RADIO
Adam Meyer analyzes under-the-radar starting pitchers (SP) making two starts this week (September 3-September 9) as possible streamers and waiver wire adds or targets for fantasy baseball.
We’re prepping for the final week of the regular season, for some fantasy leagues, and playoff seats are on the line. This is your last chance to secure a top seed or just extend your fantasy baseball season another week.
For this group of arms, we have some familiar names in the streaming game. Per usual, matchups are key among the low-owned pitchers. For most of the guys on this list, you’ll be safe for two starts. However, there might be one suggestion where you would only want to insert him into your starting lineup for the first game and wait and see if the risk is worth the reward in the second start.
As for last week, we took a beating with most of our suggestions. Brian Johnson was the bright spot for us, but he only pitched 4.1 innings and struck out three batters while allowing only one earned run in his first start.
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Pitcher Streamers - Under 50% Owned
Trevor Williams, PIT (46% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. CIN, vs. MIA
Williams continues to prove that he’s more than just a streaming option in the fantasy baseball world. He’s allowed one earned run, or less, in four straight outings and struck out at least four batters in three consecutive contests. The Marlins are on the docket for Williams this week. Miami is 30th in runs scored (505 runs in 135 games). They’re also 26th in team wOBA (.302) against right-handed pitchers this season.
Michael Fulmer, DET (40% owned)
Probable opponents: @ CWS, vs. STL
It’s been a rough few outings for Fulmer recently. He’s allowed at least seven earned runs in two of the past three starts. On the bright side, Fulmer will see the White Sox for the third time in 2018. He’s 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and eight strikeouts in 10 innings of work against the AL’s Chicago. The White Sox are also 21st in runs scored (567 runs in 135 games) and first in team strikeouts (1,302) this season.
Trevor Cahill, OAK (36% owned
Probable opponents: vs. NYY, vs. TEX
Cahill continues to be under-owned in fantasy leagues. He’s allowed three earned runs, or less, in four of the past six performances and punched out at least six batters in three of the past six outings. Unfortunately, Cahill will face two tough offenses this week. Both the Yankees and Rangers are in the top seven in runs scored in 2018. On the bright side, both clubs are also in the top nine in team strikeouts this year.
Pitcher Streamers - Under 25% Owned
Joey Lucchesi, SD (24% owned)
Probable opponents: @ ARI, @ CIN
Lucchesi has allowed two earned runs, or less, in four of the past five games. He’s also punched out at least six batters in five consecutive appearances. Lucchesi will face the Diamondbacks in his first outing of the week. Arizona is sixth in team strikeouts (1,212) this season. However, both the DBacks and Reds are in the top six in team wOBA against left-handed pitching this year.
Matt Harvey, CIN (18% owned)
Probable opponents: @ PIT, vs. SD
He’s been a boom-or-bust streaming option this year and we’re hoping for more of the “boom” this week. Harvey has allowed two earned runs in four of the past six games, but also allowed five earned runs in the other two appearances. On the bright side, Harvey has punched out at least five batters in four consecutive contests. He’ll face the Padres as one of his two turns in the rotation this week. San Diego is 27th in runs scored (524 runs in 137 games) and second in team strikeouts (1,297) this season. The Padres are also 28th in team wOBA (.300) in 2018.
Sam Gaviglio, TOR (6% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. TB, vs. CLE
We’ve seen the ups and downs of Gaviglio this year, as he’s struggled to string together two solid performances in 2018. That trend will likely continue this week. Gaviglio will see the Rays in the first game of the week. Tampa Bay is 22nd in runs scored (564 runs in 134 games) and 23rd in team wOBA (.311) against right-handed pitchers this season. Then, there’s game two, against Cleveland. The Indians are 4th in team wOBA (.336) against righties, third in runs scored (679 runs in 134 games), and 30th in team strikeouts (976) in 2018. Gaviglio has struck out at least seven batters in three of the past five games and allowed three earned runs, or less, during that same span.
