<
>

Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Tuesday's MLB games

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 Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is geared towards ESPN 10-team leagues with standard scoring.

For an in-depth look at what to expect in this daily article and for how to best utilize the information contained within, check out our handy primer here.

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.

What you need to know for Tuesday's MLB games

By Derek Carty


Starting pitcher rankings for Tuesday


Bullpen usage watch for Tuesday

By Todd Zola

  • Ryan Pressly recorded the final three outs of the Houston Astros' 9-4 home win over the Boston Red Sox last night. It was a non-save situation, but Pressly pitched because he began to warm up in the bottom of the eighth when it was just a three-run lead, then his offense tacked on a pair of insurance tallies. The curious part was that Pressly appeared on Sunday, so this was his second straight day on the hill, putting tonight's game in jeopardy. However, Presslly worked three consecutive games under the almost exact same scenario in July, so it isn't a no-brainer to reserve him on a fantasy team. Furthermore, Bryan Abreu has also pitched the last two days, and Kendall Graveman and Hector Neris also appeared yesterday, giving them a high pitch count over the past three days. Manager Dusty Baker is no doubt relying on Justin Verlander to go deep into tonight's contest, but he probably would use his tired bullpen as normal to secure a potential win.

  • Paul Sewald was tasked with preserving a 1-1 tie in the top of the 10th after the Arizona Diamondbacks pushed a run across on the bottom of the ninth to draw even with the Texas Rangers. Sewald delivered, and then his club scored three in the bottom of the 11th to win 4-3. Sewald tossed 14 pitches just two days after accumulating 27 on Saturday, so the combined 41 renders his availability for tonight up in the air. Earlier this month, Sewald worked three out of four days after a total of 40 pitches in that span. Complicating matters is backup closers Kevin Ginkel and Scott McGough are similarly taxed, with McGough almost assuredly on the sidelines tonight with 63 pitches since Saturday. Rookie Justin Martinez picked up a save earlier this month when the bullpen was in a similar state, but he also has a high pitch count since Saturday. Benching Sewald is defensible for an adequate replacement; it just won't be for one of his teammates.

  • The Tampa Bay Rays register as a team with a high winning probability over the next three days as they host the Colorado Rockies for a trio of interleague affairs. The Rays don't have a set closer, though Pete Fairbanks is the primary ninth inning guy with 15 saves and two holds. Jason Adam has 11 saves, but most came when Fairbanks was injured. Adam also has 10 holds. Look for both to be busy over the next three days, racking up fantasy points.


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.


Worst Over-50% Rostered Hitters for Tuesday


THE BAT X's Best Stacks for Tuesday

THE BAT X is 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.


Prop of the Day

Grayson Rodriguez, Orioles: Over/Under 5.5 strikeouts (-156/+124)

PREDICTION

  • THE BAT sees Rodriguez putting up 5.3 strikeouts for this matchup on average, while projecting him to exceed his player prop total 44.5% of the time. THE BAT believes there is positive value on the UNDER, with an expected value of $24.43.

FACTORS THAT FAVOR THE OVER

  • When it comes to Rodriguez's strikeout skill, THE BAT puts him in the 91st percentile among all starting pitchers in the majors.

  • Over his last three outings, Rodriguez has experienced a substantial spike in his fastball velocity, from 96.6 mph over the entire season to 97.9 mph of late.

FACTORS THAT FAVOR THE UNDER

  • Via THE BAT X, the team with the third-least strikeout-heavy lineup on the slate today is the Toronto Blue Jays, with a 20.8% underlying K%.

  • Oriole Park at Camden Yards profiles as the No. 21 field in the league for strikeouts, according to THE BAT.

  • The temperature and humidity for this contest will be the fifth-most suitable for hitting on the slate.

  • Given his reverse platoon split, Rodriguez will be in a tough position being matched up with six bats in the projected offense who bat from the same side in this matchup.