As I mentioned in my American League article, Week 14 features a busy, front-loaded schedule. Six of the 15 National League teams play all seven days barring postponements, with only the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants off on Monday. The Chicago Cubs are on the road all week, so fantasy managers do not need to worry about any Friday day games. Here is my fantasy baseball lineup analysis for all 15 National League teams, covering injuries, lineup changes, and roster moves that can affect player value for the upcoming week.
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Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis for Week 14 – National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks sent Ryan Waldschmidt back to the Minors after activating Lourdes Gurriel Jr. from the Injured List last week. Gurriel has been hitting fifth, or fourth when starting catcher Gabriel Moreno sits. Geraldo Perdomo has moved back to the two-hole between Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll. Unfortunately, Jordan Lawlar’s return from the 60-day IL was short-lived. The Diamondbacks placed the prized prospect back on the IL with a hamstring injury. Tom Tawa was recalled to replace Lawlar, but did not start either of Arizona’s last two games. Ildemaro Vargas started just one of the last five games versus righties. With five righties scheduled for Arizona’s seven games, Vargas is a risky option. Pavin Smith is the preferred choice.
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves activated starting catcher Drake Baldwin from the IL this past week. Baldwin homered in his first at-bat but has struggled since. Still, he should be back to his old self soon enough. Baldwin ceded leadoff duties to Mauricio Dubon in two games versus left-handed starters. In both of those games, Joey Bart was behind the plate as the Braves continue their never-ending search for a backup catcher to Baldwin. Atlanta acquired the former Pirates backstop this past week and designated Sandy Leon for assignment. Atlanta will only face one lefty this week, as they play six games with an off day on Thursday. Bart does not figure to play much this week. Dubon will still play every day but will likely bat sixth between Dominic Smith and Austin Riley.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago optioned Moises Ballesteros to the Minor Leagues last week. But lest you think that means Michael Conforto won the war, think again. As Seiya Suzuki has been nursing a knee injury, the Cubs have used Suzuki as the DH and installed Matt Shaw in right field. Conforto has not started any of Chicago’s last five games. Shaw has been hitting anywhere from sixth to eighth, but could be a sneaky streamer depending on your other options. He had 13 homers and 17 steals in just over 400 plate appearances last year and is eligible at both third base and the outfield. Shaw has even played seven games at second base, though I do not expect him to gain eligibility there anytime soon. The Cubs have a full week this week and will face three lefties and four righties, so keep all regular Cubs hitters in your lineups.
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds seem to have settled on a lineup that features Blake Dunn, JJ Bleday, and Sal Stewart as their top three hitters. Dunn started six of the last eight games in center field, all against right-handed pitchers, while Will Benson and Dane Myers have started none of those eight games. Noelvi Marte started eight of the last 10 games, mainly in right field. He usually hits sixth or seventh in the Reds lineup. Spencer Steer has made some starts in right field as well, primarily hitting fifth. Steer has been one of the most versatile chess pieces fantasy managers can utilize, as he is eligible at both middle infield and corner infield, as well as the outfield. Cincinnati has six games this week and should face all right-handed starting pitchers.
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies have a split home-and-road week, which is always tough for weekly formats. They face two lefties during the home portion of the week and three righties for the road section. Troy Johnston is hitting .309 with a 115 wRC+ this season but has only started one of Colorado’s last four games. TJ Rumfield is the team’s everyday first baseman, and Cole Carrigg is regularly in center field. Jake McCarthy and Tyler Freeman have secured most starts in left and right field. Sterlin Thompson is another depth option. I am not starting Johnston this week. Eduoard Julien has started four of the last five games at second base, but given Colorado’s schedule, he is best left on the bench this week unless fantasy managers are desperate for middle-infield at-bats.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani returned from the Paternity List this weekend and should be good to go. Ohtani had been dealing with a minor knee injury, so perhaps the time away allowed it to heal. He is pitching on Wednesday, so hopefully he can double-dip that day, as the Dodgers are off Thursday. Los Angeles activated Tommy Edman off the 60-day IL and released Santiago Espinal. Edman should be in the lineup against left-handed starting pitchers. Interestingly, he has started both games so far versus lefties at third base, as opposed to second base or the outfield. It would be a while before Edman could become eligible at third base, but it is worth keeping an eye on. The Dodgers will only face one left-handed starting pitcher in Week 14.
Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins placed Liam Hicks on the IL with a back strain this past weekend. Hicks has been one of the most pleasant surprises in fantasy at the catcher position this year. Instead of recalling Agustin Ramirez to replace Hicks, Miami turned to 31-year-old Brian Navarreto. I think anyone still holding onto Ramirez in Redraft leagues can cut bait at this point. With Hicks out, Jakob Marsee has been inserted back into the leadoff spot. I would imagine this will only be the case against right-handed starters. But as luck would have it, the Marlins should only face righties this week, so Marsee is a recommended start despite Miami only playing six games. Griffin Conine returned from the 60-day IL and hit second in his first game back. Conine was off to a hot start before getting hurt, so keep an eye on him as well.
Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee called up prospect Cooper Pratt this week. Pratt has had a double-digit walk rate in the Minors and stole 17 bases in just 58 games at Triple-A. True to form, Pratt has already swiped three bags in his first five games as a Brewer. Pratt is batting eighth but is an excellent fit for fantasy managers needing speed. The insertion of Pratt into the everyday lineup looks to have made David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz part-time players. The pair had been splitting time at both shortstop and third base, but are now relegated to a platoon at the hot corner while Pratt plays shortstop. Milwaukee is off on Thursday and is scheduled to face two left-handed starters among its six games. That makes Hamilton the preferred option over Ortiz this week.
New York Mets
The Mets are home for seven games in Week 14, facing five righties and two lefties. They typically platoon at first and third base, with Jared Young and Brett Baty being on the strong side. New York acquired Zack Short last week. He has started at shortstop in two games against lefties, shifting Bo Bichette to third. Young and Baty should get five starts, while Mark Vientos and Short start twice. Francisco Alvarez has started three of the last four games at DH, increasing his fantasy value. Any catcher-eligible player starting six straight games is viable in deeper formats. Luis Torrens plays about half the time, but is not fantasy-relevant.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are on the road for seven games this week. Three of those games should be played against lefty starters, though that includes Wednesday’s game against Washington. This looks like a bullpen game for the Nationals, with southpaw PJ Poulin getting the ball first. I do not expect the Phillies to alter their lineup much for that game. The only places they have been platooning lately are towards the bottom of their order. Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Justin Crawford have been starting in the outfield against right-handed pitchers, but have been giving way to Edmundo Sosa and Derek Hill against lefties. Crawford is the only player among this quartet with fantasy value, though Sosa can be a DFS play at times. Everyone else in the lineup should get six or seven starts, so keep them locked into lineups in all leagues.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh is off Monday before hosting Seattle and Cincinnati for three games apiece. The Pirates should only face one left-handed starting pitcher, so most of their regulars will be in the lineup pretty much every day. The only right-handed hitters getting significant playing time these days for Pittsburgh are Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo. Gonzales has a league-average wRC+, but he is a much better real-life player than a fantasy player. Gonzales has 17 home runs and nine stolen bases in just over 1200 career plate appearances. With the recent trade of Joey Bart, Endy Rodriguez looks like the team’s starting catcher moving forward. Rodriguez has solid on-base skills and could be a decent option for fantasy managers in two-catcher leagues. Henry Davis will serve as Rodriguez’s backup.
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are off Thursday, which is rare considering they are home all week. They should face four right-handed starters and two left-handers. The Padres are riding the hot hand with Samar Taylor, elevating him into the second spot in their lineup. I’m not sure how sustainable Taylor’s run is, but fantasy managers who jumped on board should keep Taylor in their weekly lineups. San Diego activated Miguel Andujar from the IL this past weekend. Andujar had been the team’s primary DH before getting hurt. Will Wagner has been getting most of the recent starts at DH, so we may see a platoon until one player emerges. In that scenario, Wagner would be the better player to start in Week 14. However, Andujar should still be a solid contributor when in the lineup.
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants had also been going with a hot-hand approach, as they went with Matt Chapman in the three-hole, while Casey Schmitt was hitting seventh. However, they reversed course on that on Sunday. Schmitt has been the better fantasy option all season long, and I would expect that to continue going forward. The Giants do face three left-handed starting pitchers among their six Week 14 outings. This could mean Chapman hits higher in the lineup in those games. Bryce Eldridge could be a candidate to get dropped in the order versus lefties, though that would not stop me from starting Eldridge in weekly formats. None of the Giants’ bench players outside of backup catcher Eric Haase have started a game since June 10. The everyday players should continue to get all the work they can handle.
St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis is home for seven games this week. They usually platoon at a few positions. But with only one game scheduled against a left-handed starting pitcher, their regular starting nine should remain intact most of the week. Bryan Torres is the only left-handed hitter on the bench, and he hasn’t started a game in two weeks. Jimmy Crooks has been operating as the team’s 1B to Ivan Herrera’s 1A behind the plate. Both players have started multiple games this week at catcher and at designated hitter. But Herrera is the only one fantasy managers should care about. Lars Nootbaar has settled into the five-hole behind Herrera and the rest of the Cardinals’ top four. He should have plenty of RBI opportunities this week, and he has always had decent power numbers against right-handed pitchers.
Washington Nationals
The Nationals will play seven games this week. Four of those games will come against right-handed starting pitchers. Washington has been platooning at first base with Luis Garcia Jr. and Andres Chaparro. I would probably still start Garcia this week, especially since he is eligible at second base, which is a weaker position. But that decision may depend on the other players who are available to you. Center fielder Jacob Young has been dealing with an injury to his side. Young has shown decent pop and speed, but hits for a low average and does not draw walks. If he is out, Chaparro may earn some additional at-bats at DH with James Wood, Daylen Lile, and Dylan Crews playing the outfield. Jose Tena and Jorbit Vivas may also get some time at the DH spot, though I would keep expectations low.
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