Hey everybody!
If you’re unfamiliar with this series, each week I highlight hitting matchups you should take advantage of in your fantasy baseball league and ones that you should try to avoid based on the pitching matchups those hitters are slated to face that week. I also try to highlight a catcher to two to stream (if there are catchers worth streaming) because that position can be a real pain.
So let’s take a look at the hitters you should start and avoid for Week 18 (7/27-8/2) of the fantasy baseball season.
Notes: All pitching matchups mentioned here are based on projections as of this post’s publication. It is entirely possible that the actual matchups could change for any number of reasons. Keep in mind, this article is geared toward middle-of-the-road players, meaning you should be starting top-of-the-line bats regardless of the matchup. Always start your studs.
Additional note: Thanks again to Ben Solow for covering for me the past two weeks while I was on vacation!
START
Kansas City Royals hitters – There are 15 teams this week that have seven-game weeks this week, but oddly enough the team that I think has the best overall week is the Royals who have six games.
They kick the week off with a three-game series against the Twins, who own the ninth-worst team FIP in the league, where they’ll see Bailey Ober, Taj Bradley, and Zebby Matthews, none of whom concern me (obviously Bradley can be a problem, but he can also get knocked around and you rarely know which you’re going to get).
After that, the Royals will get three games against the Rockies, who own the second-worst team FIP in the league, and all three of those games will be in Coors Field.
Carter Jensen owns a .278/.350/.500 line over the past two weeks and is worth a start this week. Also, Michael Massey owns a solid .367/.394/.467 line over the past two weeks and should be fairly available in most leagues.
New York Yankees hitters – The Yankees get a full seven-game week this week with some pretty favorable matchups ahead, kicking off with a four-game series against the White Sox, who own the 13th-worst team FIP in the league. There, they’ll see Noah Schultz, Anthony Kay, Davis Martin, and Sean Burke, none of whom worry me all that much.
After that, the Yankees will get a three-game series against the Cubs, who own the sixth-worst team FIP in baseball, where they’ll see Jameson Taillon, David Peterson, and Colin Rea.
CATCHER TO STREAM: If you need some help at the catcher position this week, Austin Wells owns a .364/.563/.636 line over the past two weeks and could have some value this week.
Pittsburgh Pirates hitters – The Pirates also get seven games this week with some pretty nice matchups for their hitters.
They kick the week off with three games against the Diamondbacks, who own the eighth-worst team FIP in baseball, where they’ll see Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Brandon Pfaadt.
After that, the Pirates will get four games against the Reds, who own the third-worst team FIP in the league, where they’ll see Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Chase Burns, and Brady Singer.
I might try to avoid the matchup against Burns in daily leagues where I could, but otherwise I think you’re good to go with your Pirates hitters this week.
Nick Gonzales owns a .343/.343/.600 line over the past two weeks and is worth a look this week.
AVOID
Los Angeles Dodgers hitters – The Dodgers get six games this week, starting off with three games against the Mariners, who own the second-best team FIP in baseball, where they’ll see Emerson Hancock, Luis Castillo, and Bryce Miller.
After that, the Dodgers will get three games against the Red Sox, who own the fourth-best team FIP in the league, where they’ll see Ranger Suarez, Payton Tolle, and Jake Bennett.
There are maybe a couple of matchups there you could be fine with, but overall I don’t love the week for my mid-tier Dodgers hitters (obviously always start your studs).
Chicago White Sox hitters – The White Sox have seven games this week, kicking off with a four-game series against the Yankees, who own the third-best team FIP in baseball. There, they’ll see Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, and Ryan Weathers.
After that, the White Sox get three games against the Rays where they’ll see Nick Martinez, Drew Rasmussen, and Griffin Jax.
All told, that’s a pretty rough series of matchups. Jax has been pretty middling as a starter, so in daily leagues there might be something there, but everyone else should be avoided.
Baltimore Orioles hitters – The Orioles get six games this week, starting off with a three-game series against the Tigers, who own the sixth-best team FIP in the league, where they’ll see Keider Montero, Troy Melton, and Tarik Skubal.
After that, they’ll get three games against the Phillies, who own the fifth-best team FIP in baseball, where they’ll see Brian Keller, Cristopher Sánchez, and Zack Wheeler.
Again, there might be a matchup or two you could be alright with in a daily league, but on the whole, I’d be avoiding my mid-tier Orioles hitters this week.
