Fantasy Forecaster: May 9-15

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Note: Forecaster last updated Monday, May 9, at 3:07 p.m. ET.

On tap: Aroldis Chapman's suspension ends, and he is eligible to be reinstated to the New York Yankees' active roster on Monday, May 9, the beginning of Week 6, giving him a full, seven-game week played entirely at Yankee Stadium. Chapman is expected to immediately recapture the closer's role, shifting fill-in Andrew Miller into a setup capacity. With the Yankees' rotation struggling -- their 4.62 starters' ERA would represent their worst in a single year since 2004 -- the team's bullpen might play a critical role eking out wins in a busy week with home-field advantage.

Jordan Zimmermann returns to Washington's Nationals Park for the first time since signing a five-year, $110 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. His Tigers play an interleague series in D.C. from May 9-11, and Zimmermann will pitch the series finale on May 11. Zimmermann's opponent in that game will be a former Tiger, Max Scherzer, who signed a seven-year, $210 million contract of his own with the Nationals after the 2014 season.

The Nationals host the Miami Marlins in a split doubleheader (Game 1 begins at 1:05 p.m. ET, Game 2 at 7:05 p.m. ET) at Nationals Park on May 14; the first game is a rescheduling of their April 9 postponement. Unfortunately, as both teams had May 12 off, the additional game merely bumps both teams up into the seven-games-scheduled group, which for Week 6 now includes 14 teams. Youngsters Jose Fernandez and Stephen Strasburg will both pitch during that series, and both are two-start pitchers in Week 6.

Quickly jump to any section, if you want specific intel

• ESPN lineup deadlines

• Interleague impact

• Projected starting pitchers

• Pitching scuttlebutt

• Week 6 pitcher rankings

• Hitting ratings

• Hitting advantages

ESPN leagues: Lineup deadlines

It's another Monday with nothing but night games, so fantasy owners have until 7 p.m. ET -- that's the scheduled start of the Detroit Tigers at Washington Nationals game on ESPN's "Monday Night Baseball" -- to set their Week 6 lineups.

Remember that game times have tremendous influence upon daily planning, so be aware of every day's first scheduled pitch. This week, they are:

Monday, May 9: 7 p.m. ET (Tigers at Nationals)
Tuesday, May 10: 7:05 p.m. ET (Kansas City Royals at New York Yankees and Tigers at Nationals)
Wednesday, May 11: 1:10 p.m. ET (Baltimore Orioles at Minnesota Twins)
Thursday, May 12: 7:05 p.m. ET (Royals at Yankees and Tigers at Baltimore Orioles)
Friday, May 13: 2:20 p.m. ET (Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs)
Saturday, May 14: 1:05 p.m. ET (Houston Astros at Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox at Yankees and Game 1 of Miami Marlins at Nationals doubleheader)
Sunday, May 15: 1:05 p.m. ET (White Sox at Yankees)

Interleague impact

This week's interleague series:

• Toronto Blue Jays at San Francisco Giants (3 games, May 9-11)

• Detroit Tigers at Washington Nationals (3 games, May 9-11)

• St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Angels (3 games, May 10-12)

• Atlanta Braves at Kansas City Royals (3 games, May 13-15)

Blue Jays' traditional DH: Edwin Encarnacion, who can simply shift to first base in place of Justin Smoak, likely for all three games at San Francisco. Encarnacion, after all, has started eight of the team's past 12 games in National League parks at first base, six of them while Smoak was also on the roster. Smoak is the player to sit this week, considering he's a .233-20-66 hitter in his 157 career games as a Blue Jay.

Tigers' traditional DH: Victor Martinez, who hasn't played an inning in the field in an interleague game since Aug. 12, 2014, though he did make 10 starts at first base in intraleague contests last season. Injury -- he missed all of 2012 and played at less than full strength for almost all of 2015 -- and age concerns probably relegate him to DH-only duties at this stage, so he'll almost assuredly be a pinch-hitter for the entirety of the Tigers' week-opening series at Washington.

Cardinals' probable DH(s): With Jhonny Peralta (DL, thumb surgery) still on the mend, probably through at least the conclusion of May, expect the Cardinals to utilize some sort of rotation at DH. Matt Holliday has the best odds of scoring at least one start at DH, freeing up left field for Jeremy Hazelbaker or Brandon Moss, though Matt Adams, Matt Carpenter, Randal Grichuk, Jedd Gyorko and Yadier Molina could all be candidates to earn starts there during the three-game series. Consider the three games in Los Angeles to be merely an opportunity for those Cardinals to pick up an additional two or three plate appearances in Week 6.

Braves' probable DH(s): As the Royals' rotation is entirely right-handed, Kelly Johnson might serve as the DH for all three games in Kansas City, freeing up second base for Daniel Castro. It is also possible, though, that Jeff Francoeur or A.J. Pierzynski could pick up a start at DH, freeing up an outfield or catcher spot for Tyler Flowers or Chase d'Arnaud.

Projected starting pitchers

The chart below lists each of the 30 MLB teams' schedules and projected starting pitchers, and provides a projected Bill James game score for each day's starter.

Projected starting pitchers, May 9-15

P: The starting pitcher's projected Bill James game score, accounting for past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. A 50 is typically deemed a "quality start" by this measure, while a 70 is considered a dominant start.

Pitching scuttlebutt

• Baltimore Orioles: Due to their May 6 postponement, the Orioles will need a spot starter for their May 11 game. It is unclear whether they would then skip another starter or push everyone back. Mike Wright, scheduled for May 12, would be the most likely pitcher skipped, in which case Kevin Gausman would pick up a second start.

• Boston Red Sox: After optioning Henry Owens to Triple-A Pawtucket on May 6, the Red Sox will need a fifth starter for their May 10 game. Sean O'Sullivan is considered the leading candidate, as Eduardo Rodriguez (DL, knee) will require a third rehabilitation start for Pawtucket on May 8. It is possible, however, that Rodriguez will be ready to make a start during the team's May 13-15 series.

• New York Yankees: With CC Sabathia (DL, hamstring) sidelined, Ivan Nova will fill in beginning on May 9.

• Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays pushed Matt Moore's next start back to May 9, with Matt Andriese filling in on May 8. Expect the team to go with a four-man rotation through Week 6 due to the May 12 off day.

• Chicago White Sox: Having designated John Danks for assignment on May 3 and optioned Erik Johnson to Triple-A Charlotte on May 6, the White Sox will use Miguel Gonzalez for a spot start on May 9. It is unclear whether Gonzalez would make another start on May 15, or whether Carlos Rodon would pitch that game on four days' rest.

• Cleveland Indians: The Indians could use the May 12 off day to again skip Cody Anderson's turn in the rotation, in which case Trevor Bauer would pick up a second start, though it's unlikely that they will this time, considering they can't demote Anderson to the minors if they want him eligible for recall by May 17, the latest date they'll next require a fifth starter.

• Los Angeles Angels: The Angels will need fill-in starters on both May 11, which was Garrett Richards' (Tommy John surgery) spot, and May 14. Matt Shoemaker and Nate Smith are the top candidates to fill those two spots.

• Oakland Athletics: Due to their May 6 postponement, the Athletics needed a spot starter for their May 11 game, so they demoted Jesse Hahn to Triple-A Nashville so that he can remain in regular rotation, and are planning to recall Eric Surkamp to start on May 11.

• Texas Rangers: With A.J. Griffin (DL, shoulder) sidelined, the Rangers will likely use the May 12 off day to go with a four-man rotation through Week 6. Yu Darvish (DL, elbow) is set to make his next rehabilitation start on May 12 for Triple-A Round Rock, so he won't be a consideration for a big-league start in Week 6.

• Miami Marlins: A May 12 off day affords the Marlins the opportunity to push back their spot starter -- required due to their May 14 doubleheader -- until as late as May 17 (Tuesday of Week 7), though they could simply recall a fill-in on May 12, with Jarred Cosart and Kendry Flores the two most logical choices.

• Washington Nationals: Unlike the Marlins, the Nationals have off days on May 12 and 16 (Monday of Week 7), affording them the opportunity to go with a five-man rotation despite their May 14 doubleheader if they wish. A.J. Cole would be the logical choice if the team instead chooses to use a fill-in.

• Milwaukee Brewers: Wily Peralta (paternity leave) had his start pushed back from May 6 to 9; Tyler Cravy filled in on May 6. Cravy will return to Triple-A Colorado Springs afterward, while Zach Davies and Chase Anderson will have their next starts pushed back to May 10 and 11.

• St. Louis Cardinals: Carlos Martinez (illness) will make his next start on May 14, as the Cardinals give him some more rest between turns.

• Arizona Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks will give Archie Bradley a May 9 start as a way to give their other starters an additional day of rest. It appears that Bradley will make only the one turn in Week 6.

Tristan's Week 6 pitcher rankings

Hitting ratings

The chart below lists each of the 30 teams' total number of scheduled games, home games and games versus right- and left-handed pitchers, and provides a matchup rating for the week's games in terms of overall offense, offense for left- and right-handed hitters, and base stealing. Matchup ratings for each individual game are listed under the corresponding date.

Hitting matchup chart, May 9-15

H: Hitters' matchup rating, which accounts for the opposing starting pitcher's past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days) and ballpark factors. L: Hitters' matchup rating accounting only for left-handed hitters. R: Hitters' matchup rating accounting for only right-handed hitters. S: Base stealing matchup rating, which accounts for the opponent's catchers' ability to gun down opposing base stealers. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst.

Hitting advantages

Here are this week's "volume plays," defined as the teams that play the most home games, or games against right- or left-handed starters:

• Total games: Baltimore Orioles 7, Boston Red Sox 7, New York Yankees 7, Detroit Tigers 7, Kansas City Royals 7, Houston Astros 7, Miami Marlins 7, New York Mets 7, Washington Nationals 7, Milwaukee Brewers 7, Arizona Diamondbacks 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 7, San Diego Padres 7, San Francisco Giants 7.

• Home games: Red Sox 7, Yankees 7, Nationals 7, Dodgers 7, Seattle Mariners 6, Texas Rangers 6, Chicago Cubs 6, Colorado Rockies 6, Orioles 4, Brewers 4, Diamondbacks 4.

• Versus LH: Mariners 4, Red Sox 3, Toronto Blue Jays 3, Mets 3, Cubs 3, Cincinnati Reds 3, St. Louis Cardinals 3.

• Versus RH: Orioles 7, Tigers 7, Royals 7, Cleveland Indians 6, Marlins 6, Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 6, Padres 6.

The Diamondbacks' Week 6 schedule is outstanding for their hitters because they'll avoid Madison Bumgarner during a four-game series at Chase Field, and they'll face the Giants' poorly performing fourth and fifth starters, Jake Peavy and Matt Cain. It also helps, naturally, that the D-backs open with a three-game series at Colorado's Coors Field, where Nick Ahmed is a lifetime .304/.385/.609 hitter (9 games), Chris Owings a .382/.403/.647 hitter (20), David Peralta a .362/.388/.468 hitter (15) and Jean Segura a .324/.366/.486 hitter (10).

While the Diamondbacks typically hit lefties better than righties, with a team wOBA 36 points higher against the former (.359) than the latter (.323), a week facing six right-handed starters is nevertheless a good one for Peralta (.280/.330/.476 numbers against righties this season) and Jake Lamb (.300/.367/.486 against righties).