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.
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, July 24
Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD) v. Minnesota Twins (4.6 percent ESPN)
The Twins offense has not been amazing this year (95 wRC+, 15th in MLB), and Ryu — who will be working his way back from a foot issue which has prevented him from pitching since June 28 — has been solid over his last three starts. Over that stretch, he’s allowed two earned runs in each outing with the following overall numbers: 3.45 ERA, 18-5 K/BB ratio (15.2 innings) but also weirdly enough, a slash line against of .317/.368/.556. There aren’t a ton of options to go with Monday, so it might be a wing and a prayer with Ryu.
Tuesday, July 25
Seth Lugo (NYM) @ San Diego Padres (14.3 percent ESPN)
This is largely about bullying the Padres (84 wRC+, tied for third-worst in MLB), but Lugo has put together some solid numbers this season (4.05 ERA, 33-14 K/BB ratio in 46.1 innings). His last two starts have been very solid, as he’s lasted 6.2 innings in each with four earned runs, 10 strikeouts and three walks combined. He’s also induced 21 grounders over that time frame — another encouraging development.
Wednesday, July 26
Jaime Garcia (ATL) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (9.1 percent ESPN)
He went from nearly being a Minnesota Twin to clowning the Dodgers and Alex Wood — including somehow hitting a grand slam in Friday night’s game. Now he’s slated to take on the Diamondbacks, an offense that isn’t too bad (95 wRC+) but is nowhere near as good as the Dodgers (111). Garcia has been decent all season long (4.30 ERA), and is coming off back-to-back quality starts — against the Dodgers and strangely enough, the DBacks. He has induced 10 or more grounders in three straight starts and at least seven in each of his last 10.
Thursday, July 27
Zack Wheeler (NYM) @ San Diego Padres (13.7 percent ESPN)
I have an unreasonable amount of affection for a guy with an ERA of 5.21, but he’s facing the terrible Padres offense and has at least shown some flashes this season. He can still strike people out (81 in 86.1 innings) and is maintaining a healthy 48.3 percent groundball rate as well. If you don’t love this matchup, you can go with Trevor Bauer (25.9 percent, v. Los Angeles Angels) or Matt Garza (11.2 percent, at Washington Nationals).
Friday, July 28
Chad Kuhl (PIT) @ San Diego Padres (4.6 percent ESPN)
These poor, defenseless Padres. Or is it offenseless? Nevertheless, Kuhl has been pretty good of late, as he’s lowered his ERA more than a run over his last 10 starts. The 4.85 ERA isn’t too great — an FIP of 4.15 is much better — but since mid-May, Kuhl has been really, really good. Since a rough outing against the Nationals on May 16, Kuhl has a 3.70 ERA (56 innings, 11 starts) with a .734 OPS against and 48-23 K/BB ratio. It’s not earth-shattering, but for a sub-5.0 percent ownership play, it’s pretty solid. Jeremy Hellickson (20.2 percent, v. Atlanta Braves) isn’t a bad pull here either.
Saturday, July 29
Jerad Eickhoff (PHI) v. Atlanta Braves (9.3 percent ESPN)
I simply can’t quit the talent here, and he’s facing a divisional foe with a 90 wRC+. He’s opposed by Sean Newcomb (12 percent), so if you want to flip the script, that’s not a bad idea either. The Phillies offense is terrible (84 wRC+), though Newcomb has been roughed up over his last few starts. Eickhoff has been so-so for a while now — one good and one bad start since returning from injury — but there are flashes of the guy who posted a 3.65 ERA in nearly 200 innings in there somewhere.
Sunday, July 30
Luis Castillo (CIN) @ Miami Marlins (18.7 percent ESPN)
The Marlins offense is no great shakes, but Castillo has been pretty impressive in his own right as well. Through six MLB starts, he has a 3.86 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 35 innings and a WHIP of 1.26. He’s also induced at least seven grounders in all six starts and has allowed more than three earned runs just twice. Hopefully, that means there isn’t much blow-up potential — always a worry with youngsters like Castillo, who won’t turn 25 until December. Another good stab here would be Vince Velasquez (13.1 percent, v. Atlanta Braves).
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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.
