The MLB season is about to enter its last month. Your fantasy league playoffs are about to start if they haven’t already. There are probably very few fantasy owners that have a rotation that resembles what they drafted at the beginning of the season. Picking streamers could be your main source of getting those pitching stats you need to secure the win.
Hopefully, the names listed this week can help you secure the win. Just remember that other league owners could be going with the same approach. So, if you feel good about a possible streamer don’t wait too long before picking him them up.
Also, pay attention to prospect call-ups. Even the highly-regarded prospects will carry some risks with their first major league start, but if a good matchup is on the table, it could work out. You could also be getting another starter to add to your rotation for the last month. Teams will audition prospects for possible spots in their rotation for next season, so you might want to pay closer attention to these possibilities.
Before we get into this week’s streamer picks, here are the results from my picks from August 5-August 11:
- JP Sears: 7 IP, 3 ERs, 3 BBs, 4 Ks (Win)
- Colin Rea: 7 IP, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 Ks (Win)
- Joey Estes: 5 IP, 2 ERs, 0 BBs, 4 Ks (No Decision)
- DJ Herz: 2.2 IP, 2 ERs, 4 BBs, 4 Ks (No Decision)
- Jose Quintana: 6.2 IP, 5 ERs, 2 BBs, 8 Ks (Loss)
- River Ryan: 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 BBs, 4 Ks (No Decision)
- Ben Lively: 3.2 IP, 3 ERs, 4 BBs, 1 K (No Decision)
Totals: 36.2 IP, 15 ERs, 14 BBs, 34 Ks (2-1 record)
Not a terrible week. It started strong but my prediction pick, Jose Quintana, was the worst. I had predicted: 6 IP, 2 ERs, 2 BBs, 6 Ks and the win. Wasn’t far off but it was the only loss I had.
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- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers & Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 21)
(Roster percentages are based on an average of ESPN, YAHOO!, and CBS)
Monday, August 19th
David Peterson (SP, RP – NYM) vs. BAL | 33%
Picking a pitcher against a top-hitting lineup should tell you that streamers for this day are thin. If you need someone, though, David Peterson might work out.
In the last two weeks, Peterson is 2-0 across 17.1 innings. He has two quality starts and 13 strikeouts in that span. His WHIP is a little high at 1.15. Picking Peterson here definitely comes with risk, but the Mets’ lineup will be facing Trevor Rogers. I believe Peterson has a better chance of limiting damage, especially if he can keep his walks down. Peterson has only allowed more than two earned runs once in the last month. He might not get a quality start or a ton of strikeouts but could escape with a win.
Other Option: Zebby Matthews (RP, SP – MIN) at SD | 24%
Tuesday, August 20th
DJ Herz (SP – WAS) vs. COL | 14%
Hoping DJ Herz can get the strikeouts in this matchup. Double-digit strikeouts are unlikely, but the Rockies do have over a 26% strikeout rate against left-handers. They also have over a 44% groundball rate against left-handers.
In the last 30 days, Herz has a 10.27 K/9 and a 3.04 ERA. Since this matchup is away from Coors Field, I trust Herz in this matchup.
Other Option: Cody Bradford (SP, RP – TEX) vs. PIT | 34%
Wednesday, August 21st
Ryne Nelson (SP – ARI) at MIA | 29%
Ryne Nelson has been pitching better in the second half of the season. In 31 innings over the last 30 days, he has a 3.19 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 10.45 K/9. He is coming off back-to-back quality starts. So, he looks like a good matchup against the Marlins here.
The Marlins are hitting .230 against right-handers this season, which isn’t a league-worst but still ranks in the bottom 10. The Marlins do have the worst wOBA in the league against right-handers with .275%. They also have the worst walk rate against right-handers in the league, which should work well for Nelson. Adding more, they have the second worst SLG% and over a 24% strikeout rate. Perhaps Nelson’s run in the second half will come to an end but I don’t believe it will here.
I’ll go with Nelson this week for my prediction pick: 6.2 IP, 2 ERs, 1 BB, 8 Ks and the win.
Other Option: Jose Soriano (RP, SP – LAA) at KC | 41%
Thursday, August 22nd
Aaron Civale (SP – MIL) at STL | 33%
Well, it’s Thursday, so it’s time to roll the dice with some questionable streamers. Aaron Civale hasn’t turned his season around since being traded from the Rays to the Brewers, but he has recently produced back-to-back quality starts. Both of those starts came against good-hitting teams in the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds.
The Cardinals’ lineup is not the punching bag they were earlier in the season but is far from being a fearful lineup. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games and are falling behind in the Wild Card race.
Civale and the Brewers can give themselves even more breathing room in the division with a win here. I would only take Civale if you need something for this day.
Other Option: Jeffrey Springs (SP – TB) at OAK | 41%
Friday, August 23rd
Bowden Francis (RP, SP – TOR) vs. LAA | 15%
Bowden Francis has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen but is expected to remain in the Blue Jays rotation for the remainder of the season. In the past month, he has a 3.00 ERA and an excellent 0.72 WHIP. He has only pitched over six innings once during that span — in his last start where he went seven innings, allowing one hit (a home run) and striking out eight. That start was against the Angels.
Can Francis repeat his performance against the same team? The Angels lineup does not strike fear into opposing pitchers. They have a .231 average against right-handers and are below the league average for wOBA (.302).
Francis might not go through the Angels lineup with the same ease, but the Blue Jays lineup looks to be facing Jack Kochanowicz. Francis is in a good position for a win here.
Other Option: Hayden Birdsong (SP – SF) at SEA | 40%
Saturday, August 24th
Tyler Mahle (SP – TEX) at CLE | 38%
These Saturday matchups might be the worst day for this week. This will be Tyler Mahle’s fourth start. He has yet to reach six innings but has surpassed 90 pitches in a game. I expect Mahle will be able to go farther into a game soon.
The Guardians do have over a 43% ground ball rate and rank near the bottom of hard-hit% (28.4%). The Guardians also have over a 25% strikeout rate and have just a .214 average against right-handers. They also have an unimpressive .289 wOBA.
Mahle’s counterpart looks to be Ben Lively. Lively has been good at times but shouldn’t be a pitcher that shuts down the Rangers.
Other Option: Colin Rea (SP – MIL) at OAK | 52%
Sunday, August 25th
Matthew Boyd (SP – CLE) vs. TEX | 14%
Staying within the same matchup, I’ll switch teams and go with the Guardians’ Matthew Boyd.
This will be Boyd’s third start after coming off the injured list (IL). He looked good in his first start of the season going 5.1 innings and striking out six. He has the Yankees on the 18th, so we will see how he handles that lineup.
I complained about Saturday’s matchups, but this Sunday might be worse. The Rangers can be dangerous and have decent numbers against left-handers. They do tend to have a higher ground ball rate against left-handers, though.
Boyd will need to be sharp to get the win and possibly reach six innings. His counterpart will be Dane Dunning. Hopefully, the Guardians will provide Boyd with run support.
Other Option: Frankie Montas (SP, RP – MIL) at OAK | 29%
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