<
        >

          Fantasy baseball Saturday advice: Don't overlook Tobias Myers

          Tobias Myers is widely available and gets a solid matchup at home Saturday against the Rockies. Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
          • Mike Sheets
          Sep 7, 2024, 12:30 PM ET

          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

          Good things brewing for Tobias Myers

          While there are other streaming options on Saturday's list that offer greater upside, Tobias Myers still stands out as someone to strongly consider. Not only has the right-hander been extremely reliable from start to start, but he also draws one of the most favorable matchups on the slate.

          Since June 1, Myers has made 15 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers, generating a 2.27 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 87⅓ innings. He has allowed more than three earned runs just once during that span, and that outing came two months ago at Coors Field -- a start few fantasy managers would have considered using him for anyway.

          In terms of the matchup, it doesn't get much better than squaring off against the Colorado Rockies away from Coors. On the road this season, the Rox have an NL-worst 77 wRC+ and an MLB-worst 28.2% strikeout rate.

          Whatever your streaming plans are for Saturday, start with Myers, who is available in 80% of ESPN leagues, and go from there.

          What you missed on Friday

          By Todd Zola

          • San Diego Padres OF Jackson Merrill left last night's game in the seventh inning. The NL rookie-of-the-year candidate fouled a ball off his knee in the sixth frame. Post-game X-rays came back negative, though Merrill's status is unclear.

          • Los Angeles Dodgers OF Teoscar Hernandez was hit in the left foot by a pitch in the first inning of last night's contest. His availability for tonight's interleague affair with the Cleveland Guardians is up in the air. Speaking of which, the Dodgers placed RHP Gavin Stone on the IL with a right shoulder issue. Stone was slated to start tonight, but Justin Wrobleski will be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take the hill.

          • The Guardians also scratched RHP Alex Cobb from his scheduled start due to a blister on his index finger. The club hopes Cobb can avoid another IL stint. Gavin Williams has been tabbed for tonight's matchup with the Dodgers.

          • Philadelphia Phillies C J.T. Realmuto fouled a ball off his knee in the second inning last night. He stayed in until the fourth inning before being replaced. More should be known about the extent of the issue today.

          • Boston Red Sox SS Trevor Story will be activated from the 60-day IL in advance of tonight's home date with the Chicago White Sox. Story will be the primary shortstop, with rookie Ceddanne Rafaela sliding over to the second base.

          • After 1B/3B Alec Bohm missed six games, the Philadelphia Phillies opted to put him on the 10-day IL, backdated to September 3. Edmundo Sosa and Kody Clemens should continue to fill in at the hot corner.

          Everything else you need to know for Saturday

          • Last night's rainout in the Steel City will be made up today as the opener of a day-night doubleheader. The first game between the Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates begins at 1:35 PM ET, which kicks off the Saturday slate. The twin bill puts Nationals and Pirates batters in the spotlight. Luis Garcia (39.6% rostered in ESPN leagues), James Wood (25.9% rostered) and Dylan Crews (19.1% rostered) are the primary targets for the Nationals while Oneil Cruz (52.6% rostered) and Bryan De La Cruz (15.7% rostered) are the top Pirates options. Yesterday's scheduled starters will take the hill in Game 1 and both are streaming candidates. The Nationals will give the Game 1 nod to DJ Herz (5.5% rostered) with the Pirates countering with Luis Ortiz (17.9%).

          • Yusei Kikuchi (55% rostered in ESPN leagues) has been dominant since joining the Houston Astros. In six starts with his new club, Kikuchi has produced a 2.57 ERA and 0.94 WHIP while striking out 47 batters in 35 innings, which translates to a K/9 rate of 12.1. The Arizona Diamondbacks present a tough matchup this weekend, but I'm still trusting Kikuchi as a streamer. He's pitching like a borderline ace right now.

          • Spencer Schwellenbach (51% rostered) finds himself in a similar situation, as he's slated to face the hot-hitting Toronto Blue Jays. Even with the tough matchup, it's difficult to overlook him as a streaming candidate. Schwellenbach owns a 2.66 ERA over his past 11 starts, with 72 Ks in 61 frames (10.6 K/9). He has also racked up seven or more strikeouts in seven of his past eight starts.

          • With a home matchup against the Detroit Tigers, Osvaldo Bido (17%) also finds himself in the streamer discussion for Saturday. The Tigers rank 25th in baseball with a 90 wRC+ in the second half, including a bloated 25.7% strikeout rate. Bido, meanwhile, has been a pleasant surprise since joining the Oakland Athletics starting rotation, posting a 3.56 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 over eight starts.

          • This is the time of year when some performances fly under the radar, and that must be the case with Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is rostered in only 17% of leagues. The 22-year-old rookie is hitting .328/.377/.563 over his last 35 games, with five homers, 23 RBIs, 25 runs and eight steals. Over just the last two weeks, he has been the No. 6 fantasy outfielder on the Player Rater. On Saturday, he gets the platoon advantage against right-hander Clarke Schmidt, who will be making his first start since May.

          • Betting tip of the day: With Eduardo Rodriguez set to face the Houston Astros on Saturday, I'm taking under 17.5 total outs recorded (-115) for the Arizona lefty. Not only has the left-hander fallen short of this mark in all five of his starts this year, but the Astros, who just welcomed back Kyle Tucker, present a highly unfavorable matchup for Rodriguez, as they boast a 116 wRC+ over the last month.

          Starting pitcher rankings for Saturday

          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 Saturday

          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 Saturday

          The BAT X's Best Stacks for Saturday