March 31, 2014

Interleague Report

Week One

by Jeff Quinton

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I am excited to introduce our weekly fantasy baseball Interleague Report. With interleague play now being year-round, we can benefit from keeping tabs on teams that have played or will be playing games in opposing leagues. The plan is to give you helpful info whether it relates to daily or weekly lineups, waiver or FAAB pickups, or changes in positional eligibility. The Interleague Report will cover last week, this week, and the following week.

Last Week

(none)

This Week

AL at NL: None

NL at AL:

• With Darin Ruf on the disabled list, John Mayberry figures to be added to the lineup to share DH and first-base duties with Ryan Howard.
• The Brewers can go in many different directions with the DH spot. They can give Jonathan Lucroy a rest and put in Martin Maldanado, bat both sides of their first-base platoon in Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay, DH Khris Davis and get a defensive upgrade with Jordan Schafer in right field, or bat both Rickie Weeks and Scooter Gennett. My guess is that Lucroy DHs against Lester and that Schafer gets to play right field against the righties.

Next Week

AL at NL:

• The big one here is Victor Martinez. We will have to monitor the situation, but I do not think he plays all five games at catcher. I think he definitely catches against the lone lefty (Kershaw), but my guess is that he gets one or two other starts behind the dish.
• Dunn might get a start at first against one of the righties, but it could be just pinch-hitting duties for the Big Donkey and Konerko.
• Who knows what Joe Maddon’s lineup will look like next week? I do not, but I would guess Matt Joyce and David DeJesus each get an outfield start against a righty, with Ben Zobrist moving to the outfield and Logan Forsythe getting a start at second against Tony Cingrani.

NL at AL:

• I think Yasmani Grandal gets two or three of the starts at DH, but if not, Tommy Medica and Kyle Blanks are the best options for the Padres, who are currently facing injuries to Carlos Quentin and Cameron Maybin.
• The DH gives the Mets the opportunity to get Juan Lagares’ excellent defense in center field, moving one of the Youngs or Curtis Granderson to DH. The Mets could also use this as an opportunity to bat both Ike Davis and Lucas Duda. I think they do so against the lone righty they will face, but will keep one on the bench against the two lefties.

Jeff Quinton is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @jjq01
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