It’s time for Week 4 of the abbreviated fantasy baseball season. Maximizing each outing has become so important for your pitching categories, so putting an emphasis on streaming this year is even more important than ever.
Let’s see how we did last week, as it’s important to hold ourselves accountable.
Kyle Gibson (TEX) – 4.1 IP, 0 W, 2 K, 4 ER, 1 BB
Alex Cobb (BAL) – 5.1 IP, 0 W, 2K, 2 ER, 2 BB
Dylan Cease (CHW) – 6 IP, 1 W, 5 K, 1 ER, 0 BB
Austin Voth (WAS) – 4 IP, 0 W, 2 K, 3 ER, 2 BB
Johnny Cueto (SF) – 7 IP, 0 W, 5 K, 2 ER, 2 BB
Kevin Gausman (SF) – 5.2 IP, 0 W, 11 K, 3 ER, 3 BB
Matt Shoemaker (TOR) – 4 IP, 0 W, 7 K, 3 ER, 1 BB (ejected)
Total: 36.1 IP, 1 W, 34 K, 26 ER, 11 BB
Take note that we are looking for pitchers who are rostered in less than 30 percent of Yahoo leagues. Occasionally a recommendation will exceed that threshold if they are in a particularly favorable streaming situation.
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Monday, August 17
Brandon Bielak (HOU) vs. COL 22%
The Josh James experience is over in the rotation, at least for this year, and suddenly, the Astros are struggling with pitching depth. Enter Bielak, who doesn’t offer a ton of upside – he has an 11:7 K:BB ratio in 15.1 innings – but he gets the Rockies offense away from Coors with an offense backing him that has absolutely feasted on left-handed pitching. He’s an intriguing streamer in a two-start week.
Other options: Jordan Yamamoto (MIA) vs. NYM 2%
Tuesday, August 18
Tony Gonsolin (LAD) vs. SEA 12%
Gonsolin has yet to allow a run this year in 8.2 innings pitched, and he gets to face the Mariners, who have a .296 wOBA against righties this year, with a 23.6 percent strikeout rate. The only concern is the volume that Gonsolin will provide, but if he can go five innings, he should net you a positive net outcome with that offense backing him.
Other options: Griffin Canning (LAA) vs. SF 29%
Wednesday, August 19
Pablo López (MIA) vs. NYM 25%
If you read this column last year, you know that López was a mainstay on it. He delivered last week, too, as he had 21 whiffs (s/o @Pitcherlist) against the Braves. The Marlins have cooled a bit, but López offers great strikeout potential without hurting you with his control. He should be rostered in more leagues. This is the streaming lock of the week.
Other options: Patrick Sandoval (LAA) at SF 2%
Thursday, August 20
Alex Young (ARI) at OAK 2%
On a 1-10 meter, the confidence level here is about a three, but Young handled his own against San Diego last Saturday, striking out five Padres and allowing just one run on four hits in 4.1 innings. He’ll go to Oakland now, which is far from an easy matchup, but he seemed to have earned another start in the rotation.
Other options: Kevin Gausman (SF) vs. LAA 19%
Friday, August 21
Elieser Hernández (MIA) at WAS 13%
Hernández can straight shove it, man. He was brilliant Sunday against Atlanta, and that was after a solid start against the Blue Jays. He looks like he’s going to remain in the Miami rotation moving forward, and he’s scheduled for a date against the Nationals. The strikeout upside that Hernández brings makes him a valuable streamer with his filthy slider.
Other options: Logan Webb (SF) vs. ARI 4%
Saturday, August 22
Chad Kuhl (PIT) vs. MIL 4%
At last check, the Brewers don’t have Jesse Winker on their roster, which is a boost for Kuhl, as Winker hit two homers off him in his last start. But aside from Winker, Kuhl navigated the start well, allowing just three runs, four hits, and one walk while striking out six over five innings. Kuhl is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, but the fantasy community – and the Pirates – love him. He gets the Brewers, which is anything but an easy matchup on paper, but they do have a .278 wOBA against righties this year, which is ahead of only the Pirates in the National League. Couple that with their NL-leading 27.6 K% against righties, and this is a sneaky streaming option.
Other options: Chase Anderson (TOR) vs. TB 2%
Sunday, August 23
Corbin Burnes (MIL) at PIT 35%
We’ll break the rules here and go over the 30 percent mark because Burnes is so exciting. We’ll see how his matchup earlier in the week goes against the Twins, but man, having him against the Pirates is juicy. He was following Brett Anderson, but the Brewers optioned Eric Lauer, giving Burnes another shot in the rotation. Against righties, the Pirates have the worst wOBA , OBP,and wRC+ in baseball, the worst walk rate and SLG in the National League. It’s a ripe matchup for any pitcher, but especially one with the caliber of stuff that Burnes has showcased.
Other options: Daniel Ponce de Leon (STL) vs. CIN 2%
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Michael Waterloo is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @MichaelWaterloo.
