The Smash and Grab: 4 Teams With Elite Hitting Opportunities in Week 27
One thing I have learned in my journey in fantasy baseball is that volume is key -- especially in hitting.
In standard rotisserie leagues, only one category is ratio-based (batting average), which allows us to maximize at-bats and plate appearances to rack up those counting statistics in runs, home runs, runs batted in, and stolen bases. And as simplistic as the approach seems, the best fantasy players find ways to garner as many shots as possible -- via volume.
Each week, this report will analyze the matchups for the upcoming week to see if any teams, in particular, stand out from a volume perspective as we gear up for those Free Agent Budget (FAB) bids.
The seven-game teams? Those are obvious. But what about the other matchups? Let's dig in and find out.
Seven-Game Teams (6)
The following teams play at least seven games: Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Who do I like most among these offenses:
Cleveland Indians: This week's matchups are pretty interesting for the Indians, who are one of the few seven-game teams. Keep in mind that of the options we have listed above, both the Marlins and Mets have doubleheaders, so their seven-game slate is worth a little bit less to me. Cleveland, though, has outstanding upside. They get the poor Royals' staff for four games to start the week, and they finish their season with three at the Texas Rangers. This is an offense we definitely want a piece of.
Pittsburgh Pirates: This is a unique setup for the Buccos. They get four against the Cincinnati Reds and three versus the Chicago Cubs, but they start and end the week with Cincinnati. They have a makeup game Monday at Cincinnati, a park ranks inside the top-five in home-run factor. They then head home for three against the Cubbies, who have been one of the league's worst rotations in the second half, before finishing with three in Pittsburgh against Cincy. If you are looking for some speed upside, take a peek at Hoy Park.
Six-Game Teams (24)
Colorado Rockies: The Colorado Rockies start the week with a three-game set at home in Denver versus the Washington Nationals, who will roll out Josiah Gray, Patrick Corbin and Paolo Espino. All of those arms are extremely hittable, and while the Rox do have to leave their hitter's paradise, they still have a strong end-of-week matchup at the Arizona Diamondbacks. The best pitcher on the staff, Madison Bumgarner, will go on Thursday, so Colorado will miss him.
St. Louis Cardinals: There is no one hotter at the plate than the Birds, who rank in the top-10 in wOBA and isolated power over the last month. Slugger Paul Goldschmidt has racked up a whopping 1.300 OPS over the 15-game winning streak the Cardinals are on, and the team is obliterating the ball. They open the week against the Milwaukee Brewers, a squad they recently swept, and they finish against the beatable Cubs staff. Fire up all of the Cardinals.
Five-Game Teams (0)
Coors Field
Washington Nationals (3)
