The last time I published a column in this space, I was previewing the final week of the 2010 baseball season. Since then, the Giants have won the World Series,
Cliff Lee has joined the Phillies to form the most stacked rotation since the dawn of man, and Charlie Sheen has finally gone off the deep end.
Sure, some other events have transpired over the past six months, but all that really matters now is that baseball is once again upon us. Action officially got underway yesterday, but today I'll be taking a look ahead to the first full week of the season.
You'll find a new Week Ahead column at Rotoworld every Friday afternoon throughout the baseball season, previewing the upcoming week (Monday-through-Sunday) from a fantasy perspective. In each edition you'll find a list of two-start pitchers, categorized by the strength of their outlook, along with streamer suggestions (pitchers available in over 50 percent of leagues with favorable match-ups), team-by-team lefty/right match-ups and an update on high-profile injuries. If there are other things you'd like to see covered in this column, or if you have any questions or concerns as we move along, feel free to shoot me an email at
nels2807@gmail.com.
I look forward to helping you all get the most out of your fantasy teams this year. Now enough with the pleasantries; let's get to it.
Going Twice...
American LeagueStrong PlaysCC Sabathia: MIN (Baker), @BOS (Beckett)
Alexi Ogando: SEA (Bedard), @BAL
Josh Beckett: CLE (Tomlin), NYY (Sabathia)
Decent PlaysGavin Floyd: @KC (Hochevar), TB (Niemann)
Rick Porcello: @BAL (Arrieta), KC
Scott Baker: @NYY (Sabathia), OAK (Braden)
Brian Duensing: @NYY (Nova), OAK (Gonzalez)
Dallas Braden: @TOR (Reyes), @MIN (Baker)
Erik Bedard: @TEX (Ogando), CLE (Tomlin)
Jeff Niemann: LAA (Weaver), @CWS (Floyd)
Jo-Jo Reyes: OAK (Braden), @LAA (Kazmir)
Jake Arrieta: DET (Porcello), TEX (Harrison)
At Your Own RiskIvan Nova: MIN (Duensing), @BOS (Buchholz)
Josh Tomlin: BOS (Beckett), @SEA (Bedard)
National LeagueStrong PlaysCole Hamels: NYM (Young), @ATL (Lowe)
Yovani Gallardo: ATL (Lowe), CHC (Wells)
Anibal Sanchez: WAS (Marquis), @HOU (Norris)
Mike Leake: HOU (Norris), @ARI (Enright)
Derek Lowe: @MIL (Gallardo), PHI (Hamels)
Decent PlaysKyle Lohse: PIT (Morton), @SF (Zito)
Jason Marquis: @FLA (Sanchez), @NYM (Young)
Chris Young: @PHI (Hamels), WAS (Marquis)
Bud Norris: @CIN (Leake), FLA (Sanchez)
Chris Narveson: ATL (Beachy), CHC (Garza)
Jason Hammel: LAD (Kershaw), @PIT (McDonald)
Randy Wells: ARI (Enright), @MIL (Gallardo)
Barry Enright: @CHC (Wells), CIN (Leake)
Brandon Beachy: @MIL (Narveson), PHI (Oswalt)
At Your Own RiskCharlie Morton: @STL (Lohse), COL (Rogers)
James McDonald: @STL (McClellan), COL (Hammel)
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American League Wednesday, 4/6: Daisuke Matsuzaka @ CLEA lot of folks have soured on Dice-K, and rightfully so, but the Indians pack little punch and the powerful Boston lineup should provide plenty of support.
Thursday, 4/7: Edwin Jackson vs. TBJackson was outstanding after joining the White Sox last year, posting a 3.24 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 75 innings. Tampa Bay is no easy draw, but in a pinch he's worth a look.
Friday, 4/8: Nick Blackburn vs. OAKCan Blackburn carry his outstanding spring performance into the regular season? He'll get his first shot at Target Field against the A's.
National League Tuesday, 4/5: Kyle McClellan vs. PITMcLellan has some big shoes to fill in St. Louis. He'll have the opportunity to jump out to a fast start with this favorable match-up at home against the Bucs.
Friday, 4/8: Randy Wolf vs. CHCWolf is a fringe sort of guy who will show up often in this section. I like his match-up next week at home against the Cubs.
Friday, 4/8: Clayton Richard vs. LADRichard was very solid last season, particularly in his home park where he posted a 3.15 ERA and held opponents to a 642 OPS.
The last time I published a column in this space, I was previewing the final week of the 2010 baseball season. Since then, the Giants have won the World Series,
Cliff Lee has joined the Phillies to form the most stacked rotation since the dawn of man, and Charlie Sheen has finally gone off the deep end.
Sure, some other events have transpired over the past six months, but all that really matters now is that baseball is once again upon us. Action officially got underway yesterday, but today I'll be taking a look ahead to the first full week of the season.
You'll find a new Week Ahead column at Rotoworld every Friday afternoon throughout the baseball season, previewing the upcoming week (Monday-through-Sunday) from a fantasy perspective. In each edition you'll find a list of two-start pitchers, categorized by the strength of their outlook, along with streamer suggestions (pitchers available in over 50 percent of leagues with favorable match-ups), team-by-team lefty/right match-ups and an update on high-profile injuries. If there are other things you'd like to see covered in this column, or if you have any questions or concerns as we move along, feel free to shoot me an email at
nels2807@gmail.com.
I look forward to helping you all get the most out of your fantasy teams this year. Now enough with the pleasantries; let's get to it.
Going Twice...
American LeagueStrong PlaysCC Sabathia: MIN (Baker), @BOS (Beckett)
Alexi Ogando: SEA (Bedard), @BAL
Josh Beckett: CLE (Tomlin), NYY (Sabathia)
Decent PlaysGavin Floyd: @KC (Hochevar), TB (Niemann)
Rick Porcello: @BAL (Arrieta), KC
Scott Baker: @NYY (Sabathia), OAK (Braden)
Brian Duensing: @NYY (Nova), OAK (Gonzalez)
Dallas Braden: @TOR (Reyes), @MIN (Baker)
Erik Bedard: @TEX (Ogando), CLE (Tomlin)
Jeff Niemann: LAA (Weaver), @CWS (Floyd)
Jo-Jo Reyes: OAK (Braden), @LAA (Kazmir)
Jake Arrieta: DET (Porcello), TEX (Harrison)
At Your Own RiskIvan Nova: MIN (Duensing), @BOS (Buchholz)
Josh Tomlin: BOS (Beckett), @SEA (Bedard)
National LeagueStrong PlaysCole Hamels: NYM (Young), @ATL (Lowe)
Yovani Gallardo: ATL (Lowe), CHC (Wells)
Anibal Sanchez: WAS (Marquis), @HOU (Norris)
Mike Leake: HOU (Norris), @ARI (Enright)
Derek Lowe: @MIL (Gallardo), PHI (Hamels)
Decent PlaysKyle Lohse: PIT (Morton), @SF (Zito)
Jason Marquis: @FLA (Sanchez), @NYM (Young)
Chris Young: @PHI (Hamels), WAS (Marquis)
Bud Norris: @CIN (Leake), FLA (Sanchez)
Chris Narveson: ATL (Beachy), CHC (Garza)
Jason Hammel: LAD (Kershaw), @PIT (McDonald)
Randy Wells: ARI (Enright), @MIL (Gallardo)
Barry Enright: @CHC (Wells), CIN (Leake)
Brandon Beachy: @MIL (Narveson), PHI (Oswalt)
At Your Own RiskCharlie Morton: @STL (Lohse), COL (Rogers)
James McDonald: @STL (McClellan), COL (Hammel)
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American League Wednesday, 4/6: Daisuke Matsuzaka @ CLEA lot of folks have soured on Dice-K, and rightfully so, but the Indians pack little punch and the powerful Boston lineup should provide plenty of support.
Thursday, 4/7: Edwin Jackson vs. TBJackson was outstanding after joining the White Sox last year, posting a 3.24 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 75 innings. Tampa Bay is no easy draw, but in a pinch he's worth a look.
Friday, 4/8: Nick Blackburn vs. OAKCan Blackburn carry his outstanding spring performance into the regular season? He'll get his first shot at Target Field against the A's.
National League Tuesday, 4/5: Kyle McClellan vs. PITMcLellan has some big shoes to fill in St. Louis. He'll have the opportunity to jump out to a fast start with this favorable match-up at home against the Bucs.
Friday, 4/8: Randy Wolf vs. CHCWolf is a fringe sort of guy who will show up often in this section. I like his match-up next week at home against the Cubs.
Friday, 4/8: Clayton Richard vs. LADRichard was very solid last season, particularly in his home park where he posted a 3.15 ERA and held opponents to a 642 OPS.
Total Games
American League5: LAA, KC
6: BAL, BOS, CWS CLE, DET, KC, OAK, SEA, TB, TEX, TOR
7: MIN, NYY
National League5: LAD, SD, SF
6: ARI, CHC, CIN, COL, FLA, HOU, MIL, NYM, PHI, STL, WAS
7: ATL, PIT
Lefty/Righty Breakdown
American LeagueBAL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
BOS: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CWS: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CLE: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
DET: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
KC: 3 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
LAA: 3 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIN: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
NYY: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
OAK: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
SEA: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
TB: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
TEX: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
TOR: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
National LeagueARI: 6 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
ATL: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
CHC: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CIN: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
COL: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
FLA: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
HOU: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
LAD: 4 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
MIL: 7 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
NYM: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
PHI: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
PIT: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SD: 2 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
SF: 4 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
STL: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
WAS: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
The Infirmary
You can get a full listing of injured players at Rotoworld's
Injury Page, but here's the latest on a few prominent players who have been out of action:
Mat Latos: Out until mid-April
Brian Wilson: Returning this week
Kendrys Morales: Out until late April
Andrew Bailey: Out until late April
Zack Greinke: Out until May
Johnny Cueto: Out until late April
Grady Sizemore: Out until late April
Aaron Cook: Out until May
Jake Peavy: Out until late April
Corey Hart: Out until mid-April
Tommy Hunter: Out until May