Five American League teams are scheduled for a seven-game week in Week 22. There are no day games in the AL on either Monday or Friday for fantasy baseball managers to navigate. But with only six weeks left in the Major League Baseball regular season, every lineup decision matters. Some fantasy managers may have the luxury of waiting on injured or underperforming players, while others may not. Whatever situation you find yourself in, it helps to have a sense of how each team is handling its current roster. That is where my fantasy baseball lineup analysis comes in. It includes lineup shifts, injury news, and roster moves. Here is all you need to know regarding all 15 American League clubs heading into the next seven days.
More great Fantasy Baseball Analysis: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire | Weekly SP Rankings | Pitching Streamers | Two-Start Pitchers | Lineup Analysis | MLB Injury Report | Rookie Report | Advanced Stats | Under the Radar | Overvalued & Undervalued | Bullpen Report
Fantasy Baseball Lineup Analysis for Week 22 – American League
Athletics
The Athletics activated Zack Gelof from the Injured List this past week. After hitting ninth on Monday, he has hit anywhere from second through fourth since. Jacob Wilson missed Saturday’s game after getting hit by a pitch the night before. It does not sound like anything serious, but make sure he is cleared by Monday. Last week I mentioned that I thought Lawrence Butler would lead off for the Athletics against right-handed starting pitchers. As it turns out, Jeff McNeil handled that role in three of four games last week. The Athletics technically face one left-hander among their seven games in Week 22. However, that will be Daniel Lynch, who is operating as an opener for Kansas City on Tuesday. McNeil could provide some decent run totals and potential batting average help this week.
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles have used Pete Alonso and Tyler O’Neill in the leadoff spot in consecutive games against left-handed openers. Time will tell if they incorporate this against traditional lefty starters. Unfortunately, we may not have a definitive answer by this time next week. Baltimore plays seven games but will face six right-handed starting pitchers in those games. Gunnar Henderson has been leading off against right-handers and has been followed by Alonso, Jackson Holliday, and O’Neill. Dylan Beavers and Colton Cowser are hitting lower but are still solid streamers given Baltimore’s schedule. The Orioles have a rare week which starts and finishes with games against the Tampa Bay Rays. They finish a wraparound series in Tampa on Monday before heading home. After hosting the New York Yankees for three games, they face the Rays again over the weekend.
Boston Red Sox
Boston activated Adley Rutschman from the IL on Tuesday. He has batted third in all four of his starts since his return. Masataka Yoshida hit leadoff in three of Boston’s last five games. However, Yoshida suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday and is expected to be placed on the IL. Fantasy managers who were streaming Yoshida may have to cut bait if they need the roster spot. Nick Sogard is the most likely candidate to lead off when the Red Sox face a right-handed starting pitcher. Jahmai Jones should handle the role when Boston is up against a left-hander. This week, the Red Sox will face four right-handers and two lefties. They are home all week and are off on Thursday.
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox will head across town to play the Cubs for three games before an off day Thursday. They will then host the New York Mets over the weekend. Chicago will face four right-handed starters and two left-handers. Sam Antonacci has started three straight games versus southpaws, which is a step up from the past few weeks. He hit eighth in all three games but reached base six times. An increased role could benefit fantasy managers down the stretch. Andrew Benintendi and Tristan Peters are still not playing against lefties, so four games may not be enough to warrant starting either player in weekly leagues. The White Sox claimed Jake Rogers off waivers and optioned Edgar Quero to the Minors. Chicago is Rogers’ fourth American League team in the last three weeks. Hopefully he travels light.
Cleveland Guardians
Brayan Rocchio’s place in Cleveland’s batting order has steadily declined since the return of Jose Ramirez and the acquisitions of Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe. Rocchio was hitting fourth or fifth at the end of July, but has batted ninth in six of 12 August contests, including four straight. Rocchio has outperformed most of his advanced metrics for most of the season. However, it can be difficult to justify starting that type of player when he is hitting at the bottom of the lineup. On the bright side, Cleveland travels to Colorado next weekend. Perhaps Rocchio has another productive week in him. The Guardians are off on Monday before facing a left-handed starter on Tuesday. That will be Cleveland’s only game against a lefty in Week 22.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers placed outfielder Riley Greene on the Injured List this week with a hamstring injury. It is a tough blow, and fantasy managers may have to make some difficult decisions. I am most likely keeping Greene where I have him, but this feels situation-specific. Detroit recalled Corey Julks to replace Greene on the active roster. Julks has started two of four games since being called up. All four of those games were against left-handed starters, so it’s hard to say how the lineup will shake out versus righties. Sunday’s game may give us our best indication. The Tigers will face three more right-handers to start next week before an off day on Thursday. After that, they will go up against two left-handed starting pitchers in their weekend series in Kansas City.
Houston Astros
Houston’s starting nine has been steady since acquiring Daulton Varsho on August 3. Since that date, all regulars except for the catcher spot have played in at least nine of 11 games. Varsho, Jose Altuve, Christian Walker, and Taylor Trammell have been alternating spots in the batting order behind the top three hitters in the Astros lineup. Cam Smith and the catcher have usually been occupying the bottom two spots for Houston. Christian Vazquez has earned most of the starts ahead of Yainer Diaz behind the plate lately. So much for the idea that Jake Meyers would be Taylor Trammell’s platoon partner. The Astros claimed Nelson Velazquez off waivers and optioned Meyers back to the Minor Leagues. Houston is off Monday and will face five right-handed starters this week.
Kansas City Royals
Jac Caglianone is in the midst of another hot stretch at the plate. The Royals’ right fielder has a 13-game hitting streak and has 26 hits across his last 16 games. What is perhaps most impressive about this most recent run is that Kansas City has faced five left-handed starting pitchers in their last six games. On paper, the Week 22 outlook for Caglianone and company is even more favorable. The Royals are home for seven games, five of which will be versus right-handers. Caglianone and the rest of the Royals regulars should be solid fantasy options this week. From a streaming standpoint, Isaac Collins and John Rave should also benefit. Collins hit as high as fourth against right-handers as recently as last Saturday.
Los Angeles Angels
Wade Meckler continues to lead off for the Los Angeles Angels versus right-handed starting pitchers. His role versus lefties has been a question mark. Meckler started both games last week against lefties, batting ninth and eighth. Before that, he had not been playing at all versus left-handers. I suppose in that respect, you can call him a bit of a poor man’s Sam Antonacci, although Meckler does have that sweet mustache in his favor. Zach Neto has been hitting cleanup against right-handers and leading off against lefties. The Angels are off on Monday before heading down to Texas. They will face Houston and Texas for three games apiece. Los Angeles will face four right-handed starting pitchers and two left-handers in Week 22.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins activated Byron Buxton from the Injured List. With Buxton back, Minnesota’s lineup looks to be back intact. Austin Martin continues to lead off against left-handed starters, while Trevor Larnach does so versus righties. Neither player typically starts when facing a starter of the same handedness. That may matter in leagues where fantasy managers can make changes on Friday. The Twins face two lefties early in the week, but none in their three games next weekend. Royce Lewis has been a BABIP god in August and is now eligible at three infield positions in most leagues. Better late than never, I suppose. Kaelen Culpepper has been the team’s regular shortstop since being called up earlier this month. He has started six of eight games for Minnesota. Ryan Kreidler has also started six of those games, primarily in a super-utility role.
New York Yankees
With several injured hitting stars and facing nothing but right-handed starting pitchers this past week, the New York Yankees kept a steady starting nine. Jose Caballero and Ali Sanchez each made one start, while Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario made none. The Yankees will face six righties again in Week 22 following an off day on Monday. Perhaps a few of their reserves get multiple starts this time around, if only to shake things up for a struggling offense. Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Heliot Ramos could stand to rest for a day or three considering how cold they are. But by and large, New York’s regulars should get at least five starts this week.
Seattle Mariners
Taylor Ward has missed three straight games for the Seattle Mariners with a quad injury. The Mariners are off on Monday, so this could be a tricky situation if Ward does not return on Sunday. The Mariners will face four left-handed starting pitchers this week. If Ward is out, Randy Arozarena should lead off quite a bit. Seattle placed Colt Emerson on the IL with a wrist injury on Friday. Indications were that Seattle was going to send Emerson to the Minor Leagues before the injury. Based on that, fantasy managers should probably cut the cord in Redraft leagues. The Mariners called up Brock Rodden to replace Emerson, and he has started both games while batting ninth. I’m not sure if Rodden will contribute enough for managers to feel the need to add him, but at least he has a cool-sounding name.
Tampa Bay Rays
Most of the left-handed hitters in Tampa Bay’s regular lineup have been hot lately, and I expect that to continue in Week 22. The Rays will play seven games, and six of them will come against right-handed starting pitchers. None of the starters they encounter are overly worrisome from a matchup perspective. Victor Mesa Jr., Cedric Mullins, Richie Palacios, and Taylor Walls could all be effective streamers in weekly formats, to varying degrees, depending on your category needs and positional requirements. Of course, you should start the top five hitters in the Rays lineup in all leagues. That includes Chandler Simpson, who is hitting .325 this season versus right-handed pitchers. Tampa signed Jorge Mateo and optioned Carson Williams to the Minors. Mateo will most likely play shortstop against left-handed starters.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers are home for six games after an off day on Monday. They will face four left-handed starting pitchers. That means Joc Pederson and Evan Carter are not recommended fantasy starters in Week 22. Pederson does not start against lefties, and Carter has only started twice in eight contests against left-handers over the past 30 days. Wyatt Langford should lead off when the Rangers face a left-handed starter. Jake Burger arguably gets the biggest boost based on playing time and lineup slot given this week’s upcoming schedule. Texas has played some musical chairs with some of their bench bats since the end of last week. They have recalled Jarred Kelenic and Cody Freeman while optioning both Alejandro Osuna and Cam Cauley back to the Minor Leagues.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays placed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the 7-day IL on Saturday. Fantasy managers will have to find another option for next week. Charles McAdoo played first base in Guerrero’s absence on Saturday and could gain eligibility at first base if that continues this week. I play in one league where McAdoo is listed as an outfielder and another where he is listed as a third baseman. So, either way, adding another position to his portfolio is a nice bonus. McAdoo has also been leading off against left-handers over the past week. Toronto faces three lefties and three righties in Week 22, so he could be worth streaming depending on your other options. Brett Bateman and Nathan Lukes are Toronto’s top options to lead off when the team faces a right-handed starting pitcher.
Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we’re not stopping anytime soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn’t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com!
