It’s Sunday, so you know what that means! It’s time to take a look at the interleague matchups for the upcoming week and determine how it will affect our fantasy lineups. Which players are gaining or losing fantasy value this week? You’ll find that and more here at Fantasy Alarm!
This week, we have a hefty slate of interleague matchups, highlighted by the Cubs gaining the designated hitter spot each week, and the Rangers, Orioles, Blue Jays and Mariners will play without the DH spot for the first time all year. What players will gain/lose at-bats due to interleague matchups? Let’s dive in!
Rangers @ Giants (5/10-5/11)
Texas has primarily used Willie Calhoun as the team’s DH, as he has served in that capacity five times in Texas’ last eight games. His appearances in the outfield have been sporadic to say the least, but the team is better off sticking him in the outfield to keep his bat in the lineup, compared to Andy Ibáñez out there. Without the DH, however, Calhoun isn’t guaranteed to play, so fantasy owners beware. In fact, most of the Texas outfielders, sans Joey Gallo , could be at risk.
Winners: None
Losers: Texas Outfielders Not Named Calhoun or Gallo
Orioles @ Mets (5/11-5/12)
Baltimore has played two interleague contests this year, and they switched their lineup a bit in each contest. However, what we know is that Cedric Mullins is locked into centerfield, and Baltimore isn’t budging on that. What I could see Baltimore doing for the two games is having Mountcastle, Hays and DJ Stewart finalizing the two corner outfield spots.
Winners: None
[Slight] Losers: Ryan Mountcastle & DJ Stewart
Mariners @ Dodgers (5/11-5/12)
In 34 games for the Mariners, Ty France (16) and Mitch Haniger (7) have combined for 23 appearances at the DH spot. As they head to Los Angeles, Haniger will play in right field, and France likely heads to second base. Dylan Moore can move to the outfield, and the team would be smart to use him in left field, as Taylor Trammel (.160 AVG) and Sam Haggerty (.200 AVG) are at or below the Mendoza line. Moore will stay in the lineup and shouldn’t lose at-bats, while Trammel and Haggerty have the most to lose.
Winners: Dylan Moore and Ty France
Losers: Taylor Trammel and Sam Haggerty
Blue Jays @ Braves (5/11-5/13)
Toronto’s lineup hasn’t varied too much, and demotions (Rowdy Tellez ) and injuries (George Springer ) have made Toronto’s lineup pretty easy for this three game set. Prior to Tellez serving as the designated hitter, it was Vladimir Guerrero Jr. , Randal Grichuk and Bo Bichette , and the three will handle first base, center field and shortstop respectively. With Guerrero handling first base, and being able to do so, he doesn’t take a hit, and it’s pretty ho-hum if I’ve being honest.
Winners: None
Losers: None
Cubs @ Indians (5/11-5/12) & Cubs @ Tigers (5/14-5/16)
It’s a full interleague week for the Cubs! At some point, they can keep Willson Contreras ’ bat in the lineup without having to put him behind the bench, so he’ll get a “half off day” at some point this week. Other potential DH candidates for the Cubs this week look like Jake Marisnick , David Bote and Matt Duffy , if they want to get one of those guys in the lineup. However, like Contreras, they could opt to give some of their regulars a half day off, which still paves the way for some playing time with the extra lineup spot for some of the aforementioned guys. One thing to note is if Nico Hoerner is able to return before the Detroit series, what the Cubs do with him, considering prior to the injury, he was hitting .389 and the team could not take him out of the lineup. If Horner does return, Bote and Duffy take the hit.
Winners: Jake Marisnick , David Bote , Matt Duffy , Nico Hoerner (if he returns)
Losers: None!
Mets @ Rays (5/14-5/16)
For this weekend series, one would think that the Mets would just let J.D. Davis serve as the designated hitter for all three games, and let Jonathan Villar play third base. Obviously, the Mets can do what they please, but that seems to make the most sense. I think Villar gets at-bats this weekend on a regular basis, and his flexibility helps increase his chances of getting time, because if the Mets let someone like Francisco Lindor DH, Villar can slot in at short.
Winners: Jonathan Villar
Losers: None!
Phillies @ Blue Jays (5/14-5/16)
I always think that if a National League team has a great catcher, and no definitive option at DH, that they should give the catcher a half day off and let him serve as the designated hitter at least once. There has been little variance for the Philadelphia lineup this year, so if Realmuto doesn’t DH, look for Brad Miller , Scott Kingery or Nick Maton to occupy that spot.
Winners: No Clear Winner
Losers: None!
Player News
Tanner Scott struck out three in a scoreless ninth to get a save Wednesday versus the Rockies.
Scott did allow a hit, so it’s up to others to determine whether he struck out the side. Whether he did or not, it’s as good as Scott has looked as a Dodger, and he threw 11-of-11 pitches for strikes; impressive regardless, but especially for a pitcher who sometimes has issues with control. Scott should continue to see plenty of save chances for this loaded Dodgers’ club.
Freddie Freeman doubled and homered in the Dodgers’ win over the Rockies on Monday.
Michael Toglia hit a grand slam, but the Rockies lost Monday to the Dodgers.
Shohei Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI in an 8-7 win Saturday over the Rockies.
Bobby Miller allowed six earned runs over three innings in a no-decision vs. the Rockies on Wednesday.
Miller was making his first start of the 2025 season, and it’s hard to fathom it went how he wanted it to. Fortunately for him and the fantasy managers who streamed him against the lowly Rockies, he received seven runs of support while he was in, so he wasn’t charged with a loss. He did strike out seven, but he allowed eight hits as well; two of those hits leaving the ballpark. The biggest blow was a grand slam by Michael Toglia, buth e pitched shakily — to put it nicely — for most of the contest. There’s no start scheduled, but if Miller does get another outing, it’ll likely come against the Cubs on Wednesday.
Germán Márquez recorded just two outs while being charged for seven runs in a loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday.
Márquez was handed a 1-0 lead going into his first and final inning, and it lasted just four pitches before Shohei Ohtani smashed a solo homer. He gave up another homer two batters later to Freddie Freeman, and the 30-year-old allowed four more hits and the same amount of runs before exiting. It’s hard to imagine that anyone used Márquez that didn’t have to Wednesday, but for those who did: whoops. He’ll be on the mound next week against the Royals and look to lower and unsightly 8.27 ERA.