RADIO
For those of you in head-to-head leagues, welcome to the fantasy baseball playoffs! For those in roto leagues, keep grinding. We’re here to help until the MLB regular season comes to a halt.
In this week’s post, we have some pitchers with subpar season-long stats, but who’ve been hot as of late. We also have some stellar matchups on the table for these two-start suggestions.
From last week’s post, Matt Harvey stole the show. He struck out 10 Padres and allowed only two earned runs in six innings on Saturday. Trevor Williams (6.2 IP, 0 ER, and 4 K vs. the Reds) and Michael Fulmer (5.2 IP, 1 ER, and 5 K against the White Sox) provided decent outings, as well.
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Pitcher Streamers - Under 50% Owned
Andrew Heaney, LAA (44% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. TEX, vs. SEA
This is one of those scenarios where you can either use Heaney for only one start, or you add this pitcher to bolster your strikeout total and you don’t worry about the ERA hit. Heaney faces the Rangers for the third time in less than three weeks. In the previous two performances, Heaney allowed a total of 10 earned runs in 11.1 innings of work and tallied 10 strikeouts. He’s punched out at least five batters in nine of the past 10 outings and has allowed at least four earned runs in five of the last seven games.
Wade LeBlanc, SEA (35% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. SD, @ LAA
LeBlanc has locked down his opponents lately. In the past three appearances, he’s allowed a grand total of one earned run and struck out 14 batters in 19 innings of work. This time around, he could face the Padres and Angels in one week’s time. The Padres have a team wOBA of .298, which is 26th in the league. The Angels are 23rd (.300 wOBA) in the same category against southpaws. Also, in three previous outings against the Angels, LeBlanc is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA and has struck out 15 batters in 18 innings.
Lucas Giolito, CWS (31% owned)
Probable opponents: @ KC, @ BAL
I didn’t think a 10-10 pitcher with a 5.85 ERA would make the two-start suggestions post, but here we are with Giolito. Lately, he’s allowed one earned run in two of the past three games and struck out 17 batters in the past 14.2 innings of action. This week, the Royals and Orioles are on the schedule for Giolito. Both clubs are in the bottom four in terms of runs scored this season and Baltimore is 10th in team strikeouts (Kansas City is 24th). Giolito’s opponents for this week are also in the bottom six when it comes to team wOBA against right-handed pitchers. Kansas City is 25th (.306 wOBA) and Baltimore is 28th (.205 wOBA).
Pitcher Streamers - Under 25% Owned
Mike Minor, TEX (24% owned)
Probable opponents: @ LAA, @ SD
Minor has majorly improved over his last three starts. During that span, he’s allowed no more than two earned runs in an outing and has struck out a total of 18 batters in 17 innings of work. Minor’s last start was against the Angels. He struck out seven and allowed two earned runs in five innings. He’ll face them, again, in his first start of this week. Next, the Padres are on the docket. San Diego is 28th in runs scored (549 runs in 144 games) and second in team strikeouts (1,358) this season.
Jose Urena, MIA (6% owned)
Probable opponents: @ NYM, @ PHI
It’s been a rough year for Urena. He’s 5-12 with a 4.41 ERA and was tossed from a game earlier this season for hitting Ronald Acuna Jr. on the first pitch of an outing. Nowadays, he’s allowed one earned run, or less, in three of the last four performances. In his last contest, Urena struck out seven batters and allowed one earned run (solo homer) in seven innings against the Phillies. This week, Philadelphia is on the menu.
Sandy Alcantara, MIA (3% owned)
Probable opponents: @ NYM, @ PHI
Alcantara could get two turns in the rotation this week, but he’s good enough to where one start could be enough to earn his keep. In two starts this season, he’s allowed a total of one earned run and Alcantara has struck out eight batters in 12 innings of action. Those two games were against the Mets and Phillies. This week, Alcantara has a chance to pitcher against the Mets and the Phillies.
