Fantasy baseball lineup advice for Sunday: Padres-Diamondbacks has plenty hitters to stream

ESPN FantasyApr 25, 2026, 04:15 PM 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 SATURDAY

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
15.9	Nolan McLean	R	COL, Gm. 2	92.4%	49%	6.0	6.3	1.6	6.8
12.0	Dylan Cease	R	CLE	97.9%	40%	5.6	7.0	2.3	6.2
11.3	Chris Sale	L	PHI	99.3%	36%	5.7	7.3	2.8	6.9
10.8	Shota Imanaga	L	@LAD	87.3%	36%	5.6	6.8	2.5	5.8
10.8	Kodai Senga	R	COL, Gm. 1	16.0%	34%	5.3	6.7	2.1	5.5
10.6	Seth Lugo	R	LAA	65.1%	43%	5.9	7.2	2.7	5.3
10.3	Luis Gil	R	@HOU	6.0%	32%	5.4	6.7	2.2	5.3
9.9	Spencer Arrighetti	R	NYY	13.1%	27%	5.4	7.2	2.5	6.0
9.6	Foster Griffin	L	@CWS	6.6%	22%	4.6	5.3	1.7	4.6
9.1	Landen Roupp	R	MIA	43.9%	29%	5.2	7.0	2.2	4.9
8.8	Michael McGreevy	R	SEA	7.6%	33%	5.6	6.9	2.5	4.0
8.5	Chase Dollander	R	@NYM, Gm. 2	9.2%	16%	5.1	6.7	2.1	4.7
8.5	Kyle Bradish	R	BOS	71.9%	27%	5.1	7.2	2.7	5.6
8.3	Jose Quintana	L	@NYM, Gm. 1	0.3%	24%	5.4	7.4	2.4	4.6
8.3	Emerson Hancock	R	@STL	71.2%	28%	5.2	6.7	2.4	4.3
8.1	Rhett Lowder	R	DET	12.1%	31%	5.3	7.2	2.7	4.8
7.9	Keider Montero	R	@CIN	4.5%	24%	4.9	6.5	2.6	4.9
7.8	Aaron Nola	R	@ATL	56.5%	28%	5.7	7.8	3.5	5.6
7.4	Simeon Woods Richardson	R	@TB	0.8%	29%	4.9	6.7	2.4	4.0
7.2	Max Meyer	R	@SF	8.2%	26%	5.2	7.5	2.8	4.9
7.0	Sean Burke	R	WSH	1.5%	24%	5.1	7.2	2.8	4.6
7.0	Kumar Rocker	R	ATH	2.4%	26%	5.0	6.9	2.9	4.6
7.0	Slade Cecconi	R	@TOR	1.7%	22%	5.3	7.1	2.9	4.4
6.7	Connelly Early	L	@BAL	21.2%	25%	4.9	7.2	2.8	5.0
6.5	Jesse Scholtens	R	MIN	0.8%	18%	4.7	6.3	2.6	4.1
6.1	J.T. Ginn	R	@TEX	0.6%	20%	4.8	6.8	3.0	4.6
5.3	Reid Detmers	L	@KC	25.4%	23%	5.3	8.3	3.8	5.6
5.1	Justin Wrobleski	L	CHC	22.9%	23%	5.1	8.1	3.1	4.3
5.1	Michael King	R	@ARI	85.3%	34%	5.0	7.2	4.5	6.0
4.9	Kyle Harrison	L	PIT	8.9%	20%	4.6	7.4	3.1	4.9
4.4	Carmen Mlodzinski	R	@MIL	7.2%	9%	4.1	6.4	2.5	3.9
0.4	Ryne Nelson	R	SD	8.7%	18%	5.0	7.5	5.8	5.0

Pitchers to stream on Sunday

Chase Dollander's early efforts have him in the mix for home starts at Coors Field. Using him on the road in one of the best pitching venues in the league, where conditions further favor pitchers, is a no-brainer. The Rockies' righty's four-seamer and sinker are up over a tick. He's also tweaked his repertoire to feature more sinkers, sliders and changeups while throwing fewer rising fastballs and eliminating his cutter. His 24.0 K-BB% is 10th best among hurlers logging at least 20 innings. He'll face a struggling Mets lineup that's missing Francisco Lindor.
Kodai Senga's recent performance doesn't merit streaming consideration, but the matchup is too good to ignore. The New York Mets and Colorado Rockies play a doubleheader in cold and clammy Citi Field, with the wind blowing in. The Rockies are one of the least-patient teams in the league while also striking out at an elevated clip. Finally, most doubleheader lineups are weaker than the usual offense.
Reid Detmers has been inconsistent, alternating subpar efforts with quality starts. However, his underlying metrics suggest he pitched better than it looks in his three struggles. The pattern is happenstance, but nonetheless he's due for a solid outing with the Los Angeles Angels wrapping up a series in Kauffman Stadium against the Kansas City Royals. Detmers faces a lineup with a weak wOBA and high strikeout rate versus left-handers.
It was cool at Camden Yards on Saturday, with the wind blowing in, but only one team received the memo as the Boston Red Sox bats woke up in the 17-1 blowout. On Sunday, it will be even chillier with the breeze blowing in harder from left field. Connelly Early seeks to take advantage in the rubber game of the series between the longtime AL East rivals.

Pitchers to avoid on Sunday

Michael King drew the short straw and is lined up to start the finale of the Mexico City Series for the San Diego Padres. Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú plays even more hitter-friendly than Coors Field, so it is wise to reserve King against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Hitters to stream on Sunday

The Padres batters will face the Diamondbacks' righty Ryne Nelson. Normally, enjoying the platoon edge is key to streaming batters, but at over 7,000 feet above sea level, it isn't as relevant. Ramon Laureano, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth, Gavin Sheets and Miguel Andujar are the best options for the Padres, with Ildemaro Vargas, Nolan Arenado, Jose Fernandez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. leading the way for the Diamondbacks against Michael King.