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 the upcoming week of the MLB campaign is shaping up.

 

MLB Schedule Breakdown

TEAM

# GAMES

HOME

AWAY

OPPONENTS

Braves

7

4

3

vs SD (4), at MIA (3)

Marlins

5

5

0

vs CLE (2), vs ATL (3)

Mets

7

4

3

vs CIN (4), at MIL (3)

Phillies

5

5

0

vs DET (2), vs WAS (3)

Nationals

7

4

3

vs STL (3), at PHI (3)

Cubs

5

3

2

at SEA (2), vs STL (3)

Reds

7

3

4

at NYM (4), vs SF (3)

Brewers

7

7

0

vs COL (4), vs NYM (3)

Pirates

5

3

2

at TEX (2), vs OAK (3)

Cardinals

7

0

7

at WSH (4),at CHC (3)

Diamondbacks

5

2

3

vs NYY (2), at COL (3)

Rockies

7

3

4

at MIL (4), vs  ARI (3)

Dodgers

6

0

6

at SF (3), at SD (3)

Padres

7

3

4

at ATL  (4),vs LAD (3)

Giants

6

3

3

vs LAD  (3), at CIN (3)

Orioles

6

3

3

at CHW (3), vs TB (3)

Red Sox

7

3

4

vs OAK (3), at CHW (3)

Yankees

5

3

2

at ARI (2), vs MIN (3)

Rays

7

0

7

at KC (4), at BAL (3)

Blue Jays

6

0

6

at LAA (3), at TEX (3)

White Sox

7

7

0

vs BAL (3), vs BOS (4)

Indians

5

3

2

at MIA (2), at SEA (3)

Tigers

5

3

2

at PHI (2), vs KC (3)

Royals

7

4

3

vs TB (4), at DET (3)

Twins

7

4

3

vs HOU (4), at NYY (3)

Astros

6

0

6

at MIN (4), at LAA (2)

Angels

5

5

0

vs TOR (3), vs HOU (2)

Athletics

6

0

6

at BOS (3), at PIT (3)

Mariners

5

2

3

vs CHC (2), at CLE (3)

Rangers

5

5

0

vs PIT (2), vs TOR (3)

 

Who’s Hot

Luke Voit - Voit is hitting .355/.444/.774 with four home runs over the last week. Voit has playing time cemented with all the injuries to the Yankees’ lineup, so even if he struggles he will continue to play. He is showing improved contact within the zone and he is walking at a 13% rate. His barrel percentage is in the top 1% of the league. He is going to cool down, but this seems legit.

Jerad Eickhoff - Since replacing Nick Pivetta in the rotation, Eickhoff has a 30% strikeout rate, a 2.12 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Eickhoff has struggled with staying healthy, but he has always sported two above average breaking pitches, which compensates for his poor fastball. If he can stay on the mound, he has a chance to be top 40-50 starter this season.

Tim Anderson - Anderson has an 80-grade bat flip, but he is hot at the plate as well. He is hitting .402/.422/.632 with five home runs and 10 stolen bases already this season. The floor is low for Anderson and the fact he doesn’t walk means that when he cools down, there will be little helping to support him. He is a sell high candidate for most fantasy teams.

 

Who’s Not

Ben Zobrist - Zobrist has been scuffling at the plate over the last week, hitting .118/.118/.118. With his struggles the Cubs are benching him more and batting him lower in the lineup when he is playing. If he doesn’t turn it around ASAP, he will find himself on the bench full-time once Addison Russell returns. Russell is playing 2nd Base in the minors and will return from suspension in early May.

Kendrys Morales - Over the last week, Morales is hitting .077/.294/.077. He is already losing playing time and if he continues to struggle, he could be designated for assignment once Matt Olson returns.

Jesús Aguilar - Aguilar was a breakout star last season, but has really struggled this year. With his struggles at the plate he is continuing to lose playing time to Eric Thames . His barrell percentage has dropped by almost half of what it was last year and his wOBA is in the bottom 1% of the league.

 

Interleague Outlook

AWAY TEAM

HOME TEAM

GAMES

DH?

Player(s) Impacted

Yankees

D-Backs

2

No

Mike Ford , Luke Voit

Cubs

Mariners

2

Yes

Kyle Schwarber , David Bote , Albert Almora

Indians

Marlins

2

No

Jake Bauers , Tyler Naquin

Tigers

Phillies

2

No

Brandon Dixon

Pirates

Rangers

2

Yes

Jung Ho Kang , Pablo Reyes

Athletics

Pirates

3

No

Robbie Grossman , Khris Davis

 

Top-25 SP Rankings

Rank

Pitcher

Team

Game 1

Game 2

1

Max Scherzer

WAS

vs STL

 

2

Trevor Bauer

CLE

at MIA

vs SEA

3

Justin Verlander

HOU

at MIN

at LAA

4

Jacob deGrom

NYM

vs CIN

 

5

Gerrit Cole

HOU

at MIN

 

6

Blake Snell

TB

at KC

at BAL

7

Aaron Nola

PHI

vs DET

 

8

Patrick Corbin

WAS

vs STL

at PHI

9

Kershaw, Clayton

LAD

at SD

 

10

Jameson Taillon

PIT

at TEX

 

11

Chris Sale

BOS

at CHW

 

12

Carlos Carrasco

CLE

vs SEA

 

13

Luis Castillo

CIN

at NYM

vs SF

14

Noah Syndergaard

NYM

vs CIN

 

15

James Paxton

NYY

vs MIN

 

16

Walker Buehler

LAD

at SF

 

17

German Márquez

COL

at MIL

 

18

David Price

BOS

at CHW

 

19

José Berríos

MIN

vs HOU

 

20

Corey Kluber

CLE

at MIA

 

21

Jack Flaherty

STL

at CHC

 

22

Stephen Strasburg

WAS

vs STL

 

23

Tyler Glasnow

TB

at BAL

 

24

Charlie Morton

TB

at KC

 

25

Cole Hamels

CHC

at SEA

 

 

On the Rise

Patrick Corbin (SP #8)

Clayton Kershaw (SP #9)

Luis Castillo (SP #13)

 

On the Decline

Noah Syndergaard (SP #14)

Corey Kluber (SP #20)

 

SP Rankings 26-50

Rank

Pitcher

Team

Game 1

Game 2

26

Shane Beiber

CLE

vs SEA

 

27

Zack Greinke

ARI

vs NYY

 

28

Chris Paddack

SD

at ATL

 

29

Joe Musgrove

PIT

vs OAK

 

30

Matthew Boyd

DET

vs KC

 

31

Zack Wheeler

NYM

vs CIN

at MIL

32

German, Domingo

NYY

vs MIN

 

33

Kevin Gausman

ATL

at MIA

 

34

Carlos Rodón

CHW

vs BAL

 

35

Caleb Smith

MIA

vs CLE

 

36

Mike Foltynewicz

ATL

vs SD

 

37

Trevor Williams

PIT

vs OAK

 

38

Robbie Ray

ARI

at COL

 

39

Masahiro Tanaka

NYY

at ARI

 

40

Matt Strahm

SD

at ATL

 

41

Madison Bumgarner

SF

vs LAD

 

42

Collin McHugh

HOU

at MIN

 

43

Sonny Gray

CIN

vs SF

 

44

José Quintana

CHC

vs STL

 

45

Trevor Richards

MIA

vs ATL

 

46

Kyle Hendricks

CHC

vs STL

 

47

Marcus Stroman

TOR

at LAA

 

48

Kenta Maeda

LAD

at SF

at SD

49

Frankie Montas

OAK

at BOS

 

50

Marco Gonzalez

SEA

vs CHC

 

 

On the Rise

Domingo Germán (SP #28)

Matt Strahm (SP #37)

Collin McHugh (SP #42)

 

On the Decline

Robbie Ray (SP #38)

Madison Bumgarner (SP #41)

 

SP Rankings 51-75

Rank

Pitcher

 

Game 1

Game 2

51

Mike Minor

TEX

vs TOR

 

52

Jeff Samardzija

SF

vs LAD

at CIN

53

Jordan Lyles

PIT

at TEX

 

54

Julio Teheran

ATL

vs SD

 

55

Hyun-Jin Ryu

LAD

at SF

 

56

Jon Gray

COL

at MIL

 

57

Mike Soroka

ATL

at MIA

 

58

Luke Weaver

ARI

at COL

 

59

Max Fried

ATL

vs SD

 

60

Jake Arrieta

PHI

vs WAS

 

61

Dereck Rodríguez

SF

at CIN

 

62

Pablo Lopez

MIA

vs ATL

 

63

Jerad Eickhoff

PHI

vs WAS

 

64

Brad Peacock

HOU

at MIN

 

65

Drew Pomeranz

SF

vs LAD

 

66

Brad Keller

KC

vs TB

at DET

67

Yonny Chirinos

TB

at KC

at BAL

68

Aaron Sanchez

TOR

at LAA

 

69

Miles Mikolas

STL

at WAS

 

70

Jon Lester

CHC

at SEA

 

71

J.A. Happ

NYY

vs MIN

 

72

Eduardo Rodríguez

BOS

vs OAK

 

73

Rich Hill

LAD

at SD

 

74

Brandon Woodruff

MIL

vs COL

 

75

Anthony DeSclafani

CIN

at NYM

 

 

On the Rise

Mike Minor (SP #51)

Jeff Samardzija (SP #52)

Anthony DeSclafani (SP #75)

 

On the Decline

Miles Mikolas (SP #69)

Brandon Woodruff (SP #74)