What a crazy week in fantasy baseball with injuries and COVID-19 news happening daily. Although we’ve seen missed or postponed games, I’m hopeful for baseball continuing assuming the health and safety for all. This week we’ll look at the week 2 hitter matchups by team. In addition we’ll look at favorable hitter matchups for several players that you’ll want to plug into your lineup this week. Fire up those Rockies!
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Week 2 Hitter Matchups
Easier Hitter Matchups
- Colorado Rockies – 4 vs. SF, 3 at SEA
- New York Yankees – 2 vs. PHI, 2 at PHI, 1 at BAL, 4 at TB
- Philadelphia Phillies – 2 at NYY, 2 vs. NYY, 3 at MIA, 3 vs. ATL
- Atlanta Braves – 1 vs. NYM, 3 vs. TOR, 3 at PHI
- St. Louis Cardinals – 2 at DET, 2 vs. DET, 3 vs. CHC
- Milwaukee Brewers – 2 vs. CWS, 2 at CWS, 3 vs. CIN
- Seattle Mariners – 1 vs. OAK, 3 vs. LAA, 3 vs. COL
Honorable Mentions
- Chicago Cubs – 2 vs. KC, 2 at KC, 3 at STL
- Los Angeles Angels – 3 at SEA, 3 at TEX
In terms of wOBA allowed, the Giants rank fourth worse, and the Mariners are dead last. In terms of ERA and FIP, the Giants’ and Mariners’ pitching staff ranks in the bottom 10. Basically, their pitchers have been terrible.
The Phillies and the Yankees have their postponed games scheduled for week two, so they will play doubleheaders a couple of times this week. A reminder that these will be seven-inning doubleheaders.
Tougher Hitter Matchups
- Washington Nationals – 2 vs. NYM, 3 vs. BAL, 3 TBD postponed games vs. MIA from 7/31-8/2
- Baltimore Orioles – 1 vs. NYY, 3 at WSH, 3 TBD postponed games vs. MIA from 7/27-7/29
- Boston Red Sox – 2 at TB, 3 vs. TOR
- Arizona Diamondbacks – 3 vs. HOU, 3 at SD
The Nationals and Orioles currently have four or five games on the schedule. However last week they each had three games postponed against the Marlins that have yet to be scheduled. If the Nationals and Orioles play the postponed games, then cross them off this list.
Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to start hitters against the Marlins, Orioles, and Red Sox. Monitor the schedule and temper expectations if there are fewer games. The ERA and FIP for the Astros and Padres rank in the top-11, so the Diamondbacks hitters could struggle this week.
Last Week’s Hitters Matchups
Let’s look at the week 1 hitter matchups, and we’ll also do a little fun win/loss record.
Week 1 Record: 4-4-1
Corey Dickerson (OF – MIA) – Loss
Hanser Alberto (2B/3B – BAL) – Win
Anthony Santander (OF – BAL) – Win
Aaron Hicks (OF – NYY) – Loss
Kyle Lewis (OF – SEA) – Win
Daniel Vogelbach (1B – SEA) – Loss
Yoenis Cespedes (OF, NYM) – Loss
Robinson Cano (2B – NYM) – Win
Jose Peraza (2B/SS/OF – BOS) – Push
Week 2 Hitter Matchups – Start Them
Ryan McMahon, 2B/3B, Colorado Rockies
As much as we love Sam Hilliard and Garrett Hampson, we have no idea what the Rockies will do with their platoon bats. Ryan McMahon has struggled a bit with two runs and two RBI while slashing .222/.286/.278. Last year he smacked the ball around with his hard-hit rate and average exit velocity in the top 8% of the league. This week McMahon could get back on track.
Tyler O’Neill, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
We know Tyler O’Neill is a muscular human being that crushes baseballs when he makes contact with a career 35.8% strikeout rate. In 17 plate appearances, he’s hit two home runs, two runs, and four RBI while slashing .200/.294/.600. In 14 batted ball events, O’Neill has a 21.4% barrel rate, 92mph average exit velocity, and a 57.1% hard-hit rate. Again a small sample, but he currently has a 5.9% walk rate and a 5.9% strikeout rate with a 95% Z-Contact rate and a 22.9% O-Swing rate. Both are outliers so far in comparison to his career 71.4% Z-Contact rate and 35.7% O-Swing rate. Monitor the plate discipline, but O’Neill should take advantage of the Tigers’ pitchers.
Mike Yastrzemski, OF, San Francisco Giants
Mike Yastrzemski is another hitter off to a hot start with two home runs, eight runs, and three RBI while slashing .423/.531/.808 with an 18.8% walk rate and a 21.9% strikeout rate. The Giants play four games at the Rockies, and he should continue to mash to start week two. Even in a small sample, his Statcast data looks promising with a 42.1% hard-hit rate, 91.5 mph average exit velocity, and a .538 wOBA (top 4%).
Week 2 Hitter Matchups – Mariners’ Hitters
Kyle Lewis, OF, Seattle Mariners
Kyle Lewis is red hot to start the year hitting .448/.500/.655 with two home runs, five runs, and seven RBI. His xBA (.336) and xWOBA (.485) are both in the top 7% of the league. Ride Lewis’ hot streak two weeks in a row.
Kyle Seager, 3B, Seattle Mariners
Kyle Seager is another Mariners’ hitter that’s been hitting well so far. He’s slashing .286/.344/.500 with one home run, four runs, six RBI, and one steal. I would start Seager in a corner infield or utility spot, especially in deeper leagues.
Shed Long Jr., 2B, Seattle Mariners
I promise this isn’t a Mariners blog, but they’re sneaky hitters this week. The Mariners’ leadoff hitter, Shed Long Jr. has one home run, five runs, four RBI, and two steals. Although it’s a small sample, Long’s smacking the ball with a 58.8% hard-hit rate and 92.5 mph average exit velocity. He’s a sneaky source of runs and steals, and surprisingly the Mariners rank in the top-10 in team wOBA.
J.P. Crawford, SS, Seattle Mariners
Former top prospect, J.P. Crawford is off to a solid start with zero home runs, seven runs, four RBI, and two steals while slashing .375/.516/.583 with a 22.6% walk rate. Crawford’s typically shown double-digit walk rates, so his plate discipline is definitely a strong suit. If you need a shortstop or middle infielder, then Crawford’s a sleeper hitter this week.
Week 2 Hitter Matchups – Sleeper Hitters
David Fletcher, 2B/SS/3B/OF, Los Angeles Angels
The underrated contact hitter, David Fletcher’s off to a hot start with two runs, three RBI, and one steal with a slash line of .370/.438/.444. Fletcher’s contact rates across the board are above average. If you need help in batting average, then plug Fletcher into your lineup this week. With injuries and COVID-19 news affecting lineups daily, I like having a hitter like Fletcher with the positional flexibility.
Nico Hoerner, 2B/SS, Chicago Cubs
One of the Cubs’ top prospects, Nico Hoerner is hitting well in 19 plate appearances with four runs and five RBI while slashing .389/.368/.444. Hoerner’s currently batting eighth and the everyday second baseman. Like Fletcher, his contact rates are above average. Although the Royals’ and Cardinals’ home ballparks aren’t great for hitters, Hoerner could take advantage of the Royals’ pitching staff.
JaCoby Jones, OF, Detroit Tigers
We’re not talking about JaCoby Jones from the NFL, but we’re talking about the Tigers’ centerfielder. In 24 plate appearances, he’s hit three home runs, six runs, and six RBI while slashing .409/.458/.909 all while hitting out of the nine-hole. In the small sample, Jones is sneakily crushing the ball with a 52.9% hard-hit rate, 23.5% barrel rate, and a 90.2 mph average exit velocity. Although the Tigers will play in pitcher friendly parks this week, ride his hot start in week two.
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