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It should be quite an odd week for owners that are streaming starting pitchers. The Monday games will offer some not-so-good choices, but Wednesday has a nice selection. As if the universe is toying with owners, the later games on Tuesday allow for better matchups for streamers than do the earlier games. It’s like a King Midas situation in reverse. Better yet, it’s as if Milhouse has cracked a code and discovered that all of Springfield’s parents have turned into reverse vampires and need to get home before the sun sets. We’re through the looking glass here, people.
Below are some of my Week 20 picks for starting pitchers to consider streaming off the waiver wire. Some of these pitchers may be two-start pitchers, and all 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. As always, I categorize each of the streaming options as either Desperate, Risky, Solid or Must-Stream.
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Monday SP Streamers
Chris Capuano (NYY at BAL)
Ownership: 1% Yahoo!, 4% Fleaflicker
I guess this means it’s time for me to drink the Yankee Kool-Aid. The soft-tossing lefty has been all sorts of beat up at times, but has somehow managed to keep a cool 3.91 ERA. To make your decision more interesting, Baltimore has been rather cold against LHPs as of late. Do you dare trust that the Capuano magic continues?
MATCHUP RATING: Desperate Stream
Jordan Lyles (COL at SD)
Ownership: 7% Yahoo!, 10% Fleaflicker
In 40 IP on the road, Lyles has held opponents to a .232 BAA, .310 OBP and .308 wOBA. Those numbers may not blow anyone away, but it’s more indicative of the type of pitcher he can be, considering his other splits are skewed by Coor’s Field. It would seem San Diego is a nice matchup, but be forewarned: the Padres have been able to score at will since the ASB.
MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream
Tuesday SP Streamers
Kyle Hendricks (CHC vs. MIL)
Ownership: 8% Yahoo!, 8% Fleaflicker
It’s been weeks since the last Cubbie made an appearance on this list. Hendricks hasn't been mowing batters down (15.7% K-rate), and he’s been able to strand 81.3% of runners on base.
There are definitely signs of potential for regression in his future, especially against the Brewers and their ninth-best offense in run creation against RHPs. I’m betting that Hendricks has one more good game in him.
MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream
Jeremy Hellickson (TB at TEX)
Ownership: 8% Yahoo!, 9% Fleaflicker
Much like Hendricks, Hellickson is due for regression, probably even more so for the young Rays right hander. However, he has a much better matchup, as the Rangers offense has flirted with complete collapse over the last month. And the term “flirting” is applied loosely here.
MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream
Wednesday SP Streamers
Vance Worley (PIT at DET)
Ownership: 27% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker
Are you ready to unleash the Vanimal? The Tigers have been unforgiving to pitchers, but you have to ride the Vanimal’s streak right now. Over his last four starts, he’s tossed 28 IP allowing 3 ER, 5 BB and 0 HR while striking out 17.
MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream
Nathan Eovaldi (MIA vs. STL)
Ownership: 19% Yahoo!, 16% Fleaflicker
Trying to decipher when Eovaldi will be awesome or awful at home is about as tough as trying to pinpoint the exact date and time when Justin Bieber will get arrested next: you know it’s going to happen, but you're not sure when.
Eovaldi obviously has the stuff to be great at home, but he can’t seem to figure out how to best utilize the large field to his advantage. This is evidenced by his .316 BABIP at home compared to the .266 he manages on the road. Hopefully, the Cardinals' subpar run-creating offense against RHPs will offer a nice recipe for Eovaldi to deliver for his fantasy owners.
MATCHUP RATING: Must Stream
