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Quality over quantity. Every fantasy owner knows this. But when looking at the starting pitcher free agent waiver wire for the coming week, ideally you’d like to have a guy that is going to be on the mound more than once.
Most teams are going to have a couple of starters pitching twice in a week. This in turn raises their value as streaming options and weekly sleepers. In this column, I’ll be looking at my top two-start pitchers that you should consider streaming for your fantasy teams for the approaching Week 17.
These pitchers are projected to pitch twice in the coming week and are owned in less than 50% of Fleaflicker and Yahoo leagues. Note: While I only covered four pitchers, I did not feel comfortable adding another name I did not think would have two quality starts this week.
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Kyle Hendricks, SP, CHC
7/27 vs COL, 8/1 vs MIL
Hendricks had a rough time out against the Reds last week. Even in the outing where he gave up five runs on seven hits over six innings, he still struck out nine. Along with the fact that he only surrendered a single run over his last four starts, and Hendricks still has plenty of streamer value. On the year, he has a 4-5 record with a 3.66 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 93/20 K/BB rate over 110 2/3 innings.
This week, Hendricks faces the Rockies and the Brewers, two of the underachieving National League teams. On the year, Colorado and Milwaukee have a 92 and 91 wRC+, making them the 22nd and 23rd best in the league. The Rockies, who will be traveling to Chicago, has the 23rd best road OPS this season at .671. The Brewers, when at Miller Park, are a bottom third team with a 20.4% K% rate, and 25th with just a 6.4% BB%. Hendricks should be more than able to dispatch of both teams this week.
Wade Miley, SP, BOS
7/28 vs CHW, 8/2 vs TB
While his 4.33 ERA isn’t doing him any favors, Wade Miley has been on a bit of a roll his last two starts. Facing the top of the AL West, Miley gave up only a combined single run against the Angels and Astros. In the two starts, he totaled four hits, 10 K’s and seven walks (five against HOU) over 17 innings. The walks might be a deterrent, but the Astros BB% of 8.3% is top five in the league.
Luckily for Miley, he will be facing two teams at home who have not been as offensively threatening at Houston or Los Angeles. The White Sox are by far the worst offensive team in the American League. Their .659 OPS, 80 wRC+, and .296 OBP are all the worst in the AL. The AL team with the next worst OPS is the Rays at .676. They also have the third highest K% in the AL at 22.1%, and their .237 batting average is the worst in the AL. Miley is only owned in 7% of Yahoo leagues, and could be a nice pickup based on his matchups for the week.
Kevin Gausman, SP, BAL
7/27 vs ATL, 8/1 vs DET
We’re staying in the AL East to look at Kevin Gausman. Yes, he has a 5.18 ERA over four starts this year, and that is the main reason the 2012 fourth overall pick is only owned in eight percent of leagues. What he has going for him is how great he has been at home. In two starts, he has a 1.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 22.5% K%, and a FIP of 2.42, compared to his road numbers of 6.46, 1.31, 19.2% and 5.26. So while Gausman has not been the stud the Orioles have liked him to be, he has shown he can be that guy in when at home.
When on the road, the Braves are far less productive offensively than at home. Their .692 road OPS is the 22nd best in baseball this year, and their 90 wRC+ is 23rd. They also are tied for the league’s worst ISO at .119. The Tigers find themselves in third place in the AL Central and could become sellers before the trade deadline. They have been without their best hitter in Miguel Cabrera, and their offensive numbers have dropped since he has been on the DL. They have had a 21% K% since losing Miggy, and a .736 OPS and 102 wRC+ in that time. Much lower than their season totals of .818, and 112.
Brett Anderson, SP, LAD
7/28 vs OAK, 8/2 vs LAA
Despite being taken out of his last start with an Achilles injury, Anderson is scheduled to return to the Dodgers rotation Tuesday, and is in line for two starts this week. Anderson has had a nice bounce back year after dealing with injuries his past few years. On the year, he has a 3.33 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 79/30 K/BB rate over 110 2/3 IP. 11 of his 19 starts this year have been quality starts. Yet still, he is only owned in 21% of Yahoo leagues.
Anderson and the Dodgers will be going interleague, facing the AL West this week. He will start off with the last place Athletics, who have been especially bad in the month of July. This month, they have a .631 OPS, 27th in baseball and only better than the Rays in the AL, while their 76 wRC+ is the worst in the AL, and second worst only to the Cubs. The Angels have been one of the better teams this year. However, Anderson will be opposing Matt Shoemaker, whose 4.55 ERA and 4.41 FIP show he has not followed up well from his rookie season. If you are looking for a potential win late in the week, Anderson is an option most would ignore based on their opponent.
You can follow me on Twitter @JustBerglund with all questions on who to add and start for the week.
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