We knew it would be a rough week when two of our streamers got injured on Monday. The good news is that we didn’t have anyone get blown up, but having two of our recommendations get injured really hurt. In any case, we were rolling before that article and feel confident about the streamers for this week. We have four pitchers and three hitters, so let’s go ahead and get started by looking at the favorable matchups for the week!
Favorable Team Matchups
7 Games
Atlanta Braves (vs. WAS, vs. OAK)
Chicago Cubs (at MIL, vs. CIN)
Milwaukee Brewers (vs. CHC, vs. CWS)
Minnesota Twins (vs. KC, at HOU)
6 Games
Cincinnati Reds (vs. STL, at CHC)
Cleveland Guardians (at COL, vs. WAS)
Colorado Rockies (vs. CLE, at LAD)
Los Angeles Dodgers (at NYM, vs. COL)
St. Louis Cardinals (at CIN, at PHI)
San Diego Padres (vs. MIA, at KC)
Tampa Bay Rays (vs. OAK, at BAL)
Toronto Blue Jays (at CWS, vs. PIT)
Pitching Streamers
Zack Littell, TB (vs. OAK, at BAL)
We’ve had Littell as one of our streamers numerous times since the start of last season, and it’s easy to understand why. The righty has a 3.84 ERA and 1.20 WHIP since the beginning of last season, posting a 3.42 ERA so far this year. He’s also allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his 10 starts and never allowed more than four runs in any appearance last season. That ability to limit runs makes him enticing when looking at this two-start week because he gets to pitch in Tropicana Field and Camden Yards. Those are two of the best pitchers parks in baseball right now, with Oakland ranked 27th in runs scored and OBP. He also succeeded against the O’s last season, totaling a 2.35 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in three appearances against them!
Streamonator Valuation: $10.6
Tylor Megill, NYM (vs. LAD, vs. ARI)
This is risky, but I’ve always been keen on Megill as a pitcher. He showcased what makes him so special in his rehab assignment, amassing a 0.64 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, and 14.8 K/9 rate across 14 innings of action. His biggest asset this week is that he gets two starts at home, with Citi Field being the most pitcher-friendly park in baseball over the last five years! That should bode well for Megill, who has maintained a 3.15 ERA and 1.31 WHIP at home since the start of last season. If he can carry over that 3.15 ERA along with the strikeout stuff we saw in his rehab assignment, Megill could go from being one of our streamers into a must-roster player in no time!
Streamonator Valuation: $0.6
Alek Manoah, TOR (at CWS)
Using Manoah as one of your streamers is like playing Russian Roulette with a fully automatic, but let’s go Deer Hunter mode this week! This right-hander has looked like a different pitcher recently, registering a 1.93 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 8.2 K/9 rate across his last three starts. That’s the stud we saw in the All-Star game a few years ago, with Manoah maintaining a 2.60 ERA and 1.01 WHIP between 2022 and 2023. We also saw this guy total some gaudy numbers in the minors, and this Chicago lineup isn’t much different from that. The White Sox rank last in runs scored, OBP, OPS wOBA, and xwOBA!
Streamonator Valuation: $18.5
Chris Paddack, MIN (vs. KC)
We don’t know what Paddack did in his Saturday start against Texas, but we’re encouraged by what we’ve seen at times this season. Paddack has been pummelled twice this year against Cleveland and Baltimore, but both teams are two of the best offenses in baseball. If you remove those two stinkers, Paddack has a 2.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 9.2 K/9 rate this season. That’s on par with the stud we saw in San Diego, with Paddack posting one of the best rookie campaigns we’ve seen over recent years. Some health has allowed him to recapture that rookie form, and we don’t mind a home matchup with the Royals. Kansas City has been hitting above their heads, with Paddack allowing just two runs and five baserunners across five innings in his last matchup with KC!
Streamonator Valuation: $18.1
Hitting Streamers
Davis Schneider, TOR (at CWS, vs. PIT)
The Blue Jays lineup has been one of the most disappointing in baseball, but it’s not this guy’s fault. Schneider has been one of their best bats, providing a .369 OBP and .822 OPS across his last 22 games. That stretch looks less flukey when looking at last year’s statistics, sporting a .404 OBP and 1.007 OPS across 35 games! It’s clear this guy can rake whenever he’s given a chance, and Toronto has given him just that by moving him to the leadoff spot. That makes him tough to avoid in these matchups because he faces Martin Perez, Mitch Keller, Bailey Falter, Mike Clevinger, Chris Flexen and Nick Nastrini. Yes, he somehow avoids Garrett Crochet, Paul Skenes, and Jared Jones!
David Fry, CLE (at COL, vs. WAS)
Fry has been skyrocketing up the ownership numbers and will go from one of our streamers into a must-roster player if he continues to hit like this. The catcher/outfielder has been hitting fourth and fifth for the Guardians, generating a .578 OBP, .909 SLG, and 1.487 OPS across his last 13 outings. That’s one of the best two-week stretches any player has had all year, and it’s even more miraculous since he’s catcher-eligible on most sites! We would ride him against anyone, but he gets three games in Coors Field against the worst pitching staff in baseball and another three games against a woeful Washington staff.
Joey Ortiz, MIL (vs. CHC, vs. CWS)
This kid is being overlooked in many fantasy leagues, and it’s hard to understand why. The first variable we love is his position eligibility, being eligible at third base and second base. Those are two of the weaker positions in fantasy, with Ortiz skyrocketing up the rankings. The rookie has a .382 OBP and .886 OPS so far this season, with most of that damage happening recently. In fact, Joey has a 1.021 OPS across his last 22 outings! That’s moved him up to the five-hole in this talented Milwaukee lineup, and we don’t mind that he has seven home games against the two Chicago pitching staffs. The White Sox are 28th in ERA, while the Cubs sit 20th in xwOBA.
SAGNOF (Saves/Steals Ain’t Got No Face)
Steals Specialists
Jose Caballero (TB)
It’s hard to believe that Caballero is still around 50 percent rostered on Yahoo because he’s one of the best steals specialists around. He’s up to 19 steals this season, recording 14 of those across his last 30 games!
Jorge Mateo (BAL)
Mateo has been playing nearly every day for the O’s, and he’s an excellent source of speed if that’s the case. He had 67 steals across two seasons between 2022 and 2023 while recording four steals over his last six outings!
Saves Specialists
Daniel Hudson (LAD)
With Evan Phillips starting a rehab assignment today, we don’t expect him back until the end of next week. That means Hudson should continue getting all the save chances, recording two in his last five appearances. He hasn’t allowed a run in that span while posting a 0.20 WHIP across those five sparkling innings.
Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
