Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Wednesday’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
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Much like last year, day games populate the Wednesday well into the summer. The schedule begins early with a 12:10 ET contest in Tropicana Field with the Milwaukee Brewers visiting the Tampa Bay Rays for an interleague affair. Both teams recently bolstered their middle infield with Kolten Wong returning for the visitors while Wander Franco is back for the hosts. Isaac Paredes (29% rostered in ESPN leagues) recent hot streak has cemented a regular lineup spot. He along with Yandy Diaz (23% rostered) and Harold Ramirez (3%) are in play as hitters to stream with the platoon edge on Eric Lauer. Luis Urias (50%), Tyrone Taylor (4%) and Andrew McCutchen (33%) are the best Brewers options, as they also benefit from the platoon bump on Jeffrey Springs.
The crop of pitchers to stream features more quantity than quality as there are a handful of options, but the matchups aren’t as enticing as usually desired. Reds rookie Hunter Greene (36%) surrendered three homers to the Dodgers in his last start, but this time he draws the Chicago Cubs, where his 28.9% strikeout rate has a better chance to amass fantasy points. Opposing Greene is southpaw Justin Steele (4%) who has a favorable start at home against an improving but still beatable Reds lineup.
Chris Flexen (35%), Dylan Bundy (20%), Dane Dunning (10%) and Mitch Keller (2%) round out the streamers. Flexen is at home against the surprising Orioles. Adley Rutschman has provided a boost to Baltimore’s lineup, but even over the past month they’ve fanned at a 25% clip against righthanders, along with a below average .302 wOBA. Bundy has a road date with a pesky Guardians offense. Cleveland doesn’t fan much, but they also don’t possess much pop. Bundy has pitched well lately, walking just two with only two earned runs allowed over his lat two outings, spanning 14 frames. Dunning’s first half has been uneven, but he’s in good shape to post back-to-back solid efforts against the Royals, despite their recent promotion of rookie Vinnie Pasquantino. Keller is still honing control over his sinker, a pitch he’s recently added in lieu of his four-seam fastball. Even so, the early results are encouraging with a 2.82 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in June.
Pasquantino (8%) leads the list of hitters to pick up, especially in points leagues where his plate patience should yield walks with a low strikeout rate. Pirates batters are in a good spot facing Paulo Espino. The primary candidates are Oneil Cruz (55%), Bligh Madris (4%), Michael Chavis (3%), Daniel Vogelbach (2%) and Jack Suwinski (5%).
Whether to start Clayton Kershaw in Coors Field is a decision his fantasy managers have had to contemplate two of three times a season. Overall, his numbers are not favorable in this scenario. Even so, Colorado’s offense is not as potent this season, so it’s worth the risk. Here is one last reminder Tanner Houck and Jarren Duran are not available for the Red Sox. Those picking up Clay Holmes while Aroldis Chapman is out should continue to hold since Bret Boone has indicated Chapman may have to earn his way back into the closer role when he returns late this week.
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.
Josh Naylor (CLE, RF — 43%) vs. Dylan Bundy
Steven Kwan (CLE, CF — 37%) vs. Bundy
Yandy Diaz (TB, 1B — 29%) vs. Eric Lauer
Andres Gimenez (CLE, 2B — 39%) vs. Bundy
Jesus Aguilar (MIA, 1B — 35%) at Neil Pallante
Gary Sanchez (MIN, C — 43%) at Cal Quantrill
Josh Smith (TEX, SS — 1%) at Zack Greinke
Lane Thomas (WSH, CF — 6%) vs. Mitch Keller
Eduardo Escobar (NYM, 2B — 65%) vs. Justin Verlander
Christian Vazquez (BOS, C — 56%) at Alek Manoah
Dylan Carlson (STL, CF — 55%) vs. Sandy Alcantara
Mark Canha (NYM, LF — 67%) vs. Verlander
Trevor Story (BOS, SS — 97%) at Manoah
Jeff McNeil (NYM, 2B — 91%) vs. Verlander
Joey Votto (CIN, 1B — 66%) at Justin Steele
Luis Urias (MIL, 3B — 51%) at Jeffrey Springs
Jeremy Pena (HOU, SS — 59%) at Taijuan Walker
Andrew Vaughn (CHW, LF — 64%) at Shohei Ohtani