Two-Start Pitcher Streamers: Week 3

April 12, 2021

Starting pitchers to add and stream in Week 3 of the 2021 fantasy baseball season. Michael Grennell analyzes the top SP streamers to pick up off waivers.

Welcome to overreaction time, where your fantasy season is already over and the Orioles are going to win the AL East. For those of you whose seasons are still going though, you're going to want to know about the two-start pitcher streamers for Week 3 - April 12th through April 18th.

If you grabbed one of the guys I mentioned last week, you're probably feeling pretty good so far, as Jordan Montgomery, Michael Wacha (my last-minute replacement after Taijuan Walker's start was bumped), Carlos Rodon, Trevor Williams and JT Brubaker combined to go 3-1 and allow just seven earned runs in 26 innings while striking out 32 on Monday.

Hopefully in Week 3, we'll see similar success out of our two-start streamers, because we're scraping the bottom of the barrel due to how many No. 1 and No. 2 starters are getting two starts this week. Out of the 42 projected two-start pitchers in Week 3, nearly half of them (20) are rostered in at least 60 percent of leagues, with 11 of them rostered in at least 96 percent of leagues. So it's slim pickings this week, but there's still value out there. Let's dive in and see who you should target next.

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Week 3 Streamers — Under 50% Rostered

Matthew Boyd, DET - 54% rostered

Probable Opponents: @ HOU, @ OAK

Yeah I know he's slightly over 50 percent rostered, but like I said before — it's slim pickings this week, and he's the only guy who is in this range worth looking at. And boy is he a good choice to target this week, as Boyd has looked locked in this year during Spring Training as well as his first two starts of the season. After posting a 2.45 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings this spring, Boyd tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings to get the win on Opening Day over Cleveland, and then he struck out eight and earned a quality start in his second start against Minnesota. He has a 19.6 percent strikeout through 12 2/3 innings, and opponents so far are making weaker contact than they did last year, as his average exit velocity (86.8 mph), barrel rate (2.8%) and hard-hit rate (36.1%) are all down from 2020.

Here's the thing though with Boyd, you're going to have to weigh the risk of a tough matchup against Houston versus the plum matchup against a weak Oakland offense. The Astros so far are averaging 7.5 runs per game (second-most in MLB) and are hitting .295 with an .893 OPS, and their 20.3 percent strikeout rate is fourth-lowest in the majors. Boyd's last start against the Astros came in 2019, where he allowed three runs with two strikeouts in four innings of work. While that start has the potential to be rough, it is worth pointing out that the Twins have a somewhat comparable offense so far this year (6.0 runs per game, .255 average, .775 OPS) and Boyd limited them to three runs in seven innings in his last outing.

If Boyd can get through his first start relatively unscathed, managers will be rewarded with his next start against Oakland, which is dead last in the majors averaging 2.43 runs per game, second-to-last in average (.168) and OPS (.528), and have a 26 percent team strikeout rate. I expect good things in his Oakland start, and he'll do well enough against Houston that he should be a good choice to stream in Week 3.

Week 3 Streamers — Under 25% Rostered

Dane Dunning, TEX - 12% rostered
Kyle Gibson, TEX - 7% rostered

Probable Opponents: @ TBR, vs BAL

I might as well write about Dunning and Gibson at the same time, since they will both face the Rays and the Orioles this week. Dunning has one start under his belt so far but it was a good one, as he held the Blue Jays to just one run on three hits while striking out six in five innings of work. Meanwhile Gibson has two outings so far, and they had very different results. Gibson received a shellacking from the Royals on Opening Day, allowing five runs and getting the early hook after recording just one out, but then in his second start he tossed six scoreless innings and struck out eight against the Blue Jays.

Now in Week 3, Dunning and Gibson will take on the light-hitting Rays and Orioles. Tampa Bay is currently averaging 3.83 runs per game with a .630 OPS (eighth-worst in MLB), while Baltimore is averaging four runs per game with a .601 OPS (fifth-worst). And on top of that you've got two right-handers going up against two teams that have struggled early on against right handed pitching (Baltimore .193/.251/.277; Tampa Bay .200/.275/.331). Dunning and Gibson should both have good weeks against both opponents, but I'll give the slight edge to Gibson as I think he'll have the better strikeout potential.

Wade Miley, CIN - 3% rostered

Probable Opponents: @ SFG, vs CLE

Yet another pitcher on this list with a scoreless 2021 debut, Miley blanked the Pirates over six innings while striking out six on Tuesday, allowing just two hits and one walk. The Pirates will definitely be the easiest matchup from his first three starts when all is said and done, but he should have pretty good outings against the Giants and Indians. San Francisco is currently averaging 3.33 runs per game while Cleveland is only marginally better at 3.40.

The Giants will definitely be the better matchup for Miley in Week 3, as they are hitting .201 and have the seventh-highest strikeout rate at 29 percent. And while the Indians also haven't hit well with a .215 average, they also haven't been striking out much as their 18.4 percent strikeout rate is the lowest in the majors. Miley should have a good outing against San Francisco, while his start against Cleveland will at the very least be serviceable, but isn't as promising. If you're looking for a safe pick this week, Miley should be the most likely to not blow up.

Huascar Ynoa, ATL - 1% rostered

Probable Opponents: vs MIA, @ CHC

Ynoa turned heads with his first start of the year on Wednesday, as he got the call for Game 2 of Atlanta's doubleheader with Washington. In five innings of work, he allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out five. And in light of Mike Soroka's recent setback in his rehab, it looks like Ynoa could stick around in the rotation longer and make a push for a permanent spot.

He'll get a couple of great opportunities to prove he belongs in the rotation, as he faces the Marlins and the Cubs in Week 3. The Cubs' 29.3 percent strikeout rate is fifth-highest in the majors, and they are dead last in the majors with a .124 average to go along with a .541 OPS. And while the Marlins' strikeout rate is just 23.1 percent and they are hitting .218 with a .615 OPS, both teams are averaging 3.17 runs per game so far. Ynoa is probably the biggest wild card of this week's list, but with a couple of juicy matchups he's worth taking a chance on.

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