Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Tuesday’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 Derek Carty
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Tuesday’s top streamer at starting pitcher is Carlos Carrasco (76% rostered). He’s in a terrific matchup at home in pitcher-friendly Citi Field against the Marlins. He’s not available everywhere, but he’s out there in enough leagues where it’s worth checking. The same goes for Lance McCullers (81%). If you need someone a bit more available, Patrick Sandoval (61%) is facing the Oakland A’s and would be a terrific alternative.
In terms of sub-50% owned pitchers, Hunter Greene (35%) at Pittsburgh is great, and if all else fails, Kyle Muller (1%) against the Nationals is almost surely available and is a great play too. Today sets up really well to stream multiple pitchers if you’re in need of starts down the stretch.
Tyler Anderson (94%) has been one of 2022’s biggest surprise breakouts. If you were lucky enough to pick him up this year, though, you may want to consider benching him today. He’s unusable in most mixed leagues today against an elite Padres offense, projecting for a mid-4.00s ERA with just a bit over 4 strikeouts. You could drop him to free up a roster spot for something else, although his final matchup next week against Colorado is a good one.
THE BAT X projects three teams to score five or more runs on Tuesday. Most of the notable Braves and Astros are going to be rostered in your leagues, but there are likely to be some Los Angeles Angels available. Taylor Ward (78%) may be a long-shot but worth checking on. Luis Rengifo (25%) has been hitting leadoff lately. Max Stassi (1%), Mike Ford (1%), Matt Duffy (1%), and anyone else who happens to be in the lineup today are very likely to be available.
If you’re looking for a few extra steals to push you over the top, you may want to consider Rangers against Robbie Ray today. Ray is a good pitcher, but he’s very easy to steal on. Bubba Thompson (5%) has the fourth-best chance of anybody to steal a base today, according to THE BAT X (behind universally-owned Trea Turner and Tommy Edman and Jon Berti, who happens to only be 22% himself. Go get him if available). Leody Taveras (5%) is another strong option.
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.
TJ Friedl (CIN, CF — 8%) at Mitch Keller
Vinnie Pasquantino (KC, 1B — 13%) at Joey Wentz
Jeremy Pena (HOU, SS — 44%) vs. Zach Davies
Oneil Cruz (PIT, SS — 34%) vs. Hunter Greene
Brendan Donovan (STL, 3B — 26%) at Adrian Houser
Lane Thomas (WSH, CF — 10%) vs. Muller
Ji-hwan Bae (PIT, 2B — 0%) vs. Greene
Gunnar Henderson (BAL, SS — 33%) at Michael Wacha
Eddie Rosario (ATL, LF — 40%) at Paolo Espino
Franmil Reyes (CHC, DH — 54%) vs. Zack Wheeler
Gavin Lux (LAD, SS — 54%) at Blake Snell
Cody Bellinger (LAD, CF — 85%) at Snell
Nathaniel Lowe (TEX, 1B — 81%) at Robbie Ray
Chris Taylor (LAD, CF — 58%) at Snell
C.J. Cron (COL, 1B — 95%) at Logan Webb
Randal Grichuk (COL, RF — 51%) at Webb
Yasmani Grandal (CHW, C — 53%) at Bailey Ober
Ian Happ (CHC, LF — 88%) vs. Wheeler
Josh Rojas (ARI, SS — 60%) at Lance McCullers Jr.