Weekly Hitter Rankings: Kings of the Mountain

The Hitter Value Meter is a companion piece to the weekly Pitching Value Meter. While in many leagues 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 with weekly moves instead of daily. The Hitter Value Meter will summarize all that info in one spot, for your roster juggling convenience.

For the week August 17-23


7 GAMES

1. N.Y. Yankees (vs. MIN 3, vs. CLE 4) - It's a good week to be loaded up on AL East hitters, as the top three spots in the rankings are all claimed by teams from that division. The Yanks emerge as the kings of the mountain thanks to the increased likelihood of them leaving a lot of souvenirs in Yankee Stadium's right field short porch during a period in which they face nothing but right-handed starters, and homer-prone righties at that – Ervin Santana sports a 1.70 HR/9, while Trevor Bauer is right behind him at 1.47. Having three games against a battered Twins rotation while managing to duck Corey Kluber in the Indians set doesn't hurt either.

2. Baltimore (vs. OAK 1, vs. NYM 2, vs. MIN 4) - The O's were originally looking at a six-game week and a spot much lower in the rankings, but a make-up game on Monday makes their prospects much rosier. They're stuck with Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard in the two-game Mets series, but otherwise there's nobody remotely scary on their slate. Tommy Milone's the only lefty Baltimore's set to face.

3. Boston (vs. CLE 3, vs. KC 4) - The Red Sox also get seven home games, but unlike the division rivals above them they face tougher opposition. Corey Kluber caps off the Cleveland series on Wednesday while Johnny Cueto takes the hill for the Royals on Friday, although the struggling Trevor Bauer and Yordano Ventura could help soften that blow. Danny Duffy is the only lefty on their sked.

4. Houston (vs TB 4, vs LAD 3) - More long homestands, more high-caliber pitching coming into town. The Astros get both Jake Odorizzi and Chris Archer in the Tampa set, then finish off the week with Zack Greinke. Nate Karns, who seems to be fading as the season drags on, might be the only real weak link among the opposition hurlers. Alex Wood and Brett Anderson make it a two-lefty week for Houston.

5. L.A. Angels (vs. CHW 4, vs. TOR 3) - The Angels may not have a great home park for hitters but it's still the friendly confines, and it might seem a lot friendlier than normal this period. Jeff Samardzija has been atrocious since he found out he wasn't getting dealt at the deadline (12.91 ERA in three August starts), and he's been awful enough to make even Drew Hutchison's road ERA of 9.00 this year look good in comparison. The Angels still have to face David Price, but they even manage to avoid Chris Sale. They face four lefties in total (Price, Carlos Rodon, John Danks and Jose Quintana) so C.J. Cron and Shane Victorino could be worth a look.

6. Pittsburgh (vs. ARI 3, vs. SF 4) - The Pirates may not have it as tough pitching-wise as the Red Sox or 'Stros this week, but they also play their home games in PNC Park. Other than Madison Bumgarner, there are no aces on their slate though and starting the week off with an arsonist like Jeremy Hellickson could give them a nice boost of confidence. Bumgarner joins Robbie Ray in filling their southpaw quota.

7. Texas (vs. SEA 3, at DET 4) - The scheduling gods smile on the Rangers this period, as they duck Felix Hernandez as well as... oh wait, the Tigers don't have anybody worth ducking any more. Never mind. The set in Seattle won't be easy, as Taijuan Walker is on another tear, but the road series in Detroit shouldn't present too many challenges. It's a three-lefty week with Mike Montgomery, Matt Boyd and Daniel Norris, so Mike Napoli might get hauled out of mothballs for some starts.

6 GAMES

8. Colorado (vs. WAS 3, vs. NYM 3) - The offense-inflating capabilities of Coors Field could be put to the test this week, as the Rockies will be hosting a parade of really nasty pitchers. For the Nats, Jordan Zimmermann is dialed in, Stephen Strasburg finally seems healthy and Max Scherzer is, well, Max Scherzer. The Mets give the Rox a bit of a break, starting things off with Bartolo Colon and Jon Niese, but then send Matt Harvey to the bump on Sunday. It's still six games in Coors Field, but it might not be quite as Coors-y a period as you'd expect.

7 GAMES

9. Arizona (at PIT 3, at CIN 4) - The Diamondbacks get Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano to open the period, but it's pretty smooth sailing after that as the Reds' rotation is in full auditioning-for-2016 mode. It's actually four-lefty week for 'Zona, as Liriano and J.A. Happ pitch for the Bucs while John Lamb and David Holmberg counter for Cinci, so if Yasmany Tomas is recovered from his calf injury he could be poised for a hot streak.

10. San Francisco (at STL 3, at PIT 4) - The Giants have been road warriors this season, but they'll need to be this week with Michael Wacha and Jaime Garcia both en fuego and Gerrit Cole lurking on Saturday. Lance Lynn and Francisco Liriano have had some stumbles lately but are no slouches either. Jeff Locke joins Garcia and Liriano making it a three-lefty week, so Justin Maxwell could be worth a flier in deep formats.

11. Cleveland (at BOS 3, at NYY 4) - As road swings go, this could be a lot worse. Both AL East parks are pretty hitter-friendly and the Red Sox rotation is such a mess right now they don't even know who Monday's starter will be. The Yankees will be bearing down as they continue to tussle with the Blue Jays for the division crown, but rookie Luis Severino is the only one of their hurlers on any kind of roll. At the moment Eduardo Rodriguez and CC Sabathia are the only two lefties the Tribe are set to see.

12. Tampa Bay (at HOU 4, at OAK 3) - The Astros series will be a tough test for the Rays as they continue their climb back into the wild card chase, as they get both Scott Kazmir and Dallas Keuchel, and even Collin McHugh has been pitching better lately. As for the Oakland set, the A's rotation is shrouded in fog until they decide what they are going to do with Sonny Gray. At present it looks like he might rejoin the rotation Monday, which would set him up for a second start Sunday against Tampa, but if his back spasms delay his return any further the Rays will manage to avoid him.

13. Miami (at MIL 3, vs. PHI 4) - On the one hand the Marlins have some really good pitching matchups this week, as the Brewers don't offer up anyone dangerous while the Phillies don't even know who their fifth starter is, although whoever it is gets Miami on Saturday. On the other hand, this is still the Giancarlo Stanton-less Fish we're talking about, so their ability to take advantage of those matchups is suspect. Depending on what the Phillies do to round out their staff, this could be a lefty-less slate for the Marlins, so Justin Bour could be a good option if you need a power boost.

14. Minnesota (at NYY 3, at BAL 4) - Like the Indians, the Twins get a tour of the AL East this week, but swapping the BoSox out for the O's doesn't do them any favors. Neither the Yankees nor the Orioles offer up any particularly challenging starters, although if Chris Tillman is back in form he's the closest thing either team has to an ace, but Minnesota's had plenty of trouble generating offense away from home this season. CC Sabathia and Wei-Yin Chen make it a two-lefty period.

15. Chicago White Sox (at LAA 4, at SEA 3) - The White Sox offense has shown occasional glimmers of life recently, but they'll have a hard time maintaining any momentum on a tough west coast swing. The Angels don't feature a fearsome rotation but even Jered Weaver hasn't been terrible since he came off the DL, and once the ChiSox get to Seattle they'll have to deal with both Felix Hernandez and Taijuan Walker, who's currently having one of his good runs. Andrew Heaney and Vidal Nuno make it a two-lefty week.

16. Atlanta (at SD 3, at CHC 4) - Hey, at least the Braves get seven games. Rookie Colin Rea could be an easy mark to start off the week, but Petco Park can make any pitcher look pretty good. Just ask James Shields, whose home ERA is a run and three-quarters better than his road ERA. The Braves do dodge Jon Lester in the Cubs series, but Jake Arrieta has been untouchable lately and Jason Hammel is on a solid roll as well. It's a lefty-free period, so Freddie Freeman should be able to hit the ground running when he comes off the DL.

6 GAMES

17. Washington (at COL 3, vs. MIL 3) - This is how you work a six-gamer. The Nats head to Coors Field and get the scrubbier end of the Rockies rotation, including David Hale and Yohan Flande, before zipping home to welcome the Brewers. Milwaukee does send out Jimmy Nelson and Taylor Jungmann, but it's still a good-looking sked overall. Flande and Jorge De La Rosa make it a two-lefty week.

18. Cincinnati (vs. KC 2, vs. ARI 4) - The Reds not only get to enjoy the comforts of home this week, they aren't really facing any pitchers that would make them uncomfortable. Edinson Volquez is solid, but after that Cincinnati gets a parade of arms like Jeremy Guthrie, Patrick Corbin and Jeremy Hellickson, none of whom are exactly setting the world on fire this season. Corbin's the only lefty on their slate.

19. Chicago Cubs (vs. DET 2, vs. ATL 4) - If the Cubs are ever going to get their offense going at home, this seems like the week for it to happen. They do face Shelby Miller on Friday but even he's faded after his impressive start to the season, and the rest of the hurlers the Tigers and Braves trot out are no great shakes. Daniel Norris is the only lefty they'll get.

20. Oakland (at BAL 1, vs. LAD 2, vs. TB 3) - Were it not for Monday's make-up game in Baltimore, the A's would have been down in the basement with the other five-game teams. As it is, they have a decent six-gamer, although they're stuck facing Clayton Kershaw in the opener of the Dodgers set. Jake Odorizzi isn't a great way to end the week either, but in between they've got a reeling Mat Latos and a rusty Drew Smyly. Kershaw and Smyly combine for a two-lefty week.

21. San Diego (vs. ATL 3, vs. STL 3) - The Padres' bats haven't been great at home this year, but the back of the Braves rotation should help cure those blues. Michael Wacha looms on Sunday, but John Lackey and Carlos Martinez have had some stumbles recently. With no lefties on the slate this week, Will Venable should be a better play than usual.

22. Detroit (at CHC 2, vs. TEX 4) - A mini-interleague set in Chicago makes Victor Martinez a tough play this week, but the rest of the Tigers' hitters don't have it much easier with Jason Hammel and Jon Lester on the hill for the Cubs. The Rangers' series looks a little more favorable though, especially with Cole Hamels having a difficult time in his new uniform.

23. Kansas City (at CIN 2, at BOS 4) - If you have to go on the road at this time of year, make it against teams already playing for next season. While the Royals face some interesting young arms, including Raisel Iglesias and Eduardo Rodriguez, neither of their opponents have anything resembling an ace on the roster right now. KC sees at least three lefties this period (Wade Miley, Henry Owens and Rodriguez) and possibly a fourth depending on how the Red Sox fill their fifth starter spot.

24. Milwaukee (vs. MIA 3, at WAS 3) - With Jose Fernandez out of the way, the Brewers have a chance to put up some big numbers against a Marlins rotation in serious disarray. They'd better take advantage while they can though, as once they get to DC they'll have to contend with a Nats staff that has no weak links even if they avoid Max Scherzer. Justin Nicolino, Adam Conley and Gio Gonzalez make it a three-lefty week, so Elian Herrera could continue stealing at-bats from Scooter Gennett.

25. St. Louis (vs. SF 3, at SD 3) - This is a pretty shrug-worthy slate. They avoid Madison Bumgarner (in fact, they face nothing but right-handers, which should mean lots of Brandon Moss) and get the flagging Matt Cain instead, and rookie Colin Rea is a wild card Sunday, but the rest of their opposition is, y'know, not bad.

26. Seattle (at TEX 3, vs. CHW 3) - The Mariners very nearly have the rarest of all commodities this period, an all-lefty week, but Chi Chi Gonzalez had to go and ruin it. Facing Cole Hamels and Chris Sale seems like bad news, but neither have been steady lately, and the rest of the southpaws (Martin Perez, Carlos Rodon and John Danks) getting thrown at the M's aren't exactly elite. Look for Franklin Gutierrez, Mark Trumbo and Jesus Montero to get a lot of work.

27. Philadelphia (vs. TOR 2, at MIA 4) - While they've been playing better, the weight of the first four months of the season still keep the Phillies down in the rankings. They're also stuck facing two crafty veterans in Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey in their little interleague flip through Toronto, which doesn't help matters. Things should pick up once they take their talents (and their bats) to South Beach though, given that the Marlins' rotation looks like a hurricane just swept through it. It's a four-lefty week with Buehrle, Brad Hand, Justin Nicolino and Adam Conley, so especially with the DH available for a couple of games, Darin Ruf and Jeff Francoeur should see some extra at-bats.

5 GAMES

28. Toronto (at PHI 2, at LAA 3) - Not even the Blue Jays' crazy offensive performance this season can overcome the drag of a five-game road slate. They do get three lefties though in Adam Morgan, Hector Santiago and Andrew Heaney, so at least it's the best of the five-game slates.

29. N.Y. Mets (at BAL 2, at COL 3) - It almost seems like a waste of a Coors series when you only play two other games in the week. Getting the DH in Baltimore should help get both Michael Conforto's and Michael Cuddyer's bats in the lineup at the same time, but with lefty Chris Rusin pitching Saturday they could split the left-field starts in Coors.

30. L.A. Dodgers (at OAK 2, at HOU 3) - Somebody has to be the caboose, and this week it's the Dodgers. The A's rotation is up in the air, so they may or may not see Sonny Gray, but Scott Kazmir is locked in Saturday as the only lefty they'll face and while Minute Maid Park is a nice place to hit, it isn't Coors Field.