Welcome to the 2023 Fantasy Baseball Hitting Planner (7/31 - 8/6).
The trade deadline is this week, which is going to see a lot of activity od transactions. Many of the teams that are out of contention are going to be flipping players and teams that have the hope of making a push in October are looking to trade for those players.
With a couple of days left until the MLB Trade Deadline, we have already seen players move to contending teams. We saw Noah Syndergaard get flipped for Amed Rosario, Enrique Hernandez return to the Dodgers, Lance Lynn also join Los Angeles. Lucas Giolito was shipped to the Angels and Carlos Santana get traded in the division to the Brewers.
There has even been some developing news in regards to the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, as the Angels have come out and said they will not be trading the ultra super-star two-way player at the deadline. Instead, the Angels have become buyers at the deadline as they try to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
The hitting planner could have a few surprise names next week as there are going to be a lot more names on the move this week.
But for now, let's get into this week's hitting planner.
2023 Fantasy Baseball Hitting Planner (7/31 - 8/6)
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MLB Schedule
| Team | Games | Home | Away | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI | 7 | 0 | 7 | @SF | @SF | @SF | @SF | @MIN | @MIN | @MIN |
| ATL | 6 | 3 | 3 | LAA | LAA | LAA | @CHC | @CHC | @CHC | |
| BAL | 7 | 3 | 4 | @TOR | @TOR | @TOR | @TOR | NYM | NYM | NYM |
| BOS | 6 | 3 | 3 | @SEA | @SEA | @SEA | TOR | TOR | TOR | |
| CHC | 7 | 7 | 0 | CIN | CIN | CIN | CIN | ATL | ATL | ATL |
| CHW | 6 | 0 | 6 | @TEX | @TEX | @TEX | @CLE | @CLE | @CLE | |
| CIN | 7 | 3 | 4 | @CHC | @CHC | @CHC | @CHC | WAS | WAS | WAS |
| CLE | 6 | 3 | 3 | @HOU | @HOU | @HOU | CHW | CHW | CHW | |
| COL | 6 | 3 | 3 | SD | SD | SD | @STL | @STL | @STL | |
| DET | 5 | 3 | 2 | @PIT | @PIT | TB | TB | TB | ||
| HOU | 7 | 3 | 4 | CLE | CLE | CLE | @NYY | @NYY | @NYY | @NYY |
| KC | 6 | 3 | 3 | NYM | NYM | NYM | @PHI | @PHI | @PHI | |
| LAA | 7 | 4 | 3 | @ATL | @ATL | @ATL | SEA | SEA | SEA | SEA |
| LAD | 6 | 3 | 3 | OAK | OAK | OAK | @SD | @SD | @SD | |
| MIA | 7 | 4 | 3 | PHI | PHI | PHI | PHI | @TEX | @TEX | @TEX |
| MIL | 7 | 4 | 3 | @WAS | @WAS | @WAS | PIT | PIT | PIT | PIT |
| MIN | 6 | 3 | 3 | @STL | @STL | @STL | ARI | ARI | ARI | |
| NYM | 6 | 0 | 6 | @KC | @KC | @KC | @BAL | @BAL | @BAL | |
| NYY | 7 | 7 | 0 | TB | TB | TB | HOU | HOU | HOU | HOU |
| OAK | 5 | 2 | 3 | @LAD | @LAD | @LAD | SF | SF | ||
| PHI | 7 | 3 | 4 | @MIA | @MIA | @MIA | @MIA | KC | KC | KC |
| PIT | 6 | 2 | 4 | DET | DET | @MIL | @MIL | @MIL | @MIL | |
| SD | 6 | 3 | 3 | @COL | @COL | @COL | LAD | LAD | LAD | |
| SEA | 7 | 3 | 4 | BOS | BOS | BOS | @LAA | @LAA | @LAA | @LAA |
| SF | 6 | 4 | 2 | ARI | ARI | ARI | ARI | @OAK | @OAK | |
| STL | 6 | 6 | 0 | MIN | MIN | MIN | COL | COL | COL | |
| TB | 6 | 0 | 6 | @NYY | @NYY | @NYY | @DET | @DET | @DET | |
| TEX | 6 | 6 | 0 | CHW | CHW | CHW | MIA | MIA | MIA | |
| TOR | 7 | 4 | 3 | BAL | BAL | BAL | BAL | @BOS | @BOS | @BOS |
| WAS | 6 | 3 | 3 | MIL | MIL | MIL | @CIN | @CIN | @CIN |
Teams to Target
Chicago Cubs
Since the All-Star Break, the Cubs have been an offensive juggernaut. They have scored 96 runs which rank as the best in the league. Their 20 home runs are the sixth most. The 20 stolen bases are the most in the league. The most surprising is the team's batting average. The Cubs have a team batting average of .304 which is not only the best in the league, but the only team batting average above .300.
The Cubs will play all seven games at home this week. Wrigley Field ranks in the top half of the league in Park Factor and ranks above average in all meaningful statistical fantasy categories when it comes to Park Factor.
The Cubs will face the Reds for four games this week. This is good news for the Cubs' hitters since the Reds rank as the fifth worst when it comes to team ERA, as they surrender almost five runs a game. The Reds have also given up a138 home runs this year which is the fifth worst in the league.
I don't think I have to continue any longer, you need to play your Cubs hitters this week.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays continue to be a staple as a team to target in this article, and that is for good reason. The Rays have scored 545 runs this year which is the fourth most. That equals over 5 runs a game, the Rays are one of ten teams to average over five runs a game.
The Rays do a good job of hitting for power and limiting the strikeouts. Ray's .444 team slugging percentage ranks as the fifth-best in the league. Combine that with their 23K% rate it is only a matter of time before the bats come back around.
The Rays have been struggling however, the slump is about to be busted. They will face off against the Yankees and Tigers. Both teams have struggled this season. The Tigers specifically have struggled more.
The Tigers rank as the 10th worst in team ERA and have surrendered 124 home runs this year which equates to 1.2 home runs a game.
Play your Rays hitters with confidence this week.
Team to Avoid
New York Yankees
The Yankees have had a rough 2023 so far. They have currently underachieved in the first 100 games. They are currently 8 games behind the first-place Orioles.
The Yankees have seven home games. However, Yankee Stadium is in the bottom half of the league in total Park Factor and bottom half of the league Park Factor for runs scored.
To make matters worse, they have to play four games against the Rays, who rank number one in the league in team ERA and second in the league in team WHIP. They have also surrendered the 3rd least amount of home runs.
The Yankees' 95 wRC+ is ranked in the bottom ten of the league, as they are ranked 22nd overall. Furthermore, their .230 team batting average ranks as the second worst in the league behind only the lowly Athletics.
It's safe to say that you should avoid the Yankees hitters this week.
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