Fantasy Baseball H2H Streamers – Week 21

Our streamers last week were all over the map, with Jacob Lopez and Matt Shaw looking like the highlights of that piece. We also got a nasty dud from Zebby Matthews and a bizarre two-start week from Jack Leiter, but stinkers are inevitable from streamers. That’s the volatility of picking streamers every week because these guys are naturally untrustworthy players. It can give you a leg up, but it can also kill your peripherals if you’re not careful. We’d advise only using streamers when you’re desperate for strikeouts and wins because crushing your peripherals can be a killer for your week. With that in mind, let’s look at this week’s favorable matchups and then dive into the streamers!

Favorable Team Matchups

7 Games

Boston Red Sox (at BAL, vs. PIT)

New York Yankees (at WAS, at CWS)

Pittsburgh Pirates (at STL, at BOS)

St. Louis Cardinals (vs. PIT, at CIN)

6 Games

Athletics (vs. DET, vs. TEX)

Chicago Cubs (at SF, at COL)

Colorado Rockies (at HOU, vs. CHC)

Detroit Tigers (at ATH, at KC)

Houston Astros (vs. COL, vs. LAA)

Texas Rangers (vs. LAA, at ATH)

Pitching Streamers

Hurtson Waldrep, ATL (at MIA)

It’s hard to believe Atlanta stumbled into this kid after injuries to Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach because he looks like an ace in the making. Waldrep has a perfect 4-0 record through four starts, sporting a 0.73 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 8.8 K/9 rate. We don’t expect him to maintain those absurd averages, but it’s much more likely in a matchup with Miami. Waldrep threw six one-run innings in his last matchup with the Marlins, which is no surprise since they rank bottom 10 in every offensive statistic since last season. They’re also 23rd in OBP and 24th in OPS over the last three weeks, while LoanDepot Park plays as a pitcher-friendly park.

Streamonator Valuation: $-17.4

Jason Alexander, HOU (vs. COL)

It’s nice to see Alexander take what he learned from Seinfeld and apply it with the Stros. That’s a tough transition to make, but Houston has done that with some bizarre prospects over recent years. The reclamation project for Alexander might be their most impressive feat, with the former reliever posting a 1.93 ERA and 0.92 WHIP across his last five starts. It’s really only two stinkers against the Dodgers and A’s that have pummeled his peripherals, with Alexander allowing three runs or fewer in 10 of 12 appearances.

He also has a 2.45 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in those outings, which should be easy to duplicate against Colorado. The Rockies rank 25th in OPS, 27th in runs scored, and 29th in xwOBA and K rate. That’s horrifying already, but they’ve been even worse outside of Coors Field. We also wouldn’t be surprised to see Alexander enter this magical matchup as a -300 favorite with the way these two teams are trending.

Streamonator Valuation: $24.3

Clay Holmes, NYM (vs. MIA)

It’s strange to have Holmes as one of our streamers, but he’s been dropped in numerous leagues over the last month. It’s easy to see why with the way he’s struggled, but this guy is too good to fade in a matchup like this. Let’s start with that opposition because Miami has been one of the worst offenses since last season. He also gets to pitch in Citi Field, which has been the best pitcher’s park over the last three years. We’re talking about a guy who had a 2.99 ERA and 1.24 WHIP through June, while posting a 3.84 ERA and 1.22 WHIP at home this year. He also has a 3.17 ERA and 1.24 WHIP since 2022 while generating a 14.4 K/9 rate in two starts against the Marlins this season.

Streamonator Valuation: $13.9

Cam Schlitter, NYY (at CWS)

This is hard to believe, but Schlitter ranks in the Top 3 in terms of velocity among starters this season. That’s probably a sign that Tommy John surgery is on the horizon, but it’s also a sign of some sensational starts in the near future. That’s just what we saw in Schlitter’s most recent start, slinging 6.2 scoreless innings against Tampa.

That gives Schlitter a 3.22 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 9.4 K/9 rate this season while allowing three runs or fewer in all seven starts. That’s in line with the stud we saw in the minors, maintaining a 2.82 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 33 percent K rate. Chicago is not far from a minor league lineup, with the White Sox ranked in the bottom three in runs scored, OBP, OPS, and xwOBA since the start of last season!

Streamonator Valuation: $6.5

Michael McGreevy, STL (vs. PIT)

It’s been a strange season for McGreevy, but it’s easy to identify when he’ll pitch well. It’s all about the matchups because he’s been destroyed against daunting lineups while mowing down lackluster ones. In fact, McGreevy has an 8.64 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in four starts against the Dodgers, Cubs, and Padres while providing a 2.02 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in six starts against the Rockies, Marlins, White Sox, Cubs, and Mets. We’re willing to trust those splits in this matchup as one of our streamers because Puttsburgh has been pitiful. In fact, the Pirates rank dead-last in runs scored, OPS, and wOBA. They’re also 27th in K rate, with McGreevy throwing three scoreless innings against them last year.

Streamonator Valuation: $4.1

Hitting Streamers

Ben Rice/Trent Grisham, NYY (vs. WAS, at CWS)

Rice was available in a few of my leagues this week, and he needs to be swooped up everywhere. He’s become the Bronx Bombers’ everyday catcher, collecting a .376 OBP, .540 SLG, and .915 OPS across his last 43 games. The hard-hit metrics tell us he could be a future All-Star as well, amassing a .295 xBA, .583 xSLG, and 55.3% hard hit rate. That’s been evident in his .463 OBP and 1.287 OPS across his last nine games. That makes him an easy sell since the Yankees play seven games against two of the worst pitching staffs in baseball.

The Nationals rank 29th in ERA, WHIP, and xwOBA, while the White Sox sit 28th in xwOBA. Facing two pitching staffs like that put both of these Bronx bats in play, with Grisham hitting leadoff against right-handers. NY is projected to face at least five righties in this seven-game week, with Grisham generating a .363 OBP and .869 OPS against righties this year. He also has a .375 OBP and .904 OPS on the road this season (at CWS for 4) while tallying a .353 OBP and .846 OPS across his last 20 outings.

Carlos Correa, HOU (vs. COL, vs. LAA)

Everyone got super excited to see Correa traded back to the Astros, and it appears to have revived his season. This former All-Star was doing nothing in Minnesota, but he has a .328 AVG, .388 OBP, and .831 OPS across his last 49 fixtures. That’s more in line with the statistics we’d expect to see because Correa has compiled a .276 AVG, .352 OBP, and .818 OPS throughout his career.

The only reason he’s on the waiver wire is because of his lack of homers and steals, but he should be an elite option for average, runs scored, and RBI as the two-hole hitter for one of the best lineups in baseball. Getting six home games against Colorado and LA is the icing on the cake, because the Rockies rank last in ERA, WHIP, and wOBA while the Angels sit 27th in ERA, 28th in WHIP, and 26th in wOBA.

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

Steals Specialists

Chandler Simpson (TB)

Simson is finally an everyday player in Tampa, recording 36 steals across 79 games. That’s the best rate in baseball, and he might end up taking the steals crown if he continues to play regularly.

Jake Mangum (TB)

Mangum has also been a fixture in Tampa’s lineup, totaling three steals over his last seven outings.

Saves Specialists

Jose Ferrer (WAS)

Ferrer has been the Nats best reliever since the Kyle Finnegan trade, recording four saves and two wins over his last seven appearances.

Shawn Armstrong (TEX)

We’ve been trying to guess these Rangers relievers all season, but it appears Armstrong is the best bet for saves right now. He has a 2.54 ERA and 0.85 WHIP this year while picking up the team’s most recent save less than a week ago.

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