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          Fantasy baseball Tuesday advice: Roll with Braves' Reynaldo Lopez

          Reynaldo Lopez might have an innings restriction Tuesday, but he's still worth using. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire
          • Eric Karabell, ESPN Senior WriterAug 20, 2024, 12:52 PM
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            • Charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame
            • Author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments"
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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

          Reynaldo returns

          The ERA leaderboards say potential Cy Young award winners Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves' Chris Sale lead the way at 2.49 and 2.62, respectively, but that is only because Braves RHP Reynaldo Lopez lacks the innings to qualify for the honor. Lopez boasts a magnificent 2.06 ERA over 104 2/3 innings, and he returns from a three-week injured list stint (forearm tightness) Tuesday at home to face the division rival Philadelphia Phillies.

          Lopez, 30, has been a revelation in Atlanta's rotation this season, earning a starting role in March and dominating for four months. Lopez last held a regular rotation role in 2020 with the Chicago White Sox, and he has surpassed 100 innings for the first time since 2019. Concerns about arm health for the rest of the season are valid, but there shouldn't be many worries about performance. Lopez has permitted more than two earned runs in only three of his 19 starts, though he posted a 3.20 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in July.

          The Phillies managed a mere two hits over six innings in a 6-0 loss to Lopez in early July, and while they recently enjoyed facing Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals pitching in a six-game homestand, their lineup remains inconsistent. The Phillies also hit considerably better in home games (.777 OPS at home, .724 on the road). The Braves will likely be cautious with Lopez and his pitch count Tuesday, but the innings he does offer should be solid.

          What you may have missed on Monday

          By Todd Zola

          • The Atlanta Braves received bad news when an MRI showed that 3B Austin Riley broke his right hand after being hit by a pitch on Sunday. The timetable calls for Riley to be out for 6-8 weeks, likely sidelining him for the rest of the regular season. Luke Williams is expected to garner the bulk of the action at the hot corner.

          • After missing Sunday's affair due to a jammed finger, it was expected that Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman would be sidelined last night, and maybe longer. However, Freeman played, batting third and manning first base. Manager Dave Roberts indicated it will be a matter of pain tolerance for Freeman. He was 0-for-4 with a strikeout, but 3B Max Muncy clobbered a two-run homer in his first game back from an extended IL stint, fueling the Dodgers' 3-0 blanking of the Seattle Mariners. After being used in a setup capacity for almost a month, erstwhile closer Evan Phillips collected his first save since July 23. It's unclear whether or not Phillips has recaptured ninth-inning duties, but since yielding two runs to the Houston Astros on July 27, Phillips hasn't surrendered any earned runs in 7 1/3 frames.

          • San Diego Padres SS Ha-Seong Kim missed last night's game as his shoulder is still being evaluated. An MRI conducted yesterday was favorable, but it wasn't conclusive so Kim could undergo further examination. His status for tonight's contest is questionable, but chances are good that Kim will remain sidelined, with an IL stint under consideration.

          • In an expected move, the Arizona Diamondbacks placed 2B Ketel Marte on the 10-day IL due to a sprained ankle. Kevin Newman and Blaze Alexander are expected to share duties at the keystone. The club hopes Marte can return by the end of the month.

          • The Pittsburgh Pirates placed 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes on the 10-day IL as a result of back inflammation. The club also revealed that Hayes has been playing while dealing with a herniated disc in his back for the bulk of the season. Hayes has seen specialists but it's not clear that surgery will rectify the issue. Presently, Jared Triolo figures to fill in for Hayes, although once 2B Nick Gonzales returns, Isiah Kiner-Falefa will likely shift from second base to third base.

          • San Francisco Giants C Patrick Bailey was a late scratch due to tightness in his right side. He'll likely be re-evaluated today. Reserve C Curt Casali filled in last night. If Bailey must miss action, C Jakson Reetz will likely be recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.

          Everything else you need to know for Tuesday

          • Arizona Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez starts in Miami in just the third outing of his disappointing, delayed season. The first two were not very impressive, as Rodriguez, who returned from missing four months with a sore shoulder, permitted six earned runs over 10 2/3 innings to the Cleveland Guardians and Colorado Rockies. The Marlins aren't exactly an offensive juggernaut, and they play in a noted pitching park, but streaming Rodriguez in fantasy remains dangerous.

          • New York Yankees RHP Luis Gil has become difficult to trust, as he hasn't reached six innings in any of his past four outings, though he did win two of them. Gil still leads the major leagues in walks, having issued 10 in his past three outings, covering an inefficient 14 1/3 innings. The Guardians are hitting .222 with a .647 OPS since the All-Star break, among the worst marks in baseball, but Gil's continued wildness makes him risky.

          • The final scheduled game of the day features yet another risky hurler in Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Walker Buehler, who will face the Seattle Mariners. Buehler returned from a two-month injured list stint from hip inflammation last week to face the Milwaukee Brewers and lasted 10 outs, permitting four runs (one earned) and four walks. His ERA is 5.58 over nine starts. Fantasy managers should not assume the Buehler that we used to call a top-10 hurler as recently as 2021 is returning to prominence anytime soon.

          • Betting tip of the day: On Monday, the Baltimore Orioles dropped the first game of their road set with the New York Mets, losing 4-3. Tonight, the Orioles are slight underdogs but the Zola model has them as slim favorites. The play seems to be the Orioles and the money line (+105).

          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.

          Worst over-50% rostered hitters for Tuesday

          THE BAT X's Best Stacks for Tuesday