Welcome to the 2022 Fantasy Baseball Week 7 Pitching Planner.
Every Saturday of the MLB regular season, the Fantasy Baseball Pitching Planner takes a look at the upcoming SP landscape for the week ahead. I will look to answer some of the questions regarding which hurlers to start, sit, or stream.
A ranking of low-owned (50% or less), two-start options that may be worthwhile acquiring off the waiver wire leads things off. The first two guys have really made an impression on me so far on the young season. I highly recommend them if needed.
2022 Fantasy Baseball Week 7 Pitching Planner
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Two-Start Waiver Options
*** Ownership Percentages based on Yahoo! Leagues as of May 20***
| SP | Start 1 | Start 2 | Rost% | Recommend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Anderson (LAD) | at WSH | at ARI | 31% | Yes |
| Alex Cobb (SF) | vs NYM | at CIN | 47% | Yes |
| James Kaprielian (OAK) | at SEA | vs TEX | 7% | Yes |
| Nick Pivetta (BOS) | at CWS | vs BAL | 15% | Yes |
| Kyle Freeland (COL) | at PIT | at WSH | 6% | Yes |
| Dane Dunning (TEX) | at LAA | at OAK | 14% | Likely |
| Marco Gonzales (SEA) | vs OAK | vs HOU | 17% | Likely |
| Dylan Bundy (MIN) | vs DET | vs KC | 22% | Likely |
| Steven Matz (STL) | vs TOR | vs MIL | 33% | Likely |
| JT Brubaker (PIT) | vs COL | at SD | 3% | Likely |
| Josiah Gray (WSH) | vs LAD | vs COL | 48% | Unlikely |
| Adrian Houser (MIL) | at SD | at STL | 20% | Unlikely |
| Cal Quantrill (CLE) | at HOU | at DET | 48% | Unlikely |
| Trevor Williams (NYM) | at SF | vs PHI | 0% | Unlikely |
| Drew Smyly (CHC) | at CIN | at CWS | 7% | Unlikely |
| Zach Davies (ARI) | vs KC | vs LAD | 5% | Unlikely |
| Zach Plesac (CLE) | at HOU | at DET | 37% | Unlikely |
| Jordan Lyles (BAL) | at NYY | at BOS | 4% | Unlikely |
| Bruce Zimmermann (BAL) | at NYY | at BOS | 24% | Unlikely |
| Joah Adon (WSH) | vs LAD | vs COL | 1% | No |
Start ‘em
Julio Urias (LAD) – at Washington Nationals
In the two outings prior to his start this past Friday in Philadelphia, Urias had not quite been pitching up to his typical standards. He had surrendered a combined 10 runs (seven earned) on 19 hits while only striking out seven across 12 innings. Five of those hits left the yard. There was cause for at least some concern.
Urias put the concern to rest with a strong rebound effort. The 25-year-old lefty held the Phillies scoreless over five frames, giving up just five hits and no walks while striking out five.
Urias has now allowed one run or less in 5-of-8 starts this year. Do not even think twice about running him out for a matchup against the Nationals.
Robbie Ray (SEA) – vs Oakland Athletics
Robbie Ray, Dirty 86mph Slider. 😨 pic.twitter.com/7wgFykEUVV
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 21, 2022
So far this season, Ray has not been able to consistently match his Cy Young form from 2021. Despite a lofty 5.60 ERA over his last three starts, the Seattle southpaw has been getting at ton of whiffs. In that stretch, Ray has been registering punchouts at a ridiculous 37.5-percent rate alongside a 22.6-percent swinging-strike rate.
Yes, Ray’s 4.77 ERA on the year is not encouraging, but a trip to Oakland should see that mark lowered considerably. The A’s feature probably the least threatening lineup in the league and average a mere 2.6 runs per game at home.
Sit ‘em
Hyun-Jin Ryu (TOR) - at Los Angeles Angels
Ryu has looked pretty solid in his two starts since returning from a near month-long stay on the IL. His six shutout innings last time out were quite impressive. That, however, was against the Reds. The Angels are a totally different monster.
Joe Maddon’s club went into play on Friday ranked fourth in the league with 4.9 runs per game and second in team slugging percentage at .423. Ryu is worth having on rosters in most leagues, but it is advisable to sit him for this one.
Aaron Civale (CLE) – at Houston Astros
Do not fall for Civale’s nice performance against the Tigers last time out in which he gave up just one unearned run on three hits across 6.1 innings. It was his best outing of the year by far, but it came against MLB’s worst offense.
Civale’s ERA is still approaching 8.00 on the year even with that most recent start. The Astros offense really packs a punch. This is not one to chase.
Stream ‘em
George Kirby (SEA) – vs Oakland Athletics
The A’s anemic offense has already been mentioned above. They provide a great opportunity for Kirby to bounce back from allowing five earned runs across five innings at Boston on Thursday.
Before that start, Kirby had given up only one earned run on seven hits and one walk while striking out eight across his first 10 big-league innings. Those frames did not come against weak lineups either, as the rookie righty faced the Rays and Mets to kick off his MLB career.
Overall, through three starts in the bigs, Kirby holds a 3.60 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 11-to-2 K/BB ratio across 15.0 innings. He has just a 17.7 K% and 10.8 SwStr% to this point, but his minor-league track record suggests those marks should climb.
Thanks for checking out the 2022 Fantasy Baseball Week 7 Pitching Planner and be sure to check out the rest of the F6P Fantasy Baseball content
