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 9 of the MLB campaign is shaping up. 

TEAM# GAMESHOMEAWAYOPPONENTS
Braves606at LAA (3), at CIN (3)
Marlins770vs. PHI (3), vs. ARI (4)
Mets770vs. MIL (4), vs. PIT (3)
Phillies633at MIA (3), vs. SF (3)
Nationals606at SF (3), at OAK (3)
Cubs633at SD (3), vs. STL (3)
Reds633at TOR (3), vs. ATL (3)
Brewers734at NYM (4), vs. LAD (3)
Pirates633vs. ARI (3), at NYM (3)
Cardinals743vs. LAD (4), at CHC (3)
Diamondbacks707at PIT (3), at MIA (4)
Rockies725vs. SEA (2), at SEA (2), vs. SD (3)
Dodgers707at STL (4), at MIL (3)
Padres660vs. CHC (3), vs. COL (3)
Giants633vs. WSH (3), at PHI (3)
Orioles770vs. NYY (3), vs. BOS (4)
Red Sox707at CWS (3), at BAL (4)
Yankees707at BAL (3), at TOR (4)
Rays606at TEX (3), at SEA (3)
Blue Jays770vs. CIN (3), vs. NYY (4)
White Sox633vs. BOS (3), at DET (3)
Indians743vs. OAK (4), at KC (3)
Tigers633at KC (3), vs. CWS (3)
Royals660vs. DET (3), vs. CLE (3)
Twins734vs. HOU (3), at LAA (4)
Astros606at MIN (3), at TEX (3)
Angels770vs. ATL (3), vs. MIN (4)
A's734at CLE (4), vs. WSH (3)
Mariners752at COL (2), vs. COL (2), vs. TB (3)
Rangers660vs. TB (3), vs. HOU (3)
  • There are no short, five-game slates to plan for this week, as 16 teams will take the field during each of the next seven days while the other 14 will do so a minimum of six times.
  • According to ESPN Park Factors, Arizona’s Chase Field, Atlanta’s SunTrust Park and Yankee Stadium have all played as Top-10 hitting environments to this point in 2017, but all three of those venues are completely off the board this week.
  • In addition, Coors Field in Colorado will host games on Monday and Tuesday, but the first-place Rockies will then hit the road for the ensuing five days. Manager Bud Black’s club is slugging a hefty .479 while plating 5.4 runs per game at its home park compared to marks of .414 and 4.8 in those same categories on the road. 
AWAY TEAMHOME TEAM# GAMESDH?PLAYER(S) IMPACTED
BravesAngels3YesJace Peterson
RedsBlue Jays3YesScooter Gennett
MarinersRockies2NoBen Gamel
RockiesMariners2YesGerardo Parra, Pat Valaika
NationalsA's3YesAdam Lind
  • Scooter Gennett is having an excellent season playing in a utility role for the Reds so far this season. The fifth-year big leaguer has not only manned four different positions but has also made significant contributions from the batter’s box. Headed into play Sunday, Gennett was sporting a .315/.344/.522 slash line with 11 extra-base hits and 18 RBI across 96 plate appearances. He should see additional opportunities as the Reds take a three-day (Mon-Wed) trip to Toronto.
RANKPITCHERMATCHUP 1MATCHUP 2
1Chris Sale@White Sox@Orioles
2Max Scherzer@Giants 
3Clayton Kershaw@Brewers 
4Stephen Strasburg@A's 
5Robbie Ray@Pirates@Marlins
6Carlos Carrascovs. A's@Royals
7Zack Greinke@Marlins 
8Alex Wood@Cardinals 
9Dallas Keuchel@Rangers 
10Jacob deGromvs. Brewers 
11Luis Severino@Orioles@Blue Jays
12Eduardo Rodriguez@Orioles 
13Jon Lestervs. Cardinals 
14Tyler Andersonvs. Mariners@Padres
15Carlos Martinezvs. Dodgers 
16Yu Darvishvs. Astros 
17Kyle Hendricks@Padresvs. Cardinals
18Michael Fulmervs. White Sox 
19Ervin Santana@Angels 
20Lance McCullers@Rangers 
21Michael Pineda@Blue Jays 
22Mike Leakevs. Dodgers@Cubs
23Dylan Bundyvs. Yankeesvs. Red Sox
24Jose Berriosvs. Astros@Angels
25Gio Gonzalez@Giants 
26Chris Archer@Rangers 
27Danny Duffyvs. Indians 
28Marcus Stromanvs. Redsvs. Yankees
29Tanner Roark@Giants@A's
30Jake Arrieta@Padres 
31Gerrit Cole@Mets 
32Marco Estradavs. Yankees 
33Jeff Samardzijavs. Nationals 
34Jason Vargasvs. Indians 
35Rick Porcello@Orioles 
36David Price@White Sox@Orioles
37German Marquez@Padres 
38Zack Godley@Pirates 
39Lance Lynn@Cubs 
40James Paxtonvs. Rockies 
41Trevor Bauervs. A's@Royals
42Matt Shoemakervs. Twins 
43Johnny Cueto@Phillies 
44Michael Wachavs. Dodgers@Cubs
45Jake Odorizzi@Mariners 
46Tyler Chatwoodvs. Mariners@Padres
47Sonny Gray@Indiansvs. Nationals
48Andrew Triggsvs. Nationals 
49Ivan Novavs. Diamondbacks 
50Julio Teheran@Angels@Reds
  • Ever since the Red Sox made an offseason trade for Chris Sale, the Boston faithful, and really all baseball fans, have waited to see the dynamic duo he would form with fellow All-Star lefty David Price. After an injury-forced delay, that time finally appears to be here, as Price (elbow) is scheduled to make his 2017 debut for the Red Sox on Monday in Chicago. Price has not performed all that well (9.53 ERA) in two rehab outings and is expected to see a lighter than normal workload to start off. Thus, the relatively conservative ranking out of the gate.
  • Another ace-caliber hurler returning from injury this week is James Paxton. The oft-injured, Seattle southpaw was having a sensational season before a forearm issue sent him to the DL back on May 2. Proceed with caution for Wednesday’s meeting with the Rockies, but if Paxton delivers a strong effort in that one, he will catapult back up the SP ranks.
  • Robbie Ray has been a veritable Road Warrior for the Diamondbacks. The 25-year-old lefty, who currently boasts a ridiculous 0.81 ERA and 43-to-13 K/BB ratio across 33.1 innings away from home this season, is set to take the mound in Pittsburgh and Miami this week.
  • It has been a tale of two months so far here in 2017 for Tyler Anderson. Over six starts in April, he struggled to an ugly 7.71 ERA while posting a lackluster 7.1 K/9. Turn the page to May, Anderson has cruised to a 2.55 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 11.9 K/9 through 24.2 innings. 
RANKPITCHERMATCHUP 1MATCHUP 2
51Justin Verlander@Royals 
52Masahiro Tanaka@Orioles 
53Corey Klubervs. A's 
54Drew Pomeranz@White Sox 
55Dan Strailyvs. Phillies 
56Erasmo Ramirez@Rangers@Mariners
57Matt Garza@Metsvs. Dodgers
58Kenta Maeda@Cardinals@Brewers
59Chase Anderson@Mets 
60Zack Wheelervs. Brewers 
61Antonio Senzatela@Mariners 
62Derek Holland@Tigers 
63J.C. Ramirezvs. Twins 
64Joe Ross@A's 
65Jose Quintanavs. Red Sox@Tigers
66Jordan Montgomery@Orioles@Blue Jays
67Ty Blach@Phillies 
68Junior Guerra@Mets 
69Matt Moorevs. Nationals@Phillies
70Ricky Nolascovs. Bravesvs. Twins
71Martin Perezvs. Raysvs. Astros
72Jaime Garcia@Angels 
73Adam Wainwrightvs. Dodgers 
74Sean Manaea@Indians 
75Aaron Nola@Marlins 
  • Corey Kluber is yet another big-name starter set to return from the DL this week. Kluber is expected to take on the A’s either Wednesday or Thursday in what seems like an inviting matchup at home in Cleveland.
  • The White Sox have dealt with weather-related interruptions to their schedule in recent days, so their starting rotation is a bit in flux at the moment. Jose Quintana could be in line for a two-start week, but that is not certain as of Sunday morning. In any case, a showdown with the Red Sox on Monday or Tuesday, which could be followed by an outing in Detroit on Sunday, is not very appealing for a guy carrying a 4.82 ERA following an eight-run onslaught his last time out.

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.