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, 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.
Guardians of the Mound
It started with Corey Kluber several years ago, then pre-injury Shane Bieber. The Cleveland Guardians have developed a reputation for getting the most out of their pitching.
A current example is SP Tanner Bibee, selected in the fifth round of the 2021 draft. That's a relatively high pick, but after spending a season in the Guardians system, Bibee ascended prospect ranks before debuting last season. His development continued this season as Bibee has increased his strikeout rate while lowering his walk rate. His 20.8% K-BB% ranks 12th among qualified pitchers.
Not every Guardians hurler has developed as hoped. Triston McKenzie and Gavin Williams are best considered works in progress as injuries have curtailed their development.
A noticeable miss is Logan Allen, though the lefty is still just 25-years-old so there is time to get his career back on track. Last season, Allen flashed some promise, but instead of taking the next step this season, he fell back and has spent the second half of the season with Triple-A Columbus.
The Guardians' magic extends beyond those developed in their system. Heading into the year, RHP Ben Lively sported a 5.05 ERA and 1.41 WHIP for his career. This season, he has posted a 3.68 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 22 starts. Lively's expected stats suggest he's been aided by Lady Luck, but that seems to be a common thread among Cleveland pitchers.
A couple of months ago, the Guardians signed LHP Matthew Boyd to a major league contract, ostensibly to get him ready for 2025. Boyd underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2023, so there was a chance he could also help the club down the stretch this season. With Carlos Carrasco on the IL, and McKenzie still struggling to find a groove, Boyd has become an important cog in the Guardians' three-way battle for supremacy in the AL Central.
Boyd has logged a pair of starts. He limited the Chicago Cubs to one earned run over 5 1/3 innings is his debut, but walked four New York Yankees in his last outing, resulting in three earned runs over 5 1/3 frames.
Command and control often lag when returning from Tommy John surgery, so it's not alarming that Boyd struggled in his second outing. For his career, Boyd's control has been above average, checking in with a 7.6% walk rate. However, command has been his issue as shown via a career 1.59 HR/9 mark.
On Sunday, Boyd (4.5% rostered in ESPN leagues) has a home matchup against the Texas Rangers. For the season, the Rangers sport the ninth lowest wOBA facing left-handers. They have a league average home run rate with a lefty on the hill, rendering Boyd a streaming candidate on the last day of this scoring period.\
What you may have missed on Saturday
By Todd Zola
St. Louis Cardinals C Willson Contreras will be placed on the 10-day IL after he was hit in the hand by a pitch in the fourth inning Saturday night. Contreras was diagnosed with a broken finger. Backup C Pedro Pages will take over the primary duties behind the plate. The club will likely recall Ivan Herrera to take over as the backup.
Minnesota Twins C Ryan Jeffers missed Saturday night's game with a sore right hand. Jeffers was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning of Friday night's contest. X-rays came back negative, but Jeffers had difficulty gripping the bat, so he sat out yesterday. His status for Sunday is unclear. In other news, the Twins reported that SS Carlos Correa won't return until sometime in September. Correa has been dealing with plantar fasciitis. In addition, OF Alex Kirilloff left his rehab assignment last night after experiencing back soreness. He's also not expected to return until next month.
Seattle Mariners OF Victor Robles had to leave Saturday's contest after he was hit in the hand while attempting to bunt in the first inning. X-rays revealed there wasn't a fracture, just a bruise. Robles is considered day-to-day.
The Houston Astros were without OF Yordan Alvarez for the second consecutive game yesterday as the slugger is dealing with soreness in his neck. His status for Sunday's road tilt with the Baltimore Orioles is up in the air.
Speaking of the Orioles, they were shorthanded yesterday with OF Cedric Mullins and 1B Ryan Mountcastle both sidelined for their matchup against the Astros. Mullins had to leave Friday's tilt early because of left quad tightness. Mountcastle was on the bench for the second straight game after he hurt his wrist sliding Thursday night. Both are questionable to play Sunday.
Tampa Bay Rays SP Shane Baz will not make his scheduled start Sunday. The righty isn't feeling well and it's unclear when he'll return to the rotation.
The Philadelphia Phillies decided to give their rotation an extra day of rest, so originally scheduled SP Zack Wheeler will be pushed to tomorrow with everyone else moving up a day. The club will call up LHP Kolby Allard from Triple-A Lehigh Valley for a spot start. Allard has made two starts since being sent down earlier this month. He fanned 11 in those nine frames but surrendered 13 hits and seven earned runs in the pair of outings.
Everything else you need to know for Sunday
Sunday's action commences at 12:05 p.m. ET with the Atlanta Braves hosting the Washington Nationals. Reynaldo Lopez will be starting for the home team with DJ Herz getting the call for the visitors. There is a chance that Lopez (74.9% rostered) is available since he was dropped by some during his recent IL stint. If so, Lopez should be picked up. Earlier this week, he didn't miss a beat in his first start back, fanning 10 while walking only one against the Philadelphia Phillies. Lopez scattered five hits while allowing just one run in five frames. Herz (3.1% rostered) is a streamer by virtue of high strikeout potential. The rookie southpaw has punched out 75 in 60 2/3 stanzas. The Braves have fanned at an above average clip facing lefties, and they're working with a lineup devoid of Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley.
Another pitcher whose rostership dropped because of injury and remains too low is Seattle Mariners RHP Bryan Woo (67.9% rostered in ESPN leagues. Woo has only made 15 starts but he has recorded a sparkling 2.12 ERA and .83 WHIP. His 19.7% strikeout rate is low, but Woo has issued only nine bases on balls in 80 2/3 innings while yielding just five long balls. Woo tops Sunday's rankings with a home date with the San Francisco Giants.
The Milwaukee Brewers enjoy the biggest lead of the six divisions. Part of the reason is they've won all four of Frankie Montas' starts since he was acquired from the Reds at the trade deadline. Next up for Montas is a juicy road affair with the Oakland Athletics. Since the deal, Montas has registered a 2.57 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, supported by 21 strikeouts in 21 frames while allowing just one home run. The Athletics have scored the second fewest runs per game this month.
Marcus Stroman (45.4% rostered) was initially slated to pitch on Saturday, but the New York Mets pushed him to Sunday. Here is what colleague Mike Sheets wrote about the start. "Stroman finds himself with a favorable matchup, taking the rubber against the Colorado Rockies. Away from Coors Field, the Rockies sport the worst strikeout rate in baseball (27.8%) and the second-worst wRC+ (78). Stroman, who has held opponents to three or fewer earned runs in five of his last six starts, should be a popular streamer."
Betting Tip of the Day: The New York Yankees host the Colorado Rockies this afternoon. The temperatures will be warm with a slight wind blowing out to left field. With LHP Austin Gomber on the hill for the Rockies, the Yankees have one of the highest implied run totals on the slate. All this adds up to Yankees OF Aaron Judge enjoying another productive afternoon. I'm taking Judge and over 3.5 Total Hits + Runs + RBIs (+135).
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.
Andrew Vaughn (CHW, 1B -- 7%) vs. Bryan Sammons
Giancarlo Stanton (NYY, RF -- 30%) vs. Austin Gomber
Oneil Cruz (PIT, SS -- 50%) vs. Nick Martinez
Jorge Soler (ATL, RF -- 49%) vs. DJ Herz
Hunter Renfroe (KC, RF -- 3%) vs. Kolby Allard
Kerry Carpenter (DET, RF -- 11%) at Jonathan Cannon
Parker Meadows (DET, CF -- 3%) at Cannon
Andrew Benintendi (CHW, LF -- 11%) vs. Sammons
TJ Friedl (CIN, CF -- 31%) at Luis Ortiz
Jake Burger (MIA, 3B -- 46%) vs. Javier Assad
Worst over-50% rostered hitters for Sunday
Tyler Fitzgerald (SF, CF -- 51%) at Bryan Woo
Jackson Holliday (BAL, SS -- 52%) vs. Yusei Kikuchi
Matt Chapman (SF, 3B -- 63%) at Woo
Cal Raleigh (SEA, C -- 81%) vs. Robbie Ray
Brenton Doyle (COL, CF -- 60%) at Marcus Stroman
Anthony Volpe (NYY, SS -- 73%) vs. Austin Gomber
Brent Rooker (OAK, RF -- 83%) vs. Frankie Montas
Adolis Garcia (TEX, RF -- 87%) at Matthew Boyd
Jeremy Pena (HOU, SS -- 52%) at Dean Kremer
Brice Turang (MIL, 2B -- 68%) at Joey Estes