The teams listed below have the most favorable overall hitting matchups, accounting for recent performance, strength of opponents and ballpark factors.
Yankees (MIN-1, BAL-3, PHI-3): OK, let's take the numbers from the more
recent seven-game homestand at the new Yankee Stadium. The Yankees and their opponents totaled 83 runs (11.9 per game), 140 hits (20.0 per) and 21 home runs (3.0 per). To put those into perspective, compare those with the per-game averages in the history of Coors Field: 12.6 runs, 21.7 hits, 2.8 home runs. But it's not just ballpark influences that make Yankees hitters strong choices; the six starting pitchers they're scheduled to face in the Orioles and Phillies series have a combined 6.02 ERA and 1.61 WHIP, and not one has an ERA under 4.81 or a WHIP better than 1.48. As five of those starters are right-handed, expect a big week from Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon, who have a combined 19 homers at home.
Reds (PHI-3, CLE-3): This offense might be off to a sluggish start, ranking 19th in the majors in both runs per game (4.6) and team OPS (.750), but anytime the Reds play an entire week at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park, I'm going to exploit their matchups. Philadelphia's Cole Hamels and Cleveland's Cliff Lee present challenges to this team, but the rest of the week features three opposing starters with ERAs of 6.45 or higher and WHIPs of 1.54 or greater (Joe Blanton, Jamie Moyer and Carl Pavano) and a rookie (David Huff). The Reds are coming off a 26-run outburst at Arizona and have scored 53 runs in their past seven games, and I see no reason that won't extend through the homestand.
Orioles (@NYY-3, @WAS-3): Quick quiz, which American League team gets the honor of drawing as its interleague opponent the National League team with the worst ERA (5.46), WHIP (1.64) and batting average allowed (.287)? That's right, it's the Orioles, who by the way also totaled 34 runs, 60 hits and eight home runs in their six games against the Yankees earlier in the season (all at Camden Yards). Don't be frightened by names like CC Sabathia and Joba Chamberlain on the list of projected opposing starters, because at new Yankee Stadium, anything goes; those two are 0-2 with a 6.14 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in five starts there this season. Then there's the matter of the Yankees' bullpen, ranked 27th in the majors in ERA (5.79) and 28th in OPS allowed (.839). Oh, and by the way, did I mention that the Orioles get to face the NL's worst staff during the weekend? I thought so.
Nationals (PIT-4, BAL-3): So I just trashed the Nationals' pitching staff, so what? That doesn't mean that weekend series can't be a set of slugfests, because if you switch the focus to the
Orioles' pitching staff, well, it ranks 12th (out of 14) in the American League in ERA (5.44), and dead last in both WHIP (1.57) and BAA (.297). That might be one ugly series, at least pitching-wise; for fantasy it's the kind of series we love to see from a hitting angle. Another factor in Washington's favor: Generally considered one of the game's worst teams, the Nationals actually rank 11th in baseball in runs scored per game (5.2) and fifth in team OPS (.809). And they're at home all week. Smells like a sleeper squad to me!
