This article is part of our Weekly Hitter Rankings series.
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 of Sept 19-25
NOTE: Home/road splits are now pulled purely from 2016 team performances, with 2015 numbers completed phased out. 2016 park factors are also now included, replacing 2013 park factors in the rolling three-year average.
7 GAMES
1. Boston (32.585)
at BAL (4) – Bundy (R), Gausman (R), Gallardo (R), Jimenez (R)
at TB (3) – Archer (R), Andriese (R), Odorizzi (R)
David Ortiz should love a full week with no lefties on the slate, but don't overlook Jackie Bradley, Travis Shaw and even Andrew Benintendi as well.
2. LA Angels (32.461)
at TEX (3) – M. Perez (L), Griffin (R), Hamels (L)
at HOU (4) – Fiers (R), Fister (R), Peacock (R), Musgrove (R)
3. Baltimore (32.347)
vs. BOS (4) – Porcello (R), E. Rodriguez (L), Buchholz (R), Price (L)
vs. ARI (3) – S. Miller (R), Ray (L), Godley (R)
4. Houston (29.763)
at OAK (3) – Cotton (R), Manaea (L), Mengden (R)
vs. LAA (4) – Nolasco (R), Meyer (R), Chacin (R), D. Wright (R)
5. Colorado (28.893)
vs. STL (3) – C. Martinez (R), Wainwright (R), L. Weaver (R)
at LAD (4) – B. Stewart (R), De Leon (R), Kershaw (L), R. Hill (L)
6. San Diego (28.652)
vs. ARI (3) – Godley (R), A. Bradley (R), Greinke (R)
vs. SF (4) – Samardzija (R), A. Suarez (R), Bumgarner (L), Cueto (R)
7. NY Mets (28.059)
vs. ATL (3) – Blair (R), Teheran (R), Gant (R), De La Cruz (R)
vs. PHI (4) – Hellickson (R), Asher (R), J. Thompson (R)
Another week of right-handed opposition bodes well for James Loney and Michael Conforto.
8. Kansas City (27.644)
vs. CHW (1) – Rodon (L)
at CLE (3) – Tomlin (R), Clevinger (R), Kluber (R)
at DET (3) – Verlander (R), D. Norris (L), Zimmermann (R)
9. LA Dodgers (27.577)
vs. SF (3) – Bumgarner (L), Cueto (R), Moore (L)
vs. COL (4) – Chatwood (R), J. Gray (R), Bettis (R), T. Anderson (L)
10. Miami (27.476)
vs. WAS (3) – A.J. Cole (R), Roark (R), Scherzer (R)
vs. ATL (4) – De La Cruz (R), Wisler (R), Blair (R), Teheran (R)
Having no lefties on the slate could help Justin Bour find his groove again.
11. San Francisco (25.892)
at LAD (3) – Kershaw (L), R. Hill (L), Maeda (R)
at SD (4) – Friedrich (L), E. Jackson (R), Cosart (R), Clemens (R)
I don't normally comment on pitching matchups, but that Dodgers/Giants series... jinkies! Kerhsaw-Bumgarner, then Cueto-Hill, and even Maeda-Moore could be a good one. Don't expect much scoring from either team to kick off the week.
12. Atlanta (25.248)
at NYM (3) – Syndergaard (R), Gsellman (R), Colon (R)
at MIA (4) – Urena (R), Cashner (R), Chen (L), Fernandez (R)
6 GAMES
13. St. Louis (31.328)
at COL (3) – T. Anderson (L), J. De La Rosa (L), Hoffman (R)
at CHC (3) – Lackey (R), Arrieta (R), Hendricks (R)
The Cards would jump all the way to fourth if we ignored games played, but that's a risky play this week given the arms they'll see in Chicago.
14. Cleveland (30.157)
vs. KC (3) – Volquez (R), Kennedy (R), Gee (R)
vs. CHW (3) – M. Gonzalez (R), Quintana (L), Rodon (L)
The Tribe would be right behind the Cards in fifth if we didn't consider games player this week.
15. Detroit (27.672)
at MIN (3) – Duffey (R), Santiago (L), Berrios (R)
vs. KC (3) – Duffy (L), Ventura (R), Volquez (R)
16. Texas (27.358)
vs. LAA (3) – Chacin (R), D. Wright (R), J. Weaver (R)
at OAK (3) – Graveman (R), R. Alcantara (R), Detwiler (L)
17. Seattle (27.026)
vs. TOR (3) – Estrada (R), Happ (L), Aaron Sanchez (R)
at MIN (3) – E. Santana (R), Gibson (R), Duffey (R)
18. Chicago Cubs (27.004)
vs. CIN (3) – Straily (R), Adleman (R), Stephenson (R)
vs. STL (3) – Leake (R), A. Reyes (R), C. Martinez (R)
No lefties on the sked should be good news for Anthony Rizzo and even Miguel Montero, but given that the Cubs are already resting starters, Chris Coghlan might end up being the biggest beneficiary.
19. Toronto (26.935)
at SEA (3) – T. Walker (R), Iwakuma (R), F. Hernandez (R)
vs. NYY (3) – Mitchell (R), Sabathia (L), Pineda (R)
20. Washington (26.287)
at MIA (3) – Chen (L), Fernandez (R), Koehler (R)
at PIT (3) – Taillon (R), Hutchison (R), Nova (R)
21. Pittsburgh (26.285)
at MIL (3) – Garza (R), Guerra (R), Nelson (R)
vs. WAS (3) – G. Gonzalez (L), R. Lopez (R), A.J. Cole (R)
22. Milwaukee (26.227)
vs. PIT (3) – Brault (L), Kuhl (R), Vogelsong (R)
vs. CIN (3) – DeSclafani (R), Finnegan (L), Straily (R)
23. Chicago White Sox (26.005)
at KC (1) – Ventura (R)
at PHI (2) – J. Thompson (R), Eickhoff (R) NO DH
at CLE (3) – Carrasco (R), Bauer (R), Tomlin (R)
The makeup game in Kansas City saves the White Sox from the basement this week, while seeing no lefties could be a boost for Adam Eaton. Be wary of using Justin Morneau though, as they won't have use of the DH in Philly.
24. Minnesota (26.004)
vs. DET (3) – Boyd (L), Anibal Sanchez (R), M. Fulmer (R)
vs. SEA (3) – Paxton (L), Miranda (L), T. Walker (R)
25. Arizona (25.588)
at SD (3) – Clemens (R), Richard (L), Perdomo (R)
at BAL (3) – Tillman (R), Bundy (R), Gausman (R) WITH DH
A.J. Pollock could return from his groin injury just in time to be eased into the lineup at DH in Baltimore.
26. Cincinnati (25.320)
at CHC (3) – Hammel (R), Lester (L), Montgomery (L)
at MIL (3) – Chase Anderson (R), Davies (R), W. Peralta (R)
27. NY Yankees (23.958)
at TB (3) – Smyly (L), Cobb (R), Snell (L)
at TOR (3) – Liriano (L), Stroman (R), Estrada (R)
28. Oakland (23.919)
vs. HOU (3) – Peacock (R), Musgrove (R), McHugh (R)
vs. TEX (3) – Darvish (R), C. Lewis (R), M. Perez (L)
29. Tampa Bay (23.481)
vs. NYY (3) – Pineda (R), Tanaka (R), Cessa (R)
vs. BOS (3) – Pomeranz (L), Porcello (R), E. Rodriguez (L)
30. Philadelphia (22.198)
vs. CHW (2) – Shields (R), Sale (L)
at NYM (4) – Lugo (R), deGrom (R), Syndergaard (R), Gsellman (R)
Not even getting to face James Shields can save the Phillies from another last place finish in the rankings.
