Things are starting to get real ugly in Queens. As the Mets surge toward their first playoff berth in over five years, controversy runs amuck in the front office and the clubhouse. And not the kind of controversy you would see on Scandal. Last week, agent Scott Boras all but dictated terms to the Mets front office and explained that his client, Matt Harvey, is not to exceed 180 innings on the season. The next day, Harvey seemingly agreed with his agent’s mindset as he did agree that the doctors claimed he should hit an innings limit.

Sandy Alderson and the Mets front office are clear in that they want to win this year and expect Harvey to be a part of that. Video even surfaced of Mets captain David Wright “ignoring” Harvey during a game over the weekend. On Sunday, Harvey announced that he does indeed plan to pitch further into the season and into the playoffs. It does appear that cooler heads are prevailing. If the Nationals go on a hot streak and the Mets fall into a slump, these cooler heads just may start to heat up.

Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the first half of Week 23 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 9/7 Starting Pitcher Streamers

Drew Smyly (TB at DET) – Ownership: 48% Yahoo!, 34% Fleaflicker

Love the K rate. Love the weak opposing offense. Love when a pitcher and his nice K rate meets a reeling and weak opposing offense. You better keep Smyly after this stream.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

Patrick Corbin (ARI v. SF) – Ownership: 24% Yahoo!, 18% Fleaflicker

Corbin’s 50.3% GB rate plays extremely well against a Giants team that has been struggling to score runs over the last few weeks. His strikeout numbers aren’t terribly attractive, but he is not walking a lot of hitters and rarely gives up homeruns. He’s like a younger, better version of Mike Leake.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

Tommy Milone (MIN at KC) – Ownership: 7% Yahoo!, 9% Fleaflicker

It is never a good idea to stream a pitcher against the Royals. Never. But, you have to figure that Milone will not be heavily owned in your league. Considering that the Royals struggle a bit more against LHP (97 wRC+), he is worth an aggressive flyer if you need a long shot win.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

Tuesday 9/8 Starting Pitcher Streamers

Raisel Iglesias (CIN v. PIT) – Ownership: 48% Yahoo!, 19% Fleaflicker

Somehow Iglesias has snuck in 87.1 innings this season. And in that sample size, he owns a 27.1% K rate and a 1.10 WHIP. His walk number are rather high but everything else looks pretty solid from the young gun. Pittsburgh is a tough matchup. The Pirates will strike out a ton but probably score some runs.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

Aaron Nola (PHI v. ATL) – Ownership: 26% Yahoo!, 15% Fleaflicker

Normally I don’t like streaming a Philadelphia pitcher. But Nola will be toeing off against a Braves team that has looked atrocious since the All Star Break. Atlanta owns a league worst 75 wRC+ in the second half of the season.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

Colin Rea (SD v. COL) – Ownership: 1% Yahoo!, 2% Fleaflicker

The park dimensions clearly play in Rea’s hands. He is a much more efficient pitcher in San Diego than the road and should put up some solid numbers against a Rockies team that struggles at times on the road. Rea isn’t a guy to lean upon. If you need innings, continue to scout the waiver wire.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

Wednesday 9/9 Starting Pitcher Streamers

Chris Heston (SF at ARI) – Ownership: 36% Yahoo!, 34% Fleaflicker

After flirting with .500, the Diamondbacks have hit a wall - as well as some solid pitching - and are now all but eliminated from the playoff hunt. The DBacks do have one Paul Goldschmidt, but the team as a whole strikes out a ton against right-handed pitchers. Heston is a guy that pitches to contact, but he should produce a few strikeouts for his fantasy owners.

Matchup Rating: Must Stream

Martin Perez (TEX at SEA) – Ownership: 2% Yahoo!, 5% Fleaflicker

Perez’s low K rate and mediocre BB rate are scary, but his BABIP of .331 and 59.2% LOB rate means that there is room for improvement. He will be pitching in a pitcher’s park which should help him. His low HR rate and high contact rate might mean that the Mariners hitters will hit the gaps in the field all day.

Matchup Rating: Desperate Stream

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