2017 Fantasy Baseball Weekly Planner: Week 12

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 12 of the MLB campaign is shaping up.

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

• The Dodgers are preparing to play at home in Chavez Ravine, where they have put together an impressive 25-10 record so far in 2017, every day of the upcoming week. On its familiar home mound, the Dodgers’ staff has been nothing short of dominant this year, posting a 2.93 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 9.4 K/9. It should come as no surprise that three of the Top-20 starting pitchers, who will combine for five starts, for the week will be sporting Dodger blue.
• Similarly to the Dodgers, but playing one less game, the Yankees will play solely on their home turf this week. The first-place Pinstripers are averaging 6.6 runs on the back of an .890 OPS and 63 homers across 31 games at Yankee Stadium this season.
• If it was not scary enough that, heading into Sunday, the Astros have won exactly two-thirds of their 69 games on the campaign, they will soon be getting back not one, not two, but each of their Top-3 rotation pieces in the near future. Two of which, Lance McCullers (back) and Dallas Keuchel (neck), are tentatively expected to rejoin the rotation at some point during the upcoming week while Charlie Morton (lat) is slated to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A on Thursday.

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

Analysis

• There is not much to see in the way of interleague play over the next seven days, as just two series are on tap. Scooter Gennett should crack the starting lineup for all three games of the Reds visit to Tampa Bay while the Tigers are already without regular DH Victor Martinez who recently landed on the DL due to a heart issue.

Analysis

• A bonafide Ace has returned to “Ace” status, as Corey Kluber registers higher than every starting pitcher not named Clayton Kershaw this week. Kluber limped to a 5.06 ERA across his first six outing of the season before hitting the DL for most of May. He has made three starts since his June 1 return to the Indians’ rotation, cruising to a 2.37 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 28-to-4 K/BB ratio across 19.0 innings.
• As previously mentioned, the Dodgers feature three highly-ranked hurlers this week with Brandon McCarthy jumping all the way up to 18th for what should be a two-start slate. Taking a look at the veteran righty’s last five starts reveals a 1.91 ERA along with a .184/.241/.255 opponent’s slash line across 28.1 innings.
• Even with some Keuchel and McCullers possibly returning to the mix this week, Brad Peacock could still be in line for a two-start schedule. If that is ultimately the case, he is one of the better upside options with his ridiculous 14.3 K/9 as a starter this season.
• Jordan Zimmermann makes an appearance not just in the Top-75, but inches even into the Top-50. With a less than scary matchup at Seattle followed by an inviting visit to San Diego. Zimmermann is worth a whirl after surrendering two runs or less and working 6.0 innings or more in each of his last three starts.

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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.