There are a good number of streaming options this week, which should be helpful to those of you in your playoffs already, or to those hoping to make a final move in the standings. Next week will likely be the last of these articles this season, as I have to gear up for football coverage. Plus, rotations will start to get wonky as MLB teams prepare for their own post-season runs, or seek that final few victories that will clinch them a wild-card spot. I am still available for streaming or two-start questions, though, although you would do best to e-mail your questions directly or post them on our forums where I will see them when I moderate on weekday evenings. By the bye, it has been my pleasure once again to produce these articles this season, and I hope I have helped you in your fantasy baseball endeavors.
Realize that these pitchers are all owned in 50% or less of leagues. and thus may be available in your league on the waiver wire. I am only going to highlight those pitchers that I believe can provide a boost to your rotation, so no bottom-of-the-barrel SPs will be brought to your attention. Also, please understand that this set of pitchers is being assembled early before the next scoring period (in most leagues, at least) commences, and weather, injury, demotions or crazy managerial decisions can interfere with our well-laid plans, so be ready to adjust if you can make daily lineup adjustments.
Here are the recommended streaming options for this week:
Monday, September 5, 2016
Ross Detwiler OAK vs LAA Jered Weaver
Detwiler is my only recommendation for Monday, at least in terms of a streaming option. He is coming off a great no-decision, seven inning appearance in Houston, where he racked up seven strikeouts and only allowed one earned run on three hits. Here he gets the Angels at home, which probably will not help his strikeout totals, as the Angels have the lowest strikeout total in the majors, but he does pitch well at home (small sample size, though, so do not rely on that fully). Still, he is the best option here on Monday.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Jose Urena MIA vs PHI Adam Morgan
Urena has only allowed four earned runs over his last three starts, going 2-1 over those 17.2 innings. His 11:5 K/BB ratio in those appearances is nothing to get excited about, though, but he does have a good matchup here against the Phillies at home. I might stay away from him when he faces an opponent that poses a more significant offensive threat, but on Tuesday, he should be a consideration.
Other pitchers to consider: Luis Cessa NYY vs TOR Aaron Sanchez and Dillon Gee KC @ MIN Ervin Santana
I do not like Cessa in this matchup because of his home run tendencies, never a good thing against the powerful Blue Jay lineup. Gee has struggled against the Twins this season, allowing 11 earned runs over the 18.1 innings he has pitched against Minnesota in 2016.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
A.J. Cole WAS vs ATL Mike Foltynewicz
Andrew Triggs OAK vs LAA Brett Oberholtzer
Matt Garza MIL vs CHC Jon Lester
I like both pitchers going in the Washington-Atlanta game. Cole is coming off an excellent start against the Mets on the road. OK, it was the Mets, but he did come out on top when facing Noah Syndergaard in the contest. He also provides decent strikeout potential against the Braves. Foltynewicz should likewise miss a few bats when he takes on the Nationals on the road (Washington and Atlanta rank 21st and 22nd in Ks in the majors currently). He does have a problem keeping the ball in the yard, though, so of the two, I would lean toward Cole if I had to make a choice here.
There is some question as to whether Triggs will make this start, as he only lasted one inning in his most recent trip to the mound due to back tightness. If he does go, I like his matchup, and the fact that he is pitching at home. He generates a ton of groundballs, with a 2.02 GB/FB ratio in 2016, but also features excellent control and good strikeout potential, with a 4.23 K/BB ratio over his 56.1 innings with the A’s this season.
If Garza did not have such great home/road splits, I would not have put him on the list, but he does, and thus he is here on Wednesday. The matchup is not ideal, obviously, but he is a groundball inducer, so that helps him pitch deeper into games, and he could easily post a QS here.
Other pitchers to consider: Clayton Richard SD vs BOS David Price
I do not like the fact that he faces the Red Sox, but he has been pitching well over his past four starts, allowing just three earned runs over those 23 innings. The last three opponents were not exactly pushovers, either, consisting of the Diamondbacks, Marlins and Dodgers, so facing Boston at home is not necessarily a slam-dunk bad matchup.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Alex Cobb TB @ NYY CC Sabathia
Derek Holland TEX @ SEA Taijuan Walker
Cobb looked sharp in his first start since returning from Tommy John surgery against the Blue Jays, holding Toronto to just four hits and two earned runs over five innings. He also struck out seven in that abbreviated appearance. He has had injury issues in his career, but when on the mound, has been a useful SP for the most part.
Holland has been dealing over his last three starts, holding opponents to four earned runs in 18 innings. He is on a hot streak, so despite the road start, he has appeal here, especially being backed by a strong offense.
Friday, September 9, 2016
Reynaldo Lopez WAS vs PHI Jake Thompson
Robert Gsellman NYM @ ATL John Gant
I do not know if I would recommend any starter for Friday, unless the matchup was tasty. Thus, we have Lopez taking on the Phillies, and Gsellman heading to Atlanta to face the Braves. Lopez has fared well against lesser opponents, beating the Braves in his first two starts, but not doing nearly as well when he took on the Orioles. Facing the weak Philly offense should get him back to his more productive ways. Gsellman has been the opposite, struggling against the Phillies and handling the Cards and Nationals. I do like him to be able to pitch well against the Braves, though. Lopez is the better strikeout pitcher, but both need to work on their control to be more effective starters.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Seth Lugo NYM @ ATL Julio Teheran
Kendall Graveman OAK vs SEA James Paxton
Chad Kuhl PIT vs CIN Robert Stephenson
Lugo facing the Braves is a good matchup, except for having to face off against the Atlanta ace, Teheran. Neither team features what would be considered a powerhouse offense, so the key will be to limit the baserunners, and generate groundballs at the moderate rate he has demonstrated this season (1.50 GB/FB over 34.2 innings with the Mets).
Graveman has turned his season around nicely, after disappointing many with his early season struggles. He has pushed his ERA down below 4 (3.96 after his last start on August 30th), and has shown good control with a 2.30 BB/9 ratio over his 26 starts, covering 156.2 innings. Getting the Mariners at home meshes well with his home/road splits. Not a great source of strikeouts, though, and that hurts his value as a full-time addition to your roster.
Kuhl has yielded a homer in each of his last four starts, but the good news is that he faces Cincy away from Great American Ball Park, which should neutralize the Reds hitters’ power, such as it is. Kuhl is just a mediocre strikeout pitcher, but does flash good control.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Ross Detwiler OAK vs SEA James Paxton
Luis Cessa NYY vs TB Matt Andriese
Detwiler is the lone two-start option this week for streaming purposes. I like him at home, as I noted above, although keep in mind the small sample size. Seattle is a better opponent in terms of strikeout potential than the Angels who he faces on Monday, so that is positive factor. If he is able to build on his last great start against the Astros when he faces the Angels on Monday, then I like him a ton to handle Seattle at home.
Cessa is a reluctant recommendation for this start, as Tampa Bay can produce more than their fair share of dingers, especially on the road. As I noted above, I was reluctant to put him forward on Tuesday, but the Rays are a weaker overall offensive team than Toronto. Cessa has good control, and can generate his fair share of grounders, so the matchup is better than in his first start of the week to my eyes. Still, this is a start you may want to let pass you by, especially if your matchup in a H2H league is in doubt going into Sunday.
I enjoy responding to reader questions, so feel free to post. Please note that the Fantasy Alarm Forums are now open for your use, to ask questions or provide your own commentary and wisdom. If you do not want your comments to appear in this public forum (if say your league members also read these articles), then feel free to contact me at ia@fantasyalarm.com for a more private response. I play in a ton of fantasy leagues, and am willing to discuss any baseball issues you may want to raise, not just starting pitching issues. As ever, good luck and Godspeed in your fantasy endeavors.