The Schedule Planner: National League

by
August 7, 2018

With just under two months left in the season, playing to the schedule is a big factor in fantasy baseball so I ran some numbers to identify the best and worst offenses by handedness and perhaps this can offer some guidance for you down the stretch when selecting starters. I looked at wOBA for the year, last 30 days, and last 14 days, then weighted the three, and ranked the teams.

The recent samples are smaller and thus more volatile, but they also can reflect the changing dynamics of a team via injuries or trades. That said, I still weighted the season mark the most. This is just focused on handedness so be mindful of potential park factors that could also play a role. It’s sorted by division and record and then the scheduled teams are listed in order starting with Wednesday, August 8th. Today we’ve got the Senior Circuit:

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (63-49)

Phillies
vL vR
at ARI x2 13 18
at SD x3 18 30
BOS x2 14 2
NYM x5 30 26
at WAS x3 8 8
at TOR x3 17 7
WAS x3 8 8
CHC x3 11 5
at MIA x3 29 28
at NYM x3 30 26
WAS x3 8 8
MIA x3 29 28
NYM x3 30 26
at ATL x4 12 20
at COL x4 1 21
ATL x3 12 20

ATLANTA BRAVES (60-49)

Braves
vL vR
at WAS x2 8 8
MIL x3 15 15
MIA x4 29 28
COL x4 1 21
at PIT x3 16 12
at MIA x4 29 28
TB x2 4 22
CHC x1 11 5
PIT x3 16 12
BOS x3 14 2
at ARI x4 13 18
at SF x3 20 27
WAS x3 8 8
STL x3 6 24
PHI x4 19 17
at NYM x3 30 26
at PHI x3 19 17

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (58-54)

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Nationals
vL vR
ATL x2 12 20
at CHC x3 11 5
at STL x4 6 24
MIA x3 29 28
PHI x3 19 17
at NYM x3 30 26
at PHI x3 19 17
MIL x3 15 15
STL x3 6 24
CHC x4 11 5
at PHI x3 19 17
at ATL x3 12 20
at MIA x2 29 28
NYM x3 30 26
MIA x3 29 28
at COL x3 1 21

NEW YORK METS (46-64)

Mets
vL vR
CIN x1 9 13
at MIA x3 29 28
at NYY x1 2 10
at BAL x2 22 16
at PHI x5 19 17
SF x4 20 27
WAS x3 8 8
at CHC x3 11 5
at SF x3 20 27
at LAD x3 27 3
PHI x3 19 17
MIA x4 29 28
at BOS x3 14 2
at PHI x3 19 17
at WAS x4 8 8
ATL x3 12 20
MIA x3 29 28

MIAMI MARLINS (47-67)

Marlins
vL vR
STL x1 6 24
NYM x3 30 26
at ATL x4 12 20
WAS x3 8 8
NYY x2 2 10
ATL x4 12 20
at BOS x2 14 2
TOR x3 17 7
PHI x3 19 17
at PIT x3 16 12
at NYM x4 30 26
at PHI x3 19 17
WAS x2 8 8
CIN x4 9 13
at WAS x3 8 8
at NYM x3 30 26

CHICAGO CUBS (65-47)

Cubs
vL vR
at KC x1 26 25
WAS x3 8 8
MIL x2 15 15
at PIT x4 16 12
at DET x2 21 29
CIN x4 9 13
NYM x3 30 26
at ATL x1 12 20
at PHI x3 19 17
at MIL x3 15 15
at WAS x4 8 8
MIL x3 15 15
CIN x3 9 13
at ARI x3 13 18
at CWS x3 24 19
PIT x4 16 12
STL x3 6 24

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (65-50)

Brewers
vL vR
SD x2 18 30
at ATL x3 12 20
at CHC x2 11 5
at STL x3 6 24
CIN x3 9 13
PIT x3 16 12
at CIN x3 9 13
at WAS x3 8 8
CHC x3 11 5
SF x3 20 27
at CHC x3 11 5
PIT x3 16 12
CIN x3 9 13
at PIT x3 16 12
at STL x3 6 24
DET x3 21 29

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (58-55)

Cardinals
vL vR
at MIA x1 29 28
at KC x3 26 25
WAS x4 8 8
MIL x3 15 15
at LAD x3 27 3
at COL x3 1 21
PIT x3 16 12
CIN x3 9 13
at WAS x3 8 8
at DET x3 21 29
PIT x3 16 12
LAD x4 27 3
at ATL x3 12 20
SF x3 20 27
MIL x3 15 15
at CHC x3 11 5

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (57-56)

Pirates
vL vR
at COL x1 1 21
at SF x4 20 27
at MIN x2 25 9
CHC x4 11 5
ATL x3 12 20
at MIL x3 15 15
at STL x3 6 24
at ATL x3 12 20
CIN x3 9 13
MIA x3 29 28
at STL x3 6 24
at MIL x3 15 15
KC x3 26 25
MIL x3 15 15
at CHC x4 11 5
at CIN x3 9 13

CINCINNATI REDS (49-64)

Reds
vL vR
at NYM x1 30 26
ARI x3 13 18
CLE x3 3 4
SF x3 20 27
at MIL x3 15 15
at CHC x4 11 5
MIL x3 15 15
at STL x3 6 24
at PIT x3 16 12
SD x4 18 30
LAD x3 27 3
at CHC x3 11 5
at MIL x3 15 15
at MIA x4 29 28
KC x2 26 25
PIT x3 16 12

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (63-51)

Diamondbacks
vL vR
PHI x1 19 17
at CIN x3 9 13
at TEX x2 5 11
at SD x4 18 30
LAA x2 28 1
SEA x3 23 23
at SF x3 20 27
at LAD x4 27 3
SD x2 18 30
ATL x4 12 20
at COL x4 1 21
at HOU x3 7 14
CHC x3 11 5
COL x3 1 21
LAD x3 27 3
at SD x3 18 30

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (62-51)

Dodgers
vL vR
at OAK x1 10 6
at COL x4 1 21
SF x3 20 27
at SEA x3 23 23
STL x3 6 24
SD x3 18 30
at TEX x2 5 11
ARI x4 13 18
NYM x3 30 26
at COL x3 1 21
at CIN x3 9 13
at STL x4 6 24
COL x3 1 21
SD x3 18 30
at ARI x3 13 18
at SF x3 20 27

COLORADO ROCKIES (60-52)

Rockies
vL vR
PIT x1 16 12
LAD x4 27 3
at HOU x2 7 14
at ATL x4 12 20
SD x3 18 30
STL x3 6 24
at LAA x2 28 1
at SD x4 18 30
SF x3 20 27
LAD x3 27 3
ARI x4 13 18
at SF x3 20 27
at LAD x3 27 3
at ARI x3 13 18
PHI x4 19 17
WAS x3 8 8

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (57-57)

Giants
vL vR
PIT x4 16 12
at LAD x3 27 3
at CIN x3 9 13
at NYM x4 30 26
TEX x3 5 11
ARI x3 13 18
NYM x3 30 26
at COL x3 1 21
at MIL x3 15 15
ATL x3 12 20
COL x3 1 21
at SD x3 18 30
at STL x3 6 24
SD x3 18 30
LAD x3 27 3

SAN DIEGO PADRES (44-70)

Padres
vL vR
at MIL x2 15 15
PHI x3 19 17
LAA x3 28 1
ARI x4 13 18
at COL x3 1 21
at LAD x3 27 3
SEA x2 23 23
COL x4 1 21
at ARI x2 13 18
at CIN x4 9 11
at SEA x2 23 23
TEX x3 5 11
SF x3 20 27
at LAD x3 27 3
at SF x3 20 27
ARI x3 13 18

Commenter bac640 took it a step further with the following:

Thanks so much for that, Bruce!!





 

Paul is the Editor of Rotographs and Content Director for OOTP Perfect Team. Follow Paul on Twitter @sporer and on Twitch at sporer.

20 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
John W.
8 years ago

this is great, thanks!

1
AnonMember since 2025
8 years ago

Appreciate the effort – some great info. However, let me be the 1st to say that these charts could really, really, really do without the “st”s, “rd”s and “th”s next to the numbers, just in case you are doing it for the AL as well.

4
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
8 years ago
Reply to  Anon

Wait, how come? And I am going to do the AL

0
AnonMember since 2025
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

It would be a lot easier to scan and make sense of without having to parse 16th from 16.

IMHO

1
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
8 years ago
Reply to  Anon

Not trying to be antagonistic, but what’s the difference?

0
HappyFunBallMember since 2019
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Very, very, VERY minor … but it is easier to internalize just the number. The “th” immediately following slows the understanding by a moment and makes the visual ranking a bit tougher to comprehend on a scan. 1, 22, 31 are numbers and immediately intuitive to place. 1st, 22nd, etc … scan as words. So it’s different. (Maybe only for some of us)

2
Joe Mannix
8 years ago
Reply to  Anon

I agree 100% with this.

1
Joe Mannix
8 years ago
Reply to  Joe Mannix

Forgot to mention: This is great information, Paul. Thank you.

0
Ryan BrockMember since 2025
8 years ago

This is for pitchers..? Hitters? (I see that the ranks are for offenses vLHP/vRHP, but I’m not sure how you’ve ranked them overall?)

-1
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
8 years ago
Reply to  Ryan Brock

It’s the very first thing I wrote and I even bolded some of it — With just under two months left in the season, playing to the schedule is a big factor in fantasy baseball so I ran some numbers to identify the best and worst offenses by handedness and perhaps this can offer some guidance for you down the stretch when selecting starters.

-3
Ryan BrockMember since 2025
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Um, okay? So the ones at the top of the list are the best offenses? Or the teams with the best pitching matchups?

0
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
8 years ago
Reply to  Ryan Brock

I don’t understand what you’re missing. It’s the team’s schedule in order with the opponent’s wOBA v. that handedness, what’s unclear?

-2
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Also from the open:
It’s sorted by division and record and then the scheduled teams are listed in order starting with Wednesday, August 8th. Today we’ve got the Senior Circuit.

-1
Ryan BrockMember since 2025
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Read thru it twice more and it makes sense now. Guess I found the wording a bit dense, thought you had said you were ranking the teams by overall RoS opponent strength as well. It did seem strange that you also said they were ordered by division… Excuse me for asking for clarification.

7
Will H.
8 years ago
Reply to  Ryan Brock

I would have said “sorry if it wasn’t clear, what I meant was…”

3
jwa05001
8 years ago

Paul, I work in retail, so I deal with a good mix of the general population on a daily basis. It’s great because I meet all kinds of people!

However, experience with that has taught me things do need to be spelled out pretty clearly.

I see some negative comments, which I think kind of boil down to you aren’t telling people exactly what to do with this info. For example, your first sentence says this can be useful when selecting starters.

I know what you mean, but some language like “these are the best offenses against righties and the best against lefties and vice versa. Use a lefty pitcher against this offense, and stack this offense against a right handed pitcher when able” might elimate some confusion.

That was your obvious point to some ppl, but probably was missed by some. Good article sir, and good info. Much appreciated!

3
AshmanMember since 2020
8 years ago
Reply to  jwa05001

Yea, this is awesome research. AND, I could benefit from this being 1-2 steps more actionable. It’s hard to parse through and figure out what I should look out for in my pitcher rostering ROS.

1
bac640Member since 2016
8 years ago

I manipulated the data a bit to try to provide easier insight… here is total # of games for each team and the average wOBA rank for their opponents by handedness. So as an example LAD LH pitchers (e.g., Kershaw, Wood) have worst matchups (12th ranked) while LAD RH (e.g.. Maeda) have among the best (22nd ranked). I’d color coded in Excel so it’d pop but couldn’t figure out how to embed here. Hope this helps.

TM G vL VR
ARI 47 15 17
ATL 52 16 18
CHC 49 15 16
CIN 48 16 16
COL 49 18 17
LAD 48 12 22
MIA 47 16 16
MIL 46 12 16
NYM 51 18 17
PHI 50 17 18
PIT 48 14 17
SD 47 15 16
SF 47 16 18
STL 48 16 14
WAS 48 17 20

1
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
8 years ago
Reply to  bac640

Hit me up on Twitter (@sporer) and I’ll add your chart with credit to the piece if you’d like.

0
bac640Member since 2016
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Will do. For my home league, which is H2H, I take this to the next level, doing this same analysis for each week of my two week playoff. Also add K%-BB% to that analysis

0