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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
Week 8 is a short week for the Royals, Cubs, and Giants. They each get only five games. 12 teams have six games on the schedule for Week 8. Nine teams get a seven game week. The Orioles, Phillies, and Brewers have eight games. The Marlins and Pirates have nine games. The Cardinals have the most with three double headers in Week 8. This, coupled with no days off, gives St. Louis a 10 game week.
Power Plays
The Brewers get eight games, all at home, in Week 8. Avisail Garcia (26% rostered), Ryan Braun (25% rostered), and Luis Urias (6% rostered) are solid plays in deeper leagues.
The Dodgers get a seven game week including four games at Coors Field. Will Smith (76% rostered) is a great catcher option that could be out there due to his underperforming earlier in the season. A.J. Pollock (66% rostered) and Gavin Lux (51% rostered) have been hot of late as well. Deeper league options Joc Pederson (38% rostered) and Chris Taylor (29% rostered) are worth a flier.
The Yankees get just six games in week 8 but they are some tasty matchups. Three game sets against the Blue Jays then Red Sox. Gio Urshela (56% rostered) is expected to return from the IL on Tuesday. Clint Frazier (29% rostered) has been heating back up again. And Miguel Andujar (21% rostered) has logged solid playing time of late. All three are worth a look with a great week 8 slate.
Fade! Fade! Fade!
Another poor week of hitting matchups for the Cubs. They get just five games. All at home, but against Indians and the Twins. Outside of Ian Happ and Willson Contreras, I'm benching the Cubs stars if I have decent alternatives. Kris Bryant is droppable in redraft and his dynasty value is in a major flux.
The Rockies get a six game home stand which is normally great. Unfortunately, they get the pitching staffs of the Athletics and Dodgers. It's hard to sit players at Coors Field but this might be a tough week for Colorado. I'd look elsewhere outside of Trevor Story, Charlie Blackmon, and Nolan Arenado.
It's either fantasy playoff time, fantasy championship time, or the final two weeks of season long roto. Don't get too cute and overthink it. Dance with who brought you. Definitely use matchups and quantity for tiebreakers but don't do anything you wouldn't do in the regular season.