Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Sunday's MLB games

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 Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is geared towards 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.

By Todd Zola

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Sunday marks the end of fantasy Week 16, meaning there are only four periods remaining before playoffs commence in ESPN standard head-to-head formats. Games begin at 12:05 PM ET with Cristian Javier and the Houston Astros wrapping up a series in Progressive Field against Triston McKenzie and the Cleveland Guardians. Both hurlers are rostered in most ESPN and will provide a challenge for the opposing batters. That said, even though it's better this season, historically Javier has been prone to the long ball, rendering Josh Naylor (58% rostered in ESPN leagues) and Nolan Jones (6%) as hitting streamers.

Hopefully you don't need a last-minute pitching boost as the streaming inventory is light. The top two options square off in Wrigley Field with Jesus Luzardo (26%) toeing the rubber for the Marlins and Adrian Sampson (2%) taking the ball for the Cubs. Both lineups are among the least productive in the league. Sampson is the safer option while Luzardo is riskier, but with greater strikeout potential. Team needs dictate the choice between the two, with Luzardo favored by fantasy teams needing whiffs or to