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There is a saying during the NBA playoffs: "It ain’t a series until the home team loses," or something like that. There is a similar saying for MLB that goes, “it ain’t a season until a manager melts down.” Okay maybe that saying doesn’t exist. But it sure feels like it does.
Recently, Reds manager Bryan Price unleashed a profanity-laced tirade against Reds beat reporter C. Trent Rosecrans and the media. Seemingly blaming Rosecrans for his team’s miscues, Price dropped a certain F word 77 times. Price would later apologize for using the F word instead of apologizing for being upset that Rosecrans was doing his job. Rosecrans has some history being aggressive with getting answers as he was the same reporter that Reds’ second baseman Brandon Phillips lashed out at for calling out his OBP.
Just last season, Price and the Reds demanded more from All-Star Joey Votto. Votto was asked to be more aggressive as the clean-up hitter and demonstrate more power as opposed to seeing the ball and getting on base via the walk. Whether one agrees with Rosecrans’ methods or not, it is clear that the Reds have decided to go against the advanced metric norm and will pursue a more old school approach. The author is intrigued at how the Reds will finish this season.
Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the second half of Week 3 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
Dustin McGowan (PHI v. MIA)
Ownership: 0% Yahoo!, 1% Fleaflicker
Judging by his walk rate (a paltry 20%), Mr. McGowan has the eyesight of Mr. Magoo. Good thing he will be squaring off against a Marlins offense that has yet to gel. But when they do gel, look out.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Kyle Lohse (MIL v. CIN)
Ownership: 42% Yahoo!, 16% Fleaflicker
Right now even Kyle Lohse doesn’t want to own Kyle Lohse in any type of format. The Reds have won the first three games of the series scoring a total of 24 runs. The law of averages literally has to apply here. Expect Lohse’s first solid outing of the year.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Jesse Chavez (OAK at LAA)
Ownership: 6% Yahoo!, 6% Fleaflicker
Welcome back to the starter’s role Jesse Chavez. In four appearances this year Chavez has pitched pretty well. It would be better for him to start in the pitcher friendly confines of O.co Coliseum considering half of his batted balls go for fly balls. That is the main concern going into Thursday’s game in Anaheim.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Friday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Mike Leake (CIN v. CHC)
Ownership: 35% Yahoo!, 15% Fleaflicker
Despite walking batters at the highest rate of his career- remember, it is only April- Leake continues to stymie hitters as a groundball specialist. There will be a big dose of low fastballs and sinkers against a young and aggressive squad of Cub hitters. Low strikeouts and low ERA+WHIP is Leake’s game.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Carlos Martinez (STL at MIL)
Ownership: 47% Yahoo!, 28% Fleaflicker
Last chance to pick up C-Mart. At this point there is no further need to justify adding him to your roster.
Matchup Rating: Must Stream
Saturday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Alfredo Simon (DET vs. CLE)
Ownership: 46% Yahoo!, 33% Fleaflicker
Evidently, Alfredo Simon has decided to be a stingy starter for a good team. He is holding batters to a stingy .250 BABIP and is being stingy to base runners as he is holding them to a 85.2% LOB (left on base) rate. Eventually his stinginess will catch up, but Saturday is not that day.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Kendall Graveman (OAK v. HOU)
Ownership: 6% Yahoo!, 8% Fleaflicker
Graveman’s 55.8% GB rate is great for a young pitcher. The problem is his accompanying 22.2% HR/FB rate. Right now he is part trust, part worry. Though as of right now Houston is the leader of the Al West, their bats have been silent. Expect an OK outing from the young pitcher.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
James Paxton (SEA v. MIN)
Ownership: 49% Yahoo!, 21% Fleaflicker
Do not let Paxton’s numbers fool you. He has been the product of a lot of bad luck. A start against Minnesota is just what the starting pitcher doctor ordered.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Sunday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Jerome Williams (PHI v. ATL)
Ownership: 1% Yahoo!, 5% Fleaflicker
Jerome Williams?! Surprisingly, the seasoned vet has put up some respectable numbers on the year. He also gets the pleasure of going against a Braves squad that is inevitably on the down slide. Williams will give good value in non-strikeout categories.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Brett Anderson (LAD at SD)
Matchup Rating: 7% Yahoo!, 8% Fleaflicker
Watch out for the Dodgers and the Padres. Three weeks into the season and both of these teams look to be in mid-season form. San Diego looks like a team that can hit lefties more so than righties, so streaming Anderson could be a little riskier than initial thought.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Brandon Morrow (SD v. LAD)
Matchup Rating: 19% Yahoo!, 16% Fleaflicker
There is nothing quite like streaming two pitchers in the same game on a Sunday to maximize win probability. Morrow has been shaky at times, but he returns to his friendly home confines against a high octane offense. Bet on Morrow.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
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