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          Fantasy baseball advice for Sunday - Time to start Stroman vs. Tigers

          Marcus Stroman projects as a quality streaming option for Sunday night's finale in the Little League Classic from Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, PA. Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images
          • Todd Zola, FantasyAug 18, 2024, 10:32 AM ET
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            • Writing on fantasy baseball game theory and player analysis since 1997
            • Winner of the 2013 Fantasy Sports Writer's Association Best Baseball Article
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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 overnight pitching changes and weather-related game postponements, along with the addition of the latest MLB game odds as of the indicated time of publication.

          Swing batter, batter

          On Sunday, the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers will play in the seventh annual Little League Classic. The game will be played at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, PA, the site of the Little League World Series. The venue seats 2,366, most of which will be participants of the 2024 Little League World Series and their families.

          The game is the Sunday night ESPN game, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The Yankees will send RHP Marcus Stroman to the hill while the Tigers will counter with LHP Tarik Skubal. The Tigers will serve as the home team.

          Based on the sample of major league contests players at Historic Bowman Field, the venue plays most like Citi Field, the most pitcher-friendly yard in MLB. That said, park factors are most relevant over a long stretch, but this is an extreme, so it's apt to play a part in the festivities. The Yankees sport one of the top lineups in the league but will face the frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award. The park and facing the tame Tigers lineup should help Stroman (43.3% rostered in ESPN leagues) limit runs. The Little League Classic portends to be a low-scoring affair, rendering Stroman as a streaming option.

          What you may have missed on Saturday

          • Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman jammed his right middle finger while fielding a ground ball in the sixth inning last night. He was forced out of the contest and is considered day-to-day after X-rays came back negative. Last night's game was started by RHP Bobby Miller after RHP Tyler Glasnow was put on the IL with right elbow tendinitis. Miller is ticketed to remain in the rotation after Justin Wrobleski was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

          • Atlanta Braves C Travis d'Arnaud was hit in the wrist by a pitch during the seventh inning of Saturday's game. He stayed in to run the bases then was lifted in favor of Sean Murphy in the bottom of the frame. The two backstops share duties behind the plate so Murphy is expected to catch today with the anticipation d'Arnaud can return on Tuesday, following an off day on Monday.

          • The Cincinnati Reds placed SP Hunter Greene on the 15-day IL with right elbow soreness. Greene first incurred the issue after his start last Tuesday. It's unclear who will take Greene's spot in the rotation, starting Monday night.

          • The Houston Astros lost a key cog to their bullpen after Ryan Presley was put on the 15-day IL with a strained back. The club called up reliever Seth Martinez to take his spot on the roster.

          • The Pittsburgh Pirates placed OF Andrew McCutchen on the 10-day IL with left knee inflammation. McCutchen hurt his knee on Friday night, hustling down the first base line. McCutchen's absence opens extra time at DH likely to be filled by Joey Bart. Look for C Yasmani Grandal to pick up extra action behind the plate.

          • The Detroit Tigers recalled 1B Spencer Torkelson in advance of Saturday's home date with the New York Yankees. The previous day, the Tigers promoted 3B Jace Jung and SS Trey Sweeney. Torkelson wasn't producing at Triple-A Toledo, but the club decided to see what he could do at the major league level. Torkelson was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in the Tigers 4-0 shutout victory.

          Everything else you need to know for Sunday

          • Two of the slate's top five streamers square off with Paul Blackburn (14.8% rostered) and the New York Mets entertaining Valente Bellozo (4.2% rostered) and the Miami Marlins. Blackburn is the more established pitcher and is facing one of the least productive lineups in the league. Meanwhile, Bellozo has greater strikeout potential but draws a more productive lineup. Blackburn is better suited for fantasy managers preferring to protect a lead while Bellozo is the better choice for those needing to make up ground in head-to-head formats.

          • Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw rostership is on the rise, but at 44.6%, he still makes the cut as a streaming option. The veteran lefty will take the mound in Busch Stadium against the St. Louis Cardinals. The home team doesn't strike out much, but they sport one of the least potent lineups facing southpaw pitching.

          • Rounding out the top five ranked streamers is Cincinnati Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (25.2%). The Reds are favored for their home affair with the Kansas City Royals, but the over/under of 9.5 suggests ratios could be at risk, especially since the wind is forecast to be blowing out. in the Great American Ballpark. Overall, Abbott has been effective, and he's coming off a solid outing. However, over his last four starts, he posted a 5.85 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. On the other side, Royals starter Brady Singer has also enjoyed a solid campaign, but has struggled lately with a 6.62 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over his prior three starts. This is a sneaky place to look for bats on the final day of this head-to-head scoring period.

          • Colorado Rockies SP Bradley Blalock came within one out of a quality start earlier in the week, earning him another start. Despite the solid effort against the Diamondbacks in the desert, Blalock is vulnerable in Coors Field against the deep San Diego Padres lineup. Most of the Padres hitters are rostered in at least 75% of ESPN leagues, with David Peralta (2.7% rostered) an exception. Consider picking up Peralta for some last-minute lineup punch.

          • Betting tip of the day: The conditions will favor pitching in tonight's Little League Classic. Not only does Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, PA suppress offense, but temperatures will be in the mid to low 70's, with wet conditions, at least early. I'm taking under 7.5 total runs scored (Even).

          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.

          Hitting report

          Plan ahead in fantasy baseball with help from our Forecaster projections. Each day, we will provide an updated preview of the next 10 days for every team, projecting the matchup quality for hitters (overall and by handedness) as well as for base stealers.

          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