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Week 1 Starts & Sits - All Starting Pitcher Matchups

Ellis Canady's recommended fantasy baseball starts and sits for all Week 1 starting pitcher matchups. Set your optimal SP lineups daily, and win big in 2021.

Opening Day is almost here, and we couldn't be more excited! Welcome back everyone to our starting pitcher starts/sits column for Week 1. We are thrilled to be publishing this article, finally! RotoBaller is back again this year with our weekly starting pitcher matchups and recommendations. In case you missed it, this is our ninth year now writing this weekly column, helping fantasy baseball managers pick the best pitchers weekly.

Below are the projected starting pitching matchups for Week 1 -- April 1st through April 4th -- which will be updated as rotations are announced and modified. This column will make continuous adjustments for any postponements or rotation shuffles, reflecting official beat writer speculation for as many unconfirmed rotation slots as possible.

If you've got any questions about which pitchers can capitalize on a juicy matchup and which ones might be worth putting on the pine against a fierce offense, this is the weekly piece for you. For every week of the fantasy baseball season, we look to analyze all of the projected starting pitcher matchups and put together our optimal lineups. Here at RotoBaller, we believe that it is key to analyze every SP matchup, each and every week, to help determine which SPs to start/sit and to hopefully find some hidden gems to bolster your teams. Let's set those optimal lineups!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

SP Matchups & Start/Sit Recommendations

This weekly piece considers the pitcher’s opponents, their outlook against lefties and righties, some ballpark factors, and historical splits. With all of this information, we then provide our start/sit recommendations for each starting pitcher matchup for the approaching week of fantasy baseball.

Each player will be valued with a Start/Sit recommendation. Additionally, you'll see a color-coded score behind the recommendation. Green and Red provide a strong vote of confidence in starting or sitting that player. Yellow identifies players that are on the fence in this writer's mind, but leaning either Start or Sit. You could determine your level of risk and make your own decisions.

Legend:

  • The players in italics are the ones set for two-start weeks
  • Openers will have an asterisk if no "true" starter is announced by team beat writers
  • Players that are grayed out are currently just projected starters, not confirmed

This chart is updated daily as more rotations/starters are announced, and is updated as of 4/1 at 10:00 am. This also includes any postponements due to weather, COVID, etc.




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POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
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Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
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24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Valeri Nichushkin

Returns to Action Wednesday
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a Game-Time Call Wednesday
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Sidelined Wednesday
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Tre Mann

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Out of Action Again on Wednesday
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Remains Sidelined on Wednesday
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Ruled Out on Wednesday
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Sidelined Wednesday
Kyle Tucker

Expected to Bat Second or Third in Dodgers' Lineup
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Justin Joly Bringing Strong Resume of Production to NFL
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has "Played his Last Snap as a Niner"
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Looks to Build on Strong Start at The American Express
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Looking to Start 2026 Strong at The American Express
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Looking to Regain Form at The American Express
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Looks to Continue Success at The American Express
Akshay Bhatia

Looking to Flip the Script at The American Express
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looking to Build on Strong Fall in Season Debut
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Hopes To Continue Strong Start to 2026 Season at American Express
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Princewill Umanmielen Expected to Sign with LSU
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Keeps Momentum Rolling Heading Into American Express
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Has Some Confidence Heading to Southern California
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Has Three-Point Night Against Blues
Min Woo Lee

Poised to Make Bigger Impact in 2026
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Records Three Helpers Tuesday
Brandon Hagel

Stays Hot Tuesday Night
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Extends Scoring Streak With Three-Point Effort
Max Homa

Needs a Better Start for 2026
Konsta Helenius

Bags Three Points In Tuesday's Win
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Trying to Reverse Disturbing Trend
Anthony Cirelli

Injured Versus Sharks
Cam Davis

Aims for More Accuracy at American Express
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Hurt on Tuesday Night
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Unavailable Against Bucks
Myles Turner

Uncertain for Wednesday Night
Luisangel Acuña

Luisangel Acuna Sent to White Sox in Trade
Kevin Porter Jr.

Questionable Wednesday
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Mets Acquire Luis Robert Jr. from White Sox
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Rejoins Nets Lineup for Meeting With Knicks
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Considered Probable Wednesday
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Out Indefinitely With Ankle Sprain
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Exits Early With Eye Injury
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Mike McDaniel Expected to Become Chargers Offensive Coordinator
Kel'el Ware

Unavailable on Tuesday
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Out Tuesday
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Returns to Action Tuesday
Rodrigo Abols

Expected to Miss Several Months
Luke Hughes

Out Tuesday
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Will Miss Olympics
Carlos Beltran

Andruw Jones Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
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Won't Play Tuesday
Kirby Dach

Rejoins Canadiens Lineup
Mark Williams

Active On Tuesday
Brice Sensabaugh

Unavailable Tuesday
De'Anthony Melton

In for Back End of Back-To-Back
Draymond Green

Considered Questionable for Tuesday
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Sidelined Versus Raptors
Lauri Markkanen

Unavailable for Fifth Straight Game
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Alberto Mendoza Expected to Land at Georgia Tech
Malik Nabers

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Duke Suing Quarterback Darian Mensah
Cam Skattebo

Should be Ready by OTAs
George Kittle

Expects to Return "Well Before November"
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Alberto Mendoza Entering Transfer Portal
Mookie Betts

Plans to Retire at the End of his Current Contract
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Titans Set to Hire Robert Saleh as Next Head Coach
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Expected to Hire Jeff Hafley as Next Head Coach
Ondrej Palat

Ready to Face Flames
Chris Kreider

Returns From Two-Game Absence Monday
Corey Perry

Back With Kings
Bobby Brink

Available Monday Night
William Nylander

Misses Second Straight Game Monday
Zach Charbonnet

has Torn ACL
Zach Charbonnet

Needs Knee Surgery, Out for Rest of Playoffs
Tennessee Titans

Mike McCarthy a Finalist for Titans Head-Coaching Job?
Colston Loveland

Suffers Concussion in Divisional Round Loss
Kyren Williams

Scores Two Touchdowns in Divisional Round Win
Buffalo Bills

Bills Fire Head Coach Sean McDermott
Rhamondre Stevenson

Returns in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round Game
Ha-Seong Kim

has Finger Surgery, Out 4-5 Months
Rhamondre Stevenson

Questionable to Return on Sunday With Eye Injury
Woody Marks

Returns Following Brief Exit on Sunday
Dalton Schultz

Won't Return in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round Game
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Aaron Rodgers Returning in 2026?
Jarrett Stidham

to Start AFC Championship Game
Zach Charbonnet

Questionable to Return Against 49ers
CFB

Darian Mensah Entering Transfer Portal
J.T. Realmuto

Signs Three-Year Deal to Return to Phillies
Bo Bichette

Agrees to Three-Year Contract With Mets
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Weber State Signs former Ohio State, Cal Quarterback Devin Brown
Bo Bichette

Phillies the "Overwhelming" Favorite to Sign Bo Bichette
Josh Lowe

Angels Acquire Josh Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Kyle Tucker

Signs Four-Year Contract With Dodgers

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