May 26, 2023, 03:00 PM ET

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.

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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.

What you need to know for Saturday’s MLB Games

By Mike Sheets

  • Tyler Glasnow is set to make his 2023 debut after being sidelined since late February with a left oblique strain. The 29-year-old right-hander made four rehab starts at Triple-A, posting a 0.68 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 13.5 K/9 rate across 13.1 frames. In Glasnow’s final rehab outing, he spun six innings of two-run ball, getting up to 67 pitches. Reports have had him averaging 95-97 mph with his fastball during his rehab, so he looks primed and ready to go. On Saturday, Glasnow gets a rough landing spot against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but if you’ve been stashing him on your bench for the past two months, go ahead and fire him up for this weekend’s matchup.

  • At first glance, it appears that Josiah Gray (24% rostered in ESPN leagues) is putting it all together this season, registering a 2.65 ERA over his first 10 starts. A closer look reveals a declining strikeout rate (7.3 K/9), an increasing walk rate (4.4 BB/9), and a 1.39 WHIP that suggests he’s gotten lucky with runners on base. Despite the red flags, Gray has now held opposing teams to three or fewer earned runs in nine consecutive starts, and Saturday’s matchup versus the Kansas City Royals is extremely favorable. Among all MLB teams, the Royals rank third-worst in baseball with an 81 wRC+ in 2023.

  • After getting roughed up by the Arizona Diamondbacks in early May (6 ER in 4.2 IP), Andrew Heaney (37%) has seemingly found his stride. He has reeled off three straight quality starts while giving up just one earned run over his past 12 innings. Although Heaney hasn’t matched his strikeout prowess from last season (13.6 K/9), he’s still missing plenty of bats (9.8 K/9), and he’s doing a better job limiting hard contact. The Baltimore Orioles lineup presents a tough matchup on Saturday, but Camden Yards now plays much more pitcher-friendly than it did a couple of years ago.

  • Jameson Taillon is a hurler we want to attack right now. The right-hander put up a 4.50 ERA in his first three starts of the year, and after a short IL stint, his ERA has ballooned to 8.10 over his past four outings. Lefty batters have done a large portion of the damage against him, slashing .358/.452/.679 with a .476 wOBA. With the Cincinnati Reds in town this weekend, left-handed hitters Jake Fraley (13%) and TJ Friedl (4%) are both interesting streamers. Fraley looks particularly enticing, as he owns a .304/.398/.487 slash line versus right-handers this season.

  • There are some Chicago Cubs hitters worth targeting in this matchup, too. With southpaw Brandon Williamson toeing the rubber for the Reds, Seiya Suzuki (53%), who is batting .310/.405/.606 in May, Patrick Wisdom (31%), and Yan Gomes (7%) all find themselves in favorable spots. Plus, if Christopher Morel (56%) is somehow still available in your league after bombing nine homers in 13 games this year, then he moves to the top of the list.

Starting pitcher rankings for Saturday

Best Sub-50% Rostered Hitters for Saturday

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.

Worst Over-50% Rostered Hitters for Saturday



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