Just last week it was evidently clear that the Houston Astros were going to run away with the AL West. Sure the Rangers were an upstart team that seemed to be flying high on pixie dust, but they were no match for Houston’s lineup top to bottom nor their bullpen. My things have changed over a week.

Texas just completed a four game sweep of the big, Astros and catapulted to a 2.5 game lead in the wild, wild west. And they did it in convincing fashion. They outscored the Astros 35-13 in those four games including a 14-3 drubbing on Wednesday night in which they dropped a nine-spot on AL Cy Young candidate Dallas Keuchel. It’s fun to see teams compete at the end of the year after no one had given them a chance at the beginning of the year.

Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the second half of Week 24 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 9/18 Starting Pitcher Streamers

Marcus Stroman (TOR v. BOS) – Ownership: 29% Yahoo!, 10% Fleaflicker

The Marcus Stroman upside variable is so hard to ignore. He has excellent strikeout potential against the Red Sox. Downside is that he will probably go only five innings and might very well labor at that. If you need strikeout help at whatever the cost, go ahead and pick him up.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

 

Tyler Wilson (BAL at TB) – Ownership: 1% Yahoo!, 0% Fleaflicker

In 24.2 innings this season, including two starts, Wilson owns a 2.19 ERA but has only struck out seven batters. Hitters are making contact off of him. The Rays will surely continue that trend tonight. Baltimore’s defense is solid enough to help Wilson out. But his contact rate is scary.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

 

Rubby de la Rosa (ARI at SF) – Ownership: 16% Yahoo!, 17% Fleaflicker

The “safest” stream pick of Friday is de la Rosa. There are a few Giants that have owned him- Brandon Crawford is has crushed him in particular- but de la Rosa has been in a quasi-groove in the second half. I like him for six innings and six strikeouts on Friday night.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

 

Saturday 9/19 Starting Pitcher Streamers

Patrick Corbin (ARI at SF) – Ownership: 32% Yahoo!, 20% Fleaflicker

The Diamondbacks may have something in Corbin. The lefty owns a solid 22.9% K rate on the season with a 1.23 WHIP and an FIP of 3.62. Numbers like that typically play well in PacBell Park, especially for left-handed pitchers. If it wasn’t for a Milwaukee pitcher listed below, Corbin would be the top stream of the weekend.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

 

Erasmo Ramirez (TB v. BAL) – Ownership: 27% Yahoo!, 16% Fleaflicker

Ramirez’s numbers look solid at first glance- 1.12 WHIP, 3.75 ERA, and 7.06 K/9 rate in 144 innings. He has looked rather rough at times at home this season. He is stranding 83.6% runners at home this season while giving up a .220 BABIP in 70.2 innings. The law of averages suggest he is due for regression.

Rating: Risky Stream

 

Taylor Jungmann (MIL v. CIN) – Ownership: 47% Yahoo!, 22% Fleaflicker

Contrary to popular belief, Jungmann does not pay me to hype him up every week. Dude has pitched effectively this year. He owns a 21.9% K rate, 1.19 WHIP and 3.37 FIP in 106.1 innings. He is the best streamer of the weekend.

Matchup Rating: Must Stream

 

Kyle Gibson (MIN v. LAA) – Ownership: 21% Yahoo!, 16% Fleaflicker

Lost among all the Minnesota Twins hoopla this season is the brilliance of Gibson’s 2015 campaign. He continues to stymie opposing hitters to the tune of a 53.4% GB rate and he has risen his strikeout rate to 16.8% of all batters. Look for more of the same against an Angels team that looks to be in full blown panic mode.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

 

Sunday 9/20 Starting Pitcher Streamers

Kris Medlen (KC at DET) – Ownership: 16% Yahoo!, 11% Fleaflicker

I’d take just about any pitcher right now against the mess that has unfolded in Detroit. Brad Ausmus looks like a manager that doesn’t care. Miguel Cabrera sporadically takes days off due to injury. And players are fighting each other due to a lack of effort. Hockey season cannot get here soon enough for Mo Town.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

 

Aaron Nola (PHI at ATL) – Ownership: 27% Yahoo!, 15% Fleaflicker

Starting Nola is the kind of move that separates owners from first place and second place. This is a pitcher that has looked atrocious for a healthy portion of the season. However, he will get a terrible Braves offense on Sunday in what figures to be a low scoring game. Nola will not get a ton of help in strikeouts, but he should deliver a QS for his owners. Or he’ll get totally bombed.

Matchup Rating: Desperate Stream

 

Anthony DeSclafani (CIN at MIL) – Ownership: 28% Yahoo!, 24% Fleaflicker

The 25-year-old starter has quietly delivered 169 innings on the season and has consistently maintained his ERA (3.67) and FIP (3.69) in close numbers. His strikeout numbers have slightly improved and he looks to figure to be a contender to be the 2015 Opening Day starter.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

 

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