Thursday Fantasy Baseball: Start Shane Baz as Cutter Fuels Success

ESPN’s daily fantasy baseball notes for April 16 offer pitcher rankings and lineup tips for ESPN’s 10-team standard scoring leagues. This post mixes veteran upside with some interesting emerging arms, aiming to guide DFS players toward matchups that might pay off, practical risk-reward plays, and a handful of value options on a shorter slate.

We’ll break down the key arms, highlight notable matchups, and toss out a few lineup moves that could help you build a more competitive team for today’s games.

Starting Pitcher Spotlight for April 16

Jacob Lopez hasn’t had the smoothest start, with 13 walks and three homers allowed across 13 innings. Still, he faces the Texas Rangers, a team that’s patient but also chases and strikes out plenty.

If Lopez can find the zone and keep his stuff sharp, there’s a shot at DFS value here—though it comes with some risk. Sometimes you just have to roll the dice.

Lance McCullers Jr. started strong but stumbled a bit in his last two outings, walking five and striking out eight in 8 1/3 innings. His underlying numbers hint that he could bounce back, especially pitching at home against the Colorado Rockies, who often rack up strikeouts on the road.

If you’re after a rebound candidate today, McCullers seems like a reasonable flyer in deeper leagues or as a contrarian stacking piece with Colorado hitters.

Shane Baz has tweaked his pitch mix in his first season with the Orioles, cutting back on four-seamers and changeups and leaning more on cutters and knuckle curves. Those pitches worked for him last year, and while they’re down a bit, Baz looks set to attack the Cleveland Guardians—a team that struggles against cutters.

If he can command that pitch and keep the ball in the yard, Baz could be a solid streaming choice. Sometimes the matchup just lines up right.

Foster Griffin has a shiny 1.76 ERA, but the numbers under the hood suggest regression: his BABIP sits at .214 and his left-on-base rate is an eye-popping 98.7%. Even so, he draws favorable platoon matchups against the Pirates, which makes him a decent streamer if you’re hunting for a cheap start with strikeout potential.

Jack Leiter racks up strikeouts (21 in 14 2/3 innings) but has struggled with command, walking six and serving up three homers. His K/BB ratio hovers around 1.2, so the upside is there if he can keep his control in check.

The Rangers–Athletics matinee brings another wrinkle: with warmer temps and some favorable matchups, hitters might have the edge. When you’re weighing pitching streams, keep an eye on how that game could tilt toward offense.

Value Plays and Lineup Recommendations

• Lawrence Butler leads off for Oakland and holds a platoon edge. He’s an excellent multi-position filler with upside in daily lineups.
• Jacob Wilson is another Oakland option with upside in a favorable matchup. You can slot him in almost anywhere on your roster.
• Jeff McNeil and Max Muncy make the recommended plays list because of their plate discipline and power upside. You get a solid floor and a shot at a big game from either one.
• Denzel Clarke brings speed and power upside. He’s an appealing value in the outfield or utility spots, especially on a short slate.

Keep an eye on late-breaking news and ESPN’s extra tools—like the RP depth chart, draft guide, and betting notes. Updates can shake up lineups and projections, sometimes right up until first pitch.

Honestly, it’s smart to refresh your rosters and swap options if a pitcher’s role or matchup changes after morning rotations. Sometimes you just have to stay flexible and roll with what the day throws at you.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Fantasy baseball lineup advice for Thursday: Shane Baz seeing success with cutter