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

          Nick Pivetta was roughed up in his last start. Can you use him in his Fenway season debut? Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
          • Eric Karabell, ESPN Senior WriterMay 14, 2024, 10:42 AM ET
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            • ESPN contributor on TV, radio, podcasts, blogs, Magazine
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            • Author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments"
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          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 has been 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.

          Trusting those difficult to trust

          At this point we know a lot about Boston Red Sox RHP Nick Pivetta, and investing in his statistical services might not be for everyone in fantasy baseball. Pivetta, who came up with the Phillies in 2017, showed flashes of excellence over parts of four seasons there, but also frustrated many with his inconsistent ways. Pivetta emerged as a somewhat reliable fantasy asset in 2023, but much of his best work came in relief. Pivetta finished with a 4.04 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, each setting career marks, and many fantasy managers liked Pivetta going into this season.

          Pivetta is slated to make his Fenway Park season debut Tuesday versus the Rays, and fantasy managers might have mixed emotions about trusting him. Pivetta's first two starts, at Seattle and Oakland, went well. He permitted one run over 11 innings, striking out 13. Then he hit the injured list with a right elbow strain. Pivetta came off the IL last week and the Braves hit him hard in their place for seven hits and five runs, including three home runs, over four innings. Not surprisingly, Pivetta became one of the most dropped pitchers in ESPN standard leagues.

          Fantasy managers should know what they are getting from Pivetta, 31, and for points formats, it tends to be more positive than negative, because volume matters. Sure, the 4.84 career ERA and 1.34 WHIP fail to excite, but this is a durable starter who struck out 175 or more hitters in each of the past three seasons. Pivetta will give up his share of runs, for sure, but volume is there, and he misses bats. His career numbers versus the Rays generally mirror his overall career stats, with a 4.56 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. He has one win over 10 starts.

          One could make the case entering this season for Pivetta as a top-50 fantasy starting pitcher, or they could simply want little part of the annual roller-coaster ride. There are no right answers! Pivetta was terrible to start last season, with a 6.30 ERA over his first 40 innings. Then he thrived in relief as a multi-inning option, and even when he returned to the rotation, his workload was inconsistent. The ability is there, though. Pivetta might end up with 175 strikeouts again this season, so be careful about dumping him. Expect just about anything when he faces the Rays.

          What you may have missed on Monday

          By Todd Zola

          • Austin Riley missed last night's game due to inflammation in his left side. He had an MRI earlier in the day which suggested he should avoid a visit to the IL, but the Atlanta Braves will still play it safe with their slugging third baseman. Riley initially got hurt on Sunday. He felt something during batting practice, then was removed in the fourth inning. Zack Short filled in last night. He broke a 0-0 stalemate in the sixth inning with a double, helping the Braves to a 2-0 blanking of the Chicago Cubs. Reynaldo Lopez started for the Braves, but back tightness forced him out after throwing five scoreless innings. A.J. Minter collected the save with Raisel Iglesias needing another day to recover from 48 combined pitches last Friday and Saturday.

          • Texas Rangers OF Evan Carter missed his second straight game last night after an MRI showed inflammation in his lower back. Carter will receive a cortisone shot today, with the hope he'll be available later in the week. Last season's playoff hero is off to a slow start, batting just .216/.303/.416. Lately, Carter has been sitting against left-handed pitching and has been dropped down in the order with a righty on the hill.

          • Rhys Hoskins hurt his hamstring and had to leave last night's contest in the second inning. Hoskins singled but came up lame after reaching first base. Gary Sanchez and then Jake Bauers filled in at first base in the Milwaukee Brewers' 8-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hoskins is slated for an MRI today. Bauers and Sanchez should continue in a platoon to cover for Hoskins.

          • Monday marked the third consecutive game in which Kyle Schwarber wasn't in the starting lineup. He's been dealing with a sore back and all three of the missed contests were started by a southpaw. Schwarber was, however, able to pinch hit last night and is expected back in the starting lineup tonight for the second game of a four-game, two-city series against the New York Mets. The Philadelphia Phillies took the opener 5-4 in 10 innings.

          • It was Jason Adam, and not Pete Fairbanks, who captured the save for the Tampa Bay Rays in their 5-3 road win over the Boston Red Sox. Fairbanks was activated from the IL last Saturday and threw a clean inning in a non-save scenario but was unavailable last night due to a cut on his right index finger. The club hopes he'll be available tonight for the second game of the four-game series in Fenway Park.

          • An interleague affair between the Washington Nationals and Chicago White Sox was postponed due to bad weather, but it's worth noting that Jesse Winker was not scheduled to be in the starting lineup yesterday due to lingering back spasms. Nick Senzel was slated to be the Nationals DH. The game was rescheduled as part of a single admission double-dip today at Guaranteed Rate Field, with the opener set for 4:40 p.m.

          Everything else you need to know for Tuesday

          • There is one day game on Tuesday's schedule, with the Phillies and Mets finishing a brief two-game series in New York at 1:10 p.m. ET, before resuming their acquaintances with an exhausting travel day south to Philadelphia for a looming two-game set there. Yeah, it doesn't seem to make much sense. RHP Aaron Nola certainly knows about his opponent, as he will make his 27th career start against the Mets, looking to lower his 3.40 ERA and 1.13 WHIP against them. RHP Jose Butto has an 8.36 ERA over three starts against the Phillies, but he is off to a solid start overall this season.

          • San Diego Padres RHP Dylan Cease joins Nola atop the Daily Notes pitching leaderboard, and it is hard to bet against Cease. He is among the league leaders in ERA (2.19), wins (5) and strikeouts (60) as he proves his 2023 season with the pathetic White Sox was the aberrant one. In fact, Cease, who finished as runner-up for the 2022 AL Cy Young award, is among the betting leaders for the NL Cy Young award, according to ESPN BET. It certainly would not be strange to see another hurler earn the award in both leagues. LHP Blake Snell achieved the feat only last season, becoming the seventh pitcher to do so. Cease, who faces a downtrodden Rockies team in San Diego, could join the group.

          • Detroit Tigers RHP Reese Olson remains available in more than 90% of ESPN standard leagues, perhaps because of that notable goose egg in the win column, but do not blame Olson. His 2.52 ERA is among the leaders, and Olson has not permitted more than two runs in a game in more than a month. Olson should have beaten the Guardians last week, but the bullpen could not hold a lead. Olson averages only 11.3 fantasy points per outing, thanks to tepid rates in innings and strikeouts, so he is not among the top 60 starting pitchers in ESPN standard scoring, but he is pitching well, gets a sweet streaming matchup with the Miami Marlins, and wins likely are coming.

          • Betting tip of the day: Today is the day for Mr. Olson. He should have two or three wins by now. The Marlins are not a formidable offense, especially on the road (.227 batting average, .682 OPS). So, while the line on the Tigers winning the game isn't conducive to making big money, go with Olson to earn his first victory (+145) and take a chance on over 4.5 strikeouts (-160) as well.

          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 Tuesday

          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 Tuesday

          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 Tuesday

          THE BAT X's Best Stacks for Tuesday