Check out all of our starting pitcher rankings and other lineup selection tools here to help you make smart fantasy baseball lineup decisions. MLB betting tips for each day's slate of games will also be added in the morning. MLB game odds are provided by ESPN BET, and all fantasy advice is geared toward ESPN 10-team leagues with standard scoring.
Note: All information is accurate as of the time of publication. For updates, including what you might have missed from last night, as well as any breaking news that might impact today's MLB slate, be sure to check out the latest fantasy baseball news.
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Pitchers to stream on Sunday
While it likely won't be as chilly as Saturday, the wind should continue to blow in at Wrigley Field, benefiting SP Jameson Taillon when the Chicago Cubs face the Cincinnati Reds. Taillon has fanned just 51 in 63 frames this season, though he has punched out seven three times. The Reds strike out at an above average clip against right-handers, so the potential is there for another high strikeout effort.
Hayden Birdsong's transition to the rotation has been encouraging with 10 strikeouts and just two walks over 9 1/3 innings. The righty threw 80 pitches in his first game as a starter followed by 88 last time, so he should be clear for a full workload when the San Francisco Giants visit the Miami Marlins.
Do you need strikeouts? There is risk with Gavin Williams exhibiting spotty control, but he and the Cleveland Guardians have a home date with the Los Angeles Angels and the lineup with the highest strikeout rate versus right-handers. Mike Trout returned Friday with a 1-for-5 effort, but he fanned twice, increasing his season strikeout rate to 30.2%.
Today's best matchups for pitchers
New York Mets pitchers vs. Rockies hitters
Offense: A | Park: A | Umpire: C | Temperature: B+ | Wind: C | Home
The average pitcher would post a 3.29 ERA in this matchup.
Chicago Cubs pitchers vs. Reds hitters
Offense: B | Park: B | Umpire: C | Temperature: A | Wind: A+ | Home
The average pitcher would post a 3.56 ERA in this matchup.
Seattle Mariners pitchers vs. Twins hitters
Offense: C | Park: A | Umpire: A | Temperature: B+ | Wind: C | Home
The average pitcher would post a 3.56 ERA in this matchup.
Today's worst matchups for pitchers
New York Yankees pitchers vs. Dodgers hitters
Offense: F | Park: F | Umpire: C | Temperature: D+ | Wind: D | Away
The average pitcher would post a 5.57 ERA in this matchup.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers vs. Yankees hitters
Offense: F | Park: F | Umpire: C | Temperature: D+ | Wind: D | Home
The average pitcher would post a 5.12 ERA in this matchup.
Washington Nationals pitchers vs. Diamondbacks hitters
Offense: D | Park: D | Umpire: C | Temperature: D+ | Wind: C | Away
The average pitcher would post a 5.09 ERA in this matchup.
Hitters to stream on Sunday
If Mitchell Parker doesn't have a solid outing, the Washington Nationals may look elsewhere for a new starter after posting a 8.46 ERA and 1.81 WHIP over his last six starts heading into Sunday's road affair with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The downspin will likely continue, setting up Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Gabriel Moreno and Pavin Smith for a productive afternoon.
Hitters to avoid on Sunday
Erick Fedde doesn't amass many strikeouts and his complete game shutout effort four starts ago aside, he generally doesn't pitch deep into games, limiting his fantasy points potential. However, over 60% of his offerings are classified as soft or breaking pitches. On Sunday, the St. Louis Cardinals wrap up an interleague set in Arlington. It's best to avoid Texas Rangers hitters since they sport the lowest wOBA in the league against off-speed stuff and breaking balls.
Today's best matchups for hitters
Kansas City Royals LHB vs. Tigers pitchers
SP: A | Bullpen: F | Park: C | Umpire: A | Framing: F | Temperature: B | Wind: C | Home
The average hitter would post a .350 wOBA in this matchup.
Baltimore Orioles LHB vs. White Sox pitchers
SP: B | Bullpen: A+ | Park: B | Umpire: D | Framing: A | Temperature: C | Wind: A+ | Home
The average hitter would post a .344 wOBA in this matchup.
Los Angeles Dodgers RHB vs. Yankees pitchers
SP: A | Bullpen: D | Park: B | Umpire: D | Framing: F | Temperature: C | Wind: B | Home
The average hitter would post a .339 wOBA in this matchup.
Today's worst matchups for hitters
Minnesota Twins RHB vs. Mariners pitchers
SP: F | Bullpen: C | Park: F | Umpire: F | Framing: F | Temperature: D | Wind: C | Away
The average hitter would post a .260 wOBA in this matchup.
St. Louis Cardinals RHB vs. Rangers pitchers
SP: F | Bullpen: A+ | Park: D | Umpire: B | Framing: D | Temperature: C | Wind: C | Away
The average hitter would post a .268 wOBA in this matchup.
Cincinnati Reds LHB vs. Cubs pitchers
SP: C | Bullpen: B | Park: D | Umpire: C | Framing: D | Temperature: D | Wind: F | Away
The average hitter would post a .275 wOBA in this matchup.
Betting tips
Best/worst pitcher/hitter matchups and betting projections are generated by THE BAT X, a 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. Betting projections for every player, team, and game can be found at EV Analytics.
Note: Expected Value is a measure of how good a bet is, factoring the probability that it will win versus the odds the book is providing. If you were to wager $1.00 100 times on a bet with an Expected Value of $25, you would win some and you would lose some, but in the end you would expect to come away with $25 in profit on your $100 investment.
Today's top home run prop bets
Luis Robert | OVER 0.5 HR (+700)
Projection: 15% chance of this bet hitting, with a $17.92 EV
One reason to bet this: The wind projects to be blowing out to RF at 15-mph in this match-up, the strongest of the day for batters.
Lawrence Butler | OVER 0.5 HR (+500)
Projection: 19% chance of this bet hitting, with a $14.72 EV
One reason to bet this: Butler hits a high percentage of his flyballs to center field (38.7% - 85th percentile) and is fortunate to face the leagues 10th-shallowest CF fences in todays matchup.
Teoscar Hernandez | OVER 0.5 HR (+375)
Projection: 23% chance of this bet hitting, with a $7.87 EV
One reason to bet this: In the majors, Dodger Stadium has the lowest average fence height.
Today's top pitcher prop bets
Kevin Gausman | OVER 6.5 K (-100)
Projection: 56% chance of this bet hitting, with a $12.68 EV
One reason to bet this: My projection system has Rogers Centre as the 10th-best venue in the game for strikeouts.
Clay Holmes | UNDER 1.5 ER (-100)
Projection: 55% chance of this bet hitting, with a $10.76 EV
One reason to bet this: With seven righty hitters in the projected batting order, Holmes should benefit from having the platoon advantage in most plate appearances todays.
Jack Kochanowicz | UNDER 2.5 ER (+105)
Projection: 54% chance of this bet hitting, with a $10.76 EV
One reason to bet this: In terms of temperature and humidity, the weather report projects the third-best pitching conditions of all games on the slate today.
Today's Top YRFI/NRFI Bets
Pirates @ Padres | YRFI (-110)
Projection: 54% chance of RUN with a $4.37 EV
Twins @ Mariners | NRFI (-130)
Projection: 58% chance of NO RUN with a $2.76 EV
Nationals @ D-Backs | NRFI (-105)
Projection: 52% chance of NO RUN with a $1.62 EV