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.
Pitchers to stream on Friday
The Athletics 1B Nick Kurtz has the AL Rookie of the Year award on lock, but Noah Cameron of the Kansas City Royals should get some downballot votes. The lefty is putting the wraps on a solid freshman season. ERA estimators peg his 2.90 ERA to be over a run too low, but they still indicate he's a better-than-league-average pitcher. Cameron's last start is in Sacramento against the Athletics, giving the southpaw strikeout upside, facing the lineup with the eighth-highest strikeout rate in the league.
Brandon Sproat offers the highest strikeout upside of all potential streamers when the New York Mets visit the Miami Marlins. The rookie has punched out 15 batters over his first 16 MLB innings and is facing a lineup simply playing out the string. That said, Sproat could be on a short leash as the Mets must treat their remaining contests like a playoff game -- at least until they clinch the NL's last wild-card spot (which, of course, might not happen at all).
Today's best matchups for pitchers
San Francisco Giants pitchers vs. Rockies hitters
Offense: A | Park: C | Umpire: N/A | Temperature: B+ | Wind: D | Home
The average pitcher would post a 3.66 ERA in this matchup.
Washington Nationals pitchers vs. White Sox hitters
Offense: A | Park: A | Umpire: N/A | Temperature: D+ | Wind: C | Home
The average pitcher would post a 3.69 ERA in this matchup.
Cleveland Guardians pitchers vs. Rangers hitters
Offense: A | Park: D | Umpire: N/A | Temperature: B- | Wind: C | Home
The average pitcher would post a 3.79 ERA in this matchup.
Today's worst matchups for pitchers
Baltimore Orioles pitchers vs. Yankees hitters
Offense: F | Park: B | Umpire: N/A | Temperature: D+ | Wind: C | Away
The average pitcher would post a 5.39 ERA in this matchup.
Minnesota Twins pitchers vs. Phillies hitters
Offense: F | Park: D | Umpire: N/A | Temperature: D+ | Wind: C | Away
The average pitcher would post a 5.22 ERA in this matchup.
Detroit Tigers pitchers vs. Red Sox hitters
Offense: C | Park: F | Umpire: N/A | Temperature: C- | Wind: C | Away
The average pitcher would post a 5.06 ERA in this matchup.
Hitters to stream on Friday
Joey Wentz's ERA is 5.46 with a 1.52 WHIP, pitching for three teams this season. The Atlanta Braves' lefty closes out the year with a matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with whom he began the season. Neither club has anything but pride to play for. The Pirates' right-handed contingent is in a good spot to pad their stats in hitter-friendly Truist Park. Jared Triolo, Nick Gonzales, Bryan Reynolds, Tommy Pham and Andrew McCutchen are the chief beneficiaries.
Today's best matchups for hitters
Kansas City Royals LHB vs. Athletics pitchers
SP: A | Bullpen: A+ | Park: B | Framing: A | Temperature: A | Wind: B | Away
The average hitter would post a .354 wOBA in this matchup.
Boston Red Sox LHB vs. Tigers pitchers
SP: C | Bullpen: A | Park: A | Framing: D | Temperature: C | Wind: B | Home
The average hitter would post a .347 wOBA in this matchup.
Athletics Athletics LHB vs. Royals pitchers
SP: C | Bullpen: C | Park: B | Framing: A | Temperature: A | Wind: B | Home
The average hitter would post a .346 wOBA in this matchup.
Today's worst matchups for hitters
Los Angeles Dodgers batters vs. Mariners pitchers
SP: D | Bullpen: F | Park: F | Framing: F | Temperature: D | Wind: C | Away
The average hitter would post a .267 wOBA in this matchup.
Seattle Mariners RHB vs. Dodgers pitchers
SP: F | Bullpen: F | Park: F | Framing: C | Temperature: D | Wind: C | Home
The average hitter would post a .272 wOBA in this matchup.
Arizona Diamondbacks RHB vs. Padres pitchers
SP: D | Bullpen: F | Park: D | Framing: C | Temperature: D | Wind: C | Away
The average hitter would post a .283 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 HR prop bets
Romy Gonzalez | OVER 0.5 HR (+800)
Projection: 13% chance of this bet hitting, with a $14.84 EV
One reason to bet this: The weather report predicts this game to have the third-most favorable hitting weather of all games on today's slate, as it relates to temperature and humidity.
Wilyer Abreu | OVER 0.5 HR (+500)
Projection: 19% chance of this bet hitting, with a $12.50 EV
One reason to bet this: The weather report predicts this game to have the third-most favorable hitting weather of all games on today's slate, as it relates to temperature and humidity.
Taylor Ward | OVER 0.5 HR (+525)
Projection: 17% chance of this bet hitting, with a $7.06 EV
One reason to bet this: Angel Stadium has the shortest fence height (on average) among all MLB stadiums.
Today's top pitcher prop bets
Aaron Nola | OVER 5.5 K (-140)
Projection: 63% chance of this bet hitting, with a $12.02 EV
One reason to bet this: In his last outing, Nola performed well and compiled eight strikeouts.
Miles Mikolas | UNDER 3.5 K (-150)
Projection: 62% chance of this bet hitting, with a $5.30 EV
One reason to bet this: In terms of temperature and humidity, the weather forecast predicts this game to have the fourth-most favorable hitting conditions on today's slate.
Today's top YRFI/NRFI bets
Rays @ Blue Jays | NRFI (-110)
Projection: 55% chance of NO RUN with a $4.91 EV
Mets @ Marlins | NRFI (-105)
Projection: 53% chance of NO RUN with a $2.91 EV
Astros @ Angels | YRFI (-105)
Projection: 52% chance of RUN with a $2.32 EV
