Explore our fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, daily batting updates, and dropdowns to help you make smart fantasy baseball lineup decisions and for MLB betting tips. MLB game odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, and the fantasy tips are geared towards ESPN’s standard 10-team scoring league.
What you need to know for Saturday’s MLB game
Seattle Mariners rookie Matt Brash (25% on ESPN’s league roster) had control issues in his final game (six runs), which wasn’t entirely unexpected for the 23-year-old to throw just 55 innings over High-A and make just a start. . both major leagues. However, even with his difficulty finding the home plate, the young left-hander had a 3.38 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 9.3 K/9 on his first two strokes. Those numbers are backed up by pretty gross stuff including a 96-mph heater and stock slider. The brash should build on Saturday’s early success against the Kansas City Royals, who have been in the bottom five (77 wRC+) since the start with the worst running run (5.8%) in baseball.
Néstor Cortés’ list share (65%) is skyrocketing, and it’s easy to see why. The left-hander has made 9 1/3 closing innings this season, including five closing innings and 12 strokes against the Baltimore Orioles in his last game. The closing performance against Baltimore was also a pure tackle. Even against the badly beaten Cleveland Guardians, Cortes was an easy drive-and-DFS option. It seems invincible at the moment.
Rich Hill, 42, expects to have his hands full with the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. While the Rays are in the offensive top five this season with 119 wRC+, there are plenty of ways to gain exposure to your lineup. Manuel Margot (6%), Yandy Diaz (22%), Harold Ramirez (1%), Taylor Walls (1%), and Francisco Mejía (3%), are currently No. 1 on ESPN’s Player Rater. they were all widely available, and they all led the herd against the Hill.
With José Altuve landing on the handicap list with a hamstring injury, Jeremy Peña (41%) has become a major hitter for the Houston Astros. Not only has he hit .308/.364/.590 with a pair of home runs in 11 games this season, but his strong form is also backed up by bat ball data, which puts him in the 90th percentile or higher in both starting averages. . . . . barrel speed and percentage. The Pena’s 91st percentile sprint speed suggests there’s some steal here too. The 24-year-old seems like a good option to add at the moment.
Dakota Hudson (4%) has struggled in her first two starts, posting a 7.71 ERA and not getting past the fourth inning in either game, but Saturday’s bout against the Cincinnati Reds offense finds her in a place that deserves to be broadcast. The Reds lineup has been stuck in neutral since the season started, sitting last with a poor 49 wRC+ and the worst strikeout rate of 28.4% in MLB. As long as Hudson kept the ball on the ground more than 50% of the time, the Cardinals’ elite infield defense gave him a pretty safe place.
Starting pitcher rankings for Saturday
Best hitter under 50% of the list for Saturday
Today’s best and worst hitters are generated by THE BAT X, a projection system created by Derek Carty that uses advanced methods such as those used at MLB headquarters, taking into account a variety of factors including player talent, stadium, bullpens, weather, referees, defense, catcher’s throwing frame, and much more.
Brandon Nimmo (NYM, CF — 36%) at Humberto Castellanos
Taylor Ward (LAA, RF — 4%) vs. Spenser Watkins
Yan Gomes (CHC, C — 1%) vs. Zach Thompson
Patrick Wisdom (CHC, 3B — 13%) vs. Thompson
Wilmer Flores (SF, 3B — 17%) at Anibal Sanchez
Nick Madrigal (CHC, 2B — 44%) vs. Thompson
Tommy Pham (CIN, LF — 36%) vs. Hudson
Jack Mayfield (LAA, 3B — 1%) vs. Watkins
Michael Chavis (PIT, 2B — 3%) at Kyle Hendricks
Max Stassi (LAA, C — 2%) vs. Watkins
Worst hitter over 50% on the list for Saturday
1 related
Bobby Witt Jr. (KC, SS — 91%) in Brash
Chris Taylor (LAD, CF — 90%) at Yu Darvish
Willy Adames (MIL, SS — 80%) at Zack Wheeler
Kolten Wong (MIL, 2B — 71%) at Wheeler
Franmil Reyes (CLE, DH — 81%) in Court
Joey Gallo (NYY, LF — 76%) vs. Emmanuel Class
Hunter Renfroe (MIL, RF — 73%) at Wheeler
Nathaniel Lowe (TEX, 1B — 52%) at Frankie Montas
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (MIA, 2B — 85%) at Ian Anderson
Amed Rosario (CLE, SS — 63%) in Court