Streaming Pitching Options for Week 11: May, Morton & More

Look at Monday’s bounty, three streaming options on a day when our options are usually limited. I was able to find at least one SP that is stream-worthy for every day of the week as well. Enjoy your ability to mix and match in Week 11.

On a weekly basis, I will be profiling those starting pitchers who are scheduled to take the mound in the upcoming scoring period. This is done to help you determine who to place try to grab from your league's free agent pool and/or who you should target as a player to send your FAAB funds on. Note that all the streaming options listed below are owned in less than 50% of leagues, and thus could be available on your waiver wire. Here are this week's set of potential streaming targets.

Monday, June 15, 2105

Erasmo Ramirez TB vs WAS Gio Gonzalez

Trevor May MIN @StL Michael Wacha

Tim Hudson SF vs SEA Taijuan Walker

Ramirez is settling in to the Rays rotation, and has been getting better as the season goes along. He has limited opponents to just three earned runs over his last three outings, amounting to 17.1 innings. Just an average K option, but he has shown much better control lately. He is also much better when pitching at home.

May has been dealing over his last two starts, posting a 0.69 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over the past 13 innings. He is a good option for strikeouts, and has been helping himself by limiting the free passes this season at a 1.72 BB/9 rate over his 11 starts. Facing the Cardinals on the road is not optimal, but his recent track record suggests that he is worth considering here. Note that he is also a recommended option down below on Saturday, so might I suggest simply adding him to your roster to take advantage of his two start week?

Hudson gets the nod here because he is (a) at home and (b) facing the unpredictable Walker who has been getting lit up on the road. Hudson is a much better pitcher at AT&T Park, although if you decide to plug him in, certainly do not expect more than a few Ks. Hudson relies on his control and the ability to generate ground balls from opposing batters. Use him only if you are desperate for an early week SP.

Tuesday, June 16, 2105

Tsuyoshi Wada CHC vs CLE Shaun Marcum

Charlie Morton PIT vs CHW Jose Quintana

Wada gets to face an inconsistent Indian offense, and does so at home where he has been more effective. Realize we are talking about a supremely small sample size when comparing his home/road splits consisting of just five starts in 2015. He will provide strikeouts but his value is limited due to his inability to pitch deep into games so far in 2015, as he has racked up only 22.1 innings in his five starts.

Morton has been wonderful for fantasy purposes, having picked up victories in all four of his starts since joining the Pirate rotation. The White Sox offense is awful this season, ranking 28^th among all MLB teams. As per his usual M.O., he is generating a ton of grounders from batters, although there will be some regression on his other-worldly 7.38 GB/FB ratio soon. Not a great source for Ks, what you are looking for if you start Morton is a QS and some good to great peripherals.

Wednesday, June 17, 2105

Chase Anderson ARI vs LAA Hector Santiago

Anderson has been good at home, although he has given up all three of the homers he has allowed this season at Chase Field. His plus change up and excellent control keep him in charge in his starts. He is not a great strikeout source, especially against the Angels who put the ball in play at a better than MLB average.

Thursday, June 18, 2105

CC Sabathia NYY vs MIA Mat Latos

I have been loathe to recommend Sabathia this season, as I suspect his skill set is going to continue to decline. He is a decent source of strikeouts, however, and still is showing good control. If you can stomach his inflated peripherals (5.38 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 77 innings), then go ahead and start him. Otherwise, just do not stream on Thursday, as Sabathia is the best option in a limited slate.

Friday, June 19, 2105

Roenis Elias SEA vs HOU Lance McCullers

Michael Foltynewicz ATL vs NYM Jacob DeGrom

Elias does not seem to care whether he pitches at home or on the road, although he has been able to keep the ball in the yard better at Safeco in 2015. His FIP and BABIP hint that he may be pitching lucky this season, but his curve and change are effective at keeping hitters off-balance, so do not discount his success. He was also able to handle Houston well last season, and the Astros can make any pitcher look like a strikeout master.

Alternatively, Foltynewicz is a pitcher you want to employ for the strikeout potential he provides (8.5 K/9 in his eight starts). The Mets are not a tremendously notorious free-swinging bunch, but their offense is also not necessarily scary, being ranked in the bottom fifth of the MLB in terms of offensive production. Good thing, since he has been giving up more than his usual share of base hits over his last couple of starts.

Saturday, June 20, 2105

Trevor May MIN vs CHC Jake Arrieta

May is back for another shot as a streamer. Perhaps you should consider simply rostering him for the present, as his recent hot streak makes him a valuable SP in all leagues. Plus, the Cubs are a great opponent for a strikeout pitcher.

Sunday, June 21, 2105

Shaun Marcum CLE vs TB Alex Colome

Brett Anderson LAD vs SF Tim Lincecum

Marcum is backed by an up-and-down offense, but he also gets to take on a lower third Tampa Bay offense in this start. The Rays are also prone to swinging and missing, as evidenced by their No. 7 rank among all MLB teams in Ks. Marcum is prone to the long ball, but is also striking out opponents at an 8.2 K/9 clip in his 33 innings this season (five starts and one relief appearance of 2.2 innings). He is also coming off seven innings of shutout ball against the Mariners, so hopefully he can build on that performance.

The second Anderson featured in Week 11, the Dodger southpaw is looking to rebound from his first non-QS in his past five starts. He will not provide a ton of Ks, but he does have good control and keeps the ball in the park and on the ground effectively. Nothing screams regression from his useful peripherals, and he did manage to strike out seven Giants in his last outing against San Fran.

If you have any questions about starting pitching or fantasy baseball, feel free to contact me at ia@fantasyalarm.com.