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Todd ZolaImagination
Sunday Slate starts with nine games starting in the 13-time ET and closes with the Cardinals and Cubs at Wrigley Field in prime time ESPN affair.
Walker Buehler and Shane Bieber mark the afternoon slate, as both seem to be embellishing their case to launch the All-Star Game 2021. Overall, the dock is mediocre for streaming. There are a handful of options, but a few are risky. Sunday, however, is the day to cast caution against the wind and do what is necessary to secure the week in head-to-head formats. Butter is a little easier to find, if that’s where you need help.
Good luck for another fantasy week coming to an end. Here are Sunday’s proposals, all listed in less than half of the ESPN leagues.
Pitching
Josh fleming (L), listed in 12% of ESPN leagues, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles: After surrendering a season-high five races in seven laps last time, Fleming’s ERA is at 3.44, the highest it has been all season. Sunday gives a good chance to send it in the other direction with a home date against Orioles. Baltimore’s offense is not a pushover, but Fleming benefits from the pitching-friendly framework of Tropicana Field.
Logan gilbert (R), 18%, Seattle Mariners on Cleveland Indians: Most beginners are wild when they first come up; Gilbert was the opposite. The 24-year-old right-handed modus operandi works the edges with his four-stitch fastball, but found too much of the plate in the early starts. He begins to trust his things, and although the trips increase, he also fans out several strokes and is more efficient in general. During the last two efforts, Gilbert has issued five tours in 11 photos, but he has also collected 11 strokes.
Patrick Sandoval (L), 4%, Los Angeles Angels on Arizona Diamondbacks: Sandoval has posted a 2.70 ERA since joining the Angels’ rotation, although his PISS over the four starts is 1.30, a bit high. Lefty has waved 19 with six rounds in this range, but a .333 BABIP has inflated his WHIP. On Sunday, Sandoval pulls the 12th lowest scoring team, but there is a risk of using an untested arm on the road.
JT Brubaker (R), 25%, Pittsburgh Pirates on Milwaukee Brewers: On paper, Brewers is a crime below average with a strike percentage above average. Still, it’s uncomfortable to stream a pitcher in the hitter-friendly American Family Field. Brubaker is in the middle of a breakout campaign with a 3.90 ERA and a neat 1.18 WHIP with 62 strikes in 60 stanzas. He has had some tough efforts, but also has four quality starts on his general ledger.
Draw smiling (L), 9%, Atlanta braves on Miami Marlins: After teasing Smyly of old last season, albeit in only 26 1/3 rounds, the veteran left has not been able to maintain the success. Still, he has recorded four quality starts, so consider Smyly in leagues you need to catch lightning in a bottle. In his favor is working in a great pitching venue against a smaller lineup.
Bullpen: It looks like JP Feyereisen has relinquished ninth inning duties to the former closer, which Diego castillo has harvested the last two Tampa rescues while Feyereisen collected cargo space. Castillo was released from several fantasy teams while he was out, so it’s worth checking if you’re in one of the 34% of ESPN leagues he’s available in.
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Meeting
Catcher - Jorge Alfaro (R), 4%, Miami Marlins vs. Atlanta Braves (LHP Drew Smyly): Hopefully, Alfaro will be back in the lineup on Sunday after leaving Friday’s match after being hit on the elbow by a track. So far in June, Alfaro is cutting .290 / .389 / .452, and even sweeping a couple of bags.
First base - Josh naylor (L), 6%, Cleveland Indians vs. Seattle Mariners (RHP Logan Gilbert): It has not yet manifested itself, but Naylor’s underlying calculations indicate evolving power. He is already solid in the contact department, and now he shows a marked improvement in terms of exit speed for flyball. This should eventually translate to more homers, especially if Naylor can continue to increase their flyball speed.
Second base - Enrique Hernandez (R), 27%, Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays (LHP Robbie ray): Hernandez went through a cold stretch that not only cost him the lead, but also some playing time. He’s not crushing the ball now, but he hits well enough to be put back on top of one of the most productive lineups in MLB.
Third base - Maikel Franco (R), 9%, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays (LHP Josh Fleming): Just as it looked like Franco could be a candidate for the job, he came alive with a .400 / .400 / .733 line in the four matches on his way to Saturday’s action. Franco usually hits southpaws well, and although this season’s .735 OPS is not special, it is suitable for streaming in a position without many options.
Shortstop - Brendan Rodgers (R), 8%, Colorado Rockies on Cincinnati Reds (RHP Tony Santillan): Sometimes it’s not all about the upcoming game, but the upcoming schedule. The Rockies are at home in seven games next week, so now is the time to catch up CJ Cron, Josh Fuentes and Rodgers. That said, it does not hurt that Sunday’s tilt is against a 24-year-old rookie who is making his debut in the major leagues.
Corner Infield - Christian walker (R), 32%, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Angels (LHP Patrick Sandoval): Admittedly, there is not much in Walker’s 2021s that one can safely expect a turnaround operation, as his skills have declined. However, he has been injured and water usually finds its level. His initial speed in June is also increasing, which may be a preacher for better days.
Middle Infield - Taylor Walls (S), 3%, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles (LHP Bruce Zimmermann): Maybe that’s just one thing, but Wells hit third on Saturday, the most desirable venue for fantasy production. As a switch-hitter, he always enjoys the squad edge, but it really comes in handy when meeting teams that use a weak starting pitcher and a suspected bullpen.
Utmark - Billy McKinney (L), 4%, New York Mets vs. San Diego Padres (RHP Chris Paddack): Be sure to check out Sunday’s lineup, as McKinney was scratched on Saturday with a sore knee. This would be a very inappropriate time for the groom to get injured, as he cuts 0.302 / .362 / .744 since he received regular playing time at the end of May.
Utmark - Odubel herrera (L), 24%, Philadelphia phillies vs. New York Yankees (RHP Domingo German): The midfield for the Phillies was a revolving door until Herrera went up and claimed the job. Since May 7, he has posted a .315 / .390 / .528 line with four steals.
Utmark - Myles Straw (R), 10%, Houston astros on Gemini from Minnesota (RHP Michael pineda): Speaking of stolen bases, Straw is Sunday’s best option to grab a bag if you need a pilfer in your head-to-head league. Granted, he’s fluttering ninth, but it’s like a second leadoff hitter, as Straw has been on a 37% cut for the past three weeks, and it’s been even higher lately.