I first wanted to take this opening line to tell you all that I TOLD YOU SO on Eugenio Suarez and Trevor Story! And to those who read my release last Sunday, you are super welcome! (Wait, is this a**hole seriously gonna take that credit but fail to mention that he recommended to start Jose Peraza who is in AAA?!) Why yes, those were my exact plans to be honest.
Any-who, if you missed my last post and are clueless on what I will be doing, here you go…
Each week, I plan to give you an idea of which teams have the most favorable and least favorable match-ups by looking at their opposing scheduled starters for the week. I do this by taking each opposing pitchers’ stats and giving you an idea of which teams should expect to score the most (and least) Rs, HRs, RBIs, SBs, and highest/lowest OBP for the week. I will then give you some suggested spot starts for the week based on the categories (players owned in less than 50% of leagues).
For the first full month of April, I will strictly be using starting pitcher statistics from last season to project out the week. However, as we move forward throughout the season, I will transition to the starters’ 2016 statistics so that I can give you the most accurate and relative numbers to help you win your roto league!
So sit back, take a deep breath, and say “Week Two is gonna be my bee-yachts!”
(Keep in mind, the categories analyzed are for a 5×5 OBP format.)
Runs/OBP: Stats Against
For the week of 4/11-4/17, here are the teams that have the best and worst match-ups as far as Runs and OBP are concerned:
| Team | SP ERA | Team | SP OBPA |
| 1. Pittsburgh | 4.77 | 1. Pittsburgh | 0.337 |
| 2. Washington | 4.55 | 2. Arizona | 0.331 |
| 3. Seattle | 4.44 | 3. Washington | 0.328 |
| 4. Baltimore | 4.38 | 4. St. Louis | 0.328 |
| 5. Houston | 4.38 | 5. LA Angels | 0.324 |
| Team | SP ERA | Team | SP OBPA |
| 30. Cincinnati | 2.98 | 30. NY Mets | 0.282 |
| 29. NY Yankees | 3.21 | 29. Cincinnati | 0.294 |
| 28. Kansas City | 3.36 | 28. San Diego | 0.295 |
| 27. NY Mets | 3.36 | 27. NY Yankees | 0.296 |
| 26. San Diego | 3.39 | 26. Colorado | 0.296 |
SP ERA= Average ERA for all starting pitchers that a team will face in the week.
SP OBPA= Average OBP allowed for all starting pitchers that a team will face in the week.
The Run/OBP Plays (Owned <50% of ESPN leagues):
- DH- John Jaso (Available in 78% of ESPN leagues): John Jaso Jingleheimer Schmidt has a career .360 OBP. He also bats lead-off for the Pirates. Whatever statement comes next shouldn’t be any more shocking than the previous two. But here I go: John Jaso is a must start for those looking for some OBP and Runs this week.
- OF- Joey Rickard (Available in 94% of ESPN leagues): If he continues to hit first in Baltimore’s lineup, the kid might become fantasy relevant sooner rather than later. Wait, didn’t we say that about Hyun-soo Kim? And now look at him! You bastards! But to be honest, I never said anything about Kim. Don’t blame me for being a dumb ass.
HRs/RBIs: Stats Against
For the week of 4/11-4/17, here are the teams that have the best and worst match-ups as far as HRs and RBIs are concerned:
| Team | SP HR/9 | Team | SP RBI/9 |
| 1. Seattle | 1.40 | 1. Pittsburgh | 4.63 |
| 2. Washington | 1.30 | 2. Washington | 4.34 |
| 3. Houston | 1.21 | 3. Houston | 4.30 |
| 4. Texas | 1.18 | 4. Seattle | 4.24 |
| 5. Chicago Sox | 1.14 | 5. Baltimore | 3.97 |
| Team | SP HR/9 | Team | SP RBI/9 |
| 30. Milwaukee | 0.72 | 30. NY Yankees | 2.99 |
| 29. Cincinnati | 0.73 | 29. Cincinnati | 3.03 |
| 28. Detroit | 0.74 | 28. NY Mets | 3.09 |
| 27. San Fran | 0.74 | 27. San Diego | 3.31 |
| 26. San Diego | 0.85 | 26. Kansas City | 3.32 |
SP HR/9= Average amount of HRs given up per nine innings for all starting pitchers that a team will face in the week.
SP RBI/9= Average amount of RBIs given up per nine innings for all starting pitchers that a team will face in the week.
The HR/RBI Plays (Owned <50% of ESPN leagues):
- OF- Michael Taylor (Available in 93% of ESPN leagues): Michael Taylor has 20-20 potential but strikes out more than than your overly aggressive, creepy friend does at a bar. Except this week he faces some of the most busted pitchers in the league and might just have a shot to hit a home run or two. Put this man in your lineup and get your buddy laid!
- OF- Colby Rasmus (Available in 85% of ESPN leagues): Even though his hair is reminiscent to Bret “the Hitman” Hart, Colby Rasmus needs about 3 home runs this week to even be mentioned by Canadian fans in the same breath as the WWF legend. And I wouldn’t be shocked to see it happen. Rasmus can get on straight fire at times, and what better week to do it than against pitchers who give up 1.21 HRs per game?
Stolen Bases: Stats Against
For the week of 4/11-4/17, here are the teams that have the best and worst match-ups as far as Stolen Bases is concerned:
| Team | SP SB/9 |
| 1. LA Angels | 0.82 |
| 2. Colorado | 0.75 |
| 3. LA Dodgers | 0.74 |
| 4. Cincinnati | 0.66 |
| 5. Oakland | 0.63 |
| Team | SP SB/9 |
| 30. Detroit | 0.18 |
| 29. Miami | 0.22 |
| 28. Cleveland | 0.24 |
| 27. Atlanta | 0.26 |
| 26. Washington | 0.35 |
SP SB/9= Average amount of SBs given up per nine innings for all starting pitchers that a team will face in the week.
The SB Plays (Owned <50% of ESPN leagues):
- 2B/SS- Chris Owings (Available in 96% of ESPN leagues): While I was watching the Diamondbacks play last night (holy hell, what a bad Thursday), I saw a stat that said Owings had the worst OPS in the majors last year. And one day later, he winds up on my list for players to start. I now understand why you don’t take me seriously.
- SS- Marcus Semien (Available in 71% of ESPN leagues): Last year in the month of April, Marcus Semien hit 3 homers, stole 3 bases and had a .330 OBP. In fact, he is a pretty damn solid MI for an OBP league. So what is the harm in starting him this week in hopes he unleashes some of his speed on the base-paths?
