Fantasy Baseball H2H Streamers – Week 3

Last week’s article wasn’t as good as the opening week, but I’m still pleased with the results. Zack Littell was really the only dud, but it was nice to see the hitters perform after struggling in the opening week. What’s fascinating about this article is that I had trouble limiting down the streamers. That’s why I will offer up more options than usual, with many of them on the same team. It’s a bizarre week in that facet because we have some great waiver wire options in the same magical matchups. With that in mind, let’s look at the matchups and then dive into those streamers!

Favorable Team Matchups

7 Games

New York Mets (at MIN, vs. STL)

New York Yankees (vs. KC, at TB)

Philadelphia Phillies (vs. SF, vs. MIA)

Pittsburgh Pirates (vs. WAS, vs. CLE)

Tampa Bay Rays (vs. BOS, vs. NYY)

Washington Nationals (at PIT, at COL)

6 Games

Athletics (at CWS, at MIL)

Boston Red Sox (at TB, vs. CWS)

Colorado Rockies (at LAD, vs. WAS)

Los Angeles Dodgers (vs. COL, at TEX)

Milwaukee Brewers (vs. DET, vs. ATH)

Pitching Streamers

Merrill Kelly/Eduardo Rodriguez, ARI (at MIA)

Using streamers against the Marlins has worked as long as I’ve been working for Razzball. This team was either 28th or 29th in runs scored, OBP, OPS, and xwOBA last season. They haven’t been any better this year, sitting 26th in runs scored and 29th in K rate. That becomes less surprising since Marlins Park has developed into one of the best pitcher’s parks in baseball, and we expect the D’Backs to be favorites in both of these games.

That ballpark and opposition should benefit both of these pitchers. We’ll start with Kelly, who’s been excellent in two of his three starts. The only stinker was a road game against the Yankees, with Kelly compiling a 2.38 ERA and 1.06 WHIP aside from that. We’re talking about a guy who has a 3.88 career ERA and 1.22 WHIP, which is really all you can hope for from one of your streamers. As for E-Rod, this guy was a stud in the past. The lefty had a 3.30 ERA and 1.15 WHIP just two years ago while posting a 2.70 xFIP and 10.8 K/9 rate so far this season. In a matchup with the Marlins last year, Rodriguez surrendered just one run across 5.1 innings.

Streamonator Valuation: $-1.0/$-2.5

Jeffrey Springs/Osvaldo Bido/JP Sears, ATH (at CWS)

It’s extremely rare to recommend three pitchers from the same team as streamers, but a series against the White Sox will do that. This is simply one of the worst offenses over the last 25 years, ranked last in runs scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA and xwOBA last season. They’re somehow last in most of those this season as well, and it’s scary to think just how bad they’ll be. We also love that these A’s pitchers get to pitch on the road because Sacramento is a nightmarish ballpark for these guys’ ERAs and WHIPs.

Let’s kickstart these A’s streamers with Springs. This lefty has been outstanding whenever he’s healthy, sporting a 2.73 ERA and 1.10 WHIP since 2019. Two quality starts through three outings indicate that he’s ready to roll, and we certainly don’t want to fade him against a team like this. Bido was quietly the Athletics’ best pitcher last season, providing a 3.41 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. He also allowed four runs or fewer in all but one outing, making him an easy option against the ChiSox. As for Sears, this guy always steps up against weak competition. JP had a 4.38 ERA and 1.22 WHIP last year while generating a 4.24 ERA and 1.18 WHIP through three starts this season.

Streamonator Valuation: $12.9/$3.8/$-2.4

Nick Martinez, CIN (vs. SEA)

It’s amazing how this guy has completely turned around his career. Martinez was one of the worst starters in baseball out of the gates, but a move to the bullpen changed everything for the right-hander a few years ago. He’s become a starter since then, accruing a 3.10 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in a breakout 2024 season. Martinez did that damage across 19 starts, and he’s off to a solid start this year behind his 3.78 xFIP and 1.22 WHIP. A home matchup with Seattle is sensational, too, with the Mariners ranked 21st in wOBA and 23rd in runs scored. They were even worse last season, and we expect them to keep falling after losing their leadoff hitter last week.

Streamonator Valuation: $2.6

Tyler Mahle, TEX (vs. LAA)

It’s hard to believe that Mahle is one of our streamers, but it’s amazing what health can do for a pitcher. Mahle has only made eight starts over the last two seasons, but it’s hard to overlook what he’s done so far this season. The Rangers righty hasn’t allowed more than one run in any outing, generating a 1.32 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. We’re willing to trust that because Mahle maintained a 3.90 ERA and 1.21 WHIP between 2020 and 2023 before all of the injuries. The advanced metrics show that it’s no fluke either, and we love the matchup with LA. The Angels were 27th or 28th in runs scored, OBP, OPS and wOBA last season.

Streamonator Valuation: $4.7

Ben Lively, CLE (at PIT)

Lively has been one of our streamers numerous times over the last two years, and it’s hard to believe he’s still so widely available. He had a 3.81 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in a breakout 2024 campaign, allowing four runs or fewer in 27 of 29 starts. Lively also allowed two runs or fewer in 20 of those and is coming off five scoreless innings in his most recent start. That should bode well in a road matchup against the Pirates, with Pittsburgh ranked 26th in OBP, 28th in wOBA and 27th in OPS last season. PNC is also one of the most pitcher-friendly parks around, which should lead to another quality start for this underrated righty.

Streamonator Valuation: $-25.8

Hitting Streamers

Jonathan Aranda/Christopher Morel, TB (vs. BOS, vs. NYY)

Tampa will be featured in this article all season because this lineup is full of underrated bats and always seems to perform. We will kickstart these streamers with Aranda because he’s been their primary cleanup hitter since Opening Day. The 26-year-old has a .367 AVG, .429 OBP, and 1.096 OPS in what’s turning into a breakout season. That OPS is above 1.200 against righties, which is awesome since he faces five in this seven-game week. We didn’t even mention that all seven are at home, which is fantastic since this new ballpark for the Rays is one of the smallest parks in the sport! That’s why we’re willing to take a risk on Morel, collecting 42 home runs and 16 steals across 220 games in his first two seasons. His third year didn’t go quite as well, but seeing him hit fifth every day for this brilliant organization should get Morel back on track.

Trevor Story, BOS (at TB, vs. CWS)

I might just keep Story in this article every week until he’s rostered in every league. I truly believe this is a must-roster player when he’s healthy, collecting 23 homers and 33 steals across 177 games over the last four years. Playing fewer than 200 games in that four-year span is the real problem, but we’re talking about one of our streamers who only needs to last one week! That’s why we want to ride Story until an inevitable injury because he has two homers, four steals and an OPS above .800 over his last 11 outings. That looks even better when considering these matchups, facing weak pitching staffs in two hitter-friendly parks. As long as Story is out there and hitting in the heart of this dangerous lineup, he needs to be on fantasy rosters.

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

Steals Specialists

Leodys Taveres (TEX)

This guy has always been an underrated fantasy asset, but he’s really found his speed this season. Tavares has five steals through 12 games and is developing into an everyday player once again.

Zac Veen (COL)

Veen is one of the Rockies’ top prospects, and they’ve already stuck him in the two-hole of their lineup. While he’s yet to record a steal through four starts, Veen had 134 steals across 344 games at the minors.

Saves Specialists

Dennis Santana (PIT)

With David Bednar getting demoted, there’s no doubt that Santana is their best reliever. He’s only allowed one run through six appearances and picked up a save just last week.

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