Depending on your league, you are probably in the first or middle rounds of your fantasy playoffs. Picking the correct streamer has never been more important. Looking at the matchup is crucial but there are a couple of other notes to make.
First, know your streamers’ limits. Are they on a pitch count or innings limit? It’s a long season and teams could start limiting their pitchers during this last month. Second, is your streamer on a playoff-bound team? They could be limiting their innings if they want to keep the arm healthy.
These are just a couple of things to consider when selecting your streamers. Pay close attention to your own matchup and make sure pitching ratios/numbers are competitive with your opponent. Before we get into this week’s streamers, let’s look at how my picks did from August 19-25:
- David Peterson: 7 IP, 2 ERs, 1 BB, 8 Ks (No Decision)
- DJ Herz: 5.2 IP, 2 ERs, 2 BBs, 7 Ks (Loss)
- Ryne Nelson: Start was pushed back
- Aaron Civale: Start was pushed back
- Bowden Francis: 8 IP, 1 ER, 3 BBs, 12 Ks (Win)
- Tyler Mahle: Placed on IL
- Matthew Boyd: 6 IP, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 Ks (Win)
Totals: 26.2 IP, 6 ERs, 7 BBs, 31 Ks (2-1 Record)
Not bad if I was going for four out of seven starters. Nelson was my prediction pick and Francis made the final numbers look good.
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Tools
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers & Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 23)
(Roster percentages are based on an average of ESPN, YAHOO!, and CBS)
Monday, September 2nd
Simeon Woods Richardson (SP, RP – MIN) at TB | 43%
Simeon Woods Richardson was knocked around in last start against the Atlanta Braves, where he managed to go just 4.2 innings, giving up four earned runs while striking out only three. Before that start, Woods Richardson had a successful two-start week. He went 10 innings with a 2.70 ERA and secured two wins.
You won’t get innings with Woods Richardson and strikeouts can be hard to come by. He has been an up-and-down pitcher this season, so a possible rebound is likely.
The Rays are hitting just .232 against right-handers and have a wOBA under .300. They are also striking out at nearly 24% against right-handers. Five innings and five strikeouts could happen here for Woods Richardson.
Other Option: Mitch Spence (RP, SP – OAK) vs. SEA | 8%
Tuesday, September 3rd
Osvaldo Bido (SP, RP – OAK) vs. SEA | 36%
Osvaldo Bido has gone six innings in four of his last five starts. Teams are hitting just .184 against him this year and he is looking like a reliable streamer for the last month.
Seattle continues to rank in the bottom of hitting ratios against right-handers. They have the lowest batting average and the highest K% against right-handers. They also have one of the worst slugging percentages (SLG) in the league, which is good for Bido, who hasn’t allowed a home run since July 28th. I would continue to trust Bido in this start.
Other Option: David Peterson (SP, RP – NYM) vs. BOS | 45%
Wednesday, September 4th
Albert Suarez (RP, SP – BAL) vs. CWS | 22%
Albert Suarez was a popular pick-up earlier this season but lost appeal in the early days of July. He has rebounded nicely, though. In his last five appearances, he has pitched 25 innings with a 1.80 ERA. Much like Simeon Woods Richardson, you won’t get innings or strikeouts, but you will have a good chance for a win.
The White Sox are hitting only .220 against right-handers and are striking out over 26%. They also have the worst wOBA in the league against right-handers at .274. Should be a win here for Suarez and maybe six innings.
Other Option: Bailey Falter (SP – PIT) at CHC | 14%
Thursday, September 5th
Cody Bradford (SP, RP – TEX) vs. LAA | 42%
Despite losing his last two starts, Cody Bradford had back-to-back quality starts. In the last two weeks, he had two losses but also three quality starts in 19 innings with 13 strikeouts and a 2.84 ERA.
The Angels are hitting .238 against left-handers and an even .300 wOBA. They do carry a low .362 SLG against left-handers, so damage should be limited in this start. The Rangers look to be facing Angels rookie Samuel Aldegheri, which would be his second Major League start.
I would go with Bradford here and I’ll make him my prediction pick: 6.1 IP, 2 ERs, 1 BB, 7 Ks and the win.
Other Option: Luis Ortiz (RP, SP – PIT) vs. WAS | 25%
Friday, September 6th
DJ Herz (SP – WAS) at PIT | 22%
This start carries some risk, but it might be worth the gamble. Pittsburgh is striking out 27% of the time against left-handers. DJ Herz has an 11.38 K/9 on the season. He can get the strikeouts if he can go the distance. However, he has only gone six innings once in the last month but only struck out five in that game. In his last start where he went only five innings, he was able to get eight strikeouts
In theory, the farther he pitches in the game the strikeouts should add up, but he can do damage in just a few innings. Hopefully, positive damage. Need some strikeouts this week? Go with Herz.
Other Option: Frankie Montas (SP, RP – MIL) vs. COL | 44%
Saturday, September 7th
Tobias Myers (SP – MIL) vs. COL | 50%
We are walking the line here with Tobias Myers because of his roster percentage. I don’t like any of the possible streamers on this day, so I went a little higher than I like and took Myers.
At least it’s against Colorado and away from Coors Field. The Rockies are striking out at nearly a 26% clip against right-handers. They also have a terrible walk rate of 6.2%.
Myers has had zero decisions in his last four starts. A matchup against the Rockies could change that. Myers also hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in a start since July 4th. It’s not a slam dunk pick up here but it’s the fantasy playoffs and this is a good matchup for Myers.
Other Option: Mitch Spence (RP, SP – OAK) vs. DET | 8%
Sunday, September 8th
Patrick Corbin (SP – WAS) at PIT | 4%
Yep, this isn’t a misprint. He might not be a bad two-start streamer. Patrick Corbin has a matchup against the Marlins earlier in the week. As I mentioned before, it’s the fantasy playoffs; desperate measures have to be taken.
Corbin is coming off of back-to-back quality starts. Which I originally thought was a first for him this season, but he has executed this feat three times this year. Can he make it three or four in a row?
This could go horribly wrong but if you’re in desperate need of a streamer, Corbin is most likely available in your league. If you want to roll the dice on him, this is the best time to do it. As I mentioned before in DJ Herz‘s write-up, Pittsburgh strikes out at a rate of 27% against left-handers.
Other Option: Kyle Freeland (SP – COL) at MIL | 7%
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | SoundCloud | TuneIn
