This week’s two-game streamer slate is one of the weakest we’ve seen so far in the fantasy baseball season. There are only two surefire streamers for all formats and three other pitchers who can be considered in deep roto and head-to-head category leagues.
On the hitting side, carrying the Mets should be the plan for the next few days.
Two-game pitchers (listed in order of preference)
Hayden Birdsong, 41% (@WSH, vs. DET)
Birdsong is arguably the most exciting option on this week’s roster, as he has struck out 20 batters and allowed two runs in 11 innings in his last two starts, although both starts were against the lowly Rockies. Still, he has plenty of upside for two games against offenses that are slightly below average in runs scored and rank in the bottom seven in OPS. Birdsong must be active in all leagues.
Sean Manaea, 54% (@STL, @SEA)
Thanks to a bit of luck (.265 BABIP), Manaea has posted respectable rates this year (3.50 ERA, 1.20 WHIP). The lefty collects his share of hits (8.9 K/9 rate) and is ready for a mid-level matchup against the Cardinals and a favorable matchup against a Mariners offense that ranks 27th in runs scored and first in eliminations. Manaea can be streamed in all leagues.
JP Sears, 31% (vs. CWS, @TOR)
Sears would normally be at the bottom of this list. After all, he pitches for one of the worst teams in baseball, struggles to record whiffs (6.9 K/9 rate), and has posted unimpressive ratios (4.53 ERA, 1.25 WHIP). However, in a weak two-game pitching situation, the Sears could be a useful option thanks to matchups against a Blue Jays team that ranks 24th in runs scored and a White Sox club that is in last place by a wide margin. The lefty also deserves credit for posting a 3.07 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and a 9.2 K/9 rate over his last five starts.
Colin Rea, 41% (@ATL, vs. CIN)
Rea far exceeded expectations by going 9-3 with a 3.59 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP for a Brewers team that tends to maximize the effectiveness of its pitchers. The veteran has a FIP of 4.45 and could experience regression soon, but anyone who needs to chase volume at this point in the season could take the risk that he can keep things going for another week. Two clashes against mid-level lineups are on Rea’s agenda.
David Festa, 7% (@CHC, vs. CLE)
Festa’s third career start was his best yet, when he collected six hits and held the Mets to two runs in five innings on July 30. 60.1 Minor League innings this year, which shows that he has many advantages for managers who need to make aggressive moves during the final two months of the season. Still, Festa has allowed 12 runs in his first two MLB starts, making him this week’s biggest two-game boom-or-bust option against middle-of-the-road offenses.
Andre Pallante, 10% (vs. NYM, @KC)
Pallante has been useful in 10 starts, producing a damaging 1.26 WHIP while using a heavy ground ball to limit scoring (3.61 ERA). But his game-to-game results are all over the place, as his outings are mostly dictated by grounders passing through the infield at the wrong times. Two tough matchups this week against top-10 offenses push Pallante down this list.
Max Meyer, 30% (vs. CIN, vs. SD)
Meyer is one of baseball’s most exciting pitching prospects despite allowing seven earned runs in nine innings in two starts since being called up on July 27. of them coming against a dangerous Padres attack. Between his poor recent results and a lackluster supporting cast, Meyer falls short on this list.
Bailey Falter, 5% (vs. SD, @LAD)
Feeling lucky? Falter has respectable ratings (3.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) that would look even better if not for some rough outings that preceded a stint on the IL. He returned on July 30 and held a tough lineup in Houston with one earned run in 5.1 innings, and will now face two more high-scoring offenses. With an especially weak ability to generate scents (rate of 6.0 K/9), Falter has a low ceiling and floor.
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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José Quintana @SEA (Friday, 39)
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José Soriano @WSH (Friday, 21)
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Tobias Myers x CIN (Saturday, 53)
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River Ryan x PIT (Saturday, 41)
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Joey Estes x CWS (Wednesday, 5)
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Martín Pérez @MIA (Saturday, 9)
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Luis L. Ortiz x SD (Thursday, 25)
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Kyle Gibson x TB (Thursday, 34)
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Michael Lorenzen x STL (Friday, 20)
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Yariel Rodríguez x OAK (Saturday, 8)
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Simeon Woods Richardson x CLE (Saturday 26)
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Dean Kremer @TOR (Thursday 20)
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Carson Spiers @MIL (Friday the 17th)
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Mitch Spence @TOR (Friday the 4th)
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Keider Montero @SEA (Wednesday 1)
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Javier Assad x MIN (Wednesday, 29)
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Aaron Civale x CIN (Friday, 33)
Favorable matches from Monday to Thursday
Mets @Cardinals, Rockies
New York has by far the best matchups during the first half of the week, as it will play four games that include three contests at hitter-friendly Coors Field against the worst pitching staff in baseball. Harrison Bader (9%) is the best streamer in this group.
Giants @ Nationals
San Francisco will play four games over the next four days, with three of those games against manageable lefties. Casey Schmitt (0%) is an underrated streamer in this series, as he is often second in the lineup against lefties.
