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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 Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is geared towards 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.
By Todd Zola
• Closer Chart: Latest bullpen intel• MLB Depth Charts for every team• Player news wire with fantasy spin
Sunday marks the end of fantasy Week 16, meaning there are only four periods remaining before playoffs commence in ESPN standard head-to-head formats. Games begin at 12:05 PM ET with Cristian Javier and the Houston Astros wrapping up a series in Progressive Field against Triston McKenzie and the Cleveland Guardians. Both hurlers are rostered in most ESPN and will provide a challenge for the opposing batters. That said, even though it's better this season, historically Javier has been prone to the long ball, rendering Josh Naylor (58% rostered in ESPN leagues) and Nolan Jones (6%) as hitting streamers.
Hopefully you don't need a last-minute pitching boost as the streaming inventory is light. The top two options square off in Wrigley Field with Jesus Luzardo (26%) toeing the rubber for the Marlins and Adrian Sampson (2%) taking the ball for the Cubs. Both lineups are among the least productive in the league. Sampson is the safer option while Luzardo is riskier, but with greater strikeout potential. Team needs dictate the choice between the two, with Luzardo favored by fantasy teams needing whiffs or to make up a lot of ground.
Angels lefty Reid Detmers remains available in more than 70% of ESPN leagues despite dominating in July and piling on the strikeouts, and fantasy managers should add him for Sunday at Seattle and beyond. Video by Eric Karabell
The next best candidates also oppose each other with Kutter Crawford (7%) and the Boston Red Sox wrapping up a series in Kauffmann Stadium with Brady Singer (30%) and the Kansas City Royals. Singer is the more established hurler amid a breakout campaign, but Crawford draws an easier lineup. That said, the Red Sox lineup is clicking on all cylinders, so consider Singer if you're behind and need a high strikeout option to make up ground.
While we'll obviously have you covered with notes for Monday's action, sometimes it helps to plan ahead. There are seven games on the Monday docket, meaning the demand to fill lineup holes will be high but the supply will be low. Grabbing players to use Sunday and Monday is a keen way to stay ahead of the competition. San Diego has a pair of southpaws on tap so targeting righty swinging Ha-Seong Kim (10%), Austin Nola (8%), Wil Myers (6%) and/or Jorge Alfaro (4%) offers twice the exposure to a potent lineup. The Angels also are earmarked to face a pair of lefties rendering Luis Rengifo (5%), Max Stassi (2%), Jo Adell (4%) and Phil Gosselin (
