Check out our fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings and hitter upgrades and downgrades daily to make smart fantasy baseball lineup decisions and get MLB betting tips. MLB game odds are provided by ESPN BET and fantasy picks are 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, as well as the latest MLB game odds as of the indicated publish time.
The successful Manaea meets the White Sox
Last month, Logan Webb was the best starter in fantasy baseball according to ESPN Player Rater. Surprisingly, he lands at number 2 on this list Sean Manaeawho is barely on the roster in half of ESPN’s leagues. The left-hander has a 3.51 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 26 starts in 2024, with a 9.3 K/9 rate. He’s been even better lately, though, and some of that credit goes to Atlanta Braves starter Chris Sale.
According to a recent article by Tim Britton in The Athletic, Manaea watched Sale pitch against the Mets on July 25 and ended up tweaking some of his techniques to mimic the Braves’ left-hander. Most notably, Manaea lowered his release point, making his throw “quicker and more deceptive.” Manaea also refined his repertoire by relying more on his two- and four-seam fastballs and sweepers and reintroducing a changeup.
Since July 25, Manaea has posted a 2.87 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP in six starts. Most impressively, he has double-digit strikeouts in three of those games and totaled 48 Ks (11.5 K/9) in 37⅔ innings. Before Sale’s outing, Manaea’s K/9 rate was 8.6.
This Sunday, Manaea couldn’t ask for a better opponent, as he faces the lowly Chicago White Sox. The Pale Hose have the worst offense in baseball, by a wide margin. Their wRC+ of 74 is last in the MLB, and they were significantly worse in the second half with a wRC+ of 66. The Los Angeles Angels are next lowest at 83. Streaming plays doesn’t get any easier than this. Grab Manaea for Sunday’s start and consider keeping him for the final month of the season.
What you may have missed on Saturday
By Todd Zola
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Tampa Bay Rays 1B Yandy Diaz missed yesterday’s game due to patellar tendonitis in his left knee that first appeared Friday. Diaz reports the pain is subsiding, although he may not play today. Diaz’s absence is not expected to last long. With Diaz out, Brandon Lowe moved from second base to first, with Christopher Morel and Jonathan Aranda likely sharing the keystone and DH positions.
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An already depleted Rays bullpen lost another arm as Colin Poche was placed on the 15-day IL due to left shoulder inflammation. With Pete Fairbanks likely out for most of the final month of the season, Manuel Rodriguez is the favorite to finish. Hunter Bigge and Cole Sulser were both recalled to bolster the middle relief and setup.
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A persistent elbow problem cost Houston Astros 3B Alex Bregman another game as he sat out for the second day in a row. Bregman had missed five games in early August because of soreness. He is expected to be day-to-day, and Mauricio Dubon is available if Bregman is unable to take the field.
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Manager Joe Espada also reported that OF Kyle Tucker is considering returning to action when the club returns home – possibly as early as September 6. Tucker has taken live batting practice and is playing as a baseman.
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The Kansas City Royals were busy yesterday and claimed Tommy Pham from the St. Louis Cardinals, Robbie Grossman from the Texas Rangers and Yuli Gurriel from Atlanta in a minor league trade. Pham is the most fantasy-relevant player of that trio, as he’s expected to be a regular in right field. Grossman will serve as a backup in the outfield. The club needs reinforcements, with 1B Vinnie Pasquantino now out for the rest of the season and OF Hunter Renfroe on the 10-day IL due to a right hamstring strain. Regular C Salvador Perez has played a lot of first base, while Freddy Fermin is getting extra time behind the plate.
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Baltimore Orioles Dean Kremer went 3 1/3 innings before being hit on the right wrist by a comebacker, courtesy of Colorado Rockies OF Jordan Beck. Kremer was ineffective before the injury, allowing four runs on six hits. His status for his next start is unclear. The Orioles’ rotation will get a needed boost today with the return of Zach Eflin. Starting at Coors Field isn’t a fantasy-friendly spot, but Eflin’s return to the rotation is a good thing, as the Orioles and New York Yankees will likely battle for AL East supremacy all month.
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The Orioles also lost 3B Ramon Uriah yesterday after Rockies SS Ezequiel Tovar slipped on Urias’ foot in the eighth inning while the third baseman was covering the base. Urias was seen on crutches after the game and is scheduled to be tested today.
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Minnesota Twins OF Manuel Margot had an MRI yesterday for his groin pain and will likely be on the injured list for a while. Margot has been filling in for OF Byron Buxton, who is dealing with a sore hip of his own. Buxton can return tomorrow, but he may not be ready. With SS Brooks Lee also on the injured list, Willi Castro cannot help in the center field, leaving Austin Martin to serve as the team’s primary midfielder. With rosters now able to expand, the Twins could well call on reinforcements.
Everything else worth knowing about Sunday
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Another underrated fantasy starter, Spencer Schwellenbach (52% on roster in ESPN leagues) has a 2.60 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in his last nine starts. During that time, he has struck out 70 batters in 55⅓ innings, for an impressive K/9 rate of 11.4. He has struck out seven or more batters in seven consecutive games, and the last time he allowed more than three earned runs in a start was in June. The Philadelphia Phillies are a tough opponent, but Schwellenbach has proven he is up to the task. He has already faced the Phillies twice this season, holding them to three runs in 12⅔ innings while recording 15 strikeouts.
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In 20 starts this season, Ryan Pepiot (50%) has delivered a 3.61 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 9.5 K/9 rate. He’s been particularly effective in his last eight starts, allowing two or fewer earned runs in each game, resulting in a stellar 2.16 ERA over that span. There’s little reason Pepiot should still be available in half of ESPN’s leagues, but here we are. While Sunday’s game against the San Diego Padres may not be ideal, it shouldn’t be a hindrance. Pepiot is worth considering for streaming.
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Tobias Myers (19%) is also in the streaming discussion for his upcoming game against the Cincinnati Reds, who rank 24th in baseball with a 93 wRC+ since the All-Star break. The Brewers right-hander isn’t posting high strikeout numbers, but he’s been remarkably consistent. In 13 of his last 14 starts, including his last eight appearances, he’s limited opposing teams to three or fewer earned runs. During those 14 starts, Myers’ ERA is 2.20.
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It can be difficult to find consistent catcher production, but that is exactly what Tyler Stephenson (45%) has been delivering of late. The best catcher in fantasy over the past month, the Reds’ backstop has a slash line of .351/.422/.639 with seven home runs, 20 RBIs and 22 runs scored over his last 26 games. Chances are, you could use a backup at the catcher position, and Stephenson is that backup.
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Betting tip of the day: On Sunday I take Manaea over 6.5 strikeouts (-110)The Mets’ left-hander has averaged eight strikeouts per start in his last six games. Additionally, the White Sox are baseball’s worst team against left-handed pitchers, posting 24.3% strikeouts.
Starting pitcher rankings for Sunday
Discharge report
For the latest information on each team’s bullpen hierarchy, as well as which pitchers may be struggling with mild fatigue and who is most likely to snag a save or make a surprise hold in their place, check out the latest Closer Chart, updated each morning.
Hit report
Plan ahead in fantasy baseball with our Forecaster projections. Each day, we provide an updated 10-day preview for each team, predicting matchup quality for hitters (overall and by hand) and base stealers.
The best batsmen under 50% for Sunday
The best and worst hitters of the day are generated by THE BAT X, a projection system developed by Derek Carty that uses modern methods used in MLB front offices, taking into account numerous factors including player talent, ballparks, bullpens, weather, umpires, defense, the catcher’s pitch-framing strategy and more.
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Eloy Jimenez (BAL, DH – 21%) at Cal Quantrill
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Ryan O’Hearn (BAL, 1B – 35%) at Quantrill
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Colton Cowser (BAL, RF – 26%) at Quantrill
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Ezequiel Tovar (COL, SS – 27%) vs. Zach Eflin
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Giancarlo Stanton (NYY, RF – 30%) against Miles Mikolas
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Kerry Carpenter (DET, RF – 12%) vs. Cooper Criswell
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Jonathan India (CIN, 2B – 28%) against Tobias Myers
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Tyler Stephenson (CIN, C – 46%) vs. Myers
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Tyler O’Neill (BOS, LF – 41%) at Ty Madden
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Parker Meadows (DET, CF – 4%) vs. Criswell
