Unmasking the Final Week’s Fantasy Baseball Tactics and MLB Betting Advices

Michael Wacha: An Underrated Asset

Beginning the 2024 season mostly unrostered, Michael Wacha is poised to end the season in a similar fashion. Despite this, his consistent performance throughout the season has proven him to be a valuable contributor to fantasy leagues. Currently, he is only rostered in 41% of ESPN leagues, yet he boasts a 3.28 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 28 starts. His consistency is underscored by his 3.32 ERA in 2022 and 3.22 ERA in the previous season. Since May 9, out of 21 starts, he has only given up more than three earned runs once. Thus, for those seeking a steady performer in the final week, Wacha is your man.

Washington Nationals: A Favorable Matchup for Wacha

Wacha’s next game is against the Washington Nationals, ranking 25th with an 80 wRC+ in September. With only 10 games on Thursday, it is crucial to maximize opportunities for additional stats. Streaming Wacha gives you this edge.

Wednesday Recap

The Philadelphia Phillies clinched a first-round bye in the NL playoffs with a 9-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers maintain a one-game lead for the No. 1 seed. Despite the Dodgers’ strong home record, the Phillies hold the tiebreaker with five victories in six meetings this season.

Weather-related postponements pushed the final two games of the critical series between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets to Monday. These games will only proceed if there is still an NL Wild Card spot at stake.

Player Updates

The New York Yankees have placed left-handed pitcher (LHP) Nestor Cortes on the 15-day injured list (IL) due to a flexor strain in his throwing elbow. However, there’s a possibility for Cortes to return in case the Yankees advance deep into the postseason.

Baltimore Orioles’ right-handed pitcher (RHP) Grayson Rodriguez has been ruled out for the rest of the year and postseason due to a lat strain. The Houston Astros, in the meantime, will finish the season without outfielders Yordan Alvarez and Chas McCormick.

Betting Tip of the Day

On Thursday, consider over 4.5 total strikeouts (-125) for Kyle Gibson. Despite not being a high-strikeout pitcher, Gibson has surpassed this mark in six out of his last nine starts. The Colorado Rockies, with the highest strikeout rate against right-handed pitchers in the National League at 26.4%, should aid Gibson in accomplishing this.

Thursday’s Pitcher Rankings and Hitter Report

For Thursday’s pitcher rankings, the pitchers are ranked according to their projected fantasy points. The information includes opposing team, roster percentage in ESPN leagues, team’s win probability, innings pitched, earned runs allowed, and strikeouts.

When it comes to the hitter report, Minnesota Twins hitters are worth looking at against Valente Bellozo. The Miami right-hander has a 5.28 ERA over his last six starts, and his high Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) suggests things could get worse. Trevor Larnach and switch-hitter Willi Castro will have the platoon advantage in this matchup, although right-handed batters Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton are also viable options.

To get the most updated details on each team’s bullpen hierarchy and potential fatigue-ridden pitchers, check out the most recent Closer Chart. This can also provide insights on potential save vultures or surprise holds.

Best Sub-50% Rostered Hitters for Thursday

According to projection systems, the best sub-50% rostered hitters for Thursday include Byron Buxton, Masyn Winn, Ezequiel Tovar, Brenton Doyle, Charlie Blackmon, and Ryan McMahon. Meanwhile, the worst over-50% rostered hitters include Anthony Volpe, Brent Rooker, Tommy Edman, Adolis Garcia, and Cedric Mullins, among others.

To conclude, with just a few days left in the regular season, there’s still time to stream pitchers and maximize your fantasy baseball performance.