In a microcosm of their entire 2015 season yesterday, a fight broke out in the Washington Nationals dugout between Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper. Apparently, Papelbon was upset that Harper lolly-gagged down to first on a routine pop up late in the game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Anyone can see this video on YouTube or any website. CJ Nitkowski, now contributor for Fox Sports, polled 12 current players and none of the 12 players defended Harper in this recent struggle.

Did Nitkowski poll seasoned veterans or 23-year-old future stars? What are these unwritten rules in which some players are allowed to jog to first on routine grounders but other players are not allowed? Coming in to this season the knock on Harper was that he played too aggressive all the time and was liable to get hurt. Now, he isn’t aggressive enough. Is it possible that the young phenom was frustrated with a poor at-bat in an otherwise forgettable 2015 season for his Nationals? The veterans and old-timers of baseball need to get over themselves and realize that unwritten rules were made to be broken.

For fantasy baseball, there are certainly some unwritten rules that EVERYONE needs to follow. Chief among those rules are this: if you are not in contention to win anything in your league, stay off the waiver wire. That cannot be stressed enough. Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the first half of Week 26 to consider adding off your league’s waiver wire, but only if you are in contention to win something. 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 9/28 Starting Pitcher Streamers

J.A. Happ (PIT v. STL) – Ownership: 48% Yahoo!, 18% Fleaflicker

Big series this week in Pittsburgh. The Pirates and Cardinals will square off in a three-game set at PNC Park which will most likely determine the NL Central champ. Happ has been a force to be reckoned with in a Pirates uniform, especially at home. He has struck out 58 in 51.1 innings while in a Pittsburgh uniform. At home, he has a 2.91 ERA in 21.2 innings pitched.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

Roenis Elias (SEA v. HOU) – Ownership: 4% Yahoo!, 5% Fleaflicker

Elias has a higher K rate, better WHIP and ERA and more innings pitched at home than on the road. Clearly he is a better pitcher at friendly Safeco Field. The Astros are your typical young, homerun hitting team. They will either tag Elias or strikeout a ton. Look for a little from column A and a little from column B.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

 

Tuesday 9/29 Starting Pitcher Streamers

Marcus Stroman (TOR at BAL) – Ownership: 37% Yahoo!, 11% Fleaflicker

How scary are the Blue Jays with a healthy Stroman in the rotation? He has looked quite strong in the small sample size so far. His strikeouts are down a bit from his career splits but he is slowly getting those numbers up. I like Stroman to continue his excellent start and make seven innings with a handful of strikeouts.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

Kyle Gibson (MIN at CLE) – Ownership: 21% Yahoo!, 17% Fleaflicker

Every time I hype this guy up, he comes crashing back down. In all honesty, Gibson hasn’t looked terrible all season. It’s just that he gets blown up every sixth or seventh start. It just so happens his last start he got bombed by the Indians. And now he will face the Indians yet again.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

Jorge Lopez (MIL at SD) – Ownership: 0% Yahoo!, 0% Fleaflicker

Milwaukee’s stud prospect will get his first career start on Tuesday. Gone are the days of rookie pitchers having to earn their keep. If you have a stud rookie, you start him in this day and age. In 143.1 innings in Double-A, Lopez struck out 137 hitters to the tune of a 2.26 ERA. Yeah, kid has some stuff.

Matchup Rating: Solid Stream

 

Wednesday 9/30 Starting Pitcher Streamers

Wade Miley (BOS at NYY) – Ownership: 11% Yahoo!, 15% Fleaflicker

Starting Wade Miley makes absolutely no sense, but hey- let’s throw some wild cards out there every now and then. In fact, all the numbers suggest Miley will get shelled by the long ball on Wednesday. Maybe he makes for a contrarian stream in your championship game.

Matchup Rating: Desperate Stream

Drew Smyly (TB v. MIA) – Ownership: 50% Yahoo!, 34% Fleaflicker

What does this guy have to do to get some fantasy love? He owns a 10.24 K/9 rate, 3.26 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and .235 BAA in 60.2 IP. Plus, he gets the added bonus of the Dan Jennings Factor.

Matchup Rating: Must Stream

Mike Leake (SF v. LAD) – Ownership: 47% Yahoo!, 31% Fleaflicker

This is why the Giants brought Leake over. They knew they would need Leake’s groundball-inducing abilities to stymie the Dodgers in a game that no longer matters for San Francisco.

Matchup Rating: Risky Stream

 

MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat Room