The Z Files: Prepping For the Stretch Run, Part Three

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Updated on August 25, 2018 10:34AM EST

The third installment of a four-part series designed to help you with the stretch drive will focus on the little things, some behind the scenes factors to consider when planning for the last five weeks of the season. Part One discussed what to expect from hitters over the final quarter of the season, while Part Two dealt with how to improve pitching ratios. Next week's will be a team-by-team review, identifying players not currently on the 25-man rosters with an opportunity to be a fantasy contributor.

This week, we'll look at the following items:
1. Breakdown of remaining schedules
2. Position eligibility
3. Affiliate teams headed for minor-league playoffs

Breakdown of remaining schedules

The first table displays the total number of games each team plays followed by the home/away split. Then comes the number each has via a weekly basis, starting with the partial week beginning Friday, Aug 24.

Team	Total	Home	Away	8/24	8/27	9/3	9/10	9/17	9/24
ARI	35	18	17	3	7	6	7	6	6
ATL	34	18	16	3	5	7	6	7	6
BAL	35	20	15	4	6	6	6	6	7
BOS	33	17	16	3	6	6	6	6	6
CHC	35	19	16	3	6	7	6	6	7
CIN	34	11	23	3	6	7	6	7	5
CLE	35	18	17	3	6	7	6	6	7
COL	35	20	15	3	6	6	7	6	7
CWS	35	16	19	3	7	6	6	6

This week, we'll look at the following items:
1. Breakdown of remaining schedules
2. Position eligibility
3. Affiliate teams headed for minor-league playoffs

Breakdown of remaining schedules

Team	Total	Home	Away	8/24	8/27	9/3	9/10	9/17	9/24
ARI	35	18	17	3	7	6	7	6	6
ATL	34	18	16	3	5	7	6	7	6
BAL	35	20	15	4	6	6	6	6	7
BOS	33	17	16	3	6	6	6	6	6
CHC	35	19	16	3	6	7	6	6	7
CIN	34	11	23	3	6	7	6	7	5
CLE	35	18	17	3	6	7	6	6	7
COL	35	20	15	3	6	6	7	6	7
CWS	35	16	19	3	7	6	6	6	7
DET	34	16	18	3	6	6	6	7	6
HOU	35	19	16	3	7	6	6	6	7
KC	34	19	15	3	5	6	7	7	6
LAA	34	18	16	3	6	6	7	6	6
LAD	34	16	18	3	6	6	7	6	6
MIA	33	15	18	3	5	6	7	6	6
MIL	33	18	15	3	6	6	6	6	6
MIN	35	16	19	3	6	6	7	6	7
NYM	35	16	19	3	6	6	7	7	6
NYY	36	16	20	4	7	6	6	6	7
OAK	34	16	18	3	7	6	6	6	6
PHI	35	18	17	3	6	6	6	7	7
PIT	34	12	22	3	6	6	6	6	7
SD	32	19	13	3	6	6	5	6	6
SEA	34	15	19	3	6	6	6	6	7
SF	33	21	12	3	6	6	6	6	6
STL	34	19	15	3	6	6	7	6	6
TB	34	19	15	3	5	6	6	7	7
TEX	33	14	19	3	5	6	6	6	7
TOR	35	17	18	3	6	7	6	7	6
WAS	34	17	17	3	6	7	6	6	6

The Yankees have the most games left with 36, while the Padres will take the field just 32 more times. Note the Yankees will catch up on one of the games with a doubleheader this weekend.

The Giants play a whopping 21 of their remaining 33 games in AT&T Park. For fantasy purposes, this isn't much of a benefit. However, the Orioles and Rockies each play 20 or their final 35 contests in their hitter-friendly home venues. Neither offense is as prolific as it's been in recent seasons, but there are plenty of solid fantasy contributors on both squads to make a different down the stretch.

On the flip side, the Reds are on the road for 23 of their last 34 games, so expect a drop in production from their top hitters. While this may seem like a chance to use Reds pitching, note their ERA in hitter friendly Great American Balllpark is 4.58 compared to 4.84 when traveling.

Next up is a look at the series each squad has lined up.

Team	8/24	8/27	8/31	9/3	9/7	9/10	9/14	9/17	9/21	9/24	9/28
ARI	SEA 3	@SF 3	@LAD 4	SD 2	ATL 4	@COL 4	@HOU 3	CHC 3	COL 3	LAD 3	@SD 3
ATL	@MIA 3	TB 2	CHC 1/PIT 3	BOS 3	@ARI 4	@SF 3	WAS 3	STL 3	PHI 4	@NYM 3	@PHI 3
BAL	NYY 4	TOR 3	@KC 3	@SEA 3	@TB 3	OAK 3	CWS 3	TOR 3	@NYY 3	@BOS 3	HOU 4
BOS	@TB 3	MIA 2	@CWS 4	@ATL 3	HOU 3	TOR 3	NYM 3	@NYY 3	@CLE 3	BAL 3	NYY 3
CHC	CIN 3	NYM 3	@ATL 1/@PHI 3	@MIL 3	@WAS 4	MIL 3	CIN 3	@ARI 3	@CWS 3	PIT 4	STL 3
CIN	@CHC 3	MIL3	@STL 3	@PIT 3	@SD 4	LAD 3	@CHC 3	@MIL 3	@MIA 4	KC 2	PIT 3
CLE	@KC 3	MIN 3	TB 3	KC 3	@TOR 4	@TB 3	DET 3	CWS 3	BOS 3	@CWS 3	@KC 4
COL	STL 3	@LAA 2	@SD 4	SF 3	LAD 3	ARI 4	@SF 3	@LAD 3	@ARI 3	PHI 4	WAS 3
CWS	@DET 3	@NYY 3	BOS 4	DET 3	LAA 3	@KC 3	@BAL 3	@CLE 3	CHC 3	CLE 3	@MIN 4
DET	CWS 3	@KC 2	@NYY 4	@CWS 3	STL 3	HOU 3	@CLE 3	MIN 3	KC 4	@MIN 3	@MIL 3
HOU	@LAA 3	OAK 3	LAA 4	MIN 3	@BOS 3	@DET 3	ARI 3	SEA 3	LAA 3	@TOR 3	@BAL 4
KC	CLE 3	DET 2	BAL 3	@CLE 3	@MIN 3	CWS 3	MIN 4	@PIT 3	@DET 4	@CIN 2	CLE 4
LAA	HOU 3	COL 2	@HOU 4	@TEX 3	@CWS 3	TEX 3	SEA 4	@OAK 3	@HOU 3	TEX 3	OAK 3
LAD	SD 3	@TEX 2	ARI 4	NYM 3	@COL 3	@CIN 3	@STL 4	COL 3	SD 3	@ARI 3	@SF 3
MIA	ATL 3	@BOS 2	TOR 3	PHI 3	@PIT 3	@NYM 4	@PHI 3	WAS 2	CIN 4	@WAS 3	@NYM 3
MIL	PIT 3	@CIN 3	@WAS 3	CHC 3	SF 3	@CHC 3	PIT 3	CIN 3	@PIT 3	@STL 3	DET 3
MIN	OAK 3	@CLE 3	@TEX 3	@HOU 3	KC 3	NYY 3	@KC 4	@DET 3	@OAK 3	DET 3	CWS 4
NYM	WAS 3	@CHC 3	@SF 3	@LAD 3	PHI 3	MIA 4	@BOS 3	@PHI 3	@WAS 4	ATL 3	MIA 3
NYY	@BAL 4	CWS 3	DET 4	@OAK 3	@SEA 3	@MIN 3	TOR 3	BOS 3	BAL 3	@TB 4	@BOS 3
OAK	@MIN3	@HOU 3	SEA 4	NYY 3	TEX 3	@BAL 3	@TB 3	LAA 3	MIN 3	@SEA 3	@LAA 3
PHI	@TOR 3	WAS 3	CHC 3	@MIA 3	@NYM 3	WAS 3	MIA 3	NYM 3	@ATL 4	@COL 4	ATL 3
PIT	@MIL 3	@STL 3	@ATL 3	CIN 3	MIA 3	@STL 3	@MIL 3	KC 3	MIL 3	@CHC 4	@CIN 3
SD	@LAD 3	SEA 2	COL 4	@ARI 2	CIN 4	@SEA 2	TEX 3	SF 3	@LAD 3	@SF 3	ARI 3
SEA	@ARI 3	@SD 2	@OAK 4	BAL 3	NYY 3	SD 2	@LAA 4	@HOU 3	@TEX 3	OAK 3	TEX 4
SF	TEX 3	ARI 3	NYM 3	@COL 3	@MIL 3	ATL 3	COL 3	@SD 3	@STL 3	SD 3	LAD 3
STL	@COL 3	PIT 3	CIN 3	@WAS 3	@DET 3	PIT 3	LAD 4	@ATL 3	SF 3	MIL 3	@CHC 3
TB	BOS 3	@ATL 2	@CLE 3	@TOR 3	BAL 3	CLE 3	OAK 3	@TEX 3	@TOR 4	NYY 4	TOR 3
TEX	@SF 3	LAD 2	MIN 3	LAA 3	@OAK 3	@LAA 3	@SD 3	TB 3	SEA 3	@LAA 3	@SEA 4
TOR	PHI 3	@BAL 3	@MIA 3	TB 3	CLE 4	@BOS 3	@NYY 3	@BAL 3	TB 4	HOU 3	@TB 3
WAS	@NYM 3	@PHI 3	MIL 3	STL 3	CHC 4	@PHI 3	@COL 3	@MIA 2	NYM 4	MIA 3	@COL 3

While pinpointing exact pitching matchups is obviously impossible, in many cases you can at least determine which opponents a starting pitcher will face. This in turn can facilitate FAAB or waiver pickups, especially by being proactive and grabbing arms in advance of a possible two-start week.

I considered doing a strength of schedule analysis but encountered the conundrum I've been dealing with for years. That is, what sample best reflects the current expectation? Is it season to date? Most recent performance? A weighted average of the two? Admittedly, I make assumptions in this regard when assembling the pitching rankings, but it continues to bother me that I, and others, are working off intuition and not research. For what it's worth, this study is high on my Toddy-do list.

Position eligibility

It's a long season. Sometimes we miss when a player has added another position to his arsenal. To be honest, I'll probably miss a couple in the ensuing review. If you're not aware, not only do we have games played by position on each player's personal page, but the entire league is available here.

There are different games requirements for in-season eligibility. The official rule book is five. Some leagues need only one. The National Fantasy Baseball Championship requires 10. Here's a position-by-position breakdown with some of my observations.

Catcher

Isiah Kiner-Falefa: With 21 games behind the plate, should enter the 2019 campaign with catcher eligibility, making him a potentially cheap freeze in some keeper formats.

Blake Swihart: Needs four more games at receiver to insure 2019 eligibility.

First base

Niko Goodrum: Recently added first base to his 2019 ledger. In five-game, in-season leagues, is now eligible everywhere but catcher.

Edwin Encarnacion: Needs three games to gain 2019 eligibility and not be legal only at utility.

Matt Davidson: With Jose Abreu out, should easily play four more games at first, else will be utility only next season.

Kendrys Morales: With 15 games at first, can be used here or at corner, freeing from utility only.

Whit Merrifield: Likely occupying second or outfield, but nice to have five games at first in a pinch.

Second base

Travis Shaw: With 15 games at the keystone, should get five more to add to third base heading into 2019.

Yuli Gurriel: Picked up 11 games while Jose Altuve is out, yielding second base eligibility in most formats for this season.

Jurickson Profar: Has nine games so OK in five-game leagues but still needs one more in the NFBC.

Rosell Herrera: Eligible in five-game leagues.

Third base

Yuli Gurriel: Three games shy of 20-game threshold needed for eligibility in most leagues next season.

Javier Baez: Four games short of 20, remains to be seen how Daniel Murphy affects chase to get there.

Hunter Dozier: Also needs four more appearances for 20. Not as important in Mixed formats but could help in 2019 AL-only.

Manny Machado: Sitting at 14, needs six more for dual 3B/SS eligibility next season.

Jesus Aguilar: Five games at the hot corner, enough for in-season eligibility in most formats.

Shortstop

Alex Bregman: With 21 games, retains 3B/SS for next year.

Jonathan Schoop: Has eight games, likely to reach 10, maybe 15, but not 20.

Gleyber Torres: Has five games, could double that with Didi Gregorius out, though 20 is a long shot.

Outfield

Jake Bauers: Has 15, shot at 20 to enter 2019 at 1B/OF.

Renato Nunez: Needs one more for five, could be relevant when considering the number of home games still left.

Something to keep in mind when looking at position eligibility is that scarcity is only a factor when formulating a draft plan. Once you're in season, stats are stats. For example, Taylor Ward isn't necessarily more valuable at catcher than third base. What matters is who he upgrades. Chances are, he'll render a higher upgrade at catcher, but it's not a foregone conclusion.

That said, a player with multiple eligibility facilitates roster management by offering different combinations of active players, enabling you to put the strongest lineup out each week. His stats are worth the same, he essentially makes the lineup around him better.

Affiliate teams headed for minor-league playoffs

Rosters expand in a little over a week. Many teams will flood the transaction wire on September 1. Other will let their would-be callups gain playoff experience, as even going through it at the minor-league level can be beneficial. Here's a rundown of the chase for playoff berths in Triple-A and Double-A. If you're looking at a callup from one of these organizations, don't be surprised if management opts to wait until after their playoff run is over.

International League (AAA)

The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (PHI) and Durham Bulls (TB) look to be locks to win their divisions. The Columbus Clippers (CLE) currently hold a one-game lead over the Indianapolis Indians (PIT) and 3.5 game lead over the Toledo Mud Hens (DET).

The Indians have a two-game edge in the wild card over the Norwalk Tides (BAL) and the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders (NYY). The Mud Hens, Gwinnett Stripers (ATL), Pawtucket Red Sox (BOS) and Buffalo Bisons (TOR) are all long shots.

Pacific Coast League (AAA)
The Memphis Redbirds (STL), Fresno Grizzlies (HOU) and El Paso Chihuahuas (SD) are all comfortably ahead in their divisions. The Oklahoma City Dodgers (LAA) and Colorado Sky Sox (MIL) are tied for the last playoff berth.

Eastern League (AA)

The top two teams in each of the two divisions make the playoffs. It appears the teams are set with only the division champions to be decided. The four playoff-bound clubs are the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR), Trenton Thunder (NYY), Akron RubberDucks (CLE) and Altoona Curve (PIT). The Harrisburg Senators (WAS) have a small chance to unseat one of the latter duo.

Southern League (AA)

The Jackson Generals (ARI) and Biloxi Shuckers (MIL) are in the playoffs by virtue of being the first-half division champions. The Montgomery Biscuits (TB) are in the driver's season for one of the second half berths, holding a five-game lead over the Generals and Tennessee Smokies (CHC). The Shuckers, Pensacola Blue Wahoos (CIN) and Mississippi Braves (ATL) are tied for the other spot.

Texas League (AA)

Here, first half/second half standings are also used with the Arkansas Travelers (SEA) and Corpus Christi Hooks (HOU) already in. The Tulsa Drillers (LAD) currently enjoy a 2.5 game lead over the Travelers and a 4.5 game gap over the Northwest Arkansas Nationals (KC). The Hooks are 3.5 point ahead of the Frisco RoughRiders (TEX) in quest of the second half crown.

There you have it, some minutia that other may overlook when plotting strategy down the stretch. As always, I'll monitor the comments section for any specific questions to help you ship your league(s).