With the Week 6 Pitching Planner, offenses are starting to shape out more of how the majority of analysts thought they would in the preseason. That’s the thing with planning your pitching for the week: it depends more on the opposing offense than the pitcher in question.
If you look at the bottom eight teams in runs scored (MIL, SD, SF, KC, CWS, MIN, BAL, and MIA) I would have bet that all eight would have been in the bottom third in offensive production.
On the flip side, the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Astros, Angels, and Nationals would have all been my top offenses going into the season. All are now in the Top 7 in total production.
The one outlier is the Atlanta Braves. I did not have high hopes or a horrible projection. The emergence of young guys (Dansby Swanson, Ryan Flaherty and now Ronald Acuna) has made them a dangerous team for the season.
I missed last week’s pitching planner by a bonehead submission error. So entering the Week 6 Pitching Planner my streaming options are a solid 5-3.
For the Week 6 pitching planner I am using ownership percentages from ESPN and the information is up to date as of May 5th.
Week 6 Pitching Planner
2-Start Pitchers
Zack Godley, ARI at LAD, vs. WAS
Sean Newcomb, ATL at TB, at MIA
Dylan Bundy, BAL vs. KC, vs. TB – A couple of great matchups for Bundy this week.
Drew Pomeranz, BOS at NYY, at TOR – On the opposite end, horrendous matchups for Pomeranz. With Josh Donaldson back and the bash brothers hitting their stride, I am staying away from the AL East.
Kyle Hendricks, CHC vs. MIA, vs. CWS
Homer Bailey, CIN vs. NYM, at LAD
Luis Castillo, CIN vs. NYM, at LAD
Jon Gray, COL vs. LAA, vs. MIL
Michael Fulmer, at TEX, vs. SEA
Dallas Keuchel, HOU at OAK, vs. TEX
Danny Duffy, KC at BAL, at CLE
Clayton Kershaw, LAD vs. ARI, vs. CIN
An unhappy Clayton Kershaw after a career-high 6 walks in his 4th loss of the season #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/fDCBcTB9eS
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 26, 2018
Jaime Garcia and Jose Urena MIA at CHC, vs. ATL
Wade Miley, MIL vs. CLE, at COL
Fernando Romero, MIN at STL, at LAA
Jacob deGrom, NYM at CIN, at PHI
Luis Severino, NYY vs. BOS, vs. OAK
Zach Eflin, PHI vs. SF, vs. NYM
Tyson Ross and Clayton Richard, SD vs. WAS, vs. STL
Jeff Samardzija and Derek Holland, SF at PHI, at PIT
James Paxton, SEA at TOR, at DET
Matt Moore, TEX vs. DET, at HOU
Marcus Stroman, TOR vs. SEA, vs. BOS
Stephen Strasburg and Jeremy Hellickson, WAS at SD, at ARI – A couple of great matchups for the Nationals’ duo.
Good Matchups
Though he has struggled to consistently throw strikes at times, Mike Foltynewicz is putting together a strong start to the 2018 season.
2018: 6 G, 2-1, 2.53 ERA, 32 IP, 39 SO
I’ll say it again, he has ace potential.
The future is bright for #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/Rh4g1qdMAm
— Southeast Sports (@South_EastSPT1) April 29, 2018
Mike Foltynewicz, ATL at MIA
Jose Quintana, CHC vs. MIA
Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, CLE at MIL
Gio Gonzalez, WAS at SD – See above.
Bad Matchups
Jose Berrios, MIN at LAA – Any pitchers in the Yankees/Red Sox series. The combined offenses with the always apparent possibility for ejection are not a good makeup for Fantasy success.
Sean Manaea, OAK vs. HOU
James Paxton, SEA at TOR
Blake Snell, TB vs. ATL
Cole Hamels, TEX at HOU – Hamels has not been terrible against the Astros this year… yet.
Streaming Options
Chris Tillman, BAL vs. KC (0.5% ownership)
I was high on Tillman in the preseason and it looks bad now with his 9.24 ERA and 1-5 record. However, five of his six starts have been against Top-10 offenses, four against teams in the Top 5. The one start against a mediocre team (DET) he went seven innings giving up just a single hit. The home run ball has been a problem, but the Royals have the second-fewest in the league.
Andrew Cashner, BAL vs. KC (6.7% ownership)
Cashner has also had a problem with the long ball, giving up nine already on the young season. The Royals are just what the doctor ordered.
German Marquez, COL vs. MIL (6% ownership)
I’m giving Marquez again. He’s another guy who does well against bad offenses (5 ER in 26IP) and bad against good offenses (13ER in 8IP). Milwaukee is a bad offense.
Nick Pivetta, PHI vs. SF (39.1% ownership)
After a scorching start to the year, Pivetta has gotten roughed up in his last two starts, including giving up two bombs to Bryce Harper in one inning. The Giants are a good medicine to get back on track.
That’s it for the Week 6 pitching planner. Be sure to check out the injury report for last week.
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