It saddens me to say that we’re down to the final two weeks of the season. Despite lasting for over six months, it feels like this season has flown by. I always enjoy writing about streamers, which helps me a ton in my my leagues. I really hope that I helped you guys throughout the year, too, so let’s finish the season strong!
Favorable Team Matchups
7 Games
Arizona Diamondbacks (at COL, at MIL)
Atlanta Braves (at CIN, at MIA)
Chicago Cubs (vs. OAK, vs. WAS)
Los Angeles Dodgers (at MIA, vs. COL)
Pittsburgh Pirates (at STL, at CIN)
San Diego Padres (vs. HOU, vs. CWS)
St. Louis Cardinals (vs. PIT, vs. CIN)
6 Games
Cincinnati Reds (vs. ATL, vs. PIT)
Colorado Rockies (vs. ARI, vs. LAD)
Kansas City Royals (vs. DET, vs. SF)
Pitching Streamers
Albert Suarez, BAL (vs. SF, vs. DET)
Suarez has been a solid signing by Baltimore, sporting a 3.39 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. It’s hard to believe it’s the first time this guy has pitched since 2016, but it’s telling that such a good team put their trust in him. It’s also helpful that Camden Yards is one of the best pitcher parks in baseball, with Suarez posting a 3.23 ERA and 1.24 WHIP there this season. That’s awesome when you consider his recent form, allowing two runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts. The righty has a 2.43 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in that span, which should carry over against these offenses. The Motor City Kitties rank 24th in wOBA, 21st in K rate, and 28th in OBP, while San Fran sits 19th in runs scored and 20th in K rate.
Streamonator Valuation: $30.4
Andrew Heaney, TEX (vs. SEA)
Heaney has been one of our streamers more than any player over the last two months, and the results tell us that we’re doing something right. The lefty has allowed three runs or fewer in 23 of 28 starts this season, providing a 3.00 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 10.5 K/9 rate over his last seven starts. He did that against some of the best offenses in baseball, but the Mariners are nowhere near that. Seattle sits 24th in wOBA, 25th in runs scored, and dead-last in K rate. We also love that this start is at Globe Life Field, with Heaney amassing a 2.49 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 10.5 K/9 rate over his last 12 home starts!
Streamonator Valuation: $2.5
David Peterson, NYM (vs. WAS)
The Mets always develop one of the best rotations in baseball because they always seem to find diamonds in the rough. That’s just what they have with Peterson, posting a 2.72 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across his last 12 starts. He’s been even better recently, registering a 2.39 ERA and 1.02 WHIP across his last eight starts. The best part is that this start is at home because Citi Field has been the best pitcher’s park for a few years now. That’s evident in DP’s 1.40 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 10.7 K/9 rate in that same span. A matchup with Washington is wonderful, too, with the Nats ranked 22nd in wOBA, 23rd in runs scored, and 24th in xwOBA.
Streamonator Valuation: $18.5
Rhett Lowder, CIN (vs. PIT)
Injuries have rocked the Reds rotation, but this rookie has revived this Cincy staff. Lowder was dominant in his final six starts in the minors, allowing just two runs and 25 baserunners across 40 innings while striking out 34 batters. That equates to a 0.45 ERA and 0.63 WHIP, which is on par with the 0.59 ERA and 1.34 WHIP he’s put together in three starts with the Reds. He did that against teams like the Astros and Brewers, but a home matchup with Pittsburgh is his most favorable spot of the season. The Pirates rank 24th in K rate, 26th in OBP, and 27th in wOBA!
Streamonator Valuation: $-16.0
Reid Detmers, LAA (vs. CWS)
Recommending a guy like Detmers as one of our streamers when all the chips are on the table is a horrifying thought, but bear with me. This kid was a standout in the opening month of the season, tallying a 1.19 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 11.9 K/9 rate. He then blew up his ERA and WHIP over the next eight starts, which got him a one-way ticket to Triple-A.
The good news is that he found something at that level, totaling a 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 13.5 K/9 rate in two starts since then. A small sample size like that isn’t trustworthy, but it’s encouraging that he did it against the Dodgers and Twins. We’ll keep riding Reid since he faces the White Sox, which is the worst offense over the last decade. Chicago sits last in runs scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA, and xwOBA, sitting over 100 runs behind the Miami Marlins in 29th!
Streamonator Valuation: $46.5
Hitting Streamers
Matt Wallner, MIN (at CLE, at BOS)
We had Wallner as one of our streamers last week, and it’s hard to believe he’s not rostered universally at this point. The slugger always bats second in the Minnesota lineup when they face a righty, registering a .378 OBP and .978 OPS against them this season. That’s far from surprising when peeking at his recent form, posting a .379 OBP and .977 OPS across his last 43 games. Trusting a platoon player as one of our streamers is risky, but it’s fantastic this week. We say that because both of these rotations have fallen apart in the second half, and they’re sending out six righties against the Twins in this seven-game week!
Joc Pederson, ARI (at COL, at MIL)
It’s funny that we have two platoon players as our streamers on the hitting side, but Pederson is my favorite option this week. This slugger has quietly had an amazing season in Arizona, accumulating a .403 OBP and .936 OPS. That’s right on par with his splits against righties, amassing a .399 OBP and .947 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. That’s incredible since the D’Backs are projected to face six righties in this seven-game week, with one of those series happening in Coors Field against the worst pitching staff in baseball! He also avoids Tobias Myers in the Milwaukee rotation and could get 25-30 at-bats as the three-hole hitter for the highest-scoring team in the league!
SAGNOF (Saves/Steals Ain’t Got No Face)
Steals Specialists
Victor Robles (SEA)
Robles has retained his role as Seattle’s leadoff hitter, recording 24 steals over his last 51 games. He also has a .400 OBP in that span and should be rostered everywhere because of that!
Jesus Sanchez (MIA)
Sanchez hasn’t been known for his speed in the past, but Miami is letting him run wild. He bats in the heart of their order every day, picking up a steal in five of his last 13 outings!
Saves Specialists
Luke Weaver (NYY)
With Clay Holmes getting demoted to earlier innings, Weaver has taken over as the closer. He has a WHIP below 1.00 and has recorded two saves and a win over his last four outings!
Lucas Erceg (KC)
Erceg has re-established himself as the Royals’ closer since Kyle Finnegan landed on the IL, picking up eight saves over his last 13 fixtures!
Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
