**Fantasy Baseball Essentials for the Final Weekend**
As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, every move counts in fantasy baseball. Here are the top streaming candidates, hitter upgrades and downgrades, and essential fantasy advice to help you secure a championship title.
**Streaming Candidates for Saturday**
Shane Baz draws a road start against the Boston Red Sox, who have struggled at the plate lately. Baz has posted a stellar 2.25 ERA and 0.84 WHIP over his past seven starts, making him a top streamer of the day.
Andre Pallante has been a stabilizing force in the St. Louis Cardinals’ rotation, registering a 2.74 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across his past eight starts. He faces the San Francisco Giants, who sport an 87 wRC+ and a 28.6% strikeout rate over the past month.
Kutter Crawford takes the hill against the Tampa Bay Rays, who rank 24th in baseball with an 89 wRC+ and a 26.1% strikeout rate since the All-Star break. Crawford has surrendered more than three earned runs only once in his past seven outings.
**Injury Updates and News**
Sal Frelick collided with the outfield wall and injured his hip, forcing his exit in the third inning. Frelick is slated for an MRI later today, and Blake Perkins and Garrett Mitchell are the likely replacements if he’s unable to play.
Francisco Alvarez left Friday night’s game with back spasms incurred after sliding into third base. Alvarez’s status for the remainder of the weekend and possible Monday is unclear.
Luis Robert didn’t play last night due to rib soreness, but the club is optimistic that Robert will rejoin the lineup today.
Seiya Suzuki missed his second straight game with a sprained ankle and is considered day-to-day for the final two games of the regular season.
**Betting Tip of the Day**
Take Kutter Crawford over 5.5 total strikeouts (+110) against the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander has struck out six or more batters in each of his last four starts, and the Rays have been one of baseball’s most strikeout-prone teams since the All-Star break.
**Starting Pitcher Rankings for Saturday**
Pitchers are ranked in order of their projected fantasy points, using standard scoring systems. Check out the full rankings for Saturday’s matchups.
**Hitting Report**
Plan ahead in fantasy baseball with help from our Forecaster projections. Each day, we 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 Saturday**
Gavin Lux (LAD, 2B — 11%) at Antonio Senzatela
Andy Pages (LAD, CF — 3%) at Senzatela
Byron Buxton (MIN, DH — 21%) vs. Albert Suarez
Wyatt Langford (TEX, LF — 50%) at Griffin Canning
Enrique Hernandez (LAD, SS — 2%) at Senzatela
**Worst Over-50% Rostered Hitters for Saturday**
Anthony Volpe (NYY, SS — 68%) vs. Paul Skenes
Gleyber Torres (NYY, 2B — 67%) vs. Skenes
Isaac Paredes (CHC, 3B — 79%) vs. Rhett Lowder
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (NYY, CF — 90%) vs. Skenes
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, updated every morning.
Leave a Reply