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Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Tuesday's MLB games
12dEric Karabell
Japan's Saso wins Women's Open for 2nd time
2h
Sources: NFL tampering rulings likely this week
Atlanta Falcons
11hAdam Schefter
GM: Hard pass as teams eye Vlad Jr., Bichette
Toronto Blue Jays
4h
Pham has fighting words after play at home plate
Chicago White Sox
2h
MacIntyre wins Canadian Open with dad as caddie
1h
Gauff opposes late-night play: 'It's not healthy'
12hTom Hamilton
MRI next for Giants' Snell (groin) after exiting
San Francisco Giants
2h
Coveted Jordan Logoman card sells for $2.92M
Chicago Bulls
4hDan Hajducky
Lowe: Why the Boston Celtics' fallback isn't actually their history-making offense
Boston Celtics
3dZach Lowe
Yes, Tom is her uncle. But Maya Brady has carved out her own path to softball stardom
22hJake Trotter
Inside the amazing side gig of Bears chairman George McCaskey
Chicago Bears
3dCourtney Cronin
Is Djokovic back on track to defend his French Open title?
7hD'Arcy Maine
UFC 302 takeaways: Makhachev eyes double championship, legacy beyond Khabib
17hAndreas Hale and Brett Okamoto
The Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup Final: Keys to their run, early look at next potential matchups
Florida Panthers
21hKristen Shilton
Once again, Real Madrid ride out adversity only to emerge as Champions League winners
1dGab Marcotti
Kroos exits Real Madrid a legend, passing the baton to Bellingham
23hMark Ogden
Germany coach blasts 'racist' squad poll: 'Wake up'
6h
Mourinho announced as new Fenerbahce coach
15hAssociated Press
Madrid cap '10/10 season' with 15th UCL title
1dMark Ogden
Southgate: Shaw on course for Euro 2024 return
7hJames Olley
Former Astros GM's Leganés promoted to LaLiga
2h
Maradona Golden Ball auction delayed amid probe
13hAssociated Press
Ancelotti calls for Kroos Madrid retirement U-turn
15hMark Ogden
Roman Bürki expecting Marco Reus to join MLS
17hLizzy Becherano
'Good start': Hayes' USWNT era begins with win over South Korea
22hJeff Kassouf
Eric Karabell, ESPN Senior WriterMay 21, 2024, 02:46 PM
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- ESPN contributor on TV, radio, podcasts, blogs, Magazine
- Charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame
- Author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments"
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.
A Cub we can no longer ignore
Chicago Cubs RHP Javier Assad enters his Tuesday home start with Atlanta boasting a cool 1.49 ERA, third lowest in baseball, yet he remains available in 50% of ESPN standard leagues. One may ask the pertinent question of what more does Assad need to do to attract fantasy managers? OK, so he is a bit fortunate to have an ERA this low, but his FIP is a solid 2.94. Assad has permitted no more than two earned runs over each of his nine starts. Why would start No. 10 be different?
Sure, the mighty Atlanta Braves lineup may be scaring some potential investors away, but Assad tamed this lineup on the road in his most recent outing, tossing six scoreless frames and striking out seven to earn his fourth victory. The Braves entered their Monday doubleheader with the Padres averaging 4.64 runs per game, down from last season's 5.85 mark, as OF Marcell Ozuna is the lone lineup member producing big numbers. Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson and Austin Riley are underachieving.
You will not find Assad among the top-10 starting pitcher fantasy points leaders due to relatively tepid volume and strikeout rate, but he does have more points than Zac Gallen, George Kirby, Joe Ryan and myriad others who are rostered in nearly every league. Nearly a third of the season is over and one of the ERA leaders remains readily available. It isn't all luck. Assad's fastball is not special, but he keeps hitters off balance with a cutter, slider and curveball. It is well past the time to add Assad, even against Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Cubs should get a key piece of their lineup and defense back on Tuesday as SS Dansby Swanson is ready to return from an injured list stint due to a sore knee. Swanson's current numbers hardly excite, but he has a track record of success, having reached 20 home runs and 80 RBI in each of the past three seasons, and he contributes stolen bases. Swanson is available in 35% of ESPN standard leagues, and likely to turn his ordinary statistics around soon.
What you may have missed on Monday
By Todd Zola
The Detroit Tigers had to go to their bullpen early last night after Reese Olson was struck on the hip by a 102-mph line drive off the bat of Kansas City Royals 2B Michael Massey with two outs in the third inning. Olson wasn't sharp before leaving, having yielded five hits and two runs (one earned) with a walk and two strikeouts. The Royals prevailed 8-3 with Chris Stratton notching a four-out save. He entered the game in the bottom of the eighth with two outs to preserve a five-run lead. He inherited a bases-loaded situation and, since the tying run was on deck, it was indeed a save scenario. If Olson must miss his next start, it could be filled by SP Kenta Maeda, who threw 53 pitches in a rehab effort last night.
The Tampa Bay Rays placed SP Zach Eflin on the 15-day IL due to a sore back. The issue is reportedly similar to an injury Eflin experienced last season that required a two-week absence, though Rays manager Kevin Cash indicates that this time it could be longer.
On the field, Rays SP Taj Bradley opened last night's game against the Boston Red Sox by fanning eight of the first nine hitters. However, the Red Sox clubbed three extra-base hits in the fourth inning, including a home run from 3B Rafael Devers for the sixth game in a row.
Red Sox SP Garrett Whitlock felt soreness in his right elbow yesterday and has been diagnosed with ligament damage. He's seeking another opinion, but it's best to plan on an extended absence.
Milwaukee Brewers SP Joe Ross was forced out of last night's outing after only one inning due to lower back strain. He was placed on the 15-day IL after the game. Brewers 3B Joey Ortiz was hit in the foot by a pitch in the fourth inning. Even though he finished the game, Ortiz had X-rays after the game. They were negative, but he is still considered day-to-day.
The Brewers used seven relievers in their 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Miami Marlins. The Marlins took advantage of C Gary Sanchez being behind the plate by collecting four stolen bases. Marlins SP Ryan Weathers continued to pitch well with a seven-inning quality start. He yielded two runs (one earned) on only two hits, with three walks and eight punchouts.
The Los Angeles Dodgers reported that SP Emmet Sheehan underwent an internal brace procedure on his right elbow, avoiding Tommy John surgery. This allows him to come back around the 2025 All-Star break. The club also announced that closer Evan Phillips was heading out on a rehab assignment, with the expectation he will return to the Dodgers in about a week.
San Diego Padres 2B Xander Bogaerts had to leave the first game of yesterday's doubleheader with the Atlanta Braves after landing heavily on his left shoulder diving for a ground ball in the third inning. Initial imaging came back negative, but Bogaerts missed the nightcap and is awaiting further evaluation.
Everything else you need to know for Tuesday
The fellow with the No. 2 ERA in baseball also pitches Tuesday, as Philadelphia Phillies LHP Ranger Suarez puts his 8-0 mark on the line against the Rangers. (Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga is first with a 0.84 ERA.) Suarez averages 20.9 ESPN fantasy points per outing, tops among all starting pitchers, and he is rostered in nearly every league. As with Assad and Imanaga, Suarez is unlikely to keep his ERA this dominant all season, his .215 BABIP the seventh-best among qualified starters. Still, enjoy this fun ride.
Milwaukee Brewers LHP Robert Gasser has won his first two big-league starts, and goes for No. 3 at Miami against the Marlins, not exactly a fearsome offense. Gasser is not a particularly hard thrower, and he relies heavily on his slider to tame right-handed hitters, throwing it 37% of the time so far. Gasser piled on the strikeouts in the minor leagues, and this is a prime streaming opportunity in a pitcher's park. Fantasy managers should be more interested. The Brewers may not be committing to Gasser for the rest of the season yet, but if he keeps thriving, they will.
Padres RHP Joe Musgrove is slated to return from his IL stint due to a sore elbow to face the Reds, but fantasy managers may want to wait and see how he performs first. Musgrove, once a top-20 fantasy starter, has a 6.37 ERA and 1.51 WHIP, though three of his past four outings before hitting the IL were quality starts. We know what Musgrove, 31, used to be, but whether he can resume pitching at a high level or not - and stay healthy - is another matter.
Betting tip of the day: Chicago White Sox LHP Garrett Crochet leads all of baseball in K/9 and is a close second in strikeout percentage (behind only Tyler Glasnow), so even though the Blue Jays are overly right-handed, I like Crochet for over 6.5 strikeouts (+230). In fact, Toronto LHP Yusei Kikuchi is 24th in strikeout percentage and the White Sox don't hit much.Let's also take over 6.5 strikeouts (+110) for him as well. Expecting a rather low-scoring affair, we'll also take under 7.5 runs (-135).
It's not too late to start a free fantasy baseball league. Leagues drafted this week will start scoring fresh the following Monday. Come and join the fun!
Starting pitcher rankings for Tuesday
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 Tuesday
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.
Carlos Correa (MIN, SS -- 46%) at Patrick Corbin
Byron Buxton (MIN, DH -- 12%) at Corbin
Wenceel Perez (DET, 2B -- 3%) at Alec Marsh
Jorge Soler (SF, RF -- 48%) at Martin Perez
Kerry Carpenter (DET, RF -- 10%) at Marsh
Matt Chapman (SF, 3B -- 32%) at Perez
Danny Jansen (TOR, C -- 8%) vs. Garrett Crochet
Alex Verdugo (NYY, RF -- 45%) vs. Bryan Woo
Joc Pederson (ARI, LF -- 5%) at Gavin Stone
Tyler Freeman (CLE, 3B -- 5%) vs. Adrian Houser
Worst Over-50% rostered hitters for Tuesday
Jordan Westburg (BAL, 2B -- 85%) at Lance Lynn
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (MIA, CF -- 67%) vs. Robert Gasser
Anthony Volpe (NYY, SS -- 82%) vs. Woo
Brice Turang (MIL, 2B -- 72%) at Trevor Rogers
Gabriel Moreno (ARI, C -- 59%) at Stone
Nick Castellanos (PHI, RF -- 62%) vs. Jon Gray
Gleyber Torres (NYY, 2B -- 64%) vs. Woo
Jarren Duran (BOS, CF -- 57%) at Zack Littell
Jonah Heim (TEX, C -- 62%) at Ranger Suarez
Adolis Garcia (TEX, RF -- 97%) at Suarez
THE BAT X's Best Stacks for Tuesday
Atlanta Braves at Javier Assad
San Diego Padres at Andrew Abbott
Chicago Cubs vs. Charlie Morton