Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the second half of Week 19 to consider adding off your league’s waiver wire. Some of these SP options can be considered sleepers for your team depending on the league format and depth, including NL-Only, AL-Only and head-to-head formats.
Thursday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Ervin Santana (MIN v. TEX) – Ownership: 39% Yahoo!, 14% Fleaflicker
Santana’s ownership numbers have dropped steadily over his last two starts, but he is still a viable roster option for any fantasy team. He got crushed in bad matchups against the Pirates and Indians, but he actually did a solid job of putting the Blue Jays in check in a start sandwiched between the other two. Texas is rather ordinary on offense posting a 20.6% K rate and a wRC+ of only 95.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Jeremy Guthrie (KC v. LAA) – Ownership: 2% Yahoo!, 8% Fleaflicker
With a short slate of games on Thursday, Guthrie makes this list by default. He has been atrocious over his last five starts but he does get an Angels squad that has struggled at the dish over the last week or so. Still, Guthrie has allowed seven home runs over his last 29 innings.
Matchup Rating: Desperate Stream
Ryan Vogelsong (SF v. WAS) – Ownership: 5% Yahoo!, 8% Fleaflicker
When pitching at home, Vogelsong becomes a serviceable option at the pitcher position. His WHIP drops to 1.22 while opposing hitters are held to a .289 wOBA. Add in that the first pitch will be at night, where weather conditions typically improve pitcher’s numbers in San Francisco, and Vogelsong could get himself a nice quality start.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Friday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Mike Montgomery (SEA at BOS) – Ownership: 22% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker
It really does not matter who is on the mound when facing the Red Sox these days. Boston is clearly a team that has a ton of problems and Montgomery is a pitcher that has the ability to continue the frustrations. Though he has struggled with his control over the last few starts, he is still a pitcher that takes advantage of the dimension in SafeCo Field.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Robbie Ray (ARI at ATL) – Ownership: 13% Yahoo!, 9% Fleaflicker
I really like Ray. I really do. He owns an above-average 22.2% K rate and a stellar 3.17 FIP in 77.2 innings. Clearly he has number one or number two rotation stuff. But at 23 years old, isn’t it time he drops the “bie” in his first name? Robbie seems more appropriate for a three year old and not a grown man in the major leagues.
Matchup Rating: Must Stream
Martin Perez (TEX v. TB) – Ownership: 2% Yahoo!, 5% Fleaflicker
Pay no attention to the 5.81 ERA that Perez owns. Instead, look at his 2.80 FIP and remarkable 60.7% groundball rate. The Rays have been hot and they do own a few lefty mashers, but as long as Perez keeps up the ground ball rate, he will limit the home runs in Arlington. Makes for a very, very sneaky stream on Friday.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Danny Duffy (KC v. LAA) – Ownership: 22% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker
Rarely does Duffy go past the sixth inning so his owners may not seek a lot of help in leagues that record innings. He will get a ton of support from the Angels bats however. Over the last two weeks, the Angels own a wRC+ of just 59 with a .200/.265/.295 team slash line. That’s really surprising considering the best player on the planet is on that squad.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Saturday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Patrick Corbin (ARI at ATL) – Ownership: 25% Yahoo!, 16% Fleaflicker
In 10 career innings against the Braves, Corbin has yet to allow a run. He may even go another five before he does. Corbin is clearly on an innings limit with the D-Backs but he should get plenty of run support from his teammates, thus improving his win probability.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Jimmy Nelson (MIL v. PHI) – Ownership: 47% Yahoo!, 24% Fleaflicker
What kind of list would this be without including Nelson? After all, I am a devout card-carrying member of his fan club. And it appears my loyalty is starting to pay off. Over his last nine starts, he is 6-1 with a 2.26 ERA and 52 strike outs. The Phillies make a lot of contact for a young team, but Nelson should have no problem with this lineup.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Brett Anderson (LAD v. CIN) – Ownership: 22% Yahoo!, 22% Fleaflicker
It’s really weird how a pitcher in Los Angeles who owns a 3.43 ERA in 128.2 innings for a playoff bound team, has such low ownership numbers. Maybe it is because of his 1.33 WHIP or the fact that he stands at six wins and seven losses. In any event, it’s not Anderson’s fault that his teammates do not score when is on the mound.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Sunday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Dan Haren (CHC at CHW) – Ownership: 55% Yahoo!, 34% Fleaflicker
Our friend TBD makes starts all across the board on Sunday, so make sure to monitor starters that are due for Sunday. Of the starters announced, Haren is the best that has lower ownership numbers. Of course, he will be facing a White Sox squad that has found its groove. Look for Haren’s 1.55 HR/9 number to take a hit.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Taylor Jungmann (MIL v. PHI) – Ownership: 50% Yahoo!, 28% Fleaflicker
Despite his last rocky outing, Jungmann has been rather sensational at times this season. As good as he has been this year (2.94 FIP, 4.3% HR/FB rate), he has been even better at home. He owns a 24.4% K rate and 2.19 FIP at Miller Park for the season.
Matchup Rating: Must Stream
Aaron Harang (PHI at MIL) – Ownership: 15% Yahoo!, 17% Fleaflicker
There is zero to little chance that Harang will toss a shutout. Chances are that he will get tagged for some runs. But he is facing a Brewers team that has struggled since coming out of the All Star Break. And over the last two weeks, the Brewers own the third-worst wRC+ while striking out at a 21.8% clip. Still, it is Aaron Harang.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
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