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We had some mixed results last week with our streamers, but I was happy with the results for the most part. The Elieser Hernandez start was the only one that rattled me, but I feel silly recommending him in the first place. We did land some of you with Sheldon Neuse, though, and his ownership percentage has skyrocketed over the last two weeks. We wanted to include him again, but you guys are smart enough to know that he needs to be picked up in every league. He plays eight games this week, and he’d be at the top of the list if he’s available! With that said, let’s kick things off with pitching streamers!

Pitching Streamers

Adrian Houser, MIL (at CIN)

Houser saw his ownership percentage double last week, which might happen here. The Brewers develop starters better than any team in baseball right now, and it looks like Houser is becoming a horse. He’s got a 3.42 ERA and 1.25 WHIP through his first five starts of the year. That form carried over from last year, with Adrian amassing a 2.16 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over his final 13 starts of last season. All of that makes him a worthy pick-up against anyone, but the Reds are the best matchup in baseball. Cincinnati ranks dead-last in OBP, OPS, wOBA, wins, and xwOBA.

Alex Cobb, SF (vs. COL)

Cobb was obliterated in his first start off of the IL, but this guy has looked special aside that. The 34-year-old had a 4.82 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 13.5 K/9 rate through the first two starts of the year. That K rate is what makes him really attractive because Cobb has seen his fastball velocity creep near 100 MPH. We love that since Cobb has a bounceback 2021 season, totaling a 3.72 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 27 percent K rate. He showed that form on Friday, striking out eight Cardinals across five one-run innings. All of that tells us that this guy is back to the stud we saw in Tampa Bay, and he should keep that going against Rocky Road. Whenever the Rockies are away from home, they’re one of the best matchups in fantasy. They ranked dead-last in runs scored and OPS outside of Coors Field last season. This is The Streamonator’s favorite play of the week, projecting Cobb to provide $24.3 worth of value.

Cobb Streamers

Tony Gonsolin/Tyler Anderson, LAD (at PIT)

Much like the Brewers, the Dodgers churn out pitchers like butter. These backend guys are the sneaky streamers of the bunch because they appear to be quality start machines. Gonsolin is the premier option of the two, accumulating a 2.68 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 164 career innings. He’s been even better this year, pitching to a 1.64 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. Tyler Anderson has been almost as good this year, accruing a 2.78 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. Those are standard numbers from an LA starter, and it should be easy to duplicate against a putrid Pittsburgh lineup. The Pirates rank 22nd in OPS and 24th in xwOBA this season and will likely enter both of these matchups as massive underdogs. These are probably the safest streamers of the week!

Streamers to Consider

Michael Wacha, BOS (at TEX)

I hate to get trapped by Wacha again, but it’s hard to overlook his start to the season. Wacha has a 1.38 ERA and 0.92 WHIP through his first five starts and faces one of the worst offenses in baseball here.

Taijuan Walker, NYM (at WAS)

Walker was bombarded on Thursday night, but he went scoreless in his first two starts of the season. He also generated a 4.01 ERA and 1.18 WHIP between 2019 and 2021 and could keep that going against a wack Washington offense.

Jordan Hicks, STL (vs. BAL)

Hicks has always shown nasty stuff, and we’re just waiting for his pitch count to creep up. We’re getting there, but he could provide five fantastic innings against one of the worst lineups in baseball.

Hitting Streamers

Robbie Grossman, DET (vs. OAK, vs. BAL)

I accidentally wrote Rex Grossman when I formulated this article. How gross is that? In any case, this is one of my favorite streamers of the year! We would love Grossman in these matchups no matter what, but this is one of those coveted eight-game weeks! Those are tough to come by, especially since most teams play just six games this week. Getting eight games from a leadoff hitter is a godsend, and Grossman is no slouch. He had 23 homers, and 20 steals last season and is providing a career-best .384 OBP through the opening month of this year. That makes him tough to fade in these matchups, facing a Baltimore staff that ranks 29th in xwOBA and an Oakland team that sits 20th in ERA.

Streamers Grossman

Brandon Nimmo, NYM (at WAS, vs. SEA)

We’re going to have a theme in this article, and it’s leadoff streamers! It’s strange to see so many leadoff hitters widely available in fantasy leagues, but that happens in the opening month of the season. Nimmo has been that guy for this stingy Mets offense, providing a .789 OPS so far this year. That’s actually below what we expect, with Nimmo collecting a .396 OBP and .850 OPS since 2018. Those numbers are tough to find on the waiver wire, and he should produce across the board atop this lineup. He doesn’t have many tough matchups this week either, facing guys like Chris Flexen, Marco Gonzales, George Kirby, Patrick Corbin, Aaron Sanchez, and Joan Adon.

Nimmo Streamers

Edward Olivares, KC (at TEX, at COL)

Let’s finish off our theme with yet another leadoff hitter. This is the worst option of the three, but Olivares has been outstanding atop this Royals lineup. The 26-year-old is hitting .364 for the season, providing a .500 BA across his previous six games going into Saturday. That alone is tough to find, and it looks like Ed has some power-speed potential that he hasn’t even tapped into yet. He had 62 homers, and 87 steals across 424 games between 2017 and 2021 in the minors. These matchups are the icing on the cake, though, facing Martin Perez, Dane Dunning, Taylor Hearn, Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, and Austin Gomber this week.

Nate Lowe, TEX (vs. KC, vs. BOS)

Lowe actually found his way into the leadoff spot a couple of times last week, but he usually bats in the heart of the order. It’s easy to understand why, with Lowe posting a .293 AVG and .350 OBP this season. He hasn’t even dipped his foot into the power pool yet, amassing 18 homers and 24 doubles last season. He also does much better against right-handers, and that’s big news with who he’s got on the docket this week. Lowe will face Wacha, Nick Pivetta, Nathan Eovaldi, Brad Keller, Kris Bubic, and Carlos Hernandez.

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