Hitters to Start and Avoid in Week 3 (4/14-4/20)

What’s up everyone!

If you’re unfamiliar with this 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. I’ll also be focusing on catchers you can stream each week since we all know that catcher can be an especially tricky position in fantasy.

If you’d like to learn more about when it becomes less risky to stream hitters (and pitchers) and when certain team stats start to stabilize during the year, check out this article.

Also wanted to note that starting this week, PL Pro member LarryV, who is a former meteorologist at the National Weather Service, has been kind enough to lend his expertise to provide insights on which teams are likely to have the best/worst weather this week, so I’ll be including that where it’s relevant (and thanks Larry!).

So let’s take a look at the hitters to start and avoid in Week 3 (4/14-4/20) 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

 

Detroit Tigers hitters – The Tigers get a full seven-game week this week with some fairly favorable hitting matchups. They start the week off with three games against the Brewers, who currently own the second-worst team FIP in the league right now. In that series, they’ll see Tyler Alexander, Quinn Priester, and Jose Quintana, none of whom concern me at all.

Then, the Tigers will host the Royals for four games where they’ll see Michael Lorenzen, Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, and Michael Wacha. Obviously, Ragans is someone to avoid, and while Lugo has been solid he’s not someone I’m actively avoiding just yet. Aside from those two though, I’m not concerned about the Royals series (it’s also worth noting our meteorologist friend has noted that the weather in Detroit is likely to be pretty poor and cold, which could have an impact on hitters somewhat).

Make sure you’ve got Spencer Torkelson in your lineups this week, as he’s been off to a hot start slashing .292/.414/.583 on the year so far. Same with Zack McKinstry (who might be more available in some leagues and has good roster flexibility) as he’s been slashing .350/.426/.525 to kick off the year.

CATCHER TO STREAM: If you’re in need of some help at the catcher position this week, it’s worth noting that Dillon Dingler has been hitting .387/.406/.677 to start off the year and could provide some value if you need it.

 

Washington Nationals hitters – The Nats also have a seven-game week this week, starting off with four games against the Pirates, a series where they’ll face off against Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Thomas Harrington, and Bailey Falter. Obviously, Skenes is someone to avoid, but the rest of that slate doesn’t worry me at all.

Then, the Nats get the joy of having three games against the Rockies in Coors Field, which is always great. So a seven-game week with three games in Coors and only one game against a pitcher that’s worth avoiding? I’ll take it.

James Wood has been off to a hot start this year, slashing .271/.364/.646, so make sure you’ve got him in your lineups. Also worth noting, Alex Call has been red hot to kick off the season, hitting .435/.531/.609 so far, and is definitely worth a look if you want to stream a hot-handed outfielder.

 

Athletics hitters – While the A’s only have six games this week (compared to some of the other teams that have full seven-game weeks), they’ve got some pretty favorable matchups for their hitters and are worth considering.

They start the week off with three games against the White Sox, who currently own the sixth-worst team FIP in the league. In that series, they’ll see Sean Burke, Jonathan Cannon, and Davis Martin, none of whom worry me at all.

Then, the A’s will get three games against the Brewers who, as I mentioned earlier, have the second-worst team FIP in baseball. They’ll see Freddy Peralta in that series, who’s been pretty darn good and might be worth avoiding in daily leagues, but otherwise, I’m not worried.

Your opportunity to hop on the Tyler Soderstrom train has likely passed, but if you did, make sure he’s in your lineups as he’s been on fire, hitting .327/.407/.712 so start off the year. Jacob Wilson is also worth a look this week, as he’s been hitting .377/.377/.547 to kick off the season. And in deeper leagues, Miguel Andujar could have some value, as he’s slashing .310/.356/.405 to start off the year (that’s not a lot of power, but if you’re in a deep league, you could do worse).

 

AVOID

 

Texas Rangers hitters – The Rangers have six games this week, starting off with three games against the Angels where they’ll see Yusei Kikuchi, José Soriano, and Jack Kochanowicz. Kikuchi and Kochanowicz don’t worry me, so they’re fine to start your Rangers hitters against in daily leagues, but Soriano has looked pretty darn good to start off the year and could prove to be a challenge.

After that, the Rangers will host the other L.A. team, with three games against the Dodgers, where they’ll see Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, and Tyler Glasnow, all of whom are worth avoiding.

So overall, we’re looking at a six-game week for the Rangers with really only two games I’d feel comfortable starting my Rangers hitters in. In weekly leagues, that’s not worth it to me, especially in a week where so many teams have seven-game weeks.

 

Chicago Cubs hitters – The Cubs have a similar situation to the Rangers, with six games this week and only a couple matchups that don’t worry me.

They start the week off in San Diego against the Padres in pitcher-friendly Petco Park where they’ll see Dylan Cease, Randy Vasquez, and Nick Pivetta. Cease is an obvious avoid and Pivetta has looked pretty solid to start the year and could be a problem (I’m not worried about Vasquez).

After that, the Cubs will get three games at home against the Diamondbacks where they’ll face Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, and Merrill Kelly, and of those, Kelly is the only one who doesn’t worry me.

All in all, similar to the Rangers, there are really only two games I’d feel comfortable starting my Cubs hitters in, so this week they’re a team to avoid.

 

Toronto Blue Jays hitters – The Blue Jays also have six games this week, kicking off with three games against Atlanta where they’ll see Grant Holmes, Spencer Schwellenbach, and the (likely) return of Spencer Strider. Holmes is someone I think is pretty good but not someone I’m actively avoiding just yet (though he could cause some problems). Schwellenbach is an obvious avoid and while I think Atlanta will ease Strider back in in his first start, he’s looked pretty great in rehab starts so far, so he’s still likely to be a problem.

After that, the Blue Jays will get three games against the Mariners where they’ll see Logan Gilbert and Luis F. Castillo, both of whom should be avoided, making this a pretty rough week for your Blue Jays hitters.