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Early last year, ESPN released a 30 For 30 documentary on the bizarre January 1994 attack on Nancy Kerrigan. Tony Kornheiser of Pardon the Interruption fame has gone on record proclaiming that the soap opera writers would have died for a juicy script like the one that unfolded before the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Perhaps the baseball world does not have a twist-and-turn script brewing, but it looks like there is a new winner in the bizarre category.
Earlier this week, Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times released a column revealing that the St. Louis Cardinals organization was under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for corporate espionage. That’s the FBI, not MLB. When the feds get their hands on a case, chances are close to around 95% that there will be at least an indictment. Though most FBI investigators have remained hush-hush on the matter, the few facts that have been released reveal that uncovered evidence confirms that Cardinals employees broke into a Houston Astros network and stole information about players, possible trade discussions, and scouting reports.
Now, back in the nineties and two thousand aughts, we ball players would get a little peeved when base runners stole our catchers’ signs. That was all in good fun because we attempted to do the same thing after stealing second or grabbing a double. And who’s to say that we never sneaked a peak or two at the other team’s third base coach to try and figure out their signs. Ah, the good ole days.
Kids these days are taking things a little too far. Corporate espionage, hacking? Seems like that’s more apt for an episode of Halt and Catch Fire rather than a Wednesday afternoon game on MLB Network. Now, let’s see the 30 For 30 on this incident.
Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the second half of Week 11 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.
Friday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Tyler Lyons (STL at PHI) – Ownership: 1% Yahoo!, 2% Fleaflicker
Anyone else looking forward to seeing the Philadelphia Faithful giving a nice welcome to the Cardinals this weekend? The 27-year-old has 18 innings and four starts under his belt this season, but he will have to grow up rather fast to shake off the boos. Luckily, Lyons will toe the mound against the league’s worst offense. Lyons doesn’t have great numbers (5.00 ERA and 41.2% GB rate) but his .340 BABIP should deflate and his 11.50 K/9 means he does have some stuff.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Anthony DeSclafani (CIN v. MIA) – Ownership: 25% Yahoo!, 24% Fleaflicker
Normally any starting pitcher that is playing chess against Marlins GM and Manager Dan Jennings would get a giant boost. The reality is, though, that Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton are all slowly but surely starting to click and Dee Gordon continues to get on base at a solid rate. DeSclafani’s 4.6% HR/FB rate could take a giant hit at the Great American Ballpark on Friday.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Marco Estrada (TOR v. BAL) – Ownership: 6% Yahoo!, 10% Fleaflicker
At no point should a pitcher that pitches in Coors Field or Rogers Centre ever be considered. That being said, Estrada’s true value lies completely out of his control. Toronto is red-hot because they are simply outscoring their opponents at a phenomenal rate. Estrada will give up some runs - at least two earned runs in his last eight starts - but he’ll also get some great run support. If you are desperate for an add in the win column, go with Estrada.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Saturday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Yovani Gallardo (TEX at CHW) – Ownership: 44% Yahoo!, 29% Fleaflicker
Gallardo is allowing the fewest amount of home runs in his career since 2010 while maintaining his control low in the zone to induce his highest ground ball rate (54.5%) ever. This has led to a 3.59 FIP, his lowest in five seasons. He’ll face off against a White Sox squad that is the bottom five of most offensive categories against right-handed pitchers.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Erasmo Ramirez (TB at CLE) – Ownership: 13% Yahoo!, 9% Fleaflicker
Ramirez’s home and away splits will make your head spin. At the Trop, Ramirez owns a 2.76 ERA but a 4.36 FIP and 17.4% K rate. When on the road, his ERA balloons to a 6.58 ERA but a respectable 3.18 FIP and 21.7% K rate. Um, what? Most of this can be attributed to balls in play. His home BABIP is .233 while the away .342 BABIP is hard to stomach. Eventually both of these numbers will regress to the mean, but you have to wonder if it will start against the Indians. Cleveland has a ninth-best 105 wRC+ against righties.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Taijuan Walker (SEA v. HOU) – Ownership: 46% Yahoo!, 20% Fleaflicker
Taijuan Walker is very slowly coming back to Taijuan Walker standards. In his last four starts, he has gone 3-1 in 29 IP with three walks, five earned runs and 25 K. Houston’s offense is scary, but they also strike out 25.5% of the time at the plate against right-handed pitchers. Walker could have some scary big K numbers when it’s all said and done.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Sunday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Charlie Morton (PIT at WAS) – Ownership: 34% Yahoo!, 19% Fleaflicker
The injury to Bryce Harper needs to be strongly monitored. If he cannot go on Sunday against the Pirates, then Morton almost becomes a must start in every league. However, if Harper is a go and looks healthy, then the Pittsburgh veteran can be in for his first loss of the season. He still makes for a good streaming option because of his un-sexy 67% GB rate, but Harper has been that good this season.
Matchup Rating: Solid/Risky Stream (Depending on Harper)
J.A. Happ (SEA v. HOU) – Ownership: 14% Yahoo!, 15% Fleaflicker
Happ is basically being thrown to the wolves. In fact, I expect him to get shelled by the Astros on Sunday. The only reason he makes this list is because of our good friend TBD is making so many starts on Sunday. Come on MLB, stop pulling this TBD stuff.
Matchup Rating: Completely and Utterly Desperate Stream
Tim Lincecum (SF at LAD) – Ownership: 47% Yahoo!, 33% Fleaflicker
The Freak toes the rubber in the Sunday night rivalry game. This has all the makings of Lincecum tossing one of his freaky patented no-hitters, simply because he has looked somewhat sloppy as of late and no one is expecting it. Then again, The Freak on the road has a 5.56 FIP, 13.6% BB rate and .357 wOBA. And that’s with a .286 BABIP. Imagine when and if that gets to .300. It also doesn’t help that the Dodgers are first in the league against right-handed pitchers in nearly every offensive category. Probably best to stay away.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
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