Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Friday’s MLB games

Look for our fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings, hitter upgrades and downgrades daily to help you make smart fantasy baseball lineup decisions and for MLB betting tips. MLB game odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is geared toward ESPN 10-team leagues with standard scoring.

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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

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Friday’s action gets underway at 2:20 PM ET with a matinee in Wrigley Field. Despite it being the only afternoon game on the docket, the gametime temperature will be lower than most of the evening affair, which aids pitching. The scheduled starters are Jameson Taillon (14.3% rostered) and Zac Gallen. Gallen doesn’t usually need any help, plus he’s facing a lineup with below average production with a righty on the hill, even as they’ve played better over the second half. Taillon, however, can use the help. He’s surrendered at least one homer in seven straight games, including five over his past two outings. The Diamondbacks have exhibited below average power for the past month, so Taillon is a possible streamer, but only for teams behind in their head-to-head playoff matchup.

Friday’s top spot starter is Kyle Harrison (11.5%) for the San Francisco Giants home date with the Colorado Rockies. The rookie southpaw seemingly broke out in his second career start when he fanned 11 in 6 1/3 scoreless frames at home against the Cincinnati Reds. However, in his third start, the Padres took him deep four times in Petco Park. Look for Harrison to rebound, facing a Rockies lineup experiencing a big park downgrade.

Logan Allen (12.5%) may be hitting the rookie wall, but his road date with the Los Angeles Angels could be his pathway to getting over the hump. The Cleveland Guardians need to win to maintain their slim chances of catching the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central. Allen struggled in his last two starts, surrendering nine runs in nine frames combined to the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays. However, the Angels lineup, especially if Shohei Ohtani remains out, isn’t nearly as potent as Allen has recently encountered.

Allen will be opposed by Griffin Canning (20.3%). It took the right-hander a couple of appearances off the IL to find his groove, but Canning has pitched well in his last two starts, punching out 16 in 13 frames, while yielding just one walk and three earned runs. Cleveland isn’t the ideal lineup to face for strikeouts, though their rate has edged up since the All-Star break. Despite putting the ball in play, the Guardians don’t sport a scary offense, though the return of Josh Naylor should help.

Cristopher Sanchez (11.2%) rounds out a relatively weak inventory of pitchers to stream. His run of three straight quality starts was snapped last time out, but the Philadelphia Phillies southpaw still fanned five without surrendering a free pass in 4 2/3 innings, bringing him strikeouts to a palatable 21 over his previous 22 1/3 frames, with just three walks. Next up is a Miami Marlins lineup experiencing a collective second half swoon, especially facing lefties. Both teams have playoff aspirations, so that’s a wash, though Sanchez has an edge with the game in Citizens Bank Park.

There are a few pair of teammates each enjoying the platoon edge on a vulnerable pitcher, beginning with Jordan Walker (38.3%) and Tyler O’Neill (16.1%) facing lefty Andrew Abbott. The Athletics offense has been underwhelming, but Zack Gelof (16.2%) and Brent Rooker (12.4%) are in play against Jordan Montgomery. Wilmer Flores (34.5%) and Austin Slater (.1%) are in a favorable spot stepping in against Ty Blach. Lastly, Ronny Mauricio (6.8%) and Mark Vientos (.4%) square off with Dallas Keuchel.

Pitchers are ranked in order of their Forecaster/Daily Notes projected fantasy points (FPTS), using ESPN’s standard scoring system (2 points per win, minus-2 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. RST%: The pitcher’s roster percentage in ESPN leagues. ML: Caesars Money Line. O/U: Caesars Over/Under for runs scored. For the projected stat line, W% is the team’s win probability using ESPN projections, IP is innings pitched, ER is earned runs 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, the bulk pitcher is listed and indicated 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.

Ryan O’Hearn (BAL, 1B — 5%) at Tanner Houck

Giancarlo Stanton (NYY, RF — 46%) vs. Colin Rea

Tyler O’Neill (STL, LF — 16%) at Andrew Abbott

Hunter Renfroe (CIN, RF — 50%) vs. Drew Rom

Triston Casas (BOS, 1B — 43%) vs. Kyle Bradish

Mitch Garver (TEX, DH — 15%) vs. Paul Blackburn

Noelvi Marte (CIN, SS — 3%) vs. Rom

Wilmer Flores (SF, 2B — 35%) vs. Ty Blach

CJ Abrams (WSH, SS — 28%) vs. Emmet Sheehan

Lars Nootbaar (STL, RF — 27%) at Abbott

MJ Melendez (KC, C — 52%) at Yusei Kikuchi

Dansby Swanson (CHC, SS — 85%) vs. Zac Gallen