RADIO
Adam Meyer analyzes under-the-radar starting pitchers (SP) making two starts this week (September 24-September 30) as possible streamers and waiver wire adds or targets for fantasy baseball.
Well, this is it, the final two-start streaming pitcher write-up of 2018. Thank you for being part of this ride and I hope I’ve helped you all, for at least a week or two. Now, let’s try to get you that championship!
This week’s pitchers are a little more reliable. Typically, I aim for pitchers who allow a maximum of three earned runs on a given outing. For this final piece, I’ve aimed for two runs, or less, allowed in the recent history of the streamers.
In last week’s post, Steven Matz (5 IP, 0 ER, and 4 K), Wade Miley (5 IP, 0 ER, and 2 K), and Andrew Suarez (7.2 IP, 2 ER, and 4 K) were the highlights. Since this piece is posted early on Saturdays, I hope I didn’t jinx these arms for their second start of the week.
Pitcher Streamers - Under 50% Owned
Chase Anderson, MIL (49% owned)
Probable opponents: @ STL, vs. DET
Anderson continues to be under-owned in fantasy baseball. Let’s all do this man a favor and make him 100% owned in fantasy leagues for the final week of the season. He’s allowed two earned runs, or less, in six of the last 10 performances and Anderson has punched out at least five batters in four games during that span. The Tigers are the second team he’ll face this week. Detroit is 29th in team wOBA (.293) against right-handed pitchers and 25th in runs scored (599 runs in 153 games) this season.
Jake Odorizzi, MIN (40% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. DET, vs. CWS
Odorizzi also faces the Tigers this week. In 2018, Odorizzi is 1-0 with a 4.41 ERA in three outings against Detroit. On the bright side, he’s struck out 17 Tigers in 16.1 innings of work this season. His last start was even against the Motor City Kitties (6.1 IP, 2 ER, an 6 K). As for more of his recent history, Odorizzi has allowed two earned runs, or less, in six of the last 10 appearances. The White Sox are also on the docket for Odorizzi. He’s struck out 23 White Sox in only 16.1 innings this year.
Derek Holland, SF (31% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. SD, vs. LAD
If you are looking for strikeouts, then Holland is your guy. This season, he’s pitched 19.2 innings against the Padres with 19 strikeouts and 18 innings against the Dodgers with 21 strikeouts. However, his 3.57 season-long ERA doesn’t represent his starts against those two divisional foes. San Diego has scored 12 runs (5.49 ERA) and Los Angeles has tallied nine earned runs (4.50 ERA) against Holland this year.
Pitcher Streamers - Under 25% Owned
Austin Gomber, STL (21% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. MIL, @ CHC
Remove one bad game against the Dodgers (3 IP, 7 ER, and 3 K) and you have a solid pitcher. Gomber has allowed two earned runs, or less, in seven of the last 10 appearances and punched out at least five batters in five of the last nine games. Milwaukee is first on the schedule for Gomber. They’ve struck out 1,376 times this season, which is fifth-most in baseball.
Matt Harvey, CIN (18% owned)
Probable opponents: vs. KC, vs. PIT
Harvey hates facing the Brewers. They’ve been on the schedule twice in the past five outings and each one has ended poorly for Harvey. He has a combined 9.1 IP with 12 ER. Thankfully, Milwaukee isn’t on the menu this week. Instead, he gets Kansas City and Pittsburgh. Both teams are in the bottom 11 in team wOBA against right-handed pitchers and in the bottom nine in runs scored this season. Also, Harvey is pitching both games at Great American Ballpark. This year, he’s 5-1 with a 4.37 ERA at the GABP.
Framber Valdez, HOU (12% owned)
Probable opponents: @ TOR, @ BAL
It’s the final streamer! Cue the Europe track! Valdez has struck out 14 batters in the past 19.1 innings, all while allowing five total earned runs. The young lefty will get two more turns in the Astros rotation to end the regular season. Baltimore is 30th in team wOBA (.276) against southpaws and Toronto is 22nd in the same category (.301 wOBA). The Orioles are also 28th in runs scored (581 runs in 152 games). Also, this season, righties are batting .197 against Valdez and lefties are only managing a .136 AVG against him.
