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Happy Friday everyone! Here is a look at some of the best hitters to stream and to fade for the final week of fantasy baseball.
The Numbers Game
Pretty even week for teams in the final week of the 2020 regular season. 15 of the 30 teams have seven games this week. Nine play six times. The Giants, Nationals, Cardinals, and Rockies all get a double header plus no days off to give them eight games a piece. The Twins are the lone team with just five game to wrap up 2020.
In addition to the weekly schedules, we now have multiple teams with playoff birth clinched. Keep this in mind in daily leagues as the top teams could rest starters down the stretch.
Power Plays
The Braves get seven games at home in Week 9. Four against the Marlins then three facing the Red Sox. Get Adam Duvall (68% rostered) and Austin Riley (31% rostered) in those lineups.
The Orioles have a favorable hitting week with six games on the road. Three against the Red Sox then three games in Buffalo with the Blue Jays. Ryan Mountcastle has been en fuego since his call up. He is 55% rostered in Yahoo! leagues where he has SS and OF eligibility. He is 1B eligible on other sites in addition to outfield. DJ Stewart (32% rostered) offers power help. Deep leaguers should look at Jose Iglesias (6% rostered) and Cedric Mullins (2% rostered).
The Royals face the Cardinals for three games and the Tigers for four, all at home. Adalberto Mondesi (88% rostered) has been a major headache for fantasy owners but need to be rostered and started as long as he's hot. Jorge Soler (80% rostered) might return from the IL during the last week for owners needing some pop. Maikel Franco (22% rostered) is very under-owned considering how solid he's been all season. He's hitting .275 on the year with seven homers and 31 RBI.
Fade! Fade! Fade!
The Mariners have a tough slate despite getting seven games. They face the Astros for three games in Seattle before traveling to Oakland for four games against the Athletics. I'm fading Kyle Lewis and Kyle Seager if I have better options.
The Reds get a pair of three game sets this week. Three at home against the Brewers then a trip to Minnesota for three games with the Twins. Look elsewhere when considering Joey Votto, Mike Moustakas, or Jesse Winker.
As mentioned above the Twins have just five games. This includes a two game set against the Tigers, then a three game series vs the Reds. All games are in Minnesota. Sit struggling Twins hitters like Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco.
I'm also fading Dodgers and Athletics hitters as they all face off in the final week. Perpare for pitchers duels. Fringy options like Gavin Lux, A.J. Pollock, and even Ramon Laureano should probably be benched.