<
        >

          Fantasy baseball Monday advice: Start Rodriguez, Birdsong

          Eduardo Rodriguez projects as one of the top streaming options on a relatively light Monday MLB slate. Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
          • Todd Zola, FantasySep 22, 2024, 08:30 PM
            Close
            • Writing on fantasy baseball game theory and player analysis since 1997
            • Winner of the 2013 Fantasy Sports Writer's Association Best Baseball Article
            Follow on X

          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 will be 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

          Short Slate Strategy

          Only four games comprise Monday's schedule, leaving a bunch of holes in your active fantasy lineup. With precious few days left in the season, it's crucial to take advantage of every opportunity.

          In points leagues, the approach is straightforward. Identify players in action on Monday and roster as many as possible.

          In category leagues, it's best to focus on the stats where you have the most to gain. Though, sometimes instead of trying to gain points, the best tactic is making sure others don't catch you in the category.

          Two areas often meriting extra focus are steals and saves/holds. Let's review some players in action on Monday with a chance to contribute.

          Using the last month as a basis, the best team to target is the Seattle Mariners for their road date with the Houston Astros. The primary players to pick up are OF Victor Robles (7.7% rostered in ESPN leagues) with 13 steals over the past month, 2B/3B/SS/OF Dylan Moore (3.4% rostered) with eight steals over the prior month and 2B/3B Josh Rojas (1.6% rostered) with four swipes over the previous month. Robles has been dealing with some minor injuries but if he's out, there is a better chance Moore is playing.

          Another solid option is the Chicago Cubs when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies. Using the same time frame of a month, SS Dansby Swanson (63.7% rostered) has collected six bags while OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (14.9% rostered) has gathered four pilfers.

          Switching to the bullpens, five of the eight primary closers in action on Monday are available in over half of all ESPN leagues. They are Arizona Diamondbacks Justin Martinez (7.5%), San Francisco Giants Ryan Walker (28.2%), Cubs Porter Hodge (8.0%), Phillies Carlos Estevez (41.3%) and Blue Jays Chad Green (8.5%).

          Everything else you need to know for Monday

          • Monday's slate begins at 6:40 p.m. ET with the Phillies hosting the Cubs. It features a pair of solid starters with RHP Aaron Nola taking the hill for the hosts to be opposed by LHP Justin Steele. Nola and the Phillies are in a tight race with the Los Angeles Dodgers for home field advantage that comes with the best record in the National League, so expect a full outing from the veteran right-hander. Steele will be making his second start since missing time with left elbow tendinitis. Steele threw 57 pitches, spanning 2 2/3 scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics last Wednesday. He isn't likely to toss more than four or five frames on Monday.

          • The only two probable starters with a rostership low enough to be reviewed as streaming options are facing each other with Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (28.2% rostered) taking the hill at home against Giants RHP Hayden Birdsong (2.9% rostered). Rodriguez is the preferred choice as he checks more boxes. The Diamondbacks are still in the thick of the playoff chase while the Giants are playing out the string. Rodriguez faces the weaker offense and enjoys home field advantage. Most importantly, Rodriguez is coming off a pair of solid efforts, including fanning 11 in 6 6 1/3 innings on the road against the Colorado Rockies.

          • With so few options, let's expand the rostership threshold to include Boston Red Sox RHP Tanner Houck (64.3% rostered). After making the American League All-Star team, Houck has sputtered over the second half, recently missing a few starts due to shoulder fatigue. He returned last week, throwing four innings with one run allowed against the Tampa Bay Rays. Houck won't be stretched out too much more, but he should muster at least five frames.

          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