Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis for the Week of May 11

Week 8 of the 2026 Major League Baseball schedule is more imbalanced than recent weeks. There will be just six games played on Monday compared to 11 on Thursday. Four teams will play full seven-game schedules barring any postponements. Below is my lineup analysis for all 30 MLB teams. This includes thoughts and observations on each team’s recent usage and lineup deployment, and what they may mean for players in the next week of action.

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Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis for Week 8

American League

Athletics

The Athletics have kept the same top six hitters in their lineup against right-handed starting pitchers throughout the week. There have been some changes at the bottom, however. Zack Gelof has taken over third base from Darell Harniz. Gelof has been hitting in the eight spot, between Lawrence Butler and Jeff McNeil.

In backup catcher news, the team acquired Jonah Heim to be the new backup for Shea Langeliers. They designated Austin Wynns for assignment in a corresponding move. The Athletics will play all week at home following an off day on Monday. They will face five right-handed pitchers this week. Their regulars should all get five or six starts in advantageous conditions. They have been averaging over five runs per game so far this month, and I would expect that to continue.

Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles have played six games since Monday. Adley Rutschman has started four, while Samuel Basallo has started five. Sure, Basallo has been the designated hitter for three of his five starts. Rutschman’s four starts behind the plate have surely been more taxing. But it would be nice to see Rutschman get some more games at DH. He has only started twice there since returning from the Injured List on April 21.

The Orioles are scheduled to face two left-handed starters in their six games. However, Washington will almost certainly use at least one left-handed opener in next weekend’s series. Baltimore’s Week 8 schedule should give Rutschman the edge over Basallo in weekly formats.

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox placed Roman Anthony on the Injured List this week. They called up Mickey Gaspar to replace Anthony, but the real beneficiary has been Masataka Yoshida. Yoshida has started four consecutive games after only starting one of the previous 10. Fantasy managers looking for short-term help should consider Boston’s designated hitter in Week 8.

The Red Sox will face five right-handed starting pitchers this week. That should give Yoshida a handful of starts in the middle of the lineup. Wilyer Abreu has been bumped up to the three-hole in Anthony’s absence. He should be able to keep up his recent hot streak, hitting behind Jarren Duran and Willson Contreras.

Chicago White Sox

There has been a new man atop the lineup for the Chicago White Sox versus righties in recent days. Rookie outfielder Sam Antonacci has led off in five consecutive games against right-handed starters. He has reached base nine times in those five games, so he may be able to stick for a while. That is a positive sign because the White Sox only face one left-handed starter this week.

Chicago has shifted away from early-season regulars Luisangel Acuna and Edgar Quero. Tristan Peters and Drew Romo are getting most of the work in center field and behind the plate these days. Jarred Kelenic (yes, that Jarred Kelenic) has started six straight games in right field versus right-handers since being called up from Triple-A last week. Kelenic is a streaky hitter, so pay attention to his game logs and upcoming schedule.

Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians made some news this week by trading for San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey. They optioned Bo Naylor to Triple-A to make room for Bailey on the roster. From a purely fantasy baseball perspective, there is nothing to see here. Bailey was on the cusp of being replaced in San Francisco by Daniel Susac before Susac was injured a few weeks back. I cannot imagine him suddenly fulfilling the offensive promise we had for him a few years ago.

The Guardians should face four righties and two lefties this week. Chase DeLauter should get most of the work over David Fry alternating time in right field and DH, while Kyle Manzardo and Rhys Hoskins will split first base duties.

Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers placed starting second baseman Gleyber Torres on the Injured List this week. They also activated Zach McKinstry off the IL. McKinstry has started three of four games since his return. With the Tigers slated to face five right-handed starters this week, McKinstry should be in the lineup quite a bit. While McKinstry has replaced Torres at second base, Matt Vierling has done so in the batting order. He has hit first or second in every game this week.

Detroit has Monday off, but also has to travel home from New York after Thursday’s game. I do not expect major changes to the lineup on either Thursday or Friday. But it wouldn’t surprise me to see Dillon Dingler get Thursday off. He has started 21 of the team’s last 27 games, with 19 of those starts coming behind the plate.

Houston Astros

Carlos Correa is out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury. Braden Shewmake and Nick Allen are likely to platoon at shortstop until Jeremy Pena returns. Shewmake should benefit from the Astros facing seven right-handed starting pitchers this week. However, the real winner in this scenario, as it relates to fantasy baseball, is Isaac Paredes. He is now fully entrenched as the team’s everyday third baseman for the rest of the year.

Houston also placed starting catcher Yainer Diaz on the IL. They have revamped their bench with a flurry of recent roster moves. Houston has called up outfielder Zach Cole as well as Zach Dezenzo, Shay Whitcomb, and Cesar Salazar. Cole is the only one of the four likely to see regular action in the starting lineup. He should also benefit from Houston’s schedule this week. Outfielders Dustin Harris and Daniel Johnson cleared waivers.

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals have been one of the most consistent teams in baseball when it comes to their starting nine. The top four hitters in their lineup have had a combined two scheduled days off in the past month. Because of that, there isn’t a whole lot of lineup analysis to be had.

Kansas City is off Monday and is scheduled to face one left-handed starting pitcher. Expect their regulars to play every day, while Carter Jansen and Jac Caglianone should earn a handful of Week 8 starts.

Los Angeles Angels

Unsurprisingly, the Los Angeles Angels have reinserted Nolan Schanuel into the third spot in their lineup against right-handed starting pitchers. The bad news is that the Angels are only expected to face three righties this week. Schanuel will most likely alternate between batting third and seventh.

The team will also deploy several platoons given their upcoming schedule. Yoan Moncada and Oswald Peraza will split time at third base. Adam Frazier and Vaughn Grissom should do the same at second base. And Josh Lowe and Bryce Teodosio will share time in left field. None of these six players should be in fantasy starting lineups in weekly leagues this week. The Angels are off Thursday before flying home to start a homestand beginning on Friday.

Minnesota Twins

Minnesota has Monday off before beginning an extended homestand, including six games this week. Five of the six will be against right-handed starters. I speculated last week that Austin Martin would get more playing time, and he did, starting four of six games despite the Twins facing only one lefty in that stretch.

Brooks Lee has arguably been the team’s hottest hitter of late. Derek Shelton has rewarded the shortstop by placing him in the two-hole in two of Minnesota’s last four games. Lee is a sneaky start this week, especially given his positional eligibility. Lee’s double play mate, Luke Keaschall, has also picked up his offensive play of late after a rough start. He is worth starting in all formats, considering the relative weakness of the second base position.

New York Yankees

The Yankees placed Jasson Dominguez on the Injured List this week. He was starting in place of Giancarlo Stanton as the team’s primary designated hitter. New York called up Spencer Jones to take Dominguez’s place on the roster. Jones hit sixth against a right-handed starter on Friday before hitting eighth versus a lefty on Saturday. I would expect similar usage over the next week.

The Yankees are up against four righties and two lefties this week. Most of the left-handed hitters in New York’s lineup have been hot, so expect them to get plenty of opportunities. Conversely, Amed Rosario and Paul Goldschmidt will probably only start a couple of games. Jose Caballero should continue to get most of the work at shortstop after the team optioned Anthony Volpe to Triple-A.

Seattle Mariners

Seattle activated Brendan Donovan from the Injured List and optioned third-string catcher Jhonny Pereda to the Minors. Donovan was back in his customary leadoff role on Friday and should spend plenty of time there in Week 8. The Mariners have no days off and face all right-handed starting pitchers. Donovan may get a day or two off, considering his recent return, but fantasy managers should feel confident about starting him in all formats.

Seattle’s schedule should also benefit Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone. Raley has been on fire of late. He has three home runs and 10 RBI in just three games this week. Raley should be added in all formats where he may still be available.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays faced five left-handed starters this week, which meant platoons were in full effect. Jake Fraley and Richie Palacios only started one game each, while Cedric Mullins started three games. Instead, it was Ben Williamson starting all six games, while Ryan Vilade and Jonny DeLuca each started five times.

I would expect a reversal of fortune in Week 8. The Rays are only scheduled to face one left-hander this week, versus five righties. Fraley, Mullins, and Palacios should get most of the starting work ahead of Vilade, DeLuca, and Williamson at their respective positions. They should get by on volume in weekly formats.

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers placed infielder Josh Smith on the Injured List and recalled Justin Foscue. The former first-round pick figures to be an occasional spot starter barring anything unforeseen. Ezequiel Duran continues to thrive in the two-hole in place of the injured Wyatt Langford. Langford may be back this week, but Duran should continue to start at second base. The question is whether the team will immediately re-insert Langford into the two-spot.

Joc Pederson played the outfield on Thursday for the first time since 2023, and it looked like it. Now that Brandon Nimmo is close to 100 percent, Pederson will go back to DH duties. Texas plays six games this week, all of which are against right-handed starters. Pederson is an inconsistent option and is only available at Utility, but he should get plenty of chances this week.

Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto activated Addison Barger from the Injured List this week. Barger hit second on Saturday behind the recently returning George Springer. Jesus Sanchez and Daulton Varsho batted fifth and sixth after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto. I would expect the Blue Jays to deploy that alignment most often this week.

Toronto will play six games, with five of them being against right-handed starting pitchers. Davis Schneider should only start once, while Myles Straw and Lenyn Sosa could get two or three under ideal conditions. To make room for Springer and Barger, the team optioned outfielder Yohendrick Pinango. They also designated Eloy Jimenez for assignment. The veteran cleared waivers and is now a free agent.

National League

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks activated starting catcher Gabriel Moreno from the Injured List last week. However, Moreno’s current lineup spot is less desirable than the one he left behind. Most of his starts before his injury were coming from the fourth or fifth spot in the order. However, the emergence of Ildemaro Vargas and the return of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. have lengthened Arizona’s lineup. As such, Moreno has been hitting out of the seventh and eighth spots this week.

The team also called up former first-round pick Ryan Waldschmidt and designated Alek Thomas for assignment. Arizona is off Thursday and should face four right-handed starters. That should mean four starts for Adrian Del Castillo, who has been operating as the team’s DH versus righties.

Atlanta Braves

As expected, Atlanta placed Ronald Acuna Jr. on the Injured List this week. They initially called up Jose Azocar to replace him. But they have since replaced Azocar with infielder Jim Jarvis. Catcher Sean Murphy has returned after an extended injury absence. Atlanta traded Jonah Heim to the Athletics to make room for Murphy. Murphy has started three of five games behind the plate, with Drake Baldwin operating as the team’s DH in those games. This is a bad development for Dominic Smith. The clock may be close to striking midnight.

Atlanta’s Week 8 schedule isn’t likely to make matters better for Smith. The Braves will only face three right-handed starting pitchers among their six games. Mauricio Dubon has been leading off against lefties and is a viable option this week, especially considering his positional versatility.

Chicago Cubs

Several Cubs bats have been hot at the plate this week. That includes outfielder Michael Conforto, who has earned more playing time as a result. He has started three consecutive games after only starting three of Chicago’s previous 23 contests. I would not rush to add Conforto until he proves he can sustain his current output. But he could be a decent DFS or daily league play.

Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong have picked up their production after slow starts to their respective seasons. Both are hitting in the lower half of the lineup, with PCA still hitting eighth on most occasions. However, fantasy managers should trust the track records of both players following breakout campaigns in 2025. The Cubs are off Monday and should square off with four righties and two lefties in their six games.

Cincinnati Reds

I mentioned last week that JJ Bleday could earn more work in the two-spot ahead of the struggling Matt McLain. That has played out, with Bleday hitting second in all five of Cincinnati’s games against righties this week. Fantasy managers should continue to roll with Bleday, especially when facing Washington in the first part of next week. I would not give up on McLain, but Spring Training might as well have happened in another dimension.

Dane Myers has been replacing TJ Friedl both in center field and in the leadoff spot against lefties. Cincinnati only faces two left-handers in Week 8, so fantasy managers should probably favor Friedl. But Myers may be worth monitoring given Friedl’s offensive struggles. Friedl is hitting .185 with a .199 expected batting average so far this year.

Colorado Rockies

Colorado’s lineups often look very different depending on the handedness of their opponent’s starting pitcher. With that in mind, it is worth noting that they will only face one left-handed starter this week. The Rockies will play six games overall. That means Brenton Doyle and Jordan Beck are unlikely to earn more than a couple of starts.

This week’s schedule could also spell trouble for Ezequiel Tovar. Tovar has not started either of Colorado’s last two games against right-handed starting pitchers. Willi Castro has started both games at shortstop in Tovar’s absence. First baseman TJ Rumfield and outfielder Jake McCarthy have been productive lately. Rumfield has been far more consistent than McCarthy this year, so keep that in mind when setting weekly lineups.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to activate Mookie Betts from the Injured List on Monday. Betts has been out for over a month, but I would not hesitate to insert him into my starting lineup this week. As if you needed convincing to start any of your Dodger regulars in fantasy, they have a full seven-game slate ahead of them.

The biggest question is what to do about Dalton Rushing. I expect Rushing to get three starts in Week 8. Los Angeles has been using Rushing as the team’s DH when Shohei Ohtani pitches. Ohtani will get one start on the mound this week. And I would expect Rushing to get two starts behind the plate to keep Will Smith fresh. I would probably start Rushing in two-catcher leagues and bench him in one-catcher formats.

Miami Marlins

The Marlins will play six games this week following an off day on Monday. Five of those games should be against right-handed starting pitchers. They can be platoon-happy at times, so this is good news for Liam Hicks and Jakob Marsee. Owen Caissie should also see increased playing time.

Regardless of who is on the mound, keep Xavier Edwards in your lineups. Edwards has previously been referred to as “Luis Arraez with speed”. Well, the fourth-year pro has begun to display some pop this season. Edwards entered this year with four home runs in over 1,000 plate appearances. He has four already this season, including his first two career home runs versus left-handed pitchers. I wouldn’t suddenly expect double-digit homers out of Edwards, but he is already an upper-echelon fantasy contributor even without the recent power surge.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers got some reinforcements this week with the returns of Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn. Chourio had been out all season, while Vaughn had been out since Opening Day. Chourio has started all four games since his return, splitting time between leading off and batting second. Vaughn has started three of four, hitting either fifth or sixth.

With the Brewers facing nothing but right-handed starters in Week 8, it would not surprise me to see Vaughn rested for a game at some point. Chourio is more likely to get a full week of action, as Milwaukee is down yet another outfielder. The team placed Brandon Lockridge on the IL on Saturday. Vaughn’s return seems to have relegated Gary Sanchez to a strict platoon bat. Fantasy managers should not start Sanchez this week.

New York Mets

The New York Mets have flip-flopped their top two lineup spots this week. Juan Soto is now leading off, with Bo Bichette hitting directly behind him. MJ Melendez has been getting most of the work batting third against righties. However, the Mets are expected to split their next six games against righty and lefty starters.

New York went with a heavy influx of new blood in their last game versus a left-handed starter. Austin Slater, Andy Ibanez, and Vidal Brujan were all in the starting lineup. Only one of those players was in the organization two weeks ago, and none were on the active roster. Mark Vientos has been swinging a hot bat and should benefit from the team’s upcoming schedule. The same could be said for Marcus Semien, albeit to a lesser degree.

Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia will use Monday as a travel day before embarking on a six-game road trip. They should only have to face one left-handed starting pitcher. Of course, that is good for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. But it also benefits Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott. Both players have been solid for most of the year and should get some extra at-bats this week. With a new manager at the helm, consistent lineup changes are worth noting.

Alec Bohm has missed two straight starts against right-handed starters. In both instances, Edmundo Sosa got the starting nod. Sosa only has a .615 OPS versus righties, so I wouldn’t completely panic about Bohm. Having said that, he needs to start contributing sooner rather than later if he is going to keep playing every day.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are averaging five runs per game and have the sixth-best run differential in the Major Leagues. That is pretty impressive considering Oneil Cruz was the only consistent top-100 fantasy draft pick this spring among Pittsburgh hitters.

Pittsburgh is off Monday before hosting the Rockies and Phillies in Week 8. They will be up against four right-handed starting pitchers and two left-handers. Their individual pitching matchups appear to be very hit or miss. However, I would continue to start the Pirate regulars in weekly formats. Jared Triolo led off in Pittsburgh’s last game against a lefty. But I do not expect him to start more than two or three games overall this week. The same goes for Nick Yorke and Billy Cook.

San Diego Padres

Well, I was right about Gavin Sheets getting plenty of reps this week. Unfortunately, it has led to very little fantasy production. Sheets is just 3-for-17 with a solo home run this past week. San Diego only faces one left-handed starter, so Sheets could get a stay of execution. But Ty France and even Nick Castellanos could cut into Sheets’ playing time if he does not pick things up soon.

The Padres placed starting second baseman Jake Cronenworth on the 7-day Injured List. Sung-Mun Song has been starting at second versus righties, while Fernando Tatis Jr. got a start there versus a lefty this week. Tatis is nearing the 10-game mark at second, which would grant him second base eligibility in certain leagues. Now, if only he could display the same kind of power as Xavier Edwards…

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants called up former first-round draft pick Bryce Eldridge this week. Eldridge is highly touted, but sort of an odd fit. He doesn’t really have a position, and the Giants already have some round pegs in square holes in their infield. So far, Eldridge has been the starting designated hitter in five out of six games.

Casey Schmitt feels like the player most likely to lose playing time, even though you can argue he has been the team’s best hitter over the first six weeks of the season. The Giants will play a full seven-game schedule in Week 8. Six of the seven games should come against right-handed starters. This week could go a long way towards determining Schmitt’s long-term role in the lineup.

St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis is off on Monday, but they are another team with a lengthy trip following Thursday’s game. They are in Sacramento to face the Athletics on Thursday before traveling home to face the Royals on Friday. Thursday’s game is against lefty Jacob Lopez, so perhaps the team will use that day to rest a couple of their regular lefties.

Overall, three of the Cardinals’ six games this week will be against left-handed starting pitchers. St. Louis has only faced two lefty starters in their last 23 games, so they may opt to make some changes. Most notably, Nolan Gorman and Nathan Church may miss multiple starts. If that comes to fruition, Jose Fermin and Thomas Saggese are most likely to benefit.

Washington Nationals

Curtis Mead put forth a solid effort in four starts this week. Mead went 4-for-13 and drew four walks in those four games. However, most of that increased workload was due to Luis Garcia Jr. being injured. Garcia is back, and Washington faces five right-handed starting pitchers in six games in Week 8. Garcia should bat second and play first base in those games.

Keibert Ruiz has started five of the team’s last seven games behind the plate. Before last week, Drew Millas had been earning a slight majority of starts at catcher over Ruiz. Jose Tena has started five consecutive games as the team’s designated hitter versus righties. He has gone 6-for-16 with three walks in those five outings. Tena could be a decent option in deeper leagues, but I’d like to see him produce a bit longer first.