Life was grand! There we all were, chit-chatting/arguing, about who should be drafted when, and why. Yes, fantasy baseball was just a simpler time before the actual games had started. It was once said that Hope Springs Eternal, and with the beginning of anything, it reminds us that anything can happen, albeit unlikely. That phrase speaks volumes for many of us because we all know that only 1 person can win their league, yet we all “hope” we can do it. Byron Buxton should tattoo that saying across his body because even I remain optimistic that he can give us an MVP season with a clean bill of health. While hope still remains, you will need to stay active because as we all know, you can hope in one hand and s#it in the other and see which fills first.
On that lovely note, here is another installment of Getting Ahead in Head to Head for Week 6!
What to look for!
- Favorable Team Schedules: Which teams will play the most/fewest games.
- SPARP(S) of the Week: Starting Pitchers w/RP (Yahoo Eligibility)
- R/L Matchups to Exploit
- SAGNOF (SV & SB)
*There is supposed to be bad weather again in the Northeast, so there could be changes to the pitching matchups for this week*
Number of Games
8 Games
ARI (@LAD/@CHC)
CWS (@KC/@NYY)
KC (vCWS/vMIN)
5 Games
CIN (@CLE/@TOR)
CLE (vCIN/vDET)
SPARP(S) Of the Week!
Cristian Javier-SP/RP (@BOS/vTEX) (55% rostered in Yahoo)- The elusive 6-man rotation on a 7-game slate! This one works well for Javier. Slated to go Monday and Sunday vs the Red Sox and the Rangers. Javier has been cruising in 2022 to the tune of an .83 ERA with a K-rate of 31% and has compiled 11 straight scoreless innings over the past 3 appearances. Javier is over the 50% threshold, but if he is available in your league, get moving!
Jeffrey Springs-SP/RP (vDET) (2% rostered in Yahoo)- This is the tricky one! Springs has now gone 3.1 innings and 4 innings over his past two appearances. The progression is similar to Rasmussen’s, but his skill set isn’t as polished. I could see a possibility that he goes 5 and is in line for the win. What would be even better is if he is used after the opener and sees an uptick in value. I recommend watching his starts and keeping him in the back of your mind for future starts. It is Tampa, do any of us have an idea what they will do?
R/L Matchups to Exploit
Jesus Sanchez, OF, MIA (38% rostered in Yahoo)- I know, I know, he has been more Dirty Sanchez than Jesus Sanchez! I am here to tell you to turn that brown frown upside down! This is going to be the week that he heats up and makes us all forget about the slow start. As a whole, Sanchez has been much better vs RHP, who he gets the pleasure of facing in all 6 games this week. Let’s dive just a bit deeper and we will see that he is a career .325 hitter at home, where he happens to play all 6 games this week.
Cesar Hernandez, 2B, WSH (12% rostered in Yahoo)- It’s very nice to see Hernandez heating up when you know that he has Juan Soto hitting behind him. What’s not nice is that the times when Hernandez isn’t on base are when Soto hits his HRs! If you are in need of Runs or even a solid AVE, look no further. Hernandez has logged a 9/0/5/.346/1 line over the past 14. While Hernandez isn’t your typical matchup to exploit, he does hit both L and R effectively. Don’t look for power, but he does have 52 of his 70 career HR vs RHP (he faces 4 this week).
MJ Melendez, C, KC (21% rostered in Yahoo)- Remember last week when I said that I hope that Melendez gets an opportunity to use the “Killing it like a Menendez”? I am here to say that this should be the week, but I have no f’n clue what the Royals are doing with their lineups? The Royals will play 8 this week, with 7 of the games against RHP. Melendez has recorded a hit in each game he has played, and can even spell Sal if needed? I am pretty sure that you are in need of a C, we all are…so just pick up Melendez and cross your fingers that the Royals can put the proper players on the field!
Kolten Wong, 2B, MIL (41% rostered in Yahoo)- Wong has absolutely been heating up over the past 2 weeks, going 9/1/3/.324/4. In addition to Wong, the rest of the Brewers seem to be clicking offensively as well! Set to face the majority of RHP this week, Wong should be in a very positive spot atop that lineup as well as in your lineup!
SAGNOF
Brooks Raley, TB (9% rostered in Yahoo)- With Andrew Kittredge being on shaky ground the past couple of appearances, it has been Brooks Raley that Kevin Cash has entrusted with the high leverage situations. This is not a clear 9th inning role, it almost never would be for the Rays, but it is a situation to monitor considering that Raley could easily get you a save and a win in the same week. Solid H2H value.
Matt Strahm, BOS (0% rostered in Yahoo)- This definitely seems like a process of elimination in Boston. No matter who has gotten the ball in the 9th, Robles, Diekman, or Brasier, they have struggled. Do you know who hasn’t struggled? Matt Strahm? He recorded his 1st save on 4/29 but has been used in increasingly higher leverage situations. Something to pay attention to!
Ian Kennedy, ARI (18% rostered in Yahoo)- Mark Melancon has now blown 2 saves and recorded 2 saves since returning from COVID. I believe the writing is on the wall for Ian Kennedy to inherit the 9th, but that still might be just a bit away. Now is the time to grab Kennedy where you can. Kennedy has fired 6 scoreless innings over the past 2 weeks to go along with a 1.00 WHIP and 3 saves.
SAGNOF (PART DEUX)
Jorge Mateo, OF, BAL (29% rostered in Yahoo)– It feels like he is mentioned every week, and I probably will when it comes to predicting steals. Mateo is 2nd in MLB in SB and has only been caught once. While his OBP isn’t anything to write home about, he clearly has the green light and the speed to continue being a threat on the basepaths. A little extra piece of fantasy goodness is that he hit his 2nd HR of the season on Thursday, which now means he has more HR than Trea Turner, Trevor Story, and Whit Merrifield (and only 1 less SB than all 3 COMBINED)
Kolten Wong-See above
Thank You all again for reading! As always, you can reach me @natemarcum with any questions/comments/etc! Good Luck in Week 6!
4×4 no K’s Gomber or Lodolo rest of season
I prefer Lodolo, but he is already nursing a back issue, and will be limited on innings the ROS. In a 4×4 with no Ks, I might actually look to a bulk reliever/setup guy like Helsley, King, Holmes, etc. But to answer with the given options, I am almost always selecting the non-Coors pitcher
Thanks for this. FYI, MLB website version of Astros probable starters now shows Javier starting tomorrow vs Nationals. Who knows.
Thank you for the update. I thought there might be a change. Since he was used i. a bulk role last outing, this was a concern. I still like him next week at home vs Rangers. Sucks it’s only 1 start. The SP/RP options this upcoming week were very “meh”