This article is part of our The Z Files series.
| TEAM | H | A | R | L | 9/8-9/11 | 9/12-9/14 | 9/15-9/18 | 9/19-9/21 | 9/22-9/25 | 9/26-9/28 | 9/29-10/2 |
| ARI | 13 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 3 vs SF | 3 vs COL | 4 vs LAD | 3 at SD | 3 at BAL | 4 at WAS | 3 vs SD |
| ATL | 15 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3 vs NYM | 3 vs MIA | 3 vs WAS | 3 at NYM | 4 at MIA | 3 vs PHI | 3 vs DET |
| BAL | 11 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 3 at DET | 3 at BOS | 4 vs TB | 4 vs BOS | 3 vs ARI | 3 at TOR | 3 at NYY |
| BOS | 10 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 3 at TOR | 3 vs BAL | 4 vs NYY | 4 at BAL | 3 at TB | 3 at NYY | 3 vs TOR |
| CHC | 10 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 3 at HOU | 3 at STL | 4 vs MIL | 3 vs CIN | 3 vs STL | 4 |
| TEAM | H | A | R | L | 9/8-9/11 | 9/12-9/14 | 9/15-9/18 | 9/19-9/21 | 9/22-9/25 | 9/26-9/28 | 9/29-10/2 |
| ARI | 13 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 3 vs SF | 3 vs COL | 4 vs LAD | 3 at SD | 3 at BAL | 4 at WAS | 3 vs SD |
| ATL | 15 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3 vs NYM | 3 vs MIA | 3 vs WAS | 3 at NYM | 4 at MIA | 3 vs PHI | 3 vs DET |
| BAL | 11 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 3 at DET | 3 at BOS | 4 vs TB | 4 vs BOS | 3 vs ARI | 3 at TOR | 3 at NYY |
| BOS | 10 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 3 at TOR | 3 vs BAL | 4 vs NYY | 4 at BAL | 3 at TB | 3 at NYY | 3 vs TOR |
| CHC | 10 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 3 at HOU | 3 at STL | 4 vs MIL | 3 vs CIN | 3 vs STL | 4 at PIT | 3 at CIN |
| CHS | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 3 vs KC | 4 vs CLE | 4 at KC | 2 at PHI | 3 at CLE | 4 vs TB | 3 vs MIN |
| CIN | 10 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 4 at PIT | 3 vs MIL | 4 vs PIT | 3 at CHC | 3 at MIL | 4 at STL | 3 vs CHC |
| CLE | 11 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 3 at MIN | 4 at CHW | 3 vs DET | 3 vs KC | 3 vs CHW | 4 at DET | 3 at KC |
| COL | 10 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 4 at SD | 3 at ARI | 3 vs SD | 3 vs STL | 4 at LAD | 3 at SF | 3 vs MIL |
| DET | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 3 vs BAL | 4 vs MIN | 3 at CLE | 3 at MIN | 3 vs KC | 4 vs CLE | 3 at ATL |
| HOU | 13 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 3 vs CHC | 3 vs TEX | 3 at SEA | 3 at OAK | 4 vs LAA | 3 vs SEA | 3 at LAA |
| KC | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 3 at CHW | 4 at OAK | 4 vs CHW | 3 at CLE | 3 at DET | 3 vs MIN | 3 vs CLE |
| LAA | 16 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 vs TEX | 3 vs SEA | 4 vs TOR | 3 at TEX | 4 at HOU | 3 vs OAK | 3 vs HOU |
| LAD | 8 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 3 at MIA | 3 at NYY | 4 at ARI | 3 vs SF | 4 vs COL | 3 at SD | 3 at SF |
| MIA | 14 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 vs LAD | 3 at ATL | 3 at PHI | 3 vs WAS | 4 vs ATL | 3 vs NYM | 3 at WAS |
| MIL | 7 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 4 at STL | 3 at CIN | 4 at CHC | 3 vs PIT | 3 vs CIN | 3 at TEX | 3 at COL |
| MIN | 10 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 3 vs CLE | 4 at DET | 3 at NYM | 3 vs DET | 3 vs SEA | 3 at KC | 3 at CHW |
| NYM | 10 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 3 at ATL | 3 at WAS | 3 vs MIN | 3 vs ATL | 4 vs PHI | 3 at MIA | 3 at PHI |
| NYY | 14 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 4 vs TB | 3 vs LAD | 4 at BOS | 3 at TB | 4 at TOR | 3 vs BOS | 3 vs BAL |
| OAK | 9 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 3 vs SEA | 4 vs KC | 3 at TEX | 3 vs HOU | 3 vs TEX | 3 at LAA | 4 at SEA |
| PHI | 12 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 4 at WAS | 4 vs PIT | 3 vs MIA | 2 vs CHW | 4 at NYM | 3 at ATL | 3 vs NYM |
| PIT | 11 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 4 vs CIN | 4 at PHI | 4 at CIN | 3 at MIL | 3 vs WAS | 4 vs CHC | 3 at STL |
| SD | 15 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 4 vs COL | 3 at SF | 3 at COL | 3 vs ARI | 4 vs SF | 3 vs LAD | 3 at ARI |
| SF | 13 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 3 at ARI | 3 vs SD | 4 vs STL | 3 at LAD | 4 at SD | 3 vs COL | 3 vs LAD |
| SEA | 12 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 3 at OAK | 3 at LAA | 3 vs HOU | 3 vs TOR | 3 at MIN | 3 at HOU | 4 vs OAK |
| STL | 14 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 4 vs MIL | 3 vs CHC | 4 at SF | 3 at COL | 3 at CHC | 4 vs CIN | 3 vs PIT |
| TB | 6 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 4 at NYY | 3 at TOR | 4 at BAL | 3 vs NYY | 3 vs BOS | 4 at CHW | 3 at TEX |
| TEX | 12 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 3 at LAA | 3 at HOU | 3 vs OAK | 3 vs LAA | 3 at OAK | 3 vs MIL | 3 vs TB |
| TOR | 13 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 3 vs BOS | 3 vs TB | 4 at LAA | 3 at SEA | 4 vs NYY | 3 vs BAL | 3 at BOS |
| WAS | 15 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 4 vs PHI | 3 vs NYM | 3 at ATL | 3 at MIA | 3 at PIT | 4 vs ARI | 3 vs MIA |
Before we dive into some notes, the games on Thursday, September, Texas at Seattle and Houston at Cleveland are not included since they're conclusions of the early week series. Also, some of the Tuesday to Thursday series are listed with the dates being Monday to Wednesday.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE?
Before you laugh, for the season the Braves are the second-lowest scoring team in the league. However, since the midseason hiatus, they're 14th, checking in with a respectable 23-27 record. Turner Field will be the home for 15 of the Braves' final 22 games. Silly as this may have seemed earlier in the season, Braves pitchers are in play for chasing wins. The schedule includes a couple home series with the Phillies and scuffling Marlins. Chances are Julio Teheran isn't available but if Matt Wisler or Mike Foltynewicz are hanging around your waiver wire, give them a look.
Another team with a lot of home tilts on the docket is the Angles. Since the break, the Halos are 16-7 in Angels Stadium, sporting an above average weighted on base average (wOBA), which is more impressive since that's not adjust for park and their home venue suppresses offense. If your league hasn't noticed that Ricky Nolasco is showing flashes of mediocrity, he could be worth a pickup. Hopefully, you're league isn't letting C.J. Cron hang out on the waiver wire but Jefry Marte, Jett Bandy, Nick Buss or Kaleb Cowart could fill a hole down the stretch.
The New York Yankees will play the majority of their schedule in the Bronx. The hitters are no doubt already on a roster but Luis Cessa and Luis Severino could snag a couple September wins. The schedule isn't easy but there are seven games against the Rays on the docket.
The White Sox, Marlins and Nationals also play a higher proportion of home games than the rest of the league but there's nothing special about their numbers in their own digs.
The Rays have the most imbalanced remaining schedule with just six of 24 games played in pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field. Further, the away games are at five venues that really favor hitting: Yankee Stadium, Rogers Centre, Camden Yards, U.S. Cellular Field and Globe Life Park. Those hoping for a strong finish from Drew Smyly or a shot in the arm from Alex Cobb beware, rough seas lie ahead.
The Milwaukee Brewers play only seven of their final 23 games in homer-friendly Miller Park, but don't worry if you own some Brewer sticks, series in the Great American Ballpark, Wrigley Field and Coors Field are on the ledger, which should keep the hits coming. Since the All-Star break, Milwaukee has the ninth-highest wOBA in the league. Keon Broxton and Domingo Santana are the two bats most likely available. Something to note is the final week of the season, the Brewers will face a couple teams with multiple southpaws in their rotation so if you own Kirk Nieuwenhuis, be prepared to sit him the last week, though who knows what the Rangers and Rockies rotation will look like in a couple weeks. Still, it never hurts to be prepared, just in case.
PLATOON ADVANTAGE?
The process just done with Nieuwenhuis is a great way to find edges down the stretch. Because there will be so much change, it's not worth going through team by team. However, reviewing what I do could be helpful.
The first step is identifying the club using multiple left-handers. The Red Sox, White Sox, Dodgers and Rangers are each using three lefties in their rotation.
The pair of Sox aren't likely to change. David Price, Drew Pomeranz and Eduardo Rodriguez are not going anywhere; nether are Chris Sale, Jose Quintana or Carlos Rodon. If you have a marginal or platoon left-handed hitter with a set or two against these squads, think about having a backup plan.
The Dodgers and Rangers rotations are in flux so it's best to just monitor what they do but be ready if there aren't changes. Similarly, the Giants, Mariners and Royals have two southpaw starters so keep an eye how the matchups fall when they face your hitters.
The other thing to look for is rotations without any lefties to find an available lefty swinger that will play the majority, if not all, of the games that week. At least for now, the Braves, Indians, Marlins and Brewers are running all right-handers to the hill.
The Tigers end the season against Cleveland and Atlanta, so they may not see a lefty all week. As it happens, Detroit is largely a right-handed club so there aren't a ton of options to pick up, but stashing Tyler Collins could be fruitful.
The Nationals will face the Marlins and the Braves in their final five series. The other two sets are against the Pirates and Diamondbacks, both currently using just one left-handed starter, so depending how the schedule breaks, they may see one, maybe two, southpaws the rest of the season. Washington's another team that parades almost all righties to the dish and if Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy, you better be playing in an AL-only format. But, you may want to replace someone like Ryan Zimmermann if someone comparable is available.
Sorry that the majority of the examples didn't unearth hidden gems but again, there's going to be a bevy of roster changes so it's the process that should be the focus. It takes a few minutes to do these exercises before free agent runs and lineup locks. Yeah, it takes time but considering the payoff, it's worth every second.
Next week, we will identify the teams that struggle controlling the running game in an effort to find some late-season stolen base targets. Hopefully, we'll have better luck matching a weak battery facing a team with some Energizer bunnies.
