*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 9
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If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.
Starters With Favorable Matchups
Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers: vs. COL, vs. SD
Buehler had the worst start of his brief major league career in his last outing against the Marlins, allowing five runs (four earned) in five innings. He still finished with seven strikeouts and has an 11.3 K/9 through five starts. His 2.67 ERA and 2.21 FIP haven’t been aided by luck either since opponents have a .313 BABIP against him. He catches a break in his first start facing the Rockies at home instead of at Coors Field. He’ll then start against the Padres for the second time this season after recording eight strikeouts in six scoreless innings in their first matchup.
Miles Mikolas, St. Louis Cardinals: vs. KC, at PIT
Unlike Buehler, Mikolas is not a big strikeout pitcher with only a 6.5 K/9. However, he works ahead in the count by throwing a first-pitch strike to 69.9% of the batters that he has faced and doesn’t walk hardly anyone with a 0.9 BB/9. His excellent control has helped result in a 1.05 WHIP, which is key to his success due to his lack of strikeouts. He’ll get the good fortune of facing the Royals at home who already don’t have a great offense, but will also be without the use of the DH. He’ll also get his second start against the Pirates after he allowed two runs to go along with seven strikeouts over seven innings in their first meeting. Expect another valuable week from Mikolas.
Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers: vs. ARZ, vs. NYM
Anderson (illness) is expected to be activated from the DL and start Monday. He dealt with a bout of food poisoning and only missed the minimum 10 days, so don’t expect him to be limited at all moving forward. His 3.97 ERA and 1.15 WHIP this season look nice, but his 6.01 FIP and .210 opponents BABIP due raise a concern for regression. The good news is he has two favorable matchups coming his way this week. The Diamondbacks have scored the third-fewest runs (176) in baseball this season and are without one of their best hitters in A.J. Pollock (thumb). Then he’ll take on the Mets, who have also struggled by scoring the fifth-fewest runs (178). Don’t hesitate to activate him from the DL and insert him back into your lineup right away.
Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles: at CWS, at TB
Gausman has had two horrible starts this season. In his first start, he was lit up for six runs in four innings against the Twins. In his last outing, he allowed six runs in 4.2 innings against the Red Sox. Inbetween that though, he allowed two runs or fewer in six of seven starts. He’s had a problem with home runs throughout his career and has allowed 10 already this season, but five of those came in those two bad starts. Week 9 isn’t shaping up to be a difficult week with his first start coming against a White Sox team that has scored the second-fewest runs (166) in baseball. He’ll then face a Rays offense that is certainly better but is still middle of the pack in terms of runs scored. In his first start against them this season, Gausman held the Rays to two runs while recording six strikeouts in 7.2 innings.
Starters to Avoid
Mike Foltynewicz, Atlanta Braves: at PHI, at BOS
Foltynewicz has made significant strides this season with a 2.87 ERA and 10.9 K/9 through nine starts. He’s had control issues though with a 4.6 BB/9, resulting in a 1.34 WHIP. He’s already made three starts against the Phillies this season and has been successful, holding them to five runs (four earned) while recording 21 strikeouts in 17 innings. However, his second start this week against the Red Sox is concerning. He can’t afford to walk so many hitters against their potent lineup, so that start alone might make him a candidate to be benched for Week 9.
Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays: vs. BOS, vs. BAL
Faria hasn’t been able to follow up his strong rookie campaign, posting a 5.20 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across nine starts. He’s issuing more walks and recording fewer strikeouts, which is certainly not a recipe for success. The Red Sox have hit him hard in two starts this season, scoring nine runs in 5.2 innings. The Orioles have also had success against Faria in two games this year, scoring 11 runs in 10.1 innings. Keep him anchored to your bench.
Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds: vs. PIT, at COL
Harvey hasn’t pitched more than four innings in either of his first two starts with the Reds. He didn’t allow a run in his first outing but allowed three runs in his second start against the Giants. The Reds are desperate for starting pitching and decided to take a chance on Harvey, but he’s not someone you even want to think about streaming this week. First, he’ll face a Pirates team that has scored the fifth-most runs (225) in baseball. Then he has to travel to hitter-friendly Coors Field.
