If you’re unfamiliar with this article series, each week I take a look at some hitting matchups you should take advantage of and some hitting matchups you should avoid, based on who the hitters will likely be facing on the mound.
So here’s who you should start and avoid in Week 11 (6/14-6/20) 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.
START
Colorado Rockies hitters – Guess what everyone? It’s that special week—the week where the Rockies get seven games all at home in Coors Field. And you know what that means—get your Rockies in your lineups. They’ve got three games against the Padres and four against the Brewers, and while the Padres are typically a tough pitching matchup, again, it’s three games in Coors, so I’m not worried about it. Raimel Tapia owns a .392/.392/.549 line over the past two weeks and is worth a start this week. Also, Brendan Rodgers has been slashing .313/.395/.625 over the past two weeks and might be available in your league.
Milwaukee Brewers hitters – As I mentioned, the Brewers get four games in Coors Field this week, which already puts their hitters at an advantage. Even better? They get three games against the Reds this week too, a team that owns the eighth-worst team FIP in baseball. If you need some power, Daniel Vogelbach has been hitting .276/.400/.655 over the past two weeks and is pretty widely available (and the Brewers will only see one lefty this week, so Vogelbach will probably be in the lineup most of the week).
San Diego Padres hitters – And of course, as previously mentioned, the Padres also to play in Coors this week (only three games though) and, in a reverse of the Brewers’ schedule this week, the Padres will get four games against the aforementioned Reds. Just about all of the Padres’ hitters are pretty widely owned, so make sure they’re in your lineups.
Cleveland hitters – Cleveland doesn’t get to play in Coors this week (if only everyone could!) but they do get to face two pretty bad pitching staffs. They start the week with four games against the Orioles, who own the worst team FIP in baseball and close the week with three games against the Pirates, who own the sixth-worst team FIP in baseball. Amed Rosario is hitting .395/.422/.581 over the past two weeks and warrants a look this week.
Andrew McCutchen (and also Odubel Herrera) – The Phillies get to see four left-handed pitchers this week, and that’s good news for both Andrew McCutchen and Odubel Herrera. Cutch is a career .308/.401/.546 hitter against lefties and owns a .288/.374/.588 line against them so far this year. Meanwhile, Herrera, who it should be noted owns a .342/.375/.579 line over the past two weeks, also owns a .305/.379/.458 line against lefties so far this year.
AVOID
Chicago Cubs hitters – The Cubs have themselves a rough week this week, starting with a four-game series against the Mets, who own the best team FIP in baseball (and that series will include a game against Jacob deGrom) and closing with a three-game series against the Marlins, who own the second-best team FIP in baseball. Outside of your Cubs studs, I’d avoid them this week.
Arizona Diamondbacks hitters – The D’Backs start the week off with four games in the very hitter-friendly Oracle Park against the Giants where they’ll get to face Kevin Gausman, who has been pretty lights out so far this year, not to mention Anthony DeSclafani, who’s been really solid too. Then, they’ll close the week with three games against the Dodgers where they’ll face Trevor Bauer, Walker Buehler, and Tony Gonsolin, so I’ll pass on my D’Backs this week.
Cincinnati Reds hitters – I’ve mentioned the Reds a couple of times in this article, so you should already know who they’re facing this week—the Brewers and the Padres, both of whom have good pitching staffs. This week will include matchups against Brandon Woodruff, Blake Snell, Joe Musgrove, and Chris Paddack, and four of those games will be in pitcher-friendly Petco Park, so I’d skip most of my Reds this week.
Houston Astros hitters – The Astros have six games this week and I’m only seeing about two that I’m interested in starting my Astros hitters in. They start with a two-game series against the Rangers, and in daily leagues, go nuts. I think that’s a fine series for your Astros hitters. But after that, they get four games against the White Sox who own the third-best team FIP in baseball. So in a weekly league, I’m not seeing enough value with just two games to warrant starting my Astros.
Ty France – The Mariners are slated to face four left-handed pitchers this week, which isn’t great news for Ty France, as he owns a .234/.296/.409 career line against lefties on his career. I’d dodge him this week.
Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Ethan Kaplan (@DJFreddie10 on Twitter and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)