We are quickly approaching the quarter-pole of the 2025 MLB season. Numbers may not be completely stable yet, but we are quickly getting there. Now is the time to incorporate more in-season data into the calculus. Because of that, there are quite a few changes from previous installments of this column, both about how we value pitchers’ strength and ballpark effects. Let’s dive into both factors and more with the Week 7 Hitting Planner for Fantasy Baseball.
Week 7 Schedule Notes
Week 7 features a very even distribution of games played. Six teams play a whole seven-game week, while the other 24 teams play six. There are no day games on Monday among the 10 games on the schedule. Fantasy managers should be able to set weekly lineups on Monday with adequate lineup information handy. For those in leagues where you can adjust hitters mid-week, the same applies on Friday. All 30 MLB teams are in action, with no day games on Friday.
Starting Pitching Matchups
While incorporating 2025 data can make things more accurate to current conditions, it can also create some “false positives.” For example, Rockies hurler Kyle Freeland has a 3.35 xFIP and 0.9 WAR. Both are top 30 marks among 108 pitchers who have thrown at least 30 innings this year. But is anybody out there fearing Kyle Freeland? This week, he is pitching at home against the Detroit Tigers. Sure, he could throw a gem. However, I cannot imagine any scenario where you are benching a Tigers hitter (even in daily leagues) because Freeland has been decent so far. Even though Detroit has a neutral matchup rating for Wednesday, I would continue to start Tigers hitters confidently. Admittedly, I am still trying to find the magic formula to properly quantify the results thus far this season.
Ballpark Effects Data
Before this week, I used a three-year rolling average (2022-2024) for ballpark factors. Beginning this week, I am using the 2023-2025 three-year rolling average. This should give us a more accurate view of current ballpark effects. In the cases of the Athletics and Rays, I am only using this year’s sample, which is relatively small. Both teams have all-home weeks in Week 7. It will be interesting to see how this week plays out. Sutter Health Park in Sacramento has been a hitter’s haven, particularly for right-handed batters. Steinbrenner Field has also been favorable to righties, which could play in the Rays’ favor this week. Tampa Bay faces three left-handed starters, and they platoon more than most MLB teams.
Week 7 Hitting Planner for Fantasy Baseball
| TEAM | GAMES | HOME | ROAD | v. LHP | v. RHP | LHB | RHB | Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 101 | 104 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4.86 |
| ATH | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 105 | 117 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5.83 | |
| ATL | 7 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 101.3 | 99.7 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5.57 |
| BAL | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 99.5 | 103 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6.00 | |
| BOS | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 105 | 102.5 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4.83 | |
| CHC | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 95.5 | 98 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5.00 | |
| CHW | 7 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 100.2 | 100.9 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 5.57 |
| CIN | 7 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 100.4 | 100.6 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 5.43 |
| CLE | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 100 | 98.5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5.67 | |
| COL | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 111 | 112 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5.17 | |
| DET | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 104 | 105 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5.67 | |
| HOU | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 98 | 98.5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6.50 | |
| KC | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 102 | 103 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 6.14 |
| LAA | 6 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 97 | 103 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 6.67 | |
| LAD | 7 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 102.7 | 102.3 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7.29 |
| MIA | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 101.5 | 99 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 6.67 | |
| MIL | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 97.5 | 101.5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6.33 | |
| MIN | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 102 | 103 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 6.00 | |
| NYM | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 98 | 101.5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6.50 | |
| NYY | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 102.5 | 109 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4.83 | |
| PHI | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 98.5 | 101.5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 6.50 | |
| PIT | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 101.5 | 99 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5.83 | |
| SD | 6 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 105.5 | 106.5 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 6.50 | |
| SF | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 99 | 100 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 5.67 | |
| SEA | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 99 | 102.5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 6.67 | |
| STL | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 101.5 | 100 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4.83 | |
| TB | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 100 | 106 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 5.33 | |
| TEX | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 102.5 | 100 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6.67 | |
| TOR | 6 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 95 | 95.5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6.00 | |
| WAS | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 103 | 100 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6.33 |
