May 23, 2016

Ricky Delgado analyzes the top two-start fantasy baseball starting pitcher (SP) streamers on the Week 8 waiver wire to consider adding and streaming this week.

A wise fantasy baseball manager never rests. He is never satisfied with his team and is always on the hunt for the player that can help in both the present and future. For this article, we’ll focus on the present, as we present the top pitcher streamers who’ll be making two outings this week.

We do this every week, because deep down we all know those last two or three guys taken in drafts won’t be with us the whole way through. Mix and match is the name of the game and maximizing these players’ values is the goal. Here are the top five two-start pitching streamers for week eight. NOTE: these are expected starts.

Editor’s Note: RotoBaller’s fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups list is updated every single day. Our awesome writers bring you analysis on hot or emerging starting pitchers, and also all other fantasy positions. You can also download our waiver wire iPhone app for free, and easily stay updated.

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Pitchers Going Twice to Consider for Week 8

Nick Tropeano, LAA

@ TEX 5/23, vs HOU 5/29

Owned In: 8% Of Fleaflicker Leagues

This is the second time we’re seeing Nick Tropeano, featuring him early in the first installment of the year. The 25-year-old is 2-2 with a 3.30 ERA, but has had a difficult time extending his starts. Heading into his most recent start on Wednesday, Tropeano had failed to make it through six innings in any start this season. In the aforementioned Wednesday start, however, he went seven innings, allowing just one run in a winning performance against the Dodgers.

Figuring out Tropeano’s success early on is a bit of an issue when you look at his numbers. His K/9 rate has lowered, his BB/9 rate has increased and he’s allowed seven home runs in eight starts. The easiest answer would be his incredible 89.7 LOB%, which is fourth in all of baseball. Tropeano has been making the necessary pitches at the necessary moments. While it’s costing him the ability to go deep into games, it just got him his best start yet. This week, the right-hander will make his first start in Texas against the Rangers. The Rangers have one of the worst OBPs in the league and rank 25th in BBs, something that bodes well for Tropeano as he’ll attempt to keep the walks in control.

Remaining within the AL West, his second start of the week will be against Houston. While the Astros looked quite promising last year, they’ve gotten off to a terrible 2016. They rank as one of the better teams in the walks department, but Houston has struggled to get hits. Combined with their poor record, Nick Tropeano faces two solid chances at victory this week as a two-start streamer.

Rich Hill, OAK

@ SEA 5/23, vs DET 5/29

Owned In: 43% Of Fleaflicker Leagues

36-year-old Rich Hill is off to the best season start of his career as a member of the Oakland Athletics. In nine starts this season, he’s gone 6-3 with a 2.54 ERA, making six quality starts. Another starter with a strong LOB%, he holds a .277 BABIP and a 2.54 FIP. He’s even gotten 59 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched, allowing just 14 runs along the way.

In his first scheduled outing of the week, the veteran will take on the Mariners at Safeco Field. Hill has already pitched there this year, conceding one run across six innings in a winning effort at Safeco on April 9. Although the Mariners continue to lead the AL West, they remain one of the worst hitting teams in the American League while also striking out at higher rates.

In his second start of the week, the Boston native will host the struggling Detroit Tigers. Like the Mariners, the Tigers have already lost to Hill this year, when he hurled seven shutout innings at Comerica Park in a victorious effort on April 26. This week looks tailor-made for Rich Hill to continue his early mastery of the American League.

Drew Pomeranz, SD

@ SF 5/23, @ ARZ 5/29

Owned In: 43% Of Fleaflicker Leagues

Like Rich Hill, Drew Pomeranz is enjoying the best season of his career in 2016. The 27-year-old in his first year with the San Diego Padres has been incredible, despite his team’s struggles. While he’s 4-4 on the year, he holds an impressive 1.96 ERA, only allowing 10 earned runs in 46 innings thus far. Although he hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any start this year, he’s only managed five quality starts in eight attempts, frequently firing many pitches early. Like his two predecessors, Pomeranz has a high LOB rate, this one at 82.6%. The biggest difference however, is that he strikes out batters at a much higher rate, holding a 10.96 K/9 number.

In his first start of the week, Pomeranz will face the Giants in San Francisco. This past Wednesday, he tossed six innings of two-run ball against them, taking the loss as his offense couldn’t score. Considering the Giants are one of the better offenses in the National League, the outing was particularly impressive.

His second start of the week will come against another strong NL offense in the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-backs have more hits than any team in the National League and the second-most in all of baseball. Surprisingly, they’re quite poor at home, where this game will take place. The Padres’ offense might even have a strong game against struggling right-hander Shelby Miller. Pomeranz has already passed tests at Coors Field and against the Dodgers, Mets and Cubs. He’s starting to look like the real deal and a solid option as a two-start streamer.

Nathan Eovaldi, NYY

vs TOR 5/24, @ TB 5/29

Owned In: 19% Of Fleaflicker Leagues

Still only 26 years old, Nathan Eovaldi has been quite the enigma during his MLB tenure. While he possesses electric stuff, he consistently seems to struggle, never concluding a campaign with an ERA below 3.63. This year could be more of the same, but recent results don’t show that to be the case. Eovaldi is pitching to a career-high in K/9 and a career low in BB/9 while also lowering his BABIP. The season hasn’t completely changed for the better, but he’s been effective more often than not thus far. In his last start, he allowed a lead-off double and proceeded to retire the next 18 in a row in six innings of work against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He picked up his fourth victory on the season and his third consecutively since allowing six runs in five innings at Fenway Park to begin the month.

This week, Eovaldi is set to take on a pair of division rivals as the Yankees look to escape the basement of the AL East. His first scheduled start of the week is against the Blue Jays, who have been sliding towards last place in recent days. While they remain a strong team offensively, Eovaldi tamed them in his only start against them last year, allowing just one run across six innings and a third.

Although his next start will be against the Rays, who scored seven runs against him in two starts last year, things are still looking up. Yes, the Rays have been hitting better as of late, but they remain one of the worst hitting teams in the American League. They have been striking out at high rates, walking at low rates and still have the fewest hits of any team in baseball. If Eovaldi’s recent string of success is to be trusted, this week could see two more strong outings.

Chris Tillman, BAL

@ HOU 5/24, @ CLE 5/29

Owned In: 45% of Fleaflicker Leagues

It really is incredible that Chris Tillman is unowned in over half of Fleaflicker leagues. While the 28-year-old ace of the Baltimore Orioles is coming off a bad year that slowed his progression, he’s off to a 6-1 start this year with a 2.61 ERA. He’s been particularly exceptional in May, going 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA while continuing his run of quality starts, now at six in a row. Tillman has also proven to be a horse, throwing over 100 pitches in each of his quality starts this year. He’s currently striking out batters at career-high rates, stranding nearly 80% of runners on base, and has only allowed two home runs in 50 innings pitched. In short, Chris Tillman appears to be back in his 2012-2014 form, which is excellent news for the Orioles and prospective fantasy onlookers.

This week, the California native will make a pair of road starts, leaving home for the first time this month. The first will be against the Astros, a team whose struggles we’ve already chronicled. Even last year when he wasn’t at his best, Tillman was solid against Houston, going seven innings and allowing two runs against them back on May 26. His second start of the week will be against the Cleveland Indians. This calls for more good results for Tillman, as he beat the Tribe twice last season. He could very well be the two-start streamer lock of the week.

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