RADIO
Week 15 Streamers Under 50% Owned
Danny Duffy, KC (45% owned)
Probable opponents: @ MIN, @ CWS
The Duff Man has been boom-or-bust this season. Just looking at his last 10 starts, Duffy has allowed one earned run, or less, in five appearances and allowed at least four earned runs in the other five contests. He’ll face two divisional foes in Week 15: the Twins and White Sox. Both teams are tied for the 11th worst team wOBA (.310) against left-handed pitchers this season. Also, the White Sox lead the league with 831 strikeouts this year.
Mike Leake, SEA (41% owned)
Probable opponents: @ LAA, @ COL
Well, he wouldn’t be my first choice to stream, but the player pool for starting pitchers, especially between 25-50 percent owned, is scarce. Leake has allowed three earned runs, or less, in three consecutive appearances and eight of the last nine starts. He’s also compiled at least five strikeouts in two of the past three outings. Leake has faced the Angels three times this season. He’s 1-2 with a 4.11 ERA and tallied 12 strikeouts in 15.1 innings of work. For his second start, Leake travels to Colorado. It’s not the best combination of opponents, but he’s available if you’re desperate for a starter.
Jhoulys Chacin, MIL (30% owned)
Probable opponents: @ MIA, @ PIT
Sure, he’ll pitch a dud every once in awhile, but Chacin can be a reliable streamer, too. He’s allowed two earned runs, or less, in four of the past five games. He’s faced the Marlins once this season (6 IP, 0 ER, and 5 K) and the Pirates twice (six strikeouts and four earned runs in 12.1 innings of work). Chacin gets to avoid hitter-friendly Miller Park in Week 15, too.
Under 25% Owned
Zack Wheeler, NYM (18% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. PHI, vs. WSH
Wheeler is dealing lately and he could soon be a permanent addition to someone’s fantasy baseball roster. In the past four games, Wheeler has notched at least five strikeouts. He’s allowed two earned runs, or fewer, in three of the last four appearances. The Nationals and Phillies are 19th and 20th, respectively, in runs scored this season and the Phightin’ Phillies are fourth in team strikeouts (802) in 2018. While Wheeler has yet to win at home this year, he showed promising signs in his last start at Citi Field: 7 IP, 0 ER, and 7 K vs. PIT.
Andrew Suarez, SF (7% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. CHC, vs. OAK
How is this pitcher owned in less than 50 percent of leagues, let alone less than eight percent, of Yahoo fantasy baseball leagues? He’s allowed two earned runs, or less, in five straight starts and six of the past seven appearances. Suarez has struck out at least five batters in three ofthe past four games, too. Both of Suarez’s starts will take place at AT&T Park in Week 15. While he’s only 1-2 in six home starts, Suarez owns a 3.13 ERA and has tallied 33 strikeouts in 37.1 innings at home this season.
Jose Urena, MIA (6% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. MIL, vs. PHI
Urena has shut out his opponent in two of the last three starts and has struck out at least five batters in three of the past four outings. The good new is that Urena was already successful against the Phillies: 7 IP, 1 ER, and 6 K. On the down side, Milwaukee tagged him for four earned runs in five innings on April 21st (three strikeouts). Both of Week 15’s starts for Urena are at home. He’s 0-7, but has a 3.88 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 58 innings at Marlins Park. Not too shabby for a pitcher who is owned in six percent of fantasy baseball leagues. I mentioned in a previous player post that the Phillies strike out a lot, and Milwaukee is in the same boat. The Brewers are seventh in team strikeouts this season (787).
