RADIO
Adam Meyer analyzes under-the-radar starting pitchers (SP) making two starts in Week 7 as possible streamers and waiver wire adds or targets for fantasy baseball.
We are now in Week 7 of the fantasy baseball regular season and the streaming options are getting better every week. Even in a small player pool to work with in Week 6, we found gems like Fernando Romero and Jeremy Hellickson. Let’s hope to find more this week.
There are nine games on Monday, which helps our odds to find more two-start streamers. However, it seems as though the fantasy baseball players are getting smarter. I was surprised to see Joey Lucchesi is now 68 percent owned in leagues. He was undrafted by most fantasy leagues to start the season.
While the intelligence of fantasy baseball owners leads to increased ownership of quality pitchers, I welcome the challenge to continue to find streamers under 50 percent, and 25 percent, owned. All ownership numbers are provided by Yahoo fantasy baseball leagues.
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Week 7 Streamers Under 50% Owned
Mike Foltynewicz, ATL (49% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. CHC, vs. MIA
If you remove the one bad outing from Foltynewicz (6 ER on May 4th), he would have stellar stats. He’s only allowed more than two earned runs in that one horrendous appearance. Due to that stinker against the Giants, Foltynewicz’s home ERA is 4.22 (2.18 ERA on the road). Don’t let that deter you from his two home starts in Week 7. While the Cubs matchup could be difficult, he should crush in his start against Miami. The Marlins are 30th in team wOBA (.272) against right-handed pitchers and are also 30th in runs scored this season (124 runs in 37 games). Folty also face Miami in his last start: 5 IP, 0 ER, and 4 K.
Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS (35% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. OAK, vs. BAL
After allowing back-to-back starts with five earned runs apiece, Rodriguez shutdown the powerhouse Yankees offense in his last outing: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, and 8 K. He’s now struck out at least eight batters in two consecutive starts. Both Baltimore and Oakland are in the top ten in team strikeouts this season. The Orioles are also 28th in runs scored this season (138 runs in 37 games). Rodriguez already faced Baltimore on April 13th: 6 IP, 1 ER, and 8 K.
Nick Pivetta, PHI (26% owned)
Probable opponents: @ BAL, @ STL
Speaking of dominant recent performances, Pivetta was nearly perfect in his last outing: 5 IP, 0 ER, and 7 K (vs. SF). Pivetta has punched out at least six batters in three of the last four games. I already mentioned Baltimore’s struggles in the runs scored and strikeout department. They also have the fifth-worst team wOBA (.301) against right-handed pitchers. The Cardinals are tenth-worst in that area, as well (.315 wOBA).
Under 25% Owned
Chris Stratton, SF (17% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. CIN, vs. COL
Stratton had a solid start to his 2018 campaign and now the water is starting to reach its level. He’s allowed at least five runs in two of the past three games and has walked 10 batters during those three outings. Also, Stratton is pitching at home for both appearances in Week 7. San Francisco is tied for the third best Park Factor over the past three seasons. Even though it looks like Stratton has failed to take advantage of his home ballpark (6.92 ERA in three home starts this year), he only has one game where he allowed more than two earned runs in a home game (six earned runs on April 28th).
Tyler Anderson, COL (12% owned)
Probable opponents: @ SD, @ SF
While it’s sad for DFS and fantasy baseball players who enjoy offense, there will not be a game at Coors Field until May 25th. On the bright side, we should see the ERA numbers for every Rockies pitcher improve during that road trip. Anderson will get two turns in the rotation in Week 7 and he gets two pitcher-friendly ballparks in the process. On April 5th, this season, Anderson arrived in San Diego and shutdown the Padres: 6 IP, 0 ER, and 4 K. He then faced them in Colorado: 6 IP, 2 ER, and 8 K. Also, both the Padres and Giants are in the top three in team strikeouts this season.
Andrew Heaney, LAA (6% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. HOU, vs. TB
Don’t let the 4.78 ERA fool you. Heaney has only allowed more than three earned runs in one start this season (7 ER vs. SF). Also, Heaney has a knack for striking out his opponents. He’s tallied at least five whiffs in four out of five appearances in 2018. Now, those are the positives. On the down side, both Houston and Tampa Bay are in the top ten of team wOBA against left-handed pitchers. Don’t count on Heaney to help with your ERA totals this week. Only add Heaney to your roster if you want the boost to your strikeout totals and the potential win/QS.
