Week 18 Hitting Planner for Fantasy Baseball

Sport: MLB

Major League Baseball is back from its All-Star break, and it is time for the Week 18 Hitting Planner! The total number of games is consistent with previous weeks. However, the distribution is unique, both from a daily and a split perspective. Here are some data points that will help illustrate which MLB offenses have the best matchups this week.

Week 18 Schedule Notes

Ten teams across MLB will play a full seven-game slate, barring postponements. That is in line with other weeks. But the schedule is frontloaded, with all 30 teams in action on Monday for the first time this season. Only five games are scheduled for Thursday, which will serve as a travel day for most teams. Of the 30 teams in baseball, 26 will play a split week, alternating between home and road series. That should make things interesting from a ballpark perspective. Pittsburgh and Texas are the only teams at home for the week, hosting six games each. The Athletics and Padres are on the road for seven games in Week 18.

Week 18 Pitching Matchup Notes

Baltimore and St. Louis have the most favorable matchups in the Week 18 hitting planner. That comes as little surprise considering they are each facing the Colorado Rockies. Though the Cardinals face San Diego to close the week, they get a bit of a break from a scheduling standpoint. They should avoid Dylan Cease, while facing weaker competition in Randy Vasquez and Stephen Kolek. The Orioles face the Guardians in their other series. Cleveland’s staff has been solid, but Baltimore’s bats should remain in fantasy lineups this week. Some other offenses that will produce over the next seven days include Houston and Texas. Both of those clubs face the Athletics, who enter the week with the second-highest ERA in baseball.

Strength meets strength when the red-hot Boston Red Sox offense faces top-tier pitching in Week 18. The Red Sox will face Cy Young candidates Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sanchez to start the week. They also face Jesus Luzardo and Clayton Kershaw before closing the week against Shohei Ohtani. With three lefties on the schedule, it may not be the best time to trust Wilyer Abreu or Jarren Duran. Toronto is another hot team that could struggle relative to recent output this week. They should face Tarik Skubal, Carlos Rodon, and Jack Flaherty while possibly going against Max Fried as well. Even Cam Schlittler and Casey Mize are not the easiest pitchers to square off against. Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes could struggle this week.

Week 18 Ballpark Factor Notes

Colorado hosts St. Louis for three games at Coors Field to start the week. It comes as no surprise, then, that both teams have the most favorable Week 18 matchups in terms of ballpark factors. Following that series, the Rockies travel to Baltimore while the Cardinals host the Padres. Oriole Park has been slightly favorable for hitters, and more so for left-handed bats. Busch Stadium has been largely neutral, with a bump towards righties. The Dodgers and Red Sox get a boost this week in part due to their weekend showdown in Fenway Park. Boston ace Garrett Crochet will pitch in that series, but I would still start all relevant Dodgers hitters this week.

The Milwaukee Brewers are yet another team that enters the week on a hot streak, but could see a dip in offensive production this week. They have the lowest rating in my hitting planner from a ballpark perspective. Milwaukee travels to Seattle to face the Mariners before hosting Miami to finish the week. Seattle has arguably the worst hitting conditions in the league. Facing Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Luis Castillo is no picnic either. The Brewers do face Cal Quantrill to start the weekend, but finish against Eury Perez and the surprising Janson Junk. Andrew Vaughn and Caleb Durbin have been on a roll, but it is hard to imagine them keeping that up against six right-handed pitchers, most of whom are of high quality. Brice Turang should get a boost leading off with Sal Frelick out for the week.

Week 18 Fantasy Baseball Hitting Planner