A strategy that I have used with success in deeper leagues is streaming starting pitchers. That is, if you miss out on one or more of your high-end targets, you can piece together a fairly solid pitching staff by picking up guys each day and starting them in advantageous matchups to give you solid results.
Maybe you can’t replicate what Clayton Kershaw would do, but you can certainly put up some solid numbers if you pick your spots while using the picks you’d have spent on middling starters to beef up your offense. I personally find it to be a very fun strategy that requires some persistence and a bit of being the early bird who gets the worm, and the payoff can be particularly sweet.
We’re going to set a 30 percent threshold for ownership and we’ll use ESPN to get us there. Feel free to guide us in the comments section if you think there’s a better way.
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Monday, May 8
Blake Snell (TB) – v. Kansas City Royals (14.6 percent ESPN)
The pickings are fairly slim on a short Monday slate, but Snell is trending in the right direction and coming off a solid start against the Marlins: five innings, two earned runs, nine strikeouts. He’s run into pitch count issues on multiple occasions — he has not recorded an out in the sixth inning since his first start — but still, the results aren’t too bad: 3.45 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 31.1 innings.
The walks are driving the pitch counts, though; he has 21 this season. Facing an MLB-worst Royals offense (67 wRC+) should be good for him.
Tuesday, May 9
Hector Santiago (MIN) – @ Chicago White Sox (26.6 percent ESPN)
Santiago has been quite a revelation for the Twins this year, and it helps that he’s facing a poor White Sox offense (86 wRC+) with Mike Pelfrey on the bump opposing him. So not only is he a fairly good bet for a quality start but if you play in wins leagues, he should get some run support as the Twins take out their frustrations on an old friend. Santiago has a 2.78 ERA and has been doing a good job of limiting walks — his bugaboo in the past — with just 11 in 35.2 frames.
Wednesday, May 10
Ariel Miranda (SEA) – @Philadelphia Phillies (5.6 percent ESPN)
The Phillies offense is decent (94 wRC+) but Miranda has quietly been really good this season for the M’s: 3.55 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, .246 BAA, and 29 strikeouts in 33 innings. He stymied the Angels last time out and has allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of six starts. Look out for the slider — it has a 15.3 percent whiff rate and complements a fastball that Miranda adds and subtracts to with ease.
Thursday, May 11
J.C. Ramirez (LAA) – v. Detroit Tigers (14.4 percent ESPN)
Ramirez — like Miranda — has quietly been good for an AL West team as he’s got more than a strikeout per inning (31 in 27.2 frames) with a so-so ERA (4.23) and a good 1.16 WHIP. He’s coming off fanning nine Tigers last time out and has whiffed seven or more hitters in each of his last three starts. Like Miranda, Ramirez has a slider that’s worth watching.
However, he throws it more than any other pitch, with a stellar whiff rate of 17.7 percent. His rarely-throw curve is good, too (13.6 percent whiff rate).
Friday, May 12
Robert Gsellman (NYM) – @ Milwaukee Brewers (9.9 percent ESPN)
I know you’re all getting sick of hearing about him, but I can’t stop gambling on the talent. I know the Brewers aren’t a perfect matchup (99 wRC+, MLB-leading 49 homers), but I trust the groundballing Gsellman to keep the ball in the park. He’s induced nine or more grounders in four straight starts and has a stellar 57.8 percent groundball rate on the season.
He’s going to come around; he simply has to. You can also run with Mike Foltynewicz against the Marlins here.
Saturday, May 13
Jesse Hahn (OAK) – @ Texas Rangers (28.1 percent ESPN)
Here’s another slept-on righty in the AL West, though Hahn has been very good in the past — when he’s been healthy. He looks really good so far this season, with a 26-9 K/BB ratio in 32 innings, a .205 BAA, a 1.03 WHIP, and 2.53 ERA in five appearances (four starts).
He’s thrown a quality start or the equivalent of one in each of his five appearances and is doing a good job of keeping the ball on the ground for the most part as well. His curve is particularly dastardly (19.8 percent whiff rate).
Sunday, May 14
Charlie Morton (HOU) – @ New York Yankees (18.2 percent ESPN)
Why are we still sleeping on Morton? Don’t make me salty, guys. Sorry, bad pun. Trying to delete.
Morton has 20 strikeouts over his last two starts and has a 39-10 K/BB ratio overall in 34 innings. It’s been quite a revitalization for the 34-year-old Morton, who is better than ever.
Not only does he have the strikeouts, but he’s kept some of his trademark grounders, too (48.9 percent). This is a sneaky good pitcher, folks.
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Brandon Warne is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Brandon, check out his archive and follow him @brandon_warne.
