Fantasy Baseball Week 21 Aug 18-24: Start/Sit Pitchers and Hitters

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Week 21 of the fantasy baseball season throws a rare scheduling twist at us. There’s a Monday doubleheader between the Cubs and Brewers, a few star pitchers coming back from injury, and some teams with lighter workloads than usual.

Managers need to keep a sharp eye and act fast with roster moves. This is the kind of week that separates playoff contenders from the rest of the pack.

Extra Games = Extra Stats

Usually, every team plays about the same number of games, so things stay pretty fair. But Week 21? Not so much.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs start with a Monday doubleheader at Wrigley Field. It’s a makeup for the June 18 rainout, which bumps both teams up to eight games while most others only have six.

Target Players from Brewers and Cubs

Those extra plate appearances and innings can really add up. If you’re in head-to-head or roto leagues, it might be time to load up or stream these guys:

• Cody Bellinger (Cubs) – He’s been hot, and with extra games, there’s real potential for a spike in runs and RBIs.
• Christian Yelich (Brewers) – More games mean more chances for steals and getting on base.
• Justin Steele (Cubs) & Freddy Peralta (Brewers) – Both could get extra starts in weekly leagues.

The Other End of the Spectrum

While the Cubs and Brewers get busy, 20 other teams only play six games. Then there’s the Tampa Bay Rays, who have it even lighter.

Because the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers play across the parking lot at Raymond James Stadium, the Rays had to move their Saturday home game. Weird, right?

Tampa Bay’s Compressed Schedule

Instead of a full series at Tropicana Field, the first two games against the Cardinals are Thursday and Friday at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Saturday’s off, and they wrap up Sunday. That’s just five total games in Week 21.

If you’re counting on Rays hitters for volume stats, this is a problem. Fantasy tip: Maybe bench fringe guys like Isaac Paredes or José Caballero if you’ve got other options with more games.

Big Arms Returning to the Rotation

The schedule isn’t the only thing shaking things up. Week 21 might bring back some high-impact starting pitchers.

Several arms are due to return from the injured list. That could swing matchups for fantasy managers in tight playoff races.

Pitchers to Watch

• Jameson Taillon (Cubs) – He gives Chicago another steady starter during their busy week. Two starts could be in play.
• Lance McCullers Jr. (Astros) – There’s strikeout upside if he’s healthy, but his workload might be limited at first.
• Bryce Miller (Mariners) – He could make a difference against weaker lineups as we head into September.

Fantasy Week 21 Strategy: Who Gains the Edge

Volume is king in fantasy baseball. In weekly leagues, prioritize Cubs and Brewers hitters and pitchers over similar options on teams playing fewer games.

If you’re in a daily league, stream matchups and squeeze every last at-bat or inning from those eight-game slates. With teams like the Rays, be smart—avoid low-volume bats unless they’re elite. And with key pitchers coming back, stash them if you can, but don’t expect instant dominance right out of the gate.

The Bottom Line

Week 21 isn’t going to be business as usual. The Cubs-Brewers doubleheader adds a twist, while the Rays only play five games.

With new arms showing up on the mound, there’s a real chance to get ahead—or fall behind if you just coast. These little schedule edges? They can decide fantasy baseball championships.

Act fast, make smart adjustments, and keep checking those injury reports. Week 21 is the moment for sharp managers to pounce.

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If you want, I can put together a **position-by-position waiver wire target list** for Week 21. I’ll work in all these schedule quirks so it’s actually useful for last-minute fantasy pickups. Want me to get started on that?
 
Here is the source article for this story: Fantasy Baseball Forecaster for Week 21: Aug. 18-24