Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Streamers for Week 13 (Part 2)

June 26, 2014

RotoBaller analyzes all of Week 13's fantasy baseball starting pitcher (SP) sleepers and streamers who may be available to pick up on your league's waiver wire.

Congratulations to the 2014 Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team on wrapping up the national championship in baseball last night.  It was the school’s first national championship in any men’s sport.  As for professional baseball, below are some of the starting pitcher streaming sleepers for the second half of Week 13 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 SP Streamers

Jarred Cosart (HOU vs. ATL)

Ownership: 10% Yahoo!, 3% ESPN

These young-gun pitchers from Houston are playing at a higher level than most anticipated in the preseason.  Cosart is no exception.  Though his numbers are decent, he’s still allowing more than his fair share of base runners: 1.32 WHIP and 9% BB rate.  However, if you know anything about how I select matchups, you’ve already come to the realization that he’s good enough against the Braves.  Atlanta has been downright awful against right handers this season in getting on base, slugging and run creation while excelling at striking out (22.3% K rate).  When in doubt, throw out a righty against Atlanta.

MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream

Mike Leake (CIN at SF)

Ownership: 36% Yahoo!, 15% ESPN

Leake has been touched up a bit this month, but he bounced back nicely in his last start against Toronto.  He gave up five ER in five IP in his first start in June against San Francisco, including two HR.  He has historically been lit up by the current hitters on the Giants roster, to the tune of a .395/.418/.729 slash line.  It won’t be as humid in San Fran as it was in Cincinnati, but still beware.

MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream

Friday SP Streamers

Kyle Kendrick (PHI vs. ATL)

Ownership: 3% Yahoo!, 2% ESPN

Kendrick has been rather ordinary this season, but he’s been a surprisingly good pitcher at home.  The Braves have been rather bad against right handers this season, both on the road and at home.  Expect Atlanta to get their hits, but Kendrick should put up some good numbers-- something in the vicinity of 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 K is very likely for Philadelphia starter.

MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream

Brandon Workman (BOS at NYY)

Ownership: 5% Yahoo!, 1% ESPN

I almost didn’t select any pitchers from the Red Sox-Yankees series just for the mere fact that all the media is focused on these games when they’re slated to play each other.  The young Workman has pitched pretty well to begin what should be his first full (well, mostly full) season as a starter.  He has big question marks when away from Fenway, especially considering the Yankee matchup this weekend.  Workman’s 10.7% BB rate on the road does not bode well against a team like New York that typically sees a lot of pitches.  If Workman doesn’t give a lot of free passes, he could give his owners a quality start.

MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream

Matt Shoemaker (LAA at KC)

Ownership: 17% Yahoo!, 9% ESPN

Make no mistake, Shoemaker will not put up another 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 K performance like he did Sunday against the Rangers.  The Royals have too good of an offense from top to bottom, and they own a .348 BA when facing Shoemaker.  He still poses a matchup problem for Kansas City, though, as the Royals have struggled against the split-finger, a pitch Shoemaker throws about 20% of the time.

MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream

Saturday SP Streamers

Josh Tomlin (CLE at SEA)

Ownership: 6% Yahoo!, 2% ESPN

Tomlin has a high home run rate and hitters are getting their knocks off him.  But you can’t ignore his 5.2 K/BB rate.  It’s tough to hit long balls in Seattle, but the Mariners have been able to create runs without the home run ball.  Expect Tomlin to allow his fair share of hits and earn his fair share of strikeouts.

MATCHUP RATING: Desperate Stream

Brandon McCarthy (ARI at SD)

Ownership:  0% Yahoo! and ESPN

This may be the last chance that fantasy owners give McCarthy.  His 5.38 ERA is atrocious but his 4.08 FIP says he’s not that terrible.  His 21.7% HR/FB rate is among the worst of all pitchers but his 55.9% GB rate is among the best of all starters.  The Padres hit a lot of ground balls and are the worst hitting team in the majors.  Last chance McCarthy.

MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream

Sunday SP Streamers

Wei-Yin Chen (BAL vs. TB)

Ownership: 21% Yahoo, 18% ESPN

Chen is another example of a pitcher who hasn't been spectacular this season but has somehow managed to keep runners from crossing the dish, especially at home.  The Rays have been average against lefties this season in run creation and striking out.  Chen holds the upper hand, as he has been dominant against Tampa Bay’s hitters in his career.  Watch out for Ben Zobrist.

MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream

Kyle Gibson (MIN at TEX)

Ownership: 13% Yahoo!, 11% ESPN

Gibson had been quietly dealing in the month of June before being steamrolled by the Angel train in his last start.  Groundball pitchers typically bounce back quicker than fly ball pitchers, but the Ballpark in Arlington isn’t exactly a pitcher’s haven and Gibson has struggled on the road.

MATCHUP RATING: Desperate Stream

Chase Whitley (NYY vs. BOS)

Ownership: 9% Yahoo!, 6% ESPN

Whitley got beat in his last start against a prolific Toronto offense.  He’s due for a bounce back.  Whitley has struggled away from Yankee Stadium but pitched considerably well at home, and has yet to allow a home run at the Stadium.  Boston hasn’t wowed anyway against right handers this season, especially on the road.  Look for Whitley’s slider to dominant Boston’s hitters on the national stage.

MATCHUP RATING: Must Stream