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Sunday’s billing featured a plethora of top pitchers on the mound. Dallas Keuchel, Madison Bumgarner and Jake Arrieta, just to name a few, earned wins through various performances. Max Scherzer and Chris Archer, though effective, earned losses as they didn’t get enough run support to help their cause. Of all the starters that made the most news, however, it was clearly Zack Greinke. He went eight strong against the first place Nats but more importantly, his scoreless streak has now reached 43.2 innings. While Greinke was on the mound, the Nats didn’t even get a runner to second base.
Normally going 43.2 straight innings without giving up a run would be some kind of club record. Unfortunately for Greinke, Orel Hershisher went 59 innings without giving up a run, which is also an MLB record. When Hershisher did that feat in 1988, he bested the previous record which was, coincidentally, completed by a Dodger as well. Don Drysdale went 58 innings in 1968 without giving up a run. It’s about time MLB starts checking the water out in Dodger Stadium.
Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the first 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.
Monday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Michael Lorenzen (CIN v. CHC) – Ownership: 2% Yahoo!, 4% Fleaflicker
The Chicago Bear Cubs have been borderline poor against righties this season. The strike out in nearly a quarter of at-bats (24.6% K rate) and own the fourth lowest wRC+ (86) in the league. That being said, Lorenzen hasn’t exactly been a strike out machine. With just a 5.93 K/9 rate and a 17.6% HR/FB rate, Lorenzen has the tools to get smoked on Monday.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Brandon Beachy (LAD at ATL) – Ownership: 6% Yahoo!, 4% Fleaflicker
Welcome back, kid. Beachy will square off against his former team but he is coming off major surgery with just a four inning, three earned run performance. He’ll need to pick it up for his fantasy owners in his next start. Luckily, the Braves have struggled mightily over the last 30 days with a .285 wOBA and a wRC+ of 78. And he should get plenty of run support to improve his win chances.
Matchup Rating: Desperate Stream
Tim Hudson (SF at SD) – Ownership: 5% Yahoo!, 9% Fleaflicker
Hudson returns tonight off the disabled list and his Giants are coming off a three-game sweep to start their second half run. And tonight they get a Padres team that is absolutely reeling. Good thing they added all those pieces in the off-season. Compared to the 2014 Padres, the 2015 squad is just as bad with all the new pieces.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Tuesday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Nate Karns (TB at PHI) – Ownership: 22% Yahoo!, 20% Fleaflicker
Karns does a solid job of pitching to contact and forcing outs and the Phillies don’t strike out too often. This has the makings of a very, very boring game to watch. Although Karns got rocked in his last start, he was working effectively in his previous five. Let’s chalk up his last outing- seven earned runs six innings- to the timing of facing a solid Royals squad.
Matchup Rating: Must Stream
Carlos Rodon (CHW v. STL) – Ownership: 28% Yahoo!, 13% Fleaflicker
It’s all about the strikeouts. In 66.1 IP, he has 68 strikeouts but unfortunately has also allowed 41 free passes. Rodon should give his owners help in the K category again, but he does always have the blowup potential. With all the injuries the Red Birds have sustained, it’s a safe bet to assume he won’t get hit too hard.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Kendall Graveman (OAK v. TOR) – Ownership: 20% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker
My favorite Oakland pitcher is really coming into his own. He’s done a nice job of adding solid value since being called back up at the end of May and has looked even better when starting at O.co Coliseum. Toronto is always a dangerous team, but they are at their worst when facing right-handers on the road.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Wednesday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Kyle Hendricks (CHC at CIN) – Ownership: 26% Yahoo!, 20% Fleaflicker
Jason Hammell and Jake Arrieta may get all the fanfare, but Hendricks may be the Cubs’ most important starter. He has pitched quite well while limiting his walks to just 1.55 per nine innings. His 3.23 FIP and 3.36 xFIP both prove that he may even have more room to grow. He comes in as one of the top options on the week.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Adam Morgan (PHI v. TB) – Ownership: 1% Yahoo!, 2% Fleaflicker
Besides Aaron Harang, I cannot think of one Phillies starter that has made this list. That’s probably go good reason too, as I’m sure Morgan will show on Wednesday.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Robbie Ray (ARI v. MIA) – Ownership: 12% Yahoo!, 8% Fleaflicker
The ownership numbers of Ray are really quite perplexing. His FIP of 2.57 is only slighter higher than his 2.29 ERA. His strikeout numbers have gone down just a touch over his last few starts but he still owns a respectable 20.8% K rate. And with the Marlins coming in to town (see: Dan Jennings factor), he makes for a great streaming option on Wednesday.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
C.J. Wilson (LAA v. MIN) – Ownership: 48% Yahoo!, 43% Fleaflicker
Wilson has started to look like the old Wilson which coincidentally is a younger Wilson. But with a Twins team that seemingly doesn’t want to go down without a fight, this stream is quite risky. Wilson could go out and give seven good innings or he could get rocked in the first.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
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