Nfl Playoff Schedule 2023 Dates

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 will be 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.

One guy sports a 4.64 ERA. His xFIP is 3.39, to go along with a 3.33 SIERA. His 28.1% strikeout rate is 16th-best among qualified starters, though his 20.7% K-BB% drops to 20th. He has benefited from a 75.6% left on base rate, though he has been victimized by a high .365 BABIP.

The other guy has a 6.37 ERA. However, his xFIP is 2.98 and his SIERA is 2.76. His 32.0% strikeout rate is fourth-best among qualified pitchers, while his 25.6% K-BB% checks in as sixth highest. His issues have been a 55.9% left-on-base mark and a bloated 18.8% home run-per-fly ball level.

Via number scouting, both have underperformed expectations. It can be argued the second guy has incurred more misfortune than the first, as his skills through the first month of the season are superior.

The former is Grayson Rodriguez. The Baltimore Orioles 24-year-old right-hander is rostered in 95.8% of ESPN leagues.

The latter is Garrett Crochet. The Chicago White Sox 24-year-old left-hander is rostered in only 38.6% of ESPN leagues.

The initial reaction is, if almost every one of Rodriguez's team managers are willing to hold onto him, anticipating the good kind of regression, then far more should extend Crochet the same courtesy.

However, a closer look reveals that Rodriguez posted a 2.63 ERA over his first four outings, then after yielding seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings, it ballooned to 4.45.

On the other hand, Crochet opened the season with a sparkling 2.00 ERA over his first three efforts, as compared to a 13.11 mark spanning his last three starts. The optimal approach in standard ESPN leagues is rostering three or four starting pitchers, then streaming everyone else. Stashing a struggling arm on the three-man reserve hinders the ability to keep the active roster at maximum performance, especially on Mondays and Thursdays. As such, many have run out patience with Crochet. Chances are, that's a mistake.

Both hurlers are slated to pitch Monday, with Crochet drawing the Minnesota Twins at home and Rodriguez squaring off with the New York Yankees, also at home. Crochet is ranked a bit higher than his counterpart. Rodriguez pitches in a more favorable venue, supported by a more potent offense. Meanwhile, Crochet faces a weaker lineup, as two of the Twins better hitters, Edouard Julien and Max Kepler, routinely sit with a lefty on the hill. That said, Carlos Correa may return, boosting the Twins lineup.

Both are in play. However, think twice before dumping Crochet for your next spot starter.

It's not too late to start a free fantasy baseball league. Leagues drafted this week will start scoring fresh the following Monday. Come and join the fun!

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. 

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.