Two-Start Pitcher Streamers: Week 8

May 17, 2019

Michael Grennell analyzes under-the-radar starting pitchers (SP) making two starts in Week 8 as possible streamers and waiver wire adds or targets for fantasy baseball.

So uh...wow. Week 6 absolutely sucked for this column. Like, I'm surprised I still even have a job after that one.

Griffin Canning was the winner of the Week 6 column, but that's not saying much. Canning went 1-1, allowing six runs over 10 innings while striking out 13. The other four guys on that list combined to go 0-7 with a 10.41 ERA and 22 strikeouts to 19 walks. I would especially like to apologize anyone who bought on to my Felix Hernandez hype train. Week 7 on the other hand has looked significantly better, with Reynaldo Lopez leading the way after earning the quality start and the win against the Indians, allowing one earned run over 7 2/3 innings while striking out six.

So as I wait for my inevitable pink slip from RotoBaller, let's dive in to the two-start streaming options in Week 8.

Week 8 Streamers - Under 50% Owned

Julio Teheran, ATL - 45% owned

Probable opponents: @ SFG, @ STL

Once again Teheran makes this list, and while he's been a little up and down at times this year, he's been putting up some pretty good fantasy numbers. Teheran has recorded a quality start in four of his last six outings, and he has struck out at least six batters in six of his nine starts this year. What he has been lacking this year however is wins, as he is 0-3 over his last five starts due to a lack of run support from the Braves' offense.

Teheran will get a couple road starts this week against two teams in the midst of slumps. The Giants have gone 4-6 over their last 10 games, hitting .228 while averaging 5.4 runs and 9.9 strikeouts per game. The Giants matchup looks even better when you take out the 14-4 win over Colorado, as they are then averaging 4.4 runs per game while hitting .206. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are 3-7 over their last 10 games, averaging 5.1 runs and 6.7 strikeouts per game while hitting .247. And like the Giants, if you take out their 17-4 thrashing of Pittsburgh, the Cardinals are averaging 3.8 runs per game while hitting .227.

In quality start leagues Teheran has to be your top priority this week if he's available. But even if your league doesn't count quality starts, he will still be one of the top two-start options on the waiver-wire this week.

Wade Miley, HOU - 30% owned

Probable opponents: vs CHW, vs BOS

Much like Teheran, Miley has been racking up quality starts lately with four over his last six outings. Over his last three starts, Miley has gone 3-0 with 14 strikeouts while posting a not-amazing-but-not-terrible 4.00 ERA. He will be coming off a start against Detroit where he just missed the quality start after allowing four runs over six innings while striking out five to earn the win. But in the start prior, Miley got the win and the quality start against Texas by allowing just two runs over six innings while tying his season high with seven strikeouts.

Both of Miley's starts this week will come at home, which will be a significant boost for his fantasy potential as he has a lower ERA at home (2.31 vs 4.50) and a higher K/9 (8.1 vs 4.5). His first start should be a good matchup against the White Sox who — despite going 6-4 over their last 10 games — are averaging 3.8 runs and 9.2 strikeouts per game over that span. The challenge will come in his second start when he faces the resurgent Boston Red Sox. Over their last 10 games, the Red Sox are 8-2, averaging 7.9 runs per game and hitting .288. Despite those daunting numbers, there are two positives in Miley's favor. First off, Boston averaged 7.9 runs per game off four of the bottom eight pitching staffs in the league by ERA: the Orioles (5.66), the White Sox (5.04), the Rockies (5.01) and the Mariners (4.87). And second, the Red Sox have shown some struggles at the plate against lefties, hitting .237 with a .748 OPS (compared to their .261 average and .775 OPS against righties), which should bode well for the Astros' southpaw.

Miley will be a risky play this week, but the numbers all seem to suggest he could do well enough against Boston and have a solid outing against Chicago. He's not going to win the week outright for owners, but he could very likely provide enough of a bump to make a difference in most leagues.

Week 8 Streamers - Under 25% Owned

Brett Anderson, OAK - 12% owned

Probable opponents: @ CLE, vs SEA

Anderson has been a little rocky over his past few starts, but he has the potential to be a sneaky play this week against Cleveland and Seattle. He has pitched at least five innings in seven of his nine starts this year, and in five of those starts he has allowed three or fewer runs. He hasn't racked up much in the way of strikeouts, but he could be a good play in deep leagues that count quality starts, as he has four quality starts this year.

He'll start off the week at Cleveland, where the Indians are 5-5 over their last 10 games, hitting .271 while averaging 4.6 runs per game. Take out their 14-7 win against Baltimore though, and they're averaging 3.6 runs while hitting .262. And while they're hitting slightly better against lefties this year (.234 vs .223) they are striking out significantly more against lefties (28.1 percent strikeout rate vs 23.9). Then after Cleveland, Anderson will get a rematch against Seattle after allowing four runs over six innings with a season-high five strikeouts in the losing effort. This could be one of the better weeks for Anderson to rack up strikeouts, as Seattle is averaging 8.5 strikeouts over their last 10 games and they are striking out at a slightly higher rate against lefties. So if you're looking for a deeper league play try to add Anderson this week.

Felix Pena, LAA - 9% owned

Probable opponents: vs MIN, vs TEX

Owners looking at Pena will have the benefit of looking at his previous outings as he is projected to have rematches with both Minnesota and Texas this week. Pena has been one of the better pitchers on staff for the Angels this season, posting a 2-1 record, 3.49 ERA and 8.6 K/9 over 38 2/3 innings. In his second start of the year Pena allowed one run while striking out seven over 4 2/3 innings against Texas, and in his latest outing he held the Twins to three runs over five innings while striking out three. 

The Rangers have gone 4-6 over their last 10 games, averaging 6.1 runs and 10.5 strikeouts per game while hitting .264. Take out their 16-1 win over the Royals on Thursday though, and those averages drop to 5.0 runs per game while hitting .235. Meanwhile, the Twins are 6-4 over their last 10 games, hitting .294 while averaging 5.9 runs per game. While they are currently in a hot streak, the Twins have hit slightly worse against righties this year, with a .262 average (.278 vs LHP) and an .832 OPS (.847 vs LHP). Pena will get a bump in his stats pitching at home, so if you're scrambling for a two-start guy, he should be easy to find on the waiver-wire.

Andrew Cashner, BAL - 6% owned

Probable opponents: vs NYY, @ COL

Cashner will be a risky play this week, but he could be a solid add in deeper leagues — especially in quality starts leagues. He's recorded a quality start in three of his last four outings, including a six-inning effort against the Yankees in his last start in which he allowed two runs while striking out seven. Over his last four starts, Cashner has posted a 3.13 ERA while striking out 25 over 23 innings of work. 

He will start off the week facing the Yankees for the third time this season, As mentioned before, Cashner's last outing against them went well despite earning the loss, which was in stark contrast to his first start of the year when New York pummeled him for six runs over four innings. While the Yankees are 8-2 over their last 10 games, they are averaging just 4.1 runs per game while hitting .233 with a .692 OPS. Colorado looks to be the tougher matchup this week, as they are hitting .283 while averaging 7.0 runs per game over their last 10 games. The one advantage Cashner has over Colorado is they have hit slightly worse against right-handers (.245/.309/.425) than against lefties (.256/.314/.463). Basically Cashner should have similar value to Pena this week, but I might suggest trying to add him first over Pena.

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