As we enter Week 11 of the fantasy baseball season, the streaming pitchers market has become much tougher to navigate. With so many injuries, managers are holding onto pitchers they otherwise might release after a start or two. And pitchers that are available as streamers have some flaws that make them risky starts.
Still, there are plenty of good matchups to exploit, and I have done some of the leg work to help you find the best streamers for the upcoming week.
With that, here are my favorite streamers for the week ahead.
Pitching Streamers Available in Some Leagues (Over 30% Rostered)
Ryan Pepiot (SP – TB)
Next Start: Tuesday 6/4 at MIA
In eight starts across 40.2 innings this season, Ryan Pepiot has pitched to a respectable 3.89 ERA for the Rays. He is at nearly the exact same amount of innings pitched as last season.
Pepiot has improved his strikeout rate from last season, reaching nearly 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings this year. He has also trimmed his home run rate. Pepiot’s groundball rates and walk rates have worsened, and while his strand rate is extremely low, it should start moving toward the median as the season continues.
He faces Miami in his next start, a team with the second-worst run differential in baseball. They also have the fewest walks against righty pitchers, something that could get Pepiot’s BB/9 rate under three.
The Marlins have also posted the worst groundball rate in the league, so expect Pepiot to use his curveball a bunch in this one. It has a -8.0 degree launch angle and a 50% whiff rate. He also has a wicked fastball that is arguably one of the best in baseball:
Ryan Pepiot's 4-Seam Fastball is one of the most dominant pitches in baseball. Thanks to an improved shape this season, it leads all 4-Seam with 41.0 Whiff% (min. 75 swings)
4-Seam – 2023 vs 2024:
94.1 ➡️ 94.6 mph
17.5" ➡️ 19.0" iVB
101 ➡️ 108 tjStuff+ 📈
22.4➡️ 41.0 Whiff% 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CCnAwaaCvq— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) May 2, 2024
If he is available in your leagues, Pepiot should be one of the top pitching streamers for the upcoming weeks.
Marcus Stroman (SP – NYY)
Next Start: Thursday 6/6 vs MIN
It may be that because he has posted a higher ERA than SIERA in seven of his 10 major league seasons, fantasy baseball managers are reluctant to add Marcus Stroman. He may prove doubters right over the course of the season, but in this matchup, you should trust him.
Stroman has five quality starts this season, including his last three starts, one of which was against the Twins. In that game, he struck out two, walked three, and picked up the win. He very well could do it again, considering Minnesota has the 10th highest K% as a team in baseball. Also, Minnesota’s .219 AVG against RHP is the third lowest in the league.
Among qualified starting pitchers, Stroman has the eighth-best groundball rate. That, combined with an 84% LOB rate, has certainly helped suppress his ERA. However, he has walked a career-worst 3.9 batters per nine innings. And his career LOB rate is 72%. This means he may be benefiting from some luck, and explains why his 2.76 ERA does not match his 4.10 xFIP or 4.31 SIERA.
Even with his flaws, he has flashed some incredible stuff this season, including five pitches possessing whiff rates between 24%-30%, four of which have batting averages against of .200 or below. One of those pitches is his splitter:
Marcus Stroman, Filthy 83mph Splitter. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/QrxqOcFCIQ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 26, 2024
Stroman should be one of your priority pitching streamers for the week ahead. Beyond that, he is absolutely a high-risk-high-reward option.
Lance Lynn (SP – STL)
Next Start: Friday 6/7 vs COL
Lance Lynn is coming off two great outings against Baltimore and Cincinnati, both resulting in quality starts. Lynn has a great matchup towards the end of the week against the basement-dwelling Rockies.
Lynn has found a way to pitch well this season, despite his worst K/9 and BB/9 rates since 2017 and 2018 respectively. He increased his GB% from last season and seems to trust his defense more in St. Louis, which has resulted in his best LOB% since 2021.
This matchup against Colorado is a chance for Lynn to get his strikeout and walk numbers back on track. The Rockies have the third-worst strikeout and walk rates against RHP. They also possess the fifth-worst K% and the sixth-highest GB% overall.
This is a great start for Lynn and he makes for a great choice as one of your pitching streamers for the upcoming week.
Widely Available Pitching Streamers (0%-30% Rostered)
Brandon Pfaadt (SP – ARI)
Next Start: Sunday 6/2 at NYM
Brandon Pfaadt has taken a little while to hit his stride but seems to be in the zone. He has quality starts in five of his last six games, missing out in his last start against the defending champion Rangers.
Pfaadt definitely still seems to be figuring things out. He was a high strikeout pitcher in the minors but has averaged just an 8.6 K/9 rate since last season. He continues to show the ability to limit walks, though. Pfaadt has pitched into some bad luck – his LOB rate is just 60%, despite increasing his groundball rate to nearly 40%.
His next start comes against the Mets, who have a losing record at home, and the eighth-worst run differential. The Mets also hit the ball on the ground the eighth most in the league, something that should play into Pfaadt’s strengths.
He has leaned on his sinker and changeup to induce more grounders this season. Those pitches have a five-degree launch angle combined. However, his sweeper continues to be his most dominant pitch. It has a .207 BAA, a 36% whiff rate, and a 23% putaway rate. Here he is striking batters out with his fastball, sweeper, and changeup:
Brandon Pfaadt's 3Ks in the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/fDudh2ersx
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 15, 2024
Pfaadt carries some risk, but this is a great matchup for him. He should be one of your top pitching streamers for the week ahead.
Jameson Tailon (SP – ChC)
Next Start: Wednesday 6/5 vs CWS
Jameson Taillon has not posted a quality start since the beginning of May, but this is a chance for him to get back on track. In his last three games against Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis, he totaled just 13.1 innings, nine strikeouts, and six walks. His next start comes against a much easier opponent in the White Sox.
Chicago has the worst run differential in baseball by 42 runs. They also have the fewest wins away from their home park. And while Taillon has posted a career-worst K/9 rate, the White Sox could help him get that back up, as they have the 10th most strikeouts and the second-worst AVG vs RHP.
Taillon has found success in Chicago this season mostly through inducing weak contact on the ground. His 47% GB rate would rank 16th in baseball if he qualified. Thanks to his ability to limit walks and induce grounders, his strand rate is the second-best of his career.
While he does carry some risk, this is too good of a start to miss out on. Trust Taillon as one of your pitching streamers for the week ahead.
Backup Plan Streamers for Week 11
- CLE Triston McKenzie vs WAS – Sunday 6/2
- MIA Braxton Garrett vs TB – Wednesday 6/5
- SEA Bryan Woo at OAK – Thursday 6/6
- CLE Triston McKenzie at MIA – Friday 6/7
Desperation Streamers for Week 11
- NYM Christian Scott at WAS – Wednesday 6/5
- BAL Cole Irvin at TB – Friday 6/7
- BOS Cooper Criswell at CWS – Friday 6/7