Whoever is reading this is my favorite audience. Only the diehards are still in it at this point, and anyone reading this is surely in the hunt for their fantasy championship. Most people have pivoted to fantasy football at this point, but I’m here for the diehards! It’s also the most critical time of the season to hit on your streamers because most of you are in do-or-die situations. We only have one more week after this, so let’s finish the season strong! With that in mind, let’s look at the favorable matchup and then dive into those streamers!
Favorable Team Matchups
7 Games
Colorado Rockies (vs. SD, vs. SEA)
Detroit Tigers (at TOR, at CWS)
Los Angeles Dodgers (at CIN, vs. SF)
San Diego Padres (at COL, vs. MIA)
6 Games
Cleveland Guardians (vs. CWS, vs. ATH)
Seattle Mariners (at LAA, at COL)
Tampa Bay Rays (vs. ATH, vs. BOS)
Pitching Streamers
Jacob Lopez/Gage Jump, ATH (at CLE)
I’m bullish on this young A’s pitching staff, and we love to use them as streamers whenever they’re on the road. Pitching in Sacramento is a nightmare for all of these guys, but their splits are sensational. Let’s start with Lopez because he looks like one of the best young lefties in MLB. He’s allowed two runs or fewer in 10 of his last 11 starts, and it should’ve been all 11 if he wasn’t left in too long in his last start. In that 11-game span, Lopez has a 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.7 K/9 rate. In addition, Lopez has a 1.90 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 11.4 K/9 rate on the road. Jump isn’t quite as good as Lopez, but he had a 2.60 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 rate through his first six road starts. The best part about this is the road matchup against Cleveland, with the Guardians ranked 27th in runs scored, 28th in OPS and 29th in xwOBA.
Streamonator Valuation: $
Kade Anderson, SEA (at LAA)
It’s funny how fickle fantasy managers can be. All the rage was about Anderson’s call-up a few weeks ago, but fantasy managers dropped him as quickly as a TikTok trend. A couple of bad starts shouldn’t be the end of him because he is one of the top prospects in baseball. Anderson had a 1.06 ERA and 0.64 WHIP across 18 starts at Triple-A. He also had 135 strikeouts across 93.1 innings. We saw glimpses of that in his last start, allowing just one run across six innings against Texas. Anyone who’s seen this guy pitch knows he can be elite, and we love his matchup against Los Angeles. The Angels rank 29th or 30th in OPS, wOBA, xwOBA and K rate.
Streamonator Valuation: $
Walker Buehler, SD (vs. MIA)
This feels like one that could blow up in our face, but it’s hard to overlook what Buehler is doing right now. This former Cy Young candidate has found something in San Diego, allowing three runs or fewer in 10 straight starts. He also has a 3.26 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in that span. That’s more in line with the stud we saw in the past, with Buehler maintaining a 2.90 ERA and 1.01 WHIP through his first five seasons. The last few haven’t been the same due to numerous injuries, but we can’t overlook a late-season surge like this. The matchup against Miami is magnificent too, with the Marlins ranked 24th in xwOBA while freefalling in the second half. Not to mention, Buehler might be a -200 favorite in this game.
Streamonator Valuation: $
Griffin Jax, TB (vs. ATH)
Jax was jettisoned to some waiver wires after an IL placement, but he needs to be picked back up now that he’s healthy. This righty was having a breakout season for the Rays before his injury, registering a 3.99 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. His numbers in the second half have been even better, allowing just one run in five of his last seven starts. One of those stinkers was his first game back, but we’re not worried about that in a matchup like this. The A’s rank 20th in K rate and have one of the worst lineups in baseball, with two of their best bats sidelined (Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker). He’ll also likely be a -200 favorite given how these teams are trending.
Streamonator Valuation: $
Mike Soroka, ARI (vs. MIA)
This is a risky one with Soroka making his return last week, but this guy has been too good to be considered as one of our streamers. He was actually rostered everywhere before his IL placement, providing a 3.53 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 18 starts. Soroka also had similar statistics last season, showcasing the stuff that made him a stud in his sophomore season. Soroka has surrendered four runs or fewer in 15 of his first 16 starts while generating a 2.93 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. It’s hard to believe that sort of production is sitting on the waiver wire because Soroka benefits from the same Miami matchup we discussed in the last write-up.
Streamonator Valuation: $
Hitting Streamers
Ty France, SD (at COL, vs. MIA)
Why is France still sitting on some waiver wires? This guy has been the Padres’ everyday cleanup hitter for months now, and he’s earned that prominent lineup spot with the best stretch of his career. France has a .294 AVG and .873 OPS this season while tallying a .332 AVG and .961 OPS across his last 52 fixtures. That ridiculous stretch should have France rostered everywhere, and he should close the season strong with matchups like these. A road series in Coors Field is the best possible matchup, with Colorado ranked last in ERA. WHIP and xwOBA. Miami isn’t scary either, and we also love that he has seven games this week.
TJ Rumfield, COL (vs. SD, vs. SEA)
The Rockies are a funny team. We really don’t trust any of their hitters outside of Coors Field, but we want to use all of them when they have a full week at home. We say that because Colorado is always projected to score 5-6 runs in every home game. That’s especially beneficial for a guy like Rumfield because he hits cleanup every day. He’s earned that cleanup spot by compiling a .297 AVG, .389 OBP and .846 OPS in a remarkable rookie season. Rumfield also has a .552 OBP and 1.211 OPS across his last 13 outings while amassing a .388 OBP and .890 OPS at home this year.
SAGNOF (Saves/Steals Ain’t Got No Face)
Steals Specialists
AJ Ewing (NYM)
Ewing was one of the best base-stealers throughout the minors and has eight steals across his last 22 outings.
Henry Bolte (ATH)
Bolte is the leadoff hitter for the A’s, accruing a .425 OBP and 1.005 OPS across the last month while swiping 19 steals this year.
Saves Specialists
Kodai Senga (NYM)
Senga has seven saves over his last 12 outings while posting a 2.03 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 rate since August 1.
Jordan Romano (COL)
This is gross, but Romano has 11 saves since becoming the Rockies’ closer.
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!
