After two great weeks, last week’s article was a bit hit-and-miss. Most of the streamers performed pretty well but an absolute dud from Adam Plutko really annoyed me. In any case, it’s something to build off of and we just have to pray that the rotations stay where they are and we don’t have more COVID chaos.
If you have any comments or questions, reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel
Two-Start Streamers
Framber Valdez (vs. LAA, vs. OAK)
Guys, Valdez is still available in wayyyy too many leagues. He’s done nothing but produce all season long and he’s been one of the best streamers out there. We’re talking about a dude who owns a 1.72 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through five games this season. He even navigated through Coors Field in his last start, proving he’s no fluke.
Those numbers alone make him a great streaming option but getting two home starts only adds to his intrigue. Minute Maid Park currently ranks 27th in park factor and it’s truly developed into one of the most pitcher-friendly ballparks around. While both of these offenses have potential, Valdez has seen each of them once, owning a 0.68 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 11.5 K/9 rate across 13.1 innings of action. Not to mention, neither of those clubs are hitting above .230 and are clearly off to slow starts.
The Streamonator absolutely loves this call, projecting Valdez for 13.2 Ks across two quality starts en route to $22.5 worth of value.
Trevor Richards (vs. BAL, at MIA)
Richards found his way into numerous of my streamers articles last season and I just can’t escape this kid. While he has gotten off to a slow start, one needs to take into consideration who he has faced. In his five appearances, TR has played the Yankees and Blue Jays two times apiece. Those are two of the most dangerous offenses in baseball and these two easier matchups should allow him to lower his season averages. Both of these clubs ranked bottom-five in runs scored, OBP and OPS last season, and it’s not like they’ve done much to their lineups since despite the improved numbers.
What also adds to Richards value is the fact that both of these starts are in extreme pitcher’s parks. Tampa and Miami are both fantastic environments and it’ll likely have Richards entering as a large favorite with low totals. He happened to pitch in Miami two years ago and between these two ballparks, Richards owned a 4.05 ERA and 1.26 WHIP dating back to 2018. This is a guy who will be widely available and it could be a sneaky way to add a win or two and some solid averages.
One-Start Streamers
Kwang Hyun Kim (vs. PIT)
It’s hard to know what to expect from Kim but anyone who’s facing the Pirates is in play. So far this season, the Buccos own a .210 AVG, .269 OBP, .326 SLG and .595 OPS. There aren’t many nine-hole hitters posting averages like that and it’s kind of sad just how bad this team is right now. This guy has some serious potential too, owning a 17-6 record with a 2.51 ERA and 8.5 K/9 last season in the KBO. The Streamonator certainly thinks highly of him here, projecting him to provide $11.6 worth of value.
Dylan Cease/Gio Gonzalez (vs. KC)
I like Cease a lot more than Gio but both of these guys can be sneaky pick-ups. The reason for that is because they get to face the Royals. This is a club that sat bottom-10 in nearly every offensive category last season and currently sit 26th in runs scored this year. That’s good news with Cease in the midst of a breakout season, owning a 4-1 record en route to a 3.16 ERA. Gio has been a bit more volatile but a 3.86 ERA and 11.6 K.9 rate over his last two starts is some quality form coming into this tasty matchup. The Streamonator definitely likes Cease more, projecting him to provide $9.4 worth of value in that start.
Corbin Burnes (vs. PIT)
Gosh, I feel bad abusing the Pirates like this but we need to win our fantasy baseball leagues! This is probably the worst offense in baseball right now and it puts all sorts of streamers in play against them. Burnes is just that, pitching to a 3.00 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 12.4 K/9 rate so far this season. Those are stellar averages and he’ll likely be too highly owned in fantasy leagues once he goes off in this fantastic matchup.
Randy Dobnak (at DET)
Here we are again. Every year, there are one or two streamers who find their way in here almost every week and it appears that Dobnak is the guy this year. This dude just continues to ball out, pitching to a 1.42 ERA and 0.87 WHIP. It makes it hard to believe that he’s still available in numerous leagues but people are probably just sleeping on him because of that goofy look. In any case, that stellar form is great news against an offense like the Tigers. The Motor City Kitties were 29th or 30th in OBP, OPS and K rate last season and aren’t far off of those averages this year.
Robert Gsellman/Corey Oswalt (vs. MIA)
Getting to face the Marlins in Citi Field has sexy streamers written all over it. This is one of the worst offenses in baseball and that ballpark is one of the most pitcher-friendly ballparks around. It’s not like these streamers are bums either, with Gsellman looking like the better of the two. The guy with the weird last name found his way into the rotation in 2017, amassing a 3.52 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in his final seven starts. That was forever ago but it shows that he can be effective as a starter nonetheless. As for Oswalt, he had a 2.91 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 16 starts at Triple-A last season. He also has the last name of Oswalt and that automatically means that he’s probably a good pitcher too even though he no has relation to his uncle Roy.
