Fantasy baseball lineup advice for Monday: Mize, Painter and top pitching picks

ESPN FantasyApr 4, 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 Monday

STARTING PITCHERS FOR MONDAY

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
12.8	Chris Sale	L	@LAA	99.3%	43%	5.9	7.0	2.5	6.8
12.0	Joe Ryan	R	DET	97.6%	39%	5.6	6.4	2.4	6.2
11.4	Logan Gilbert	R	@TEX	98.4%	34%	5.6	6.6	2.6	6.2
10.2	Jacob deGrom	R	SEA	97.5%	27%	5.2	6.1	2.4	5.8
9.7	Erick Fedde	R	BAL	0.5%	45%	5.5	7.1	2.5	4.8
9.6	Jameson Taillon	R	@TB	4.8%	36%	5.7	6.8	2.5	4.3
9.6	Tanner Bibee	R	KC	78.3%	32%	5.6	7.2	2.8	5.4
9.3	Janson Junk	R	CIN	0.8%	35%	5.2	6.6	2.3	4.4
8.7	Michael Wacha	R	@CLE	27.1%	29%	5.3	6.9	2.5	4.9
7.9	Zack Littell	R	STL	2.2%	26%	5.4	6.9	2.9	4.6
7.8	Adrian Houser	R	PHI	1.3%	34%	5.6	7.9	2.7	4.2
7.7	Brandon Woodruff	R	@BOS	88.6%	22%	4.8	6.4	2.7	5.1
7.4	Max Scherzer	R	LAD	15.3%	26%	4.9	6.5	2.7	4.6
7.3	Andre Pallante	R	@WSH	0.7%	32%	5.3	7.5	2.7	4.3
7.0	Bubba Chandler	R	SD	49.3%	21%	4.8	6.7	2.5	4.5
7.0	Casey Mize	R	@MIN	15.0%	20%	5.1	7.0	2.9	4.8
6.8	Jose Soriano	R	ATL	62.0%	20%	5.1	7.5	2.7	4.6
6.6	Shane McClanahan	L	CHC	37.8%	18%	4.5	6.2	2.3	4.0
6.5	Brandon Williamson	L	@MIA	0.5%	7%	4.1	5.7	2.0	4.1
5.9	Justin Wrobleski	L	@TOR	0.7%	27%	5.1	7.8	3.0	4.5
5.8	Brayan Bello	R	MIL	12.2%	26%	5.3	8.1	3.3	4.8
5.5	Andrew Painter	R	@SF	36.4%	25%	4.9	7.4	3.1	4.4
3.3	German Marquez	R	@PIT	0.3%	20%	4.8	7.7	3.4	3.7
1.4	Ryan Feltner	R	HOU	0.1%	28%	4.9	8.2	4.9	4.6
	TBD		@CWS	0.0%	0%	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
	TBD		@COL	0.0%	0%	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Pitchers to stream on Monday

• Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler tossed 4 1/3 hitless and scoreless innings in his 2026 debut, but he walked six while recording six strikeouts. Expect better control in his second start, a home affair against the San Diego Padres.

• Andrew Painter came as advertised in his inaugural major league start, fanning eight with only one free pass over 5 1/3 frames. He yielded just four hits and one earned run. His second start comes on the road, with the Philadelphia Phillies visiting the San Francisco Giants. Painter faces a team that is averaging the fewest runs per game through Saturday's action.

• Casey Mize was dominant in his opener, striking out nine over six innings in a quality start. He's in a good spot for another high-strikeout effort with the Detroit Tigers visiting the Minnesota Twins in an AL Central matchup. The Twins are fanning at the sixth-highest rate in MLB.

Hitters to stream on Monday

• The Washington Nationals are in a rare favorable position with a home date against Andre Pallante and the St. Louis Cardinals. The righty won his first game with five scoreless stanzas, but he recorded only three strikeouts with three walks. Lineups are generally able to put the ball in play against Pallante, benefitting Daylen Lile, Joey Wiemer, Luis Garcia Jr., and Brady House.

• Every other season, the Houston Astros visit Coors Field. It will be fun to watch Yordan Alvarez face the Colorado Rockies' pitching staff, but he's not available in any ESPN leagues. However, Christian Walker, Carlos Correa, Cam Smith, Jake Meyers, and Joey Loperfido will benefit from facing Ryan Feltner, one of the weakest starters regardless of venue.