Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Friday’s MLB games
Note: This file will be updated with any overnight pitching changes or weather-related game postponements, along with the addition of the latest MLB game odds as of the indicated time of publication.
By Todd Zola
• Closer Chart: Latest bullpen intel
• MLB Depth Charts for every team
• Player news wire with fantasy spin
All 30 teams are in action on Friday, with everything contested under the lights. The schedule kicks off at 6:40 PM in south Florida with the Los Angeles Dodgers visiting the Miami Marlins. Southpaw Tyler Anderson gets the nod for the visitors. With the confirmation Walker Buehler is out for the season after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, Anderson will likely be needed as a starter in the playoffs. His 2.73 ERA and 1.02 WHIP indicate he’s been solid but regressing his fortunate .260 BABIP and 6.1% home run per fly ball rate render a league average hurler. Anderson doesn’t exhibit significant platoon splits, but as expected, righty swingers slug for a higher clip than lefties, and the Marlins will stack their lineup with righthanders. Don’t shy away from using Jon Berti (26% rostered in ESPN leagues), Miguel Rojas (5%), Jesus Aguilar (32%) or Brian Anderson (1%), the likely leadoff through cleanup batters for the home team.
The Washington Nationals will reportedly promote Cade Cavalli to make his major league debut on Friday. In July and August, Cavalli (2%) has recorded a 1.47 ERA and .95 WHIP in 36 2/3 innings with 43 strikeouts, 12 walks and no homers for Triple-A Rochester. The 24-year-old righthander will face the Cincinnati Reds in Nationals Park. While it’s always a risk to trust a rookie, the Reds already sputtering offense has fallen more after dealing Tommy Pham and losing Joe Votto for the season. Not to mention, Cavalli has fanned 19 in his prior 12 frames on the farm. Not only is he a viable streamer but Cavalli also is an intriguing DFS play, especially for GPP action.
If trusting rookies isn’t your thing, how about a grizzled veteran like Johnny Cueto? The 36-year-old righty isn’t missing many bats, but he’s not walking batters and is keeping the ball in the yard. Most importantly for points leagues where innings are key to scoring, Cueto (43%) is pitching deep into games, averaging over seven frames spanning his last 10 starts. On Friday, Cueto and the Chicago White Sox entertain the Arizona Diamondbacks who tote a below average offense to the South Side.
Justin Steele (23%) and Glenn Otto (2%) round out the slate’s best streaming options. Steele is the top target despite a road affair in Milwaukee. The Cubs lefthander stifled the Brewers last time out in Wrigley Field, fanning nine with just one free pass in six scoreless stanzas. In August, Steele as posted a 0.79 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 33 strikeouts to only four walks in 22 2/3 innings. Otto has also enjoyed a productive month with a 1.99 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in August. However, Otto has an identical 14 strikeouts and walks this month, but he benefits from facing the tame Tigers lineup in Arlington.
It’s not often the Washington Nationals are deemed a lineup to prioritize, but with a home date against vulnerable Mike Minor, they’re a major target. Luke Voit (29%), Joey Meneses (11%), Lane Thomas (2%) are the most desirable. Vaughn Grissom (50%) facing Jose Quintana and Jose Miranda (40%) against Alex Wood are two more options, both enjoying the platoon edge on hittable southpaws.
Pitchers are ranked in order of their Forecaster/Daily Notes projected fantasy points, using ESPN’s standard scoring system (5 points per win, minus-5 per loss, 3 per inning, 1 per K, minus-1 apiece per hit or walk allowed, minus-2 per earned run allowed).
T: The pitcher’s handedness. OPP: Opposing team. ML: Caesars Money Line. O/U: Caesars Over/Under for runs scored. W%: Starting pitcher’s win probability. For the projected stat line, IP is innings pitched, ER is earned runs allowed, BR is baserunners allowed and K is strikeouts.
If a team is planning on using an “opener” to start their game, but will rely on a “bulk pitcher” to follow him on the mound after 1-2 innings, we will list the bulk pitcher and indicate with an asterisk.
Best and worst hitters from the day are generated by THE BAT X, a projection system created by Derek Carty using advanced methods like those used in MLB front offices, accounting for a variety of factors including player talent, ballparks, bullpens, weather, umpires, defense, catcher pitch-framing, and lots more.
AJ Pollock (CHW, LF — 20%) vs. Tommy Henry
Harold Ramirez (TB, LF — 18%) at Michael Wacha
Daniel Vogelbach (NYM, 1B — 7%) vs. Kuhl
Enrique Hernandez (BOS, CF — 50%) vs. Ryan Yarbrough
Alec Bohm (PHI, 3B — 43%) vs. Bryse Wilson
Jake Fraley (CIN, LF — 12%) at Cavalli
Manuel Margot (TB, RF — 11%) at Wacha
Jose Miranda (MIN, 3B — 41%) vs. Alex Wood
Chris Taylor (LAD, CF — 60%) at Sandy Alcantara
Tyler O’Neill (STL, LF — 62%) vs. Spencer Strider
Franmil Reyes (CHC, DH — 59%) at Freddy Peralta
J.P. Crawford (SEA, SS — 71%) vs. Shane Bieber
Randal Grichuk (COL, RF — 52%) at Chris Bassitt
Eugenio Suarez (SEA, 3B — 59%) vs. Bieber
Dylan Carlson (STL, CF — 58%) vs. Strider
Sean Murphy (OAK, C — 78%) vs. Gerrit Cole
Ke’Bryan Hayes (PIT, 3B — 70%) at Zack Wheeler
Kolten Wong (MIL, 2B — 62%) vs. Justin Steele