- Hopefully by now, in leagues where lineups lock with the first game of the day, you're accustomed to the 11:30 AM ET deadline. This week's early game is the St. Louis Cardinals visiting the Pittsburgh Pirates. It also features the slate's top streamer, but trusting a pitcher with a 6.03 ERA on the last day of the head-to-head scoring period is a tall order. However, that's exactly what you should do as Steven Matz (36% rostered in ESPN leagues) is pitching much better than his surface stats indicate. To wit, his 22% K-BB% mark is a respectable 17th-best among pitchers with at least 30 innings. His main issue has been his allowing eight homers over just 37 1/3 innings, along with being a bit snake-bit with a .350 BABIP and a 67% LOB mark. On Sunday, Matz faces a Pirates lineup sporting the eighth-lowest HR rate in baseball.
- Our rule of thumb for fantasy roster management is focusing on players rostered in under 50% of ESPN leagues, to maximize the chances they're available. That said, it is always worth investigating the status of non-elite arms. This is especially true for Sunday's slate, since there are more hurlers landing in the 50%-75% level than usual. If you need a boost on the pitching side of the ledger, make a moment to look up Yusei Kikuchi (51%), Bailey Ober (61%), Patrick Sandoval (69%), Joe Kelly (71%), Tony Gonsolin (72%) and Alex Wood (75%).
- The Sunday docket is highlighted by a doubleheader in the Bronx between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. The two clubs have had a couple of recent dustups involving Tim Anderson and Josh Donaldson, adding even more tension between two of the finest teams in the junior circuit. Double-dips are a great opportunity to pad saves since the primary closers aren't likely to be used in both ends. The chief targets are Kendall Graveman (9%) for the guests and Clay Holmes (34%) for the hosts.
- The last time Nathan Eovaldi pitched, he surrendered a record-tying five homers in the second inning to the Houston Astros, a team with the second-highest HR rate in the league. Next up is a Seattle Mariners lineup with league-average HR production. It may be tempting to keep Eovaldi on the bench, but the aggressive play is to assume he'll pitch with a chip on his shoulder and rebound in a big way. He's safe to use in traditional fantasy formats as well as DFS. One reason is because he's backed by an offense averaging 6.6 runs per game over the past week, only bettered by a Rockies team that was playing at home all week. Most of the prominent Boston hitters are already rostered, but those needing a hitting boost should check the status of Enrique Hernandez (66%), Jackie Bradley Jr. (15%) and Christian Vazquez (41%).
- An even better spot for sticks is American Family Field as the Milwaukee Brewersentertain the Washington Nationals who will send Aaron Sanchez to the hill. Sanchez has fanned only 12 batters in 22 2/3 frames, serving up four homers in that span. If Rowdy Tellez (63%) is available, he's a must-add. Andrew McCutchen (33%), Omar Narvaez (31%) and Jace Peterson (3%) are also in play.
What you need to know for Sunday
- Thread starter biggins
- Start date
iaz exited Saturday's contest with a strained left shoulder and will be held out of the lineup for the series finale. It's unclear whether he will require a stint on the injured list, but the team will have Monday's scheduled off day to evaluate him before the 30-year-old misses additional time. Ji-Man Choi will take over at first base while Harold Ramirez bats cleanup as the designated hitter Sunday.
er Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com, Contreras is considered day-to-day after straining his right hamstring in Saturday's 7-6 loss, but the Cubs had enough concern about the backstop's health to recall another catcher (P.J. Higgins) from Triple-A Iowa ahead of Sunday's series finale. Higgins will draw the start behind the plate in place of Contreras, who will hope to return at some point during the Cubs' upcoming four-game series in Cincinnati that begins Monday.
