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It’s crunch time for fantasy baseball leagues and the head-to-head playoffs are less than month away from starting. As you make your final four-week push, the streaming options are becoming more scarce and each addition is becoming more crucial.
This week, I dove deep into the free agency pool and discovered some youthful talent. Hopefully, these gems will help your teams this week and provide momentum for a push that will ultimately end with a fantasy championship.
Last week, we provided you with stellar choices. CC Sabathia was dialed in as he punched out 12 batters in 5.2 innings of work (one earned run allowed) in his matchup against the White Sox (more on them later). Dereck Rodriguez was our second-best suggestion. He struck out seven batters in seven innings and allowed zero earned runs in his start against the Astros. Luke Weaver and Joe Musgrove were honorable mentions from last week’s post, too.
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Pitcher Streamers - Under 50% Owned
Nick Pivetta, PHI (42% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. BOS, vs. NYM
The best of the bunch for this week will probably be Pivetta. He’s punched out at lesat six batters in five consecutive appearances and allowed two earned runs, or less, in back-to-back starts. Pivetta will face two completely different teams in his two turns of the rotation this week. The Red Sox lead the league in runs scored (644 runs in 117 games) and team wOBA (.362) against right-handed pitchers. The Mets are 27th in runs scored (445 runs in 113 games) and 23rd in team wOBA (.312) against right-handed pitchers. So, don’t give up on Pivetta if the first outing doesn’t go his way.
Jake Odorizzi, MIN (40% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. PIT, vs. DET
It’s been a boom-or-bust type of season for Odorizzi on a start-to-start basis. He’s allowed two earned runs, or less, in six of the last 10 starts. He’s allowed four earned runs, or more in the other four appearances. Even the strikeouts are inconsistent. He’s struck out five batters, or more, in six out of 10 starts and struck out three batters, or less, in the other four starts. Also, he only struck out five batters and allowed two earned runs, or less, in the same game four times in the last 10 contests. On the bright side, the Tigers are 30th in team wOBA (.282) against righties.
German Marquez, COL (25% owned)
Probable opponents: @ HOU, @ ATL
A Rockies pitcher is on this list, so that must mean they’re away from Colorado for the week. Marquez has a 3.09 ERA on the road this season, opposed to his 6.42 ERA at Coors Field in 2018. Also, Marquez has tallied at least eight strikeouts in four of the past five starts for Colorado. He’s allowed two earned runs, or less, in five of the past seven contests, too. That’s good, because both the Astros and Braves are in the top 10 when it comes to runs scored and in the bottom five when it comes to team strikeouts this season.
Pitcher Streamers - Under 25% Owned
Blaine Hardy, DET (3% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. CWS, @ MIN
Obviously, the talent level drops when you get below the 25-percent-owned line in fantasy baseball. Hardy was hit hard in his last outing: 5 IP, 5 ER, and 3 K (@ LAA). However, he’s dealt some decent performances, too. Hardy has allowed one run, or less, in two of the last three appearances. More importantly, the White Sox are on the docket for this week. Chicago is second in team strikeouts (1,111) and 23rd in team wOBA (.305) against left-handed pitchers. The Twins are 27th in team wOBA (.288) against southpaws, too.
Pablo Lopez, MIA (1% owned)
Probable opponents: @ ATL, @ WSH
Get your hands on Lopez now, before it’s too late. Sure, he’s at one percent in terms of ownership, but not in terms of talent. Lopez has allowed two earned runs, or less, in three of the last four appearances and struck out at least five batters in four of the past five starts. Atlanta is first on the docket for Lopez. They are 20th in team wOBA (.315) against right-handed pitchers this year.
Heath Fillmyer, KC (0% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. TOR, @ CWS
In all of the two-start articles we’ve posted this season, not one of them had a “zero percent” owned player, until now. Filmyer was filthy against the Cubs in his last appearance, earning his first MLB win: 7 IP, 0 ER, and 3 K. Imagine how he’ll do against the south siders. Whenever I see a potentially streamed pitcher is facing the White Sox, they instantly appear on my radar. We’ve already talked about their poor team wOBA and high-proficiency in strikeouts. What we have yet to mention is the fact that Chicago is 24th in runs scored (463 runs in 115 games) this season, too.
