What’s up, everyone!
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.
Anyways, here’s who you should start and avoid in Week 22 (9/19-9/25) 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 – It’s a week of home games for the Rockies! Sure, they’ll be up against the Giants and Padres—two very good pitching staffs—but it’s hard to turn down seven games in Coors Field, so I think despite the matchups, you’ve got to get your Rockies hitters out there. Ryan McMahon has been hitting well lately, slashing .281/.361/.688 over the past two weeks, so make sure you’re starting him.
San Francisco Giants hitters – Speaking of the Giants, as I mentioned, they’ll get four games in Coors Field this week but on top of that, they’ll also get four games against the Diamondbacks, a team with the eighth-worst team FIP in baseball, so it’s a great week to start your Giants. David Villar has quietly been hitting the ball really well lately, slashing .278/.366/.611 over the past two weeks, and is worth a look in deeper leagues.
Seattle Mariners hitters – The Mariners get seven games this week, starting with one game against the Angels on Monday where they’ll face José Suarez (who doesn’t worry me all that much). Then, they’ll have three games against the A’s, who own the third-worst team FIP in baseball, and three games against the Royals, who own the fourth-worst team FIP in baseball. If you’re in need of power in deeper leagues, Carlos Santana owns a .534 ISO over the past two weeks.
Los Angeles Angels hitters – The Angels also have seven games this week, starting with the previously mentioned game against the Mariners on Monday where they’ll see Logan Gilbert. That could definitely be a tricky matchup, but the rest of the week makes up for it, because the Angels will have three games against the Rangers, who own the ninth-worst team FIP in baseball, and three games against the Twins, who own the 11th-worst team FIP in baseball. Luis Rengifo has been hitting well lately, slashing .295/.326/.636 over the past two weeks, and warrants a look. Taylor Ward does as well, as he’s been slashing .385/.455/.513 over the past two weeks.
AVOID
Arizona Diamondbacks hitters – The Diamondbacks have eight games this week, and normally I’d be salivating at an eight-game week, but not this one. As I mentioned earlier, three of those games will be against the Giants, a team with the fifth-best FIP in all of baseball. The other four? Those will be against the Dodgers, who own the third-best team FIP in baseball. As tempting as an eight-game week is, I don’t think I’d be starting my D’Backs.
Toronto Blue Jays hitters – The Blue Jays have six games this week, starting with two against the Phillies, where they’ll see Kyle Gibson and Zack Wheeler, and ending with four against the Rays, a team that owns the eighth-best team FIP in baseball (and in case you were curious, the Phillies have the seventh-best). All in all, it makes for a tough week for your Blue Jays hitters.
Washington Nationals hitters – The Nats have six games this week, starting with three against Atlanta, a team with the second-best team FIP in baseball, and closing with three against the Marlins where they’ll see both Trevor Rogers and Sandy Alcántara, making this week one to avoid for your Nats hitters.
St. Louis Cardinals hitters – Here’s a list of the starting pitchers the Cardinals are slated to face this week: Mike Clevinger, Blake Snell, Joe Musgrove, Andrew Heaney, Clayton Kershaw, and Tyler Anderson. Yep, that’s six games against the Padres and Dodgers, and I don’t think I want any part of it.
Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire | Featured Image by Ethan Kaplan (@DJFreddie10 on Twitter and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)