We are now entering the stage of picking easy streamers. The stats we have are reliable and concrete. No more throwing darts at a random pitcher and hoping to have luck on your side that day. I hope I didn’t lay the sarcasm out too thick.
We are getting more data on the weekly group of forgotten pitchers, and some of these pitchers are becoming more reliable. Of course, until they are not.
Before we look at this week’s pitcher streamers. Here are the results from my picks April 1 – April 7:
- MacKenzie Gore: 5.1IP, 3ER, 2BB, 6Ks, 5.06ERA
- Alec Marsh: 7IP, 1 ER ,1 BB, 5Ks, 1.29ERA
- Martin Perez: 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6Ks, 2.45ERA
- Austin Gomber: 4 IP, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7Ks, 6.23ERA
- Tyler Wells: 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3Ks, 4.76ERA
- Total: 28.1 IP, 11 ER, 10BB, 27Ks, 3.96ERA
It’s not all bad, but I definitely need to work on the strikeouts and walks. Let’s take a look at our top fantasy baseball streaming pitchers to target on waiver wires for the coming week.
*Casey Mize‘s and Jose Quintana‘s starts were pushed back. I didn’t count their stats towards my total since they were against other teams/in another week.
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Tools
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Streaming Pitchers: Week 4
(We used the average of ESPN, YAHOO and CBS for roster percentage)
Monday, April 15
Ross Stripling (OAK) vs. STL | 3%
Ross Stripling used to be a somewhat reliable pitcher when he was with the Dodgers. Those days are probably over, but he can still put up decent numbers sometimes. If you’re chasing just wins and not a combination of wins and strikeouts, then I believe Stripling could help you on this day. I originally thought Martin Perez (he makes an appearance later in this article) for this day, but the Mets are actually hitting lefties right now. The Cardinals, however, have the fifth worse OPS currently against righties. In the last five games, Oakland has gone 4-1 and given up an average of just two runs. Go with Stripling and the Athletics here before the luck runs out.
Other Option: Patrick Sandoval (LAA) @ TB | 10%
Tuesday, April 16
JP Sears (OAK) vs. STL | 10%
Welcome to the Oakland Athletics pitching show! Hopefully, one of their starts that I picked will work out this week. The Cardinals have the fifth-worst OPS against righties and the fourth-worst OPS against lefties. Picking two Oakland Athletics pitchers back-to-back is risky, but JP Sears is coming off his best start this season against the Texas Rangers. He allowed just one hit in 6.1 innings and struck out 5. Hopefully, he can carry on the success with his next start.
Other Option: Kyle Hendricks (CHC) @ ARI | 17%
Wednesday, April 17
Andrew Abbott (CIN) @ SEA | 36%
So, he’s not an Oakland pitcher, but Andrew Abbott fits the same game plan that I started here. He has a good win opportunity but will likely have strikeouts. Cincinnati has a powerful offense and can put up enough runs to support its pitching. The Seattle Mariners lineup doesn’t strike fear right now, and against lefties, they are in the bottom 10 in OPS. Abbott has gone five innings or more in all three starts this year. I would take a flyer on Abbott here.
Other Option: Tyler Wells (BAL) vs. MIN | 32%
Thursday, April 18
Ryne Nelson (ARI) @ SF | 14%
With only five games on the slate, pickings are slim on this day. Ryne Nelson got knocked around in his first start but rebounded against the Atlanta Braves, going five innings with three ER and seven strikeouts. He lost this game but kept his team in it. The Giants are hitting .237 on the year with 10 home runs and nearly 100 strikeouts. If Nelson kept the Braves in check, I believe he can do the same against the Giants.
Other Option: Andrew Heaney (TEX) @ DET | 21%
Friday, April 19
Spencer Turnbull (PHI) vs. CHW | 34%
Spencer Turnbull had a solid start against the Cardinals. He went six innings with six strikeouts. Unfortunately, he didn’t win, but you might be lucky for a win and some strikeouts in this matchup. This might not come as a surprise, but the White Sox are dead last against righties in OPS. The White Sox are without Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert Jr., so I would attack this lineup and go with Turnbull here. We won’t know the results of his last start against Pittsburgh before publication, but assuming that goes well, his roster percentage will rise dramatically.
Other Option: Javier Assad (CHC) vs. MIA | 28%
Saturday, April 20
Graham Ashcraft (CIN) vs. LAA | 17%
Similar to why I picked Abbott earlier, I really like Cincinnati’s offense. They could give Graham Ashcraft enough run support for a quality start and a win. Ashcraft has pitched 11.2 innings with 11 strikeouts, so, surprise, surprise; I didn’t pick a high-strikeout pitcher yet again. Ashcraft has potential, though, especially against the Angels’ lineup. The Angels rank in the bottom 10 when it comes to OPS and have below a .400 slugging percentage. I don’t see Ashcraft getting lit up here.
Other Option: Colin Rea (MIL) @ STL | 6%
Sunday, April 21
Martin Perez (PIT) vs. BOS | 31%
So, this is the third week in a row that I have Perez listed as a streamer. I feel like this week has to be the last, right? He has two starts this week and I imagine he’s a popular add, especially with all the injuries this past week. Perez has a 1.89 ERA, 15Ks and one win through 19 innings this season. He’s worth an add, not just for this week, but could be a good roster add for the season. Yes, preferably as depth, but not all of us can be that lucky this season. Boston has over 40 strikeouts against lefties so far this season. They are also in the bottom 10 for OPS and have a slugging percentage below .380 against lefties. I see Perez’s early success continuing this week.
Other Option: Kyle Hendricks (CHC) vs. MIA | 17%
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