Aside from Tyler Mahle getting removed from the rotation about 12 hours after my article was published, we had another successful streamers week. Randy Dobnak, Brandon Bielak, Christian Javier, Framber Valdez and Dylan Cease all performed well and that’s really all we can hope for. That makes for two successful weeks in a row and we’re going to look to keep that momentum rolling here!
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Two-Start Streamers
Mike Fiers/Chris Bassitt (at AZ, vs. LAA)
Oakland pitchers have been in these articles for years now and they just continue to churn out undervalued arms. Let’s start things off with the higher-owned Fiers, who has the potential to go off any given week. Since joining the A’s in 2018, the right-hander has a 3.90 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. While that’s nothing special, it’s really all you can hope for from a guy who gets two starts in pitcher-friendly ballparks. That’s definitely the case when you see his 3.06 ERA and 1.13 WHIP at home in that span, with the Angels home start being the scarier of the two matchups.
Facing Arizona on the road is far from scary though, with the Diamondbacks sitting 27th in K rate and 24th in OPS. The fact that the Angels best hitters are Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon makes that matchup slightly less fearful too, with Fiers and Bassitt both pitching from the right side. Let’s talk a little about Bassitt now, as he just continues to find his way into these streamers’ articles. Since 2018, the Bassitt Hound has a 3.49 ERA and 1.17 WHIP and looks better than ever this year. He too has ridiculous splits at home with a 2.73 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 8.8 K/9 rate in that same span, making him an enticing target as well.
Griffin Canning (vs. SF, at OAK)
Canning’s career averages are nothing to write home about but the peripherals tell us a different story. This is a pitcher who has a 25 percent K rate to go along with a 1.28 WHIP and 4.43 SIERA. Those are by no means special numbers but it’s certainly a guy who’s capable of success when you consider his 3.27 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 27 percent K rate in the minors.
The treat here is the home start against San Francisco. This is an offense who ranked last in nearly every offensive statistic last season and it will likely have Canning and the Angels entering this game as a –180 favorite or higher. Getting the second start against the A’s is tough but it does put him in two pitcher’s ballparks for the two-start week. Amazingly, Canning has faced Oakland in four of his 21 total starts, striking out 23 batters across 20.2 innings while obtaining a 1.19 WHIP. The Streamonator agrees with our assessment, projecting Canning for 9.7 Ks across 10 innings pitched in those two starts while amassing $9.9 worth of value in the San Fran start.
One-Start Streamers
Pablo Lopez (vs. NYM)
Pablo, why do you do this to me? This guy has always found his way into my heart and it’s just something I can’t get past. The thing I love about Lopez is that he gets to pitch at home this week. Over the last three seasons, the right-hander has a 3.51 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 7.3 K/9 rate in Marlins Park. That’s a must-own player in every league and it looks even better when you consider that he has a 2.25 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 rate so far this season. This is all we can ask for from one of our streamers and it’s not like the Mets scare us after losing Jeff McNeil over the weekend.
Steven Matz (at MIA)
Matz is a very annoying pitcher to own but he’s perfect in terms of streamers. The left-hander has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career and a matchup against the Marlins is a recipe for a solid start. This is a team that ranked last or 29th in runs scored, OBP and OPS last season and really hasn’t improved a whole lot. While they’ve been much better this year, it’s not like the lineup is scary with Jesus Aguliar and Brian Anderson in the heart of it. In his first three starts against Miami last year, Matz pitched to a 2.96 ERA across 15.2 innings of action while striking out 16 batters. The Streamonator loves this play too, projecting Matz to provide $6.7 worth of value en route to a quality start.
Adam Plutko (vs. DET)
Plutko found his way into this article a ton last season and he’s just one of those streamers that is always overlooked. We’re talking about a guy who has a 2.45 ERA and 1.00 WHIP this season, after owning a 4.25 ERA and 1.22 WHIP last year before his final ugly start. Those are solid numbers from any streamer and we absolutely love that he gets a matchup against the Tigers. The Motor City Kitties currently sit 26th in OBP and 28th in K rate which are sadly better numbers than they had last year.
Randy Dobnak (at KC)
Dobnak was a success last week and we’re going right back to the well. The right-hander now has a 0.90 ERA and 0.90 WHIP this season which brought his career averages to a 1.30 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. The strikeouts are still lackluster but who cares when you’re limiting hard contact like that. Getting to face the 23rd-ranked Royals offense only adds to his intrigue. By the way, look how funny Dobnak and Plutko look together. These guys look ready to hit the rodeo or a bar or probably both!
Tony Gonsolin (vs. SEA)
It’s unclear if Gonsolin will make this start but if he does, he’s one of the best streamers of the week. In his two starts this season, the righty has an astounding 0.00 ERA and 0.69 WHIP. That now gets him to a 2.40 ERA and 0.97 WHIP for his career while posting an 8.8 K/9 rate. That’s terrible news for an offense like the one Seattle owns, sitting 25th in OPS and 26th in runs scored. Not to mention, he’ll likely enter this matchup as a –250 favorite behind this daunted Dodgers lineup. Here’s a Gonsolin pic too to join Dobnak and Plutko at the rodeo. Maybe, I need to grow a mustache!
Don’t forget about Dylan Cease facing the putrid Tigers offense again, projected to provide $14.8 worth of value by the Streamonator.
