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

For an in-depth look at what to expect in this daily article and for how to best utilize the information contained within, check out our handy primer here.

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 Mike Sheets

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If you can get past the lack of strikeouts (6.7 K/9), J.P. France (37% rostered in ESPN leagues) has plenty to offer as a streaming option on Thursday’s nine-game slate. On top of his 2.75 ERA this season, the right-hander has been lights out across his last six games (five starts), posting a 1.69 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with five quality starts. France is also providing length, as he has lasted seven frames in all but one of those five starts. On Thursday, he sets up well against a Boston Red Sox lineup that has been middle of the road over the last month with a 99 wRC+.

Since joining the Chicago White Sox’s starting rotation in early August, Jesse Scholtens (2%) has made four starts, recording a quality start in three of them. The lone blip was a Coors Field start where he wouldn’t have been on the streaming radar anyway. All told, Scholtens lacks an overpowering arsenal and doesn’t hold much long-term appeal, but a home matchup versus a non-threatening Oakland Athletics lineup is enough to put him in the streamer discussion.

Patrick Corbin has allowed just one run in back-to-back outings, but he walked seven batters in of those starts and his ERA over his last 10 turns sits at 4.60. In other words, this is still a hurler we want to attack. The southpaw is giving up a .298/.343/.486 slash line to right-handed batters this season, and the New York Yankees have plenty of righty swingers to stream. Giancarlo Stanton (48%), DJ LeMahieu (38%), Anthony Volpe (36%), Harrison Bader (12%) and newcomers Everson Pereira (2%) and Oswald Peraza (1%), both of whom were just promoted on Tuesday, are all worthy plays.

Although Ke’Bryan Hayes (19%) has been an underwhelming fantasy option this season, he’s making a late charge, hitting .340/.386/.623 over the last two weeks with three dingers, four doubles and 12 RBIs. Considering he has swatted only eight homers on the year, that’s 38% of his long balls in the last 14 days. Hayes has done a lot more damage against lefties this season (110 wRC+) than righties (80 wRC+), and he draws the platoon advantage on Thursday versus the Chicago Cubs.

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.

Giancarlo Stanton (NYY, RF — 49%) vs. Patrick Corbin

Brent Rooker (OAK, LF — 12%) at Jesse Scholtens

Zack Gelof (OAK, 2B — 23%) at Scholtens

Elvis Andrus (CHW, SS — 4%) vs. Ken Waldichuk

Harrison Bader (NYY, CF — 12%) vs. Corbin

Tommy Pham (ARI, LF — 7%) vs. Brandon Williamson

Shea Langeliers (OAK, DH — 4%) at Scholtens

Carlos Perez (OAK, DH — 0%) at Scholtens

Ke’Bryan Hayes (PIT, 3B — 19%) vs. Justin Steele

Jonah Bride (OAK, 2B — 0%) at Scholtens

Lane Thomas (WSH, LF — 68%) at Gerrit Cole

Elly De La Cruz (CIN, SS — 89%) at Merrill Kelly