Al Melchior's pitching advice for Week 6
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So who's playing in Colorado this week, Scott?
Oh. You've figured out how this works, huh?
So yeah, the tenants of the most influential home venue in modern sport are there for a full six games this week, which sounds like a big deal -- and it is. But you won't find them among my five best matchups for this week because, well, their matchups aren't so great.
Four of the pitchers the Rockies face this week are Zack Greinke, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Jacob deGrom. The fact that three of them have underachieved to this point does give me some pause -- and of course it's not like good pitchers are immune to the effects of Coors Field -- but even, so I've managed to come up with five teams whose matchups I like more. It doesn't mean I'd sit the Rockies hitters I normally start, but I'm not looking to force any of their fringies into my lineup.
Two of the teams with a high profile DH will play a series in the NL this week. It's already the third time Victor Martinez owners have had to adjust for an interleague series, which is a shame because the 37-year-old is having a resurgent season. I don't think you can count on him hitting two pinch-hit home runs as he did in Fantasy Week 1, so he's probably a sit in standard mixed leagues. As for Edwin Encarnacion, the Blue Jays should be able to tolerate his defense at first base for three games, especially since the alternative is Justin Smoak.
And with that, on to the matchups ...
Best hitter matchups for Week 6
1. Diamondbacks @COL3, SF4
2. Orioles @MIN3, DET4
3. Phillies @ATL3, CIN3
4. Cardinals @LAA3, @LAD3
5. Mets @LAD4, @COL3
- Of course, just because the Rockies aren't among the five best matchups doesn't mean the two teams visiting them aren't. The Diamondbacks also have the good fortune of facing meatballers Jake Peavy and Matt Cain in that Giants series, so they're a shoo-in. The six righties on tap make David Peralta an easy call despite his so-so power so far, and the same could be said for Jake Lamb if you need a waiver wire corner infielder. Yasmany Tomas can probably go without saying, but don't sleep on Brandon Drury, his equal in home runs so far. Between four different positions, he has started eight straight games.
- Not too many fringies to choose from between the Orioles and Phillies now that Mark Trumbo has graduated to must-start status. Adam Jones' start rate has dipped to 80 percent, but Phil Hughes and Mike Pelfrey seem like the kind of pitchers who could get him back on track. The surplus of righties actually bodes well for Jonathan Schoop, who had reverse platoon splits last year and is riding an eight-game hit streak. If you haven't paid Odubel Herrera a second thought in a points league, you really should given his high walk rate.
- Don't let Aledmys Diaz's recent 3-for-22 skid scare you away. His combination of contact and power skills make him unbenchable at shortstop, especially with matchups as good as these. Brandon Moss isn't going to play enough with three lefties on tap, but Matt Holliday and Randal Grichuk have some sleeper appeal -- the former for points leagues and the latter for categories leagues -- especially if they show some signs of life over the weekend.
- Lucas Duda would seem to be a good choice for the Mets, especially since the streaky slugger just had a two-homer game Wednesday, but three of the seven pitchers on tap throw left-handed. He had reverse platoon splits last year but is back to his old ways this year. I'd probably steer clear in Head-to-Head points leagues, with their smaller lineups. David Wright has favorable splits against left-handers, though. Asdrubal Cabrera doesn't, but he's batting .314 over his last 20 games, and shortstop is always a position of need, you know.
Worst hitter matchups for Week 6
1. Dodgers NYM4, STL3
2. Yankees KC4, CHW3
3. Angels STL3, @SEA3
4. Astros CLE3, @BOS4
5. Tigers @WAS3, @BAL4
- Shortstop is a position of need, yes, but if you happened upon an Aledmys Diaz, Jean Segura or even Trevor Story early, it's possible you have excess there. And if it's in the form of Corey Seager, well, it's reasonable to consider benching him. He hasn't been setting the world on fire at the plate lately. Sitting Yasiel Puig in a three-outfielder league may not be entirely off base either, though he is coming off back-to-back two-hit games. The easy calls are Joc Pederson and Justin Turner, though, who are borderline even with favorable matchups.
- The Yankees have been so miserable offensively that you shouldn't have to strain too hard to find players to sit against pitchers like Ian Kennedy, Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon. Brett Gardner has cooled off after a hot start, and Mark Teixeira has yet to get going. Starlin Castro might be hard to justify in a league that requires an extra middle infielder, but he's not so high-end that you risk losing much if you sit him. About the only Yankees who deserve to start no questions asked are Brian McCann and, provided you're in a league where you need to keep pace in steals, Jacoby Ellsbury.
- No need for a Tyler White dilemma this week. (Are we over him yet?) Of course, now the coldest bat in the Astros lineup is the one that was the hottest just two weeks ago. That was always the risk for Colby Rasmus, and I think his 4-for-33 stretch makes him a no-go with these matchups. Carlos Gomez is back in the lineup, and in Rotisserie leagues, the power/speed combo might be too enticing. In anything else, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and George Springer are about the only Astros I'm looking to start.
- Would you bet on this week being the one when Nick Castellanos regresses to the mean? Any letup over the weekend, and I think you could justify sitting him. I'd be more likely him than Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez or Justin Upton, who are all of a higher stature. Ian Kinsler may be a tough call in shallower leagues (think Head-to-Head points) because second base is so deep this year, but unless you have like a Jason Kipnis or Ben Zobrist on your bench, better to stick with the ice-cold 33-year-old.
