Fantasy Baseball Week 25 Streaming Starters: Mitch Keller Seeks Repeat Performance Against Cardinals
There may not be any more two-start options left to pick over, as the season winds down to its final few days, but if you are fighting for your fantasy baseball championship, or merely a respectable showing in the waning days of the 2022 season, there are plenty of streaming options to ponder as you peruse the fantasy baseball waiver wire. As always, keep an eye on the MLB injury report before investing in any of the arms profiled below, to make certain they will actually be toeing the rubber in October. Please realize that these articles feature most recent rotation information available when the article is written, but that circumstances do change due to weather conditions, injuries and general craziness with managers. If a pitcher listed here as having a start in the upcoming week gets bumped due to forces beyond our control, apologies but this article is meant to provide analysis, it is up to the manager to set the lineups or rotations.
Potential Streaming Options For This Week
There is no promise that each game day will provide a streaming option. First of all, the pitcher must be available in at least 50% of leagues to be a viable candidate to snag off the wire. Plus, some days the matchups and/or venues just do not figure as positive enough factors to favor plugging the arm into your rotation. That all being said, here are this week’s best streaming candidates:
Monday, October 3, 2022
Mitch Keller PIT vs StL Miles Mikolas
Keller makes a final appearance in this article, and gets to climb the hill once more at home in PNC Park. His most recent contest against the Cardinals resulted in seven shutout innings where he held the opponent to just two safeties, but also handed out three free passes. If he can continue to improve his control, he should be an arm to target late in drafts next season.
Michael Lorenzen LAA @ OAK Adrian Martinez
The 30-year-old righty has pitched five or more innings in each of his last four starts, and has been credited with a victory in two of those efforts. During that stretch, he has posted a desirable 3.05 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, and improved his strikeout rate to 10.0 K/9 over those 20.2 IP. Granted, there have been 11 walks issued and three dingers allowed, too, so this is not a pure rainbow and unicorn story. This is a good matchup for him, as he has held the A’s in check when facing them this season, albeit at home instead of on the road.
Bryce Elder ATL @ MIA Jesús Luzardo
The Brave rookie righthander has delivered four successful spot starts since mid-August, racking up an impressive set of ratios: O.65 ERA and 0.83 WHIP, while striking out a batter per frame. Admittedly, all four of those trips to the bump have been against the Marlins or Nationals, so take that superbly rendered pitching with a healthy dose of skepticism that similar results will occur against tougher opponents. But, look at this scheduled start: against the Marlins? Sign us up for another go around with the youngster.
Hayden Wesneski CHC @ CIN Hunter Greene
The rookie righthander has twirled a pair of quality starts in his last three appearances for the Cubs, and has picked up two victories in his most recent trips to the hill. A 1.96 ERA and 0.98 WHIP is bolstered by a 16:4 K/BB ratio during that run. He has already beaten the Reds once in his young MLB career, and will look to dominate again, this time on the road, though.
José Ureña COL @ LAD Tony Gonsolin
The Rockie righthanded veteran has been more effective with pitching away from Coors Field, so even taking on the Dodgers, this is a potentially fantasy friendly matchup. He is a slightly below average K producer who is facing an average strikeout producing lineup. This profiles to be the least attractive of Monday’s streaming matchups, but his recent run of action and low ownership make it a potential high ceiling option.
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Bryse Wilson PIT vs StL José Quintana
One of two streaming suggestions on the penultimate day of the 2022 season, Wilson gets a home start where he has tossed 13.0 IP over his last two starts, allowing just two earned runs and striking out 11 hitters. The Cardinals have clinched the division and are playing just .500 ball on the road this season to date of publication, so those factors weigh in the Pirate hurler’s favor.
Braxton Garrett MIA vs ATL Jake Odorizzi
Over his last four outings, has gone 1-0 with two QS, and posted a stellar 2.11 ERA and 1.11 WHIP through those 20.2 IP. The Ks are below par, coming in at a 6.1 K/9 rate but his control is good (2.2 BB/9). He has been far more effective in Miami as opposed to away from home, although realize that the opponent may still be fighting for a league pennant this game.
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Johan Oviedo PIT vs StL Jack Flaherty
Another day, another Pirate streaming option offered up. The rookie is working on maintaining his QS streak, which stands at two presently. His K production is slightly better than average, but his control has seen improvement recently.
Tyler Alexander DET @ SEA Logan Gilbert
Prior to the home loss to the Twins on Friday, the Tiger 28-year-old southpaw had dealt a pair of QS on the road. He get to again toe the rubber away from Comerica Park, heading to the Nortwest to face the wildcard secured Mariners. Do not expect many Ks, but so long as his control is in place, he should provide a useful set of ratios that won’t hurt and could benefit his owners, especially in a weekly category league format.
Aaron Civale CLE vs KC Jon Heasley
The fourth season righty should provide good K numbers, especially at home where he has had more success missing bats this season. His peripherals all suggest he has a positive adjustment in his future, although there is certainly not a lot of time in the regular (read fantasy baseball) season to discover those corrections.
Jordan Lyles BAL vs TOR Alek Manoah
Over his last three trips to climb the hill, the Baltimore veteran has gone 2-0 while allowing just four earned tallies over those 18.0 IP. He has also collected 15 Ks against two walks during that effective stretch. Here, he pitches at home where he has seen far more success than outside the walls of Camden Yards in 2022.
Adrian Sampson CHC @ CIN Graham Ashcroft
The five-year veteran has provided the Cubs with an attractive set of ratio stats, putting up a 3.10 ERA over his 101.2 IP to date, and a useful 1.21 WHIP. He relies on good control (2.2 BB/9 over 20 appearances, 18 starts) to bolster his below average K rate (6.2 K/9). Heading out to Cincy is not an imposition for the righty, as he has been rather a road warrior this season.
Feel free also to send any starting pitching or other fantasy baseball questions to ia@fantasyalarm.com for a private response to your specific issue. The more detail you can provide about your team and league, including settings (H2H vs roto, points or categories, weekly or daily moves, roster size, league size, etc.) the better the response will be suited to your individual situation. As ever, good luck and Godspeed in all your fantasy endeavors.
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Related MLB Links:
- Fantasy Baseball Daily Round-Up
- MLB Fantasy Baseball Prospect Reports
- Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch
- 2022 MLB Injury Reports
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire