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With less than two weeks remaining, three teams have punched their playoff cards and up to seventeen teams-- nine teams, realistically-- are fighting for the remaining seven spots. Over the next three or four games we’ll probably see up to six teams get eliminated from playoff contention. This will leave a little over a week for teams that haven’t already started younger pitchers to give their youth some experience in major league parks, just in time for fantasy championship matches to finish. This may make it tougher all around to stream pitchers and effectively gauge upcoming matchups, giving headway to the proverbial shot-in-the-dark choices sure to make owners pull their hair out. (Un)fortunately for me, I’ve already lost in the semis of my league so I don’t have to worry about putting my money where my mouth is for my streaming selections.
Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the second half of Week 25 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 SP Streamers
Shane Greene (NYY vs. TOR)
Ownership: 15% Yahoo!, 8% Fleaflicker
Most pitchers are heavily owned on Thursday so it’ll be extremely difficult to find an optimum matchup. Yankee Stadium hasn’t been too kind to Greene, and the Blue Jays have been rough on RHPs. If Greene is your only option, it may be best to hold off on streaming him.
MATCHUP RATING: Desperate Stream
Drew Feldman (HOU vs. CLE)
Ownership: 13% Yahoo!, 11% Fleaflicker
Another team that has hit RHPs tough, the Indians are holding on to playoff aspirations by a thread, and they desperately need a win. Houston sends Feldman to the mound, who has no allowed more than three earned runs in 17 of his past 21 starts. He’s also recorded quality starts in twelve of his past fifteen outings.
MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream
Friday SP Streamers
Jose Quintana (CHW at TB)
Ownership: 47% Yahoo!, 47% Fleaflicker
Quintana’s strikeout numbers may not be high, as his K rate diminishes on the road and Tampa typically puts balls in play against lefties, but he should still see a quality start as he’s maintaining solid numbers on the road.
MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream
Taijuan Walker (SEA at HOU)
Ownership: 16% Yahoo!, 41% Fleaflicker
The highly touted prospect has taken the place of Roenis Elias in the Mariners’ rotation and he gets Houston, again. Of his six major league starts, three have been against the Astros. Walker has been throwing efficiently out of the pen, but owners may want to go in a different direction if they need help in innings pitched, as he likely won’t last past the fifth or sixth inning.
MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream
Saturday SP Streamers
Marcus Stroman (TOR at NYY)
Ownership: 37% Yahoo!, 19% Fleaflicker
Stroman has a 3.31 ERA as a starter since coming out of the bullpen, and he’s seen mixed results in his two starts against the Yankees. He may not give one of his better performances against New York on Saturday, but he should earn a quality start for his owners. Unless of course he throws at another batter’s head.
MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream
Edinson Volquez (PIT vs. MIL)
Ownership: 31% Yahoo!, 24% Fleaflicker
Volquez is on some kind of hot streak. In fifteen starts since June 23, Volquez has allowed three or more earned runs in three starts and four or more runs only once. The struggling Brewers come to town in a big weekend matchup and Volquez should see plenty of offensive firepower from his dugout.
MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream
Sunday SP Streamers
Miguel Gonzalez (BAL vs. BOS)
Ownership: 28% Yahoo!, 17% Fleaflicker
Despite taking the loss in his last start, Gonzalez had gone 22.1 IP in his previous three starts combined and only allowed 1 ER while striking out 18. I expect Gonzalez to return to form against a Red Sox team that has the eighth-highest K rate and eight-lowest weighted runs created against RHPs.
MATCHUP RATING: Must Stream
Cory Rasmus (LAA vs. TEX)
Ownership: 2% Yahoo!, 1% Fleaflicker. Rasmus has been plugged in as the spot starter for an injured Garrett Richards, and has filled in quite well. His only downside is his inability to get past the fourth inning, as he's typically been a reliever. Do not start him if you need help in IP.
MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream
