<
        >

          Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Sunday's MLB games

          Cavan Biggio of the Toronto Blue Jays has an advantageous matchup. Mark Blinch/Getty Images
          • Todd Zola, FantasyApr 14, 2024, 03:31 PM
            Close
            • Writing on fantasy baseball game theory and player analysis since 1997
            • Winner of the 2013 Fantasy Sports Writer's Association Best Baseball Article
            Follow on X

          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 ESPN BET, and fantasy advice is geared toward 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.

          Sundays streams

          Sunday presents the standard 15-game slate with nine contests starting between 1:35 and 1:40 p.m. It's not a good day to be making up points in pitching with 12 of the top 13 ranked starting pitchers rostered in at least 83% of ESPN leagues. Not only does this thin the inventory, but it also means your opponent in head-to-head leagues likely has a top pitcher or two likely to pad their lead.

          The top-ranked spot starter is Jose Butto (0.9% rostered in ESPN leagues). Butto came close to breaking camp in the New York Mets' rotation, but he lost out to Tylor Megill and Adrian Houser. With Megill on the IL with a sore shoulder, Butto is being summoned to make his second start of the season. He was previously called up to handle the second game of a doubleheader on April 4 where he limited the Detroit Tigers to one run over fix frames, striking out six along the way. Even though Megill was returned to Triple-A Syracuse after the game, he hasn't pitched since the effort against the Tigers.

          Sunday's matchup pits Butto against a Kansas City Royals offense averaging the 12th-most runs per game through Friday's action. Even so, if you need to make up ground in the last day of the head-to-head week, Butto stands out amongst a scant inventory of streaming options.

          What you may have missed on Saturday

          • The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Bobby Miller on the IL after he was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation. An MRI revealed no structural damage, so the club is hopeful Miller can avoid surgery. However, no return date has been reported. Walker Buehler may have been a candidate debut later in the week and take Miller's spot, but Buehler was hit in the hand by a comebacker in his last rehab outing and only threw 27 pitches. Buehler suffered no ill effects, but he needs another rehab start to build up his pitch count.

          • In the wake of the Miller news, Gavin Stone waited patiently through a rare rain delay last night, then threw five perfect frames against the San Diego Padres. He walked Tyler Wade to lead off the sixth inning, but them induced Eguy Rosario to ground into a double play. However, Stone then yielded three straight hits, losing the no-hitter and shutout. He did not lose the win as the Dodgers held on for a 5-2 victory, with Evan Phillips collecting his fifth save.

          • Rafael Devers will miss his fourth straight game today as he continues to be sidelined with a sore left shoulder. The club is hopeful he'll be able to return on Monday for the annual Patriot's Day game in Fenway Park. Yesterday, after four losses, the Red Sox finally won their first home game of the year. They were swept by the Baltimore Orioles, then lost the opener of a weekend set with the Los Angeles Angels. Wilyer Abreu is starting to heat up, which may allow Ceddanne Rafaela to play more middle infield. In a similar vein, Vaughn Grissom began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester. He served as designated hitter on Friday, then yesterday's contest in Syracuse was rained out. Where Grissom plays during rehab (second base or shortstop) is probably an indication of where the Red Sox will use him when he's ready to make his 2024 MLB debut.

          • Kris Bryant left yesterday's game in the fourth inning with ribs and back soreness and isn't in the starting lineup of today's interleague affair between the Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays in Rogers Centre. Bryant crashed into the left field wall after making a catch in the first inning. He stayed in the game but left after he felt stiffness.

          • Shota Imanaga has yet to give up his first earned run as he's stretched his MLB career-opening scoreless streak to 15 1/3 innings. Yesterday, the Seattle Mariners plated an unearned run against Imanaga, but he and the Cubs held on for a 4-1 win in T-Mobile Park. Adbert Alzolay garnered his second save. Alzolay has already blown a pair of save chances. Despite manager Craig Counsell refusing to deem Alzolay as the closer, it's clear by usage patterns that Alzolay is the preferred ninth inning option.

          Everything else you need to know for Sunday

          • Just how poor is Sunday's streaming slate? Alex Wood (1.0%) is the third-highest ranked hurler with a rostership below 50%. Wood's first three starts for the Oakland Athletics have been subpar as he's recorded an 8.03 ERA and 1.95 WHIP, albeit with 12 strikeouts in 12⅓ frames. The optimist points out his .447 BABIP is due for a steep correction. Regression is independent of the opponent, but it doesn't hurt that Wood will face the Washington Nationals, who sport the 10th-lowest wOBA so far this season, plus the game is in pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum.

          • Ranked just ahead of Wood is Michael Soroka (1.8%). In Soroka's first three outings for the Chicago White Sox, he's sandwiched a quality start between two efforts in which he's yielded four earned runs. Soroka has never racked up many strikeouts, but just six in 14⅔ innings is unusually low. On Sunday, Soroka has a home date with the Cincinnati Reds, an offense that has a high strikeout rate but is potent when it puts the ball in play. Despite the high ranking, there is more risk than reward in this matchup.

          • Even though Brayan Bello (29.5%) is well down the rankings, he's my favorite streaming option on the docket. The Boston Red Sox have struggled on their first homestand, but their starting pitching continues to impress under new pitching coach Andrew Bailey. Bailey has emphasized throwing more breaking balls and changeups, and so far, it has been beneficial. Bello has stopped using his four-seamer while increasing sinker, changeup and slider usage. It's too early to decree a cause and effect, but Bello's swinging strike is up from last season.

          • With left-hander Kyle Freeland on the hill for the Colorado Rockies in Rogers Centre, the right-handed contingent for the Toronto Blue Jays can help fortify a lineup. Justin Turner (47%), Cavan Biggio (6.8%), Alejandro Kirk (8.0%) and Davis Schneider (2.2%) are the primary targets.

          • Betting Tip of the Day: In his first start of the season, Blake Snell fanned five in three innings, throwing 73 pitches in the process. In his second start, the San Francisco Giants southpaw returns to a familiar place when he'll take the hill in Tropicana Field to face the Tampa Bay Rays. Snell still may not be fully stretched out, and he'll see a righty heavy lineup. I'm taking the under on 6.5 strikeouts (+105).

          It's not too late to start a free fantasy baseball league. Leagues drafted this week will start scoring fresh the following Monday. Come and join the fun!

          Starting pitcher rankings for Sunday

          Reliever report

          To get the latest information on each team's bullpen hierarchy, as well as which pitchers might be facing a bit of fatigue and who might be the most likely suspects to vulture a save or pick up a surprise hold in their stead, check out the latest Closer Chart, which will be updated every morning.

          Best Sub-50% rostered hitters for Sunday

          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.

          Worst Over-50% rostered hitters for Sunday

          THE BAT X's Best Stacks for Today