
This is my weekly column where I suggest streaming low owned starting pitchers that have a matchup in their favor next week to help your fantasy baseball team. Most of these hurlers are to be used and tossed back to the waiver wire. Some of them will graduate from the wire and find a permanent space on someone’s roster. Hopefully, yours.
Streaming Starting Pitchers Week 26
My process is to look at wOBA, ISO and K% because they tend to identify weak lineups and conversely for pitchers I look at wOBA, ISO against and their K%.
All statistics, ownership and projected starting dates are as of Thursday, September 12.
LHP Alex Young, ARI
Owned Y34%|E12% · vs. Miami Marlins – Tuesday, September 17
Why Young is still available in roughly two-thirds of leagues is baffling. Would a 3.50 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 8.0 K/9 and a 21.8 K% over 12 starts look good on your roster? The answer is yes.
- Last 4 starts – 2.28 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 9.5 K/9 and a 27.2 K% in 23.2 innings
- Previous 8 starts – 4.20 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 7.1 K/9 and a 18.9 K% in 40.2 innings
Alex is money lately and gets a nice matchup next week against the road-weary Marlins. Here
- 0.283 wOBA (Worst in MLB), 0.133 ISO (also worst in MLB) and a 22.5 K% (12th best)
- Opposing SP have put up a 2.92 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 8.8 K/9 in 17 starts
While their overall K% versus LHP is low, the Marlins are still allowing left-handed starting pitchers to nearly average a strikeout per inning. Young should excel in this matchup and we need to stream him with confidence.
RHP Adrian Houser, MIL
Owned Y31%|E11% · vs. San Diego Padres – Wednesday, September 18
Since July 30 when Houser became a “full-time” starter he has a 2.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 9.7 K/9 and has struck out 25.9% of batters faced in 8 starts. Um, that’s pretty good.
So, we have
- 0.310 wOBA (11th worst in MLB), 0.179 ISO (15th worst) and a 26.6 K% (2nd worst)
- Opposing SP have put up a 4.39 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 9.9 K/9 in 54 starts
I’m banking on Houser continuing this hot streak and handling San Diego who might be looking to just get this disappointing season over with.
RHP Anibal Sanchez, WAS
Owned Y36%|E21% · @ Miami Marlins – Friday, September 20
Him again? Yeah, this may seem like the 100th time I’m suggesting you stream him. I went back and checked. This will be the 5th time this season.
Sanchez has a 4.04 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 7.5 K/9 and has struck out 19.2% of batters faced in 27 starts this season. What puts a hop in my step and makes me comfortable telling you to stream him again, is this:
- Home – 4.86 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 7.7 K/9 and a 19.3 K% in 13 starts
- Road – 3.36 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 7.4 K/9 and a 19.2 K% in 14 starts
He’s more fantasy friendly when he makes those road starts… and he has one next week in Miami where the Marlins have these numbers when facing RHP at home:
- 0.290 wOBA (3rd Worst in MLB), 0.120 ISO (Worst in MLB) and a 25.0 K% (6th worst)
- Opposing SP have put up a 3.45 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 in 48 starts
What more do I need to say? This matchup favors Anibal and I’m saying to stream him again. For the record, he put up a 3.18 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 16 strikeouts and 2 wins in the other games I recommended streaming him. Just saying.
Extra Cheese
Here is where I recommend a two-start pitcher for you to stream. Please bear in mind that things can change after this article is posted. Injuries, rain delays, managerial moves, etc. can happen.
RHP Kyle Gibson, MIN
Owned Y39%|E47% – vs. White Sox (Tue Sep 17) & vs. Royals (Sun Sep 22)
As I write this, Gibson is scheduled to make his first start tonight coming off the IL (ulcerative colitis). On the season he has a 4.61 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 8.8 K/9 and he struck out 22.6% of the batters he faced in his 27 starts.
After posting a 3.62 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 8.2 K/9 and striking out 21.7% of batters last season, most are disappointed with his lackluster 2019 performance. What is promising is his 3.75 xFIP this season. His underlying metrics indicate he may be unlucky.
- White Sox numbers against RHP on the road
- 0.302 wOBA (6th worst in MLB), 0.144 ISO (2nd worst) and a 25.7 K% (5th worst)
- Opposing SP have put up a 3.65 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 in 50 starts
- Royals numbers against RHP on the road
- 0.302 wOBA (7th worst in MLB), 0.177 (14th worst) and a 24.2 K% (13th worst)
Opposing SP have put up a 3.61 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.1 K/9 in 53 games
- 0.302 wOBA (7th worst in MLB), 0.177 (14th worst) and a 24.2 K% (13th worst)
Both of these matchups favor Gibson. Let’s roll him out there and hope for the best. He’s a good pitcher and should give us two solid starts next week.
Evaluating Streaming Starting Pitchers Suggested in Week 24
Let’s look back at my previous recommendations for starting pitchers to stream back in Week 24. Note we have to look back two weeks since last week’s Straight Cheese is for the current week. Got it? Good.
Name | Date | G | IP | ER | H | BB | K | DEC | ERA | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aaron Civale, CLE | 9/2 vs CHW | 1 | 5.00 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | W | 1.80 | 2.00 |
Dinelson Lamet, SDP | 9/6 vs COL | 1 | 6.00 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | L | 1.50 | 1.17 |
Homer Bailey, OAK | 9/6 vs DET | 1 | 6.33 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | ND | 2.84 | 0.95 |
Cumulative Streaming Season Total | 47 | 238.67 | 134 | 261 | 88 | 208 | 15 – 18 | 5.05 | 1.46 |
Finally had a week that I am not ashamed of! All three came through for us.
Here’s a look back at the two-start pitcher I recommended back in Week 24.
Name | Date | G | IP | ER | H | BB | K | DEC | ERA | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mitch Keller, PIT | 9/3 @ CHW | 1 | 1.67 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ND | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Total | 1 | 1.67 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 – 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
Cumulative Two-Start Season Total | 31 | 170.33 | 76 | 158 | 49 | 167 | 15 – 6 | 4.02 | 1.22 |
A 105-mph line drive off the bat of Garrett Cooper hit Keller in the wrist and forced him from his first start. Unfortunately, he was unable to make his next start.
Here’s a monthly breakdown of all the pitchers I recommended this season (both one start and two starts).
Month | G | IP | ER | H | BB | K | W-L | ERA | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April | 9 | 49.00 | 21 | 49 | 13 | 46 | 4 – 2 | 3.86 | 1.27 |
May | 20 | 107.00 | 54 | 104 | 42 | 103 | 7 – 6 | 4.54 | 1.36 |
June | 19 | 101.67 | 58 | 105 | 28 | 77 | 7 – 8 | 5.13 | 1.31 |
July | 11 | 59.33 | 38 | 74 | 13 | 57 | 6 – 3 | 5.76 | 1.47 |
August | 14 | 67.00 | 33 | 64 | 35 | 69 | 4 – 4 | 4.43 | 1.48 |
September | 5 | 25.00 | 6 | 23 | 6 | 23 | 2 – 1 | 2.16 | 1.16 |
Total | 78 | 409.00 | 210 | 419 | 137 | 375 | 30 – 24 | 4.62 | 1.36 |
I’m having a September to remember but I still have some work to do to get that overall ERA down below the 4.52 MLB average ERA.
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