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 | 5 | 5 | 0 | vs WAS (2), vs DET (3) |
Marlins | 7 | 4 | 3 | at WAS(1), vs SF (3),at SD (3) |
Mets | 7 | 0 | 7 | at LAD (4), at ARI (3) |
Phillies | 6 | 3 | 3 | vs STL (3), at LAD (3) |
Nationals | 5 | 0 | 5 | at ATL (2), at CIN (3) |
Cubs | 6 | 0 | 6 | at HOU (3), at STL (3) |
Reds | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs PIT (4), vs WAS (3) |
Brewers | 6 | 0 | 6 | at MIN (2), at PIT (4) |
Pirates | 8 | 4 | 4 | at CIN (4), vs MIL (4) |
Cardinals | 6 | 3 | 3 | at PHI (3), vs CHC (3) |
Diamondbacks | 7 | 3 | 4 | at COL (4), vs NYM (3) |
Rockies | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs ARI (4), vs TOR (3) |
Dodgers | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs NYM (4), vs PHI (3) |
Padres | 6 | 3 | 3 | at NYY (3), vs MIA (3) |
Giants | 6 | 0 | 6 | at MIA (3), at BAL (3) |
Orioles | 6 | 6 | 0 | vs DET (3), vs SF(3) |
Red Sox | 7 | 3 | 4 | vs CLE (3), at NYY (4) |
Yankees | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs SD (3), vs BOS (4) |
Rays | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs TOR (3), vs MIN (4) |
Blue Jays | 6 | 0 | 6 | at TB (3), at COL (3) |
White Sox | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs KC (3), vs CLE (4) |
Indians | 7 | 0 | 7 | at BOS (3), at CHW (4) |
Tigers | 6 | 0 | 6 | at BAL (3), at ATL (3) |
Royals | 7 | 0 | 7 | at CHW (3), at TEX (4) |
Twins | 6 | 2 | 4 | vs MIL (2), at TB (4) |
Astros | 6 | 3 | 3 | vs CHC (3), at OAK (3) |
Angels | 7 | 0 | 7 | at OAK (3), at SEA (4) |
Athletics | 6 | 6 | 0 | vs LAA (3), vs HOU (3) |
Mariners | 7 | 7 | 0 | vs TEX (3), vs LAA (4) |
Rangers | 7 | 3 | 4 | at SEA (3), vs KC (4) |
Who’s Hot
Austin Riley- Riley is still on fire! In 11 games since his call up, Riley is hitting .341/370/.727 with five home runs in 46 plate appearances. Riley is a top prospect in the game and getting playing time in Atlanta with Ender Inciarte on the IL. He has done nothing but hit since being called up which is going to make for a tough decision for the Braves once Inciarte returns because they will likely want their Gold Glove center fielder in the outfield.
Gleyber Torres - Torres has been amazing over the last week and most of this season, hitting .287/.333/.537 with 12 home runs on the season. However, almost all the damage has been against the Orioles. He has 10 home runs and a .465 batting average versus Baltimore this season and two home runs and a .234 batting average versus the rest of the league. It is obvious that Torres is a sell high candidate.
Andrew McCutchen - Cutch is hitting .414/.500/.793 with two home runs and a stolen base over the last week. He had been struggling before that, but has still led off in every game he has played this season. The Phillies have yet to hit full stride and as the weather warms up, the offense will likely do the same in Philly. McCutchen should be owned in all formats and astute owners will inquire about him in trades.
Who’s Not
José Martínez - Martinez is 0-for-11 over the last week. Martinez needs the DH position to come to the National League more than anyone in baseball. He is a truly atrocious defender, but has a great bat. He is hitting .306 on the season, but will not be able to carve out enough playing time unless he gets traded to an AL team or an NL team that doesn’t care about defense.
Eric Sogard - Sogard has not reached base in the last week. Even worse, the Blue Jays haven’t even played him in his last three games. With the Blue Jays in a rebuild and starting to bring up their minor league talent, Sogard can’t afford to struggle. He had been leading off for the Jays, but fantasy owners may want to move on if they aren’t going to play him.
Mallex Smith - Since being recalled from the minors, Mallex has hit .160/.192/.280 with one home run and no stolen bases. Smith has game changing speed, but if he can’t hit that will lead to him being sent back down. At least he walks a fair amount which helps. His speed and ability to hit for average should give him a soft enough floor that he can carve out some playing time with the Mariners.
Interleague Outlook
AWAY TEAM | HOME TEAM | GAMES | DH? | Player(s) Impacted |
Tigers | Braves | 3 | No | |
Giants | Orioles | 3 | Yes | |
Cubs | Astros | 3 | Yes | Kyle Schwarber , Albert Almora |
Blue Jays | Rockies | 3 | No | |
Brewers | Twins | 2 | Yes | |
Padres | Yankees | 3 | Yes |
Top-25 SP Rankings
Rank | Pitcher | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 |
1 | WAS | vs MIA | at CIN | |
2 | HOU | at OAK |
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3 | NYM | at LAD | at ARI | |
4 | BOS | vs CLE |
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5 | HOU | vs CHC | at OAK | |
6 | TB | vs TOR |
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7 | CLE | at CHW |
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8 | PHI | vs STL |
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9 | WAS | at CIN |
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10 | LAD | vs NYM | vs PHI | |
11 | CLE | at CHW |
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12 | CIN | vs PIT |
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13 | MIN | at TB |
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14 | MIA | at SD |
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15 | STL | vs CHC |
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16 | LAD | vs NYM |
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17 | CLE | at BOS |
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18 | COL | vs TOR |
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19 | SD | at TOR |
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20 | WAS | at ATL |
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21 | CHC | at HOU | at STL | |
22 | James Paxton | NYY |
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23 | NYY | vs BOS |
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24 | TB | vs MIN |
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25 | DET | at BAL |
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On the Rise
Chris Sale (SP #4)
On the Decline
Trevor Bauer (SP #7)
SP Rankings 26-50
Rank | Pitcher | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 |
26 | SF | at MIA |
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27 | NYM | at ARI |
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28 | SD | at NYY | vs MIA | |
29 | TEX | vs KC |
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30 | ARI | at COL |
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30 | ARI | at COL | vs NYM | |
31 | LAD | vs NYM |
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32 | CHW | vs CHW |
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33 | ATL | vs WAS |
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34 | HOU | at OAK |
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35 | ATL | vs DET |
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36 | OAK | vs LAA |
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37 | CHC | at STL |
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38 | NYM | at LAD |
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39 | NYY | vs SD |
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41 | MIN | vs MIL |
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42 | BOS | at NYY |
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43 | CHC | at HOU |
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44 | MIN | at TB |
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45 | PHI | at LAD |
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46 | MIN | at TB |
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47 | SF | at MIA | at BAL | |
48 | PIT | at CIN | vs MIL | |
49 | PIT | vs MIL |
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50 | TOR | at COL |
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On the Rise
Brad Peacock (SP #34)
Jake Odorizzi (SP #44)
Kyle Gibson (SP #46)
Jeff Samardzija (SP #47)
On the Decline
David Price (SP #42)
Marcus Stroman (SP #50)
SP Rankings 51-75
Rank | Pitcher |
| Game 1 | Game 2 |
51 | Trevor Williams | PIT |
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52 | TOR | at TB | at COL | |
53 | CIN | vs PIT | vs WAS | |
54 | LAD | vs NYM |
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55 | PHI | vs STL |
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56 | SEA | vs LAA |
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57 | ATL | vs WAS |
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58 | CIN | vs PIT |
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59 | ATL | vs DET |
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60 | PHI | at LAD |
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61 | CHC | at HOU |
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62 | BOS | at NYY |
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63 | MIL | at PIT |
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64 | STL | at PHI |
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65 | MIA | vs SF |
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66 | NYM | at LAD |
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67 | DET | at ATL |
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68 | Andrew Heaney | LAA | at SEA |
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69 | Marco Gonzalez | SEA | vs TEX | vs LAA |
70 | OAK | vs LAA |
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71 | MIA | vs SF |
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72 | KC | at TEX |
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73 | MIL | at MIN |
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74 | ATL | vs DET |
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75 | Nick Pivetta | PHI | at LAD |
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On the Rise
Andrew Heaney (SP #68)
Nick Pivetta (SP #75)
On the Decline
Trevor Williams (SP #51)
Jake Arrieta (SP #60)