The final weeks of the 2024 fantasy baseball season are here. In a perfect season, we all would have clinched a playoff spot and our rotations remain untouched by injuries. However, this is another season where you find yourself in three different scenarios.
One, you have clinched a playoff spot and you have to get ready for the playoffs. You might be looking to re-position yourself in the playoffs and are taking safe and limited risks when it comes to picking streamers.
Two, you are in the playoff hunt. Risks have to be made. Calculated risks but they are still risks. This area can be hard to navigate sometimes and in points league you need something, just not negative points. In categories, you could just need wins, strikeouts, or at worst, both of them. If you find yourself in this area, trust your gut as your first instincts are probably right.
Third and lastly, dignity. So, the 2024 season was a disappointment but you can still have some fun. Dash another owner’s playoff hopes or play spoiler. Remember you can take risks and have the ‘throw everything and the kitchen sink’ mentality at your opponent.
It’s a fun time of year for fantasy baseball and it can feel more like a game of chess. However, this week for pitching streamers, it seems more like the game Operation. It’s not an ideal week and you will need to be careful if you need certain categories. Before we get into this week’s choices let’s take a look at my picks from July 29th to August 4th.
- Alec Marsh: 4.2 IP, 2 ERs, 1 BB, 3 Ks (No Decision)
- Griffin Canning: 6 IP, 6 ERs, 2 BBs, 6 Ks (No Decision)
- Kyle Freeland: 7 IP, 1 ER, 0 BBs, 6 Ks (No Decision)
- Spencer Schwellenbach: 7 IP, 3 ERs, 0 BBs, 10Ks (No Decision)
- Tyler Phillips: 1.2 IP, 8 ERs, 3 BBs, 1 K (Loss)
- David Peterson: 6 IP, 2 ERs, 1 BB, 4 Ks (No Decision)
- Simeon Woods Richardson: 4 IP, 3 ERs, 3 BBs, 6 Ks (No Decision)
Totals: 37.1 IP, 25 ERs, 10 BBs, 36 Ks (0-1)
So many no decisions. Take away Tyler Phillips’ bad start and it was an ok week.
Nearly nailed my prediction pick. I went with Kyle Freeland and had predicted 6 IP, 1 ER, 0 BBs, 6 Ks and the win.
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- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers & Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 20)
(Roster percentages are based on an average of ESPN, YAHOO!, and CBS)
Monday, August 12th
Kyle Hendricks (RP, SP – CHC) at CLE | 11%
We start this week with a bad day for streamers. Kyle Hendricks is coming off a quality start appearance, though. If you need strikeouts Hendricks shouldn’t be your choice. What Hendricks can give you is the chance for the win.
The Guardians have only a .218 batting average against right-handers and the second-fewest home runs against righties. Hendricks might not have a high strikeout rate, but the Guardians do carry a mid-20% strikeout rate against right-handers.
Hendricks does well on the first trip through the lineup but gets worse around the fifth and sixth innings. Limited damage with five innings is hopeful in this start.
Other Option: Tyler Mahle (SP – TEX) at BOS | 24%
Tuesday, August 13th
Paul Blackburn (SP – NYM) vs. OAK | 36%
Paul Blackburn has pitched back-to-back quality starts. He has a 3.18 ERA in the last 30 days. He does a good job limiting walks and gets a 48% ground ball rate. Oakland’s bats can heat up, but Blackburn has done a good job lowering his hard-hit%.
Oakland does have a 26% strikeout rate and a batting average of .228 against right-handers. There is some risk here, but I feel good using Blackburn and I also like it’s against his former team. It adds a little something else to the matchup. It’s not a great choice for this day but I think Blackburn can offer another quality start here.
Other Option: Trevor Rogers (SP – BAL) vs. WAS | 21%
Wednesday, August 14th
Alex Cobb (SP – CLE) vs. CHC | 18%
This will be Alex Cobb’s second start back after coming off the injured list (IL). If his first goes beyond disastrous, then maybe look elsewhere for a streamer. Cobb has looked good in his rehab starts and even though we do not see a lengthy appearance here he should easily get to five innings and perhaps six with good command.
The Cubs are decent against right-handers. They have a .230 average against right-handers but a low slugging percentage (SLG%). I can see Cobb looking sharper and more comfortable in his second start and putting himself in line for a win.
Other Option: David Peterson (SP, RP – NYM) vs. OAK | 28%
Thursday, August 15th
Jose Quintana (SP – NYM) vs. OAK | 43%
Much like the Paul Blackburn start, this one does carry some risk. Oakland doesn’t seem to be on the tear they were on earlier in the season. The batting average and strikeout percentage are about the same for right-handers as for left-handers. Oakland does, however, have about half the amount of home runs against left-handers — good news for the left-handed Jose Quintana.
Quintana has only thrown fewer than 90 pitches in three starts since the start of June. He should be able to go deep and set himself and the Mets up for a win.
Other Option: Simeon Woods Richardson (SP, RP – MIN) at TEX | 37%
Friday, August 16th
Spencer Arrighetti (SP – HOU) vs. CWS | 27%
Spencer Arrighetti has gone six innings in his last four starts, and three of them were quality starts.
In those 24 innings, he has 30 strikeouts. That strikeout upside is always there for Arrighetti. It’s the walks that have been an issue. In the last 30 days, though, he has a 1.08 WHIP — much better than his season WHIP of 1.52.
The White Sox have one of the worst strikeouts and walk percentages against right-handers. They have a league-worst batting average of .218 and the second-worst wOBA against right-handers.
This just seems like a great matchup for Arrighetti, so I’ll go with him as my prediction pick of the week: 7 IP, 2 ERs, 2 BBs, 11 Ks and the win.
Other Option: David Festa (SP – MIN) at TEX | 19%
Saturday, August 17th
Tyler Mahle (SP – TEX) vs. MIN | 24%
This will be Tyler Mahle’s third start since coming off IL, so he should get stretched out. He threw 76 pitches and went five innings in his first start. He should be able to go six innings here and get up to 90 pitches.
The Twins aren’t bad against right-handers. The only category that stands out negatively is a low walk rate against right-handers. Maybe Mahle can get some chases on his pitches and put the hitters in unfavorable situations. It’s against his former team, so Mahle will have a little something extra to prove.
Other Option: Hayden Birdsong (SP – SF) at OAK | 46%
Sunday, August 18th
Paul Blackburn (SP – NYM) vs. MIA | 36%
Going back to Blackburn here. Miami is kind of like Oakland about a month ago. It’s a pesky-hitting team getting the most out of their lineup. I don’t expect it to last much longer though. Miami does have a league-worst wOBA against right-handers and the second-worst SLG%.
Damage should be limited here for Blackburn. He is a good add if you’re looking for a two-start pitcher this week.
Other Option: Frankie Montas (SP, RP – MIL) vs. CLE | 31%
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