Another week has come and gone, and it is time to look ahead at upcoming fantasy baseball matchups. I will be here every week this season to suggest which fantasy baseball streaming pitchers you should start to win your matchups.
I will be using the FantasyPros streaming pitchers rankings to help determine my picks. Feel free to sync your league and take a look at your own to find high-potential starters available on your waivers.
Let’s take a look at last week’s picks:
- Bubba Chandler (SP – PIT) vs. ARI: 4.0 Innings, 3 Strikeouts, 3 Earned Runs, 7 Hits, 1 Walk (No Decision)
- Seth Lugo (SP – KCR) @ MIN: 6.0 Innings, 2 Strikeouts, 1 Earned Run, 6 Hits, 2 Walks (No Decision)
- Gabriel Hughes (SP – COL) @ SDP: 5.0 Innings, 2 Strikeouts, 3 Earned Runs, 6 Hits, 1 Walk (Loss)
- Noah Cameron (SP – KCR) @ MIN: 8.0 Innings, 7 Strikeouts, 0 Earned Runs, 1 Hit, 2 Walks (No Decision)
- Robert Gasser (SP – MIL) @ LAA: 5.0 Innings, 6 Strikeouts, 1 Earned Run, 4 Hits, 2 Walks (No Decision)
- Zac Thornton (SP, RP – NYM) vs. MIA: 4.2 Innings, 2 Strikeouts, 3 Earned Runs, 6 Hits, 3 Walks (Loss)
- Keider Montero (SP – DET) @ ATH: 6.0 Innings, 2 Strikeouts, 0 Earned Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Walks (Win)
Total: 38.2 Innings, 24 Strikeouts, 11 Earned Runs, 32 Hits, 13 Walks (1-2)
Wow, Noah Cameron. I was expecting him to have a good week, not a no-hit bid that became the best start of his career. Besides Cameron, it was a pretty average week for us. Seth Lugo and Keider Montero turned in quality starts, and Robert Gasser had a good (albeit short) outing.
We would have liked to see more from Bubba Chandler, Gabriel Hughes and Zac Thornton. While I am happy with this week as a whole, I would have liked more strikeouts. Let’s continue to search for quality this week, as well as an increase in strikeouts.
Week 18 Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers
Please keep in mind that starters can get off schedule, and some projected starters can be pushed back due to circumstances such as injury and weather.
Monday, August 3
Brandon Pfaadt (SP – ARI) vs. SDP | 13% Rostered
I am liking Brandon Pfaadt for the first part of his two-start week. He faces the Padres on Monday and is supposed to face the Dodgers this weekend. I love Pfaadt against the Padres, who have the sixth-worst OPS in baseball (.705). Feel free to avoid Pfaadt against the Dodgers for obvious reasons.
Pfaadt has been great since he returned as a starter at the end of June. In his six appearances since then, he has a 1.85 ERA in 34 innings. The 27-year-old righty has had limited strikeouts, but has also limited damage.
Pfaadt is finding great success on his improved curveball, which he has been throwing more this season. Look for Pfaadt to continue his reign of terror against the Padres, and for it to realistically halt against the Dodgers. Pfaadt against the Padres is perhaps my favorite matchup of the week.
Alternative: Cristian Javier (SP – HOU) vs. TOR | 3% Rostered
Tuesday, August 4
Randy Dobnak (SP – KCR) vs. MIN | 2% Rostered
Randy Dobnak is our speculative add of the week. I’m gonna be honest, we might want to pass on him. Tuesday is a day without any great options. The 31-year-old righty veteran has a 1.04 ERA in a small sample size of 26 innings. His xERA is 4.58. His career ERA is 4.27.
Dobnak is mainly here because he shut out the Twins for seven innings in his previous start, with four strikeouts. He has a rematch against the Twins in his upcoming start. The waiver wire is dry for Tuesday, and Dobnak may be the best option. That does not mean he is a reliable option, and I would recommend other players from this list unless you are feeling very bold.
Alternative: Sean Manaea (SP – NYM) vs. CLE | 3% Rostered
Wednesday, August 5
Eric Lauer (SP – LAD) @ CHC | 5% Rostered
Eric Lauer has really benefited from joining the Dodgers. He has an ERA of 2.96 in 51.2 innings as a Dodger, striking out 30. His limited strikeouts reduce his ceiling, but playing for the best team in baseball really raises his floor.
The Cubs are 63-49 and have the fourth-best OPS in baseball (.750). They are a very formidable opponent. However, Lauer has shown an ability to do well against good teams. The 31-year-old southpaw is a high-floor, low-ceiling option for fantasy managers who want to maintain solid ratios without chasing the stars.
Alternative: Andrew Painter (SP – PHI) vs. WSH | 5% Rostered
Thursday, August 6
Christian Scott (SP – NYM) vs. CLE | 10% Rostered
If Christian Scott is available in your league, he is my favorite option for strikeouts and someone to consider keeping.
Scott has 85 strikeouts in 69.1 innings. What more could a fantasy manager need? He also has an ERA of 2.99 and a WHIP of 1.240. Scott has an xERA of 3.74, so some regression is probably on the way. Scott could have an ERA of 5.00 and still be viable with such an incredible strikeout ratio.
Scott has a favorable matchup against the Guardians, whose team OPS of .680 is the worst in baseball.
Alternative: Bailey Ober (SP – MIN) @ KCR | 16% Rostered
Friday, August 7
Connor Prielipp (SP – MIN) @ MIL | 3% Rostered
Connor Prielipp is a solid pitcher. The 25-year-old lefty has 81 strikeouts in 77.2 innings this season, earning an ERA of 4.75 and a WHIP of 1.31. The rookie has an xERA of 4.04, so perhaps he is getting somewhat unlucky.
The point is, Prielipp is pretty good. He has good strikeout stuff, including a fatal curveball with a 38.4% whiff rate.
Prielipp faces the Brewers this week, whose team OPS of .735 is the seventh-best in baseball. This is not the best matchup, and I do not blame you if you opt to start a different streamer. Regardless, Prielipp is a solid option due for some beneficial regression.
Alternative: Zac Thornton (SP – CHC) @ PIT | 18% Rostered
Saturday, August 8
Walbert Urena (SP – LAA) @ MIA | 20% Rostered
If Walbert Urena is available by some stroke of luck, to pick him up and stream him against the Marlins and beyond.
Urena has been a bright spot for the Angels. The rookie has earned a 2.54 ERA (3.26 xERA) in 99.1 innings, striking out 95 batters. These numbers are spectacular. Urena wields a great change-up, a sinker, an upper-90s four-seamer and a sweeper.
The Marlins are having a nice year, but Urena is doing even better. Start and keep the flame-throwing 22-year-old righty.
Alternative: Keider Montero (SP – DET) @ SFG | 19% Rostered
Sunday, August 9
Kumar Rocker (SP – TEX) vs. BAL | % Rostered
We are ending the week with Kumar Rocker. He is your typical hot-and-cold pitcher, recently struggling against the Astros before spinning back-to-back quality starts against the Mariners and White Sox.
The 26-year-old righty should have it against the Orioles. Their team OPS of .711 is the 11th-worst in baseball, and they have the fourth-most strikeouts with 1,031. While Rocker is not the best streamer of the week, he is facing a struggling team.
Alternative: Matthew Liberatore (SP – STL) vs. COL | 4% Rostered
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