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          Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Sunday: Lean on Quintana

          Jose Quintana is one of the top streaming options for Sunday's slate before the All-Star break. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
          • Todd Zola, FantasyJul 14, 2024, 11:30 AM
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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 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

          Time for a break

          Time sure flies. It seems like just yesterday Ronald Acuna Jr. was the consensus No. 1 overall player and Spencer Strider was the top-ranked fantasy pitcher.

          Sunday does not end the fantasy week in ESPN leagues. Next weekend's action is rolled into Week 16, so keep that in mind when considering games started maximums and the like. We'll start updating the 10-day rolling grids as soon as teams formally announce their post break rotation plans. This can be as early as Wednesday, though most clubs roll them in on Thursday and Friday.

          The All-Star break is a great time to regroup and refresh from the daily grind, but it also offers a chance to take stock of your roster. With no games to incite recency bias, it's easier to negotiate trades. Those in keeper and dynasty leagues can make the often-difficult decision to go for the championship or plan for next season.

          As for the last slate before the break, there is an 11:35 AM ET contest featuring the Baltimore Orioles hosting the New York Yankees. In ESPN leagues, all free agents must be picked up by this time, though you can make moves between actives and reserves until game time of the involved players. Please note, there is no Sunday night baseball game. Instead, ESPN will be covering the MLB draft.

          Enjoy the break. We'll have a brief Forecaster update on Wednesday, then we'll be back previewing next Friday's slate on Thursday.

          What you may have missed on Saturday

          • The Minnesota Twins announced that 3B Jose Miranda is heading to the 10-day injured list. Miranda missed the past two games with lower back stiffness, so the club decided to give him Sunday and the break to recover. The hope is he'll be able to return as soon as eligible on July 23. The Twins were without SS Carlos Correa last night as he was scratched with a bruised right heel. Correa is questionable for today.

          • For the second time in the past week, Cincinnati Reds 2B Jonathan India was removed from the game with a left knee contusion. Last night, it was following a collision at second base. He missed last Tuesday with a similar issue. India's availability for today's final contest before the break is unclear.

          • The Toronto Blue Jays were again without SS Bo Bichette last night, marking his third straight game on the bench with a sore calf. Before the game, the club announced that RP Yimi Garcia will join the team today, though it's not clear if he'll be activated and whether he'll return to closing duties. • It's been a rough first half for Colorado Rockies OF Nolan Jones as he's played only 49 games due to back issues. His woes continue as Jones is returning to the 10-day IL, again for a back strain. The club called up OF Sean Bouchard to take Jones' roster spot.

          • The Baltimore Orioles placed OF Heston Kjerstad on the 7-day concussion list after he was hit in the helmet by a pitch on Friday night. He was replaced in yesterday's lineup by OF Austin Hays, but Hays was removed from last night's contest in the seventh inning with adductor soreness. Hays status is day-to-day, but of course there is only one more day before the break.

          • After their game last night, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers both indicated that today will be a bullpen game. Complicating matters is last night's tilt was a 10-inning affair with each starting pitcher only covering five frames, so the respective relief corps could be fortified by callups before the game.

          Everything else you need to know for Sunday

          • The top-ranked streamer, and No. 3 overall pitcher on Sunday's ledger is Jose Quintana (9.9% rostered in ESPN leagues). The veteran lefty will take the hill in Citi Field when the New York Mets take on the Colorado Rockies. Quintana has been one of the league's most effective pitchers heading into the break with a .89 ERA and .89 WHIP over his last five efforts, with a palatable 27 strikeouts in those 30 innings. Quintana will face a lineup with the seventh lowest wOBA and third highest strikeout rate with a lefty on mound.

          • Two more highly ranked spot starters will square off in St. Petersburg with Ryan Pepiot (39.3% rostered) and the Tampa Bay Rays hosting Ben Lively (22.0%) and the Cleveland Guardians. Pepiot is ranked higher, despite facing a more productive lineup. The Guardians' .307 wOBA facing righties is league average while the Rays' .293 mark is the fifth lowest versus right-handers. The Guardians also fan considerably less than the Rays. On the other hand, Pepiot spots a lower xFIP and SIERA than Lively, and Pepiot also punches out more batters. Consider Pepiot the riskier option, but with a higher reward. Lively is the safer choice.

          • Cincinnati Reds SP Nick Lodolo (53.3% rostered) has struggled in his last two outings, but that has suppressed his availability to the point he can be included as a streamer. That said, it's best to act quickly since the lefty will no doubt be a popular add with a home date against the Miami Marlins on the ledger. The Marlins sport the league's worst wOBA facing southpaw pitching.

          • Betting tip of the day: The Chicago White Sox are expected to use a parade of relievers, with LHP Jared Shuster and RHP Chad Kuhl likely to see action. In these instances, it's nice to back a switch-hitter, so I'm betting on Pittsburgh Pirates OF Bryan Reynolds to go over on 1.5 hits (+175).

          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 Sunday

          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 Sunday

          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 Sunday

          The BAT X's best stacks for Sunday