This week’s roster of two starting streamers can best be described as a deep but mediocre group. There are issues with every pitcher on this list, whether in terms of overall performance, recent performance, or upcoming matchups.
Those in need of a pinch hitter for the next few days are in a better position, as some of the men listed at the end of this article have been playing well lately and have great matchups coming up.
Two-game pitchers (listed in order of preference)
Jake Irvin, 55% (vs. ARI, @COL)
Irvin has been excellent this year (3.00 ERA, 1.04 WHIP), which makes him easily the best streaming target in shallow leagues. The right-hander with excellent control skills has tough matchups this week, highlighted by a trip to Coors Field, but it’s important to note that the Rockies don’t field a great lineup and have so far produced an OPS (.750) in their hitter-friendly home. location that is solid but unremarkable.
Reese Olson, 28% (@ATL, vs. CWS)
The wheels are coming off for Olson, who owned a 1.92 ERA at the end of May but allowed 17 earned runs in three starts in June. His walk and home run rates in those starts weren’t alarming, but he allowed nearly two hits per inning while supporting a .472 BABIP. Their matchups are favorable this week, as the Braves rank 26th in runs scored since May 1 and the White Sox rank last in runs all season. But given the severity of his recent struggles, Olson is an excellent boom-or-bust option this week.
Alec Marsh, 22% (@OAK, @TEX)
After allowing 17 runs in 23 innings over four starts from May 21 to June 8, Marsh turned things around by pitching seven shutout innings against the Yankees last time out. His swing-and-miss skills have been better than his run prevention, as the right-hander has drawn at least seven whiffs in five of his last seven starts. Taking into account all aspects of his recent inconsistency makes Marsh a fit for week-long 12-team leagues with a great matchup (A’s) and average matchup (Rangers).
Braxton Garrett, 37% (vs. STL, vs. SEA)
Many managers are moving away from Garrett, who has posted a 6.10 ERA in six starts since returning from a season-opening stint on the IL. But a deeper look shows plenty of reason for optimism, as the lefty produced a K:BB ratio of 28:4 while dealing with the misfortune of a .323 BABIP and a 54.7% strand rate. Wise managers will look beyond ERA and realize that Garrett remains an option in 12-team leagues for two starts at his pitcher-friendly home park against two bottom-10 offenses in runs scored.
Hogan Harris, 3% (vs. KC, vs. MIN)
Harris has posted strong ratings (2.49 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) while benefiting from excellent batted ball luck (.234 BABIP, 4.48 FIP). Still, he struck out 23 in 25.1 innings and could be considered in head-to-head leagues for two home games against offenses that were slightly better than average in OPS this year.
Aaron Civale, 35% (@MIN, @PIT)
Civale missed the memo on baseball’s home run loss, as his 14 home runs allowed are tied for the major league lead. The right-hander continues to get his share of strikes (9.2 K/9 rate), but hasn’t picked up a win or finished the sixth inning in the past two months. Managers might be surprised to see Civale so low on the list, but he’s nothing better than a mediocre head-to-head streamer at this point.
Carson Spiers, 13% (@PIT, vs. BOS)
Spiers is set to make his first start for the Reds this season after producing a 2.33 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 19.1 innings of relief. He thrived as a Triple-A starter this year (2.51 ERA, 1.06 WHIP). The Clemson product opens the week with a favorable road matchup in Pittsburgh before returning home to his hitter-friendly venue to face a productive Red Sox offense. Spiers is a risky option, but no less desirable than some of the more highly-drafted names that precede him on this list.
Tobias Myers, 9% (@LAA, @SD)
Myers has allowed just one run in 14 innings over his last two starts, albeit with a mediocre 9:4 K:BB ratio. As with Harris, managers should be careful about betting too much on Myers’ solid ratios (3.76 ERA, 1.16 WHIP), as he has enjoyed a .238 BABIP and has a 5.12 FIP. The Angels have a mid-major lineup and the Padres have a top-10 group, which is reason enough to relegate Myers to only head-to-head leagues in his two-game starting week.
Single Start Streamers
In order, here are the week’s best streamers, with start date and Yahoo! escalation rate in parentheses:
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Michael Lorenzen x NYM (Tuesday, 26)
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Andrew Abbott x BOS (Friday the 47th)
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Chris Paddack @OAK (Saturday 26)
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Roddery Muñoz x STL (Tuesday, 1)
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Drew Thorpe @DET (Saturday 22)
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Simeon Woods Richardson x TB (Thursday, 15)
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Zack Littell @MIN (Thursday, 27)
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JP Sears x MIN (Saturday 13)
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Andrew Heaney x NYM (Wednesday 10)
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Joey Estes x MIN (Friday the 8th)
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Dane Dunning x KC (Saturday 18)
Favorable matches from Monday to Thursday
Dodgers @ Rockies: The good news is the Dodgers will bring an offense that leads the National League in OPS and runs scored into a four-game series at offense-inducing Coors Field. The bad news is that this team fields strong squads and the Rockies are prepared to use two right-handed starters and a pair of lefties in this series. The matchups make Andy Pages (31%) the player to stream, as he could start all four contests.
Cardinals @ Marlins, vs. Louis will play four games over the next four days, with each contest against a starter with an ERA above 4.50. Masyn Winn (37%) and Alec Burleson (48%) occupy the top two spots in the lineup and are therefore great streamers to consider. Brendan Donovan (31%) is eligible for three positions and is also an option.
