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

          Gavin Stone is one of the top streaming options for Monday's Memorial Day slate. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
          • Todd Zola, FantasyMay 27, 2024, 03:32 PM
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            • Writing on fantasy baseball game theory and player analysis since 1997
            • Winner of the 2013 Fantasy Sports Writer's Association Best Baseball Article
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          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 overnight pitching changes and weather-related game postponements, along with the addition of the latest MLB game odds as of the indicated time of publication.

          A Holiday Tradition

          Good news! You can take your white shorts out of winter hibernation. Pools are opening and barbeques are firing up. It's Memorial Day, gateway to the summer.

          Memorial Day is also when fantasy managers can take stock of their rosters. There is still a plethora of players due to decline in production while others have yet to really get going. However, those participating in rotisserie leagues can better assess their teams because the standings are now representative of how they'll look in four months. The places within the standings will shuffle, but prorating the top-to-bottom totals yields category totals that will closely mimic the final version.

          In the early part of the season, the league leading ERA, WHIP and batting average are better than the eventual best in each category, while the last place marks are worse than the final standings. The current spread is close to what it will be at the end of the season. Having a better feel for how the standings will end up aids determining what needs to be done to improve your squad. Realistic goals can be set; now it's time to achieve them.

          What you may have missed on Sunday

          • There was no deciding on what to lead with today. Atlanta Braves OF Ronald Acuna has been diagnosed with a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season. The two most prominent fantasy repercussions are that OF Adam Duvall will likely play more and OF Michael Harris II could move up to the leadoff spot against right-handers.

          • Kansas City Royals OF Kyle Isbel remained sidelined on Sunday after being hit in the face with a foul tip on Saturday. He's not in Monday's lineup either.

          • On Sunday, Los Angeles Dodgers RP Evan Phillips fanned two in a rehab inning with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. He could be ready to return by the end of the week.

          • Texas Rangers OF Wyatt Langford played his second straight game in left field yesterday while rehabbing with Triple-A Round Rock. The club is off today, but if Langford's hamstring responds well, he could be back in the bigs tomorrow.

          • A sore forearm prevented Houston Astros SP Cristian Javier from throwing his bullpen session on Sunday. His availability to start tomorrow is unclear.

          • Seattle Mariners 2B Jorge Polanco left Sunday's contest with a sore hamstring. He's slated to have an MRI today. Polanco missed time earlier this month with a similar injury. Look for INF Dylan Moore to stay in the lineup while Polanco is out. In addition, INF Josh Rojas has been playing less lately, but if Polanco is out for an extended period, Rojas could regain some playing time.

          • The Pittsburgh Pirates lost their battery early on Sunday as C Joey Bart didn't come out for the second inning with a left thumb injury and SP Martin Perez only lasted three frames as he was bothered by a left groin issue.

          • Colorado Rockies OF Jordan Beck was placed on the 10-day IL after being diagnosed with a broken hand. With OF Nolan Jones still unable to take swings while he's out with back and knee issues, the club will rely on OF Jake Cave and the recently recalled OF Sean Bouchard. The Rockies begin a three-game homestand today against the Cleveland Guardians, then head to Chavez Ravine for a three-game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

          • Cincinnati Reds 1B/3B Jeimer Candelario missed his second consecutive game yesterday as he's experiencing neck stiffness. His availability for today's contest is unknown, with INF Santiago Espinal ready to fill in again if needed.

          What you need to know for Monday

          Only 11 games comprise the Memorial Say slate, beginning at 1:05 PM with the Boston Red Sox visiting the Baltimore Orioles. There are 10 matinees with only the Seattle Mariners Houston the Houston Astros played under the lights.

          • The top streaming option is Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Gavin Stone (17.5% rostered in ESPN leagues), taking the hill in a late afternoon affair in Citi Field against the New York Mets. Stone's string of four straight quality starts was snapped in his last outing, but he still tossed six innings, fanning five with just one walk while yielding four runs. Stone only has 34 punchouts in 50 innings, but he's surrendered only four long balls. The Mets sport a below average wOBA and Citi Field is the top pitching venue in MLB.

          • Opposing Stone will be RHP Tylor Megill (1.3%). Normally, streaming against the Dodgers lineup isn't a consideration, but it's an extremely top-heavy lineup and DH Shohei Ohtani is playing through a lingering hamstring issue. Heading into Sunday's action, the Dodgers averaged 3.2 runs per game over the previous week, the seventh lowest in the league. Megill returned to action on May 20 after being sidelined since March 31 with shoulder inflammation. The right-hander fanned seven Cleveland Guardians in five frames, rendered more impressive because the Guardians sport the seventh lowest strikeout rate in the league.

          • Cincinnati Reds LHP Nick Lodolo is slated to come off the 15-day IL and take the ball for a home date with the St. Louis Cardinals. The southpaw has been out with a groin strain but is tracking to return on the first day he's eligible. There's risk using a pitcher in this scenario, but Lodolo recorded a stellar 43 strikeouts with only nine walks in 35 frames before getting hurt. Splits in small samples are usually non-predictive, unless they're extreme. Since the Cardinals have registered the third lowest wOBA facing lefties, it's fair to give Lodolo the advantage in this NL Central affair.

          • We like to keep things positive, but sometimes it's necessary to identify spots to avoid using an assumed top starter.

          • It's been a rough early go for LHP Blake Snell. Last season's NL Cy Young Award recipient is coming off paternity leave to make only his fifth start this season. He's pitched to an unsightly 11.40 ERA and 2.07 WHIP. Snell has fanned a respectable 17 in 15 stanzas, but he's issued a hefty nine free passes. Snell has a home date with the Philadelphia Phillies. Pitching at Oracle Park is advantageous, but the Phillies lineup is one of the most productive facing southpaws, including drawing walks at a well above average 10.5% clip. There's no shame in waiting for Snell to find his groove.

          • Betting Tip of the Day: Expecting a lot of scoring in any game involving the Miami Marlins is suspect, but both starting pitchers in their road date with the San Diego Padres are vulnerable. The Padres will hand the ball to SP Michael King, who has been around a league average pitcher with a high home run rate. The Marlins will send Trevor Rogers to the Petco Park hill. Rogers has a 6.11 ERA and 1.84 WHIP over 45 2/3 innings. Together, both offenses should score ample times to take the over on 7.5 runs (-115).

          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 Monday

          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 Monday

          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 Monday

          THE BAT X's Best Stacks for Today