Weekly Hitter Rankings: Ready to Rock

The Weekly Hitter Rankings is a companion piece to the Weekly Pitcher Rankings. While in many leagues your offensive roster slots are set 'em and forget 'em, in deeper formats where every at-bat counts, knowing which teams have friendly schedules for hitters, and which platoon bats will be getting more action than usual, can be valuable information, especially in head-to-head formats and leagues where you make moves weekly instead of daily. The Weekly Hitter Rankings will summarize all that info in one spot, for your roster-juggling convenience.

For the period June 6-12

NOTE: I've begun to incorporate 2016 offensive performance into the home/road splits for each team, and will gradually increase the weight the more recent numbers carry as the season progresses.

7 GAMES

1. Toronto

at DET (3) – M. Fulmer (R), Boyd (L), Zimmermann (R)
vs. BAL (4) – T. Wilson (R), Gausman (R), Gallardo (R), Jimenez (R)

In these rankings the Jays are still riding high in large part on their 2015 performance, but they've started to regain last year's offensive swagger over the last couple weeks. The righty-heavy slate could give Ryan Goins a couple starts at shortstop, but Darwin Barney's hot streak at the plate should keep him entrenched as their primary option. Gallardo isn't confirmed for the weekend, but if he's not ready to come off the DL, the O's don't have any obvious replacement candidates.

2. NY Yankees

vs. LAA (4) – Shoemaker (R), Tropeano (R), Weaver (R), Chacin (R)
vs. DET (3) – Pelfrey (R), Verlander (R), M. Fulmer (R)

Note that Tropeano's spot in the rotation is iffy due to an illness, but Tuesday seems like his most likely landing spot. A seven-game homestand should help mitigate the loss of Mark Teixeira, and don't be surprised if Chris Parmelee ends up seeing a lot of action at first base for the Yankees in Teixeira's absence. Brian McCann could also start to turn things around, assuming his elbow is healthy enough to take advantage of this all-righty sked.

3. Colorado

at LAD (3) – Bolsinger (R), Urias (L), Maeda (R)
vs. PIT (1) – Locke (L)
vs. SD (3) – Cashner (R), Shields (R), Friedrich (L)

An extra home game, thanks to make-up date against the Pirates, propels the Rockies almost to the top of this week's rankings, but facing the back end of the Dodgers' rotation in Chavez Ravine helps too. Three lefties could make Ryan Raburn a worthwhile play, especially with two of those games coming at home.

4. NY Mets

at PIT (3) – Niese (L), Nicasio (R), Liriano (L)
at MIL (4) – Nelson (R), Guerra (R), W. Peralta (R), Davies (R)

Being on the road all week isn't the worst thing when you play in Citi Field. The two early lefties could make Juan Lagares an interesting deep-league play against the Bucs if you have mid-week transactions, while James Loney will face a nice stretch of righties in Milwaukee.

5. Baltimore

vs. KC (3) – Duffy (L), Ventura (R), Volquez (R)
at TOR (4) – Stroman (R), Estrada (R), Happ (L), Aaron Sanchez (R)

Ryan Flaherty should continue to see most of the starts wherever Manny Machado isn't this week, while Hyun Soo Kim is suddenly worth a look with only two lefties on the slate for the O's.

6. Texas

vs. HOU (4) – Fiers (R), Keuchel (L), Fister (R), McHugh (R)
at SEA (3) – Iwakuma (R), Paxton (L), Miley (L)

In theory, Felix Hernandez could come off the DL to take one of those weekend starts for the Mariners, but I'll believe it when I see it. Three lefties on the sked puts Ryan Rua in play in deeper formats.

7. Pittsburgh

vs. NYM (3) – Matz (L), deGrom (R), Syndergaard (R)
at COL (1) – Bettis (R)
vs. STL (3) – Wacha (R), C. Martinez (R), Leake (R)

This is a screwy schedule. The Pirates get six games at home, but have to fly to Colorado for a maek-up game in between their three-games home sets, so don't be shocked if they have a bit of a letdown against the Cards. The righty-heavy slate makes John Jaso just about a must-start.

8. Houston

at TEX (4) – C. Lewis (R), Hamels (L), Darvish (R), M. Perez (L)
at TB (3) – Andriese (R), Smyly (L), Archer (R)

This is the ultimate platoon-killing slate, as the Astros face alternating lefties and righties all week. That makes for some fun DFS rosters and pretty much ensures players like Tony Kemp and Jake Marisnick see enough at-bats to have a bit of value in deep formats, but it also puts a firm cap on their upside.

9. LA Angels

at NYY (4) – Tanaka (R), Pineda (R), Eovaldi (R), Nova (R)
vs. CLE (3) – Kluber (R), Bauer (R), Carrasco (R)

The all-righty slate, as well as four games when they can aim for the short porch in Yankee Stadium, is good news for the Angels' left-handed sluggers, or it would be if they had any. As it is, Kole Calhoun's about the only player who might take real advantage, although Rafael Ortega could be worth a look too if Daniel Nava isn't ready to return next week.

10. Seattle

vs. CLE (4) – Bauer (R), Carrasco (R), Salazar (R), Tomlin (R)
vs. TEX (3) – D. Holland (L), C. Lewis (R), Hamels (L)

Yeah, it's seven home games, but that means seven games in Safeco. The Mariners have scored nearly a full run more per game this year on the road, so it's not what you'd call an advantage for their offense. Ketel Marte should be back Monday, but if you have mid-week transactions, leave Franklin Gutierrez and Dae-Ho Lee on your bench until the weekend.

11. Cleveland

at SEA (4) – Paxton (L), Miley (L), T. Walker (R), Karns (R)
at LAA (3) – Santiago (L), Shoemaker (R), Tropeano (R)

The Indians have a bit of a jumble right now in left and center field between Rajai Davis, Tyler Naquin and Jose Ramirez, and with three lefties on the slate they could split the available at-bats almost equally.

6 GAMES

12. Chicago Cubs

at PHI (3) – Morgan (L), Eickhoff (R), Velasquez (R)
at ATL (3) – Undecided, Wisler (R), W. Perez (R)

The Cubs are on the road this period, but getting to face the dregs of the NL East certainly helps, as does their league-leading 6.1 runs per away game. There aren't any obvious candidates for Friday's start, but the default option might be Bud Norris.

13. San Diego

vs. ATL (3) – W. Perez (R), Blair (R), Teheran (R)
at COL (3) – J. Gray (R), Chatwood (R), Butler (R)

Sure, the Padres' offense has shown flickers of life recently, but this ranking is all about those juicy at-bats in Coors Field. No lefties could allow Travis Jankowski to start stealing playing time away from Melvin Upton in left field.

14. Washington

at CHW (3) – Latos (R), M. Gonzalez (R), Rodon (L)
vs. PHI (3) – Hellickson (R), Nola (R), Morgan (L)

There's a big drop-off from the Padres to the Nats, and with so few high-value six-game slates to add to the seven-gamers, this is a week where maximizing your games played can really pay off in head-to-head formats. Two lefties might get Michael Taylor some at-bats at the expense of the slumping Ben Revere, but the DH at-bats in Chicago could go to almost anyone.

15. St. Louis

at CIN (3) – John Lamb (L), Simon (R), Finnegan (L)
at PIT (3) – G. Cole (R), Niese (L), Nicasio (R)

Seriously, how is Alfredo Simon still in the Reds' rotation? I don't get it. Three lefties and three righties on the sked could give the Cards some platoon options around the infield and allow them to ease Jhonny Peralta back into action, but it's just as likely they option Kolten Wong down and use Peralta full-time at third base, with Matt Carpenter heading over to the leystone.

16. Detroit

vs. TOR (3) – Happ (L), Aaron Sanchez (R), Dickey (R)
at NYY (3) – Sabathia (L), Tanaka (R), Pineda (R)

Nick Castellanos hasn't so much regressed as collapsed, striking out 14 times in his last 23 at-bats, so Mike Aviles and Andrew Romine could see action at third base this week if Castellanos gets some time off to try and shake his funk. Given how potentially tough this group of opposition pitchers is, that might be for the best.

17. Minnesota

vs. MIA (3) – Conley (L), Chen (L), Koehler (R)
vs. BOS (3) – S. Wright (R), E. Rodriguez (L), Porcello (R)

The Twins could have a knuckleball hangover for the last two games against the Red Sox, but if they do it'll be hard to tell apart from their usual struggles at the plate. Three lefties on the slate probably gives Robbie Grossman a leg up on at-bats over Max Kepler and Oswaldo Arcia.

18. Cincinnati

vs. STL (3) – Leake (R), J. Garcia (L), Wainwright (R)
vs. OAK (3) – Graveman (R), Hill (L), Manaea (L)

Rich Hill missed his start this weekend and could rejoin the A's rotation on Tuesday, which would bump Jesse Hahn to Friday and Kendall Graveman to Saturday, but they could also just skip him entirely and slot him back in as shown here. The three lefties could cost Jay Bruce some at-bats, but the Reds could also just keep trotting him out there as they showcase him for a possible trade.

19. Arizona

vs. TB (3) – Archer (R), M. Moore (L), Odorizzi (R)
vs. MIA (3) – Nicolino (L), J. Fernandez (R), Conley (L)

This looks a bit low for the D-backs given that they spend all week at home, but facing Jose Fernandez can take the starch out of anyone's step. David Peralta should return to action, but the even lefty-righty split put a cap on the potential value of Jake Lamb and Brandon Drury.

20. LA Dodgers

vs. COL (3) – Chatwood (R), Butler (R), Rusin (L)
at SF (3) – Cueto (R), Samardzija (R), Peavy (R)

Only one lefty on the sked probably leaves the recently-activated Scott Van Slyke on the bench and Chase Utley seeing most of the action at second base.

21. Miami

at MIN (3) – Dean (L), Hughes (R), Nolasco (R)
at ARI (3) – E. Escobar (L), Corbin (L), Ray (L)

With DH at-bats available in Minensota and two mediocre righties on the slate, Ichiro Suzuki could be worth a play in deep leagues with mid-week transactions. Chris Johnson is also a consideration, with the Marlins facing four lefties overall.

22. Kansas City

at BAL (3) – Worley (R), Jimenez (R), Tillman (R)
at CHW (3) – Sale (L), Quintana (L), Latos (R)

Vance Worley is just a best guess for the Orioles' starter on Monday, and even if he does get the nod it could wind up being a bullpen day. The Royals currently have four outfielders manning the corners in a rough platoon, but Paulo Orlando and Jarrod Dyson remain the most likely starters.

23. Milwaukee

vs. OAK (2) – Manaea (L), Hahn (R)
vs. NYM (4) – Colon (R), Harvey (R), Matz (L), deGrom (R)

Six home games would normally rank the Brewers a bit higher, but getting the Mets' rotation for four of those games is far from ideal. Two lefties should net Hernan Perez a handful of at-bats at Scooter Gennett's expense.

24. Tampa Bay

at ARI (3) – Ray (L), Greinke (R), Bradley (R)
vs. HOU (3) – McCullers (R), Fiers (R), Keuchel (L)

Having no DH in Arizona will likely cost Corey Dickerson at least one game and possibly more, given that he isn't exactly hitting well enough to justify the defensive downgrade from using him in left field. Logan Forsythe could also rejoin the lineup on the weekend.

25. Chicago White Sox

vs. WAS (3) – J. Ross (R), Scherzer (R), G. Gonzalez (L)
vs. KC (3) – Kennedy (R), Young (R), Duffy (L)

Tyler Saladino is slowly winning the shortstop battle for the White Sox and is the better play over Jimmy Rollins if you have to use either one. If Austin Jackson has a setback with his toe injury, J.B. Shuck could have a little value in deep formats.

26. Philadelphia

vs. CHC (3) – Lester (L), Hendricks (R), Lackey (R)
at WAS (3) – Strasburg (R), Roark (R), J. Ross (R)

There's another big drop in the rankings from the White Sox to the Phillies, so if you can avoid using hitters from any of the remaining teams, do so. Philly has trouble scoring runs anyway, but this week could be doubly tough given the quality of pitching they'll be seeing. The righty-heavy slate could get Ryan Howard a start or two, but the team seems committed to giving Tommy Joseph some run at first base.

27. Atlanta

at SD (3) – Friedrich (L), Rea (R), Pomeranz (L)
vs. CHC (3) – Hammel (R), Arrieta (R), Lester (L)

Three lefties could make Jeff Francoeur worth using if you're in a bind, but otherwise, yeesh.

5 GAMES

28. Oakland

at MIL (2) – Davies (R), Chase Anderson (R)
at CIN (3) – Straily (R), Moscot (R), John Lamb (L)

Just to add insult to the injury of a five-game slate, the A's are in National League parks all week and won't be able to use the DH. They still manage to avoid last place by virtue of the crappy pitching they'll be facing, though.

29. Boston

at SF (2) – Bumgarner (L), Undecided
at MIN (3) – E. Santana (R), Duffey (R), Dean (L)

Not even the surging Red Sox's offense can overcome a short slate, especially with no DH for two games in San Francisco. The Wednesday starter for the Giants could be Chris Heston.

30. San Francisco

vs. BOS (2) – Porcello (R), Price (L)
vs. LAD (3) – Kershaw (L), Kazmir (L), Bolsinger (R)

Yeah, the Giants are at home, but they're also the only team with a three-game slate facing bona fide aces. Angel Pagan, at least, should be back to soften the blow of losing Hunter Pence.