Starting Pitcher Streamers for Week 9 (Part 1)

May 26, 2014

RotoBaller Sam Nedimyer analyzes some MLB starting pitcher (SP) streamer options for thursday to sunday of week 9. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are sleepers for head to head leagues.

Below are some of my Week 9 picks for starting pitchers to consider streaming off the waiver wire. Some of the pitchers may be two-start pitchers, and all 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.  Don't forget that many games start early on Monday so make sure you get to the waiver wire in the morning before those BBQ's fire up! 

Monday SP Streamers

Tanner Roark (WAS v. MIA)

The love affair with Roark when he's pitching at home continues this week.  At Nationals Park, Roark is 2-1 with a 1.01 ERA and 1.05 WHIP and he's only owned in 30% of Yahoo! and 11% of ESPN leagues so he should be an easy pickup.  The Marlins will celebrate Memorial Day in DC where they've struggled mightily over the last few seasons.  Miami has also struggled hitting on the road as the team is in the bottom third in R, BA, OBP and OPS.  They're also second in K.  Roark is the best streaming candidate in the early part of the week.

MATCHUP RATING: Must Stream

Jose Quintana (CHW vs. CLE)

Ownership: 35% Yahoo!, 9% ESPN.  What's up with these ESPN leagues?  Are the owners paying attention?  Quintana has been putting up decent strikeout numbers while maintaining a par-for-the-course 3.67 ERA.  The Indians are hitting poorly against left handers this season and all players who are eligible for Monday's game own a .219 AVG against Quintana.

MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream

Tyler Skaggs (LAA at SEA)

Ownership: 20% Yahoo!, 15% ESPN.  Believe it or not, the numbers for Skaggs actually suggest he's pitching better than his 4.14 ERA.  He's inducing over half his batted balls into grounders and runners are plating home a lot more than the league average. Expect both those numbers to improve his overall pitching stats for fantasy owners.  That being said, the Mariners have been hit or miss- mostly miss- all season against lefthanders.

MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream

Tuesday SP Streamers

Jonathon Niese (NYM vs. PIT)

Ownership: 33% Yahoo!, 28% ESPN.  Niese is having his best year yet but may have a tough game against the Pirates this week.  For one, the Mets are playing at home which means the visiting  team will automatically play better per the 2014 Baseball Gods.  The Pirates are also a good hitting team against left handers even with a 10th highest 21.9% K rate.  Niese should add some valuable K numbers for fantasy owners with a possibility of an average ERA and WHIP.

MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream

Phil Hughes (MIN VS. TEX)

With ownership numbers at 35% in Yahoo! and 28% in ESPN leagues, Phil Hughes is quite possibly the best waiver wire pickup as a regular starter for your fantasy baseball team for the rest of the season.  Although he's a bit better on the road, Hughes has still been near lights out at home with a 22.9% K rate and .246 BAA.  Amazingly, he's only got a 3.68 ERA at home but that is due in large part to his sub-par 62.1% LOB rate.  Don't expect runners to score on him as they have been at home so far this year.

MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream

Wednesday SP Streamers

Gavin Floyd (ATL at BOS)

Ownership: 7% Yahoo!, 9% ESPN.  Floyd's control has been great in his four starts and he'll need it at Fenway Park as the Red Sox have the 9th most walks against right handers on the season.  Roughly half of Floyd's batted balls have gone for grounders this season which has helped him reach a low 2.49 ERA.  Although Boston hasn't hit many ground balls, expect Floyd to induce some easy outs on Wednesday.

MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream

Jordan Lyles (COL at PHI)

Ownership: 30! Yahoo, 10% ESPN.  If you like to start pitchers that'll get some offensive help to bolster your W chances, look no further than Lyles.  The Rockies offense will tee up in hitter friendly Citizens Bank Park while Lyles will look to force some grounders and expand on his 55.1% GB rate.  The Phillies are only hitting .216 on all batted balls as this seemingly favors Lyles and the Rockies in a landslide.  However, beware Lyles's high walk rate (3.15 BB/9 innings).  MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream