It’s mind-blowing that these are my final two articles of the season. It always feels like the season is slowly steaming along, and then it’s just gone one day! That saddens me because this felt like one of my best seasons ever. I’ve also loved adding some relievers and SAGNOF specialists because it’s helped me advance in some of my leagues. I’m also in the semi-finals in dozens of leagues, and I need this article as much as anyone! With that in mind, let’s dive into this critical week of streamers!
Favorable Team Matchups
7 Games
Atlanta Braves (vs. PHI, at WAS)
Cleveland Guardians (at KC, vs, BAL)
Los Angeles Dodgers (vs. DET, vs. SF)
Milwaukee Brewers (at STL, at MIA)
6 Games
Chicago Cubs (vs. PIT, vs. COL)
Chicago White Sox (at WAS, at BOS)
Cincinnati Reds (vs. MIN, vs. PIT)
Houston Astros (vs. BAL, vs. KC)
Minnesota Twins (at CIN, vs. LAA)
Seattle Mariners (at OAK, at TEX)
San Diego Padres (vs. COL, vs. STL)
Pitching Streamers
Javier Assad, CHC (vs. PIT, vs. COL)
I’m not sure you could ask for better matchups in a two-start week! Getting two home starts is one thing, but these opponents couldn’t look any tastier. The Rockies rank last in runs scored, OBP, OPS, and xwOBA on the road in each of the last three years, while Pittsburgh ranks bottom five in runs scored, OBP, wOBA, and K rate since the opening month of the year. That would make any pitcher one of the best streamers of the week, but Assad has been fantastic recently. The Cubs righty has a 2.12 ERA and 1.09 WHIP since June 27, never allowing more than four runs in any of those outings! The form of the Cubbies only adds to his intrigue because Assad could be a -200 favorite in both of these matchups!
Cal Quantrill, CLE (at KC, vs, BAL)
Quantrill isn’t exactly an exciting pitcher, but he could be in line for two quality starts this week. The Guardians pitcher has been doing that regularly, picking up three straight quality starts coming into this matchup. He also has a 1.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in that span, which isn’t too surprising since he had a 3.08 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over the last three years. The Kansas City matchup is remarkable, too, with the Royals ranked 26th in runs scored, 28th in OBP, and 27th in xwOBA. A home start against Baltimore isn’t great, but he’s allowed just one run in two of his last three starts against the O’s.
Nick Pivetta, BOS (vs. CWS)
Pivetta was a fantasy darling a few years ago and always let his managers down. A move to the bullpen is what changed things for Pivetta because he’s been a different pitcher since the demotion. Since May 28, Pivetta has provided a 3.62 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 13.1 K/9 rate. He’s also been reinserted into the rotation over the last month, and it’s impossible to fade a guy who can provide such an elite strikeout rate. The matchup with the White Sox is the icing on the cake, with Chicago sitting 25th in runs scored, 29th in wOBA, and last in OBP. In two starts against the ChiSox last year, Pivetta posted a 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 9.8 K/9 rate. The Streamonator agrees, projecting Pivetta to provide $10.6 worth of value.
Taj Bradley, TB (vs. LAA)
Taj can be a risky option behind his 5.56 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, but this guy is better than that. The talented righty has a 3.75 xFIP and 29 percent K rate. That means some positive regression might be right around the corner, especially since Bradley had a 2.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 26 percent K rate at the minors since 2019. It’s just a matter of time before this kid finds some consistency, and a home matchup against LA is the best way to get him going. The Angels have lost Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Hunter Renfroe, and Anthony Rendon, ranked dead-last in K rate. This is one of the Streamonator’s favorite streamers of the week, projecting Bradley to provide $26 worth of value.
Brandon Williamson (vs. PIT)
The Reds have a ton of talented young players, and Williamson is another one of them. The reason we want to ride him as one of our streamers is this brilliant matchup. Pittsburgh ranks 24th in runs scored, 23rd in wOBA, and 29th in K rate. That’s amazing with how Williamson has pitched recently, registering a 3.66 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 8.8 K/9 rate since July 1. He’s surprisingly been dominant at home in that span, too, totaling a 3.07 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. That form looks likely to continue in such a superb matchup, and we obviously don’t mind that Williamson will be a sizable favorite with his team fighting for a playoff spot against a putrid Pirates team.
Hitting Streamers
Jorge Polanco, MIN (at CIN, vs. LAA)
There are veterans who sit on waiver wires for whatever reason, and Polanco is one of them. Two stints on the IL is probably what’s left him there, but he’s one of the best streamers over these closing two weeks. This former All-Star has been scorching since coming off the IL, tallying a .296 AVG, .402 OBP, .519 SLG, and .920 OPS over his last 30 games. People forget just how special JP has been in the past, providing 97 runs, 35 doubles, 33 homers, 98 RBI, and 11 steals in an unbelievable 2021 season. All of that makes him tough to fade in these matchups, facing the backend of the Reds rotation in Great American Ballpark and squaring off with a crappy LA staff missing Shohei Ohtani.
Eddie Rosario, ATL (vs. PHI, at WAS)
There weren’t many great seven-game options this week, but Rosario is one of them. This guy has been playing nearly every day in the Braves lineup, which alone is a massive boost for one of your streamers. That’s the highest-scoring team in baseball, and Rosario has been a major part of it in the bottom half of the lineup. Over his last 29 games, Eddie has established a .340 AVG, .395 OBP, .573 SLG and .968 OPS. You can’t ask for any more from a player off your waiver wire, especially since he gets the platoon advantage in five of the seven games this week! Getting to face Washington four times is lovely, too, ranked 27th in ERA and 28th in WHIP.
SAGNOF (Saves/Steals Ain’t Got No Face)
Steals Specialists
Brice Turang (MIL)
Turanghad 34 steals at Triple-A last season and has been playing almost every day for Milwaukee. Not only is he eligible at numerous positions, but he has four steals over his last seven games.
Akil Baddoo (DET)
Baddoo has been hitting leadoff recently for Detroit, swiping a base in four of his last 11 outings.
Saves Specialists
Chris Martin (BOS)
With Kenley Jansen landing on the IL, Martin looks like the best bet for saves in Boston. He has a 1.12 ERA and 1.03 WHIP en route to 22 holds this year!
Tyler Kinley (COL)
Picking a Rockies closer has been a nightmare all year, but Kinley looks like the guy as of late. The righty has three saves in his last six appearances, which looks even better since Justin Lawrence twisted his ankle on Friday!
Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
