One page for the first week of the fantasy baseball playoffs: the matchups that matter, every two-start pitcher with both starts audited, the streamers worth a spot each day, the waiver bats on the best schedules, and the injury moves that changed the board.
TL;DR Playoff matchups can come down to one streamer or a handful of at bats that put you over the edge against your opponent. This cheat sheet aims to find every edge that exists this week and help you stack them up to give yourself the best chance to win your matchup. Bookmark this page and reference it over the course of the week to make sure you are finding every available edge.
Hitters are graded by the park-adjusted runs allowed per game of the staffs they face this week; pitchers by the park-adjusted runs scored per game of the lineups they face. League average is 4.46 runs per game.
| Best for Hitters | G | Bats Face | vs League | Run Factor | | Best for Pitchers | G | Arms Face | vs League |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rockies | 6 | 5.32 | +0.85 | 1.153 | | Athletics | 7 | 3.52 | -0.94 |
| Cardinals | 6 | 5.20 | +0.74 | 1.073 | | Rays | 7 | 3.83 | -0.64 |
| Orioles | 7 | 4.99 | +0.53 | 1.068 | | Rangers | 7 | 4.01 | -0.46 |
| White Sox | 7 | 4.88 | +0.41 | 0.988 | | Yankees | 6 | 4.04 | -0.42 |
| Pirates | 6 | 4.82 | +0.36 | 1.042 | | Mariners | 7 | 4.10 | -0.36 |
| Braves | 6 | 4.77 | +0.31 | 1.034 | | Royals | 6 | 4.21 | -0.25 |
| Dodgers | 6 | 4.75 | +0.29 | 0.992 | | Blue Jays | 6 | 4.24 | -0.23 |
| Marlins | 7 | 4.71 | +0.24 | 1.010 | | Pirates | 6 | 4.26 | -0.21 |
The fades are below:”
| Worst for Hitters | G | Bats Face | vs League | | Worst for Pitchers | G | Arms Face | vs League |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cubs | 7 | 3.77 | -0.70 | | Rockies | 6 | 5.17 | +0.71 |
| Nationals | 6 | 3.90 | -0.57 | | Cardinals | 6 | 5.14 | +0.68 |
| Athletics | 7 | 3.92 | -0.55 | | Marlins | 7 | 4.90 | +0.44 |
| Reds | 6 | 4.06 | -0.40 | | Orioles | 7 | 4.90 | +0.43 |
| Twins | 6 | 4.16 | -0.31 | | Braves | 6 | 4.85 | +0.38 |
| Guardians | 7 | 4.17 | -0.29 | | Phillies | 6 | 4.80 | +0.34 |
Two things moved since the deep dive first ran. The Rockies passed the Cardinals for the best hitting week, because Baltimore's and St. Louis's staffs have leaked more runs over the last ten days and Colorado faces both of them at altitude. And the White Sox climbed into the top four: seven games, all against Houston and Minnesota, and only 0.6 expected left-handed starts, which makes their left-handed bats close to platoon-proof.
Every arm lined up for two starts this week, priced start by start by the StreamMachine and grouped into the same tiers as the live Two-Start Pitchers board, which re-prices as probables are announced. Unannounced starts come from the FanGraphs probables grid first and rotation order second. Make sure you check FanGraphs to confirm all matchups before making a decision on a two-start starter.
| Wk | Pitcher | Team | Rost% | Score | Matchup | Score | Matchup | ERA | K | IP | xW | xQS |
| :---: | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | :--- | :---: | :--- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| == Tier S: Elite Spots == | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 90 | Bryan Woo | SEA | 97% | 81 | Tue @ BOS | 98 | Sun vs ATH (p) | 3.10 | 12 | 11.4 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| == Tier A: Start With Confidence == | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 85 | Ian Seymour | TB | 53% | 89 | Mon vs NYM | 81 | Sun @ TEX (p) | 3.86 | 11 | 9.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| 84 | Jacob deGrom | TEX | 98% | 85 | Mon vs ATH | 84 | Sat vs TB (p) | 3.20 | 12 | 10.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| 84 | Gavin Williams | CLE | 97% | 89 | Tue vs TOR | 78 | Sun vs DET (p) | 3.85 | 14 | 11.4 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| 81 | Paul Skenes | PIT | 100% | 74 | Tue vs SF | 87 | Sun vs LAA (p) | 3.09 | 12 | 10.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| 80 | Payton Tolle | BOS | 71% | 88 | Mon vs SEA | 71 | Sat @ BAL (p) | 3.78 | 12 | 11.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| 76 | Randy Dobnak | KC | 3% | 71 | Tue vs MIA | 81 | Sun vs TOR (p) | 3.39 | 9 | 10.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| == Tier B: Solid Options == | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 71 | Sonny Gray | BOS | 97% | 77 | Tue vs SEA (p) | 65 | Sun @ BAL (p) | 3.54 | 10 | 11.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| 69 | Troy Melton | DET | 67% | 66 | Tue @ MIN | 72 | Sun @ CLE (p) | 3.36 | 11 | 12 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 69 | Trevor Rogers | BAL | 74% | 62 | Tue @ COL (p) | 75 | Sun vs BOS (p) | 3.97 | 9 | 11 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 68 | MacKenzie Gore | TEX | 78% | 68 | Tue vs ATH | 68 | Sun vs TB (p) | 3.91 | 12 | 10.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 65 | Peter Lambert | HOU | 44% | 63 | Mon vs CWS | 66 | Sat vs AZ (p) | 4.01 | 12 | 11 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 64 | Logan Webb | SF | 97% | 54 | Tue @ PIT | 74 | Sat @ NYM (p) | 3.54 | 10 | 12.2 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 64 | Tyler Phillips | MIA | 8% | 64 | Tue @ KC | 63 | Sun vs CHC (p) | 4.11 | 8 | 9.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| 60 | J.T. Ginn | ATH | 42% | 58 | Tue @ TEX | 61 | Sun @ SEA (p) | 3.73 | 11 | 11 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| 58 | Kyle Harrison | MIL | 84% | 50 | Mon @ CHC | 66 | Sun @ CIN (p) | 4.20 | 11 | 10 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| == Tier C: Thin Ice == | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 56 | Jackson Jobe | DET | 28% | 52 | Mon @ MIN | 60 | Sat @ CLE (p) | 3.89 | 9 | 9.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| 54 | George Kirby | SEA | 94% | 46 | Mon @ BOS | 62 | Sat vs ATH (p) | 3.58 | 11 | 11.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 54 | Sean Burke | CWS | 77% | 58 | Tue @ HOU | 50 | Sun vs MIN (p) | 3.75 | 11 | 10.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 53 | Kyle Bradish | BAL | 85% | 42 | Mon @ COL (p) | 63 | Sat vs BOS (p) | 3.84 | 10 | 11 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 52 | Brandon Pfaadt | AZ | 42% | 47 | Mon vs PHI (p) | 57 | Sun @ HOU (p) | 4.14 | 10 | 11.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 52 | Clay Holmes | CHC | 49% | 53 | Mon vs MIL (p) | 51 | Sat @ MIA (p) | 3.60 | 10 | 11.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 52 | Gage Jump | ATH | 30% | 45 | Mon @ TEX | 58 | Sat @ SEA (p) | 3.99 | 11 | 10.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| 50 | Taj Bradley | MIN | 77% | 58 | Mon vs DET | 42 | Sun @ CWS (p) | 4.19 | 12 | 11.2 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| 49 | Anthony Kay | CWS | 23% | 51 | Mon @ HOU | 47 | Sat vs MIN (p) | 4.40 | 9 | 10 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| 49 | Spencer Arrighetti | TOR | 32% | 54 | Tue @ CLE | 43 | Sun @ KC (p) | 4.17 | 10 | 10.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| 45 | Matthew Boyd | CHC | 71% | 49 | Tue vs MIL (p) | 40 | Sun @ MIA (p) | 3.83 | 10 | 11.4 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| == Tier D: Stay Away == | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 42 | Eric Lauer | LAD | 17% | 47 | Tue vs STL | 37 | Sun vs WSH (p) | 4.48 | 8 | 10.4 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| 42 | Aaron Nola | PHI | 60% | 38 | Mon @ AZ | 46 | Sun vs ATL (p) | 4.86 | 10 | 10.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| 42 | Ryan Gusto | MIA | 6% | 37 | Mon @ WSH | 46 | Sat vs CHC (p) | 4.51 | 8 | 8.6 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
| 41 | Robert Stock | NYM | 0% | 37 | Mon @ TB | 45 | Sun vs SF (p) | 4.68 | 9 | 9 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| 36 | Michael McGreevy | STL | 44% | 41 | Tue @ LAD | 31 | Sun @ COL (p) | 4.33 | 9 | 11 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| 32 | Brady Singer | CIN | 32% | 42 | Mon vs SD | 22 | Sun vs MIL (p) | 4.57 | 9 | 10.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| 21 | Tanner Gordon | COL | 3% | 18 | Mon vs BAL | 23 | Sun vs STL (p) | 4.93 | 8 | 10.2 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
Scores are Stream Scores (50 = league-average start). xW = expected wins, xQS = expected quality starts for the week. TBD marks a start projected from rotation order, not yet announced. BULK marks a projected 3-6 inning outing behind an opener, which counts toward the week here. Full matchup-by-matchup breakdowns below. "TBD" marks a start the club has not announced yet; it can slide.
One note on sources. Projected starts blend the FanGraphs Roster Resource probables grid with rotation order, so sixth starters and skipped turns are covered. Arms not yet on an active roster (Mike Burrows, Sean Burke's Sunday turn, Will Dion) are left off until MLB activates them, so check the live board late in the week.
Under 50 percent rostered, in order of conviction. The week column shows each start with its Stream Score (50 = a league-average start).
| Pitcher | Team | Rost% | The week | Why |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Randy Dobnak | KC | 3% | Tue vs MIA (71), Sun vs TOR (81) | The best two-start week under 50 percent. 1.92 ERA in eight starts, and Kansas City hosts both. |
| J.T. Ginn | ATH | 42% | Tue @ TEX (58), Sun @ SEA (61) | The Athletics face the two softest lineups on the board in the two best pitcher parks. Ginn's 3.71 ERA plays up in both. |
| Tyler Phillips | MIA | 8% | Tue @ KC (64), Sun vs CHC (63) | 23 strikeouts in 21 August innings, and the Cubs are the worst hitting matchup on the board. |
| Clay Holmes | CHC | 49% | Mon vs MIL (53), Sat @ MIA (51) | 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP. Two average spots, no strikeouts. |
| Brandon Pfaadt | AZ | 42% | Mon vs PHI (47), Sun @ HOU (57) | 0.82 WHIP in August. Sunday in Houston is the better start. |
| Jackson Jobe | DET | 28% | Mon @ MIN (52), Sat @ CLE (60) | Worth it in deeper leagues if his pitch count keeps climbing. |
Single starts under 50 percent rostered, ranked by Stream Score, dates per FanGraphs. Scores are for the matchup shown; 50 is a league-average start.
| Day | Streamer | Team | Opponent | Rost% | Score | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mon Aug 31 | Ian Seymour | TB | vs NYM | 53% | 89 | The best start of the day. Not a streamer in most leagues, but check. |
| Mon Aug 31 | Peter Lambert | HOU | vs CWS | 44% | 59 | Season 3.66 ERA, August 6.12. Thin day; this is the fallback. |
| Tue Sep 1 | Randy Dobnak | KC | vs MIA | 3% | 71 | Marlins bats grade above average this week, so this is about Kauffman Stadium and his 1.92 ERA, not the lineup. |
| Tue Sep 1 | Tyler Phillips | MIA | @ KC | 8% | 63 | Royals lineup, neutral park. |
| Tue Sep 1 | J.T. Ginn | ATH | @ TEX | 42% | 55 | Score is from our Wednesday projection; FanGraphs moved him to Tuesday, same park, same lineup. |
| Wed Sep 2 | Cody Bradford | TEX | vs ATH | 2% | 75 | Athletics lineup at Globe Life, the softest hitting week on the board. 3.42 ERA since he came back. |
| Wed Sep 2 | Hayden Wesneski | HOU | vs CWS | 24% | 75 | 3.86 ERA, 1.19 WHIP in six starts. |
| Wed Sep 2 | Jacob Lopez | ATH | @ TEX | 27% | 82 | Now announced for Wednesday in Arlington. 2.48 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 29 August innings. |
| Wed Sep 2 | Christian Scott | NYM | @ TB | 19% | 62 | Rays lineup at the Trop, 10.7 K/9. |
| Wed Sep 2 | Grayson Rodriguez | LAA | vs NYY | 22% | 62 | 2.93 ERA in August. Yankees are missing Stanton and McMahon. |
| Wed Sep 2 | Patrick Sandoval | BOS | vs SEA | 11% | 61 | Strikeouts, but 16 walks in 26 August innings. |
| Thu Sep 3 | Cal Quantrill | TEX | vs TB | 23% | 80 | 1.45 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in August. Rays bats grade below average this week. |
| Thu Sep 3 | Kade Anderson | SEA | vs ATH | 45% | 59 | Two big-league starts. The matchup and the park do the work. |
| Thu Sep 3 | Jack Perkins | ATH | @ SEA | 2% | 55 | Strikeouts (10.3 K/9), ugly ERA. Points leagues only. |
| Fri Sep 4 | Cristian Javier | HOU | vs AZ | 14% | 66 | Only one start this week per FanGraphs. Fine as a single. |
| Fri Sep 4 | Chris Bassitt | BAL | vs BOS | 18% | 60 | 3.06 ERA in three August starts. |
| Fri Sep 4 | Daniel Lynch IV | KC | vs TOR | 9% | 60 | Ratios play; low strikeouts. |
| Fri Sep 4 | Carmen Mlodzinski | PIT | vs LAA | 11% | 58 | Angels lineup at PNC. |
| Sat Sep 5 | Andrew Alvarez | WSH | @ LAD | 14% | 70 | 2.56 ERA, 0.98 WHIP in August. Dodger Stadium suppresses the lineup enough. |
| Sat Sep 5 | Seth Lugo | KC | vs TOR | 42% | 70 | Home vs Toronto; 6.41 August ERA is the risk. |
| Sat Sep 5 | Zac Thornton | NYM | vs SF | n/a | 63 | 2.88 ERA in ten starts. |
| Sat Sep 5 | Jackson Jobe | DET | @ CLE | 28% | 63 | Guardians bats grade sixth-worst this week. |
| Sat Sep 5 | Dustin May | MIL | @ CIN | 40% | 55 | Reds bats are a bottom-five matchup, but Great American Ball Park. |
| Sun Sep 6 | Randy Dobnak | KC | vs TOR | 3% | 82 | The best streamer start of the week. |
| Sun Sep 6 | Tyler Mahle | ATL | @ PHI | 35% | 80 | 1.52 ERA in four starts since returning. |
| Sun Sep 6 | Tyler Phillips | MIA | vs CHC | 8% | 63 | Cubs bats have the worst hitting week in baseball. |
| Sun Sep 6 | Brandon Pfaadt | AZ | @ HOU | 42% | 57 | |
| Sun Sep 6 | J.T. Ginn | ATH | @ SEA | 42% | n/a | Not yet scored; the park and the lineup make it a start. |
Skip: Kyle Leahy (Friday at Coors, score 60 does not survive the altitude and on a pitch count), every Rockies arm, every Cardinals arm, and Mason Adams Saturday at home against St. Louis.
Under 50 percent rostered, on the teams with the best hitting weeks. August lines are through Saturday, August 29.
| Player | Team | Rost% | Bats | August | Why this week |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Willi Castro | COL | 44% | S | .275/.352/.484, 4 HR, 3 SB | Six home games at 1.153. Switch-hitter, so the platoon does not matter. 15 HR and 10 SB on the season. |
| Ezequiel Tovar | COL | 29% | R | .281/.333/.422, 2 HR | Home all week. Season line is ugly (.209), but the park and the schedule are an A+ spot.|
| Masyn Winn | STL | 31% | R | .215/.288/.354 | Three at Dodger Stadium, three at Coors. Runs and steals from the top of the order. |
| Colton Cowser | BAL | 17% | L | .310/.339/.621, 5 HR | Seven games, three at Coors. The Orioles do see 2.9 lefty starters, so check the daily matchup. |
| Coby Mayo | BAL | 17% | R | .270/.325/.527, 4 HR | Same seven games, lefty masher but 3 in Coors vs RHP, 18 HR on the season. |
| Dylan Beavers | BAL | 17% | L | .265/.342/.485, 4 HR | Deeper leagues. Same schedule as Cowser. |
| Chase Meidroth | CWS | 40% | R | .266/.330/.426, 3 HR | Seven games against Houston and Minnesota, 75 runs on the season. |
| Sam Antonacci | CWS | 49% | L | .212/.343/.294, 3 SB | Left-handed and the White Sox face 0.6 lefty starters all week. 17 steals, .364 OBP. |
| Nick Gonzales | PIT | 47% | R | .253/.347/.313, 3 SB | Six home games, .307 average on the season, three steals in August. |
| Jakob Marsee | MIA | 49% | L | .257/.368/.419 | Seven games, 20 steals on the season. |
| Trevor Story | BOS | 35% | R | activated Aug 30 | Seven games and 0.9 lefty starters faced. Back from the 60-day IL Sunday. |
Two names from the deep dive's waiver line have changed. Jackson Holliday is still 43 percent rostered but hit .183 in August, so the schedule is carrying him. TJ Rumfield is up to 59 percent, above the waiver cutoff, and still a start every day this week.
Everything since the deep dive first ran on August 20 that touches a name on this board.
| Move | Effect |
| --- | --- |
| Andy Pages to the IL, left hand fracture (Aug 22) | Out. The Dodgers right-handed power play is now Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández, with Alek Thomas in center. |
| Jacob Wilson to the 60-day IL, shoulder (Aug 25) | Out for the season. One less Athletics bat to bench. |
| Kyle Freeland to the IL, neck (Aug 24) | The Rockies rotation for the week is Gordon, Hughes, Sugano, Feltner, and Mason Adams. Orioles and Cardinals bats get even more. |
| Roki Sasaki to the IL, blister (Aug 27); Tyler Glasnow activated (Aug 25) | Cardinals bats see Lauer, Yamamoto, and Skubal at Dodger Stadium, then Coors. Still the second-best hitting week; still no Cardinal arm you can start. |
| Hunter Goodman activated (Aug 25) | 36 homers, home all week. He is 95 percent rostered; if he is not, fix that. |
| Roman Anthony and Trevor Story activated (Aug 30) | Seven-game Red Sox week. Anthony is 76 percent rostered and was .229/.354 in his first 30 games back. |
| Ryan McMahon (Aug 21) and Giancarlo Stanton (60-day, Aug 25) to the IL | The Yankees lineup Angels and Padres arms face is thinner than its run totals say. |
| Tyler O'Neill to the IL, shoulder (Aug 26) | Opens Orioles at-bats for Cowser, Beavers, and Mayo. |
| Ketel Marte to the IL, knee (Aug 20) | Diamondbacks bats are a fade regardless; Astros arms this weekend benefit. |
| Willy Adames (Aug 24) and Casey Schmitt (60-day) to the IL | Giants lineup is a softer draw for Braves, Pirates, and Mets arms. |
| Kyle Karros to the IL, concussion (Aug 23) | Not a Rockies bat you can chase this week. |
| Byron Buxton to the IL, hip (Aug 30) | Twins bats were already a bottom-six matchup; Tigers and White Sox arms get a lighter lineup. |
| Shane Bieber to the IL (Aug 24) | Blue Jays week is Arrighetti, Cease, Soriano, Taillon, Scherzer, Arrighetti. |
Statcast caught stealing above average through August 29, minimum 20 attempts, laid over this week's schedule.
| Most runnable | Team | Att | CS | CS% | vs avg | Who gets him this week |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Victor Caratini | MIN | 47 | 6 | 13% | -5.5 | Tigers Mon to Wed, then White Sox Fri to Sun |
| Iván Herrera | STL | 31 | 1 | 3% | -5.1 | Dodgers Tue to Thu, Rockies Fri to Sun |
| Drake Baldwin | ATL | 34 | 3 | 9% | -4.2 | Giants Mon, Nationals Tue to Wed, Phillies Fri to Sun (Trea Turner) |
| Ryan Jeffers | MIN | 31 | 4 | 13% | -4.0 | Same Tigers and White Sox runners |
| Carson Kelly | CHC | 49 | 8 | 16% | -3.9 | Brewers Mon to Thu (Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang), Marlins Fri to Sun (Marsee) |
| Cal Raleigh | SEA | 45 | 6 | 13% | -3.7 | Red Sox Mon to Wed, Athletics Thu to Sun (Lawrence Butler, 4 steals in August) |
| Austin Hedges | CLE | 34 | 2 | 6% | -3.4 | Blue Jays Tue to Thu, Tigers Fri to Sun |
Raleigh is the new name on this list, and it matters: Seattle hosts the Athletics for four, and Butler is the one Athletics bat whose week survives the parks because his value this week is on the bases.
| Best throwing | Team | Att | CS | CS% | vs avg | Who loses |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Brandon Valenzuela | TOR | 56 | 17 | 30% | +7.2 | Guardians Tue to Thu, Royals Fri to Sun |
| Joe Mack | MIA | 42 | 12 | 29% | +5.5 | Royals Tue to Thu, Cubs Fri to Sun (Pete Crow-Armstrong) |
| Freddy Fermin | SD | 49 | 16 | 33% | +5.5 | Reds Mon to Wed (Elly De La Cruz), Yankees Fri to Sun |
| Adley Rutschman | BOS | 36 | 14 | 39% | +5.1 | Mariners Mon to Wed (Julio Rodríguez), Orioles Thu to Sun |
| William Contreras | MIL | 47 | 14 | 30% | +4.7 | Cubs Mon to Thu, Reds Fri to Sun (Elly again) |
| Patrick Bailey | CLE | 51 | 16 | 31% | +4.1 | Blue Jays and Tigers |
Elly's steals still run into Fermin and then Contreras, back to back, the same trap the deep dive flagged. Crow-Armstrong adds Mack to a week that was already the worst hitting schedule in baseball.
| Play | Data |
| --- | --- |
| Start every Rockies and Cardinals bat: Jake McCarthy, TJ Rumfield, Hunter Goodman, Castro, Tovar; Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, Herrera, Winn. | COL 5.32, STL 5.20 |
| Ride Orioles bats for seven: Gunnar Henderson, Pete Alonso (.340 with 9 homers in August), Samuel Basallo, plus Cowser, Beavers and Mayo off the wire. | BAL 4.99, 7 G, 3 at Coors |
| Bench every Cardinal and Rockies arm, including the good ones. | STL 5.14, COL 5.17 |
| Stream Athletics arms: Ginn twice, Lopez once, Perkins for strikeouts. | ATH 3.52 |
| Pick up Dobnak for two home starts, and Seymour if anyone dropped him. | KC 4.21, TB 3.83 |
| Trust Rangers arms all week: deGrom and Gore twice, Bradford and Quantrill once. | TEX 4.01, 7 home G |
| Sit Cubs bats other than Crow-Armstrong; sit Nationals and Athletics bats. | CHC 3.77, WSH 3.90, ATH 3.92 |
| Use the platoons: right-handed Mariners face 4.9 lefty starts; left-handed Royals and White Sox face almost none. | SEA 0.70 LHP/g, KC 0.00, CWS 0.08 |
Why it matters: Week one is the week you can still fix from the wire. Set the two-start arms Sunday night, hold one bench spot for the Wednesday and Thursday streamers, and let the Coors schedule do the rest. If your playoffs run past September 6, the standard playoff deep dive grades every week after this one.
Matchup grades are the park-adjusted runs allowed per game of the staffs each team's hitters face and the park-adjusted runs scored per game of the lineups each team's pitchers face, computed from the MLB schedule for August 31 through September 6, team run totals through August 29, and the park factor model behind the StreamMachine. Probable starters are from the MLB schedule where announced and the FanGraphs Roster Resource probables grid as of August 30 otherwise; projected starts slide. Stream Scores are from the FanRanked StreamMachine (50 = league-average start). Rostered percentages average the major fantasy platforms. Catcher throwing is Statcast caught stealing above average for 2026 through August 29, minimum 20 attempts. Injury moves are from the MLB transaction log, August 19 through August 30.