RADIO
Adam Meyer analyzes under-the-radar starting pitchers (SP) making two starts in Week 3 as possible streamers and waiver wire adds or targets for fantasy baseball.
We are now on to Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season and the picture is getting clearer, in regards to streaming options.
Last week, we separated the streamers by fantasy sites (Yahoo and Fantrax). This time, and probably for the foreseeable future, we’ll focus on the ownership percentage in two additional categories: below 50 percent and below 25 percent.
That way, we can accommodate people in the standard 10-12 team leagues, and also the deeper 14-16 leagues, too. All ownership percentages are based on Yahoo Sports.
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Week 3 Streamers Under 50% Owned
Tyler Skaggs, LAA (46% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. BOS, vs. SF
Well, we tried to tout Skaggs last week in the two-start streamer, but Shohei Ohtani got the ball on Sunday. Apparently, Sunday is Ohtani day. That will be his third consecutive Sunday start. We should probably make a note of that for future reference. Anyway, back to Skaggs. In his lone start last week, Skaggs shut down the Rangers. He pitched five innings, allowed one earned run, and struck out seven batters. In all of his 2018 outings, Skaggs has struck out at least five batters and allowed two earned runs or less. That’s ideal for a streamer. This week, he’s home to the Red Sox and Giants. While Boston is doing well, the Giants are not. They’ve scored only 41 runs in the first 13 games (28th in MLB). Also, Angel Stadium is home to the sixth-best Park Factor, over the past three seasons, for pitchers.
Mike Foltynewicz, ATL (35% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. PHI, vs. NYM
Like Skaggs, Foltynewicz hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in each of his first three starts of the season. He’ll get a familiar opponent on Monday, the Phillies. In his first start of 2018, Folty pitched five innings, allowed two earned runs (both solo home runs), and struck out seven batters. Both starts this week will be at SunTrust Park. Last year, Folty was better at home (3.95 ERA) as opposed to on the road (5.46 ERA).
Trevor Williams, PIT (26% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. COL, @ PHI
Again, like his two predecessors on this write-up, Williams has refused to allow more than two earned runs in an outing this season. In his next start, Williams will face the Rockies. Thankfully, that matchup will be at home, and not at Coors Field. Not only will Williams get to avoid the hitter-friendly environment in Colorado, but it’s also a perk because Williams performed better at home in 2017 (3.45 ERA) as opposed to his road starts (4.96 ERA). During last season, Williams also allowed five earned runs in his lone start in Coors Field. His strikeout total has risen after each game this year (one, four, and five). I expect that number to get even higher in his next trip to the hill. The Rockies have struck out the second-most times in baseball, thus far (141 strikeouts).
Under 25% Owned
Nick Pivetta, PHI (24% owned)
Probable opponents: @ ATL, vs. PIT
This Phillies rotation knows how to strike out opposing hitters. Last season, Aaron Nola (9.86 K/9), Pivetta (9.47 K/9), and Vince Velasquez (8.50 K/9) all excelled in the punch out category. This year, Pivetta has the early lead in the rotation (10.26 K/9), even with the addition of Jake Arrieta. As far as his opponents are concerned, both the Pirates and Braves active rosters finished 27th and 29th, respectively, in the 2017 team ISO standings, against right-handed pitchers. Atlanta and Pittsburgh were 25th and 28th in team wOBA, during that same period, against righties.
Adam Wainwright, STL (13% owned)
Probable opponents: @ CHC, @ PHI
Is Waino back? In his last outing, Wainwright pitched seven innings and struck out four Brewers, however he allowed three earned runs (two homers). Next on Waino’s dance card is a trip to Wrigley. In his career, Wainwright is 10-2 with a 3.79 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 116.1 innings of work. Both ballparks shouldn’t be that big of a factor, either. Over the past three season, both Wrigley Field and Citizens Bank Park 15th and 16th, respectively, in Park Factor statistics.
Junior Guerra, MIL (1% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. CIN, vs. MIA
In his first start of 2018, last Wednesday, Guerra pitched 5.1 innings (86 pitches), allowed one earned run, and struck out four Cardinal hitters. I’m willing to endorse him for deeper leagues now. To help ease your minds, Guerra gets Cincinnati and Miami this week. Both clubs are in the bottom five, when looking at runs scored this season. If you’re worried about his starts being at Miller Park, I understand. It’s tied for the sixth-best Park Factor for hitters, over the last three years. However, Guerra has a career 2.83 ERA in 98.2 innings of work in Milwaukee.
