Fantasy Baseball: Avoid putting your pitchers in danger against these strong MLB offenses

· Yahoo Sports

Although we are always searching for a big game, sometimes avoiding disaster is the biggest key to winning a fantasy baseball league. This is especially the case in category leagues, as a disastrous outing from a starting pitcher can ruin an entire team’s ratios for the current scoring period.

Visit biznow.biz for more information.

Wise managers will avoid four teams with pitchers who are anything less than excellent. There are also a few matchups that are problematic in specific situations.

Go here for offenses to stream pitchers against

Let’s dive in.

The highest-scoring team in baseball is also the most surprising member of the Big 4 offenses of 2026. After all, the Nats finished 20th in runs scored last year and didn’t add any significant hitters over the offseason. Instead, they overhauled their front office and coaching staff over the winter, and the fresh approach has worked wonders with youngsters James Wood and CJ Abrams, who are enjoying breakout seasons.

The Nats have slightly outperformed their run expectancy, as other key statistics such as OPS, wRC+ and wOBA place them in the range of fourth or fifth, but they have still cemented their status as an offense to avoid. They also have more bust potential than the other clubs, as Wood and Abrams are the only players among the seven Nats with at least 150 at-bats to post an OPS over .800. Still, for now, Washington is to be avoided.

After a pair of disappointing seasons, a deep group of Atlanta hitters has finally recovered their status as one of baseball’s best lineups. Sure, they haven’t fully returned to their 2023 stardom, when they scored 41 more runs than the second-place team, but this remains a deep, talented group that could lead the majors in runs scored. The best news is that they are achieving success without major contributions from Ronald Acuña Jr., who has not yet shown his best form (.821 OPS) but will likely return to superstar status this summer.

Matt Olson is having a terrific season, as is Michael Harris II, who has bounced back from two down years. Ozzie Albies has been solid, and Drake Baldwin was the team’s best hitter until suffering an oblique injury that will sideline him for most of June. Atlanta is especially effective against righties and on the road.

If there is one offense to avoid, it’s the group on the defending World Series Champions. The Dodgers currently rank third in runs scored but lead the majors in OPS (.787) by a notable margin. They have been excellent at their hitter-friendly home park but even better on the road, where they have logged a league-leading .800 OPS. And they have been equally punishing against righties and southpaws.

It’s the depth of this group that makes it special, as five members have posted an OPS of .785 or better over at least 175 at-bats. They could be even better during the summer, as Kyle Tucker (.722 OPS) has been a major disappointment, and Shohei Ohtani (.909 OPS) has not met his vast power potential. There is also upside in Mookie Betts, who has missed time due to injury and is having his worst season (.661 OPS).

The highest-scoring offense from 2025 is on pace to lead the American League in runs for the third straight season. The Yankees are also baseball’s most powerful team (86 homers). They are especially potent at home, where they have logged an .824 OPS that is 27 points higher than the home mark of any other team.

The lineup revolves around Aaron Judge, who has substantial room for improvement on a .907 OPS that is roughly 200 points lower than his mark from each of the previous two seasons. Ben Rice has been the club’s best hitter (1.056 OPS), and Paul Goldschmidt (.850 OPS) is enjoying a bounce-back year. Cody Bellinger is having another excellent season (.855 OPS), and the lineup could improve if Trent Grisham (.704 OPS) and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (.700 OPS) can rediscover their 2025 forms.

Fantasy managers should be careful when using left-handers against the D-backs, as the club ranks second in baseball with a .795 OPS in those matchups. Lefty superstar Corbin Carroll is having an outstanding season against same-sided hurlers, making him one of three Arizona hitters, along with Ryan Waldschmidt and Ildemaro Vargas, who have logged an OPS over 1.000 in those matchups. Switch-hitter Ketel Marte and righties Nolan Arenado and Gabriel Moreno are effective against southpaws as well.

The White Sox have been excellent (.780 OPS) against left-handers this year, and I’ll leave it to individual fantasy managers to determine whether their success is sustainable. Although he isn’t a lefty killer, losing Munetaka Murakami for a couple of weeks with a hamstring strain significantly weakens their lineup.

Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournament

Right-handed hitters Miguel Vargas and Chase Meidroth have been predictably excellent against lefties, and lefty Colton Montgomery has fared well, too. Managers can be careful with left-handers against this group but do not have to use the same caution as with other teams in this article.

This one doesn’t make sense, but I will report it anyway. The Pirates rank second in baseball in OPS at home and 27th on the road. They were also much better at home last season. Bryan Reynolds (1.004 OPS) has been on fire at PNC Park, making him one of six Pittsburgh regulars with a home OPS over .770.

The Bucs offensive prowess at home flies in the face of long-standing park factors that paint PNC as a pitcher-friendly venue that is particularly hard on power hitters. As with the data on the White Sox versus lefties, I would be aware of the Pirates’ success at home while not being obsessed with it.

So far, the Athletics rank fifth in OPS, third in wOBA and ninth in wRC+ at home. Those solid marks figure to rise in the coming weeks, as the weather heats up and hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park becomes even more of a launching pad. The addition of Carlos Cortes gives the Athletics another talented young hitter to go along with the likes of superstars Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers.

If veteran Brent Rooker (.646 OPS) gets on track, this lineup will be one to avoid at home during the summer.

Read full story at source