Check out all of our starting pitcher rankings and other lineup selection tools here to help you make smart fantasy baseball lineup decisions. MLB betting tips for each day's slate of games will also be added in the morning. MLB game odds are provided by ESPN BET
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Pitchers to stream on Saturday
Between pitching fewer than 60 innings last season, and the potential of thumb soreness when he goes deep into games, Max Scherzer can't be counted on for more than five or six frames. However, with his strikeout potential, and support from an emerging Toronto Blue Jays offense, the veteran warrants a fantasy start.
Pitch inefficiency has forced Chad Patrick out of a few games earlier than the Milwaukee Brewers hoped, but he still tossed a respectable 89 2/3 innings with 93 strikeouts over the first half. A road start against the surging Miami Marlins won't be a cakewalk, but it's still a favorable fantasy matchup.
Michael Wacha struggled in his last outing, but he's been solid this season for the Kansas City Royals with eight quality starts in 17 efforts. Saturday brings a road start in the desert against an injury-riddled Arizona Diamondbacks lineup. Corbin Carroll is due back soon but he's out along with Gabriel Moreno and possibly Josh Naylor.
Pitchers to avoid on Saturday
Nick Lodolo has allowed at least one home run in five straight starts. Granted, four were at home in Great American Ballpark, but with the Cincinnati Reds visiting the Philadelphia Phillies, Lodolo still has to contend with a homer-friendly venue, not to mention a lineup with several batters capable of clearing the fence.
Saturday's best matchups for pitchers
Seattle Mariners pitchers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates hitters
Offense: C | Park: A | Umpire: C | Temperature: C | Wind: B | Home
The average pitcher would post a 3.51 ERA in this matchup.
Milwaukee Brewers pitchers vs. Miami Marlins hitters
Offense: C | Park: B | Umpire: C | Temperature: C+ | Wind: C | Away
The average pitcher would post a 3.94 ERA in this matchup.
Washington Nationals pitchers vs. Boston Red Sox hitters
Offense: B | Park: B | Umpire: C | Temperature: D- | Wind: C | Home
The average pitcher would post a 3.94 ERA in this matchup.
Saturday's worst matchups for pitchers
St. Louis Cardinals pitchers vs. Chicago Cubs hitters
Offense: D | Park: B | Umpire: C | Temperature: D- | Wind: F | Away
The average pitcher would post a 6.02 ERA in this matchup.
Houston Astros pitchers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers hitters
Offense: F | Park: F | Umpire: D | Temperature: D | Wind: D | Away
The average pitcher would post a 5.82 ERA in this matchup.
Chicago White Sox pitchers vs. Colorado Rockies hitters
Offense: A | Park: F | Umpire: C | Temperature: D- | Wind: A+ | Away
The average pitcher would post a 5.38 ERA in this matchup.
Hitters to stream on Saturday
After appearing to get back on track in a start against the Tampa Bay Rays, Walker Buehler has three straight subpar efforts, to the point Boston Red Sox manager needed to affirm Buehler was staying in the rotation. He's logged a 13.50 ERA and 2.56 WHIP over his previous 11 1/3 innings, fanning only eight with a bloated 14 free passes. On Friday, the Red Sox went to town on the Washington Nationals pitchers, expect the reverse on Saturday with Luis Garcia Jr, Josh Bell, Nathaniel Lowe and Keibert Ruiz all in play.
Saturday's best matchups for hitters
Colorado Rockies batters vs. Chicago White Sox pitchers
SP: B | Bullpen: A+ | Park: A+ | Umpire: D | Framing: B | Temperature: B | Wind: F | Home
The average hitter would post a .377 wOBA in this matchup.
White Sox LHB vs. Rockies pitchers
SP: B | Bullpen: C | Park: A+ | Umpire: D | Framing: B | Temperature: B | Wind: F | Away
The average hitter would post a .367 wOBA in this matchup.
Toronto Blue Jays LHB vs. Los Angeles Angels pitchers
SP: A | Bullpen: A+ | Park: B | Umpire: D | Framing: C | Temperature: B | Wind: B | Home
The average hitter would post a .365 wOBA in this matchup.
Saturday's worst matchups for hitters
Pittsburgh Pirates RHB vs. Seattle Mariners pitchers
SP: F | Bullpen: F | Park: F | Umpire: C | Framing: F | Temperature: C | Wind: D | Away
The average hitter would post a .262 wOBA in this matchup.
Athletics RHB vs. San Francisco Giants pitchers
SP: F | Bullpen: F | Park: B | Umpire: C | Framing: F | Temperature: B | Wind: A | Home
The average hitter would post a .281 wOBA in this matchup.
Angels RHB vs. Blue Jays pitchers
SP: F | Bullpen: F | Park: B | Umpire: D | Framing: D | Temperature: B | Wind: B | Away
The average hitter would post a .292 wOBA in this matchup.
Betting tips
Best/worst pitcher/hitter matchups and betting projections are generated by THE BAT X, a 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. Betting projections for every player, team, and game can be found at EV Analytics.
Note: Expected Value is a measure of how good a bet is, factoring the probability that it will win versus the odds the book is providing. If you were to wager $1.00 100 times on a bet with an Expected Value of $25, you would win some and you would lose some, but in the end you would expect to come away with $25 in profit on your $100 investment.
Saturday's top home run prop bets
Christian Walker | OVER 0.5 HR (+425)
Projection: 22% chance of this bet hitting, with a $13.24 EV
One reason to bet this: The wind projects to be blowing out to RF at 9.2 mph in this matchup, the fourth-strongest of the day.
Isaac Paredes | OVER 0.5 HR (+525)
Projection: 18% chance of this bet hitting, with a $12.63 EV
One reason to bet this: Dodger Stadium' has the ninth-shallowest centerfield fences in MLB.
Zach Neto | OVER 0.5 HR (+425)
Projection: 21% chance of this bet hitting, with a $8.89 EV
One reason to bet this: The wind projects to be blowing out to LF at 8.1-mph in this contest, the seventh-strongest of the day.
Saturday's top pitcher prop bets
Drew Pomeranz | OVER 1.5 K (+160)
Projection: 75% chance of this bet hitting, with a $95.26 EV
One reason to bet this: It is expected that we will see a Pitchers Umpire (John Tumpane) in charge of the strike zone in this game.
Ryne Nelson | OVER 3.5 K (-130)
Projection: 63% chance of this bet hitting, with a $15.89 EV
One reason to bet this: Ryne Nelson's fastball velocity of 94.7 mph is in the 76th percentile of all starting pitchers this year.
Mike Burrows | UNDER 2.5 ER (-160)
Projection: 69% chance of this bet hitting, with a $18.96 EV
One reason to bet this: The weather report, in terms of temperature and humidity, calls for the best pitching conditions on the slate.
Saturday's Top YRFI/NRFI Bets
Yankees @ Mets | YRFI (-120)
Projection: 55% chance of RUN with a $1.97 EV
Red Sox @ Nationals | NRFI (+105)
Projection: 49% chance of NO RUN with a $0.47 EV
Red Sox @ Nationals | NRFI (+105)
Projection: 49% chance of NO RUN with a $0.47 EV