Fantasy baseball Sunday advice Brewers Montas is streamable

Everything you need to know to place your MLB bets and set your fantasy baseball lineups for Sunday September 22

Brewers' Frankie Montas [608x342] (Credit: Jeff Hanisch/Imagn Images)

2024-25 fantasy hockey draft kit Everything you need to draft

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 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

Montas missing more bats

Frankie Montas was sporting a bloated 5.01 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with a pedestrian 22.2% strikeout rate when the Milwaukee Brewers acquired the right-hander from the Cincinnati Reds at the trade deadline. However, Montas' leadership was lauded by the Reds' coaching staff, and Milwaukee needed a veteran to support its playoff push.

The Brewers have developed a reputation for getting the most out of their pitchers and saw something in Montas. The trade proved prescient. Not only has Montas been a clubhouse presence, he has recorded a solid 3.55 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with an impressive 28.6% strikeout rate in nine starts covering 50 2/3 innings for the postseason-bound Brewers.

While it's unclear if there is a direct cause and effect, Montas has added a tick to his four-seam and two-seam fastballs. Regardless, the Brewers took advantage by having Montas throw more sinkers and cutters while backing off splitter and slider usage. His swinging strike rate has increased across the board, most noticeably with his four-seam fastball.

Where Montas will land when the Brewers set their playoff rotation is unknown. At the top likely will be RHP Freddy Peralta, but after that, Montas, RHP Aaron Civale and RHP Tobias Myers can be deployed in any order.

On Sunday, Montas (13.4% rostered in ESPN league) has a home date with the Arizona Diamondbacks in what could be a wild-card round preview. The Brewers still have a mathematical chance at a bye, but they're almost assuredly hosting a wild-card series against the Diamondbacks, New York Mets or Atlanta Braves.

The Diamondbacks have more to play for in Sunday's meeting, but the Brewers want to head into the playoffs with momentum, so they'll be giving it their all. Montas may not want to give away his game plan if he were to face the Diamondbacks in the playoffs, but his stuff is playing up enough to trust in season leagues. Those in the head-to-head finals may be more hesitant to burn a start on a risky matchup.

What you may have missed on Saturday The Boston Red Sox shook up their roster by officially placing 3B Rafael Devers on the 10-day IL, thus ending his season. The club called up 2B Mickey Gasper in a corresponding move. Third base will be covered by Romy Gonzalez and Nick Sogard. The Red Sox will reportedly give Vaughn Grissom a lot of action at second base over the final week of the season. The Washington Nationals optioned SS CJ Abrams to the minors for disciplinary seasons. As reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, Abrams stayed out past curfew in Chicago last Thursday night. Nasim Nunez will round out the season as the team's regular shortstop. The New York Yankees welcomed OF Juan Soto back to the starting lineup. Soto didn't start on Friday, though he delivered a key pinch hit. On Saturday, Soto went 2-for-6 with two runs scored in the Yankees' 10-0 whitewashing of the Oakland Athletics. The Yankees have secured a playoff berth and are on the cusp of clinching the AL East. They're also 1.5 games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians for the top seed (and home-field advantage) throughout the AL playoffs. Speaking of the Guardians, they clinched the AL Central last night. Typically, it's wise to avoid players on the day after they clinch, but they may opt to play their regulars in order to attempt to chase down the Yankees. The Guardians only play five games during the season's final week, so they may decide to postpone celebrating until their off day on Monday. Texas Rangers RHP Max Scherzer's season is over. He was slated to take the hill last night but was scratched due to a left hamstring strain. The soon-to-be free agent ends the season with just nine starts covering 43 1/3 innings. St. Louis Cardinals RHP Sonny Gray has also thrown his last pitch of 2024 as he was placed on the 15-day IL due to right forearm flexor tightness. Gray logged 28 starts in the first of a three-year contract with the Cardinals. Milwaukee Brewers C William Contreras missed Saturday's game because of finger and hip issues. Contreras reportedly wanted to play, but with the Brewers locked into the No. 3 seed in the National League, he was held out of the lineup. Contreras' status for today is uncertain. Arizona Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly exited last night's game after five shutout innings as he was experiencing cramping in his right calf. Kelly was effective, tallying six strikeouts while throwing 72 pitches, but the club took the safe route. Kelly had to leave a game with hamstring cramps earlier this month. His status for the final week of the season is unclear. The Diamondbacks enter Sunday's action with a one-game lead over the New York Mets for the second NL wild-card spot. Seattle Mariners 1B Justin Turner was forced from last night's contest due to a knee injury, suffered after fouling a ball off his left knee in the sixth inning. His status for today is unclear. The Mariners sit 1.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the final AL wild-card entry. Everything else you need to know for Sunday Sunday's action now begins at 12:35 p.m. ET with the first of a double-dip between the Minnesota Twins and the Red Sox, brought about by yesterday's weather-related postponement. So, be sure to lock in your fantasy baseball lineups before your fantasy football ones this week. The nightcap is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. ET. It continued to rain overnight, but the forecast calls for dry skies in the afternoon. The top-ranked streaming option is Tampa Bay Rays RHP Shane Baz (18.8% rostered) for his home date with the Toronto Blue Jays. Baz didn't debut until early July, but by season's end, he should finish between 75 and 80 innings, enough to pitch next season with limited restrictions. His 3.21 ERA and 1.11 WHIP are stellar, but he has benefited from a .231 BABIP and 78.7% left on base mark, masking a low 20.6% strikeout rate. Even so, Baz is in play as a spot starter, pitching at favorable Tropicana Field. Beware, however, the Blue Jays don't strike out a lot, so there is some risk. Next up is Houston Astros RHP Spencer Arrighetti (21.8%) for a juicy home tilt against the Los Angeles Angels. Arrighetti could be hitting a rookie wall, as his punchouts have been down in September, but he's facing a lineup with a generous 26.6% strikeout rate versus righties over the past month. Sunday is an important outing for Cleveland Guardians RHP Gavin Williams. The Guardians have clinched a playoff berth, but they still have designs on the No. 1 seed throughout the playoffs on the American League side. Plus, Williams needs to establish consistency, something he has lacked over the second half. To his credit, Williams has rebounded from a drubbing inflicted by the Los Angeles Dodgers three starts ago with a pair of solid efforts, but a third straight effective effort would help instill more confidence. The Guardians will conclude a road interleague series with the St. Louis Cardinals, whose lineup has been below average with a right-hander on the hill. Betting tip of the day: The Los Angeles Dodgers sport the highest implied run total on the board. Perhaps Shohei Ohtani is the more obvious focus, but the odds are better for Freddie Freeman, so back him for over 2.5 total hits + runs + RBI (+125). Starting pitcher rankings for Sunday 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.

Hitting report

Plan ahead in fantasy baseball with help from our Forecaster projections. Each day, we will provide an updated preview of the next 10 days for every team, projecting the matchup quality for hitters (overall and by handedness) as well as for base stealers.

Best sub-50% rostered hitters for Sunday

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.

Byron Buxton (MIN, DH -- 21%) at Nick Pivetta and Kutter Crawford Carlos Santana (MIN, 1B -- 17%) at Pivetta and Crawford Triston Casas (BOS, 1B -- 48%) vs. Pablo Lopez and Zebby Matthews Wilyer Abreu (BOS, CF -- 7%) vs. Lopez and Matthews Trevor Larnach (MIN, LF -- 1%) at Pivetta and Crawford Willi Castro (MIN, LF -- 32%) at Pivetta and Crawford Oneil Cruz (PIT, SS -- 50%) at Hunter Greene Jorge Soler (ATL, RF -- 50%) at Darren McCaughan Trevor Story (BOS, SS -- 5%) vs. Lopez and Matthews Romy Gonzalez (BOS, 2B -- 0%) vs. Lopez and Matthews Worst over-50% rostered hitters for Sunday Eugenio Suarez (ARI, 3B -- 52%) at Frankie Montas Luis Robert Jr. (CHW, CF -- 62%) at Yu Darvish Adolis Garcia (TEX, RF -- 79%) vs. Bryan Woo J.T. Realmuto (PHI, C -- 80%) at Tylor Megill Maikel Garcia (KC, 3B -- 59%) vs. Blake Snell Nick Castellanos (PHI, RF -- 73%) at Megill Pete Alonso (NYM, 1B -- 98%) vs. Zack Wheeler Anthony Volpe (NYY, SS -- 68%) at Joey Estes Salvador Perez (KC, C -- 97%) vs. Snell Brice Turang (MIL, 2B -- 68%) vs. Jordan Montgomery THE BAT X's Best Stacks for Sunday Atlanta Braves at McCaughan San Diego Padres vs. Sean Burke Pittsburgh Pirates at Greene

Latest Post

Sizemore now a candidate for White Sox manager

2024-09-25

White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Tuesday that interim manager Grady Sizemore will now be considered for the permanent job a reversal of the GM s stance from August

Clippers to hold Kawhi knee out of camp drills

2024-09-25

LA Clippers president Lawrence Frank told reporters Tuesday the swelling in star Kawhi Leonard s inflamed right knee had decreased significantly but that the team plans to hold him out of training camp drills and the goal is to get him 100 percent

Quinn wants Daniels free from ghosts of QBs past

2024-09-25

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels was hailed as the answer after a near-perfect performance on Monday Night Football But coach Dan Quinn made clear Tuesday he doesn t want the rookie feeling any ghosts of the organization s past at the position

What s next for the Sparks after Los Angeles coach Curt Miller part ways

2024-09-25

The factors -- including an unlucky string of illnesses -- that led to a 25-55 record in Miller s two seasons in Los Angeles and his departure

Alav s coach on Endrick kick-out It s a red card

2024-09-25

Alav s coach Luis Garcia Plaza said Endrick should have been sent off in Real Madrid s 3-2 LaLiga win on Tuesday after the teenage forward appeared to strike defender Santiago Mouri o with his knee in an off-the-ball challenge

Miller out as Sparks head coach after two seasons

2024-09-25

Curt Miller who had a 25-55 record and did not make the playoffs in his two seasons with Los Angeles is out as head coach of the Sparks the team said

["Tropical Storm Helene: Hillsborough County updates & information? As Tropical Storm Helene heads toward Florida, here's what people in \nHillsborough County need to know.","Here are the flood maps and zones in the Tampa Bay region? Flood maps are different from evacuation zones and show a property's risk \nfor flooding at any time of the year including as a result of","Hillsborough County issues mandatory evacuation for Zone A, mobile homes? Hillsborough County officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for \nEvacuation Zone A and all mobile homes on Wednesday.","Hillsborough County issues evacuation orders ahead of Helene? Hillsborough County residents living in evacuation Zone A will be under a \nmandatory evacuation notice beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, the","How to find your evacuation zone in Tampa Bay? Officials are urging residents to have a plan in place, should an order to \nevacuate be given to their community.","\u2018Carts full\u2019: Hurricane preparations begin in Hillsborough County? In Hillsborough County, stores were slammed Monday afternoon as people \nraced to get the essentials before supplies run out.","How to find your evacuation zone ahead of potential tropical weather? Here's how to find your evacuation zone and storm surge zone as the Tampa \nBay area prepares for the potential effects of tropical weather.","Tropical storm warning for Glynn County until early Wednesday evening? A tropical storm warning was issued by the National Weather Service on \nWednesday at 8:01 a.m. in effect until 4:15 p.m..","Glynn County under a tropical storm warning until early Wednesday evening? On Wednesday at 8:01 a.m. the National Weather Service issued a tropical \nstorm warning in effect until 4:15 p.m.. The following information is \nprovided by","Update: Glynn County under a tropical storm watch until early Wednesday \nevening? The National Weather Service issued an updated tropical storm watch at \n11:08 p.m. on Tuesday in effect until Wednesday at 4 p.m..","Update: Tropical storm watch issued for Glynn County until early Wednesday \nevening? An updated tropical storm watch was issued by the National Weather Service \non Tuesday at 11:08 p.m. in effect until Wednesday at 4 p.m..","THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Pac-12's next gamble is with UNLV? Make a trip to Vegas, and it will be no surprise if you discover your fate \nin someone else's hands. Why shouldn't that be true at the","Graney: Don\u2019t call Mountain West defectors disloyal. That idea is dead? Call it what you want, but the decision by four schools to leave the \nMountain West for the Pac-12 last week had nothing to do with a lack of","Why UNLV should stay in the Mountain West for now? Remember, the goal is to get invited to be part of a lucrative league like \nthe Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12 or Southeastern","UNLV Is the Next School That Could Cause Major Conference Realignment | \nBrett McMurphy? Brett McMurphy, ActionNetwork HQ joins 365 Sports to discuss his thoughts \non what's next in recent conference realignment news, what is the","Pac-12 expansion: UNLV and Nevada aren't a package deal if invitation \narrives for the Rebels, official says? UNLV would not be \u201cstructurally\u201d tied to Nevada in the event the Pac-12 \noffers membership to the Rebels during the second wave of its expansion \nphase,","LETTER: UNLV on the outside? I've read a lot regarding the Pac-12 bypassing UNLV. Many voices are \nindicating that UNLV was not selected because then UNR would also have","Hill: Las Vegas ban of Pac-12 could help secure UNLV\u2019s future? The Pac-12 should not believe it has access to the stadiums, arenas and \nmeeting rooms of Las Vegas without accepting UNLV into the","What is the Google Doodle today? Popcorn kernels run around in Wednesday's \nDoodle? Featuring one of America's favorite snacks, popcorn kernels will run around \nthe screen looking to be the last unpopped kernel.","How to play today's Google Doodle game 'celebrating popcorn'? On search engines of many countries around the world, the goal is to \nsurvive and not get popped.","\u2018Popcorn!\u2019 is a battle royale-esque Google Doodle? The latest Google Doodle today is an interactive battle royale-esque game \nthat celebrates \"Popcorn!\" The premise","Google's latest Doodle is a delicious multiplayer game? Google Search is the go-to remedy to curiosity for billions of people \nworldwide, but serving results alone isn't enough. We've seen the","Google Doodle Celebrates Popcorns: Here\u2019s How To Play \u2018Popcorn-Themed\u2019 Game? The popcorn themed game has made Google Doodle history as it allows the \nmost players ever in a single match.","Google Doodle interactive game celebrates popcorn? Four years ago, Thailand broke the record for the world's biggest popcorn \nmachine, and Google celebrated the milestone Wednesday with an","Why Is Google Doodle Celebrating Popcorn? Beware You Might Just Get Hooked \nTo It All Day? Celebrate popcorn with today's Google Doodle, honouring the 2020 world \nrecord for the largest popcorn machine!","Google Doodle today: Celebrate popcorn\u2019s legacy with this fun game, here's \nhow to play? Today's Google Doodle celebrates popcorn with a fun, interactive Google \nDoodle popcorn game, where players compete to avoid getting popped.","Google Doodle celebrates classic popcorn? Google is celebrating the iconic movie theatre snacks, popcorn, with a \nspecial interactive Doodle.","The new popcorn Google Doodle game will have you hooked for days? Whether it's Google's snake game or any number of the great Google Doodle \ngames over the years, I can say I get hooked and can play them for","Risky coastal development expanding in face of climate change? With 73 days left in the Atlantic hurricane season, communities across the \nGulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard face risk of more storms like","Climate: Risky Coastal Development? With 73 days left in the Atlantic hurricane season, communities across the \nGulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard face risk of more storms like","Cities across the US are reducing risky floodplain development, but \nLouisiana and Florida remain outliers? New research shows that most U.S. towns have reduced or eliminated \nfloodplain construction through local practices like zoning changes, though \nsome states","Reducing floodplain development doesn't need to be complex, say researchers? A paper, titled \"How local governments avoid floodplain development through \nconsistent implementation of routine municipal ordinances,","Florida leads nation with half of residential floodplain development? Half of all residential development on flood-prone land in the U.S. over \nthe past two decades has been built in Florida. From 2001 to 2019,","Floodplain Development Largely Concentrated in Gulf Coast States? Many U.S. cities use 'routine' practices like zoning changes and permitting \nto discourage development in high-risk flood zones.","The US is finally curbing floodplain development, new research shows? Routine municipal practices\u201d are all it takes, but two problem states are \ndefying the trend.","Cities across the US are reducing risky floodplain development, but \nLouisiana and Florida remain outliers? New research shows that most U.S. towns have reduced or eliminated \nfloodplain construction through local practices like zoning changes, though \nsome states","U.S. Develops Over 2 Million Acres of Floodplain in 20 Years, Study Reveals? A study led by the University of Miami unveils extensive floodplain \ndevelopment across the United Sates in the last two decades,","US Investigating SAP, Carahsoft for Potential Price-Fixing? German software developer SAP SE, product reseller Carahsoft Technology \nCorp. and other companies are being probed by US officials for","Big Tech IT Distributor Carahsoft Raided by FBI in Virginia? Federal agents on Tuesday searched the Washington-area offices of Carahsoft \nTechnology Corp., a major distributor of information technology","FBI raids government IT and cyber contractor Carahsoft? The FBI raided the Reston, Virginia headquarters of IT, software and \ncybersecurity services provider Carahsoft Technology Corp. on Tuesday,","FBI, DCIS raid Carahsoft headquarters? The FBI and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service served a search \nwarrant at Carahsoft Technology Corp.'s headquarters in Reston,","Asam: I'm not aware of any criminal investigations into SAP at present, \nWe're cooperating with the DOJ.? Dominik Asam, CFO at SAP, calls for balanced regulation in AI, privacy, and \ndecarbonization, cautioning against over-regulation in Europe.","SAP faces probe in the US over alleged price fixing in government contracts? DOJ lawyers have been investigating SAP since 2022 to determine if the \ncompany illegally colluded with Carahsoft to set prices for SAP","FBI raids HQ of US govt IT giant Carahsoft? Virginia-based public sector IT services giant Carahsoft was raided Tuesday \nby US government agents. \"We can confirm that the FBI conducted","US Investigating SAP, Carahsoft for Potential Price-Fixing? German software developer SAP SE, product reseller Carahsoft Technology \nCorp. and other companies are being probed by US officials for","SAP stock falls on report of U.S. probe? SAP shares slumped on Wednesday after a report it's the target of a probe \ninto whether it and other companies overcharged U.S. government","FBI raids Reston office of government contractor Carahsoft? The FBI on Tuesday raided the Reston office of Carahsoft, an IT services \nand software government contractor with about 2000 employees.","Heart Announces Additional 2025 North American Tour Dates Following Ann \nWilson's Cancer Diagnosis? On Monday, Sept. 23, Heart announced additional dates for The Royal Flush \ntour which will kick off in 2025. The tour will now include","HEART Adds More Shows To 2025 'Royal Flush' Tour? HEART has added more dates to its 2025 \"Royal Flush\" tour, including a \nsecond show in Las Vegas, a concert at Radio City Music Hall in New","Heart Adds More North American Dates? Two weeks after announcing their return to the road, Heart has added more \ndates to the \"Royal Flush Tour.\"","Iconic \u201970s rock band coming to Boston as part of new 2025 tour? Heart \u2014 known for its 1970s singles \u201cMagic Man\u201d and \u201cBarracuda\u201d \u2014 is going \nback on tour after postponing shows earlier this year, and will","How to get tickets to Heart\u2019s rescheduled \u2018Royal Flush Tour\u2019 dates? Heart has announced rescheduled tour dates for the \u201cRoyal Flush Tour\u201d and \nadded five additional dates. This comes after the postponement of","Heart reunion tour, featuring both Wilson sisters, coming to Foxwoods in \n2025? The postponed Heart tour, which reunites sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, will \nresume next year and has added extra dates, including one at","Heart announce more 2025 tour dates, playing Radio City Music Hall? Heart have added more dates to their 2025 Royal Flush tour, including a \nsecond night in Las Vegas, a NYC show at Radio City Music Hall on","KTIC 840 AM\/98.3 FM\/98.7 FM - Heart adds more dates to their Royal Flush \ntour? The five additional shows include a second concert in Las Vegas, plus dates \nin Toronto, Boston and New York. The Royal Flush tour was","Heart Announces More Dates for 2025 Tour? Band's Royal Flush performances keep expanding, adding to previously \nannounced rescheduled shows following Ann Wilson's treatment for cancer","Heart Announces More Dates for 2025 Tour? Two weeks after rescheduling their canceled 2024 tour dates for next year, \nHeart has added more shows to their 2025 itinerary."]

Hillsborough County issues evacuation orders ahead of Helene? Hillsborough County residents living in evacuation Zone A will be under a mandatory evacuation notice beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, the

Tropical storm warning for Glynn County until early Wednesday evening? A tropical storm warning was issued by the National Weather Service on Wednesday at 8:01 a.m. in effect until 4:15 p.m..THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Pac-12's next gamble is with UNLV? Make a trip to Vegas, and it will be no surprise if you discover your fate in someone else's hands. Why shouldn't that be true at the

Pac-12 expansion: UNLV and Nevada aren't a package deal if invitation arrives for the Rebels, official says? UNLV would not be “structurally” tied to Nevada in the event the Pac-12 offers membership to the Rebels during the second wave of its expansion phase,

How to play today's Google Doodle game 'celebrating popcorn'? On search engines of many countries around the world, the goal is to survive and not get popped.Google Doodle interactive game celebrates popcorn? Four years ago, Thailand broke the record for the world's biggest popcorn machine, and Google celebrated the milestone Wednesday with an

The new popcorn Google Doodle game will have you hooked for days? Whether it's Google's snake game or any number of the great Google Doodle games over the years, I can say I get hooked and can play them for

Reducing floodplain development doesn't need to be complex, say researchers? A paper, titled "How local governments avoid floodplain development through consistent implementation of routine municipal ordinances,Cities across the US are reducing risky floodplain development, but Louisiana and Florida remain outliers? New research shows that most U.S. towns have reduced or eliminated floodplain construction through local practices like zoning changes, though some states

FBI raids government IT and cyber contractor Carahsoft? The FBI raided the Reston, Virginia headquarters of IT, software and cybersecurity services provider Carahsoft Technology Corp. on Tuesday,

FBI raids HQ of US govt IT giant Carahsoft? Virginia-based public sector IT services giant Carahsoft was raided Tuesday by US government agents. "We can confirm that the FBI conductedHeart Announces Additional 2025 North American Tour Dates Following Ann Wilson's Cancer Diagnosis? On Monday, Sept. 23, Heart announced additional dates for The Royal Flush tour which will kick off in 2025. The tour will now include

How to get tickets to Heart’s rescheduled ‘Royal Flush Tour’ dates? Heart has announced rescheduled tour dates for the “Royal Flush Tour” and added five additional dates. This comes after the postponement of

Heart Announces More Dates for 2025 Tour? Band's Royal Flush performances keep expanding, adding to previously announced rescheduled shows following Ann Wilson's treatment for cancer