The National League has a stacked schedule in Week 16. Seven NL squads are in store for a full seven-game week. Not to be outdone, the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals will play eight games. The Central Division foes square off in a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday. With plenty of action on tap, let’s get right into my fantasy baseball analysis for the National League. Here are some news and notes on every NL team, including injuries, lineup considerations, and roster moves. Fantasy managers can find start/sit recommendations as well as streaming options below.
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Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis for Week 16 – National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been going with a quasi-platoon in left field with Max Kepler and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Each has started three of the last six in left field, with Gurriel earning two additional starts as the team’s designated hitter.
The Diamondbacks are on the road for seven games this week. All seven games should feature right-handed starting pitchers against them. Kepler and Gurriel will probably start five or six games apiece. Arizona’s other DH option could involve its catcher combo. Gabriel Moreno has started two straight games at DH against righties, while Adrian Del Castillo has been behind the plate. The two backstops reversed those roles quite a bit earlier in the season when Arizona faced a right-handed starting pitcher. Pavin Smith should also get most of the action at first base, for better or worse.
Atlanta Braves
Atlanta placed shortstop Ha-Seong Kim on the Injured List with a finger injury. Kim has been dreadful at the plate since making his season debut in May. The Braves recalled Jim Jarvis, but Jorge Mateo should get most of the work at shortstop for the foreseeable future. Atlanta also designated Rowdy Tellez for assignment and activated Kyle Farmer from the IL. There are no fantasy implications with either move.
The Braves will host the New York Mets on Monday to finish their series before embarking on a six-day road trip to close out their first half schedule. They should face six right-handed starting pitchers and one left-hander this week. That schedule will give Dominic Smith and Mike Yastrzemski some streaming opportunities in weekly leagues, so consider starting them when you need a spot fill-in.
Chicago Cubs
Pay no attention to what I said about Dansby Swanson last week. He is clearly the greatest player alive. Gotta love those games when the wind blows out at Wrigley. Unfortunately, the Cubs will be on the road for six games this week. The good news is they play in two decent hitters’ parks (Baltimore and Cincinnati) and should face three left-handed starting pitchers. Maybe Swanson has one more in him.
Chicago does not platoon a whole lot as currently constructed. Aside from Michael Conforto, I would expect the Cubs regulars to start nearly every day, so start them with confidence. Michael Busch and Ian Happ have each batted two spots lower in Chicago’s lineup versus left-handers over the past week. However, I am still starting both players where I have them in Week 16.
Cincinnati Reds
As I speculated last week, the Cincinnati Reds called TJ Friedl back up to the Big Leagues after placing Blake Dunn on the Injured List. They also placed Dane Myers on the IL and designated Will Benson for assignment. The Reds called up Ivan Johnson, but he is nothing more than a depth piece. Friedl and Matt McLain have been platooning in center field, while JJ Bleday and Noelvi Marte have been manning the corner outfield spots.
Cincinnati will play six home games in Week 16. They are expected to face four left-handed starters in those six games. That includes Tim Mayza, who should open for Philadelphia on Wednesday. McLain and Spencer Steer could be worth starting this week, depending on your other options. I would not start Friedl or Nathaniel Lowe, as neither will start more than two or three games.
Colorado Rockies
Several Rockies bats have been red-hot, but that comes with a Coors Field-sized asterisk. Colorado is on the road for seven games this week, so do not expect their hot hitting to continue for very long. I’m not sure how confident I would feel about starting any Rockies not named Hunter Goodman.
I would say I could get behind Jake McCarthy and Mickey Moniak as well. However, Colorado is slated to face three left-handed starting pitchers. McCarthy hit sixth in three starts across Colorado’s last four outings versus lefty starters. Meanwhile, Moniak has not started any of those games. Kyle Karros has been hot lately and was rewarded by hitting second against a left-hander on Saturday. If such a move were to hold, it would certainly increase his fantasy value.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani missed Saturday’s game due to a bicep injury. This is not the first seemingly minor injury he has dealt with recently. The team is hopeful he plays on Sunday, but I would not be shocked to see him sit out at least once this week.
Los Angeles leads their division by 14 games, and they have scored 57 runs in their last eight games. I think they can afford to be cautious with Ohtani if they so choose. The Dodgers are playing six home games in Week 16, with an off day on Thursday. They will face four right-handed starting pitchers and two lefties. Even with the reduced volume, I cannot imagine many scenarios in which you would bench any of the Dodgers’ everyday hitters.
Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins activated Liam Hicks early last week. Hicks has led off all four games versus right-handed starting pitchers while playing three different positions. He hit third behind Otto Lopez and Esteury Ruiz when the Marlins faced a left-hander on Wednesday. To say Miami has taken advantage of their favorable Week 15 schedule would be an understatement.
The Marlins have won four of six games in Colorado and Sacramento, scoring 50 runs in the process. They might find tougher sledding at home against Seattle and Cleveland this week. Having said that, I would still start the top half of the lineup in all weekly formats. Just keep in mind that Miami is off on Monday and will only play six games. They are scheduled to face four right-handers and two left-handed starting pitchers.
Milwaukee Brewers
Not only are the Milwaukee Brewers playing eight games this week, but all eight are likely to be against right-handed starting pitchers. Last week, I suggested benching Christian Yelich if you had a viable replacement. That will not be necessary in Week 16. Even if he sits out a game or two, he should put up plenty of numbers at the top of the lineup for an elite offense, so keep him in.
Jake Bauers and the red-hot Garrett Mitchell are also safe starts in all weekly formats. David Hamilton sat in favor of Joey Ortiz on Saturday. However, I still consider Hamilton to be a streamer for those needing a jolt in the stolen bases department. Saturday’s game was the first time Hamilton failed to start against a right-handed starting pitcher in over a month.
New York Mets
After starting and leading off every game since May 12, Carson Benge has not led off in either of New York’s last two games. Benge hit fifth against a right-hander on Friday, with A.J. Ewing leading off. On Saturday, Francisco Lindor led off against a lefty, while Benge hit seventh. I am still starting Benge, where I have him, as the Mets have a seven-game week on deck.
The first five games will be played against right-handed starters, with the final two expected to be versus left-handed starting pitchers. Ewing and Jared Young are most likely to sit when the Mets are up against a lefty. Francisco Alvarez has been operating as the team’s DH when he is not behind the plate. The results have not always been there, but it is hard to deny the volume.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies do not care about rest, or heat waves, or what hand that day’s opposing starting pitcher throws with. They are playing their regulars no matter what. Alec Bohm is the only player among Philadelphia’s top six hitters in their lineup who has been given a non-injury day off in the past 30 days. It is hard to argue too much against the strategy, considering the Phillies are 41-20 under Don Mattingly.
Philadelphia will play seven road games in three different cities to close out the first half of their season. They will face four righties and three lefties this week. It might not be the worst idea in the world for the Phillies to give one of their lefty bats a day off this week, but recent history suggests that is unlikely to occur, so continue starting the regulars.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Konnor Griffin has started seven of nine games since his return from the Injured List. The good news is he has led off in all seven. The bad news is that he has only started three of five versus righties, including one start as the team’s designated hitter. No, I do not think Jared Triolo is a real threat to Griffin’s playing time. But with the Pittsburgh Pirates only facing one left-handed starting pitcher among their six Week 16 games, I do wonder how much time Griffin will get at the top of the order.
Jake Mangum would be the most obvious replacement to lead off. Mangum could be a streaming option for those seeking speed. Esmerlyn Valdez is not going to keep up his current pace. Still, fantasy managers who invested early should continue to enjoy the fruits and ride Valdez until the wheels fall off.
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres activated Jake Cronenworth from the Injured List this week. Cronenworth had been out for nearly two months after dealing with a concussion. The veteran has hit second in the lineup in three consecutive games. He is not an exciting fantasy player by any means, but the volume makes him an interesting Week 16 streamer.
San Diego is home for seven games this week. They are facing seven right-handed starters, including a slew of very hittable arms. Even if you account for a maintenance day or two, Cronenworth could be viable, so start him if you need a steady lineup option. Jackson Merrill has been dropped in the lineup amidst his struggles. He has batted fifth or lower in six consecutive contests. However, I would still start him given San Diego’s favorable schedule. Gavin Sheets is also set up for a big week.
San Francisco Giants
San Francisco placed third baseman Matt Chapman on the IL this week. They called up Christian Koss, but have opted to shift Casey Schmitt over to the hot corner with Chapman out. Heliot Ramos has hit in four different lineup slots and played three different positions, including DH, across six games since returning to the lineup. Ramos has hit safely in five of six and should be a solid fantasy contributor.
Victor Bericoto has been getting some run in San Francisco’s outfield. He has started eight of 10 games after starting just one of the previous 16. Drew Gilbert and Jonah Cox would be the alternatives to Bericoto, with Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee playing nearly every day. The Giants are home for seven games in Week 16. Five of those games will be played against right-handed pitchers.
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals will play host for eight games in Week 16. The tricky part for fantasy baseball managers is that St. Louis should face four left-handed starting pitchers and four right-handers. The Cardinals platoon a fair amount, but they are not religious about it.
Alec Burleson and Nathan Church have started three of the team’s last five games against left-handed starters. Lars Nootbaar has started four, while JJ Wetherholt has started all five. If you normally start any of those players in weekly leagues, I would continue to do so. Even if they only start five or six games, they should be able to produce. Jose Fermin and Nelson Velazquez should start most of the time when the Cardinals face a lefty. It will not be enough for weekly formats, but they could be decent DFS options.
Washington Nationals
Last week, I said that Luis Garcia Jr. was a less desirable start because he would only get four starts. Well, I was right about half of that equation. Garcia has only started three games so far this week. However, he hit two more home runs on Friday and already has seven RBI for the week. Let’s all agree to keep things simple and start Garcia this week, shall we?
Besides, the Washington Nationals are going to face five righties and one left-hander this week. Garcia will be in the starting lineup for all five of those games. Jacob Young missed Saturday’s game with hand soreness. If the injury lingers, Jose Tena and Jorbit Vivas could form a three-man rotation at third base and DH with Curtis Mead, with James Wood joining Daylen Lile and Dylan Crews in the Nationals outfield.
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