Another week, another batch of streaming options. Remember that all these starting pitchers are owned in less than 50% of leagues, making them good options to pick up for a spot start, or to replace your injured pitchers.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Henderson Alvarez MIA vs ATL Ervin Santana
Josh Beckett LAD @ MIN Kevin Correia
Alvarez has thrown three consecutive quality starts, and sandwiched in those starts was a nine inning beauty where he didn't allow a single earned run. He has a 2.73 ERA in 29.1 innings, although his 1.42 WHIP is a tad high for my taste. Beckett has pitched well also over his last three outings, although he does not have a victory to show for it. With a .91 WHIP and 2.45 ERA on the season, he is sure to start to get lucky, and now would be a fine time to add him to your roster before his ownership percentage goes up.
Friday, May 2, 2014
John Danks CWS @ CLE Zach McAllister
Colby Lewis TEX @LAA Hector Santiago
Hector Santiago LAA vs TEX Colby Lewis
Tyler Lyons StL @ CHC Travis Wood
Brandon Maurer SEA @ HOU Brad Peacock
Brad Peacock HOU vs SEA Brandon Maurer
Vidal Nuno NYY vs TB David Price
Kevin Slowey MIA vs LAD Paul Maholm
Danks took a loss in his last start against Tampa Bay on Friday, but before that had racked up 4 QS. He walks too many hitters to be an everyday option (every fifth day, that is), but in the right situation, he can be usable. If you cannot get one side of a pitching matchup, then look to the other SP if he has potential. We see that situation with Lewis and Santiago, where neither pitcher has been stellar but do have possibilities. Lewis should start pitching deeper into games and his 14:4 K/BB in his first three starts gives reason for optimism. Santiago has been unlucky, going 0-4 in his first five starts, but not really pitching that poorly, although also not pitching like a future ace, either. Pitching at home makes him a better option than he would be on the road. Lyons had a nice rebound from his first start filling in for Joe Kelly, and it looks like he will have to pitch himself out the rotation. He is a mediocre streaming option, but I have liked Cardinal pitchers for the past few seasons, so there is some potential for decent performance in the future. Maurer pitched well if only for 4.1 innings in his first start, limiting the Marlins to just a single earned run while going striking out 4 hitters (walking two and giving up 2 hits). Facing the Astros is a good reason to give him a chance to fill in for your team this week. Peacock needs to work on his control to become a dependable starter, as he gave up 6 walks in addition to 5 hits in his last start, although he did hold the A's to only 3 earned runs. I would prefer to use Maurer over the Astro starter, but if you are desperate, he just might surprise you. Nuno is filling in for now while Ivan Nova is out, presumable for the season with pending Tommy John surgery. If he can limit the base runners, he could stick in the No. 5 pitching slot for a while. Slowey was once a dependable starter, and he still demonstrates good control even if he is not a dominant pitcher. Pitching at home gives him a small boost in value.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Matt Harrison TEX @ LAA Garrett Richards
Dallas Keuchel HOU vs SEA TBA
Tom Koehler MIA vs LAD Hyun-Jin Ryu
Franklin Morales COL vs NYM Dillon Gee
Harrison has been activated by the Rangers, and the hope is that he can return to his very good 2011 and 2012 level of production. I would add him or activate him from my DL, but you may want to see how he fares Sunday against the Mariners and Brandon Maurer. Keuchel has tossed four consecutive QS, while limiting walks and missing bats, posting a 24:6 K/BB ratio. Of the Astro starters listed in this article, I like him a ton more than Peacock, and would even suggest that he be added as full time SP to your roster. Koehler's start on Sunday against the Mets was his first non-QS on the season, so I am chalking it up as an aberration, and would consider him at home against the Dodgers this upcoming Saturday. He does have occasional control issues, and this will impact his effectiveness, but he does have an ability to keep runners from scoring. Morales has racked up two wins in a row, and pitching into the sixth and seventh innings, while posting a 12:3 K/BB ratio. Pitching at home poses a risk, so only use him this start if you are in need of a fill-in pitcher, and if you can get Keuchel, Koehler or Harrison, I would leave him on the wire.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Miguel Gonzalez BAL @ MIN Mike Pelfrey
Collin McHugh HOU vs SEA Chris Young
Chris Young SEA @ HOU Collin McHugh
Gonzalez has the dual benefit of facing the Twins and pitching at Target Field. He needs to start pitching deeper into games so his owners can take advantage of his strikeout ability, but even going less than 6 innings, he can give you decent peripherals and will limit the free passes. His ERA and WHIP are inflated by his awful first start against the Tigers, but he will get those stats in line as he racks up the innings. McHugh had an excellent first start, striking out 12 over 6.2 innings without allowing a walk or earned run in collecting the win over the Mariners. He faces Young at home, and while I don't dislike Young, as you can see with his inclusion in the Sunday options, I like McHugh better, especially with him coming off another victory on Sunday against the As. Young's lack of control is another reason I would target the Astro's pitcher, and you would need to have a very limited waiver wire to want to rely on him in this start.
Should you have questions regarding fantasy baseball, especially starting pitching, you can reach me at ia@fantasyalarm.com to continue the discussion.
Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.