We provided you with some weekend streamers and things got off to a nice start with Vince Velasquez pitching a gem on Saturday. What’s annoying about this week is the fact that these managers are being coy about their rotations. There are a ton of N/A’s out there in projected rotations and it makes things tougher on us. In any case, we have a pretty good idea of who should start and it’s actually a great week for streaming. With that in mind, let’s kick things off with our two-start streamers
Two-Start Streamers
Ryan Yarbrough, TB (vs. BAL, at CLE)
Yarbrough has always been underrated for fantasy purposes and he’s become one of my favorite streamers throughout the years. It’s always tough to know if he’ll start or piggyback but you’ll always know that he’ll provide a solid WHIP. The slender southpaw has a 4.08 ERA and 1.09 WHIP since becoming a regular part of this rotation in 2019 and has been turning his season around recently. In fact, Yarbrough has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last three starts, accruing a 2.81 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in that span. That’s finally turning around his slow start and it’s time to go pick him up in every league out there.
These two matchups are a good way to keep that form rolling, with the Orioles and Indians ranked near the bottom of every offensive statistic. Let’s start by talking about the O’s, with Baltimore ranked 26th in both OBP and wOBA while sitting 25th in runs scored and 22nd in OPS. Ryan has actually faced them twice this year, picking up a quality start in both of those. Cleveland might be an even better opposition, with the Tribe ranked 29th in OBP and 20th in OPS. The Streamonator really likes him too, projecting him to provide $15.6 worth of value in these starts.
Cole Irvin, OAK (vs. LAA, at SEA)
Irvin is starting to get picked up universally and this will probably be the last time we can call him one of our streamers. The reason for that is because he’s pitching out of his mind right now, owning a 2.95 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over his last seven starts. He’s actually got a 0.75 WHIP over his last three starts in total and it’s clear that Billy Beane has stumbled into yet another gem with this kid.
These matchups are majestic too, with Irvin getting two starts in pitcher-friendly ballparks. The first one against Los Angeles might look tough based on the statistics, but they’re missing Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon and Justin Upton, batting Phil Gosselin and Jose Iglesias fifth and sixth! Yeah, you read that correctly! The Mariners are the jelly in the donut though, with Seattle sitting 24th in OBP, 26th in K rate, 29th in OPS and dead-last in wOBA.
Merrill Kelly, ARI (vs. PIT, at CHC)
Mr. Merrill has been in this article a ton over recent weeks and it feels like the fantasy baseball community is neglecting him because he plays for the Diamondbacks. It’s easy to overlook players on that nightmarish team but Kelly has become an asset for fantasy managers. Amazingly, Kelly has allowed four runs or fewer in 15 of his last 16 starts, generating a 3.77 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in that span. That’s hard to find from a waiver wire guy, especially in a 16-start stretch.
All of that makes him one of the easiest streamers in a two-start week but he happens to have spectacular matchups too. The first one against Pittsburgh is pristine, with the Pirates ranked 28th in xwOBA, 29th in wOBA and dead-last in both runs scored and xwOBACON. Those are horrific numbers and it’s actually a great spot to bet an under with Tyler Anderson toeing the rubber for the Buccos as well. The Cubs really aren’t that much better, sitting 23rd in OBP, 19th in OPS and 28th in K rate.
UPDATE: It looks like Kelly will pitch Sunday and force him into just one start this week. He’s still a great single-start streamer.
One-Start Streamers
David Price, LAD (vs. COL)
The Price is starting to get right because this former All-Star is finally getting his pitch count to where we need it to be. The former Cy Young candidate has been pitching out of the Dodgers bullpen all year but with Trevor Bauer in trouble and Clayton Kershaw getting injured, it looks like Price is being stretched out. The left-hander has been an opener for the most part but his pitch count has gone from 42 pitches to 51 in his last two outings.
That means we could get to 60-70 here with him working in the All-Star break which is all you can hope for from a guy with a 3.31 ERA and 1.16 WHIP for his career. He can definitely return to that guy in LA, especially with the Rockies sitting bottom-three in runs scored, OBP, OPS and xwOBA on the road this year. This is the Streamonator’s favorite play of the week too, projecting Price to provide $20 worth of value.
Kolby Allard, TEX (at DET)
A 2-6 record with Texas is making a lot of people overlook this guy but a 3.69 ERA and 1.07 WHIP should not be overshadowed by that poor record. That has made him one of the best finds for the Rangers, allowing four runs or fewer in all 18 appearances he’s made this year. We actually had Allard as one of our streamers in this exact same matchup two weeks ago and he treated us with 5.1 two-run innings while striking out a career-best nine batters. That strikeout stuff is no surprise when you look at the Tigers terrible statistics, with the Motor City Kitties ranked 21st in runs scored, 23rd in OPS and dead-last in K rate.
Brady Singer, KC (vs. DET)
Singer has been out of tune at times this season but that pitch is finally starting to tune correctly. In fact, Brady has a 3.62 ERA over his last seven starts, striking out 36 batters across those 32.1 innings. He also allowed three runs or fewer in all of those and that’s the guy we saw throughout most of last season. His WHIP is downright scary in that span but we love that K rate, especially in a matchup like this. We already discussed how disastrous Detroit’s lineup can be, making Singer even more spectacular. In seven career starts against the Tigers, Singer has a 4-0 record, behind a 2.87 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 8.8 K/9 rate.
Streamers to Consider
Tarik Skubal, DET (vs. TEX, at KC)
Skubal has been a strikeout machine for weeks and he should thrive against these subpar offenses. The reason we didn’t write him up is that he’s already been picked up in tons of my leagues.
Wade Miley, CIN (vs. NYM, vs. STL)
Miley can’t strike out my grandma but he can get outs! That’s even more likely against bottom-10 offenses like the Mets and Cardinals.
Adbert Alzolay, CHC (at ARI)
We discussed how good Alzolay’s peripherals are in yesterday’s article and the same goes here against the worst team in baseball.
Caleb Smith, ARI (vs. PIT)
Smith had a 2.95 ERA and 1.27 WHIP before being trounced by the Dodgers and Giants in his last two starts and could duplicate that early-season form against a weak Pirates lineup.
Feel free to comment me here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
