Last week’s article was our best of the month, and it feels good to have a bounceback week. What’s funny is that we’re carrying over some of our streamers from last week because some of these guys need to be picked up everywhere. Players sit on waiver wires too long at this point of the season, and it’s a great time to hop on some of these streamers!
Favorable Team Matchups
8 Games
Kansas City Royals (at CLE, at HOU)
7 Games
Boston Red Sox (vs. TOR, at DET)
Cincinnati Reds (vs. OAK, vs. MIL)
Cleveland Guardians (vs. KC, vs. PIT)
Colorado Rockies (vs. MIA, vs. BAL)
Miami Marlins (at COL, at SF)
Milwaukee Brewers (vs. SF, at CIN)
San Diego Padres (at STL, at TB)
6 Games
Baltimore Orioles (at LAD, at COL)
New York Mets (at ARI, at CWS)
New York Yankees (at WAS, vs. STL)
Seattle Mariners (vs. TB, at LAA)
Texas Rangers (at CWS, vs. OAK)
Pitching Streamers
Andrew Heaney. TEX (at CWS)
We had Heaney as one of our streamers in last week’s article, and we’re going right back to the well. The lefty has quietly turned his season around, posting a 3.60 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 10.8 K/9 rate across his last four starts. He also had a 3.24 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 9.0 K/9 rate in an 18-start stretch after a poor opening two weeks, and that’s on par with the player we’ve seen over the last three years. This hot stretch should continue in a matchup against the White Sox, with Chicago sitting last in runs scored, OBP, OPS, xwOBA, and xwOBA. In his last matchup with the White Sox, Heaney threw six scoreless innings while striking out 11 batters!
Streamonator Valuation: $-11.2
Matthew Boyd, CLE (vs. PIT)
Boyd has only made a handful of starts after a long recovery from Tommy John surgery, but a 3.38 ERA and 1.03 WHIP through two starts shows what this guy can provide. We’re talking about a lefty who had a 3.52 ERA and 1.23 WHIP two years before the injury, which pairs beautifully with his 25 percent K rate since 2019. That strikeout stuff makes him a sensational option against Pittsburgh, with the Pirates ranked 24th in runs scored, 26th in K rate, 27th in OBP, and 28th in wOBA. Cleveland has been notorious for getting the most out of its starters, and seeing Boyd pitch like an All-Star for the final six weeks would be far from surprising.
Streamonator Valuation: $28.4
Kyle Harrison, SF (vs. MIA)
Harrison was one of our top streamers last week, and he rewarded us with a remarkable outing. The lefty has a 3.47 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 9.4 K/9 rate across his last seven starts while posting a 3.81 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over his last 10 outings. That’s not far off the numbers we’ve seen since his call-up, but the best part is the matchup with Miami.
The Marlins rank 29th in run scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA, and xwOBA, with Harrison likely entering this matchup as a -200 favorite. That’s even scarier since Oracle Park is one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in the sport, with Harrison totaling a 3.24 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 9.5 K/9 rate there throughout his career.
Streamonator Valuation: $22.6
Jeffrey Springs, TB (at SEA)
Springs struggled as one of our streamers last week but will remain in this article because we believe he’s a must-roster player. The lefty has made five starts in his return from Tommy John surgery, allowing just one run in two of his last three outings. He also struck out at least seven batters in both of those, but that’s no surprise when looking at his career averages. Springs has a 2.64 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 27 percent K rate since 2021. He has some of the nastiest stuff in the sport, and there’s no chance Seattle will slow him down. The Mariners rank 27th in runs scored, OBP, and wOBA while posting one of the worst strikeout rates in MLB history (28 percent).
Streamonator Valuation: $3.2
Cody Bradford, TEX (vs. OAK)
A lengthy stint on the IL is the only reason Bradford sits on waiver wires. The lefty hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his seven starts, tallying a 2.63 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 8.6 K/9 rate in those outings. One ugly relief appearance has hurt his averages, but it’s hard to overlook starting statistics like those.
His home numbers are equally as enticing, amassing a 2.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP at Globe Life Field this season. All of that makes him challenging to avoid against Oakland, with the A’s ranked 25th in runs scored, 24th in OBP, and 26th in K rate. That was on full display when Bradford threw 6.2 scoreless innings in their one matchup earlier in the year.
Streamonator Valuation: $16
Hitting Streamers
Jhonkensy Noel, CLE (vs. KC, vs. PIT)
Most nicknames are terrible, but Big Christmas is brilliant. Seeing Noel out there makes me want to sing holiday jingles because it reminds me of watching Franmil Reyes smash the ball in Cleveland. What’s crazy is that Noel might be an even more prolific power hitter, posting a .615 SLG and .945 OPS since his call-up.
He’s also got a .400 OBP, .698 SLG, and 1.098 OPS across his last 18 outings, hitting the heart of Cleveland’s lineup nearly daily. That sort of ability is no surprise since he had a .359 OBP, .578 SLG, and .937 OPS at Triple-A this year! All that makes him tough to avoid this week because he has seven home games, avoiding Jared Jones, Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Brady Singer, and Seth Lugo in these otherwise weak rotations!
Nolan Jones, COL (vs. MIA, vs. BAL)
This is a total punt play, but I believe in Jones! This guy has 20 homers and 20 steals across 106 games in a breakout 2023 season but has been completely shut down by injuries this year. That has kept him on and off the IL, but he says he’s fully healthy! That’s why he was a Top 100 pick in drafts, and we believe he can play like that for the final month. He showed glimpses of that in his rehab assignment, posting a .400 OBP, .552 SLG, and .952 OPS in the minors this year!
He also has a hit in eight of his last 10 outings and should be able to continue that success since Colorado has seven games at home this week, with six against righties! This guy has a .364 OBP and .829 OPS against righties throughout his career and will undoubtedly have better home splits since Coors is the most hitter-friendly environment in baseball!
SAGNOF (Saves/Steals Ain’t Got No Face)
Steals Specialists
Parker Meadows (DET)
Meadows was once a top prospect in Pittsburgh’s organization, but some health and mental issues have derailed his career. Something’s changed since coming off the IL, hitting leadoff for the Tigers while recording four steals over his last seven outings! He’s also got a 1.027 OPS in that span!
David Hamilton (BOS)
Hamilton is one of the league leaders with 32 steals, picking up nine of those over his last 32 games! He’s also played in 16 of the last 18 games, and that’s what really matters when talking about a speedster like this!
Saves Specialists
Tyler Kinley (COL)
This is disgusting, but Kinley will likely take over as the closer with Victor Vodnik going down. Kinley has earned it with his recent form, posting a 1.37 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and 10.1 K/9 rate since July 11. That’s massive since he has seven home games this week!
Edwin Uceta (TB)
With Peter Fairbanks on the IL, Uceta recorded Tampa’s first save. He has a 0.86 ERA and 0.61 WHIP in an unbelievable season.
Jorge Lopez/Porter Hodge (CHC)
Both of these guys have a save since Hector Neris was designated for assignment, so we have to assume one of these guys will run away with this gig!
Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
