How unpredictable is Major League Baseball? Well, everyone had the Mets in possession of the league’s worst team ERA at this point, right? Who out there had the Brewers leading the game in home runs? Six weeks ago, it was, of course, easy to imagine the Twins and Rockies as division leaders on Mother’s Day.

By the way, Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there. Now, let’s take a look at what may, or may not, be predictable during the upcoming week of MLB action. 

Game Schedule Breakdown

TEAM# GAMESHOMEAWAY
Braves752
Phillies606
Marlins734
Nationals606
Mets633
Pirates660
Cubs660
Cardinals550
Reds633
Brewers707
Diamondbacks633
Rockies606
Dodgers743
Giants633
Padres770
Red Sox606
Yankees633
Rays633
Blue Jays725
Orioles633
Indians633
White Sox707
Twins660
Royals633
Tigers660
Astros633
Angels633
Rangers633
Mariners770
Athletics743
  • Only one five-game slate to note, and it belongs to the Cardinals. Oddly enough for a team with a short stack, the Cards will play all five at home in Busch Stadium where their pitching staff owns a nice 3.27 ERA.
  • Similarly to the Cardinals, the Mariners have pitched quite well at home, posting a 3.64 ERA across 15 games. However, thanks to injuries, the Seattle staff is but a shell of itself with James Paxton, Felix Hernandez, Drew Smyly and Hisashi Iwakuma all presently on the DL. The Mariners will play seven games at Safeco, but it definitely seems like a great plan to stack up as many viable A’s and White Sox bats as possible against them.
  • A few of the most hitter-friendly environments - Coors Field, Miller Park, Citizens Bank Park - are completely out of the mix. According to ESPN Park Factors, those three venues currently rank second, third and fourth respectively in offensive output for 2017.
  • Where might one look for favorable offensive conditions this week? Minnesota and Atlanta come to the forefront. Target Field and SunTrust Park, which come in at No. 9 and No. 10 respectively on the Park Factor list, will host a combined 11 games this week.  

Interleague Outlook

AWAY TEAMHOME TEAM# GAMESDH?PLAYER(S) IMPACTED
Red SoxCardinals2NoHanley Ramirez, Mitch Moreland
RockiesTwins3YesGerardo Parra
BravesBlue Jays2YesDanny Santana
Blue JaysBraves2NoJustin Smoak, Kendrys Morales
AstrosMarlins3NoNorichika Aoki, Jake Marisnick
AngelsMets3NoLuis Valbuena
PhilliesRangers3YesDaniel Nava
  • The Red Sox have already played nine interleague games this year, but they will start off this week with a couple more Tuesday and Wednesday in St. Louis. Obviously, in an N.L. park, the DH is out of play. Over three games in Milwaukee this past week (Tues. - Thurs.), Hanley Ramirez was out of the starting lineup twice in favor of Mitch Moreland at first base. The Cardinals are expected to send right-handers Lance Lynn and Mike Leake to the hill opposite the Red Sox, and with Ramirez dealing with a shoulder issue, the smart money is on Moreland to get the nod for both games.
  • Daniel Nava has been quite impressive in his opportunities with the bat for the Phillies so far this season, putting up a stout .901 OPS across 60 plate appearances. The Phils will visit the Rangers for a three-game set this week, which should provide Nava with extra at-bats.  

Top-50 SP Rankings

RANKPITCHERMATCHUP 1MATCHUP 2
1Carlos Carrascovs. Rays@Astros
2Yu Darvishvs. Phillies@Tigers
3Chris Archer@Indiansvs. Yankees
4Chris Sale@A's 
5Clayton Kershawvs. Marlins 
6Dallas Keuchel@Marlins 
7Eduardo Rodriguez@Cardinals@A's
8Stephen Strasburg@Pirates@Braves
9Max Scherzer@Braves 
10Zack Greinkevs. Mets 
11Lance McCullers@Marlins 
12Jacob deGromvs. Angels 
13Michael Pineda@Royals 
14Marco Estradavs. Braves@Orioles
15Andrew Triggs@Marinersvs. Red Sox
16Jason Vargasvs. Yankees 
17Ervin Santanavs. Rockies 
18Michael Fulmervs. Orioles 
19Luis Severino@Rays 
20Carlos Martinezvs. Giants 
21Ivan Novavs. Phillies 
22Dylan Bundy@Tigers 
23John Lackeyvs. Redsvs. Brewers
24Alex Woodvs. Marlins 
25Jon Lestervs. Brewers 
26Johnny Cuetovs. Dodgers 
27Rick Porcello@Cardinals 
28Gerrit Colevs. Nationals 
29Marcus Stroman@Braves 
30Justin Verlandervs. Rangers 
31Trevor Cahillvs. Brewers 
32Mike Leakevs. Red Sox 
33Zack Godleyvs. Mets@Padres
34Taijuan Walker@Padres 
35Jimmy Nelson@Padres@Cubs
36Danny Duffyvs. Yankees 
37Kyle Freeland@Twins@Reds
38Lance Lynnvs. Red Sox 
39Kyle Hendricksvs. Reds 
40Matt Boydvs. Oriolesvs. Rangers
41Derek Holland@Angels@Mariners
42Robbie Ray@Padres 
43Jake Odorizzi@Indians 
44Jake Arrietavs. Brewers 
45Chase Anderson@Padres@Cubs
46Tanner Roark@Pirates 
47Drew Pomeranz@A's 
48Jose Quintana@Mariners 
49Luis Perdomovs. Brewersvs. Diamondbacks
50Matt Garza@Padres 
  • Most notably, only 15 two-start pitchers make the Top-50 this week, as many back-enders are slated for multiple outings over the next seven days.
  • Eduardo Rodriguez is easily the name that jumps off the page among the Top-10, but he has earned his spot. Following two sometimes promising, yet inconsistent campaigns to begin his big-league career, the Boston lefty could be in the early stages of a true breakout. Over his last four starts, three of which came on the road, Rodriguez has turned in a terrific 1.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 27-to-8 K/BB ratio across 24.0 innings.
  • The elite status of Clayton Kershaw is well solidified in Los Angeles, but another Dodgers’ lefty has been doing his best impression of the three-time Cy Young award winner recently. Alex Wood has registered a ridiculous 21 punchouts while surrendering just seven hits and two walks across 11 shutout innings during his last two starts.
  • Matt Garza closes out the Top-50 this week. Though the veteran righty should not be totally trusted after laboring to a 5.18 ERA over two injury-riddled campaigns in 2015 and 2016, his last three efforts afford some attention. During that stretch, Garza has worked to a 2.75 ERA and 15-to-2 K/BB ratio while lasting at least six innings each time out. 

Next 25 SP 

RANKPITCHERMATCHUP 1MATCHUP 2
51Mike Foltynewiczvs. Blue Jays 
52A.J. Griffin@Tigers 
53Hector Santiagovs. Royals 
54Julio Teheranvs. Blue Jays 
55Wade Miley@Tigers 
56Patrick Corbinvs. Mets 
57Masahiro Tanaka@Rays 
58Charlie Mortonvs. Tigers 
59German Marquez@Twins 
60Gio Gonzalez@Braves 
61Zack Wheeler@Diamondbacksvs. Angels
62Antonio Senzatela@Reds 
63Jordan Montgomery@Royals 
64Matt Shoemakervs. White Sox 
65Matt Andriesevs. Yankees 
66Nate Karns@Twins 
67Brandon McCarthy@Giantsvs. Marlins
68Kevin Gausmanvs. Blue Jays 
69Julio Uriasvs. Marlins 
70Danny Salazarvs. Rays 
71Jeff Samardzija@Cardinals 
72Jesse Chavezvs. White Sox@Mets
73Jesse Hahn@Mariners 
74J.C. Ramirezvs. White Sox 
75Hyun-Jin Ryu@Giants 
  • A few more two-start hurlers reside here in the 51-75 range. One of which, Brandon McCarthy, would certainly merit a higher spot if it were not for a shoulder issue that has held him out since April 29. The matchups on tap for McCarthy (at SF, vs. MIA) are indeed inviting, as the Giants hold a meager .626 OPS vs. RHP headed into play on Sunday and the Marlins have averaged just 4.0 runs per game while losing 14-of-17 dating back to April 26.  

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.