Mike Sheets
Aug 14, 2024, 10:19 AM ET
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 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
Woo boosting Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are clawing back and forth with the Houston Astros for the top spot in the AL West, and they have been forced to rely almost entirely on their pitching staff to carry them. While the M's have scored just 477 runs this year (the fourth-fewest in baseball), they currently lead baseball in both ERA (3.42) and WHIP (1.09) by a wide margin. Next up is the Philadelphia Phillies at 3.72 and 1.20, respectively.
Bryan Woo (rostered in 52% of ESPN leagues) has done his part in lowering the Mariners' team ratios, as he sports a 2.27 ERA and 0.88 WHIP across 13 starts. What has held Woo back this year is multiple injuries that have limited his innings. He missed time in April and May with elbow and forearm problems, and a hamstring injury forced him to miss time in June and July.
The good news is that it appears we're finally getting a glimpse of Woo at full strength. Prior to August, Woo had reached 80 pitches just once all year, and that was more than two months ago. In his last two starts, however, he has averaged 90 pitches, pitching into the seventh inning in both outings for the first time all season.
Now fully healthy, Woo has a chance to be a real fantasy asset down the stretch, and that includes Wednesday's road outing versus the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers rank bottom-five in MLB in wRC+ (90) against right-handed pitching this season, including a 23.9% K% that ranks them bottom-10. Fire up Woo as a streaming option and consider giving him a permanent spot on your roster.
What you may have missed on Tuesday
By Todd Zola
It appears that newly acquired New York Yankees 3B Jazz Chisholm Jr. will miss significant action after being diagnosed with a UCL injury stemming from a slide into home plate. The extent of the issue and Chisholm's status should be clarified over the next few days. Oswaldo Cabrera will likely return to manning the hot corner.
Arizona Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte missed last night's game, but appears to have escaped a major injury after being diagnosed with a high ankle strain. Marte suffered the injury on Saturday after a collision while he was covering second base. Marte missed Sunday's contest but started on Monday, only to be lifted after aggravating his ankle in the first inning. Marte is expected to avoid an IL stint but his status for tonight remains up in the air.
Minnesota Twins OF Byron Buxton did not play last night. He was forced out of Monday's affair due to hip discomfort. Imaging revealed no damage, so the club hopes that Buxton can avoid an IL visit. His availability for tonight is unclear. Manuel Margot is the probable replacement if Buxton is unable to take the field.
New York Mets DH J.D. Martinez took a 100-mph pitch off his elbow in the second inning last night. He stayed in the game and came around to score but ultimately left for a pinch hitter in the third. Martinez is considered to be day-to-day.
After throwing 45 pitches on Sunday, Yankees RP Clay Holmes was deemed unavailable on Monday night. The rest period extended to last night as the club's primary closer was not summoned in a save scenario. Instead, manager Bret Boone asked Jake Cousins to secure the final three outs -- and Cousins delivered with his first career save. Holmes is still the closer, but it's noteworthy that Boone trusted Cousins even with Mark Leiter Jr., Tommy Kahnle and Luke Weaver all in the mix.
Everything else you need to know for Wednesday
At this point in the season, it can be easy for a player's performance to slip through the cracks. Back in March, the Jackson Chourio hype was through the roof. However, a couple of uninspiring months eventually led to his rostered percentage dipping below 50%. Fast forward to August, and the 20-year-old has been raking for multiple months, and much of the fantasy community hasn't caught on. Dating back to June 1, Chourio is batting .318/.365/.513 with nine homers and nine steals, elevating himself to the 18th-best outfielder on the Player Rater. Looking at just the last month, he is the No. 9 fantasy outfielder and a top-20 overall hitter. There's no reason he should still be available in 60% of ESPN leagues.
Tyler Anderson (39% rostered) doesn't grade out very well in the rankings below, but I still like him as a streamer against the Toronto Blue Jays. He boasts a 2.87 ERA over his last six starts with a surprising 10.0 K/9 rate during that stretch, which includes a pair of 10-strikeout performances. Meanwhile, the Jays have not fared well against left-handed pitching in 2024, ranking 24th in baseball with a 91 wRC+.
Since returning from the injured list in late July, Robbie Ray (42%) has looked good for the San Francisco Giants. His average fastball velocity (94.2 mph) is at its highest since 2021, and he's surrendered two or fewer runs with 7+ Ks in three of his four starts. Although a home matchup against the Atlanta Braves isn't a great spot for the veteran lefty, it's worth noting that Atlanta's offense has been below average away from home this season (95 wRC+), and Oracle Park is one of the most pitcher-friendly venues in the game.
David Peterson (7%) holds a 3.00 ERA over his last nine starts and makes for a decent streaming option on Wednesday, but I actually like Oakland's bats in this spot. The A's offense has quietly been one of the best in baseball over the last month, putting up a 129 wRC+ that ranks fifth-best. Brent Rooker (87%) is already widely rostered, but Shea Langeliers (16%), Zack Gelof (11%) and Miguel Andujar (5%) will all have the platoon advantage here. Lawrence Butler (24%) won't have the platoon edge, but he's been the hottest hitter of the group, batting .325/.367/.602 in the second half.
Betting tip of the day: Joey Estes isn't a big strikeout guy, but I still like him for over 3.5 strikeouts (-135) today against the Mets. The Mets have fanned at a 25% clip over the past month, while Estes has piled up at least four K's in six out of his last seven starts.
Starting pitcher rankings for Wednesday
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 Wednesday
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.
Giancarlo Stanton (NYY, RF -- 32%) at Davis Martin
Joc Pederson (ARI, LF -- 18%) vs. Tanner Gordon
Alex Verdugo (NYY, RF -- 43%) at Martin
Josh Bell (ARI, 1B -- 41%) vs. Gordon
Lars Nootbaar (STL, CF -- 12%) at Emilio Pagan
Jake McCarthy (ARI, RF -- 12%) vs. Gordon
Andrew Benintendi (CHW, LF -- 12%) vs. Will Warren
Andrew McCutchen (PIT, DH -- 2%) at Martin Perez
Tyler Stephenson (CIN, C -- 24%) vs. Kyle Gibson
TJ Friedl (CIN, CF -- 31%) vs. Gibson
Worst over-50% rostered hitters for Wednesday
Dansby Swanson (CHC, SS -- 52%) at Alex Cobb
Michael Harris II (ATL, CF -- 73%) at Robbie Ray
Jackson Holliday (BAL, SS -- 62%) vs. DJ Herz
Brenton Doyle (COL, CF -- 54%) at Jordan Montgomery
Nico ho*rner (CHC, 2B -- 86%) at Cobb
Adolis Garcia (TEX, RF -- 85%) at Tanner Houck
J.T. Realmuto (PHI, C -- 78%) vs. Edward Cabrera
Matt Olson (ATL, 1B -- 96%) at Ray
Nick Castellanos (PHI, RF -- 70%) vs. Cabrera
Maikel Garcia (KC, 3B -- 67%) at Louie Varland
THE BAT X's Best Stacks for Wednesday
New York Yankees at Martin
St. Louis Cardinals at Pagan
Cincinnati Reds vs. Gibson
