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On Sunday, four more were inducted into baseball immortality. Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio officially changed residences to Cooperstown and smiled as moldings of their likeness were mounted inside hallowed grounds. As far as this author is concerned, every one of these players deserves the awards.
Biggio was an on-base machine and one of the greatest offensive second basemen of all time. Though never a fan of the Braves, Smoltz was the only player I really liked because he was just so darn down-to-earth. He was also a dominant force as a starter and as a closer. Martinez may have had the best stuff ever when he was on and it seemed like he was at his best when the national spotlight was on him. And Randy Johnson once made a bird explode. Now that’s epic.
Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the first half of Week 17 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
Nate Karns (TB v. DET) – Ownership: 23% Yahoo!, 23% Fleaflicker
Projecting the Detroit Tigers on a daily basis right now is about as easy as conflicting as figuring out whether Pluto is a planet or a dwarf planet. There’s the chance they lay an egg like they did on national television on Sunday night. Or, they could drop about four home runs in the first inning en route to a Karns drubbing. There’s the expertise.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Kyle Hendricks (CHC v. COL) – Ownership: 28% Yahoo!, 20% Fleaflicker
The best thing going for Hendricks and the Cubs is that they just got swept at home by the Phillies, so you have to imagine that their win probability shoots through the roof on Monday. Up until his last start against the Reds, Hendricks looked really good over his previous four starts. He had only given up one earned run in 26 IP before getting touched up by Cincinnati. Look for more of that against the Rockies.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Robbie Ray (ARI at SEA) – Ownership: 13% Yahoo!, 8% Fleaflicker
Ray will get the strikeout numbers, but his counterpart Mike Montgomery may be a better overall choice. The Diamondbacks’ lefty typically only goes about six innings, limiting his value in terms of fantasy starts. In fact, I just did the calculations in my head, and Ray goes six innings, giving up two earned runs, five hits, two walks and striking out eight.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Tuesday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Ubaldo Jimenez (BAL v. ATL) – Ownership: 50% Yahoo!, 30% Fleaflicker
Jimenez has displayed better control this season than last season- 2.96 BB/9 in 2015 compared to 5.53 in 2014- but with that has come up a plethora of long balls. He has allowed seven earned runs in each of his last two starts because of the homerun ball. Atlanta has some guys with some pop that could take him out.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Wade Miley (BOS v. CHW) – Ownership: 7% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker
If you don’t mind recording walks on your fantasy team, by all means throw out Miley. The dude has only given up one earned run in his last 13 innings pitched but has also walked seven during that span. The good news is that he gets the White Sox on Tuesday- a team that owns a league worst 58 wRC+ and .269 OBP.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Brett Anderson (LAD v. OAK) – Ownership: 20% Yahoo!, 17% Fleaflicker
The crafty veteran is due back from injury on Tuesday against an Oakland squad that has had its troubles on the road against lefties. Anderson is a bit better at home than on the road, as his WHIP drops to a 1.26 at Dodger Stadium. Oakland should get runners on and even plate a few, but the Dodger offense will back him up to increase his win probability. Great stream for the W category.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Wednesday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Patrick Corbin (ARI at SEA) – Ownership: 15% Yahoo!, 15% Fleaflicker
Corbin finally earned his first win of the season in his last outing. The Diamondbacks are hoping that his 10 strikeout, seven inning performance will continue against the offensively-challenged Mariners on Wednesday. Seattle owns a somewhat healthy 20.5% K rate against lefties, boding well for the K department for his owners.
Matchup Rating: Must Stream
Jake Peavy (SF v. MIL) – Ownership: 7% Yahoo!, 11% Fleaflicker
Think properly projecting Tigers games is tough? Try when Peavy starts. He has looked ok at times and downright awful for the most part. The good news is that he gets a Brewers team that appears to have peaked two weeks ago, so he should get them while they’re down. And he will almost assuredly get run support from his defending World Series champion teammates.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Chris Tillman (BAL v. ATL) – Ownership: 40% Yahoo!, 17% Fleaflicker
Tillman has been very, very good after his last five starts. Since June 28, he has allowed only five earned runs and 25 hits while striking out 28 in 32.2 IP. The bad news is that his Orioles have been pretty ugly at the dish and he has recorded only one win during that span. In terms of fantasy value, Tillman has jumped into the second-tier level of starters with his current streak and there’s no reason he cannot continue his recent dominance against a below average Braves squad.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
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