Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers & Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 18)

The MLB trade deadline is coming and chances are your league trade deadline is here or approaching as well. If you passed on pitchers in the draft, you might be acquiring pitchers through trades and getting your rotation ready for the playoffs or perhaps better set up for next season. Some owners might live off the waiver wire, though, and have a steady rotation of pitching streamers. If it’s been working, then you might continue the approach and at least acquire a pitcher or two a week to give you the stats you seek.

For some of us, we might be looking from the outside at the playoffs. I would still encourage you to pick up streamers if that’s the case. Make the league more competitive and force the other fantasy owners in the league to remain vigilant and earn those playoff spots. Whatever reason you have for picking up pitcher streamers, let’s see who we have for Week 18. First, let’s look at my picks from July 19-July 21:

Alec Marsh: 1 IP, 0 ERs, 0 BBs, 1 K (No Decision)
David Peterson: Start was pushed back to the following week.
Spencer Schwellenbach: 6 IP, 4 ERs, 0 BBs, 8 Ks (Loss)

Totals: 7 IP, 4 ERs, 9 Ks (0-1)

In all, it was a whole lot of nothing. That’s a stat line you would expect from one start, not three. So, it wasn’t a productive short All-Star weekend. I did however include these three starters in this week’s streamers, let’s hope it goes better. Spencer Schwellenbach was my prediction pick — 6 IP, 2 ERs, 1 BB, 7 Ks and the win, so kinda close.

Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers & Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 18)

(Roster percentages are based on an average of ESPN, YAHOO!, and CBS)

Monday, July 29th

Alec Marsh (SP, RP – KC) at CWS | 31%

Of course we are going to use a streamer against the White Sox. In the last 30 days, the White Sox are hitting .225 and striking out over 28% against right-handers. They also have one of the worst walk rates during that span. Adding to the White Sox’s lineup miseries, with the trade deadline approaching, they could be missing big bats by Monday, like Luis Robert.

Alex Marsh has been struggling in July. He has a 7.80 ERA for the month and has reached six innings only once this month. He’s not a long-term answer but you’re here for streamers and this is a good matchup.

Other Option: Chayce McDermott (SP – BAL) vs. TOR | 8%

Tuesday, July 30th

Griffin Canning (SP – LAA) vs. COL | 16%

Griffin Canning is due for one of those starts that make you believe maybe he’s finally turning things around. Even if this start goes that way, don’t listen to that voice. If you look at Canning’s Statcast page, it would be a glance and a fast no. The one highlight is that he is getting a much better chase rate on his pitches than he has in the past.

That should come in handy against the Rockies, who have the third-highest chase rate in the majors. This Rockies’ lineup loses a lot of appeal outside of Coors Field. It’s not a guarantee but I can see Canning limiting damage for this start and getting the win.

Other Option: JP Sears (SP – OAK) at SF | 23%

Wednesday, July 31st

Kyle Freeland (SP – COL) at LAA | 9%

Let’s flip the script from Tuesday and go with a Rockies pitcher. Since coming off the injured list (IL) on June 23, Kyle Freeland has recorded five straight quality starts and has not allowed more than two earned runs. Freeland is pitching well and I would take advantage of it against a non-dangerous lineup.

The Angels have the second-fewest home runs against lefties and have just over a .300 on-base percentage (OBP). They are also hitting below .240 against southpaws. I’ll pick Freeland as my prediction pick for the week — 6 IP, 1 ER, 0 BBs, 6 Ks and a win.

Other Option: Drew Thorpe (SP – CWS) vs. KC | 44%

Thursday, August 1st

Spencer Schwellenbach (SP – ATL) vs. MIA | 41%

Spencer Schwellenbach looks like he could be ready to take off. Although it seems like experts have thought this a few times since he was promoted in May, but he always has a setback start. There does seem to be a potential mid-rotation starter here. However, this list is for streamers, not dynasty keepers.

So far in July, Schwellenbach has a 2.84 ERA, a WHIP under one and 17 strikeouts in 19 innings. This start is against Miami and on a short slate of games for Thursday. Should be good enough, right? The Marlins have a mid-20s percentage rate for strikeouts, a .223 batting average, a league-worst slugging percentage and walk rate against right-handers. This lineup should struggle against this upcoming young starter.

Other Option: Ryan Feltner (SP – COL) at LAA | 3%

Friday, August 2nd

Tyler Phillips (RP, SP – PHI) at SEA | 14%

Who? Tyler Phillips isn’t a household name and honestly probably won’t be, but he has looked good in his first three MLB career starts. Phillips has a 2.81 ERA and is currently 2-0. He has a 0.88 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 16 innings. A small sample size, sure, but an interesting one. I doubt Phillips will be a future ace but as I said earlier, this is a pitcher streamer list, and this pitcher is facing Seattle.

The Mariners have added some power in their lineup with Randy Arozarena but until we see results, I would keep picking on Mariners hitters. They lead the league in K% against right-handers and still have a league-worst batting average against right-handers.

Other Option: Tylor Megill (SP – NYM) at LAA | 6%

Saturday, August 3rd

David Peterson (SP, RP – NYM) at LAA | 31%

Going against the Angels again here and facing another left-hander. David Peterson has pitched well this month and has a 2.49 ERA to show for it. He gets a great ground ball percentage and the Angels happen to have one the worst GB% in the league.

I wouldn’t expect many strikeouts for Peterson. The Angels have a low strikeout rate against lefties and Peterson isn’t a strikeout pitcher. Options are kind of lacking on Saturday, but Peterson can give you the win and fewer than three earned runs in six innings.

Other Option: Tobias Myers (SP – MIL) at WSH | 47%

Sunday, August 4th

Simeon Woods Richardson (SP, RP – MIN) vs. CWS | 39%

We started the week against the White Sox, let’s end it against them as well. The White Sox’s lineup could be weaker on Monday but by Sunday it’s almost a guarantee. The biggest problem with Simeon Woods Richardson this year is that you’re just not sure how long he will pitch. He has yet to have back-to-back starts where he goes six innings. This works out well because he pitched six innings against the Phillies on the 23rd and his next start before this one is against the Mets on the 29th. If this type of stat doesn’t sell you, then remember this start is against the White Sox.

They have a high strikeout rate against right-handers, with limited power. I expect Woods Richardson to handle the White Sox and earn the win.

Other Option: Jose Quintana (SP – NYM) at LAA | 37%

MLB Streamers Waiver Wire MLB Weekly Advice Alec Marsh David Peterson Spencer Schwellenbach Luis Robert Chayce McDermott Griffin Canning JP Sears Kyle Freeland Drew Thorpe Ryan Feltner Tyler Phillips Randy Arozarena Tylor Megill Tobias Myers Simeon Woods Richardson Jose Quintana