Fantasy baseball lineup advice for Sunday: Cubs set for big day against Diamondbacks

ESPN FantasyMay 2, 2026, 05:00 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 Saturday

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
15.7	Jesus Luzardo	L	@MIA	88.7%	52%	6.3	6.7	1.9	6.9
13.4	Max Fried	L	BAL	99.7%	43%	6.1	7.1	2.2	6.4
12.0	Joe Ryan	R	TOR	97.1%	33%	5.8	6.7	2.5	6.1
11.9	Kris Bubic	L	@SEA	53.8%	32%	5.6	6.6	2.0	5.7
11.4	Parker Messick	L	@ATH	86.6%	38%	5.7	7.1	2.4	6.0
10.7	Matthew Boyd	L	ARI	56.0%	31%	5.7	6.8	2.3	5.2
10.5	Luis Castillo	R	KC	69.7%	35%	6.0	7.4	2.7	5.3
9.8	Anthony Kay	L	@SD	0.5%	25%	5.4	6.8	2.1	4.7
9.3	Randy Vasquez	R	CWS	51.6%	37%	5.5	7.2	2.3	4.2
9.2	Chase Burns	R	@PIT	91.0%	26%	5.4	7.3	2.7	5.8
9.1	Steven Matz	L	SF	14.9%	32%	5.2	6.5	2.4	4.6
9.0	Merrill Kelly	R	@CHC	24.2%	33%	5.7	7.5	2.9	5.1
8.9	Chad Patrick	R	@WSH	8.1%	33%	5.3	7.0	2.5	4.8
8.8	Braxton Ashcraft	R	CIN	42.3%	29%	4.9	6.5	2.3	5.0
8.2	Clay Holmes	R	@LAA	40.1%	35%	5.3	7.1	2.6	4.5
8.0	Ranger Suarez	L	HOU	74.6%	38%	5.4	7.6	3.2	5.2
8.0	Aaron Civale	R	CLE	5.1%	21%	5.2	6.9	2.6	4.8
7.7	Chris Paddack	R	PHI	0.5%	20%	5.3	7.0	2.7	4.5
7.7	Trey Gibson	R	@NYY	0.1%	20%	5.1	7.1	2.7	5.1
7.5	Justin Wrobleski	L	@STL	51.0%	31%	5.4	7.8	2.7	4.3
7.5	Tyler Mahle	R	@TB	2.0%	23%	5.1	7.2	2.4	4.5
7.4	Jack Leiter	R	@DET	17.9%	28%	5.2	7.5	2.9	5.0
7.4	Dustin May	R	LAD	5.4%	27%	5.4	7.7	2.9	4.8
7.3	Trey Yesavage	R	@MIN	61.8%	20%	4.8	6.7	2.5	4.6
7.0	Zack Littell	R	MIL	1.2%	28%	5.5	7.4	3.2	4.5
5.9	Sawyer Gipson-Long	R	TEX	0.0%	21%	4.5	6.4	2.7	4.1
4.7	Jack Kochanowicz	R	NYM	12.1%	21%	5.1	7.9	3.2	3.7
1.4	Spencer Strider	R	@COL	85.5%	30%	5.5	9.3	6.0	6.1
1.2	Kai-Wei Teng	R	@BOS	0.7%	5%	3.6	6.5	3.2	3.9
-0.2	Kyle Freeland	L	ATL	1.7%	25%	4.9	8.3	5.5	4.3

Pitchers to stream on Sunday

Steven Matz hasn't pitched as well as his 4-1 record indicates but he's keeping the Tampa Bay Rays in games, which is requisite for a streamer. He enjoys a favorable home matchup on Sunday, with the San Francisco Giants wrapping up an interleague set at Tropicana Field. Not only is the venue pitcher-friendly, but the Giants' lineup sports a below-average wOBA facing left-handers.
Chad Patrick's control escaped him in his last outing, but in general, he's limiting baserunners and keeping the ball in the yard with just two homers allowed in 28 frames. The Milwaukee Brewers meet the Washington Nationals in the finale of their weekend set. The early forecast calls for temperatures in the low 60s and a gentle cross breeze, which combine to favor Patrick.
After yielding only eight earned runs over his first 29 2/3 innings, Braxton Ashcraft gave up six earned runs in just 4 1/3 innings in his previous outing. Look for the right-hander to get back on track when the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds. Despite being eight games over .500 heading into Saturday's action, the Reds' run differential was -11, in large part due to the second-lowest road wOBA facing right-handers.
Clay Holmes is one of the few bright spots for the New York Mets, as he's yet to give up more than two runs in his six outings, including three quality starts. Next up is a road date with the Los Angeles Angels and a lineup with the highest strikeout rate in the league facing right-handers.

Pitchers to avoid on Sunday

Spencer Strider is set to make his 2026 debut after missing over a month with a strained oblique. Unfortunately, it will be at Coors Field where the Atlanta Braves will take on the Colorado Rockies. Strider stretched out to 85 pitches in his last rehab start and was throwing with his normal velocity. Even so, the Rockies have the second-highest home wOBA in baseball, so it's best to wait until activating Strider for fantasy purposes.

Hitters to stream on Sunday

In three starts, Merrill Kelly has issued 12 free passes while punching out only nine, with five home runs allowed in just 14 2/3 innings. History suggests his command and control will come around, but he's currently struggling. Strong winds are forecast to be blowing out at Wrigley Field, so look for the Chicago Cubs to have a big day against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Michael Busch, Moises Ballesteros, Dansby Swanson and Matt Shaw are the primary bats to target.