Fantasy baseball lineup advice for Sunday: Red-hot Lambert tops streaming options

ESPN FantasyAug 1, 2026, 11:30 AM ET
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Check out all of our starting pitcher rankings and other lineup selection tools here to help you make smart fantasy baseball lineup decisions. All fantasy advice is geared toward ESPN 10-team leagues with standard scoring.

Note: All information is accurate as of the time of publication. For updates, as well as any breaking news that might impact today's MLB slate, be sure to check out the latest fantasy baseball buzz.

Other resources: RP depth chart | Start new league
ESPN's 2026 Draft Guide | Betting notes for Sunday

STARTING PITCHERS FOR SUNDAY

Pitchers are ranked in order of their Forecaster/Daily Notes projected fantasy points (FPTS), using ESPN's standard scoring system (2 points per win, minus-2 per loss, 3 per inning, 1 per K, minus-1 apiece per hit or walk allowed, minus-2 per earned run allowed).

T: The pitcher's handedness. OPP: Opposing team. RST%: The pitcher's roster percentage in ESPN leagues. W%: The individual starting pitcher's win probability using ESPN projections. IP: Projected innings pitched. H+BB: Projected hits plus walks allowed. ER: Projected earned runs allowed. K: Projected strikeouts.

If a team is planning on using an "opener" to start their game, but will rely on a "bulk pitcher" to follow him on the mound after 1-2 innings, the bulk pitcher is listed and indicated with an asterisk.

FPTS	Pitcher	T	Opp	Rst%	W%	IP	H+BB	ER	K
13.5	Zack Wheeler	R	@BAL	98.6%	37%	5.7	6.1	2.2	6.6
13.1	Peter Lambert	R	TEX	36.3%	40%	5.8	6.7	1.9	5.9
13.0	Sandy Alcantara	R	@NYM	86.2%	42%	6.4	7.4	2.2	5.6
11.9	Michael King	R	SF	83.5%	38%	6.0	7.4	2.2	5.7
11.8	Anthony Kay	L	@TB	3.8%	35%	5.4	6.2	1.7	5.1
11.6	Gerrit Cole	R	@CHC	87.7%	44%	5.9	7.0	2.6	5.8
11.3	Jacob Misiorowski	R	@LAA	99.4%	31%	5.2	6.1	2.1	5.9
11.2	Emmet Sheehan	R	BOS	49.8%	21%	5.2	5.8	2.0	5.7
10.9	Chase Burns	R	PIT	97.9%	31%	5.4	6.6	2.5	6.2
10.8	Taj Bradley	R	@SEA	71.9%	28%	5.8	7.2	2.5	5.9
10.6	Clay Holmes	R	MIA	18.3%	27%	5.5	6.7	1.8	4.7
10.5	Griffin Jax	R	CWS	44.7%	21%	4.9	5.9	1.8	5.5
10.2	Gavin Williams	R	ARI	95.6%	35%	5.6	7.4	2.7	6.2
10.1	Landen Roupp	R	@SD	29.2%	27%	5.4	6.8	2.1	5.0
9.9	Kumar Rocker	R	@HOU	6.3%	23%	5.0	5.9	2.0	4.9
9.8	George Kirby	R	MIN	91.8%	30%	5.2	6.3	2.3	5.0
9.7	Jake Bennett	L	@LAD	42.4%	33%	4.8	5.5	1.8	4.0
8.8	Kyle Bradish	R	PHI	72.4%	24%	5.4	7.2	2.7	5.3
8.4	Mitch Keller	R	@CIN	22.6%	24%	5.0	6.5	2.6	5.1
7.9	Merrill Kelly	R	@CLE	23.0%	29%	5.5	7.4	3.0	4.7
7.6	Martin Perez	L	WSH	5.9%	30%	4.9	6.5	2.6	4.4
7.5	Colin Rea	R	NYY	3.8%	21%	5.3	7.2	2.8	4.8
7.5	Walbert Urena	R	MIL	15.4%	23%	5.2	7.4	2.5	4.3
7.4	Max Scherzer	R	STL	2.2%	21%	4.6	6.0	2.3	4.3
7.2	Matthew Liberatore	L	@TOR	3.4%	26%	4.9	6.7	2.5	4.4
7.1	Cade Cavalli	R	@ATL	36.2%	23%	5.0	7.1	2.8	4.9
3.4	Gage Jump	L	DET	9.6%	12%	4.2	6.8	3.4	4.6
3.4	Keider Montero	R	@ATH	15.6%	30%	4.9	7.7	4.0	4.2
1.1	Seth Lugo	R	@COL	24.0%	31%	5.3	8.8	5.6	5.1
-0.7	Kyle Freeland	L	KC	0.7%	27%	5.2	9.0	6.1	4.8

Pitchers to stream Sunday

Peter Lambert of the Astros is a candidate for July Pitcher of the Month after posting a 1.88 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 28⅔ innings, fanning 32 while issuing just eight free passes. He's in a good spot to carry the momentum into August with Houston hosting the Texas Rangers. The right-hander faces an offense that ranks a tick below average in wOBA versus right-handers.
Griffin Jax's strikeout rate has declined from previous seasons since he has transitioned into a traditional starter, but he's still punching out hitters at an above-average clip and recorded 10 strikeouts in two of his five July starts. Next up is a home game with the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox, who lead the American League in runs per game. However, they're more potent at home; on the road, the White Sox have a generous 24% strikeout rate facing right-handers.
Mitch Keller isn't known for his strikeout prowess, but on Sunday he has a chance to dial up the whiffs when the Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Cincinnati Reds. Keller's already modest strikeout rate is down this season, but the Reds lead the league in strikeout rate facing right-handers, and the club has been especially vulnerable over the past month.

Hitters to stream Sunday

It makes sense to assume that Kyle Freeland's 7.34 ERA is bloated due to pitching his home games at Coors Field, but his road mark is higher than his home level. However, his xFIP is nearly identical home and away. Regardless, the lefty is one of the league's worst starting pitchers, and on the last day of the fantasy scoring period, focus on Kansas City Royals batters as they close out a road set against the Colorado Rockies. Carter Jensen, Lane Thomas, Starling Marte and especially Jac Caglianone all enjoy the platoon edge.