Week 24 is upon us and we’re into the playoffs in head-to-head leagues and making our final push in roto leagues. Twelve teams have seven games, the Tigers play eight, and every other team has six games. With my hitting planner, we go team by team taking a look at the matchups, who’s been hot at the plate, and a few waiver wire pickups to consider. The offensive rankings take total games, venue, and matchups into account. This week, you’re going to want to start your Rays as Tampa Bay claims the number one spot in the hitting planner offensive rankings.
For more help getting ready for the coming of fantasy baseball, check out Eric Cross’ Waiver Wire Adds, Nathan Dokken’s Starting Pitcher Rankings, and Paul Mammino’s Two-Start Pitchers.
AL Hitting Planner
AL East
| Team | Off. Ranking | Total Games | Home | Away | VS RHP | VS LHP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAL | 4 | 7 | 4(TEX) | 3(TB) | 4 | 3 |
| BOS | 21 | 6 | 3(MIN) 3(NYY) | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| NYY | 16 | 6 | 3(TEX) | 3(BOS) | 4 | 2 |
| TB | 1 | 7 | 3(BAL) 4(TOR) | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| TOR | 28 | 6 | 0 | 2(ATL) 4(TB) | 5 | 1 |
The Baltimore Orioles play a full seven games this week. Four of those games come at home in Camden Yards against the Texas Rangers. Jonathan Villar has had what seems like the quietest 20 home run 30 steal season, and there’s still a month left to play. Villar has hit .356 with five home runs and six steals, including three Friday, over the last two weeks. Three games will come against left-handed starters, which is good for Hanser Alberto, who has hit .407 against lefties and .300 overall in the last two weeks with three home runs.
The Red Sox have six games at home with the Twins and Yankees visiting. J.D. Martinez has been on a tear hitting .378 with five home runs over the last two weeks. Mitch Moreland has hit well with a .357 average in that same span. Moreland should be in the lineup for four of the six games that will come against right-handed starters.
It was only a matter of time before Aaron Judge broke through. Judge has hit .383 with six home runs and a steal over the last two weeks. The Yankees get six games on the week with three at home against the Rangers and three on the road in Boston. Mike Ford is the latest Yankee you didn’t know to decide to start smashing baseballs. Ford has hit five home runs with a .375 average in the last two weeks. Gio Urshela was placed on the disabled list and Luke Voit was activated.
After a tough week of matchups, the Tampa Bay Rays are among my favorites this week in the hitting planner. The Rays get seven games at home with three against the Orioles and four against the Blue Jays. No team has had a worse ERA in August than the Orioles. Austin Meadows has only hit .226 over the last two weeks but the Rays get six righties on the schedule. Meadows has hit .289 with 17 home runs against right-handed pitchers. Willy Adames has hit .297 against righties and may be a good option this week if you’ve lost Keston Hiura or Jose Ramirez.
Toronto gets six games on the road as they go to Atlanta and Tampa Bay. They will be without the DH in Atlanta, which likely means Justin Smoak misses a game or two. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has hit .382 with two home runs in the last two weeks. Cavan Biggio has been cold hitting .222 in that span, and it won’t get much better with five righties on the schedule. Biggio has hit .202 against right-handed pitching on the year.
AL Central
| Team | Off. Ranking | Total Games | Home | Away | VS RHP | VS LHP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CWS | 26 | 7 | 3(LAA) | 4(CLE) | 5 | 2 |
| CLE | 10 | 7 | 4(CWS) | 3(MIN) | 6 | 1 |
| DET | 6 | 8 | 1(MIN) | 3(KC) 4(OAK) | 7 | 1 |
| KC | 5 | 6 | 3(DET) | 3(MIA) | 3 | 3 |
| MIN | 15 | 7 | 0 | 1(DET) 3(BOS) 3CLE) | 6 | 1 |
The Chicago White Sox get a full seven games, but it’s a tough seven games. The White Sox go to Cleveland to face one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. The Indians have a 3.22 ERA in August, good for second best in the MLB. They follow that up with a three-game series at home against the Angels. The first of those games with come against Andrew Heaney, who has pitched extremely well recently, including a seven-inning, six strikeout performance against the White Sox. Eloy Jimenez is hitting only .238 over the last two weeks, and it just doesn’t look like it’s going to happen for him this season. Outside of Jose Abreu, it’s hard to expect much from this Chicago lineup.
Cleveland gets seven games on the week with four games against the White Sox at home before three games in Minnesota. It was so unfortunate to lose Jose Ramirez for the regular season. Carlos Santana has hit .295 over the last two weeks. The Indians get six right-handed pitchers on the schedule. Francisco Lindor has a .322 average against righties. Franmil Reyes has turned on the power with four home runs in the last two weeks.
The Tigers get the rare eight-game week. Seven of those games will come against right-handed starters. Harold Castro is by far the best hitter on the team against righties with a .303 average. Castro has hit .302 over the last two weeks with a home run and a steal. There’s no one playing in this lineup I want to play in shallow 10 to 12 team leagues.
Kansas City has six games on the week with some good matchups. The Royals get three games against the Tigers and Marlins. Both teams rank in the bottom seven in ERA. Nicky Lopez has finally started showing that hit tool he was known for, hitting .357 over the last two weeks. Three of the games will come against left-handed hitters. Lopez has hit better against lefties and could be someone to consider streaming at second base if you lost Keston Hiura or Jose Ramirez.
The Twins get seven games, all on the road. Jonathan Schoop has been the hottest hitter on the team over the last two weeks with a .409 average and five home runs. Schoop is another player to consider playing at second base this week if you’re in need of someone at the position.
AL West
| Team | Off. Ranking | Total Games | Home | Away | VS RHP | VS LHP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOU | 9 | 6 | 4(SEA) | 2(MIL) | 3 | 3 |
| LAA | 14 | 6 | 0 | 3(OAK) 3(CWS) | 4 | 2 |
| OAK | 3 | 7 | 3(LAA) 4(DET) | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| SEA | 30 | 6 | 0 | 2(CHC) 4(HOU) | 3 | 3 |
| TEX | 2 | 7 | 0 | 3(NYY) 4(BAL) | 5 | 2 |
The Astros start the week in Milwaukee for two games where they will be without the designated hitter. Kyle Tucker should be called up Monday to begin the series. Tucker has had a 34 home run and 30 steal season in Triple-A.
The Los Angeles Angels get six games on the road against the Athletics and White Sox. Brian Goodwin has been the hottest hitter over the last two weeks with a .323 average, three home runs, and a stolen base.
Oakland has a full slate of seven games on the schedule with a doubleheader against the Tigers on Friday. The A’s miss Andrew Heaney’s spot in the rotation against the Angels to start the week. Both the Angels and Tigers rank among the bottom teams in ERA in the month of August. Mark Canha has been great with a .417 average and six home runs over the last two weeks.
Seattle has six games on the schedule with four of those against the Houston Astros on the road. I don’t particularly like any Mariners but Kyle Seager has looked like his old self recently with four home runs and a .298 average over the last two weeks.
The Rangers have a favorable schedule on the hitting planner with four games against the Orioles in Camden Yards. Nick Solak is hitting .375 over the last two weeks and is one of my favorite options to pick up to possibly replace Keston Hiura should Hiura miss time.
NL Hitting Planner
NL East
| Team | Off. Ranking | Total Games | Home | Away | VS RHP | VS LHP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | 23 | 6 | 2(TOR) 4(WSH) | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| MIA | 22 | 6 | 3(KC) | 3(PIT) | 4 | 2 |
| NYM | 24 | 6 | 3(PHI) | 3(WSH) | 4 | 2 |
| PHI | 19 | 7 | 0 | 4(CIN) 3(NYM) | 5 | 2 |
| WSH | 7 | 7 | 3(NYM) | 4(ATL) | 5 | 2 |
The Braves get six games with the Blue Jays coming to Atlanta for two followed by a four-game series against the Nationals. Atlanta will face the tough trio of Patrick Corbin, Stephen Strasburg, and Max Scherzer. The Brave’s bats have gone cold with their top hitters of Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, Freddie Freeman, and Josh Donaldson all hitting .200 or less over the last two weeks.
Miami gets six games this week. Jon Berti has provided good value in roto leagues with four home runs and three steals over the last two weeks. There isn’t much else in this lineup worth rostering in shallower leagues.
Six games on the schedule for the Mets as well, as they go to Washington to face the Nationals before a three-game series at home against the Phillies. J.D. Davis has hit four home runs in the last two weeks with a .268 average. Catcher Wilson Ramos has hit everything with a .419 average in that same time span.
The Phillies get a full seven games this week with a four-game series against the Reds in Cincinnati followed by a visit to face the Mets. Jean Segura has a .349 average over the last two weeks and should have continued success with five right-handed pitchers on the schedule. Segura has hit .282 against righties on the year.
The Nationals also get a full seven games. Anthony Rendon continues his career year with a .412 average and three home runs in the last two weeks. Asdrubal Cabrera has hit well since joining the Nationals and is yet another option at second base. Cabrera has hit .323 with two home runs over the last two weeks.
NL Central
| Team | Off. Ranking | Total Games | Home | Away | VS RHP | VS LHP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHC | 20 | 6 | 2(SEA) | 4(MIL) | 4 | 2 |
| CIN | 11 | 7 | 4(PHI) 3(ARI) | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| MIL | 25 | 6 | 2(HOU) 4(CHC) | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| PIT | 17 | 6 | 3(MIA) 3(STL) | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| STL | 8 | 7 | 4(SF) | 3(PIT) | 5 | 2 |
The Cubs get a decent week of matchups with a two-game series at home against the Mariners and a four-game series in Miller Park against the Brewers. Keep riding the Nick Castellanos hot streak. Castellanos has hit .314 with four home runs over the last couple weeks.
The Reds are one of 12 teams with a full seven-game schedule. Four of those games will come against left-handed starters. Nick Senzel has hit .195 over the last two weeks but has a .311 average against lefties. Eugenio Suarez could have a good week as well with a .295 average against left-handed pitching.
Milwaukee gets six games on the week. The first two come against Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke. Losing Keston Hiura could be a blow to the offense should he miss extended time. Mike Moustakas hopes to return during the series against the Cubs. Moustakas has hit .333 with four home runs over the last two weeks.
The Pirates get all six of their games against right-handed starters. That’s great news for Bryan Reynolds owners. Reynolds has hit .346 on the year against righties. Kevin Newman is another player that benefits with a .313 average. Newman has been hitting well in recent weeks with a .339 average, two home runs, and three steals since August 16.
The Cardinals bats have been heating up with seven players hitting at least .280 or better in the last two weeks. In that span, Marcell Ozuna has hit .380 with two home runs. Kolten Wong also has two home runs and two steals to go along with a .371 average in that time. St. Louis gets a full seven games on the schedule.
NL West
| Team | Off. Ranking | Total Games | Home | Away | VS RHP | VS LHP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI | 18 | 6 | 3(SD) | 3(CIN) | 5 | 1 |
| COL | 29 | 6 | 0 | 3(LAD) 3(SD) | 3 | 3 |
| LAD | 13 | 6 | 3(COL) 3(SF) | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| SD | 12 | 6 | 3(COL) | 3(ARI) | 6 | 0 |
| SF | 27 | 7 | 0 | 4(STL) 3(LAD) | 6 | 1 |
The Diamondbacks host the Padres for three games before going to Cincinnati for three. Fingers crossed that Ketel Marte returns to the lineup and remains healthy. Marte has hit .350 with four home runs and a steal over the last two weeks. Christian Walker has also hit well with a .325 average and two home runs. Five of the games should come against right-handed pitchers, who Marte and Walker have excelled against.
No home games for the Rockies this week as they go to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers followed by a series in San Diego. Three of the games should come against left-handed starters. The Rockies are the sixth-best team against lefties. Not only does Trevor Story hit especially well against left-handers, he’s been the hottest hitter on the team with a .392 average over the last two weeks.
The Dodgers get six games at home with the Rockies and Giants visiting. It will be interesting to see if the Max Muncy injury gives Los Angeles a reason to call up Gavin Lux. Enrique Hernandez could also fill Muncy’s spot and has hit .345 since August 15. It’s all righties on the schedule for the Dodgers, which means we could see a lot of Matt Beaty. Beaty has hit .308 with a home run and a steal in the last couple weeks.
San Diego finds itself in a similar situation with six righties on the schedule. Eric Hosmer benefits with a .296 average against them. The rest of the lineup has been cold of late, with no one hitting better than .279 over the last two weeks.
A full seven games are on the schedule for the San Francisco Giants. The Giants go to St. Louis for four games before traveling to Los Angeles to play three against the Dodgers. Evan Longoria has hit .333 with two home runs over the last two weeks. Kevin Pillar has a .314 average in that span with four home runs. Scooter Gennett was release as the Giants called up Mauricio Dubon. Dubon could be interesting in deep leagues where a middle infielder is needed. Dubon hit 20 home runs and stole 10 bases in Triple-A.
Hopefully, you’re finding Jorge’s Hitting Planner useful. For more great analysis check out all of our fantasy baseball content.
Jorge Montanez is a lifelong sports fan but new to the fantasy industry, joining Fantrax HQ as a writer in June of 2019. Jorge co-hosts the Bases Loaded Podcast, a fantasy baseball podcast covering everything fantasy baseball on a weekly basis. He was raised in Stockton, CA but now resides in Los Angeles, where you can find him at a ballpark playing catch with his two sons on the weekends. Follow Jorge @jmontanez90 on Twitter where he’ll be happy to give his take and answer questions on all things fantasy.
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