Fantasy Baseball H2H Streamers – Week 18

How about that trade deadline? It didn’t feel like we had any true “blockbusters,” but seeing half of the relievers in baseball get moved was a fascinating development. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen so many bullpen shake-ups at any other deadline, and it’s going to lead to some chaos for the final two months. The good news is that not many starters were moved, so the streamers should be straightforward. With that in mind, let’s look at the favorable matchups and then dive into those streamers!

Favorable Team Matchups

8 Games

Atlanta Braves (vs. MIL, vs. MIA)

Miami Marlins (vs. HOU, at ATL)

7 Games

Cincinnati Reds (at CHC, at PIT)

6 Games

Arizona Diamondbacks (vs. SD, vs. COL)

Athletics (at WAS, at BAL)

Colorado Rockies (vs. TOR, at ARI)

Detroit Tigers (vs. MIN, vs. LAA)

Los Angeles Dodgers (vs. STL, vs. TOR)

San Francisco Giants (at PIT, vs. WAS)

Toronto Blue Jays (at COL, at LAD)

Pitching Streamers

Eduardo Rodriguez/Brandon Pfaadt, ARI (vs. COL)

It’s bizarre how many times E-Rod has been in here over recent weeks, but some of the matchups have been spectacular. The results have been all over the map, but pairing him with another risky pitcher like Pfaadt is a good way to approach the week due to this cupcake matchup. Let’s start there because the Rockies rank 29th or 30th in OBP, xwOBA, and K rate. That alone makes them an amazing opposition, but those numbers drop even further outside of Coors Field. That’s why we’ve been recommending streamers against them all season, and this pair of Arizona arms is a sneaky option despite some recent struggles.

Let’s kick start these streamers with Rodriguez because that lefty is due for some positive regression. Despite posting a 5.63 ERA and 1.65 WHIP, Rodriguez has registered a 4.30 xERA, 4.16 xFIP, and 4.06 SIERA. All of that indicates that Rodriguez should see some positive regression in the final weeks, allowing two runs or fewer in six of his last nine starts. He also has a 4.31 ERA and 8.6 K/9 rate in that span despite a nine-run shelling, showcasing some elite upside against bad offenses. Pfaadt has been mired in a slump over the last two months, but he had a 3.90 ERA and 1.22 WHIP through his first 11 starts. It’s four blow-ups against three of the best offenses that have undone his averages, with Pfaadt posting a 3.75 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 12.6 K/9 rate in two home matchups with the Rockies last year!

Streamonator Valuation: $37.6/$46.7

Jeffrey Springs, ATH (at WAS, at BAL)

Springs has always been an underrated arm, and it’s hard to believe he can still be considered one of our streamers. This lefty has a solid 4.00 ERA and 1.17 WHIP, allowing three runs or fewer in 15 of his last 17 starts. What makes that truly remarkable is that he has even better career averages, compiling a 3.12 ERA and 1.11 WHIP since 2021. That’s 355 innings of pristine pitching, and we always love when these A’s pitchers avoid pitching in Sacramento. Springs gets to do that twice this week, facing two of the worst offenses in baseball. The Nationals rank 21st in OBP, 22nd in OPS, and 23rd in wOBA, while the Orioles rank 24th in wOBA and 25th in K rate.

Streamonator Valuation: $15.2

Brady Singer, CIN (at PIT)

Singer has been one of our streamers numerous times over the last five years, mainly due to his inconsistencies. That’s usually what forces pitchers into this article, but they’re also included because of their sky-high upside. Singer has shown flashes of that recently, sporting a 0.68 ERA, 0.68 WHI,P and 12.2 K/9 rate across his last two starts. He’s also surrendered three runs or fewer in 12 of his last 14 starts, totaling a 4.01 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in that span. That’s a decent stat line from one of your streamers, but Singer is always more enticing outside of Great American Ball Park. That intrigue increases in Pittsburgh because that’s one of the most Pittsburgh-friendly parks in the sport. We didn’t even mention how pitiful the Pirates have been, ranked dead-last in runs scored, OBP and wOBA.

Streamonator Valuation: $-15.8

Joey Cantillo/Slade Cecconi, CLE (at CWS)

It’s rare we offer up multiple streamers like this, but these matchups are just too tasty. Just like the Rockies, the White Sox have been one of the worst offenses in the league. They actually rank in the bottom three in runs scored, OBP, OPS, and xwOBA since the start of last year. It’s easy to understand why when looking at the lineup, and they always seem to struggle against Cleveland.

Let’s kickstart these streamers with Cantillo, collecting a 3.81 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 11.8 K/9 rate since May 17. Cecconi is right there with him, providing a 3.38 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across his last nine starts. What’s also interesting is that both of these guys are better on the road, with Cantillo amassing a 3.15 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 12.2 K/9 rate since April 17, while Cecconi has a 2.57 ERA and 1.14 WHIP outside of Cleveland.

Streamonator Valuation: $0.2/-$8.5

Spencer Arrighetti, HOU (at MIA)

This is one of our riskiest streamers of the week, but many people forget just how special this guy was at the end of last year. Arrighetti accrued a 2.72 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 11.4 K/9 rate over his final 10 starts last season. That’s why many fantasy managers loved taking him at the end of drafts, but this righty only made two starts before a lengthy IL stint.

He had a WHIP below 1.00 through those first two starts and looks ready to return to action this week. That’s why this guy might be a sneaky pickup for the final two months because the upside is still there to be a Top 40 pitcher. It’s much more likely to happen in a place like Miami against the Marlins’ offense. Not only is that one of the most spacious parks in baseball, but the Marlins rank 19th in OBP, 20th in runs scored, and 21st in wOBA.

Streamonator Valuation: $NA

Sean Manaea, NYM (vs. CLE)

The Mets are famous for turning average pitchers into great ones, and that’s what they’re doing with Manaea. This lefty has showcased elite upside in his time with the A’s, but something has changed in NY. Since his signing last season, Manaea has maintained a 3.35 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 27 percent K rate across 36 starts.

That’s the stud we saw early in his Oakland days, and it looks even better since he’s allowed just one run in each of his first four starts. All of that makes him an easy buy, but pitching in Citi Field is a godsend for any one of our streamers. That pitcher’s park has allowed Manaea to total a 3.54 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 10.2 K/9 rate at home over the last three years while sitting with the lowest pitch factor. The matchup with Cleveland is the icing on the cake, with the Guardians ranked 26th in runs scored, 28th in wOBA, and dead-last in xwOBA.

Streamonator Valuation: $16.9

Hitting Streamers

Otto Lopez, MIA (vs. HOU, at ATL)

Did you know there are two yellow cartoon characters nicknamed Otto? That’s quite the coincidence, but Lopez has become quite the showman himself. That’s why the Marlins have been hitting him between third and fifth for over a month now, while having multi-position eligibility on most fantasy sites. Those are simple variables to consider when evaluating one of our streamers, but the form has been there all year.

Otto is on pace to flirt with a 20-20 season in the heart of this lineup while tallying a .286 AVG, .358 OBP and .809 OPS across his last 34 fixtures. That’s plenty to get excited about, but having eight games in a week is the biggest bonus. That’s something you only see a handful of times all year, and it’s the ultimate cheat code when accumulating counting categories. Five of those eight games are against Atlanta, who rank 20th in wOBA and 21st in ERA while posting even worse averages without Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach.

Jurickson Profar, ATL (vs. MIL, vs. MIA)

We just have to go back to the same well. We rarely have the opportunity to pick up hitters with eight games, but two of them are widely available on many of your waiver wires. We’re just as surprised to see how available Profar is in most leagues, providing a .270 AVG, .367 OBP and .808 OPS since the start of last year. That’s far from surprising since this was once the top prospect in baseball, and it looks even better since Atlanta has stuck him in their leadoff spot in the absence of Ronald Acuna. That’s quite the spot ahead of Austin Riley and Matt Olson, but we didn’t even mention the splits. Profar gets all eight games at home this week, producing a .282 AVG, .367 OBP and .842 OPS at home since 2023.

SAGNOF (Saves/Steals Ain’t Got No Face)

Steals Specialists

Victor Scott (STL)

Scott has been a regular in this section all season, recording 29 steals as an everyday player in St. Louis.

Wenceel Perez (DET)

Perez has been a sneaky lineup piece in Detroit, recording a steal in three of his last six outings.

Saves Specialists

We had so many trades at the deadline that I’ll just provide a list of guys who I expect to take over as the team’s closer. (ranked in order)

Cade Smith (CLE)

Randy Rodriguez (SF)

Dennis Santana (PIT)

Jack Perkins (ATH)

Jojo Romero (STL)

Jose Ferrer (WAS)

Corbin Martin (BAL) 

Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!