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 | 0 | 7 | at SF (4), at STL (3) |
Marlins | 7 | 0 | 7 | at DET (3), at WAS (4) |
Mets | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs WAS (4), vs DET (3) |
Phillies | 7 | 0 | 7 | at CHC (4), at MIL (3) |
Nationals | 7 | 3 | 4 | at NYM (4), vs MIA (3) |
Cubs | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs PHI (4), vs CIN (3) |
Reds | 5 | 0 | 5 | at MIL (2), at CHC (3) |
Brewers | 5 | 5 | 0 | vs CIN (2), vs PHI (3) |
Pirates | 6 | 6 | 0 | vs COL (3), vs LAD (3) |
Cardinals | 5 | 5 | 0 | vs KC (2), vs ATL (3) |
Diamondbacks | 6 | 0 | 6 | at SD (3), at SF (3) |
Rockies | 6 | 3 | 3 | at PIT (3), vs BAL (3) |
Dodgers | 5 | 0 | 5 | at TB (2), at PIT (3) |
Padres | 6 | 3 | 3 | vs ARI (3), at TOR (3) |
Giants | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs ATL (4), vs ARI (3) |
Orioles | 7 | 4 | 3 | vs NYY (4), at COL (3) |
Red Sox | 7 | 0 | 7 | at TOR (4), at HOU (3) |
Yankees | 7 | 0 | 7 | at BAL (4), at KC (3) |
Rays | 6 | 2 | 4 | vs LAD (2), at CLE (4) |
Blue Jays | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs BOS (4), vs SD (3) |
White Sox | 7 | 0 | 7 | at HOU (4), at MIN (3) |
Indians | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs OAK (3), vs TB (4) |
Tigers | 6 | 3 | 3 | vs MIA (3), at NYM (3) |
Royals | 5 | 3 | 2 | at STL (2), vs NYY (3) |
Twins | 6 | 3 | 3 | at LAA (3), vs CHW (3) |
Astros | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs CWS (4), vs BOS (3) |
Angels | 6 | 6 | 0 | vs MIN (3), vs TEX (3) |
Athletics | 6 | 3 | 3 | at CLE (3), vs SEA (3) |
Mariners | 6 | 0 | 6 | at TEX (3), at OAK (3) |
Rangers | 6 | 3 | 3 | vs SEA (3), at LAA (3) |
Who’s Hot
Willie Calhoun - Since being called up on the 15th, Calhoun has hit .500 with two home runs and a double in three games. Calhoun has an unusual skill set as he is a high contact hitter with a ton of power, but no on base skills. Of the big call ups this week, Calhoun may have the best bat of the group, but he is limited defensively which has prevented him from sticking in the majors before. He is a worthy gamble, but is not worth a ton of FAAB as he could go the way of Nate Lowe and be back in the minors soon.
Austin Riley- In four games since his call up, Riley is hitting .553 with two home runs in 15 plate appearances. Riley is a top prospect in the game and getting playing time in Atlanta with Ender Inciarte on the IL. He has a real chance to solidify playing time though. Inciarte was awful and if Ronald Acuna can handle center field defensively, then Riley could become the everyday left fields.
Josh Bell - Bell crushed two more home runs on Saturday to bring his total for the year up to 14, which eclipsed his mark from last season of 12. He is hitting .323/.391/.665 this year as well. No one in the Majors has benefited from the juiced ball in the same way that Bell has. However, he was identified prior to the season as a potential bargain as he had better skills in 2018, but didn’t duplicate the great 2017 breakout. He is well on the way to a 30 homer season and there is no sign that this is a fluke.
Who’s Not
Jason Heyward - After a nice start to the season, Heyward is hitting .071/.133/.143 over the last week. Heyward will continue to get playing time because of his premium defense, but it is clear the hot start the season was more fluke than fact.
Travis Shaw - Shaw hit the IL this week, but it may have been more about his pride being hurt than his wrist. He was replaced on the roster with top prospect Keston Hiura . If Hiura hits, Shaw may have a tough time getting full time at bats back. I think he will be back and hit again, but there is a ton of risk to stashing him for now.
Christin Stewart - Stewart has not had a hit in his last 17 at bats and is struggling coming off of the IL. This could be a reason for demotion, but I have faith the rookie will figure it out. In weekly leagues, he should be benched this week as the Tigers have games in an NL Park this week and he will likely be the odd man out for at least one game, if not more.
Interleague Outlook
AWAY TEAM | HOME TEAM | GAMES | DH? | Player(s) Impacted |
Orioles | Rockies | 3 | No | |
Marlins | Tigers | 3 | Yes | |
Tigers | Mets | 3 | No | |
Royals | Cardinals | 2 | No | |
Dodgers | Rays | 2 | Yes | |
Padres | Blue Jays | 3 | Yes |
Top-25 SP Rankings
Rank | Pitcher | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 |
1 | WAS | at NYM |
| |
2 | CLE | vs OAK | vs TB | |
3 | HOU | vs CHW | vs BOS | |
4 | NYM | vs WAS |
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5 | HOU | vs CHW |
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6 | BOS | at HOU |
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7 | TB | at CLE |
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8 | PHI | at CHC |
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9 | WAS | at NYM |
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10 | LAD | at TB |
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11 | CLE | vs OAK | vs TB | |
12 | CIN | at MIL |
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13 | MIN | vs CHW |
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14 | MIA | at DET | at WAS | |
15 | STL | vs ATL |
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16 | LAD | at PIT |
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17 | CLE | vs TB |
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18 | COL | at PIT | vs BAL | |
19 | SD | vs ARI | at TOR | |
20 | NYM | vs DET |
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21 | WAS | at NYM |
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22 | CHC | vs PHI |
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23 | NYY | at KC |
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24 | NYY | at BAL | vs KC | |
25 | TB | at CLE |
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On the Rise
Chris Sale (SP #6)
On the Decline
Noah Syndergaard (SP #20)
SP Rankings 26-50
Rank | Pitcher | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 |
26 | DET | at NYM |
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27 | SF | vs ATL |
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28 | NYM | vs WAS | vs DET | |
29 | SD | vs ARI |
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30 | TEX | vs SEA |
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31 | ARI | at SF |
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32 | LAD | at PIT |
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33 | ATL | at SF |
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34 | BOS |
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35 | OAK | at CLE |
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36 | CHC | vs PHI | vs CIN | |
37 | NYY | at BAL |
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38 | ARI | at SD |
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39 | CIN | at MIL |
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40 | CHC | vs CIN |
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41 | TOR | vs BOS | vs SD | |
42 | ATL | at SF | at STL | |
43 | NYM | vs WAS |
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44 | MIN | vs CHW |
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45 | MIN | at LAA |
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46 | SF | vs ATL |
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47 | Trevor Williams | PIT | vs COL |
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48 | PIT | vs COL |
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49 | PIT | vs LAD |
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50 | SEA | at OAK |
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On the Rise
Hyun-Jin Ryu (SP #32)
On the Decline
Zack Greinke (SP #38)
SP Rankings 51-75
Rank | Pitcher |
| Game 1 | Game 2 |
51 | MIN | at LAA | vs CHW | |
52 | CHW | at HOU |
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53 | PHI | at CHC | at MIL | |
54 | HOU | vs BOS |
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55 | LAD | at TB |
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56 | ATL | at SF |
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57 | CIN | at CHC |
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58 | ATL | at SF | at STL | |
59 | TOR | vs BOS |
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60 | CHC | vs PHI |
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61 | PHI | at CHC | at MIL | |
62 | BOS | at TOR | at HOU | |
63 | MIL | vs PHI |
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64 | STL | vs ATL |
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65 | MIA | at WAS |
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66 | COL | at PIT | vs BAL | |
67 | NYY | at KC |
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68 | PHI | at MIL |
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69 | PHI | at CHC |
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70 | OAK | at CLE |
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71 | MIA | at DET |
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72 | KC | vs NYY |
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73 | MIL | vs CIN |
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74 | ATL | at STL |
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75 | SEA | at TEX |
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On the Rise
Zach Eflin (SP #61)
Cole Irvin (SP #69)
On the Decline
Mike Foltynewicz (SP #74)
Marco Gonzales (SP #75)
Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.
Endy Rodriguez (finger) had his splint removed this week.
Rodriguez suffered a lacerated right index finger on April 14th. Now that he is out of his splint, he “is playing catch and doing a slightly modified swing.” Once he can progress to taking full swings, we’ll have a better sense of the timeline for his return.