With the most sincere apologies, I am back for Week 8! Last week, my wife and I took a much-needed vacation to Sin City. With respect to my wife, I probably should have stayed at home and written last week’s article instead of dropping way too much money at the casino.
At week’s end, we will be 1/3 of the way thru the fantasy season, and the next 8 weeks will go a long way in determining your outcome. With each week that passes, there are a handful of managers that either decide it is football season, or that they are just too far out of contention. As I learned in Vegas, the hard way, don’t hit on two Queens. Take this advice with a grain of salt, but it should give you some good guidelines to adjust your lineup. Don’t overthink it!
As with each week, let’s take a look at the schedules and players that will help you Get Ahead in Head to Head for Week 8!
What to look for!
- Favorable Team Schedules
- R/L Matchups to Exploit
- SPARP(S) of the Week
- SAGNOF
Favorable Team Schedules!
7 Games
ARI (@CIN/@PHI)
BOS (@LAA/@SEA)
CIN (vARI/@STL)
CLE (vTEX/vOAK)
KC (vTOR/vBAL)
LAA (vBOS/vNYM)
SD (vNYM/vCOL)
5 Games
CHC (@BAL/@NYY)
DET (@PIT/vTOR)
SPARP(S) Of The Week!
Cal Quantrill-SP/RP (vTEX/vOAK) (48% rostered in Yahoo)– Not too many better 2-start options among SPARP than Quantrill. It was in this same article 2 weeks ago that I mentioned Quantrill and told us to focus on that velocity. Well, for the 4th consecutive start we have seen the velo tick back up! Texas and Oakland are both struggling against RHP since May 1st. Texas hitters have struck out at a 27% clip vs RHP over that span, and the A’s are a league-worst 66 wRC+.
Ross Stripling-SP/RP (@KC/@DET) (1% rostered in Yahoo)- Seeing the majority of his work out of the pen, it would appear that Stripling is set to rejoin the rotation with Ryu going back on the IL. The Jays have been hot, winning 8 of their last 10, and look to keep the winning ways going as they travel to KC and DET! The key will be him going deep enough into these games, but I’m confident they will let him stretch out.
Keegan Thompson-SP/RP (@BAL) (40% rostered in Yahoo)- I don’t know when he made the switch from Saturday Night Live, but he has pitched extremely well! Gone are the days of Good Burger, and now has developed into a Good Pitcher. Stop….I can’t go any further. Yes, he has won his last 4 appearances, but I don’t know if I would say he is “Good”. What I will say is that he gets the Orioles and enters the matchup with a solid ERA and WHIP.
R/L Matchups To Exploit!
Kyle Farmer, 3B/SS, CIN (34% rostered in Yahoo)- Yes, I could make all the farm or country references I would want, but they won’t make hay. What I will mention is that the Reds are scheduled for 7 games next week, with 3 lefties. Farmer has been simply electric since May 1st vs LHP (.389/4HR/10RBI). Add in the fact that he gets to start the week at home against 2 lefties makes it even more enticing.
Jose Iglesias, 2B/SS, COL (8% rostered in Yahoo)- The Rockies are in line for a solid 7-game slate, with 4 of those starts against an LHP. Jose Iglesias has taken full advantage of the increased playing time by hitting .366 over the past 2 weeks. Since 5/1, Iglesias has been even more productive, hitting .368 vs LHP, while chipping in 6 runs. While this is more of a matchup to exploit, his 2 stolen bases during that stretch make him a SAGNOF candidate as well.
Brendan Donovan, 2B/SS/OF, STL (17% rostered in Yahoo)- The Cardinals’ magic seems to have pulled another lucky rabbit out of their hat. Brendan Donovan has been nothing short of exciting for the Redbirds. With 5 RHP on the schedule, Donovan should get an opportunity to play all over the field, considering he has played 3 different positions over the past 7 days). Since 5/1, Donovan has exploited RHP with a.351 AVE to go along with 10 Runs and 12 BBs.
Luis Guillorme, 2B/SS/3B, NYM (13% rostered in Yahoo)- While Guillorme isn’t exactly in an exploitable situation in Week 8 (3 vs LHP/3 vs RHP), he has seen everyday ABs since the Mets moved on from Robbie Cano. Over the past 2 weeks, he has been cruising to a 12/0/3/1/.500 stat line! Despite the supposed platoon role, he has appeared in 7 straight games, facing both RHP and LHP, hitting as high as leadoff!
SAGNOF
Tanner Rainey, RP, WSH (38% rostered in Yahoo)- I can’t see a situation in which he is available in your leagues, but considering he is only 38% rostered, I have to include him. He looked amazing in his most recent 5-out save opportunity against the Rockies and has locked down 5 of his past 7 chances.
Daniel Hudson, RP, LAD (16% rostered in Yahoo)- This is as speculative as you can get! Kimbrel has given up runs in 5 of his past 7 appearances, and Dave Roberts has given him a few days off to “correct his delivery”. While I don’t think he is in jeopardy of losing his job, Hudson is the most likely candidate and it can’t hurt to stash away. The closers’ role in LA is a good one to own!
John Schreiber, RP, BOS (5% rostered in Yahoo)- If there was ever a revolving door of closers, Boston is definitely making it their own! I can’t, in good conscience, recommend anyone for the closer in Boston. But since a save is a save, Schreiber has been solid. I don’t like dem apples.
SAGNOF (PART DEUX)
Eli White, OF, TEX (2% rostered in Yahoo)- White has started 8 of his past 10 games, and is in line to face a couple of teams who have turned a blind eye to theft on the season. The Rangers and the Guardians have combined to allow 62 of 78, would-be thieves, to reach base. White has stolen 9 bases on the season and only thrown out once.
Christopher Morel, 2B/3B/OF, CHC (47% rostered in Yahoo)- Morel has been harder to pick than his mushroom namesake. If you don’t live in the Midwest, a Morel is a mushroom. On top of being fungi, he is also one hell of a base thief. Over the past two weeks, the electric Morel has swiped 6 bags! While the Cubs only play 5 games this week, Morel is worth picking up regardless.
Well, that wraps up another edition of Getting Ahead In Head To Head! I hope you continue to use these little nuggets of information and dominate your head to head leagues! As always, if you have questions, my DMs are always open. @natemarcum.
