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August 30, 2008, 5:21 PM

Fantasy Forecaster: Previewing Week 23

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By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com
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On tap: Rosters expand to 40 players effective Monday. Starters Jonathan Sanchez (Giants) and Carlos Silva (Mariners) are also expected to return Monday, while Brandon Morrow likely will rejoin the Mariners as a starter in time for their weekend series against the Yankees. He's on track to start Friday's series opener.

Playoff races will be another story line of Week 23, with Phillies-Mets (in New York) and Diamondbacks-Dodgers (in Los Angeles) duking it out for their respective division titles. Meanwhile, the Yankees will be making a last-gasp effort for the American League wild card in a three-game series at Tampa Bay, while Angels-White Sox (in Chicago) and Mets-Brewers (in Milwaukee) could provide potential previews of upcoming playoff matchups.

Finally, in an interesting schedule twist, the Athletics and Orioles will play a doubleheader on Saturday and both be off on Sunday in order to avoid a conflict in Baltimore between the Orioles and Ravens games. In addition, on Monday the Yankees will travel to Detroit for a makeup game.

Quick click by section:

Game breakdowns | Hitters' matchups | Comfort Zone: Hitter value plays

Base stealers' matchups | Pitchers' matchups | Two-start pitchers

Note: Weather reports are based on upcoming weather forecasts (through Friday) as well as historical trends in those cities. "Poor weather" doesn't guarantee rainouts; those are merely the teams with the highest probability of one or more.

Note: Hitter-friendly ballparks are based primarily on recent statistical data (2005-08) comparing home/road performance, much the same method as our Park Factor page. Some personal opinion does go into making ballpark selections.

Good for hitters	Poor for hitters
Cubs (HOU-3, @CIN-3)	Blue Jays (MIN-3, TB-3)
Giants (@COL-3, PIT-3)	Mets (@MIL-3, PHI-3)
Rangers (SEA-3, BOS-3)	Padres (@LAD-3, @MIL-4)
Red Sox (BAL-3, @TEX-3)	Tigers (NYY-1, LAA-3, @MIN-3)
Games at hitter-friendly ballparks
Chase Field (ARI): Cardinals, Sept. 1-3
Citizens Bank Park (PHI): No games
Coors Field (COL): Giants, Sept. 1-3; Astros, Sept. 5-7
Great American Ball Park (CIN): Pirates, Sept. 2-4; Cubs, Sept. 5-7
Rangers Ballpark (TEX): Mariners, Sept. 1-3; Red Sox, Sept. 5-7
U.S. Cellular Field (CHW): Angels, Sept. 5-7
Wrigley Field (CHC): Astros, Sept. 1-3
Lefty-heavy	Righty-heavy
Angels (3 LHP, 3 RHP)	Blue Jays (5 RHP, 1 LHP)
Brewers (3 LHP, 3 RHP, 1 TBD)	Braves (6 RHP, 1 LHP)
Cardinals (3 LHP, 3 RHP)	Cubs (5 RHP, 1 LHP)
Orioles (3 LHP, 2 RHP, 1 TBD)	Diamondbacks (6 RHP, 0 LHP)
Phillies (3 LHP, 3 RHP)	Dodgers (5 RHP, 1 LHP)
Reds (3 LHP, 3 RHP)	Marlins (5 RHP, 1 LHP)
Rockies (3 LHP, 3 RHP)	Pirates (5 RHP, 1 LHP)
Royals (5 LHP, 1 RHP)	Twins (5 RHP, 1 LHP)
White Sox (3 LHP, 3 RHP)

Looking for a decent hitter value pick for this week? Here are 10 strong matchup choices, among the beneath-the-elite crop:

Note: Matchups are determined by examining both an opponent's catcher and pitching staff. Obviously, teams like the Astros (catcher: Brad Ausmus/Humberto Quintero) and Rays (Dioner Navarro/Shawn Riggans) rate as tough teams to run on, while teams like the Nationals (Jesus Flores/Wil Nieves) and Orioles (Ramon Hernandez/Guillermo Quiroz) rate as easy teams to run on.

Note: As with the hitter-friendly ballparks, pitcher-friendly ballparks are based mostly on 2005-08 data, with some personal opinion involved.

Good for pitchers	Poor for pitchers
Blue Jays (MIN-3, TB-3)	Astros (@CHC-3, @COL-3)
Brewers (NYM-3, SD-4)	Mariners (@TEX-3, NYY-3)
Dodgers (SD-3, ARI-3)	Mets (@MIL-3, PHI-3)
Royals (OAK-3, CLE-3)	Red Sox (BAL-3, @TEX-3)
Games at pitcher-friendly ballparks
Dodger Stadium (LAD): Padres, Sept. 1-3; Diamondbacks, Sept. 5-7
Dolphin Stadium (FLA): Braves, Sept. 1-3
McAfee Coliseum (OAK): No games
Progressive Field (CLE): White Sox, Sept. 1-3
Petco Park (SD): No games
Safeco Field (SEA): Yankees, Sept. 5-7
Shea Stadium (NYM): Phillies, Sept. 5-7

Two-start notes: It's a strong week as two-start pitchers go, with everyone through No. 16, Greg Maddux, a solid mixed-league option. I could make a case for any pitcher in the top 20, though. … Saturday's doubleheader only poses a problem for the Athletics, since they'd have to start Gio Gonzalez on three days' rest. Otherwise, they'll need six starters for Week 23, with no one going twice. … Though Joel Pineiro is scheduled to pitch Monday, the Cardinals could use a pair of off days on Thursday and Sept. 8 to skip his next turn. Adam Wainwright would pick up a second start in that case, and he'd rank 14th, if so. … The Indians are toying with the idea of using a six-man rotation in September, which would threaten Cliff Lee's second start Sunday. But even if they do use six starters, Lee could be kept on regular rest. … With Josh Beckett still dealing with "tingling" in his pitching hand, the Red Sox will probably use Thursday's off day to skip his spot in the rotation. That'll give both Paul Byrd and Jon Lester two starts; Lester's second turn would be bumped back to Week 24 if Beckett is healthy enough to pitch or the team sticks with a five-man rotation. … All indications are that the Tigers will bring Chris Lambert back the next time they need a fifth starter, which would be Tuesday.

Tristan H. Cockcroft covers fantasy sports for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.