RADIO
I’m still waiting on the trades that are 100%* going to happen, or so we’ve heard. Everywhere you look, from Twitter to Bleacher Report, there are talks of teams that are definitely selling. The A’s, Phillies, Rockies and Mets are “sure things” to make some moves.
With a little over a week left, I’m here to make a bold prediction: the trade deadline will come and go with as little fanfare as possible. You can bet on Cole Hamels and Ben Revere being moved. Scott Kazmir can help any team’s rotation as well. After that, it’s hard to imagine any team is willing to give a little to get a little. I have zero faith that Colorado knows what they are doing and the Mets aren’t going to want to pay up to get help now. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to No Man’s Land.
Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the second half of Week 16 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 Starting Pitcher Streamers
Wade Miley (BOS at HOU) – Ownership: 8% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker
I hear you. This seems about as disgusting as a pick as any Mets everyday player in a streamer hitters list. The truth is that whenever the inconsistent Miley is not facing a divisional foe, he usually pitches pretty well. The Astros have cooled since their hot start and still strike out enough so that Wiley could give his owners a nice boost in the K cateogory.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Tom Koehler (MIA at SD) – Ownership: 15% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker
Koehler’s FIP of 4.39 is pretty gross, but the Padres 22.0% K rate and 87 wRC+ against righties is even grosser. It’s like the blind leading the deaf in this one. Dan Jennings.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Friday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Jeff Locke (PIT v. WAS) – Ownership: 8% Yahoo!, 10% Fleaflicker
The young swashbuckler has been in some kind of grove as he has an ERA of 1.96 over his last seven starts. He owns an FIP of 3.31 at home this season while holding batters to a .244 AVG. If you’re looking for a notch in the win column, you may want to look elsewhere. Locked faces Max Scherzer, who was only one pitch from perfection the last time he faced the Pirates.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Chris Tillman (BAL at TB) – Ownership: 10% Yahoo!, 15% Fleaflicker
The good news here is that Tillman will be in a pitcher’s park tossing against a team that is in the bottom third in nearly every statistical category when facing right-handed pitchers. There’s not enough space in this article to go over the bad news when discussing Chris Tillman.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Jon Niese (NYM v. LAD) – Ownership: 15% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker
Besides not getting any run support and getting really unlucky with the guys behind him on the field, Niese has pitched pretty well on the season. Unfortunately he tends to be a worse pitcher at home than on the road and his overall K rate of 15.0% is far from ideal. The Dodgers, however, are in a bit of a funk offensively and have struggled at times against lefties this season.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Tim Cooney (STL v. ATL) – Ownership: 3% Yahoo!, 4% Fleaflicker
In five starts in the majors, Cooney has only gone 24.1 innings. It’s clear from those numbers that he isn’t exactly going to bulk up his owners’ numbers in that category. He has, however, struck out 24 batters during that span so he has some stuff. Overall, he is a nice stream but don’t expect him to save your week.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Saturday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Erasmo Ramirez (TB v. BAL) – Ownership: 33% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker
Baltimore has looked completely lost this season. The days of the O’s outscoring their opponents by three or four runs are over. Since May 30, Ramirez has only allowed two runs or fewer in every one of his nine starts. He has been even better at home. Opponents have a .194 BAA when facing Ramirez in The Trop. Great play off the wire.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Tommy Milone (MIN v. NYY) – Ownership: 15% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker
The only reason I’m adding Milone on this list is because the pitching pool is incredibly shallow on Saturday. The Yankees are second in runs scored this season and Milone has been shaky at best all year. He makes for a good DFS tournament play, but that’s about it.
Matchup Rating: Desperate Stream
Taylor Jungmann (MIL at ARI) – Ownership: 27% Yahoo!, 20% Fleaflicker
Another waiver wire list and another Taylor Jungmann sighting. This guy has been pretty lights out for the Brewers and his fantasy owners alike. His strand rate of 81.1% is still relatively higher than it should be, but his FIP of 3.22 is a good indicator that he can keep up his torried pace.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Sunday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Joe Ross (WAS at PIT) – Ownership: 14% Yahoo!, 8% Fleaflicker
No Stephen Strasburg? No problem! No, seriously. Strasburg’s struggles have been Ross’s gains. The rookie has had a solid campaign. In four starts and 26.2 IP, Ross owns a 9.11 K/9 compared to a 0.68 BB/9 and has yet to give up a homerun. The 1.38 FIP should explain it all.
Matchup Rating: Must Stream
Kendall Graveman (OAK at SF) – Ownership: 18% Yahoo!, 13% Fleaflicker
Graveman has done a tremendous job since he was recalled in late May, but something tells me he is due for regression. Day games in San Francisco typically yield more runs and the Giants seem to be entering the time of year when they start to separate themselves.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Mat Latos (MIA at SD) – Ownership: 47% Yahoo!, 23% Fleaflicker
Ok Mat Latos. This is it. This is, without a doubt, the last chance you get from me to prove that you’re not a complete bust. You face off against a team that has struggled offensively over the last three seasons. Show me something or I promise I will drop you from my team. Maybe….
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
