Fantasy baseball lineup advice for Sunday: Peter Lambert tops streaming options

ESPN FantasyJul 5, 2026, 11:09 AM ET
Close
Follow on X

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 | 2026 Rankings
ESPN's 2026 Player Rater | 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
13.1	Trey Yesavage	R	@SEA	66.2%	36%	6.0	7.0	2.2	6.3
13.1	Joe Ryan	R	@NYY	97.5%	33%	5.8	6.3	2.2	6.3
11.8	Peter Lambert	R	TB	18.7%	38%	5.7	6.9	2.1	5.5
11.6	Nolan McLean	R	@ATL	90.3%	42%	6.1	7.7	2.7	6.0
11.1	Emmet Sheehan	R	SD	53.0%	34%	5.2	6.0	2.1	5.7
10.5	Tanner Bibee	R	CWS	68.3%	41%	5.9	7.5	2.8	5.7
10.4	Kyle Bradish	R	@CIN	69.9%	38%	5.8	7.8	3.0	6.6
10.3	Ranger Suarez	L	@LAA	83.2%	38%	6.0	7.8	3.0	6.0
9.3	Casey Mize	R	@TEX	41.1%	32%	5.7	7.3	3.0	5.5
9.2	Ryan Johnson	R	BOS	1.3%	30%	5.7	7.0	2.8	5.0
9.2	Ryan Weathers	L	MIN	35.5%	25%	4.9	6.1	2.2	5.1
9.2	Emerson Hancock	R	TOR	72.4%	31%	5.7	7.2	2.6	4.8
8.9	Brandon Sproat	R	@ARI	10.4%	30%	5.2	6.7	2.4	4.7
8.8	Bubba Chandler	R	@WSH	22.7%	30%	5.0	6.5	2.3	4.8
8.4	Javier Assad	R	STL	5.5%	35%	5.8	7.8	2.9	4.5
8.3	Cade Cavalli	R	PIT	17.8%	28%	5.5	7.7	3.0	5.6
8.3	JP Sears	L	@LAD	0.9%	25%	5.2	6.8	2.7	4.9
7.8	Nick Lodolo	L	BAL	45.6%	21%	4.9	6.7	2.7	5.4
7.8	Kumar Rocker	R	DET	9.3%	26%	5.1	6.7	2.8	4.8
7.6	Eduardo Rodriguez	L	MIL	61.8%	31%	5.6	7.9	3.0	4.8
7.2	Martin Perez	L	NYM	14.2%	21%	5.1	6.8	2.6	4.3
6.8	Aaron Nola	R	@KC	37.6%	30%	5.4	7.6	3.5	5.2
6.8	Luinder Avila	R	PHI	1.1%	25%	5.1	7.6	2.8	4.7
6.4	Erick Fedde*	R	@CLE	2.0%	24%	5.3	7.6	2.9	4.3
6.4	Mason Englert	R	@HOU	0.0%	6%	3.7	4.6	1.6	3.5
6.2	Matthew Liberatore	L	@CHC	4.0%	19%	4.8	6.9	2.7	4.5
5.8	Gage Jump	L	MIA	34.5%	29%	5.3	8.1	3.8	5.6
4.7	Eury Perez	R	@ATH	64.6%	15%	4.4	6.5	3.3	4.9
2.0	Tyler Mahle	R	@COL	1.5%	18%	4.4	7.2	4.2	4.4
-3.0	Tanner Gordon	R	SF	0.2%	16%	4.6	8.3	6.1	4.1

Pitchers to stream on Sunday

After three strong starts to open June, Peter Lambert struggled in his final two outings last month. He has also surrendered at least one home run in five straight games. As such, it might seem odd to recommend Lambert when the Houston Astros face the Tampa Bay Rays, owners of the best record in the American League. The key is that the Rays' offense is below average on the road, and this tilt is in Daikin Park. In fact, the Rays are tied for the lowest home run rate on the road facing right-handed pitching.
If the Detroit Tigers have any chance of getting back into the playoff picture (and not trading Tarik Skubal), Casey Mize needs to step up. And if his last effort is any indication, they have a shot after the right-hander dominated the New York Yankees with seven scoreless stanzas while allowing just one hit and fanning 10 without issuing any free passes. Next up is a favorable matchup in Arlington facing a Texas Rangers club dealing with injuries to several key players. Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford and Danny Jansen are on the injured list, while Brandon Nimmo just returned to the lineup on Saturday after missing four games with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder.
Ryan Weathers is one of several pitchers seemingly enjoying a breakout campaign, but he has hit an extended rut, posting a 5.55 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in June. The New York Yankees lefty fanned fewer and walked more batters last month, but he was also snake-bitten with a .315 BABIP and 57.1% left-on-base mark. His June fastball velocity was a tick higher than March/April and May, so it is just a matter of Weathers getting back in a groove. He opens July with a home date against the Minnesota Twins, whose lineup struggles on the road when facing southpaw pitching.

Pitcher to avoid on Sunday

Eury Perez has pitched well lately with a 1.33 ERA and 0.69 WHIP over his past four efforts, covering 20⅓ innings. He has 23 strikeouts and just four walks over that stretch, but all four free passes came in his last outing, serving as a reminder that he's still prone to lapses in control. The long ball is also an issue, with 13 homers given up in 72⅔ innings. The Miami Marlins wrap up a series in Sacramento against the Athletics, where the temperature will be hot with the wind blowing out to left in Sutter Health Park. It's best to avoid Perez when he squares off with an offense averaging the third-most runs in the league at home.

Hitters to stream on Sunday

Don't overthink this one. Temperatures will approach 90 degrees with a gentle wind blowing toward left field when the Colorado Rockies host the San Francisco Giants in Coors Field. A pair of vulnerable right-handers will take the hill, with Tyler Mahle starting for the Giants and the Rockies countering with Tanner Gordon. Rafael Devers is still available in 35% of ESPN leagues; get him if available. Bryce Eldridge, Heliot Ramos and Willy Adames are also in play for the visitors. Jake McCarthy, Mickey Moniak, TJ Rumfield, Willi Castro, Troy Johnston and Cole Carrigg are the chief options for the home team.