Alex Cobb has been solid since returning from injury
Each week this column will scour the waiver wire and look for pitchers who are less than 30% owned and could be useful streamers for your fantasy team. All ownership percentages come from Yahoo.
Please note the probable pitcher matchups could change throughout the week due to rainouts or other circumstances, so be sure to check back before picking up and starting one of these recommendations. All ownership percentages and statistics are current as of Saturday, September 17.
Sunday, September 18
Alex Reyes (STL) @ San Franciso Giants
(Ownership: 33%)
Reyes, regarded as one of the Cardinals’ top pitching prospects, has been impressive in his rookie season, posting a 1.29 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 28 innings of work. He gets to take on an average Giants offense in one of the most pitching-friendly parks in all of baseball. He shapes up as a strong streamer for Sunday.
Monday, September 19
A.J. Cole (WAS) @ Atlanta Braves
(Ownership: 9%)
Cole has pitched well at times this year, putting up a 31/9 K/BB ratio. He gets a top matchup against a Braves offense that has not been all that effective against right-handed pitching this season. Atlanta ranks 26th in wOBA and 28th in ISO on the season.
Tuesday, September 20
Eduardo Rodriguez (BOS) @ Baltimore Orioles
(Ownership: 25%)
Rodriguez followed up a near no-hitter with a rough outing against the Yankees his last time out, but he still has a good deal of upside against the Orioles on Tuesday. Baltimore, while a dangerous offense, is much worse against left-handed pitching this season. Add in their 21.8% strikeout rate against southpaws and Rodriguez should have a good deal of strikeout upside in this one.
Wednesday, September 21
Alex Cobb (TB) vs. New York Yankees
(Ownership: 19%)
Cobb has been strong after missing all of 2015 and more than half of 2016 following Tommy John surgery. The right-hander has rung up a 3.06 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 17.2 innings of work this season. He will take on a Yankees offense that ranks 20th in the league in wOBA against righties and isn’t nearly as dangerous in road games. The pitcher-friendly environs of Tropicana Field should keep that trend going on Wednesday.
Thursday, September 22
Luis Cessa (NYY) @ Tampa Bay Rays
(Ownership: 6%)
As mentioned above, Tropicana Field is a great place for pitchers to do their thing. Cessa will enjoy a huge park boost pitching there instead of his hitter-friendly home field. The rookie has a 32/11 K/BB ratio this season and gets to take on a Rays lineup that has struggled with right-handed pitching in 2016. Tampa’s 23.9% strikeout rate against right-handers ranks third-highest in the league.
Friday, September 23
Jose De Leon (LAD) vs. Colorado Rockies
(Ownership: 31%)
De Leon, one of the Dodgers’ top pitching prospects, has been solid in his first 11 big league innings, striking out 12 batters while posting a 4.09 ERA. He gets to take on a Rockies lineup that isn’t all that scary away from Coors Field. The Rockies have a 23.4% strikeout rate on the road this season, giving De Leon some nice strikeout upside for this game.
Saturday, September 24
Brad Peacock (HOU) vs. Los Angeles Angels
(Ownership: 0%)
Peacock has been solid over his 16.2 innings of work on the year, holding two dangerous offenses in the Rangers and the Indians to two total runs in his past two starts. He will take on an Angels team on Saturday that is very average against right-handed pitching, ranking just 19th in the league in wOBA.
Matt Terelle is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @supermt.
