |
21 | Jake Arrieta | vs. Marlins | vs. Rockies |
22 | Sean Manaea | vs. Blue Jays | @Rays |
23 | Gio Gonzalez | @Dodgers | vs. Rangers |
24 | Trevor Bauer | vs. White Sox | |
25 | Chase Anderson | vs. Giants | @Diamondbacks |
26 | Jon Lester | vs. Rockies | |
27 | Dinelson Lamet | @Diamondbacks | vs. Royals |
28 | Mike Foltynewicz | vs. Phillies | |
29 | Jose Berrios | @Giants | |
30 | Marco Estrada | @A's | |
31 | Mike Leake | @Reds | |
32 | Michael Pineda | vs. Red Sox | |
33 | Marcus Stroman | @Mariners | |
34 | Ivan Nova | @Orioles | vs. Marlins |
35 | Drew Pomeranz | @Yankees | vs. Tigers |
36 | Justin Verlander | @Red Sox | |
37 | Corey Kluber | @Rockies | |
38 | Jason Vargas | vs. Astros | |
39 | Jaime Garcia | vs. Phillies | vs. Mets |
40 | Junior Guerra | vs. Giants | @Diamondbacks |
41 | Dan Straily | @Cubs | @Pirates |
42 | Lance Lynn | @Reds | |
43 | Johnny Cueto | @Brewers | |
44 | Dylan Bundy | @Yankees | |
45 | Kyle Hendricks | vs. Rockies | |
46 | Rick Porcello | @Yankees | |
47 | Mike Fiers | @Royals | vs. Angels |
48 | Jake Odorizzi | vs. White Sox | |
49 | J.A. Happ | @A's | @Mariners |
50 | David 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
RANK | PITCHER | MATCHUP 1 | MATCHUP 2 |
51 | Matt Moore | vs. Twins | |
52 | Eric Skoglund | @Padres | |
53 | Michael Wacha | vs. Phillies | |
54 | Erasmo Ramirez | vs. A's | |
55 | Tanner Roark | vs. Rangers | |
56 | Francisco Liriano | @A's | |
57 | Wade Miley | vs. Pirates | |
58 | Sonny Gray | @Rays | |
59 | Ariel Miranda | vs. Blue Jays | |
60 | C.C. Sabathia | vs. Red Sox | |
61 | German Marquez | @Cubs | |
62 | Gerrit Cole | vs. Marlins | |
63 | Julio Teheran | vs. Mets | |
64 | Jordan Montgomery | vs. Orioles | |
65 | Patrick Corbin | vs. Padres | |
66 | Alex Cobb | vs. White Sox | |
67 | Zack Wheeler | @Rangers | |
68 | Jharel Cotton | vs. Blue Jays | @Rays |
69 | Kevin Gausman | vs. Pirates | @Yankees |
70 | Derek Holland | @Rays | |
71 | Ty Blach | @Brewers | |
72 | John Lackey | vs. Marlins | |
73 | Antonio Senzatela | vs. Indians | @Cubs |
74 | Jeff Locke | @Cubs | @Pirates |
75 | Adalberto 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.