Streaming Starting Pitching Options Week 2

Although we are only one week into the season, with injuries and ineffective performance some owners are already looking to bolster their starting rotation. Of course, those of us in Head to Head leagues are always looking for a pticher or two to give our team a boost at the end of the week's matchup, too. Below are the best options I have discovered that are available in more than 50% of leagues, or that have the best matchups, or both.

Thursday, April 10 2014

Only two options for Thursday, but I like Mejia as a strikeout option in most of his appearances. His ankle was a worry, but as he was able to run without incident Saturday, I look for him to be just fine when he faces the Braves. Carrasco beat out Tomlin for the Indians' fifth starting slot, as they apparently like his stuff better than Tomlins' need for pinpoint control to succeed. He had a bad opening to his first start, but settled in and if he can get comfortable on the mound to start the games, he could be a nice back end of the rotation guy.

Friday, April 11, 2014

De La Rosa pitching on the road is a nice matchup, despite his opponent on the hill. He needs to get out of the fifth inning, though, to becomre a valuable pitcher, but given his production last year, I expect him to shake off the first two mediocre games and reestablish himself as the Rockies' ace. Speaking of aces, Feldman is the de facto top starter for the Astros and he showed it in his first start, holding the Yankees to zero earned runs over 6.2 innings in his April 1 start. I don't worry too much about Saunders, his opponent this week, although the Rangers can put up some serious offense. Proceed with caution here. Kelly taking on the Cubs is a no brainer for me, as I really like all the Cardinals' SP options this season, just as I have the past few seasons. Facing the rebuilding Cubs is just sauce for the goose. Peralta coughed up a load of runs in his first start, blowing a chance as an easy win. He did throw strikes, and posted 6 strikeouts in 5 innings. Liriano isn't my first choice for an opponent,but getting Ks at the end of the week is always nice if you are looking for an edge in a H2H league.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Another nice slate of pitching options on Saturday, beginning with the big signing by the Rockies, Brett Anderson. Anderson is a good source of Ks, although he didn't show that in his first start. At the very least, he is not pitching at home on Saturday, instead facing an opponent in a pitcher friendly park, albeit on the road. As the number two starter in Miami, I like Eovaldi for strikeouts, and did look good inhis April 1 start against the Rockies, and he looked good until the seventh in his second start against the Padres before the wheels fell off with a 3 run homer to pinch hitter Alexi Amarista on a pretty good inside pitch. Jordan is a strong candidate to stick in the Nationals' rotation when Fister comes off the DL, but he is being pushed by Tanner Roark. He did look dominate against the Braves in his first start, and will look to keep that trend going Saturday when he faces Atlanta on the road. Paulino is not my top choice for a streaming optoin, but he did look dominant in his first start, although the fact that it was the Twins he faced has to be acknowledged. Six Ks and only one earned run is nothing to sneeze at, however, and while I prefer White Sox pitchers away from "the Cell," a division rivalry game bodes well for Paulino this upcoming weekend.  Simon looked good today, and putting up six strikeouts, with only one walk and 4 hits over seven innings makes me willing to take a chance on him in his next start against the Alex Cobb led Tampa club.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Four more options to round out the week. Cahill managed to snag a rotation spot out of spring, and has had some bad luck to start the season. He pitched well against the Giants in his second start, but got no offensive support. With the injuries the Dodgers have suffered early on this year, I like his chances to pick up his first win. Doubront is a one of my choices to have a breakout season, If he can start pitching deeper into games, look for the Ks to start mounting. He did get a win in his first start, although he fell short of lasting long enough to pick up a quality start. Harang keeps hanging around, and the move to the Braves looks to be good for his career. He flirted with a no-hitter going into the seventh in his first start, and if he continues to locate his pitches, expect him to be a valuable source of stats all season long. Pitching in Chicago worries me a bit with our final option, but facing the White Sox can make a pitcher look good, and thus, McAllister wraps up the streaming options this week.

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