It’s so wild that we’re in Week 21. That means we have less than two months remaining, and many of you are approaching your fantasy playoffs. I mostly play in head-to-head categories leagues because I’m a sick degenerate, but that’s always been the best format for using streamers. I truly love the everyday grind of that format, and I feel like streamers can change everything. With that in mind, let’s look at the favorable matchups for this week and then dive into those streamers!
Favorable Team Matchups
8 Games
Cincinnati Reds (vs. STL, at ARI)
St. Louis Cardinals (at CIN, at PHI)
7 Games
Athletics (at KC, at HOU)
Kansas City Royals (vs. ATH, vs. DET)
Tampa Bay Rays (vs. TOR, at BAL)
6 Games
Boston Red Sox (vs. ARI, vs. SF)
Cleveland Guardians (vs. SF, at COL)
Colorado Rockies (vs. LAD, vs. CLE)
Houston Astros (vs. LAA, vs. HOU)
Los Angeles Dodgers (at COL, vs. PIT)
New York Yankees (at BAL, vs. TOR)
Philadelphia Phillies (vs. MIA, vs. STL)
Texas Rangers (vs. WAS, vs. LAA)
Pitching Streamers
Landen Roupp, SF (at CLE)
Roupp has been on and off the waiver wire all season, but I always love me a San Fran arm. I believe that spacious ballpark gives some of those pitchers confidence wherever they pitch, and the numbers always seem to play out that way. Roupp actually has a road matchup this week, but Cleveland is far from concerning. The Guardians rank 28th or 29th in runs scored, wOBA, OPS and xwOBA. Now that we’ve covered that, let’s talk Roupp. This right-hander has allowed two runs or fewer in 14 of 23 starts en route to a 4.22 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. A ton of the good starts have been due to matchups, and we love that he allowed just two hits and one run in his most recent start against the Motor City Kitties.
Streamonator Valuation: $-13.9
Dustin May, MIL (vs. SEA)
May was one of the breakouts of the season in his time with St. Louis, but a midseason slump has demoted him to one of our streamers. We’ll take that mistake by fantasy owners because Milwaukee always gets the most out of its starters. They acquired him at the deadline, and May has responded with a 2.09 ERA and 0.92 WHIP through two starts. That’s the guy we saw in the middle of the season, with May maintaining a 2.54 ERA and 0.98 WHIP between April 10 and June 15. He’s also surrendered two runs or fewer in four straight starts in total while facing a subpar Seattle lineup here. The Mariners rank 29th in wOBA and dead-last in runs scored.
Streamonator Valuation: $5.6
Sean Manaea, NYM (at CWS)
Manaea is one of the strangest pitchers in baseball. There are times when he looks like he should be playing Banana Ball and others when he truly looks like an All-Star. You never know when that will happen, but he looks like the ladder right now. Manaea has allowed two runs or fewer in four straight starts while throwing at least six innings in all of those. He also has a 2.16 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 rate in that span, despite facing teams like the Dodgers, Braves and Pirates. We usually prefer Manaea at home in Citi Field, but he actually has a lower ERA on the road this year. It’s not like Chicago is too scary either, sitting 15th in xwOBA and 25th in K rate
Streamonator Valuation: $8.9
Gage Jump, ATH (at KC)
It’s sad that these A’s pitchers have to pitch in Sacramento because they have a few interesting young arms. Jump is certainly one of them, generating a 4.46 ERA in his rookie season. That’s actually a pretty solid ERA in a place like Sacramento, especially since Jump has a 2.60 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 rate on the road this season. Splits like those have been common for these A’s arms, so we love to use them whenever they’re on the road. A matchup with Kansas City only adds to his intrigue because the Royals rank 22nd in xwOBA and 23rd in runs scored. Not to mention, we love that Jump struck out 11 batters against a scorching Boston lineup in his most recent start.
Streamonator Valuation: $4.2
Connor Prielipp, MIN (at SD)
The Twins have been one of the best teams at developing pitchers over the last decade, and they’ve found something precious with Prielipp. This righty has been in and out of the rotation to protect his innings, but he’s been impressive when he’s been in there. Prielipp has surrendered three runs or fewer in six straight starts while sporting a 4.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 11.9 K/9 rate across his last five outings. That’s an impressive run, but it’s less surprising since he had a 1.93 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 12.8 K/9 rate at Triple-A. The road matchup with San Diego is sensational too, with the Padres ranked 21st in runs scored and 23rd in wOBA.
Streamonator Valuation: $3.0
Bubba Chandler, PIT (vs. DET)
Chandler was a must-roster player early in the season due to his upside, but he was relegated to numerous waiver wires after a slow start. Some of these young arms just need time, and it feels like Chandler is starting to find something. This Pirates pitcher has allowed just seven total runs over his last five starts while tallying a 2.36 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 8.1 K/9 rate in that span. That’s the form we’ve been waiting to see because Chandler was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. A home matchup with Detroit isn’t disastrous either, with the Tigers ranked 20th in K rate. This truly feels like a breakout in the making, and a late-season push might be the thing to get him going into next year.
Streamonator Valuation: $-4.8
Hitting Streamers
Zack Gelof, ATH (at KC, at HOU)
Gelof the Great has been in my articles all season, and this is probably your last opportunity to pick him up. This guy broke out with 31 homers and 39 steals across 207 games through his first two seasons, but injuries have derailed him since then. The good news is that he’s recaptured that form this year, with Gelof generating a .280 AVG and .833 OPS across 70 games. He’s also been rolling recently, registering a .313 AVG and 1.010 OPS across his last 22 outings. We typically want to use these A’s bats when they’re home, but these matchups are fantastic anyway. Not only do the A’s have seven games, but they also face a Royals team that ranks 28th in ERA, wOBA and xwOBA, while the Stros sit 24th in wOBA and 25th in ERA.
Trent Grisham, NYY (at BAL, vs. TOR)
Grisham is always an enticing option as one of our streamers. We always need to look at his schedule, and this is the ideal one for Grisham. We say that because he hits leadoff when they face a righty, and the Yanks are projected to face six right-handers this week! It’s some friendly righties too, with the O’s ranked 19th in ERA and 23rd in wOBA, while Toronto is far from tough. Facing six righties is massive for Grisham since he has a .342 OBP and .839 OPS against them since the start of last season. The recent form is even more ridiculous, with Grisham generating a .429 AVG and 1.476 OPS across the last week.
SAGNOF (Saves/Steals Ain’t Got No Face)
Steals Specialists
Cole Carrigg (COL)
Carrigg has been in the heart of Colorado’s lineup every day, collecting four steals over his last 10 outings.
Tim Tawa (ARI)
Tawa has totaled four steals over his last six outings and could be a sneaky source of steals as we advance.
Saves Specialists
Jordan Romano (COL)
SAGNOF is there for a reason, and Romano is one of the faces of that. This is a pickup I couldn’t quite muster, but he’s the Rockies closer. He has eight saves over his last 11 appearances.
Hogan Harris (ATH)
This is another gross situation, but Harris has five saves over his last nine outings while posting a 12.5 K/9 rate.
Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions! Also, feel free to check out my Waiver Wire article from yesterday!
Elly DLC doing his usual *Harry Houdini 2nd half Disappearing Act*?
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