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At 65-44, the Pittsburgh Pirates would be leading in nearly any division. At 62-48, the Chicago Cubs could make the same boast. However, both of these teams are behind the St. Louis Cardinals, a team that owns an incredible .640 win percentage after 111 games. Both the Cubs and the Pirates this weekend played teams that are in the middle of the NL playoff race from the West division. And both the Cubs and the Pirates came away with weekend sweeps.
Pittsburgh looked like an offensive juggernaut over the weekend as they torched the Dodgers with 24 total runs in three games. The Cubs meanwhile swept the defending world champs in four games and have won nine of their last ten games.
When the one game Wild Card concept was invented three years ago, most baseball pundits were excited to see the new playoff format. If this plays out the way it looks, it will be interesting to see whether anyone will begin to call for an alteration to the playoff format as it appears all three of the senior circuit’s best teams, who all happen to be division rivals, will face off in the first rounds - two in a one game playoff to face the third team in the Divisional Series.
Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the first half of Week 19 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
Jon Niese (NYM v. COL) – Ownership: 23% Yahoo!, 17% Fleaflicker
Well, now that Niese was selected for this list, it will be a lock that he gets crushed on Monday evening. At least the author thinks so. There are some numbers to back up Niese though. Colorado owns a league worst 61 wRC+ and fourth worst .284 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Rubby de la Rosa (ARI at PHI) – Ownership: 16% Yahoo!, 19% Fleaflicker
De la Rosa has some of the best numbers of his career, but is unfortunately being plagued by the long ball at an extremely high rate. The Phillies have been rather effective since the All Star Break and that could not bode well for the 26-year-old pitcher that yields a 19.2% HR/FB rate.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
David Holmberg (CIN at SD) – Ownership: 2% Yahoo!, 3% Fleaflicker
The Padres trade deadline plan of doing nothing is really starting to backfire. The team has a few individually solid pieces, however they are really struggling as a unit. The Padres feature the league’s third-worst wRC+ of 87 while striking out at a 22.5% clip, good enough for third highest. Holmberg is a fringe major league pitcher, but even he should come up with a QS against this team.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Tuesday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Erasmo Ramirez (TB v. ATL) – Ownership: 26% Yahoo!, 11% Fleaflicker
If there was ever a pitcher that has taken advantage of the home field, it is Ramirez. His 2.96 home ERA is much, much better than his 4.18 home FIP. That’s most likely due to a low .221 BABIP and high strand rate (81.6% LOB), but he does have a solid matchup against an offensively inept Atlanta Braves team. Still, I don’t like the advanced numbers.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Luis Severino (NYY at CLE) – Ownership: 49% Yahoo!, 16% Fleaflicker
Severino look good in his debut. So good, that he immediately becomes the best starting pitcher on the Yankees rotation. With Cleveland seemingly raising the white flag, he should get plenty of run support to help any fantasy owner look for help in the win category.
Matchup Rating: Must Stream
Taylor Jungmann (MIL at CHC) – Ownership: 50% Yahoo!, 26% Fleaflicker
Normally streaming Jungmann is a good move. Opposing hitters own a .217 AVG against him while he is yielding a 21.4% K rate and a solid FIP of 2.89. That being said, Jungmann’s walk numbers are starting to climb and a hot team like the Cubs can really take advantage of free passes.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Joe Ross (WSH at LAD) – Ownership: 36% Yahoo!, 15% Fleaflicker
It’s a good thing Nationals manager Matt Williams has decided to keep Ross in the rotation. He has earned his right to start every five days while Doug Fister has not shown that he has healed. Ross’s next start will be against a trending downward Dodgers team that has several fundamental flaws. Despite their miscues, the Dodgers still own a formidable lineup.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Wednesday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Eduardo Rodriguez (BOS at MIA) – Ownership: 29% Yahoo!, 15% Fleaflicker
As of this writing, Marlins GM/Manager Dan Jennings is 28-46 since the power ego move. Hashtag Dan Jennings Watch.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Jorge de la Rosa (COL at NYM) – Ownership: 5% Yahoo!, 9% Fleaflicker
Two de la Rosas in one article?! This de la Rosa makes the list simply due to the fact that every team is throwing out some studs and their ownership numbers in fantasy leagues are high. The Mets are starting to cool down after their hot streak, but they’re still a better team than Colorado.
Matchup Rating: Desperate Stream
Nick Martinez (TEX at MIN) – Ownership: 7% Yahoo!, 11% Fleaflicker
Nothing about Nick Martinez is pretty. He makes this list for the same reason as the guy above. However, he does make for a better stream than Jorge de la Rosa for the simple fact that the Twins are collapsing like a house of cards.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
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