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Poor Justin Verlander. On Wednesday, he was three outs away from pitching his third no-hitter of his career. That was the second time he had a no-hitter broken up in the ninth. This means that Verlander could potentially have four no-hitters under his belt for his career.
As for 2015, he has really come on since the All Star Break. It's a shame the Tigers probably will not make the postseason, but it's not a shame for the rest of the American League considering how most hitters will not want to face a healthy and hot Verlander in October.
Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the second half of Week 21 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 8/27 Starting Pitcher Streamers
Jon Niese (NYM at PHI) – Ownership: 28% Yahoo!, 18% Fleaflicker
It’s nice to see all that stock in Niese finally paying off. Although the southpaw got torched in his last outing, it was in hitter friendly Coors Field and thus deserves an asterisk. He should get plenty of run support in Thursday’s game but the park conditions will be stacked against him again. Niese should finish with the win, but that 14.3% HR/FB rate will surely take a hit.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Joe Ross (WAS v. SD) – Ownership: 32% Yahoo!, 14% Fleaflicker
It’s all about the Ross brothers in DC. On Wednesday, Joe’s older brother Tyson struck out nine and earned the win for the Padres. Thursday it’s Joe’s turn and there is no place like home for him. J. Ross owns a 0.88 WHIP and 2.24 FIP with a 24.6% K rate in 31.2 innings at home this season. This late in the season, Ross’s streaming numbers are invaluable.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Drew Smyly (TB v. MIN) – Ownership: 48% Yahoo!, 33% Fleaflicker
Minnesota is scorching hot but at some point they have to lose again. The matchup on Thursday night may be their best chance. Smyly looks like he has returned to full strength since coming back from injury, but his homerun rate is rather high. The Twins should tag him for a long ball or two which will hurt his 91.8% strand rate.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Friday 8/28 Starting Pitcher Streamers
Andrew Heaney (LAA at CLE) – Ownership: 49% Yahoo!, 22% Fleaflicker
The Indians have been at or just below par for the course against left-handed pitchers this year. Though Heaney has been rather hit or miss this season, he’s been more hit- in a good way- than miss over the last month. He is especially at his best against teams that are mediocre or “par for the course.”
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Taylor Jungmann (MIL v. CIN) – Ownership: 50% Yahoo!, 24% Fleaflicker
If you have streamed Jungmann regularly this far into the season, then chances are you are probably in the thick of your league’s playoff race. Jungmann’s 2.66 ERA is not too far from his 2.98 FIP in a nice sample size of 84.2 innings. With the Reds trending in a downward spiral fast, Jungmann makes for a phenomenal play in nearly any format.
Matchup Rating: Must Stream
Randall Delgado (ARI v. OAK) – Ownership: 1% Yahoo!, 1% Fleaflicker
With a 3.15 ERA and a 22.1% K rate, it would seem like Delgado is on his way to a solid half year. But he walks way too many hitters and if there is any team that can work walks and get on base, it is the A’s. Even if Oakland has been terrible this season.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Saturday 8/29 Starting Pitcher Streamers
Joe Kelly (BOS at NYM) – Ownership: 8% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker
I’m not real sure why I picked Kelly in this spot. Conventional thinking indicates that the Mets have better pitching, so he should not get the run support, and they are having their greatest offensive month in the history of the club, so he may get tagged. Sometimes, you just have to go with instinct. On the evidence side, Kelly has gone four straight starts now without giving up more than two runs.
Matchup Rating: Desperate Stream
Ryan Vogelsong (SF v. STL) – Ownership: 11% Yahoo!, 10% Fleaflicker
Vogelsong is a completely, completely, different and better pitcher at home than on the road. In his friendly confines he is holding opposing hitters to a .289 wOBA while dropping his WHIP from 1.51 on the road to a 1.24. Vogelsong’s home ERA of 2.88 is on par with his home ERA in San Francisco.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Kris Medlen (KC at TB) – Ownership: 23% Yahoo!, 11% Fleaflicker
You know Medlen is going to get the run support and should he deliver like he did in his last outing- three earned runs in six innings pitched and six strikeouts- then he will get the win. However, Medlen’s one downside is Kansas City’s desire for him not to go deep into games.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
J.A. Happ (PIT v. COL) – Ownership: 12% Yahoo!, 11% Fleaflicker
The Rockies own a league worst 65 wRC+ against lefties this season. That includes their performances in Coors Field. Happ has gone two straight starts without giving up a run. His 12 innings during that span has allotted three walks and six hits. He should breeze through the Rockies lineup this weekend.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Sunday 8/30 Starting Pitcher Streamers
Charlie Morton (PIT v. COL) – Ownership: 20% Yahoo!, 16% Fleaflicker
Like Happ, Morton pitches to contact rather striking out batters and I am always suspect of contact pitchers. The Pittsburgh defense is rather shaky (just ask Gerrit Cole) so that could lead to an unnecessary amount of extra pitches for Morton. I expect Morton to labor through five innings but be in position for the win against an overmatched Rockies team.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Nathan Eovaldi (NYY at ATL) – Ownership: 46% Yahoo!, 31% Fleaflicker
After a rocky start to the season, Eovaldi seems to have found his groove and appears ready to take his game into the postseason. Since June 20th, he has given up only 24 earned runs in 73.2 innings pitched which is good enough for a 2.93 ERA. The run support will be there for him as well.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Robbie Ray (ARI v. OAK) – Ownership: 9% Yahoo!, 8% Fleaflicker
Here we go again, another (probably botched) Ray prediction! Robbie, as I like to call him, has gone out and successfully throw a few duds in a row. He is simply too good to be this bad, so I am going to take a flier on him again as well. Risky indeed.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
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