RADIO
Week 12 Streamers Under 50% Owned
Nick Pivetta, PHI (47% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. STL, @ WSH
It’s hard to imagine that a pitcher who allowed six earned runs in his last start (10 total runs in his last two appearances) would be my top streaming option, but that is the case for Week 12. Pivetta also had a poor outing against the Nationals earlier this season (1 IP, 6 ER) and he’ll get a chance to redeem himself this week. On the bright side, Pivetta has punched out at least five batters in six of the last seven starts for Philadelphia. He’s also allowed three earned runs, or less, in six of the last 10 appearances. As for his first opponent, the Cardinals are 24th in team wOBA (.304) against right-handed pitchers this season (Nationals are seventh).
Caleb Smith, MIA (38% owned)
Probable opponents: @ SF, @ COL
First, the good news. Smith has started against both of these teams already this season and performed well. In his last appearance, Smith pitched 6.1 innings and allowed three earned runs, while striking out four batters, against the Giants. That game was at home. He’ll travel to pitcher-friendly San Francisco this week. Also, in his previous outing against the Rockies, Smith struck out nine batters and didn’t allow an earned run through seven innings. That game was also at home. Here’s the bad news, Smith travels to Coors Field this week. If you can stomach the possible four-to-five earned run performance in your head-to-head leagues, Smith could be worth the risk in Week 12.
Carlos Rodon, CWS (33% owned)
Probable opponents: @ CLE, vs. OAK
Spoiler alert: we have two Chicago White Sox pitchers in the streamer article this week. Shocking, right? Their starters have a team ERA of 5.18 (27th in baseball) and yet two are featured here in Week 12. Crazy times in which we live. Rodon recently recovered from shoulder surgery and has only pitched twice this season. In both starts, he’s allowed at least two earned runs and struck out at least four batters in five innings apiece. In his last start, Rodon only allowed two hits to Cleveland (5 IP, 2 ER, and 4 K). He’ll face them, again, in Week 12. Oakland is second on the docket for Rodon. As a team, the Athletics are 20th in team wOBA (.306) against left-handed pitchers.
Under 25% Owned
Jhoulys Chacin, MIL (24% owned)
Probable opponents: @ PIT, vs. STL
The city of Chicago is glad to not see Chacin this week. In two of his last three starts, Chacin pitched a combined 11.2 innings of shutout baseball, with 12 strikeouts, against both the Cubs and White Sox. The Pirates saw Chacin on May 5th of this year: 6 IP, 1 ER, and 4 K. Unfortunately, for Chacin, the Cardinals didn’t struggle as much as Pittsburgh did this year. In two combined outings, Chacin allowed six earned runs in 10.1 innings of work (5.23 ERA) and struck out six batters. The main reason for Chacin’s appearance on this list for Week 12 is the recent performances. He’s struck out at least five batters in six of the last seven starts (seven K’s in back-to-back games) and he’s shutout his opponent in three of the last five outings.
Dylan Covey, CWS (19% owned)
Probable opponents: @ CLE, vs. OAK
Sometimes a name can surprise you when scouring through the two-start pitchers’ recent game logs. That is certainly the case for Covey. This season, Covey has allowed two earned runs, or less, in five consecutive starts and he’s tallied at least five strikeouts in four of those contests. Cleveland seems to be the toughest opponent on his docket for Week 12 and Covey has already faced them twice this year. He’s a combined 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA and eight strikeouts in 11.1 innings of work. Those aren’t terrible numbers for a streamer. As for opponent No. 2, the Athletics are seventh in team strikeouts (622) this season.
Domingo German, NYY (14% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. SEA, @ TB
I probably saved the best for last, in the case of German. He is striking out batters at a furious pace recently. He’s struck out at least nine batters in back-to-back games. Tampa Bay was his last start. German pitched six innings, allowed three earned runs, and punched out 10 Rays. German will see them, again, this week. For a streaming option, having the ability to strike out at least seven batters (three of his last four games) makes him a must-add for Week 12, and potentially longer.
