Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings lineup advice for Monday s MLB games

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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.

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Monday's 10-game slate features the season debut for two starting pitchers, plus a return to action for a third hurler who has been sidelined since Opening Day.

Let's begin out west where Walker Buehler will take the hill in an MLB game for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2022. Buehler pitched in six rehab games, five coming with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He fanned 21 over 19 2/3 total innings, walking eight and allowing three homers. It's best to ignore his 4.15 ERA and 1.62 WHIP during rehab and instead focus on velocity and pitch count. His fastball sat a couple ticks lower than pre-injury, but even though velocity usually returns quickly -- often a bit higher than before -- Buehler touched 95 mph, so there isn't any concern.

Buehler threw 86 pitches in his penultimate rehab outing, then finished with 75 in his last effort, indicating he shouldn't be on too strict of a pitch limit. Command and control are usually later to return, which is supported by his high walk and home run totals. Even so, considering Buehler's debut is a home date with the offensively challenged Miami Marlins, there is no reason to wait. Let the righty loose.

Everything else you need to know for Monday Coincidentally, Buehler will be opposed by Braxton Garrett (45.8% rostered in ESPN leagues), who is also making his 2024 inaugural start. Garrett experienced a shoulder impingement in the spring, then had his debut delayed more with a dead arm period. Garrett had a four-game rehab stint with Triple-A Jacksonville, the last of which he tossed five scoreless frames, albeit with three walks and just three strikeouts. As opposed to Buehler, the choice is clear. Don't deploy until at least next weekend when Garrett is home against the Philadelphia Phillies. Justin Steele is the third returning hurler. The Chicago Cubs southpaw was diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain incurred while fielding a bunt on Opening Day. After a series of bullpen sessions, Steele made one rehab start, yielding six hits and three runs in 3 1/3 innings, but he struck out four while issuing just one free pass. The San Diego Padres visit Wrigley Field for the opener of a three-game set. Even with new leadoff a man Luis Arraez strengthening the Padres offense, Steele is safe to start Monday and a lock in weekly leagues since the Cubs have a road series with the Pittsburgh Pirates nest weekend. Through their first 34 games, the Oakland Athletics surprisingly have won half of them. However, it was due more to pitching and defense than hitting, as the club was still in the bottom third of the league in terms of runs per game and wOBA, and that's with scoring 20 runs against the Marlins on Saturday. Andrew Heaney (8.4% rostered) and the Texas Rangers play the first of a four-game set in The Coliseum. Heaney has been uneven so far, but he's coming off his best effort and is in play as a spot starter for this AL West affair.

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!

Starting pitcher rankings for Monday Reliever report

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 Sub-50% rostered hitters for Monday

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. 

Rhys Hoskins (MIL, 1B -- 37%) at Cole Ragans Maikel Garcia (KC, 3B -- 17%) vs. Bryse Wilson Andrew McCutchen (PIT, DH -- 1%) vs. Tyler Anderson MJ Melendez (KC, RF -- 17%) vs. Wilson Max Kepler (MIN, RF -- 7%) vs. Luis Castillo Michael Massey (KC, 2B -- 1%) vs. Wilson Andrew Vaughn (CHW, 1B -- 6%) at Tyler Alexander Nolan Schanuel (LAA, 1B -- 2%) at Mitch Keller Brendan Donovan (STL, 2B -- 19%) vs. Sean Manaea Tommy Pham (CHW, LF -- 1%) at Alexander Worst Over-50% rostered hitters for Monday Michael Busch (CHC, 3B -- 65%) vs. Yu Darvish Luis Campusano (SD, C -- 52%) at Justin Steele Jake Cronenworth (SD, 1B -- 74%) at Steele Jorge Soler (SF, RF -- 67%) at Zack Wheeler Ha-Seong Kim (SD, 2B -- 94%) at Steele Evan Carter (TEX, LF -- 79%) at Alex Wood Ian Happ (CHC, LF -- 77%) vs. Darvish Dansby Swanson (CHC, SS -- 77%) vs. Darvish Xander Bogaerts (SD, SS -- 90%) at Steele Spencer Torkelson (DET, 1B -- 56%) at Triston McKenzie