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 Friday
Hayden Birdsong takes the hill for the San Francisco Giants when Rafael Devers faces his former team. The Boston Red Sox are on a roll, winning seven of their past eight, but it's due to pitching as they're averaging just 2.5 runs per game in that span. Birdsong is coming off a quality start in Coors Field, limiting the Colorado Rockies to three runs in six frames, fanning six with just two walks.
Cade Horton has settled in nicely, posting a 2.63 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over his past five starts for the Chicago Cubs. He'll take the hill for Friday's matinee with the Seattle Mariners who carry a league average offense facing right-handers into Wrigley Field.
It's strange to group future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw with the streamers, but unless he channels his old self and goes on a patented run, his rostership will remain below 50% in ESPN leagues. He's in a great spot to build momentum at home against the Washington Nationals, who had an 11-game losing streak entering Thursday's action.
Pitchers to avoid on Friday
Using opposing pitchers in Coors Field isn't taboo this season, but the way Zac Gallen has performed lately, the Arizona Diamondbacks' starter is too risky. It's not just that Gallen is sporting a 10.7% walk rate, his highest since his rookie season, but the Rockies offense has come alive this month. The club averaged 3.1 runs per game through May, but they are tallying 4.5 runs per game in June.
Hitters to stream on Friday
Mike Burrows is coming off the best game of his young career, yielding just one run in 5 1/3 innings to the Cubs, punching out eight with no walks. Even so, the 25-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates righty isn't established and recorded a 5.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in the four outings before stifling the Cubs. Burrows takes on the Texas Rangers on Friday.
If you're shut out of getting a piece of the Rockies-Diamondbacks game in Denver, Miami is an intriguing alternative. The highest rostered player is C Agustin Ramirez, and he's available in almost 80% of ESPN leagues. Jesus Sanchez and Kyle Stowers also enjoy the platoon edge, and bat in prominent spots of the Marlins lineup, as the Marlins host the Atlanta Braves.
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.
Because odds typically do not get set until the previous day's games are completed, betting tips will be added in the morning.