We had another graduate from last week’s pitching streamers list. This time it was rookie Bryce Miller who turned in six shutout innings against the Astros on Sunday. That makes two pretty impressive outings to start his career. It’s a shame I can’t write about him anymore. This will probably have to be my last bit of advice: if he’s somehow still available in your league, pick him up for tonight’s start in Detroit and don’t look back. Hail and farewell, Bryce.
But the great thing about fantasy baseball is, there are always fun players for us to get excited about. I found ten pitching streamers who interest me and who can help you win your matchup next week. If they have a start this weekend that you can use to your advantage in a daily transaction league, I’ve noted that under their name. As always, they are listed in roster percentage order.
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Top 10 Pitching Streamer Options For This Upcoming Week
Pitching Streamers Available in Some Leagues (About 50% to 65% Rostered)
Jon Gray SP Rangers
Last start: Monday, May 8th @ Mariners – 7IP W 1ER 4H 0BB 8K
Next start: Saturday, May 13th @ A’s
1 start next week: Friday, May 19 vs. Rockies
Whether you need a streamer tonight or help for next week, you should seriously consider picking up Jon Gray now. He’s been solid the whole season, but his last start was superb. He cruised for seven innings, struck out eight, and didn’t walk anyone. But more importantly, he generated 20 swinging strikes. He seems to be working on a new slider that moves less but is much faster. It got a remarkable 10 swings-and-misses on 15 pitches. It has the potential to be a game-changer and by itself is worth a shot. Throw in his next two matchups, at A’s and vs. Rockies, and it’s a no-brainer.
Bailey Ober SP Twins
Last start: Thursday, May 11 vs. Padres – 6IP 3ER 6H 0BB 6K
1 start next week: Tuesday, May 16 @ Dodgers
Though he wasn’t quite as good on Thursday against the Padres, Bailey Ober has yet to turn in a bad performance since being called up to the majors this season. The only hitch this last time out was giving up a couple of hard hit long balls. But he still induced an impressive 16 swinging strikes, struck out six for the third straight start, and issued no walks. The latter is no small accomplishment against a Padres team that has the second most walks in baseball. He’ll face his biggest challenge yet next week when he pitches on the road against the team with the most walks, the Dodgers, and plenty of other impressive offensive numbers. But this one isn’t about just a stream. I’m holding Ober. I want to see where it goes.
Andrew Heaney SP Rangers
Last start: Tuesday, May 9th @ Mariners – 62.IP L 3ER 4H 2BB 7K
Next start: Sunday, May 14th @ A’s
1 start next week: Saturday, May 20th vs. Rockies
I recommended Andrew Heaney last week because he’s been solid most of the season and because he had two great matchups. On Tuesday, he did provide a solid quality start at the Mariners and tomorrow he’ll draw the A’s at their nice big ballpark. It’s more of the same next week as he gets to pitch at home against the Rockies. If you have him already, roll him out again. If he’s still on your wire, might as well grab him for the favorable matchups.
Mackenzie Gore SP Nationals
Last start: Friday, May 12th vs Mets – 4IP 0ER 5H 2BB 3K
1 start next week: Wednesday, May 17th @ Marlins
The good news for Mackenzie Gore last night: he didn’t give up any runs. The bad news: he only lasted four innings. That might have something to do with him throwing 37 pitches in the first inning. What can you do? The Mets are good at running deep counts and they just faced Gore a couple of weeks ago. He’ll get a much less patient Marlins team next time. They’re dead last in runs per game and walks. I like his odds to go a bit deeper.
Pitching Streamers Available in Most Leagues (About 30% to 50% Rostered)
Josiah Gray P Nationals
Last start: Wednesday, May 10th @ Giants – 7IP W 2ER 5H 4BB 3K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, May 16th @ Marlins + Sunday, May 21 vs. Tigers
Another week, another decent start for Josiah Gray. This time he picked up a win while only allowing two runs over seven innings at the Giants on Wednesday. He put some guys on base (four via walk), but as has been the case this season, he found a way to limit damage with soft contact. His xERA is a bit higher than the actual ERA (3.65 vs. 2.96), but still backs up his solid results. In a year where consistent pitching is not so easy to find, I still can’t believe Gray is available in most leagues. That could change with two very favorable matchups next week. At the very least, he’s an ideal streamer.
Domingo German SP Yankees
Last start: Thursday, May 11th vs. Rays – 5.2 L 1ER 3H 3BB 3K
2 starts next week: Tuesday, May 16th @ Blue Jays + Sunday, May 21st @ Reds
If Domingo German didn’t slay the beast, he at least lived to tell the tale. Going against the mighty Rays (their team slash line of .276/.348/.521 leads baseball in each category) his last two turns, German only yielded a combined 3 earned runs in 10.2 innings. Impressive. And not just against the Rays. His whiff rate and K rate are back to levels we haven’t seen since his 18-win season in 2019. He ranks an amazing third in the majors in swinging strike rate. Whether he’s returning to form or if he’s just hot right now is up for debate, but after lowering his ERA against a heavyweight, I’ll risk a matchup against the middle-weight (albeit a solid middle-weight) Blue Jays.
Seth Lugo SP/RP Padres
Last start: Wednesday, May 10th @ Twins – 6IP 2ER 5H 1BB 5K
Next week: Monday, May 15th vs. Royals + Sunday, May 21st vs. Red Sox
If you look at Seth Lugo’s game log this season, you’ll notice he hasn’t had a start that will kill your ratios. In all but two starts, he’s even been a big help. I’m a little nervous that his xERA is sitting at 4.83 (vs his season mark of 3.18), but he‘s got two starts next week and if you need the volume with not a ton of risk, he’s among your best options this week. The Royals start is especially attractive, but would you believe the Red Sox are significantly worse outside of Fenway? It’s true: .297/.363/.489 at home vs. .235/.314/.401 away, their OPS splits are .854 vs .714, and they score over one run per game less. The veteran is available is most leagues, too.
Tanner Bibee SP Guardians
Last start: Monday, May 8th vs. Tigers – 3.2IP L 4ER 7H 4BB 2K
Next start: Sunday, May 14th vs. Angels
1 start next week: Saturday, May 20th @ Mets
Can’t sugar-coat this week’s bad start for Tanner Bibee. He had no command of his fastball, his slider got hit hard, and he walked four batters en route to his loss against a weak-hitting Tigers team. It also doesn’t get any easier for him tomorrow against the Angels, a team ranking in the top-10 in just about all offensive categories. Last season he averaged under two walks per nine innings, though, so we know control is not a problem. Plus, it was rainy in Cleveland during the start. I’m willing to chalk this up to rookie fluctuation. I’ll start him in a daily transaction league on Sunday, and assuming he doesn’t look lost, I’ll start him in New York next week against the flailing Mets.
Pitching Streamers Widely Available (About 30% Rostered Or Fewer)
Hayden Wesneski SP Cubs
Last start: Sunday, May 7th vs. Marlins – 6IP 1ER 5H 0BB 6K
Next start: Saturday, May 13th @ Twins
1 start next week: Friday, May 19th @ Phillies
This is a ‘proceed with caution’ recommendation. Although Hayden Wesneski has put together four very solid starts out of his last five outings, he’s doing it without much bat missing and stranding runners on base. Underlying metrics usually don’t like that sort of thing. His xERA is actually a scary 5.67 (vs. a 3.93 ERA). So there will either be regression coming, or Wesneski will figure it out and realize some of the potential that had us so excited in spring training. I’d start him against the not-too-scary Twins tonight if I needed some volume. His start next week, however, is a bit more imposing. The Phillies’ offense is middle-of-the-road, but their slash line against righties (.271/.334/.429) is significantly higher than against lefties (.250/.298/.419). Basically, if all the other guys on this list are taken and you need a starter, this is your guy.
Louie Varland SP Twins
Last start: Tuesday, May 9th vs. Padres – 6IP 1ER 5H 2BB 6K
Next start: Sunday, May 14th vs. Cubs
1 start next week: Saturday, May 21st @ Angels
Injuries to the Twins’ rotation have opened the door for Louie Varland, and after three starts in the bigs this season we’re starting to take some notice. He turned in his best start of the three on Tuesday, only giving up one run in six innings to the Padres. His 14 swinging strikes on 94 pitches were particularly impressive, along with a variety of pitches that induced the whiffs. His fastball wasn’t shabby either, peaking at 98 miles per hour. That’s up significantly from his cup of coffee with the Twins last season, along with a better spin rate and better extension. Those improvements compel me to stream him Sunday against a good Cubs offensive and also at the Angels next weekend. Like with his teammate Bailey Ober (but to a lesser degree), I want to see where this goes.