We consistently want to attack Rockies, Nationals, Angels, White Sox, Cardinals and Athletics pitchers, given they have some of the worst underlying metrics. The White Sox and Nationals have been fortunate in allowing a lower BABIP in 2026. Besides the Angels’ pitchers allowing a lower barrel rate, most of these teams with fantasy-friendly hitter matchups suggest we want to target them and their starting pitchers.
Easiest pitching matchups in Week 9. (Photo by Corbin Young/Yahoo Sports)
On the flip side, we’ve regularly found the Dodgers, Brewers, Phillies, Yankees, Padres, Astros and Rays ranking as the top pitching teams. That suggests opposing offenses will struggle against these teams. The red flags arise via the Astros’ K-BB%, WHIP and other luck factors. Meanwhile, the Phillies have been mentioned a few times, given they allow a brutal WHIP, BABIP and strand rate.
Toughest pitching matchups in Week 9. (Photo by Corbin Young/Yahoo Sports)
Almost half the league will play seven games in Week 9, so volume should be favorable across the board, based on the matchups.
Teams With Seven Games in Week 9
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Diamondbacks (3 vs. SF, 4 vs. COL)
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The Diamondbacks face five out of seven right-handed starting pitchers, including one lefty in each series.
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Athletics (4 at LAA, 3 at SDP)
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There are six out of seven right-handed starting pitchers on the slate for the Athletics, including several beatable options (Walbert Ureña, Reid Detmers, Jack Kochanowicz, Lucas Giolito and Walker Buehler).
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Braves (4 at MIA, 3 vs. WSH)
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The Braves have five out of seven right-handed starting pitchers projected for Week 9. We should see a good offensive week for the Braves’ hitters.
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Guardians (4 at DET, 3 at PHI)
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The Guardians project to face five right-handed starters in Week 9. Framber Valdez and Cristopher Sánchez are the only lefties on the slate for the Guardians, meaning we’ll see plenty of groundballs against them.
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Rockies (3 vs. TEX, 4 at ARI)
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There are five of seven righties on the slate for the Rockies’ hitters.
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Tigers (4 vs. CLE, 3 at BAL)
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The Tigers will face five right-handed starting pitchers in Week 9. Parker Messick and Trevor Rogers project to face the Tigers, both being solid pitchers.
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Angels (4 vs. ATH, 3 vs. TEX)
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The Angels are another team with five right-handed starters on the projected grid. Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi are the best pitchers they’ll face in Week 9.
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Marlins (4 vs. ATL, 3 vs. NYM)
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The Marlins will face two lefties to begin the week in the series against the Braves (Martín Pérez and Chris Sale). It could be a nice week to stream pitchers against the Marlins’ hitters with all seven games at home.
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Mets (4 at WSH, 3 at MIA)
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The Mets have been one of the worst offenses in 2026, last in wRC+ (85) on the season, tying them with the Red Sox. However, the Mets’ hitters have been slightly better in May, with a 93 wRC+. This will be a good week to stream Mets’ hitters, especially against the Nationals and their weak starting pitchers. The Mets project to face five right-handed starting pitchers in Week 9.
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Yankees (4 vs. TOR, 3 vs. TB)
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There will likely be fireworks on offense for the Yankees’ lineup, as they project to face Patrick Corbin, Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage and Spencer Miles (operated as an opener). However, the latter half of the week will feature Drew Rasmussen, Nick Martinez and Shane McClanahan.
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Blue Jays (4 at NYY, 3 vs. PIT)
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The Blue Jays project to face six right-handed starting pitchers in Week 9. Gerrit Cole expects to return in their series against the Yankees. It looks like a good offensive week for the Blue Jays’ hitters, with an elite pitcher in each series (Cam Schlittler and Paul Skenes). Yohendrick Piñango, Jesús Sánchez and Andrés Giménez look like the biggest beneficiaries as strong-side platoon options.
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Nationals (4 vs. NYM, 3 at ATL)
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It looks like an offensive-friendly week for the Nationals’ hitters, with Christian Scott, Nolan McLean and Bryce Elder being their top projected matchups. That’s six of seven right-handed starting pitchers projected to face the Nationals in Week 9.
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Shallow- and Medium-Size League Waiver Pickups
Luis García Jr., Nationals (44% Rostered)
With the Nationals facing six right-handed starting pitchers, it should be a good week for Luis García Jr. He started in five games against left-handed starting pitchers out of 15 games. García has shown strong contact skills, with an 84.8% contact rate, around 10 percentage points above the league norm. That helps García have a high floor, though he can be aggressive, given his 42.6% chase rate and 55.6% swing rate. For context, García’s chase and swing rates sit 8-9 percentage points higher than the league average.
García’s bat speed (73.2 mph) and barrel rate per plate appearance (5.7%) have been slightly above average, both being similar to recent seasons. After having a 21% stolen base opportunity rate in 2024 and 18% in 2025, García’s dropped to 10% in 2026. It’s the first season for manager Blake Butera, though the Nationals have ranked fifth in stolen bases, mainly from Nasim Nuñez, CJ Abrams and James Wood. That’s notable because García might not be much of a stolen base asset in 2026.
Volume should be in García’s favor as a source of batting average and some power while he hits in the top third of the Nationals’ lineup.
Ezequiel Duran, Rangers (30% Rostered)
Ezequiel Duran has been earning more playing time, partly because he has been hitting well recently and Josh Smith has been on the injured list since early May. Since May 5, Duran has a .261 BA, two HRs and one stolen base. Duran’s .333 BABIP has been fueling his batting average spike, so he has been slightly fortunate based on the career averages.
We’ve seen slight fluctuations in Duran’s profile, including more walks and better bat speed. That’s evident by Duran’s career-best 9.3% walk rate, mainly from being more patient via his career-low chase rate (33.6%) and swing rate (46.3%). Furthermore, Duran’s 73.2 mph bat speed is slightly above his career average (72.6 mph). However, Duran’s heavy groundball rate (46.5%) hinders his barrel rate per plate appearance to 4% in 2026.
The Rangers play three games in Colorado and three in Los Angeles against the Angels in Week 9. Duran profiles as a compiler, though we’ll want to ride the production as a multi-position-eligible player, who can be valuable in shallower formats with daily moves.
Deep-League Waiver Pickups (Under 20% Rostered)
Henry Bolte, Athletics (18% Rostered)
We had Carlos Cortes here, but the Athletics called up outfielder Henry Bolte, who seems to have stolen playing time. Since Lawrence Butler has been struggling at the plate, it was logical for him to lose playing time over Cortes, but the Athletics may value Butler’s defense over Cortes.
Bolte has the tools we dream about, with 80-grade speed and above-average power, which we’ve seen in the small sample. He boasts a 77.5 mph bat speed and 93.9 mph average exit velocity, though groundballs (54.5%) will impact the power potential.
Take a flyer on Bolte — because it could hit big.
Zack Gelof, Athletics (17% Rostered)
After sporadic playing time in April, Zack Gelof has been playing nearly every day in May. Gelof provided power and speed in the past, which we’re seeing again in 2026. The main skill change involves Gelof making more contact, with a career-best 74.8% contact rate in 2026. That coincides with Gelof’s career-low chase (19.7%) and swing rate (47.2%). Usually, we don’t see hitters improve their plate discipline. However, if Gelof maintains his career-high contact rate, we will have a fantasy-viable hitter in the batting average and OBP categories.
Zack Gelof’s rolling contact rates. (Photo by Corbin Young/FanGraphs)
Besides Gelof making more contact, his bat speed increased to 73.7 mph, up over two mph from his career average. Furthermore, Gelof maintained his pull-heavy (50%), flyball (42.9%) approach, with the pull rate being three points above his career norm. That should continue translating into more home runs.
Target Gelof for power and some speed in Week 9.
Carson Benge, Mets (19% Rostered)
The Mets have five significant hitters on the injured list, including Francisco Lindor, Luis Robert Jr., Jorge Polanco, Ronny Mauricio and Francisco Alvarez. In case you missed it, Carson Benge has been hitting leadoff regularly over the past week. After Benge sat against eight out of nine left-handed starting pitchers, he has played against three since May 10, giving him regular playing time atop of the Mets’ lineup.
Benge shows strong plate discipline, with an 81.9% contact rate, a 27.7% chase rate and an 8.7% swinging-strike rate. Though he has average power, evidenced by his 71.3 mph bat speed and 4.7% barrel rate per plate appearance, target him for stolen bases. Benge has an 85th-percentile Sprint Speed, strong defensive metrics and a 24% stolen-base opportunity rate (converting 88% of his chances).
That suggests Benge will run often, making him a waiver wire pickup for speed and volume, especially since he seems to be earning regular plate appearances at leadoff.
Austin Martin, Twins (8% Rostered)
Byron Buxton has missed the past few games with a hip issue. That means Austin Martin was moved into the leadoff spot. Martin has been playing daily since May 10, after having sporadic playing time. He can be valuable in deeper OBP, batting average and points leagues. That’s mainly evident via his career-best 16.2% walk rate and .372 BABIP fueling the batting average, though he often had higher BABIPs. Martin lacks power, but he boasts elite plate discipline, evidenced by his 84.7% contact rate and 15.5% chase rate. For context, Martin’s chase rate ranks second-best among hitters with 100 plate appearances, behind Taylor Ward and ahead of Trent Grisham.
The matchups for the Twins look juicy, facing Tatsuya Imai, Lance McCullers Jr. and Mike Burrows for the Astros. Then the Twins project to face Payton Tolle, Brayan Bello and Sonny Gray. Target Martin for volume in the leadoff spot if Buxton continues to miss time, particularly for batting average and OBP.
