RADIO
Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the first half of Week 20 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.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options for starting pitchers, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.
Monday 8/17 Starting Pitcher Streamers
C.C. Sabathia (NYY v. MIN) – Ownership: 10% Yahoo!, 19% Fleaflicker
There are some grumbling that C.C. may have his start changed to Tuesday instead of Monday so be sure to check on his status. He has been absolutely crushed at home this season, but he will get a Twins team that struggles mightily away from Target Field. C.C. has gone at least six innings in his last two starts while the Twins own a wRC+ of 73 on the road, worst in the bigs.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Justin Nicolino (MIA at MIL) – Ownership: 0% Yahoo!, 1% Fleaflicker
As a general rule on this list, it is always a good idea to go against the Dan Jennings-led Miami Marlins. In only 16.2 innings this season, Nicolino is only slightly better than his 4.86 ERA. He is a pitcher that pitches to contact and does an okay job at best in that department. Most other pitchers are heavily owned throughout the fantasy world, so it may best to not stream on Monday.
Matchup Rating: Desperate Stream
Williams Perez (ATL at SD) – Ownership: 3% Yahoo!, 5% Fleaflicker
New year, same story for the San Diego Padres. With an overall wRC+ of 88, the Fathers have been at the bottom of the offensive pool all season. San Diego’s .291 BABIP is also near the bottom of the league and should play in nicely to Perez who is a contact pitcher. With the exception of a couple blow up starts sprinkled in after his return from the disabled list, Perez has pitched serviceably.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Tuesday 8/18 Starting Pitcher Streamers
Eduardo Rodriguez (BOS v. CLE) – Ownership: 24% Yahoo!, 13% Fleaflicker
No matter how I choose, Rodriguez will perform the exact opposite of how I expect. I wonder if I write here that he, “will only go five innings and give up four runs,” if that means he will most likely pitch a gem. Chances are no, but he still has a solid matchup against a Cleveland squad that struggles at times against lefties.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Mike Leake (SF at STL) – Ownership: 55% Yahoo!, 29% Fleaflicker
For those of you wondering: Yes, my man crush on Leake is alive and well. He should thrive in his new home and take advantage of several variables, most among them being the larger field dimensions. Of course, he will get the Cardinals in his next start and the Redbirds have a stellar record against him. Leake is 5-7 with a 4.16 ERA against the Cards.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Chi Chi Gonzalez (TEX v. SEA) – Ownership: 2% Yahoo!, 4% Fleaflicker
A simple FanGraphs search of “Chi Chi Gonzalez” does not produce results for the young Rangers pitcher. That does not bode well for him in any start let alone one against the Mariners. Alex “Chi Chi” Gonzalez has looked awful since he won his first two starts on the season, but maybe he gets the inconsistent Mariners when they are a team that does not score instead of one that is scoring 10 runs per game like over the weekend.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Scott Feldman (HOU v. TB) – Ownership: 2% Yahoo!, 5% Fleaflicker
It must be “Stream Pitchers That do not Strike Out Hitters” week because I seem to be infatuated with low K rates in this early part of the week. Feldman’s 5.60 K/9 rate is not anywhere near where a fantasy pitcher should be, but he does get a Rays squad that owns a 22.0% K rate against righties on the year.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Wednesday 8/19 Starting Pitcher Streamers
Wily Peralta (MIL v. MIA) – Ownership: 24% Yahoo!, 9% Fleaflicker
Hashtag Dan Jennings watch. I love streaming pitchers against the Marlins.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Robbie Ray (ARI at PIT) – Ownership: 12% Yahoo!, 8% Fleaflicker
If Monday and Tuesday play out the way they should, the Pirates will be due for a loss on Wednesday evening against Ray and the Diamondbacks. Ray has struggled with his control at times this season, but the Pirates are a free swinging team that is at its collective worst against lefties. Left-handed power pitchers typically do well at PNC Park.
Matchup Rating: Must Stream
Daniel Norris (DET at CHC) – Ownership: 14% Yahoo!, 7% Fleaflicker
Like Ray, Norris offers intriguing K rate value against a team that is free swinging. The Cubs own a 24.1% K rate against left-handed pitchers, second in the bigs. Despite being a hot team, they have struggled to manufacture runs as indicated by the team’s 93 wRC+ against southpaws. Of course this all depends on Norris limiting the walks, a difficult task for him it seems. If you need help to advance to the playoffs, you have to take a flier on Norris.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Nate Karns (TB at HOU) – Ownership: 34% Yahoo!, 26% Fleaflicker
With a 23.8% clip, the Astros own the second-highest K rate against right-handed pitchers on the season. Of course, they also possess a few guys that can absolutely mash the long ball and Karns is quite capable of getting mashed. Despite having a solid 3.53 ERA, Karns is beginning to show some signs of fatigue as he has gone only six innings or fewer in each of his last six starts. Hopefully the Rays limit him again to go five or six deep.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
