An unseen factor that relates to September call-ups, at least in terms of the fantasy world, is the opportunity for young studs to flaunt their stuff in the majors. Most professional hitters will see a young pitcher for the first time in September and a lot of times the pitcher will have great success.

Of course, there is the chance that the young gun gets blown up. Streaming pitchers that are making their first career starts is a giant risk, but if you are looking to win a fantasy championship and are not in first place, then it is a risk worth taking.

Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the second half of Week 22 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 9/3 Starting Pitcher Streamers

Kyle Gibson (MIN v. CWS) – Ownership: 20% Yahoo!, 15% Fleaflicker

Gibson owns some of the worst peripherals for a starter, yet somehow continues to stymie opponents. Perhaps he is a rare exception. Perhaps he is a pitcher that does not bow down to the baseball Gods and is able to live off of his 53.2% GB rate. Most likely not.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

 

Taylor Jungmann (MIL v. PIT) – Ownership: 52% Yahoo!, 25% Fleaflicker

The rookie righty has been a bright spot on an otherwise dismal and dark Brewers season. He has been very good in just under 91 innings pitched this season and he will face a Pirates team that typically strikes out a lot. However Pittsburgh has not won a game in their three game set and you have to figure they will steal one on Thursday given the law of averages.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

 

Friday 9/4 Starting Pitcher Streamers

Drew Hutchison (TOR v. BAL) – Ownership: 45% Yahoo!, 23% Fleaflicker

Who knows what to make of Hutchison? He is 13-2 on the season with a 4.87 ERA but a 3.84 FIP. And he is better at home in the Rogers Centre, where hitters thrive, than on the road. For whatever reason, he walks less batters in front of the friendly crowd and that seems to be the main variable for his home success. He will make his next start at home against a slumping yet dangerous Orioles lineup.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

 

Joe Kelly (BOS v. PHI) – Ownership: 19% Yahoo!, 14% Fleaflicker

Though the Phillies have been better since the ASB, they still own a wRC+ of 85 against RHP, second worst in the league. Kelly has some terrible numbers this season but he has come on rather strong as of late. Over his last five outings, he has yielded only six earned runs in 29 IP with 22 strikeouts. Look for more of the same this weekend.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

 

Kris Medlen (KC v. CWS) – Ownership: 28% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker

In Medlen’s two starts in a Royals uniform, he has struck out 11 batters in 11.1 IP but he has given up the long ball at least once in those starts. Medlen’s streamers/owners can grab some nice help in the K department but be prepared to take a minor hit in the ERA category.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

 

Edgar Olmos (SEA at OAK) – Ownership: 1% Yahoo!, 1% Fleaflicker

With a wRC+ of 94, the Athletics have been rather pedestrian against left-handed pitchers, but they have induced a fair amount of contact. Olmos better pitch to his minor league peripherals, where he owned a 23.3% K rate in Triple-A this season, as opposed to his 7.3% K rate and 12.7% BB rate in the majors.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

 

Saturday 9/5 Starting Pitcher Streamers

Josh Tomlin (CLE at DET) – Ownership: 13% Yahoo!, 10% Fleaflicker

In a small sample size of 26 innings, Tomin has struck out 26.5% of opposing hitters, walked only 2.0% of all opposing batters, and stymied opponents to a .188 AVG. His strand rate is 100% and his BABIP is a stingy .175, which are both reason for concern. But he will live another day because Detroit is reeling right now.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

 

Joe Ross (WAS v. ATL) – Ownership: 32% Yahoo!, 18% Fleaflicker

Somehow, Ross is still available in a ton of leagues. When Rotoballer experts speak of fantasy darlings off the waiver wire, this is a guy that is a prime example. When he goes out and dominates a terrible Braves lineup on Saturday, think about keeping him on your roster for the rest of the season.

Matchup Rating: Must Stream

 

Danny Duffy (KC v. CWS) – Ownership: 22% Yahoo!, 12% Fleaflicker

The Duff-Man will certainly be thrusting in the direction of a win on Saturday. Kansas City will probably score a billion runs for him and he will probably stymie the White Sox. With the season nearly complete, Chicago’s wRC+ against lefties has not improved tremendously as they remain at the bottom of the league with a 73.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

 

Derek Holland (TEX at ANA) – Ownership: 35% Yahoo!, 16% Fleaflicker

Holland has been serviceable in 22.1 IP in the late season and, quite frankly, has been a welcome addition to the Texas rotation. However he has been plagued by the homerun ball and will most likely continue to give up some more. Don’t bet on it being the Angels. They have been atrocious over the last month and are struggling to find anyone to get on base.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

 

Sunday 9/6 Starting Pitcher Streamers

Jimmy Nelson (MIL at CIN) – Ownership: 42% Yahoo!, 25% Fleaflicker

This list just would not be complete without adding my man Jimmy Nelson to the mix. He has great K upside in the matchup on Sunday but he may get hit for the long ball in the shallow dimensions of Great American Ballpark.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

 

Jerad Eickhoff (PHI at BOS) – Ownership: 5% Yahoo!, 5% Fleaflicker

Our friend TBD makes a ton of starts on Sunday. Other than Nelson, Eickhoff is the only one that is listed as a starter who is not heavily owned in leagues. Continue to scout the waiver wire as Sunday gets nearer.

Matchup Rating: Desperate Stream

 

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