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On Monday, Boston and Baltimore will play a game on the schedule slated for a first pitch time of 11:05 EST. That’s AM not PM. Since 1968, Boston has typically played a morning start game to coincide with the famous marathon that shares the city’s name in honor of Patriot’s Day.
Even if one is unfamiliar with how Patriot’s Day began, look no further than just two years ago during the tragic events that unfolded on that day. They may not have name power like Samuel Adams or John Hancock, but Krystle Campbell, Martin Richard, and Lingzi Lu unfortunately made the ultimate sacrifice just for merely competing in the Boston Marathon, while Sean Collier was executed for having the audacity to perform the functions of his career. Patriots Day began as a memorial to those that fought and died on the greens of Lexington and Concord in 1775, but the events that transpired in 2013 reminded us that truly anyone can be a patriot.
Below are some of my starting pitcher streamer sleepers for the first half of Week 3 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
AJ Burnett (PIT vs. CHC)
Ownership: 49% Yahoo!, 21% Fleaflicker
Gone are the memories of Burnett’s disastrous campaign last year in Philadelphia. The seasoned veteran has looked sharp through two games this year and is striking out batters at an exceptional rate. The defensive shifts that he so despise just may help him out the rest of the season.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Edinson Volquez (KC vs. MIN)
Ownership: 40% Yahoo!, 27% Fleaflicker
Minnesota has really struggled coming out of the gates. Through the infancy of this year, the Twins own a third-worst 67 wRC+ with a fourth-from-the-bottom .279 OBP. That being said, if anyone can get those guys on base, it’s Volquez. He will give up some hits and some runs, but with the way the Royals offense is rolling, Volquez is almost a do-doubter in the W probability department.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Tuesday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Tommy Milone (MIN at KC)
Ownership: 10% Yahoo!, 13% Fleaflicker
Yes, Kansas City’s offense has been a well-oiled machine so far. That doesn’t mean Milone can’t be a loose bolt to slow down that apparatus. Just last week Milone went 5.1 IP and recorded the W against these same Royals. Like Volquez, he will probably give up a run here or there, but Milone is just good enough to get another win.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
Nick Martinez (TEX at ARI)
Ownership: 19% Yahoo!, 14% Fleaflicker
Shhhhh. Don’t say anything for fear of jinxing him, but Martinez has allowed zero ER in two starts. Darn it. We probably just jinxed it. Be afraid of his .214 BABIP, 93.3% LOB rate and 5.22 xFIP. Those numbers all suggest that he could get hit real hard real soon. Stream with care.
Matchup Rating: Desperate Stream
Brett Anderson (LA at SF)
Ownership: 6% Yahoo!, 7% Fleaflicker
The forgotten starter for the Dodgers has not put up great numbers this season, but he hasn’t put up terrible numbers either. The Giants are starting to claw their way back out of offensive obscurity, but Anderson is just good enough to put their bats in check. With Adrian Gonzalez helping him out, Anderson should be the best start of the early part of this week.
Matchup Rating: Must Stream
Wednesday Starting Pitcher Streamers
Jarred Cosart (MIA at PHI)
Ownership: 6% Yahoo!, 7% Fleaflicker
Streaming Cosart is a good choice for Wednesday against an ineffective Phillies squad. Just throw out the K category. He should provide help everywhere else for fantasy owners.
Matchup Rating: Solid Stream
Ownership: 33% Yahoo!, 17% Fleaflicker
Stud. With a capital ‘S.’ Nelson will soon be unavailable to stream because he will be on a roster in your league. If in a deeper league and this guy is on the waiver wire, pick him up now and reserve a spot for him. He struck out a ton of guys in the minor leagues and he is striking out a ton of guys in the big leagues.
Matchup Rating: Must Stream
J.A. Happ (SEA vs. HOU)
Ownership: 2% Yahoo!, 4% Fleaflicker
Happ is a soft tossing lefty who has managed to finagle his way out of trouble this season using the pitcher friendly confines of Safeco Field and O.co Coliseum. The Astros feature a bunch of young right-handed hitting studs that have so far swung and missed at nearly everything tossed their way this year. Roll the dice here and see what happens.
Matchup Rating: Risky Stream
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