Not exactly a bountiful crop of streaming options, but there are some good choices for the end of the week to help you in your H2H matchups or just to boost your stats in the event you need to replace an injured pitcher or one who isn't performing well now. Let's see what is there to snatch off the wire, since all these pitchers are owned in less than 50% of leagues, and therefore should be available for a claim.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Carlos E. Martinez StL @ SF Madison Bumgarner

Vance Worley PIT vs ARI Brandon McCarthy

Martinez is being held to a pitch count, so don't go in expecting that he will give you enough innings for a QS or maybe even a win. He qualifies as a relief pitcher, which is helpful depending on your Head-to-Head league settings. His WHIP because of his intermittent lack of control is not desirable, but on this particular day, he's a decent SP, based on his potential to provide some Ks and limit the hits. If you believe in his potential to be a dominant SP, this might be the time to make him a part of your team's rotation, albeit as your SP5/6.

Worley is coming off three QS, and you should like his matchup, especially since McCarthy has been relatively putrid until his last outing at Petco. Worley can give you a few strikeouts to go with good peripherals, and the chance to post a win or QS, depending on your league settings. Long term, I don't see him as a pitcher you want to roster permanently, but as a streaming option, he's worth keeping on your notepad.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Scott Feldman HOU @ LAA C.J. Wilson

Kyle Gibson MIN vs NYY Chase Whitley

Starting pitching on the Astros has certainly taken a turn for the better in 2014. I discounted Feldman's success in 2013, but he has put together a string of three nice starts, striking out a batter per inning, and limiting the earned runs. He's pitching in a neutral park, which given his ground ball tendencies, should help offset his HR generosity.

Gibson saw his scoreless inning streak end in a disastrous two inning start against the Angels. Aberration or a return to unusable status? Gibson is a good young pitcher, and facing the Yankees at home, where he's been exceptional, is a good matchup. Not a good source for Ks, but a potential QS would not be out of the question. He is too inconsistent to roster permanently, but starting him at home is a good choice.

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Mike Bolsinger ARI @ ATL Aaron Harang

David Buchanan PHI @ PIT Gerrit Cole

Odrisamer Despaigne SD vs SF Tim Hudson

Jeremy Guthrie KC @ CLE Justin Masterson

David Phelps NYY @ MIN Yohan Pino

The Diamondback pitching situation hasn't been a fantasy gold mine by any stretch this season. Bolsinger has jumped into the rotation with the Bronson Arroyo DL posting, tossing a couple of QS in his two starts. He has demonstrated excellent control and shown good strikeout potential, to go with his ground ball tendencies, making him a good pitcher for Chase Field, and on Saturday, at Turner Field, as well.

Buchanan is coming off three consecutive wins, and has been working his bloated ERA down in the process. He has shown a downward trend in strikeouts lately, to his detriment, but he does limit the hits, and his walk rate is acceptable, too. Pitching on the road at PNC Park should help lessen his HR allowing tendencies.

I know Lincecum just no hit the Padres, but that is no reason to demean Despaigne. Go ahead and demean the Padre's offense, sure, but Despaigne was brilliant on his own shutting down the Giants in his first start of the season. There is a possibility the Giants have figured him out, but he is not a true rookie, having eight seasons under his belt in Cuba. He has less than dominating stuff, but his pitch repertoire keeps hitters unbalanced. At Petco, I like his chances. And you might want to consider holding onto him past just this start if you pick him up.

Another three consecutive win pitcher, Guthrie has posted a 23:5 K/BB ratio over those starts, with four of the walks having come in one start against the White Sox. If he had managed to last one more out in that game, he would have posted three consecutive QS as well, so he is pitching deeper into games for his owners. I am not fully behind Masterson, his opponent on Saturday, although he has not exactly dominated the Indians over the course of his career, so tread carefully if you decide to use him. Still, he seems a more focused (or lucky) this season.

Phelps can give his owner some innings, although whether those are quality frames or not is a crapshoot. The strikeout ratio for the season sits at about eight per inning, but he hurts himself with the free passes allowed. He has been a bit unlucky, as reflected by his ERA/FIP ratio (4.35/4.08), and his .326 BABIP. His tendency this season is to suffer occasional blowups, like his last start against the Blue Jays, but then rebound for a couple of good appearances. Keep an eye on his results on Monday against the Rays before taking him on, but facing the Twins at Target Field seems like a good bet to me.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Jarred Cosart HOU @ LAA Jered Weaver

Our second Houston SP this week, and personally I like Cosart more than Feldman. He is not a safe source for strikeouts, despite totaling eight Ks in back to back starts at the beginning of June, then lapsed in a series of two strikeout starts in his past three appearances. He has harnessed his control problems, and with his ground ball tendencies, he pitches well at home and on the road. Plus, he's the only option I would recommend for Sunday.

Should you have questions regarding fantasy baseball, especially starting pitching, you can reach me at ia@fantasyalarm.com to continue the discussion.