Keep Moving Forward

Weekly Starting Pitcher Planner

Rocky Balboa said it best: “Life isn’t about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.”

The same is true of fantasy baseball. This hobby asks us to make decisions constantly over a 6-7 month season. Big ones, small ones, time-pressured ones, ones we’ll forget by Tuesday, almost always with incomplete information. We’re all going to be wrong. A lot.

The trap is that being right feels great and being wrong hurts, so we start flinching from the next decision.

Even your league leader isn’t feeling like they nailed everything. They probably regret dropping a young hitter right before he broke out. Or a closer spec right before the incumbent imploded.

Fantasy baseball isn’t about being right on every decision you make. There are four and a half months left. It’s about showing up anyway, all summer long, regardless of how many times you’ve been knocked down by an injury or a FAAB move gone wrong.

That’s how winning is done.

---

Starting Pitchers

Arizona Diamondbacks — Michael Soroka is the best start of the week for this rotation with a home matchup against the Rockies. Ryne Nelson is where I’d turn next with a two-step at home vs. the Giants and Rockies. Merrill Kelly is coming off a complete game in Coors, but his season-long numbers are rough. There are worse streamers than Zac Gallen (vs. SF, COL) and Eduardo Rodriguez (vs. COL).

Athletics — JT Ginn (at LAA, at SD) and Aaron Civale (at LAA) both have ERAs under 3, but skepticism is warranted. Jacob Lopez (at LAA, at SD) is who I’d most shy away from in this rotation, while Jeffrey Springs (at SD) and Luis Severino (at LAA) are fine streamers in deeper formats.

Atlanta Braves — Chris Sale and Spencer Strider draw a plus matchup in Miami, while Bryce Elder remains a must-start at home vs. Washington. JR Ritchie is on the two-step streaming radar at Miami and against the Nationals. Even Martín Pérez (at MIA) and Grant Holmes (vs. WSH) are in play as this week’s pool of non-terrible streamers looks deep.

Baltimore Orioles — Shane Baz returns to the Trop alongside Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers (who also gets a second start vs. DET). We’re approaching sink-or-swim for Baz, while Chris Bassitt and Brandon Young are off the fantasy radar.

Boston Red Sox — Firing up everyone in this rotation besides Brayan Bello, who has pitched better when behind an opener but didn’t get one in Atlanta.

Chicago Cubs — Ben Brown is the big story with a home matchup against the Brewers. Shota Imanaga gets two starts against Milwaukee and Houston. Edward Cabrera (vs. MIL) is the other SP to trust.

Chicago White Sox — Davis Martin has simply been terrific and gets a great matchup out in San Francisco. Noah Schultz draws starts in Seattle and SF, so use him if you roster him. I’d be more interested in streaming Grant Taylor in his multi-inning relief role than the rest of this rotation, and even over Schultz.

Cincinnati Reds — Chase Burns (at PHI) is the only confident start. Nick Lodolo (at PHI, vs. STL) and Andrew Abbott (at PHI) are rostered everywhere, but I’d prefer better options in weekly lineup formats.

Cleveland Guardians — Entire rotation is usable, headlined by Parker Messick’s two-step in Detroit and Philadelphia. Slade Cecconi is scheduled for the same pair of matchups.

Colorado Rockies — Not interested in this rotation with Chase Dollander (elbow) sidelined.

Detroit Tigers — Jack Flaherty (60 strike%) should be dropped. Framber and Casey Mize are starts. Keider Montero is a volume-based two-step against Cleveland and at Baltimore.

Houston Astros — Difficult rotation to trust at all. Tatsuya Imai should be benched. Mike Burrows (at MIN) and Spencer Arrighetti (at CHC) are in play, but caution is warranted. Peter Lambert pitches in Wrigley, but I’d push for better options.

Kansas City Royals — All eyes on whether Cole Ragans returns this weekend against the Mariners. Seth Lugo (vs. BOS, vs. SEA) gets two starts, while Kris Bubic and Michael Wacha are both starts at home against the Red Sox.

Los Angeles Angels — Reid Detmers still hasn’t taken the leap I’ve been hoping for, but he’s a start with two home matchups on tap against the A’s and Rangers. Grayson Rodriguez is a bench-and-see against Texas.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Use them all, including Roki Sasaki. Also keeping eyes on River Ryan in the minors.

Miami Marlins — Eury Pérez continues to frustrate, but I’m sticking with him at home against the Mets. Sandy Alcantara draws the Braves, but you’re rolling him out there. Max Meyer gets two home starts vs. the Braves and Mets. Prefer to skip Braxton Garrett (vs. ATL, vs. NYM) and Janson Junk (vs. ATL) this week.

Milwaukee Brewers — Logan Henderson draws the Dodgers, but he’s a confident start due to his skills. Keep using Kyle Harrison, who gets the Cubs in Wrigley.

Minnesota Twins — Connor Prielipp is a risk/reward start in Boston. I’d prefer to bench Bailey Ober in the same matchup. The same goes for Zebby Matthews at home against the Astros. He looked great against a reeling Miami offense, but I want to see at least one more positive big league outing before considering him.

New York Mets — Christian Scott gets upgraded from a borderline option given his two-step in Washington and Miami. McLean and Peralta are the only others I’d roll with.

New York Yankees — Start them all other than Elmer Rodríguez. Weathers and Warren each get two turns.

Philadelphia Phillies — Andrew Painter has a tempting two-step against the Reds and Guardians, but extreme caution is warranted. The same applies to Aaron Nola at home vs. Cincinnati.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Skenes, Ashcraft, and Keller are starts. Jared Jones should have a rotation spot when he comes back from his rehab assignment, but whether he replaces Bubba Chandler or Carmen Mlodzinski will be interesting. Make sure Jones is rostered everywhere.

San Diego Padres — Trusting Randy Vásquez at home against the Dodgers (gulp). Walker Buehler and Lucas Giolito are desperation home streamers against the A’s.

San Francisco Giants — Logan Webb (knee) might be back when first eligible, so keep an eye out for news on Trevor McDonald. Robbie Ray (at ARI, vs. CWS) and Landen Roupp (at ARI) are starts.

Seattle Mariners — Use Emerson Hancock at home against the White Sox. Note Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller are piggybacking in some order on Tuesday against the White Sox.

St. Louis Cardinals — Michael McGreevy and Dustin May are on the deeper streaming radar at home vs. Pittsburgh.

Tampa Bay Rays — Griffin Jax is a start at home against Baltimore as he continues his transition to the rotation. Nick Martinez has been great, but a Friday night trip to Yankee Stadium gives me pause if I had better options. Stick with McClanahan (vs. BAL, at NYY) and Drew Rasmussen (at NYY).

Texas Rangers — MacKenzie Gore and Kumar Rocker both pitch in Coors. Pass. Jack Leiter is a tougher call with the same matchup. deGrom and Eovaldi are obvious starts at LAA.

Toronto Blue Jays — Cease, Gausman, Yesavage are the only starts.

Washington Nationals — Regression finally hit Foster Griffin last week. I’m nervous with a possible two-step against the Mets and at Atlanta. Cade Cavalli is a risk/reward start at home vs. the Mets.

---