Unbalanced schedules are the theme this week, as 11 teams will play seven matches, while five teams are scheduled for just five matches. Wise managers will chase volume on the hitting side, with the Royals, Giants, Rangers and Rockies being good sources of offense in the coming days. And with many teams playing a light schedule, the roster of attractive two-game pitchers is shorter than usual. Managers should try to secure the services of the first 4 men on this list as quickly as possible.
Two-game pitchers (listed in order of preference, including two shallow league options)
Jack Flaherty, 62% (@CLE, vs. HOU)
Flaherty has a mediocre 4.00 ERA and has yet to record a win, which is terrible luck for someone who has pitched very well (50:5 K:BB ratio, 1.03 WHIP) in his first six starts. The right-hander’s 2.71 FIP is an excellent indicator that he should be rostered in many more leagues, especially as he heads into a two-game week.
Triston McKenzie, 63% (vs. DET, @CWS)
After disappointing managers during his initial three starts, McKenzie posted a solid K:BB ratio of 19:6 in 20 innings over his last three starts. I remain skeptical that the right-hander can be a long-term asset this season, but he should start everywhere this week against two offenses that rank in the bottom 6 in OPS.
Luís Gil, 38% (vs. HOU, @TB)
Gil has been a mixed bag so far, as his ratios are solid (3.19 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) and his strikeout rate (11.6 K/9) is impressive, but his 20 walks rank fourth among all pitchers. Still, his control skills have been better lately, which is good enough to put him in most lineups on the strength of his swing-and-miss skills.
Simeon Woods-Richardson, 7% (vs. SEA, @TOR)
Woods-Richardson has shown intriguing skills in three starts, producing a 13:4 K:BB ratio to go along with a 2.45 ERA. And their matchups this week are compelling, as the Mariners rank 22nd in OPS and the Blue Jays rank 20th. He’s a solid one-week streamer who has the potential to stay in lineups long-term in deeper formats.
Logan Allen, 22% (vs. DET, @CWS)
Allen owns a respectable 31:12 K:BB ratio in 37 innings, but he has struggled with the long ball (7 HR), which has contributed to a 5.11 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. The lefty would normally be an easy decision to come off the waiver wire, but his upcoming matchups are so enticing that he needs to be utilized in 12-team leagues.
Tyler Anderson, 42% (@PIT, vs. KC)
Anderson continues to put up strong ratios (2.23 ERA, 1.07 WHIP) despite displaying weak skills (27:15 K:BB ratio) in six starts. The left-hander is a good option in direct confrontations, but his luck will come soon, making him a risky streamer in straight formats.
Patrick Sandoval, 4% (@PIT, vs. KC)
Sandoval (5.91 ERA, 1.69 WHIP) is too risky in the ratio categories to find a spot in roto lineups for a two-game week. But he struck out 38 batters in 32 innings, and the possibility of a dozen hits makes him a viable streamer in points leagues.
Single Start Streamers
In order, here are the week’s top streamers, with start date and Yahoo roster rate in parentheses.
-
Christian Scott x ATL (Friday the 33rd)
-
Ben Lively @CWS (Thursday 18)
-
Javier Assad @PIT (Saturday, 60)
-
Jameson Taillon @PIT (Friday the 42nd)
-
Michael Lorenzen @OAK (Wednesday 16)
-
Paul Blackburn @SEA (Friday the 40th)
-
Reese Olson @CLE (Wednesday 20)
-
José Buttó @STL (Tuesday, 25)
-
Cole Irvin x ARI (Friday the 18th)
-
John Means vs. ARI (Saturday, 53)
-
Dean Kremer x ARI (Sunday, 31)
-
Clarke Schmidt @TB (Friday the 40th)
-
Zack Littell x NYY (Friday the 38th)
-
Erick Fedde x CLE (Thursday, 42)
-
Mitchell Parker x BAL (Wednesday, 31)
-
José Soriano @PIT (Wednesday, 5)
-
Cooper Criswell x WSH (Saturday 14)
-
Ben Brown x SD (Wednesday, 4)
-
Martín Pérez x LAA (Wednesday, 25)
-
Tobias Myers x STL (Thursday, 1)
-
José Quintana @STL (Wednesday, 10)
-
Lance Lynn @MIL (Thursday 35)
Favorable matches from Monday to Thursday
Royals vs. Brewers, Angels: The Royals will open the week facing three mediocre right-handers from Milwaukee before facing a tougher task from Angels left-hander Reid Detmers on Thursday. Vinnie Pasquantino is already well-drafted, but this is a good time to put him in the lineup in shallow leagues where he is on the fringes of the lineup. In deeper formats, Michael Massy (2%) could be conveyed from the waiver wire.
Giants @ Phillies, Rockies: The Giants will face four right-handers between now and Thursday, with three of the matchups at Coors Field. This is a great time to broadcast the team’s left-handed hitters like Michael Conforto (48%), Jung Hoo Lee (51%), LaMonte Wade Jr.
Rangers @ A’s: Thanks to a doubleheader on Wednesday, the Rangers will face four mediocre Oakland starters over the next three days. The pitchers are evenly balanced between righties and lefties, and all of Texas’ best hitters are widely rostered. Still, Josh H. Smith (42%) and Leody Taveras (4%) are passable in 12-team leagues.
