:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67356531/forecaster.0.jpg)
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
12 teams get six games this week. Eight teams get seven games. The Athletics, Cardinals, Tigers, and Rangers get eight-game weeks. The Dodgers, Brewers, Pirates, and White Sox get only five games.
The Marlins and Phillies play a pair of doubleheaders against each other. The Phillies also have a doubleheader against the Red Sox. This gives both the Phillies and Marlins nine games in Week 7.
Power Plays
The Rays get the Nationals in D.C. for two games before a four-game home series against the Red Sox. The Red Sox pitching staff is by far the worst in baseball with a 6.18 ERA. Willy Adames (30% rostered) needs to be scooped up and started in more leagues. For deep leagues needing outfield help, take a flyer on Randy Arozarena. He was part of the Matthew Liberatore deal. After Jose Martinez was traded to the Cubs, Arozarena (1% rostered) has the chance to seize his opportunity.
As mentioned above, the Phillies and Marlins get nine total games apiece this coming week. A nice opportunity for fantasy owners to take advantage of. Rhys Hoskins (90% rostered), Didi Gregorius (79% rostered), and Andrew McCutchen (69% rostered) may still be out there in your league. If so, pick them up. Alec Bohm (20% rostered) is a great pickup as well. For the Marlins, Garrett Cooper (4% rostered) has been hot.
The Padres get seven home games. Three against the Rockies then four against the Giants. Eric Hosmer (71% rostered) remains available in more leagues than I'd expect. Jake Cronenworth (75% rostered) is a solid play as well. Mitch Moreland (43% rostered) and Jurickson Profar (14% rostered) are options in deeper leagues.
The Cardinals are a volume play with eight total games. They also face a favorable schedule for steals. Tommy Edman (66% rostered) has been heating up of late and could be in for a nice week on the basepaths. The Cardinals team in general is a great resource for fantasy owners needing volume. Grab Paul DeJong (62% rostered), Yadier Molina (58% rostered), Kolten Wong (31% rostered), and the red hot Brad Miller (32% rostered).
Fade! Fade! Fade!
The Orioles spend all week in New York. They get two games against the Mets, then four against the Yankees. It might be a rough week for Anthony Santander (81% rostered), Pedro Severino (69% rostered), and company.
The Reds have six games on the road as well. They face the Cubs and then Cardinals, both three-game sets. I'm avoiding Mike Moustakas (83% rostered) and might be looking to drop him for a better player altogether. Between multiple stints on the IL and poor play when healthy, Moustakas hasn't helped his fantasy owners this year.
The Astros have a brutal Week 7 schedule. They get four road games against the Athletics and then two games at the Dodgers. Los Angeles and Oakland are #1 and #3 respectively in team ERA. The struggles for Jose Altuve (97% rostered) and George Springer (96% rostered) may continue.