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If you plan on streaming starting pitchers this week, you've come to the right place. Scoring has gone up over the last two weeks of MLB play, so it’ll be that much more important for you to find the correct matchup over the next week of fantasy baseball. Below are some of my Week 12 picks for starting pitchers to consider streaming off the waiver wire. Some of these pitchers may be two-start pitchers, and all 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. I categorize each of the streaming options as either Desperate, Risky, Solid or Must Stream. Good luck this week RotoBallers.
Monday SP Streamers
Jason Vargas (KC at DET)
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Ownership: 35% Yahoo, 34% ESPN. Vargas is a good pitcher who at his worst is still better than most options off the waiver wire.
Unfortunately, you may want to avoid this stream unless you absolutely must. Detroit is merely above “okay” against lefties but Vargas has a dangerously high fly ball rate. And at some point, Kansas City has to lose a game.
MATCHUP RATING: Desperate Stream
Wei-Yin Chen (BAL at TB)
Ownership: 20% Yahoo!, 10% ESPN. Chen is relatively average in terms of his stuff. Tampa Bay is very much below average in terms of their stuff against left handed pitchers. The Rays haven’t hit for average or power nor gotten on base against lefties and there’s no reason they’ll start against Chen.
MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream
Tuesday SP Streamers
Chase Whitley (NYY vs. TOR)
Ownership: 8% Yahoo!, 4% ESPN. The young Yank is coming off a strong game against the Mariners and he very could deliver another effective outing against hitter heavy Toronto. Whitley’s slider has been as unhittable as possible that a rookie’ slider can be. Toronto has been the weakest against the slider but has been absolutely pummeling the fastball. If Whitley can stay away from pitching the old number one- and he has so far- then he should be able to avoid giving up the long ball to the Jays.
MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream
Kyle Kendrick (PHI at ATL)
Ownership: 2% Yahoo!, 1% ESPN. If you like taking chances and are feeling a bit dangerous, then Kendrick is your guy. He’s coming off a strong outing against San Diego, which isn’t really hard for a major league pitcher to do this year, in which he went six innings and gave up one earned. The Padres and Braves are very close in terms of run creation, hitting and striking out against right handers. However, the current Braves have hit Kendrick very well to the tune of a .285 BA, .795 OPS, 5 HR and 18 RBI.
MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream
Wednesday SP Streamers
Jake Arrieta (CHC at MIA)
Ownership: 10% Yahoo!, 6% ESPN. Facing a team that strikes out a lot? Check. Starting in a pitcher’s park? Check. Pitcher owns a high K rate? Check.
Arrieta is amongst the best options this week off the waiver wire, even if he only gives you six innings and especially if you are in need of cheap strikeouts. The Cubs starter has also done considerably well against the current Marlins players yielding only a .194 BAA, 1 HR and 1 RBI.
MATCHUP RATING: Must Stream
Edinson Volquez (PIT vs. CIN)
Ownership: 6% Yahoo!, 3% ESPN. Cincinnati has struggled against right handers and against breaking balls this year. Not only is Volquez right handed, but his breaking ball has been his best pitch. It appears Volquez has found his command as his walk rate has steadily dipped and strikeout rate is climbing. Don’t look too much into his 13.8% HR/FB rate- the rate drops when he’s pitching at PNC Park and the Reds are only twenty-second in that category against right handers.
MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream
Chase Anderson (ARI vs. MIL)
Ownership: 18% Yahoo, 14% ESPN. On the outset, it appears Anderson is having a good year. He’s 5-1 with a solid ERA and WHIP. Anderson could have some problems at home against the Brewers. He’s giving up a high rate of home runs at Chase Field and the Brew Crew have typically lit up pitchers with high home run rates this season. Anderson should finish with good numbers this year, just watch out of him at home.
MATCHUP RATING: Desperate Stream
