Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Tuesday’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 Derek Carty
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The top streaming option of the day is Drew Smyly (7% rostered in ESPN leagues), who THE BAT X projects as the sixth-best overall pitcher on the whole slate, regardless of rostership. It’s 46 degrees in Chicago, the coldest game on the slate, with Wrigley winds blowing in from center.
Cristian Javier (66% rostered) isn’t as widely available as Smyly, but he’s out there in a third of leagues and has massive long-term potential. THE BAT projects him for a top-40 ERA and a top-15 K/9 over the rest of the season. Given that he started the year in the bullpen and has made just one start thus far, he’s gone overlooked, but he won’t for much longer. The spot today against Seattle is solid, and you’ll likely keep him around well beyond today if you manage to nab him.
Mike Clevinger (71%) makes his 2022 debut today against his former team, the Cleveland Guardians. There are few pitchers that are freely available in nearly a third of leagues with the upside of Clevinger. Before his injury, he was on his way to becoming one of the top arms in all of baseball. We don’t know what we’re getting coming off Tommy John surgery, but if you’re looking for upside, he’s well worth a stash (and is easily worth playing today in a plus matchup).
The Mets and Braves partake in a double-header, which means double the volume for any hitter who plays in both games. Brandon Nimmo (51%) and Mark Canha (65%) are the most likely candidates for the Mets, while Dansby Swanson (73%) and Adam Duvall (36%) are your best bets from the Braves. Travis Demeritte (2%) has an outside shot as well if you need a guy who is almost universally available.
The Milwaukee Brewers make for excellent streaming candidates today, as THE BAT X projects them for the second-most runs scored on the slate at 5.77 (sandwiched between the two Coors Field teams). Not only do they face one of the game’s weaker pitchers in Vladimir Gutierrez, but they also face one of the easiest to steal on. That makes speedy guys like Kolten Wong (64%), Lorenzo Cain (1%), and Andrew McCutchen (41%) especially viable. If Jace Peterson (1%) is in the lineup, he’d be a good bet for a steal.
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.
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.
Rowdy Tellez (MIL, 1B — 7%) vs. Vladimir Gutierrez
Dominic Smith (NYM, LF — 2%) vs. Charlie Morton
Cesar Hernandez (WSH, 2B — 8%) at German Marquez
Elias Diaz (COL, C — 17%) vs. Erick Fedde
Sam Hilliard (COL, CF — 0%) vs. Fedde
Maikel Franco (WSH, 3B — 6%) at Marquez
Jesus Aguilar (MIA, 1B — 34%) vs. Humberto Castellanos
Jose Iglesias (COL, SS — 3%) vs. Fedde
Ian Happ (CHC, LF — 75%) vs. Michael Kopech
Gavin Lux (LAD, SS — 69%) vs. Carlos Rodon
Nathaniel Lowe (TEX, 1B — 58%) at Ranger Suarez
Yasmani Grandal (CHW, C — 92%) at Drew Smyly
Cody Bellinger (LAD, CF — 97%) vs. Rodon
Chris Taylor (LAD, CF — 88%) vs. Rodon
Frank Schwindel (CHC, 1B — 65%) vs. Kopech
Willson Contreras (CHC, C — 94%) vs. Kopech
Daulton Varsho (ARI, C — 91%) at Trevor Rogers
Seiya Suzuki (CHC, RF — 97%) vs. Kopech