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Happy Friday everyone! Here is a look at some of the best hitters to stream and to fade for the week ahead in fantasy baseball.
The Numbers Game
13 of the 30 teams play seven games in Week 6. Some are via double-headers but nonetheless. 11 teams get a six-game week. The Tigers, Marlins, and Giants get just five games the coming week. The remaining three teams get eight games this week. Those teams with the surplus benefit are the Nationals, Yankees, and Pirates.
Power Plays
The Nationals get four games at the Phillies before facing the Braves in Atlanta for four games. Victor Robles (84% rostered), Adam Eaton (61% rostered), Luis Garcia (5% rostered) are all solid plays.
The Twins get three games against the White Sox and three games against the Tigers. All games are in Minnesota. Miguel Sano (82% rostered) has been hot of late, so pick him up if he's out there in your leagues. Marwin Gonzalez (7% rostered) offers some power upside in deeper leagues.
The Braves travel to Fenway for a three-game set against the Red Sox before playing four home games against the Nats. Dansby Swanson (83% rostered) should be started. This could also be a good week to use Austin Riley (14% rostered) and the returning Nick Markakis (6% rostered). Travis d'Arnaud (72% rostered) should be started everywhere. The Braves backstop is the No. 4 catcher in fantasy.
Fade! Fade! Fade!
The Tigers and Marlins have bad matchups in addition to only getting five games. I'm avoiding their hitters in most leagues.
The Pirates get eight games in Week 6, but they still show up as fades. Six of those games are in Pittsburgh. Not a great recipe for the struggling Josh Bell (80% rostered) and Bryan Reynolds (50% rostered).
The Cubs’ fantasy studs have been fantasy duds thus far. Week 6 gives them the Pirates for three games in Pittsburgh, and then a four-game set against the solid pitching staff of the Cardinals in Chicago. Javier Baez (98% rostered), Anthony Rizzo (97% rostered), Willson Contreras (96% rostered), and Kyle Schwarber (81% rostered), are all hitting under .225 for the year. It's tough to sit any of them, but I'd be looking at it. At least for this coming week.
The Diamondbacks get the (unlucky) privilege of traveling to the west coast for a pair of three-game sets in Week 6. The hosting teams would be the Dodgers and Giants. I'd look elsewhere if you're considering Eduardo Escobar (81% rostered), David Peralta (66% rostered), Christian Walker (49% rostered), Carson Kelly (47% rostered), or Kole Calhoun (33% rostered).