We’re on a roll right now! We’ve had two big weeks in a row and can’t wait to keep it going here. What’s weird about this week is the scheduling. We have numerous teams playing just five games, which can be infuriating from a fantasy perspective. Picking streamers is also more challenging in these circumstances, but we still have a great group of guys. With that in mind, let’s look at the favorable matchups for this week!
Favorable Team Matchups
7 Games
Boston Red Sox (at MIN, at CWS)
Miami Marlins (vs. TOR, vs. PIT)
Minnesota Twins (vs. BOS at DET)
6 Games
Atlanta Braves (at PHI, at CIN)
Colorado Rockies (at CIN, vs. LAA)
Detroit Tigers (vs. KC, vs. MIN)
Tampa Bay Rays (vs. BAL, vs. KC)
Toronto Blue Jays (at MIA, vs. OAK)
Pitching Streamers
Johan Oviedo, PIT (vs. CHC, at MIA)
The season-long numbers from Oviedo are far from outstanding, but I’m impressed with this guy’s stuff. He had a terrible three-start stretch at the end of April against some of the best offenses in baseball but has been great aside from that. In fact, Oviedo had a 0.92 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 9.6 K/9 rate through his first three starts and has a 3.26 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 8.6 K.9 rate across his last seven starts. We’ll bank on the 10-game sample size over the three-game one because Oviedo has two great matchups this week. Chicago ranks 24th in runs scored since the beginning of May, while Miami sits 25th in xwOBA and 26th in runs scored. Two starts also limit the risk because we expect one of these to be a gem.
Aaron Civale, CLE (vs. OAK)
Civale has always been a talented pitcher, and we’re finally seeing glimpses of that potential. The Cleveland righty has a 2.67 ERA and 1.23 WHIP through his first five starts this year. That’s not far from his career averages, compiling a 3.98 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. I was genuinely surprised to see such a low WHIP, but it makes Civale one of the best streamers of the week in this matchup. Despite Oakland’s recent winning streak, they still rank 25th in OBP, 28th in runs scored, and last in xwOBA. The Streamonator loves Civale, projecting him to provide $20.8 worth of value.
Michael Lorenzen, DET (vs. KC)
I’ve always thought Lorenzen could be successful as a two-way player, but he’s found his stride as a pitcher in Detroit. He was rostered in almost every league two weeks ago, but he’s allowed six runs in back-to-back starts. We’re willing to overlook that because most pitchers have struggled with Atlanta and Arizona this season. Before that blip on the radar, Lorenzen tallied a 2.37 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across his previous eight starts. That’s the best stretch of this guy’s career, and a matchup with Kansas City should get him back on track. The Royals rank 29th in runs scored and dead last in OBP. The Streamonator likes Lorenzen, too, projecting him to provide $6.9 worth of value.
Braxton Garrett, MIA (vs. PIT)
It’s funny how one start can change everyone’s perception. That’s what happened with Garrett because he’s been awesome outside of one 11-run shelling against Atlanta. It’s hard to overcome an 11-run outing, but Garrett has allowed two runs or fewer in 10 of his other 12 starts, generating a 1.73 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 10.0 K/9 rate in that span. A matchup with Pittsburgh couldn’t be better right now either, with the Pirates ranked 28th in runs scored over the last month and 29th in K rate on the season. That was on full display when BG posted a 0.75 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, and 13.5 K/9 rate in two starts against them last year.
JP Sears, OAK (at CLE)
Having Oakland players as streamers is rare, but Sears has been their only viable fantasy option. The left-hander has just one win, but he’s allowed two runs or fewer in six straight starts, slinging a 2.53 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in that span. That’s an impressive stretch, but it’s less shocking when you see Sear’s 2.87 ERA and 1.00 WHIP throughout his minor-league career. This might be the one legitimate piece this A’s team has, and he should have another quality start against this god-awful Guardians lineup. Cleveland ranks 27th in runs scored, 29th in wOBA, and 28th in xwOBA.
Hitting Streamers
Alex Kirilloff, MIN (vs. BOS at DET)
We had Kirilloff as one of our streamers last week, and we’re going right back to the well. This kid is quietly having a magical season in Minnesota, maintaining a .411 OBP and .843 OPS. It’s rare to see a player with averages like those on nearly every waiver wire, especially since AK gets seven games against some subpar pitching. He faces the four worst pitchers in a 22nd-ranked Boston pitching staff and gets three games against a 24th-ranked Detroit unit. We didn’t even mention that six of those seven games are against right0-handers, with Kirilloff compiling a .421 OBP and .857 OPS against them this year.
Jarren Duran, BOS (at MIN, at CWS)
Duran has fallen out of favor against left-handers, but that doesn’t matter for this week. The BoSox have seven games, and all seven of them are against right-handers! That’s massive for Duran’s fantasy value because he’s been hitting leadoff whenever the Red Sox face a righty. It’s no surprise when examining his splits, totaling a .295 AVG, .349 OBP, .468 SLG, and .816 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. He’s also got eight of his 10 steals against righties and should be in line for plenty of runs and steals atop this lineup in a seven-game week. We also don’t mind the matchups, with Chicago sitting 24th in ERA and 21st in WHIP while avoiding the two best pitchers in that rotation. The Twins rotation looks scary on the surface, but Sonny Gray and Jorge Lopez have been struggling mightily over the last month.
Randal Grichuk, COL (at CIN, vs. LAA)
We always look out for hitters in Coors Field when picking our streamers. That has forced Grichuk into this article numerous times because he continues to be undervalued in fantasy. This guy is in the heart of the Rockies’ lineup every day, amassing a .307 AVG, .373 OBP, and .811 OPS. We’ve also seen this guy post an ISO north of .200 throughout his career, and he should stay hot in these matchups. We say that because Colorado gets to face four lefties! RG has a .349 OBP, .576 SLG, and .925 OPS against them over the last two years. He’s also got a .926 OPS at home this season and shouldn’t struggle against southpaws like Brandon Williamson, Patrick Sandoval, and Tyler Anderson. He’s also avoiding Shohei Ohtani and Hunter Greene this week as well!
SAGNOF (Saves/Steals Ain’t Got No Face)
Steals Specialists
Dairon Blanco (KC)
This kid has started his first three games for the Royals and could be one of the league leaders in steals if he’s in every lineup. He had 47 steals across 49 games at Triple-A this year and will run wild no matter what part of the lineup he’s in.
Jose Caballero (SEA)
This youngster has started in four of the last five games, picking up three steals in that span. He’s got nine on the year and averaged 0.5 steals per game at the minors over the last three years.
Jace Peterson (OAK)
It’s easy to find Oakland players on the waiver wire, but finding a steals specialist who bats fifth is tough. That’s what we have with Peterson, providing a .418 OBP and five steals across his last 16 outings.
Saves Specialists
Scott McGough (ARI)
Miguel Castro has been sliding recently, while McGough has been mowing down hitters. McGough actually got the first save chance to start the year and has a 0.00 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and 13.0 K/9 rate across his last 12 outings. Don’t be surprised to see him steal this job.
Kendall Graveman (CWS)
Liam Hendriks is back on the IL, so Graveman should reclaim his role as the closer. KG has seven saves before Hendriks came off the IL and has a 0.95 ERA and 0.79 WHIP since the beginning of May.
Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
