Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Monday’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
Memorial Day weekend concludes with a busy Monday slate, beginning at 1:05 PM ET with the opener of a doubleheader in Wrigley Field as the Chicago Cubs host the Milwaukee Brewers for a pair. If you’re a fan of young pitching, you’ll want to check out both games as the Brewers will start a pair of promising arms. Aaron Ashby (12% rostered in ESPN leagues has been discussed previously as someone to pick up while Freddy Peralta convalesces on the IL. Lefty Ethan Small (less than 1%) was promoted to the majors on Sunday, with the intent of starting in the twin bill. In 38 1/3 innings with Triple-A Nashville, Small posted a 1.88 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, fanning 49, albeit it with 21 walks. He minimized damage by allowing only one homer. Both Ashby and Small are in play as streamers against a middling Cubs lineup. Lefty Drew Smyly(3%) will take the hill for the Cubs in one of the games. He’s in good shape for a spot start facing a Brewers lineup toting the seventh-lowest wOBA with a lefty on the hill.
Another talented youngster scheduled to start on Memorial Day is Spencer Strider (1%) for the Atlanta Braves as the club is still searching for a fifth starter. Strider has been dominant as a multi-inning reliever. He may not be stretched out enough to work five innings, but he’s worth a fantasy pickup for his rest of season potential.
While on the subject of the Braves, in case you missed the note for Sunday’s games, Atlanta has called up Michael Harris II (6%) and have started him in center field the past two games. Harris has the potential to be a five-category player, with steals more likely than homers to manifest early.
Some more established starters in the streaming mix are Rich Hill (4%), David Peterson (10%), Dylan Bundy (26%) and Glenn Otto (1%). Hill looks like he makes up pitches as the game moves along, but opposing teams are having trouble handling what he flips up there and on Monday, he and the Boston Red Sox wrap up a home series against a pedestrian Baltimore Orioles lineup. Peterson will be asked to fortify the New York Mets rotation with Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Tylor Megill all sidelined. Peterson has a home date with the Washington Nationals. The Nationals were productive over the weekend facing Colorado Rockies southpaws Austin Gomber and Kyle Freeland, but that was at home as opposed to Citi Field, the top pitching venue in the league. Bundy takes the ball for the Minnesota Twins in Motown against the Detroit Tigers and the second least productive offense facing righthanders. Otto isn’t as established, but aside from a shellacking against the Red Sox, he’s pitched well and now draws a surprisingly mediocre Tampa Bay Rays offense whiffing at a 25% clip facing righties.
Circling back to the doubleheader, even though three of the four starting pitchers were highlighted candidates to stream, batters from both sides are in play since some will enjoy two games worth of chances. Cubs to consider are Frank Schwindel (53%), Patrick Wisdom (37%), Jonathan Villar (6%), Nico Hoerner (5%) and Christopher Morel (4%) with Rowdy Tellez (65%), Andrew McCutchen (33%), Omar Narvaez (29%) and Tyrone Taylor (4%) in the mix for the Brewers.
Other batters to stream include newly recalled Royce Lewis (4%), Edwin Rios (2%), Oscar Gonzalez (1%) and Luke Voit (26%).
Visiting the Cubs-Brewers pair one last time, two games yield twice the opportunities for saves. If Josh Hader is needed in the opener, Devin Williams (31%) could get the call in the nightcap. David Robertson (49%) leads the Cubs with six saves and is available in just over half of ESPN leagues, with Rowan Wick (6%) next in line. Other potentially available closers include Joe Barlow (40%), Dany Jimenez (46%) and Colin Poche (1%).
It’s not too late to start another free fantasy baseball league. Leagues drafted this week will start scoring fresh the following Monday.
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.
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.
Andrew McCutchen (MIL, LF — 33%) at Wade Miley
Tyrone Taylor (MIL, LF — 4%) at Wade Miley
Patrick Wisdom (CHC, 3B — 36%) vs. Aaron Ashby
Omar Narvaez (MIL, C — 29%) at Wade Miley
Christopher Morel (CHC, CF — 3%) vs. Aaron Ashby
Keston Hiura (MIL, 1B — 1%) at Wade Miley
Garrett Cooper (MIA, RF — 2%) at Ryan Feltner
Andrelton Simmons (CHC, SS — 0%) vs. Aaron Ashby
Jesus Aguilar (MIA, 1B — 38%) at Ryan Feltner
Brian Anderson (MIA, 3B — 2%) at Ryan Feltner
Sean Murphy (OAK, C — 72%) vs. Framber Valdez
Adolis Garcia (TEX, CF — 52%) vs. Drew Rasmussen
Travis d’Arnaud (ATL, C — 69%) at Zac Gallen
Thairo Estrada (SF, SS — 55%) at Kyle Gibson
Keibert Ruiz (WSH, C — 84%) at David Peterson
Jeremy Pena (HOU, SS — 69%) at Paul Blackburn
Josh Bell (WSH, 1B — 98%) at David Peterson
J.T. Realmuto (PHI, C — 99%) vs. Logan Webb
Spencer Torkelson (DET, 1B — 55%) vs. Dylan Bundy
Dansby Swanson (ATL, SS — 81%) at Zac Gallen