Another week has come and gone, and it is time to look ahead to the upcoming slate of Major League Baseball action and dive into the fantasy baseball streaming pitchers. I’m here every week to suggest which pitchers you should stream to win your matchups.
I will be using FantasyPros’ streaming pitchers rankings to help determine my picks. Sync your league to find your own high-potential starters on the waiver wire.
Keep in mind that starters can get off schedule, and some projected starters may be pushed back due to injuries or weather.
First, let’s take a look at last week’s picks:
- Tyler Mahle (SP – SFG) @ARI: 4.1 Innings, 3 Strikeouts, 4 Earned Runs, 4 Hits, 3 Walks (Loss)
- Bubba Chandler (SP – PIT) @PHI: 6.1 Innings, 6 Strikeouts, 5 Earned Runs, 7 Hits, 2 Walks (Loss)
- Tatsuya Imai (SP – HOU) vs. MIN: 1.1 Innings, 2 Strikeouts, 5 Earned Runs, 4 Hits, 5 Walks (Loss)
- Walbert Urena (SP – LAA) @SEA: 5.2 Innings, 6 Strikeouts, 1 Earned Run, 1 Hit, 4 Walks (Loss)
- Javier Assad (SP – CHC) @STL: 4.2 Innings, 2 Strikeouts, 0 Earned Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Walks (No Decision)
- Brandon Young (SP – BAL) vs. CIN: 5.0 Innings, 5 Strikeouts, 4 Earned Runs, 8 Hits, 3 Walks (Win)
- Martin Perez (SP – ATL) vs. NYM: Shortened start due to injury
Total: 27.1 Innings, 24 Strikeouts, 19 Earned Runs, 26 Hits, 19 Walks (1-4)
The previous week was one of our best ever, so, of course, luck was against us this time. I own up to the Tatsuya Imai selection — I got too excited by his strikeout potential. Let’s aim for less volatile arms this week. Consistency is key as we march towards the All-Star break.
Week 15 Streaming Targets
Monday, July 6
Reynaldo Lopez (SP – ATL) vs. NYM | 5% Rostered
We are starting this week off with a blast from the past. Reynaldo Lopez is not currently throwing his strikeout stuff from before, but he has been doing a nice job of limiting hard contact.
The 32-year-old righty has seen action both as a starter and in relief this season. He is settling back into the Braves’ rotation in place of the rookie JR Ritchie.
Lopez faces the Mets on a pitch limit because he came from the bullpen. He threw 69 pitches across five innings in his most recent start against the Cardinals, striking out six and allowing one run. Lopez has shown efficiency, and it would not be crazy for him to throw about 80 pitches in this appearance against the 37-53 Mets.
I love Lopez against the Mets, who have the second-worst team OPS in baseball (.677). Just be sure to level expectations due to his pitch restriction.
Alternative: Shane Drohan (SP – MIL) @ STL | 4% Rostered
Tuesday, July 7
Michael McGreevy (SP – STL) vs. MIL | 21% Rostered
If you want solid, Michael McGreevy is your guy. He has an ERA of 3.12 so far this season. He has walked only 5.8% of batters and has gained success as a groundball (not strikeout) pitcher.
The 25-year-old righty is outperforming his expected stats for a third season in a row, and I am sure he will come back to Earth in some capacity. Will McGreevy’s 3.12 ERA hold up when his expected stats suggest regression? While I am sure the regression monster will arrive in some capacity, McGreevy has proved himself to be a solid streaming option both this season and last.
Tuesday is a day without great options, and I will admit that McGreevy is not my favorite choice on this list. Stream McGreevy against the Brewers as a high-floor, low-ceiling option.
Alternative: Robert Gasser (SP – MIL) @ STL | 2% Rostered
Wednesday, July 8
Jake Bennett (SP – BOS) @ CWS | 17% Rostered
Jake Bennett is a very exciting young pitcher. The rookie has an impressive 3.10 ERA (2.82 xERA) in 40.2 innings this season. He has 31 strikeouts and only seven walks. Bennett is a lower-velocity pitcher with elite control.
The 25-year-old righty seems to have adjusted to the Majors in his last three starts. He has thrown a combined 20 innings, allowing only three runs and striking out 18. The strikeouts are nice to see emerging alongside deeper success.
The White Sox have the eighth-best OPS in baseball (.738). However, Bennett has shown he has what it takes to face top lineups, such as when he held the Yankees to one run over 6.1 innings. I am very excited about Bennett and love him this week and going forward.
Alternative: Connor Prielipp (SP – MIN) vs. CLE | 2% Rostered
Thursday, July 9
Kyle Leahy (SP – STL) vs. MIL | 7% Rostered
Kyle Leahy has been proving the expected stats wrong. He is in the midst of a torrid four-start span, having thrown 22.1 innings and allowed only four runs while striking out 21 batters. The righty has an ERA of 3.86 despite an xERA of 5.55.
To be fair, the xERA of pitchers who throw low-velocity without many strikeouts (such as Leahy) is often higher than their real stats. That trend makes me feel better about Leahy against the Brewers.
Has the 29-year-old been getting lucky? Can his luck continue? Although the Brewers have a top-10 offense by OPS, the last time Leahy faced them in early May, he allowed only one run over 5.1 innings. Count on Leahy to continue his hot streak headed into the All-Star break.
Alternative: Jack Perkins (SP – ATH) @ DET | 2% Rostered
Friday, July 10
Brandon Young (SP – BAL) vs. KC | 17% Rostered
Brandon Young makes the list for the second week in a row. The 27-year-old has been earning excellent results on the diamond, throwing 77.1 innings with a 3.38 ERA and 62 strikeouts. The righty is not a big strikeout pitcher, but he is good at generating bad contact. His slider and sinker are particularly deadly at putting batters away.
Young may not be the most exciting pitcher, but we are aiming for consistency this week. He is a great quality start option against the Royals, who have a bottom-10 team OPS (.698).
Alternative: Aaron Civale (SP – ATH) @ CWS | 3% Rostered
Saturday, July 11
Kumar Rocker (SP – TEX) vs. HOU | 10% Rostered
Kumar Rocker may be the starter on this list with the lowest floor, but also the highest ceiling. This one is a true gamble. Rocker has a 3.95 ERA this season in 84.1 innings. His good starts are good, and his bad starts are bad.
Rocker has found some interesting success as a bulk reliever working behind an opening pitcher. The talent is there, but consistency is yet to follow. Rocker’s most recent three starts have spanned 15.1 innings, with 18 strikeouts and five runs allowed.
The Astros have an above-average offense by OPS, and it is obviously bad to face American League MVP frontrunner Yordan Alvarez. I consider the 26-year-old righty a high-risk, high-reward play this weekend.
Alternative: Zebby Matthews (SP – MIN) vs. LAA | 9% Rostered
Sunday, July 12
Ian Seymour (SP – TBR) vs. SEA | 17% Rostered
Ian Seymour is probably my favorite starter this week. The 27-year-old southpaw throws low-velocity but gets strikeouts. He has a 9.6 K/9 ratio this season and a 4.02 ERA (3.33 xERA). He has emerged as an intriguing option in his second season.
Seymour primarily utilizes a change-up, sweeper, four-seamer and sinker. His sweeper has a deadly 39.5% whiff rate. His change-up, which he throws about a third of the time, has a 33.8% whiff rate. Seymour gets whiffs despite low velocity, and advanced stats support his success.
I love Seymour against the Mariners, who have the seventh-most strikeouts in baseball and the sixth-lowest team OPS. End the week strong with Seymour.
Alternative: Joey Cantillo (SP – CLE) @ MIA | 25% Rostered
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