We wanted to exploit the Rockies on both ends of the ball last week, and that played out wonderfully. Not only did they struggle with the bats, but the arms were horrific as well. That’s a common trend throughout the season because we want to use players against that team as much as possible. It’s not the only lineup we want to pick on because teams like Oakland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Chicago are right there with Colorado. There’s plenty of putrid pitching staff as well, and we’ll dive into that later on when we get into the streamers!
Favorable Team Matchups
7 Games
Colorado Rockies (vs. LAD, vs. WAS)
Los Angeles Dodgers (at COL, vs. LAA)
Milwaukee Brewers (at LAA, at SD)
6 Games
Boston Red Sox (at TOR, at CIN)
Kansas City Royals (at OAK, at TEX)
Minnesota Twins (vs. TB, at OAK)
Philadelphia Phillies (vs. SD, vs. ARI)
Texas Rangers (vs. NYM, vs. KC)
Washington Nationals (vs. ARI, at COL)
Pitching Streamers
Aaron Civale, TB (at MIN, at PIT)
Civale’s season-long numbers are far from pretty, but it’s a two-week stretch that’s done him in. The righty allowed 18 runs in a three-start stretch at the end of April but has been solid outside of that. In fact, AC has a 3.66 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 9.3 K/9 rate in his other 11 starts this year. That’s on par with what Tampa expected when they signed him, with Civale sporting a 3.92 ERA and 1.17 WHIP coming into the year. He should be able to duplicate that form in these two matchups. Pittsburgh is the best of the bunch, with the Pirates ranked 26th in OBP, 27th in K rate, and 28th in wOBA. Minnesota has been better but sitting 16th in OBP and 17th in K rate is nothing worth writing home about.
Streamonator Valuation: $-9.6
Hunter Brown, HOU (at CWS)
We’ve had Brown as one of our streamers in the past, but he was drafted universally coming into the season. A horrific opening month shifted him to every waiver wire out there, but the youngster is starting to find it. Brown hasn’t allowed a run in back-to-back starts, providing a 2.58 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 10.3 K/9 rate across his last seven starts. That’s the form fantasy managers expected to see, but we’re willing to use him as one of our streamers until he becomes a must-roster player once again. It might happen after another solid outing this week because he faces a White Sox team that ranks last in runs scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA, and xwOBA.
Streamonator Valuation: $30.6
Alec Marsh, KC (at OAK)
The Royals have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball, and this guy has been a huge boost to the back end of their rotation. The righty had the best start of his career on Thursday, throwing seven one-hit innings against the Yankees. That’s the best offense in baseball right now but it’s less surprising since Marsh now has a 3.63 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. He’s done that while recording at least seven Ks in five of his last seven starts, and that total should be easy to reach against Oakland. The A’s rank 28th or 29th in runs scored, OBP, and K rate. In his one start against them, Marsh picked up nine strikeouts, allowing just six baserunners across 5.2 innings!
Streamonator Valuation: $18.3
Drew Thorpe, CWS (at DET)
Thorpe is one of the top prospects in Chicago’s organization and these fans could use anything to get excited about. Early results are encouraging, with Thorpe allowing just one run and five baserunners across five innings in his debut. That’s what we saw in the minors, with Thorpe tallying a 2.17 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 10.1 K/9 rate. It’s funny to see a pitcher barely crack 90 MPH be so successful, but this kid has some nasty stuff. Those minor league numbers should play out well against a minor league-looking lineup, with the Tigers ranked 22nd in K rate, 27th in OBP, and 24th in wOBA.
Streamonator Valuation: $-22.7
Hitting Streamers
Charlie Blackmon, COL (vs. LAD, vs. WAS)
The Rockies have the best schedule of the week. They’re one of the only teams that has seven games this week, and all of them are going to be in Coors Field! That sort of opportunity will have the Rockies projected to score 35 runs, the highest projection of the week! If that’s going to happen, Blackmon is going to be a major piece of their success as their everyday leadoff hitter. Blackmon has always been blasting baseballs in Coors, compiling a .381 OBP and .921 OPS there since the start of last season! He’s also scorching coming into this week, providing a .388 OBP and .875 OPS across his last 31 outings.
Jesse Winker, WAS (vs. ARI, at COL)
Winker has been on and off the waiver wire in many leagues, but we’ll use him as one of our streamers this week. This Cincy send-off has become the everyday three-hole hitter for the Nats, collecting six homers, 11 steals, 31 RBI, and 33 steals behind a .387 OBP. What people forget is that Winker looked like a stud early in his career, providing a .385 OBP and .888 OPS through his first five seasons. Injuries have mauled him the two years since, but an everyday role with the Nats has him back on track. We love that when examining this week’s schedule, facing five righties in this six-game week. He also gets three of those in Coors Field against a Rockies team that has the lowest ERA and WHIP in baseball!
David Hamilton, BOS (at TOR, at CIN)
With all of the injuries in Boston, Hamilton has been a godsend for this team. He’s been a utilityman in their infield, playing nearly every day over the last month. He’s been productive in this newfound role, hitting .281 while swiping 14 bags. Most of that damage has happened recently, with Hamilton recording five of those steals over his last seven games. In addition, he’s got a .326 AVG and .898 OPS across his last 26 fixtures! That looks even better since he faces four righties in this six-game week, matching up with a Cincy team that sits 20th in wOBA and a Toronto team that ranks 23rd.
SAGNOF (Saves/Steals Ain’t Got No Face)
Steals Specialists
David Hamilton (BOS)
Hamilton has five steals over his last seven games and should pick up at least one or two steals in this favorable week of scheduling.
Jorge Mateo (BAL)
Mateo was just activated off the IL a few days ago and has 78 steals since the start of the 2022 season.
Saves Specialists
Tyler Kinley (COL)
Kinley has an atrocious 8.10 ERA but has three saves in his last three appearances. He also has seven home games this week and should get some save chances despite the nightmarish numbers.
Yimi Garcia (TOR)
Garcia has taken over for Jordan Romano, picking up three saves in his last five appearances!
Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
