We have gotten here, everyone! That is, assuming you are in the playoffs of your H2H league. If you are reading this and didn’t make the Playoffs, you are my hero for still checking out this article. For 20+ weeks, we have talked about strategy weekly, and nothing has changed since the playoffs are here. If you have a stud, you should start them. While there could be a case for a marginals stud in Atlanta who only has 5 games, don’t overthink it! You are not sitting Acuna or Riley, no matter what. What we should be doing is looking at the week-by-week rotations and trying to get the most ABs possible. This may be common knowledge, but there are a few additional “tricks of the trade” that could help you…
- If you have a BYE, start looking ahead to next week’s matchups while your opponents are hyper-focused on this week. For instance, the Reds have 9 games. CLE, MIA, PITT, and TB all have 8 games.
- Check the IL reports and see if anyone is coming off early.
- Look at your potential opponents’ strengths or weaknesses (categorical H2H), and make sure to take advantage
- See if you can forecast the upcoming 2-start pitchers. The early bird gets the worm.
What to look for!
- FAVORABLE TEAM MATCHUPS!
- SPARP(S) OF THE WEEK!
- R/L MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT
- SAGNOF/SAGNOF (PART DEUX)
Favorable Team Matchups!
8 Games
MIL (@COL/vSF/vCIN)
SF (@LAD/@MIL/@CHC)
7 Games
BAL (vTOR/vBOS)
CWS (@SEA/@OAK)
MIN (@NYY/vCLE)
NYY (vMIN/vTB)
StL (vWSH/@PIT)
TOR (@BAL/@TEX)
WSH (@StL/@PHI)
5 Games
ATL (@OAK/@SEA)
SPARP(S) OF THE WEEK!
Luis Cessa-SP/RP-CIN (@CHC) (1% rostered in Yahoo)- If you are in a daily H2H league, keep tabs on this matchup. Cessa is coming off a solid start vs. WSH, where he went 4 innings, and the only blemish was a solo HR by Lane Thomas. I expect Cessa to be able to work into the 5th and put you in a position to keep the ratios intact and hopefully pick up the W against a Cubs team that has been middle of the pack against RHP at home over the past 6 weeks.
Jose Quintana-SP/RP (vWSH/@PIT) (37% rostered in Yahoo)- Since joining the Cardinals, Quintana is riding a streak of 6 games without allowing more than 2 earned runs and will look to extend that streak to 8. Quintana will test his groundball repertoire against two of the worst offenses in baseball. The Nats and the Pirates are in the bottom 10 of the league in wRC+, which bodes well for managers looking to pick on bottom feeders. It also is pretty nice to know that Quintana’s bread and butter have been utilizing the defense behind him, and he gets the luxury of facing the league’s 4th and 13th most groundball-hitting teams.
R/L MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT
Brendan Donovan, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF (33% rostered in Yahoo)- This is the type of pickup for H2H daily move leagues that should be highlighted. Donovan can play any position aside from C, and is set to play 7 games! Before Wednesday’s game against the Cubs, Brendan was on a 12-game hit streak! The entire Cardinals team has been hot, and with Donovan hitting second, there is a great chance he fills the stat sheet. What is the playoff cherry on top? The Cardinals are scheduled to play all RHP, which Donovan has feasted upon!
Andrew McCutchen, OF, MIL (39% rostered in Yahoo)- Yes, the Dread Pirate could be the player who keeps you from walking the plank in the playoffs. The batting average might give you scurvy, but the power and opportunity are real. The Brew Crew plays 8 games, with a handful of them at Coors. I like the matchups on paper, as well as the lefties who will take the mound.
Luke Voit, 1B, WSH (30% rostered in Yahoo)- This one doesn’t make me get the warm and fuzzies, but I have to put personal bias aside and just look at the facts! Voit has been heating up in the power department as of late. (.188 ISO in August). The Nats will play 7 games, with 3 of them against lefties. Most likely, you have better options at 1B, but if you don’t, Vote for Voit.
Franmil Reyes, OF, CHC (40% rostered in Yahoo)- The Franimal has returned since joining the Cubs (.277/4HR/11RBI). The Cubs may only play 6 games, but it’s near impossible to find this much potential power on the waiver wire.
SAGNOF
Bubba Thompson, OF, TEX (5% rostered in Yahoo)- He was at 2% rostered last week when I recommended him, now, he is up to 5%. I hope he is above 10% next year so I don’t have to copy and paste his name. He has done nothing to warrant a pickup. He has blazing speed, hit a monster HR against Framber, and is getting on base at a decent enough clip (.318 OBP).
Jake McCarthy, OF, ARI (43% rostered in Yahoo)- As Grey wrote in his article recently, McCarthyism refers to the hysteria around Jake McCarthy. If McCarthyism is also hatred towards certain red items, a la Communism, you shouldn’t worry about Jake McCarthy seeing any red lights.
Bryson Stott, 2B, SS, PHI (16% rostered in Yahoo)- Despite the slow start, Stott has regained the trust and playing time. While sizzling hot for most of August, his bat has cooled a little, but his legs are still relevant. With at least one SB in each of the previous 4 weeks, there is a good chance he keeps that pace going. This week the Phillies will face the Nats and the Marlins, two teams that are both in the Top 10 in SB allowed.
SAGNOF (PART DEUX)
Jimmy Herget, RP, LAA (8% rostered in Yahoo)- Herget now has 5 saves while recording the past three for the Angels.
Nick Martinez, RP, SDP (43% rostered in Yahoo)- Use kid gloves with anyone in San Diego. They want Hader to regain his confidence. Even in his most recent SV, Hader wasn’t super clean. Martinez appears to be the most likely favorite to grab a save if Hader falters again.
Joe Jimenez, RP, DET (1% rostered in Yahoo)- If you are in a super competitive league and the other “closers” are all taken, Jimenez might be your path to some saves. With Soto struggling to find the plate, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Jimenez get the next few opportunities. The Tigers aren’t good, but they do have some intriguing matchups vs LAA and KC.
