Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis for Week 18: American League

We are officially back from the Major League Baseball All-Star Break, and the schedule is back in full swing. All 30 MLB teams will play on Monday, with Thursday being a travel day for most teams. Six American League squads will play seven games this week. There are no day games on either Monday or Friday for fantasy baseball managers to navigate. We also have several roster moves and lineup changes to track around the break. Below is my American League lineup analysis for Week 18 to help you optimize your rosters and lineups heading into the coming days.

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AL Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis for Week 18

Athletics

The Athletics placed Nick Kurtz and Zack Gelof on the Injured List before the Midsummer Classic. 2024 draft picks Tommy White and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer should handle most of the reps at first and third base, respectively. Kuroda-Grauer is the more fantasy-friendly option, as he hits in the middle of the lineup against righties and has hit first or second in two of three games versus lefties. Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom are back from recent IL stints. Wilson has led off in each of the team’s last two games versus left-handed starters. The Athletics acquired Donovan Walton over the break and appear to be phasing Jeff McNeil out of regular at-bats at second base. They will face three right-handers and three left-handers, with an off day on Thursday.

Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles placed infielder Blaze Alexander on the IL coming out of the break. They called up former Reds hot prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand in a corresponding move. Adley Rutschman led off on Saturday, with Gunnar Henderson batting second, and that keeps both players strong for Week 18. Baltimore will face three left-handed starters to start the week, followed by three righties over the weekend. That could mean Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, and perhaps even Samuel Basallo sit for multiple games, while Leody Taveras and Tyler O’Neill make for interesting streamers in leagues where you can put them back on the bench on Friday.

Boston Red Sox

The hottest team in baseball continues its homestand with six more home games in Week 18. All six games will be played against right-handed starting pitchers. Anthony Seigler has led off every game for Boston during July and still offers value at a weak second base position as long as he stays atop the lineup. Masataka Yoshida is a recommended weekly streamer where he is available. He has hit fifth and served as the designated hitter in six straight games against right-handers, going 10-for-25 with three doubles and two home runs. Boston’s newest acquisition, Jahmai Jones, is unlikely to play much this week. Romy Gonzalez should also not see much time against right-handers.

Chicago White Sox

Munetaka Murakami is back after missing six weeks with a hamstring injury. He is still among the AL leaders in home runs despite the absence. The White Sox are off on Thursday and will face six right-handed starters, so Murakami should bat second between Sam Antonacci and Miguel Vargas most nights. Andrew Benintendi is also worth streaming because he starts virtually every time the team faces a right-hander and usually bats fifth. Kyle Teel has settled in behind Benintendi upon Murakami’s return, while Chase Meidroth is hitting ninth versus righties behind Braden Montgomery and Tristan Peters. Montgomery and Peters should gain the most playing time from Jacob Gonzalez’s trade to Pittsburgh.

Cleveland Guardians

Cleveland is playing seven games this week, barring any postponements, and will face six right-handed starters and one lefty. They are traveling to Tampa for Friday’s game, so a regular or two could sit on Thursday. Gabriel Arias has been starting almost every day at third base, but Jose Ramirez’s imminent return would eliminate Arias’s fantasy value. The Guardians recently called outfielder Petey Halpin back up to the Majors and sent Cooper Ingle down to the Minors. Halpin has started two of five games since returning, despite all five coming against right-handed starting pitchers. He, Rhys Hoskins, and Daniel Schneemann are part-time players until further notice.

Detroit Tigers

Detroit’s bench currently features one right-handed infielder, one right-handed outfielder, and two catchers. Their regular players should play every day, or close to it. With seven games on tap for Week 18, they are recommended fantasy starters in most formats. The Tigers are scheduled to face two left-handed starting pitchers, and there are a couple of platoon situations to monitor. Kerry Carpenter, Colt Keith, and James Outman are likely to sit when Detroit faces a lefty. I would still start Carpenter and Keith in weekly leagues, especially if the forecasts for the series at Wrigley Field are favorable. Matt Vierling has started in four of Detroit’s last five games against right-handers and has also been leading off against lefties, so he may be worth streaming in deeper formats.

Houston Astros

Jeremy Pena and Christian Walker both left Saturday’s game with injuries. Pena has already been on the IL twice, so fantasy managers will need to stay on top of the news heading into the week. Houston placed Brice Matthews on the IL this week and called up Lucas Spence to replace him. Spence has started both games since being called up, but I would not expect much in fantasy except for the occasional stolen base. The Astros are off on Thursday and are scheduled to face six right-handed starters. For Week 18, that keeps Houston’s righty-heavy lineup in play, though Pena and Walker remain the major variables. LaMonte Wade has been playing in the outfield against righties, so he could be an option for fantasy managers needing outfield streamers.

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals activated first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino from the IL before the break. Pasquantino has been hitting fifth since his return. Lane Thomas’s renaissance continues. Thomas is arguably Kansas City’s hottest hitter and has settled into the cleanup spot in recent weeks. The Royals are slated for a seven-game week, with five of those games against righties. Carter Jensen and Michael Massey are the only Royals regulars who have sat in the team’s last two games against lefties. Even if that continues, I think five starts should be enough to justify both players in weekly formats. Though Kansas City has no off days, they are traveling before Thursday’s game in Detroit. Wednesday could be a day of rest for one or two regulars.

Los Angeles Angels

Mike Trout returned to the lineup for Los Angeles before the break after a three-week absence. The star center fielder is back in the two-hole and is a must-start whenever healthy. When Trout plays the field, left-handed hitters Josh Lowe and Wade Meckler have been splitting time in left field, with Jo Adell in right field. Vaughn Grissom appears to have wrestled control back from Oswald Peraza at second base. Grissom has started four of the last six games there, with an additional start at third base along the way. Los Angeles is off on Thursday and is currently scheduled to face four righties and two left-handed starters, with both lefties in the middle game of each series.

Minnesota Twins

Minnesota activated starting catcher Ryan Jeffers from the IL last week. Jeffers is back in the two-hole, which has pushed Brooks Lee down to sixth. Royce Lewis missed Saturday’s matinee with a hamstring injury. I would like to say this is nothing to worry about, but this is Royce Lewis we are talking about here. Fantasy managers will need to make sure Lewis is ready to go for Monday. The Twins are traveling multiple times without an off day in Week 18. They will go from Chicago to Cleveland to start a four-game series with their division rivals on Monday. Then they head back home to host the Athletics on Friday. Minnesota will face three left-handed starting pitchers this week. Trevor Larnach is the hitter most likely to lose time against a lefty and the clearest weekly risk.

New York Yankees

Paul Goldschmidt has sat in three of the last four games against right-handed starters for the New York Yankees. He has cooled off dramatically over the month, falling from .301 on June 17 to .255. I would probably still hold onto him if possible, but hopefully you have a more reliable full-time option on your roster. The Yankees are off Thursday and should face two left-handers and four righties this week. Trent Grisham has started three of the last four games against lefties, so I would keep him in most weekly lineups. Both of New York’s games versus left-handers will come next weekend, so Ryan McMahon should be benched next weekend in leagues with Friday hitter swaps.

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners activated Julio Rodríguez from the 7-day Injured List on Saturday. With Rodriguez back in the lineup, Cal Raleigh hit sixth in Seattle’s lineup. Dominic Canzone remained in the three-hole. I can’t imagine anyone dropping Raleigh, but he has been one of the biggest fantasy disappointments of the season. The Mariners are off on Thursday and will face four right-handers and two left-handers. Canzone is expected to sit at least one of those games, as is Luke Raley. Victor Robles would be the leading candidate to start in their places. Buddy Kennedy could also start against lefties in place of either J.P. Crawford or Colt Emerson. I still plan on playing Crawford, Canzone, and Raley where I have them this week.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays are another team making multiple trips without a single off day in Week 18. They are scheduled to face six right-handers and one left-hander. I would advise against putting too much stock into Tampa Bay’s lineups coming out of the All-Star break. The Rays platoon a lot and faced three consecutive Boston lefties to start their second half. Ben Williamson, Jonny DeLuca, and Ryan Vilade started all three games. But I would not expect any of those players to start more than two or three games this week. Meanwhile, Cedric Mullins, Victor Mesa Jr., and Richie Palacios all could earn five or six starts after each having only started one of Tampa’s previous three contests. Outside of the team’s top three hitters, it is difficult to trust any of them for consistent fantasy production.

Texas Rangers

Texas is the fifth American League team that has activated its two-hitter from the Injured List since my last update. Wyatt Langford is back, hopefully for good this time. Josh Smith was sent down to the Minors to make room for Langford. Since Langford’s return, Josh Jung and Brandon Nimmo have been alternating as the third and fourth hitters depending on the handedness of the opposing starting pitcher. Joc Pederson continues to lead off against right-handers, while Justin Foscue handles leadoff duties versus lefties. Pederson and Evan Carter are not playing at all when the Rangers face a lefty. That is noteworthy because Texas faces two lefties in their early series against the White Sox. This is another scenario where the ability to make mid-week switches may dictate how one operates.

Toronto Blue Jays

Ernie Clement has led off each of Toronto’s last eight games regardless of the opposing pitcher. Clement is eligible at three positions in most formats, making him a solid option for those needing runs and batting average. Just don’t expect much in the way of home runs or stolen bases. Nathan Lukes has been hitting second against right-handed starting pitchers. However, Toronto will only face four righties during their seven games in Week 18. Myles Straw has started in place of Lukes the last two times the Blue Jays have encountered a lefty starter. Jonatan Clase has provided a spark at the bottom of the lineup in recent games since the team sent Yohendrick Pinango back to the Minors. However, I would prefer to let someone else make a claim on him.