Weekly Hitter Rankings: AL East-bound

The Weekly Hitter Rankings is a companion piece to the Weekly Pitcher Rankings. While in many leagues your offensive roster slots are set 'em and forget 'em, in deeper formats where every at-bat counts, knowing which teams have friendly schedules for hitters, and which platoon bats will be getting more action than usual, can be valuable information, especially in head-to-head formats and leagues where you make moves weekly instead of daily. The Weekly Hitter Rankings will summarize all that info in one spot, for your roster-juggling convenience.

For the period May 30-June 5

NOTE: I've begun to incorporate 2016 offensive performance into the home/road splits for each team, and will gradually increase the weight as the season progresses.

7 GAMES

1. Boston

at BAL (4) – T. Wilson (R), Gausman (R), M. Wright (R), Jimenez (R)
vs. TOR (3) – Stroman (R), Dickey (R), Estrada (R)

The AL East dominates the rankings this week, with four of the five teams in the division taking the top four spots as they (mostly) play each other. That's where playing in hitter's parks with less-than-stellar pitching staffs can get you. With no lefties on the slate for the Red Sox, Travis Shaw should remain entrenched at third base.

2. Baltimore

vs. BOS (4) – S. Wright (R), E. Rodriguez (L), J. Kelly (R), Porcello (R)
vs. NYY (3) – Eovaldi (R), Nova (R), Sabathia (L)

Unlike the BoSox, the Orioles do have a couple of southpaws on their sked as Eduardo Rodriguez replaces Clay Buchholz in the Boston rotation. That will cost Pedro Alvarez some at-bats.

3. Tampa Bay

at KC (3) – Kennedy (R), Gee (R), Duffy (L)
at MIN (4) – Hughes (R), Nolasco (R), E. Santana (R), Duffey (R)

The Rays get left out of the AL East square dance, but still rank highly thanks to their offensive success on the road this year (5.2 runs per game), although a little boost from the Twins' rotation doesn't hurt either. The righty-heavy slate probably keeps Taylor Motter on the bench in favor of Brad Miller.

4. NY Yankees

at TOR (3) – Estrada (R), Happ (L), Aaron Sanchez (R)
at DET (1) – M. Fulmer (R)
at BAL (3) – Tillman (R), T. Wilson (R), Gausman (R)

The Yankees were set for a six-game week, but a makeup date with the Tigers on Thursday saves them from rankings purgatory. With only one lefty on the sked, Aaron Hicks should remain buried on the bench.

5. Cleveland

vs. TEX (3) – C. Lewis (R), D. Holland (L), Hamels (L)
vs. KC (4) – Ventura (R), Volquez (R), Kennedy (R), Gee (R)

The Indians get a seven-game homestand this period, which is just fine considering that they've had the third-best home offense in 2016 (5.4 runs per game). Two lefties on the slate will likely cut into Lonnie Chisenhall's action in right field, with Marlon Byrd stealing a couple of starts.

6. Colorado

vs. CIN (4) – Moscot (R), Straily (R), John Lamb (L), Simon (R)
at SD (3) – Pomeranz (L), Cashner (R), Shields (R)

Even a trip to San Diego can't dampen the Rockies' outlook this week, as they welcome the Reds' collection of retread arms into their mile-high lair. Jose Reyes could return to the roster this week, but don't expect him to see much action.

7. San Francisco

at ATL (4) – Foltynewicz (R), Wisler (R), W. Perez (R), Blair (R)
at STL (3) – Wainwright (R), Wacha (R), C. Martinez (R)

The Giants may be on a road trip but given their home park, that tends to be a plus for their offense, and facing the Braves doesn't hurt either. If Brandon Belt is healthy, he could be in for a good week against an all-righty slate.

8. Pittsburgh

at MIA (4) – Nicolino (L), J. Fernandez (R), Conley (L), Chen (L)
vs. LAA (3) – Weaver (R), Tropeano (R), Chacin (R)

The Bucs get three lefties early, which could make John Jaso a questionable play in shallower formats, but getting the DH against what the Angels laughingly refer to as their rotation makes Matt Joyce an interesting option, especially in leagues with mid-week activations.

9. Cincinnati

at COL (4) – Bettis (R), J. Gray (R), Chatwood (R), Butler (R)
vs. WAS (3) – G. Gonzalez (L), Strasburg (R), Roark (R)

Despite the hike to Coors Field, there's still a fairly sizable gap between the Reds and the Pirates. It's not the last such instance either, as this period's rankings are more tiered than usual. Cinci doesn't have any real platoons in their lineup at the moment, but the righty-heavy slate does make Adam Duvall a bit iffier as an option -- not that you'll want to sit him for a road trip to Colorado, though.

10. Chicago Cubs

vs. LAD (4) – A. Wood (L), Kazmir (L), Bolsinger (R), Maeda (R)
vs. ARI (3) – Bradley (R), Undecided, Corbin (L)

Sadly we don't get a Jake Arrieta/Clayton Kershaw duel this week, as Kershaw misses the series entirely. Three lefties on the Cubs' sked could make it tougher for manager Joe Maddon to slip Tommy La Stella onto the lineup card, especially with Jorge Soler heating up. The undecided starter for the D-backs will likely be Edwin Escobar, but they're keeping their options open in case he struggles in his first start Monday. Braden Shipley is the most likely alternative.

11. Houston

at ARI (2) – E. Escobar (L), Corbin (L)
vs. ARI (2) – Ray (L), Greinke (R)
vs. OAK (3) – Hahn (R), Hill (L), Graveman (R)

The interleague home-and-home with the Diamondbacks will cost the Astros the DH for a couple of games, but given that Arizona is sending lefties to the mound both days it could give Evan Gattis a couple more starts behind the plate and inch him closer to that sweet, sweet catcher eligibility. Carlos Gomez could also come off the DL this week, but if his rehab stint stretches longer than expected, Jake Marisnick could be worth a look against a lefty-heavy slate.

12. Seattle

vs. SD (2) – Cashner (R), Shields (R)
at SD (2) – Friedrich (L), Vargas (R)
at TEX (3) – Darvish (R), M. Perez (L), C. Lewis (R)

The Mariners also lose their DH for two games this week, which could afford Nelson Cruz his first day off in about three weeks. Luis Sardinas has a small window as the shortstop before Ketel Marte returns from the DL, so don't get too attached if you pick him up.

13. LA Dodgers

at CHC (4) – Hammel (R), Arrieta (R), Lester (L), Hendricks (R)
vs. ATL (3) – Teheran (R), Foltynewicz (R), Wisler (R)

The Dodgers politely won't be using their ace against the Cubs, but Chicago isn't reciprocating. With only one lefty on the slate and a series against the Braves, Joc Pederson could be a strong play this period.

14. Minnesota

at OAK (3) – Graveman (R), Z. Neal (R), Manaea (L)
vs. TB (4) – Moore (L), Odorizzi (R), Andriese (R), Smyly (L)

Fun fact: 27-year-old Zach Neal, making his third big league start, will be the oldest starting pitcher the Twins face this week. Robbie Grossman should continue seeing most of the action in left field as long as he stays hot, but could fall into a platoon with Oswaldo Arcia given the nearly even lefty-righty split.

15. Kansas City

vs. TB (3) – Andriese (R), Smyly (L), Archer (R)
at CLE (4) – Salazar (R), Clevinger (R), Tomlin (R), Kluber (R)

Jarrod Dyson should get more run in right field for the Royals against this righty-heavy slate, but surprisingly Whit Merrifield and not Paulo Orlando is the current choice to fill in for Alex Gordon in left.

16. Detroit

at LAA (3) – Chacin (R), Santiago (L), Shoemaker (R)
vs. NYY (1) – Pineda (R)
vs. CHW (3) – Rodon (L), Sale (L), Quintana (L)

Like the Yankees, the Tigers' week is salvaged by the Thursday makeup game. They don't use any platoons, but four lefties on the slate should make their righty-heavy lineup happy.

17. Milwaukee

vs. STL (3) – C. Martinez (R), Leake (R), Garcia (L)
at PHI (4) – Eickhoff (R), Velasquez (R), Hellickson (R), Nola (R)

The Brewers face some stingy pitching, but Miller Park and Citizens Bank Park aren't the worst hitting environments. The righty-heavy slate makes Scooter Gennett worth a look in shallower formats, and give the edge back to Kirk Nieuwenhuis in the battle for centerfield at-bats.

18. Arizona

vs. HOU (2) – McHugh (R), McCullers (R)
at HOU (2) – Fiers (R), Keuchel (L)
at CHC (3) – Lackey (R), Hammel (R), Arrieta (R)

The D-backs match up against both reigning Cy Young Award winners within four days of each other. Lovely. Peter O'Brien should get the DH at-bats in Houston, but how much playing time he receives beyond that is an open question, especially if David Peralta returns on the weekend.

19. Philadelphia

vs. WAS (3) – Roark (R), J. Ross (R), Scherzer (R)
vs. MIL (4) – Chase Anderson (R), Nelson (R), Guerra (R), W. Peralta (R)

The Nats' tough staff and their own offensive struggles puts a damper on what otherwise might have been a productive homestand for the Phillies. The team seems intent on giving Tommy Joseph a long look at first base, but the lack of lefties on this slate puts Ryan Howard right back into the mix, so don't be surprised if they split starts.

20. San Diego

at SEA (2) – Karns (R), Iwakuma (R)
vs. SEA (2) – F. Hernandez (R), Miley (L)
vs. COL (3) – Rusin (L), Bettis (R), J. Gray (R)

Given the state of their bench (not to mention their starting lineup) the Padres can't exactly take full advantage of having the DH in Seattle, but Brett Wallace is probably the best candidate to get those at-bats.

21. Miami

vs. PIT (4) – Locke (L), G. Cole (R), Niese (L), Nicasio (R)
vs. NYM (3) – Syndergaard (R), Colon (R), Harvey (R)

It's seven games at home, but the Marlins are stuck facing some of the nastiest young aces in the National League. Oh, and Matt Harvey too. What, too soon? First base has become a fairly strict platoon, so Justin Bour will lose a couple of starts to Chris Johnson.

22. Atlanta

vs. SF (4) – Samardzija (R), Peavy (R), M. Cain (R), Bumgarner (L)
at LAD (3) – Kershaw (L), A. Wood (L), Kazmir (L)

The gap between the Braves and Marlins is bigger than the one between the Marlins and the 16th-place Tigers, and if I didn't sort by games played Atlanta would fall all the way to 29th, so buyer beware if you use any of them this week. The run of four lefties headlined by Madison Bumgarner and Clayton Kershaw could make Jeff Francoeur a desperation weekend play, though.

6 GAMES

23. Toronto

vs. NYY (3) – Nova (R), Sabathia (L), Tanaka (R)
at BOS (3) – Price (L), S. Wright (R), E. Rodriguez (L)

Crazy crooked numbers tend to hit the scoreboard when the Red Sox and Blue Jays meet, and Toronto's offense has started to flash its 2015 form, so they manage to top the six-game slate rankings. Using any six-game team when there are so many seven-game options available could be risky, though.

24. Washington

at PHI (3) – Hellickson (R), Nola (R), Morgan (L)
at CIN (3) – Finnegan (L), Moscot (R), Straily (R)

The Nats see a fairly motley assortment of arms this week, which makes their hitters less awful options than the teams below. It could also give Trea Turner a soft-ish landing if he gets called up in the first week of June.

25. St. Louis

at MIL (3) – Guerra (R), W. Peralta (R), Z. Davies (R)
vs. SF (3) – Cueto (R), Samardzija (R), Peavy (R)

The Cards get the one potentially dangerous Brewers pitcher (Junior Guerra) in addition to the meat of the Giants' rotation, but the lack of lefties could make both Matt Adams and Brandon Moss options if Moss works his way back into the starting outfield mix.

26. Texas

at CLE (3) – Tomlin (R), Kluber (R), Bauer (R)
vs. SEA (3) – T. Walker (R), Karns (R), Iwakuma (R)

The lack of lefties should keep Ryan Rua on the bench, although hopefully you weren't so desperate for bats that Rua's a regular part of your lineup anyway.

27. Oakland

vs. MIN (3) – E. Santana (R), Duffey (R), P. Dean (L)
at HOU (3) – Fister (R), McHugh (R), McCullers (R)

This is where things really get ugly in the rankings. If you can avoid using hitters from any of the remaining teams, do so. If you can't avoid it, Chris Coghlan should see most of the action in right field against a righty-heavy slate.

28. NY Mets

vs. CHW (3) – Quintana (L), Latos (R), M. Gonzalez (R)
at MIA (3) – Koehler (R), Nicolino (L), J. Fernandez (R)

Two lefties on the sked will cost Michael Conforto some playing time, but Wilmer Flores should be off the DL and platooning with James Loney at first base.

29. Chicago White Sox

at NYM (3) – Harvey (R), Matz (L), deGrom (R)
at DET (3) – Pelfrey (R), Verlander (R), Anibal Sanchez (R)

The quality of the opposition, and a trip to Citi Field, is likely to put the kibosh on the White Sox's offense this week. Neither of their catchers have been hitting so it's probably not even worth figuring out whether Dioner Navarro or Alex Avila will get more playing time.

30. LA Angels

vs. DET (3) – Verlander (R), Anibal Sanchez (R), Zimmermann (R)
at PIT (3) – Liriano (L), Locke (L), G. Cole (R)

The fact that Anibal Sanchez is a common denominator in the two lowest-ranked schedules of the week did make me wonder if I'd misplaced a decimal point or something. Here's how bad things are for the Angels right now: they're looking forward to getting Cliff Pennington (!) back off the DL to play shortstop.