We were pleased with how last week’s streamers played out, but we also had some duds along the way. That’s inevitably going to happen, but we just want to make sure to keep chugging along, and putting you guys in profitable positions is what we really care about. Just like MLB players, nobody hits at a 100 percent rate, but placing yourself in prime positions every week is the best way to succeed in the long run. With that in mind, let’s look at the streamers we love for this week!
Favorable Team Matchups
7 Games
Atlanta Braves (at CHC, at PIT)
Baltimore Orioles (at STL, at CWS)
Chicago White Sox (at TOR, vs. BAL)
Detroit Tigers (at KC, vs. TOR)
San Diego Padres (at CIN, vs. NYY)
Seattle Mariners (at NYY, at WAS)
Toronto Blue Jays (vs. CWS, at DET)
6 Games
Cincinnati Reds (vs. SD, vs. LAD)
Colorado Rockies (at OAK, vs. PHI)
Houston Astros (vs. LAA, at OAK)
Los Angeles Dodgers (vs. ARI, at CIN)
Milwaukee Brewers (at MIA, at BOS)
Minnesota Twins (at WAS, vs. TEX)
Philadelphia Phillies (vs. TEX, at COL)
Tampa Bay Rays (vs. BOS, vs. KC)
Pitching Streamers
Reese Olson, DET (at KC, vs. TOR)
We had Olson as one of our streamers last week and we have to go right back to him. The Detroit pitcher is still below 40 percent rostership on Yahoo, but he should be rostered in every league at this point. Despite posting an unsightly 0-4 record, Olson has a 2.09 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. It’s hard to believe he has that 0-4 record, and it’s even more shocking when you see that Olson has allowed one run or fewer in six of his eight starts. That makes him impossible to fade in a two-start week, especially in two pitcher’s parks. The Royals rank 24th in OBP, while the Blue Jays sit 22nd in wOBA and 29th in runs scored.
Streamonator Valuation: $2.6
Sean Manaea, NYM (vs. SF)
Manaea can be tough to trust, but he’s always one of the top candidates to be one of our streamers. The left-hander has a 3.05 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in what’s turning out to be a solid season. He actually found that form at the end of last season, amassing a 2.61 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over the closing two months. We’ve seen this guy pitch like this in the past, and a move to Citi Field could be just what the doctor ordered. Manaea has a 3.54 ERA and 1.17 WHIP at home over the last three years, while Citi Field is one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in baseball. San Fran is far from a scary matchup, sitting 21st in OBP, 22nd in runs scored, and 24th in xwOBA.
Streamonator Valuation: $31.2
Dean Kremer, BAL (at CWS)
The Orioles have developed one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with Kremer having a career season. The Orioles righty has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts, totaling a 2.79 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 9.6 K/9 rate in those seven outings. The strikeout stuff is what really surprises us, but his 3.72 xFIP proves that it’s no fluke. Our favorite part about this is the matchup with Chicago, sitting last in runs scored, OBP, OPS and wOBA. In his last two matchups with the White Sox, Kremer has allowed just one run across 11.2 sparkling innings. It’s rare to have one of our streamers as a -200 favorite, but that might be the case with how bad Chicago has been.
Streamonator Valuation: $20.6
Michael Wacha, KC (vs. DET, at TB)
I truly thought Wacha was going to be an ace when he was mowing down batters for St. Louis early in his career, but that hasn’t quite panned out. In any case, he still showcases some nasty stuff, allowing three runs or fewer in six of his nine starts. If you take out one stinker against a terrifying Texas lineup, Wacha has a 3.72 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. He’s also got a 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.8 K/9 rate across his last two starts and should continue that dazzling form against Detroit and Tampa. The Motor City Kitties rank 23rd in K rate, 24th in runs scored, and 27th in wOBA, while the Rays rank 28th in xwOBA. That looks even better since he gets to pitch in Kauffman Stadium and Tropicana Field, collecting a 2.89 ERA and 1.15 WHIP at home over the last three years while Tropicana is a pitcher’s park!
Streamonator Valuation: $11
Joe Ross, WAS (at MIA)
It’s hard to believe that we have Ross as one of our streamers because he hasn’t been a fantasy-relevant option since 2016. This wouldn’t be the first pitcher Milwaukee revived, but it’s really encouraging since this guy has established some dominant stuff in the past. In any case, this guy is showing some flashes, allowing three runs or fewer in six of his eight starts. He’s also got a 2.59 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in those six outings and we expect him to duplicate that form against Miami. The Marlins rank 27th in runs scored, 28th in wOBA, and 29th in OBP. In five career starts against Miami, Ross has registered a 2.50 ERA and 1.25 WHIP!
Streamonator Valuation: $-0.2
Hitting Streamers
Ryan O’Hearn, BAL (at STL, at CWS)
The Orioles have been one of the best organizations at developing players, and they’ve done just that with O’Hearn. The platoon player always sits when Baltimore matches up with a lefty, but that doesn’t matter this week. Not only do the O’s have seven games but six of those matchups are projected to be right-handers! That means O’Hearn could hit third six days this week because that’s his regular spot whenever they face a righty. It’s easy to understand why, with O’Hearn providing a .398 OBP, .533 SLG, and .931 OPS against them this season. It’s no scary group of righties either, facing a St. Louis team that ranks 25th in wOBA and a Chicago team that sits 24th in the same statistic!
Richie Palacios, TB (vs. BOS, vs. KC)
We’ve had Palacios as one of our streamers multiple times this season because he’s truly been a breakout player in Tampa. This youngster has started 15 of the last 19 games for the Rays, hitting second or sixth whenever they face a right-hander. They do that because he’s been rocking righties this year, registering a .376 OBP and .786 OPS against them. It’s not like his numbers against lefties are anything to laugh at, totaling a .942 OPS in 33 at-bats against them over the last three years. That doesn’t matter for this week, though, because the Rays are projected to match up with six right-handers! He’s got four homers and seven steals against righties this year and is one of the few streamers who could do a little of each this week!
SAGNOF (Saves/Steals Ain’t Got No Face)
Steals Specialists
Jacob Young (WAS)
We saw Young get moved up to the leadoff spot earlier in the week, which makes him a must-roster player. He’s one of the league leaders with 14 steals, recording all of those over his last 31 games!
Jorge Mateo (BAL)
Mateo is not an everyday player for Baltimore anymore but he’s played 10 games over the last 15 days. That’s all we can hope for from a speedster like this, with Mateo recording 67 steals between 2022 and 2023.
Saves Specialists
Jalen Beeks (COL)
Picking up a Rockies reliever is less profitable than Russian Roulette, but here we are! Beeks has run away with their closer’s gig, recording a 2.21 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. More importantly, he has four saves in his last five appearances, with three of those happening in a four-day span last week. He’s the guy if you’re desperate for saves!
Michael Kopech (CWS)
Having the two worst teams in baseball in this section is no surprise, but Kopech is establishing himself as the guy as well. He has three saves in his last four appearances and should get the few chances Chicago had going forward.
Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
