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They’re baaaaack. After long hiatuses, several pitchers will be making their first starts of the year over the next couple days. Chief among them being Jose Fernandez, who will slap the cleats on Thursday and face the defending world champions. But there are oh so more big names. Fernandez will square off against Matt Cain, who will also be making his first start of the season. Matt Moore will toe the rubber at home against the Indians in his opening start of 2015. And on Friday, Jake Peavy will take the mound in Washington, D.C. in a nationally televised game. Some of these guys are very, very available in a ton of leagues, so make sure to check your waiver wires for them.
As for the picks, my guys went 10-10 from Wednesday to Wednesday. In 146.2 IP, they allowed 145 hits, 71 earned runs, 46 walks and recorded 110 K. Those starts, though expected, by Wandy Rodriguez and Aaron Harang really hurt. Here’s how it looks on the year:
ERA: 4.21 | WHIP: 1.35 | K/9: 6.82 | QS: 94 | RECORD: 72-75
Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the second half of Week 13 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.
Thursday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Kyle Ryan (DET v. PIT) – Ownership: 1% Yahoo!, 2% Fleaflicker
Only in the deepest of leagues should Ryan be considered and even then he is risky play. He doesn’t strike players out and allows a lot of medium to hard contact. Perhaps the Pirates, who have a wRC+ of 90, will have one of their seemingly patented let down day games. Probably not, though.
Matchup Rating: Desperate Stream
Matt Moore (TB v. CLE) – Ownership: 33% Yahoo!, 20% Fleaflicker
There’s no denying Moore has talent. He’s a career 3.92 FIP pitcher that strikes out 22.8% of all batters. He has had control problems in that past and he is coming off a serious injury, so it may be best to pick him up and hold on to him to see how he fares against a talented Indians offense.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Roenis Elias (SEA at OAK) – Ownership: 8% Yahoo!, 7% Fleaflicker
It’s shocking to see Elias’ ownership numbers so low. He’s not a terrible pitcher and he takes advantage of a great pitcher’s park. His next start won’t be in Seattle but will be in another pitcher’s park. Most of Oakland’s big bats come from the left side of the dish and they have typically struggled against southpaws this season. Just don’t expect Elias to help in the win category.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Friday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Justin Masterson (BOS v. HOU) – Ownership: 3% Yahoo!, 8% Fleaflicker
Masterson looked solid in his return last start against the Rays. He went five innings and struck out six while allowing zero earned runs and zero walks. His owners will take that kind of production any day. Now, the problem is can he do it against a loftier Astros lineup? Considering the swing rate of Houston’s young bats, Masterson can expect similar strikeout numbers, but will most likely give up a home run or two.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Tommy Milone (MIN at KC) – Ownership: 11% Yahoo!, 11% Fleaflicker
In his last five starts, Milone has given up seven earned runs, seven walks, and struck out 22 in 31 IP en route to a 2-0 record. His peripherals suggest that a blowup will happen soon, but Kansas City has been rather ordinary against left-handed pitching over the last month and a half.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
J.A. Happ (SEA at OAK) – Ownership: 11% Yahoo!, 11% Fleaflicker
Happ has basically proved that an old dog can learn new tricks as he has really improved his command and limited issuing walks. Of course, it also helps when you start half your games in an extreme pitcher’s park. Happ’s 8.4% HR/FB rate will take a dip after he induces a ton of fly balls in canvernous O.co Coliseum.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Chase Anderson (ARI v. COL) – Ownership: 16% Yahoo!, 14% Fleaflicker
He rarely strikes batters out, pitches in a hitter’s park, owns an xFIP of 4.21, and is giving up over 85% of all batted balls as medium to hard contact. Still, Anderson has quietly been figuring out how to pitch in the majors. He’ll get the Rockies next, who struggle when away from Coors Field.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Saturday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Cody Anderson (CLE at PIT) – Ownership: 11% Yahoo!, 11% Fleaflicker
Anderson has been very efficient in his two starts, but he is giving up a lot of contact to opposing hitters as evidenced by his 3.45 K/9. Pittsburgh does strike out a lot, but they typically hit righties better than lefties and they can really take advantage of non-power pitchers.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Kendall Graveman (OAK v. SEA) – Ownership: 15% Yahoo!, 13% Fleaflicker
Looks like Graveman figured it out in Triple-A. Since being called back up to the A’s in late May, he has yet to give up more than three earned runs in any start and he’s gone at least seven innings in his last five starts. The A’s will face Felix Hernandez which is always a daunting task, so Graveman’s win probability is low. However, he still is amongst the best streaming options of the holiday weekend.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Joe Blanton (KC v. MIN) – Ownership: 5% Yahoo!, 4% Fleaflicker
Sure, the Twins have been in a quasi-freefall since they took over first place in the division, but Joe Blanton may not be the guy to continue that downward spiral. Though he has put up some solid numbers, chief being his 16.1% K-BB rate, Blanton is getting a wee bit of luck with the defense behind him.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Sunday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Taylor Jungmann (MIL at CIN) – Ownership: 4% Yahoo!, 6% Fleaflicker
The young Milwaukee starter has been making a living forcing ground balls this season and getting timely strikeouts. His 58.8% GB rate ranks among the top in the National League. He’ll have his hands full with the Reds bats as Cincinnati has scored an awful lot of runs over the last two weeks.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Michael Montgomery (SEA at OAK) – Ownership: 35% Yahoo!, 14% Fleaflicker
All this picking on Oakland seems weird. The Athletics are a solid team but that have had struggles with left-handed pitchers. Meanwhile Montgomery is starting to show flashes of why he was so highly touted at one point. This may be the last time he’s eligible to be streamed as his ownership numbers have ballooned exponentially.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Mike Bolsinger (LAD v. NYM) – Ownership: 37% Yahoo!, 18% Fleaflicker
Bolsinger won’t go deep into games as he’s only reached the eighth inning once in his eleven starts. However, the Mets have been so, so, SO bad lately. They’ve put up more zeroes than the Japanese air force during World War Two. Bolsinger should breeze through their struggling lineup.
Matchup Rating: Must Stream
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