Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Sunday’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 towards ESPN 10-team leagues with standard scoring.
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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For one of the few times this season, there are no extra early Sunday games, with the first block all commencing in the 1:00 PM ET hour. Sunday is approaching the midway point of the championships in standard ESPN head-to-head leagues as the season-ending Monday through Wednesday series is tacked onto the end of the usual two-week finals.
Not only is Sunday replete with solid options to stream, but it is also extra important to take advantage since there are only four games scheduled for Monday and it’s best to strike while the supply exceeds the demand. Using our Starting Pitcher Rankings for Sunday as a guide, Nick Lodolo (32% rostered in ESPN leagues) is the clearcut top option. The rookie righthander is at home against a Milwaukee Brewers lineup offering Lodolo a great opportunity to tap into his high strikeout potential.
The next three highest ranked candidates for a spot start are Ross Tripling (44%), Edward Cabrera (47%) and Drey Jameson (3%). Stripling and the Toronto Blue Jays wrap up an important series in St. Petersburg against the Tampa Bay Rays, a decent, but not daunting lineup with some a swing and miss penchant. Cabrera’s strong second half suggests starting pitchers do grow on trees, at least in South Beach. The Miami Marlins right is at home against a Washington Nationals lineup looking at players for next season. Jameson has pitched only two games at the MLB level, but they’ve been against the Padres and in Dodgers Stadium where he’s tossed a combined 13 innings with 12 strikeouts and only two runs allowed. On Sunday, Jameson is at home as the Arizona Diamondbacks finish a weekend set with the San Francisco Giants.
Four more starters check ample boxes for a Sunday fantasy spot start. Jose Suarez (9%) and the Los Angeles Dodgers visit a Minnesota Twins squad fanning at a bloated rate against southpaws. Adrian Sampson (4%) has a great chance for a fourth consecutive quality start with the Chicago Cubs squaring off with the Pittsburgh Pirates in PNC Park. Aaron Civale (36%) and the Cleveland Guardians continue their march to the AL Central against a beatable Texas Rangers lineup in Arlington. Lastly, Dylan Bundy has been inconsistent but if he can keep Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani in check, the Twins righty should be able to handle the rest of the Halos lineup.
Sunday’s sixpack of hitters starts with the Guardians Oscar Gonzalez (39%) enjoying the platoon edge over Rangers lefty Cole Ragans. Next is Ha-Seong Kim (14%) representing the final recommendation of a hitter in Coors Field as the Rockies are on the road for their final three series. Kim faces lefty Kyle Freeland. Batting third in the six-pack is Jake McCarthy (27%), one of the exciting Diamondbacks outfielders. McCarthy’s power/speed combo plays well against the Giants Jake Junis. While all eye have deservedly been on Albert Pujols, the Cardinals Lars Nootbar (12%) continues to post a solid second half. He’s in a good spot on the road against the Dodgers Michael Grove. A.J. Pollock (23%) and Jose Miranda (33%) round out the six-pack, as both righty swingers have the platoon edge at home against lefthanders.
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.
Albert Pujols (STL, 1B — 19%) at Michael Grove
AJ Pollock (CHW, LF — 23%) vs. Tyler Alexander
Jon Berti (MIA, 3B — 21%) vs. Anibal Sanchez
Oneil Cruz (PIT, SS — 35%) vs. Adrian Sampson
Brian Anderson (MIA, 3B — 2%) vs. Sanchez
Elvis Andrus (CHW, SS — 44%) vs. Alexander
Corbin Carroll (ARI, CF — 16%) vs. Jakob Junis
Juan Yepez (STL, 1B — 4%) at Grove
Garrett Cooper (MIA, RF — 7%) vs. Sanchez
TJ Friedl (CIN, CF — 8%) vs. Freddy Peralta
Matt Chapman (TOR, 3B — 91%) at Shane McClanahan
Teoscar Hernandez (TOR, LF — 91%) at McClanahan
Sean Murphy (OAK, C — 83%) vs. Max Scherzer
Whit Merrifield (TOR, 2B — 79%) at McClanahan
Javier Baez (DET, SS — 68%) at Dylan Cease
Austin Hays (BAL, LF — 74%) vs. Cristian Javier
Alex Verdugo (BOS, LF — 94%) at Nestor Cortes
Enrique Hernandez (BOS, CF — 51%) at Cortes
Bo Bichette (TOR, SS — 100%) at McClanahan
Salvador Perez (KC, C — 94%) vs. Luis Castillo