Weekly Hitter Rankings: Giant Advantage for San Fran

The Weekly Hitter Rankings is a companion piece to the Weekly Pitcher Rankings. In many leagues, your offensive roster slots are "set 'em and forget 'em." In deeper formats though, 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. This is especially true in head-to-head formats and leagues where moves are made weekly rather than daily. The Weekly Hitter Rankings will summarize all that info in one spot, for your roster-juggling convenience.

For the period May 2-8

7 GAMES

1. Toronto

vs. TEX (4) – Griffin (R), M. Perez (L), Lewis (R), D. Holland (L)
vs. LAD (3) – Maeda (R), Stripling (R), Kershaw (L)

Seven home games -- two of them of the decidedly non-Clayton Kershaw variety -- should mean happy days for the Jays' sluggers. Matt Dominguez, who looks like he might get a chance to prove himself as Justin Smoak's platoon partner at first base, might be an interesting deep league play.

2. San Francisco

at CIN (3) – Finnegan (L), Moscot (R), Straily (R)
vs. COL (4) – Rusin (L), Bettis (R), J. Gray (R), Butler (R)

It's not quite a four-game series at Coors, but facing the Rockies' mostly unproven kid starters at home isn't a bad consolation prize. Only only lefty on the slate should pump up Brandon Belt's value for the week.

3. Houston

vs. MIN (3) – Berrios (R), Meyer (R), Hughes (R)
vs. SEA (4) – Miley (L), T. Walker (R), Karns (R), F. Hernandez (R)

Another nice homestand, but the young guns being added to the Twins' rotation give this slate a little more volatility. Only one lefty probably means more Preston Tucker and less Evan Gattis at DH, however.

4. Texas

at TOR (4) – Dickey (R), Estrada (R), Aaron Sanchez (R), Happ (L)
at DET (3) – Zimmermann (R), Pelfrey (R), Verlander (R)

The Lone Star State gets well-represented this week, but beware the "Knuckleball Hangover" effect in Toronto. The Rangers also get a couple of potentially tough matchups in Detroit as well. Nomar Mazara's been cooling down a bit, but the righty-heavy slate could perk him up, and might do wonders for Prince Fielder too.

5. Cincinnati

vs. SF (3) – Cueto (R), Samardzija (R), Peavy (R)
vs. MIL (4) – Chase Anderson (R), W. Peralta (R), Nelson (R), Guerra (R)

The third homestand of the week sees the Reds facing nothing but righties, which should give Scott Schebler one last chance to prove he belongs on the roster before the club starts looking to Triple-A Louisville for alternatives.

6. Milwaukee

vs. LAA (3) – Weaver (R), Tropeano (R), Santiago (L)
at CIN (4) – Simon (R), Iglesias (R), Finnegan (L), DeSclafani (R)

There are some very vulnerable pitchers on this slate, including Anthony DeSclafani in his first start off the DL. Center field remains the Island of Misfit Toys for the Brewers, and it doesn't look like a King Moonracer is going to emerge any time soon.

7. NY Mets

vs. ATL (3) – Wisler (R), Foltynewicz (R), Chacin (R)
at SD (4) – Rea (R), Pomeranz (L), Shields (R), Cashner (R)

Seven games against two of the National League's also-rans makes Mets bats a solid play this period, especially Michael Conforto against a slate full of somewhat less-than-elite righties.

8. Seattle

at OAK (3) – Graveman (R), S. Gray (R), Manaea (L)
at HOU (4) – Devenski (R), Fister (R), Keuchel (L), McHugh (R)

There are some soft spots in this slate, although Chris Devenski didn't look too out of place in his first start of the year Saturday, and the two lefties should give Dae-Ho Lee a couple chances to produce.

9. Washington

at KC (3) – Volquez (R), C. Young (R), Medlen (R)
at CHC (4) – Hendricks (R), Lackey (R), Hammel (R), Arrieta (R)

It's seven games, but the Nats could find their feet and bats dragging by the end of this road trip. Expect Clint Robinson to see a start or two at first base to give Ryan Zimmerman a rest, but they could come at any time with no lefties on the horizon, and he might see some DH at-bats in Kansas City as well.

10. San Diego

vs. COL (3) – J. Gray (R), Butler (R), Chatwood (R)
vs. NYM (4) – deGrom (R), Syndergaard (R), Colon (R), Harvey (R)

Sure, the Padres are at home, and the Rockies' young hurlers are mostly unproven, but the series against the Mets could be nasty. No lefties could mean more Brett Wallace and a little less Adam Rosales at third base, if you're looking for at-bats in deep NL-only formats.

11. St. Louis

vs. PHI (4) – Hellickson (R), Nola (R), A. Morgan (L), Eickhoff (R)
vs. PIT (3) – Locke (L), Liriano (L), G. Cole (R)

The weakest of the seven-game homestands this period, the Cards manage to avoid Vince Velasquez but steer into the teeth of the Bucs' rotation on the weekend. Three lefties could mean more Matt Holliday at first base and more Jeremy Hazelbaker in the outfield, although it wouldn't surprise me if they started experimenting with Jedd Gyorko out there too.

12. Chicago Cubs

at PIT (3) – G. Cole (R), Niese (L), Nicasio (R)
vs. WAS (4) – J. Ross (R), Scherzer (R), G. Gonzalez (L), Roark (R)

There are a couple dangerous names on the Cubs' slate this week, although based on recent performances you'd think Tanner Roark was the Nats' ace. Two lefties could give Javier Baez another chance to worm his way into the lineup.

13. Philadelphia

at STL (4) – Wainwright (R), Wacha (R), Leake (R), J. Garcia (L)
at MIA (3) – Chen (L), Koehler (R), Nicolino (L)

The surprising Phillies are on the road all week, but if you believe in playing the hot hand, bump them up a few spots. With three lefties on the sked, Darin Ruf should get more opportunities to play southpaw-slayer.

14. Colorado

at SD (3) – Shields (R), Cashner (R), C. Vargas (R)
at SF (4) – M. Cain (R), Bumgarner (L), Cueto (R), Samardzija (R)

It's been a bit frustrating rostering some of the Rockies' lesser bats through the first month of the season, but trust me, better days (and more home games) are on the way. The righty-heavy slate should keep Ryan Raburn and Mark Reynolds mostly on the bench.

6 GAMES

15. Baltimore

vs. NYY (3) – Severino (R), Sabathia (L), Tanaka (R)
vs. OAK (3) – Hahn (R), Hill (L), Graveman (R)

Wait, I think I figured out the secret message hidden in the A's rotation! "The grave of the gray man lies on the hill, Han Solo." Okay, maybe not. The O's have the best of the six-game slates, as they get to enjoy home cooking against a mixed bag of hurlers, and Rich Hill has to cool down eventually, right?

16. NY Yankees

at BAL (3) – Tillman (R), T. Wilson (R), M. Wright (R)
vs. BOS (3) – Porcello (R), Price (L), S. Wright (R)

A full slate against AL East rivals usually means fireworks for the Yankees -- even David Price has a career 4.04 ERA against them. With Price as the only lefty they'll see, Aaron Hicks should get all the time he needs on the bench to nurse his ailing shoulder.

17. Cleveland

vs. DET (3) – Verlander (R), Anibal Sanchez (R), M. Fulmer (R)
vs. KC (3) – Ventura (R), Kennedy (R), Volquez (R)

Another long homestand and another sked with no lefties should allow Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall to settle back into the starting lineup.

18. Oakland

vs. SEA (3) – Karns (R), F. Hernandez (R), Iwakuma (R)
at BAL (3) – Gausman (R), Jimenez (R), Tillman (R)

Yonder Alonso and Chris Coghlan should be the big winners of Oakland's playing-time lottery this week with a schedule full of righties, but with the A's you just never know.

19. Arizona

at MIA (3) – Nicolino (L), J. Fernandez (R), Conley (L)
at ATL (3) – Blair (R), Teheran (R), Wisler (R)

The Diamondbacks get a tour of the NL East basement this week, facing a bunch of kids barely old enough to shave. Your weekly trivia question: which of these pitchers in the oldest? The answer is at the bottom of the six-game teams.

Jake Lamb's been cooling off, but with only two lefties on the slate, remains the Arizona third baseman to run with.

20. Detroit

at CLE (3) – Tomlin (R), Kluber (R), Bauer (R)
vs. TEX (3) – Hamels (L), Griffin (R), M. Perez (L)

The Indians' rotation isn't quite as scary without Carlos Carrasco, but this is still a fairly tough slate for the Tigers. Cameron Maybin could be back off the DL in time to take advantage of those weekend lefties, however.

21. Kansas City

vs. WAS (3) – G. Gonzalez (L), Roark (R), Strasburg (R)
at CLE (3) – Salazar (R), House (L), Tomlin (R)

The weekend opposition looks a lot softer than the pitchers the Royals will face earlier in the week. Two lefties means Paulo Orlando could get back into the right field mix, though.

22. LA Angels

at MIL (3) – Nelson (R), J. Guerra (R), Davies (R)
vs. TB (3) – Archer (R), Odorizzi (R), M. Moore (L)

A road interleague series means no DH, but with both C.J. Cron and Albert Pujols struggling, they could end up splitting time at first base in Milwaukee. The righty-heavy slate means Rafael Ortega should continue seeing the bulk of at-bats in left field.

23. Miami

vs. ARI (3) – Corbin (L), R. De La Rosa (R), Ray (L)
vs. PHI (3) – Velasquez (R), Hellickson (R), Nola (R)

The early returns on the new fences at Marlins Park continue to suggest it's playing as a hitter's park now, so this ranking may be much too low. The lefties should make Derek Dietrich the player to use in the new second base platoon, but Ichiro Suzuki could also continue stealing playing time from Marcell Ozuna if the Marlins decide they need him in the leadoff spot.

24. Boston

at CHW (3) – Quintana (L), Danks (L), Rodon (L)
at NYY (3) – Pineda (R), Eovaldi (R), Severino (R)

The even splits between lefties and righties make Boston the perfect platooning team this week, so Chris Young could get lots of run on the South Side before returning to the bench in favor of Brock Holt in the Bronx.

25. Pittsburgh

vs. CHC (3) – Hammel (R), Arrieta (R), Lester (L)
at STL (3) – C. Martinez (R), Wainwright (R), Wacha (R)

The battle for the NL Central begins in earnest for the Pirates this week, as they face all their chief rivals' big dogs. Only one lefty on the slate means that John Jaso should get plenty of chances to do John Jaso things at the top of the order.

26. Minnesota

at HOU (3) – Keuchel (L), McHugh (R), Fiers (R)
at CHW (3) – Latos (R), Sale (L), Quintana (L)

Another balanced lefty-righty split, but even if the Twins had right-handed hitters on the short side of platoons, you might have to think twice about using them with Dallas Keuchel and Chris Sale both on the horizon.

27. Chicago White Sox

vs. BOS (3) – S. Wright (R), Buchholz (R), Owens (L)
vs. MIN (3) – Duffey (R), Nolasco (R), Berrios (R)

If the White Sox could hit at home at all, they'd rank a lot higher this week. They're another team that could struggle in their opening series after facing a knuckleballer right off the top, and with only one lefty on the slate, Jerry Sands probably won't see much work even if Avisail Garcia's hamstring injury lingers.

28. Atlanta

at NYM (3) – Colon (R), Harvey (R), Matz (L)
vs. ARI (3) – Greinke (R), S. Miller (R), Corbin (L)

The only thing saving the Braves from another basement finish in the rankings is the fact that they actually have a game in hand on a couple of other teams. Two lefties could give Jeff Francoeur some left field playing time, but Ender Inciarte should be back to put an end to the mixing and matching in center.

By the way, the answer to the earlier trivia question is: Adam Conley, who turns 26 in late May.

5 GAMES

29. LA Dodgers

at TB (2) – M. Moore (L), Smyly (L)
at TOR (3) – Stroman (R), Dickey (R), Estrada (R)

Interleague play does strange things, but none stranger than these awkward five-game slates that make it very difficult to roster players losing that many at-bats in competitive leagues. The Dodgers at least have a nicely sorted lefty-righty split, so in deep NL-only formats Joc Pederson could be a weekend option in Toronto. Expect someone like Trayce Thompson to get the DH at-bats in Tampa.

30. Tampa Bay

vs. LAD (2) – Kazmir (L), A. Wood (L)
at LAA (3) – Shoemaker (R), Richards (R), Weaver (R)

Really, MLB? You couldn't have scheduled this interleague series in Los Angeles, so the Rays could have just stayed on the west coast all week? The confusing situation at first base makes it unclear whether Logan Morrison or Steve Pearce will get those weekend at-bats, but Pearce, Brandon Guyer and Tim Beckham could all see action against the Dodgers.