Pitching Streamers to Target in Week 15 of Fantasy Baseball

Pitching Streamers Available in Some Leagues (Over 30% Rostered)

Cristopher Sanchez (SP – PHI)

Next Start: Thursday 7/4 at ChC

Cristopher Sanchez remains underrostered, undervalued, and underrated in fantasy leagues. If he is available, he should be an immediate add for any fantasy managers. Sanchez quality starts in six of his last nine games, including four wins. He has back-to-back quality starts and wins, as well, that came against San Diego and Arizona.

This matchup in particular works in Sanchez’s favor. Overall, the Cubs have the seventh most strikeouts and the ninth highest strikeout rate in baseball. This is great for Sanchez, who has just a 7.4 strikeout-per-nine innings rate. The Cubs also have the eighth fewest home runs overall and tie for the fourth fewest against left handed pitchers. This is important to note because Sanchez has just a 2% HR/FB rate, meaning eventually that should regress closer to league average (10-12%), but likely will not happen in this game.

Sanchez has also been excellent at limiting walks, with a 2.5 walk-per-nine rate, and the Cubs have the seventh fewest walks against LHP. Additionally, this game will be played in the 10th friendliest pitcher’s park against a pitcher with a 59% groundball rate – third best in baseball among qualified pitchers.

Sanchez has earned that GB% with a nasty changeup that carries a .182 batting average against, a 40% whiff rate, and a 26% putaway rate. Just look at it:

Cristopher Sánchez, Dirty 84mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/WhKEzqcsN3

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 23, 2024

Sanchez should be one of your priority pitching streamers wherever available and should be held for the long term.

Widely Available Pitching Streamers (0%-30% Rostered)

Brandon Pfaadt (SP – ARI)

Next Start: Sunday 6/30 vs OAK

Brandon Pfaadt has underperformed this season considering his minor league stats. His season ERA so far is 4.45, but he has a 3.42 xERA, a 3.89 xFIP, and a 3.94 SIERA. That positive regression could come in this game.

Oakland has struggled this season, possessing the fourth-worst run differential, the second-most strikeouts, and the second-highest strikeout rate in the league. And while Pfaadt has just a 7.9 K/9 rate, he has flashed better strikeout numbers and could see his K/9 rate climb after this game. In fact, Oakland has the most strikeouts against righty pitchers and the second-worst batting average.

This would be a great game for Pfaadt to lean on his sweeper. It has a .188 BAA, a 34% whiff rate, and a 23% putaway rate. Here is a look at it:

Brandon Pfaadt, Wicked 85mph Sweeper. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/Ip7mTubF8S

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 14, 2024

Pfaadt has been a bit unlucky with a 65% LOB rate, but has done well at inducing groundballs and limiting walks. That has led him to some solid results. He had back-to-back quality starts, and has quality starts in seven of his last 10 games, so there is potential for him to help you beyond just this game.

Pfaadt makes for one of the top pitching streamers for the week ahead and in the future.

Gavin Williams (SP – CLE)

Next Start: Tuesday 7/2 vs CWS

Gavin Williams has been on the shelf this season but is slated to make a start next week, likely against the White Sox on Tuesday.

Last season, Williams finished with a modest 8.8 K/9 rate, but showed poor command with a 4 BB/9 rate. That has been consistent in his minor league starts so far this season but in a very small sample. Even still, the White Sox have the second-fewest walks against RHP, so Williams and the fantasy managers that roster him may not have to worry about walks too much in this matchup.

Also making this a prime streaming matchup is the fact that Chicago is among the worst teams in baseball in many aspects. They have the worst run differential, the 10th-highest strikeout rate, and the third-fewest home runs overall. Williams may not last long in this game, but Cleveland would be smart to let him get his feet wet against a team that struggles so much.

The White Sox also struggle, in particular, against righty pitchers. They have the worst AVG, the 10th most strikeouts, the second-fewest walks, and the third-fewest home runs. If there was ever a game to start a player returning from injury, this would be it.

Last season, Williams did well at limiting baserunners from scoring, while also inducing a league-average groundball rate. And while Cleveland likely will have him on a pitch count, he could give you five solid innings.

Consider Williams as one of your pitching streamers for the week ahead.

Ben Lively (SP – CLE)

Next Start: Wednesday 7/3 vs CWS

Ben Lively may not be the best player in leagues that value quality starts, but in leagues that value wins, he is a monster. Lively rarely goes past five innings, but he has seven wins in his last nine games, and this looks like it could be another one.

As mentioned above, Chicago is terrible overall, but also against RHP in particular. This game plays into Lively’s strengths, as he has a 7.7 K/9 rate and a 2.7 BB/9 rate that could potentially improve thanks to the White Sox’s flaws.

Fantasy managers may point to some issues in Lively’s advanced ERA metrics. His xERA, xFIP, and SIERA all suggest his ERA should be a half-run to a run worse than his current 3.03 ERA. However, he has limited line drives and pulled balls, and possesses a league-average 12% HR/FB rate. Those do not signal regression. The only area where he may regress is his 87% LOB rate, but that should not lead to a collapse for Lively. This looks like the real deal, meaning he could be a streamer and help you in other advantageous matchups down the road if fantasy managers wanted to hold him.

One key for Lively this season has been a ridiculous sweeper. It has a .200 BAA, a 27% whiff rate, and a 21% putaway rate. Take a look at this thing:

Ben Lively, Wicked 80mph Sweeper. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/S73oTuD4o7

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 22, 2024

Fantasy managers should look to lively as one of the top pitching streamers for the coming week.

Albert Suarez (SP – BAL)

Next Start: Friday 7/5 at OAK

Albert Suarez has featured in Baltimore’s rotation this season due to injuries to other starters, and he has performed admirably. Fantasy managers should not expect a quality start in this game, considering Suarez does not typically surpass five innings, but he could pick up a win in this start against Oakland. He had an impressive win earlier in June against Atlanta – one of the best teams in the league.

So far this season, Suarez owns a 7.2 K/9 rate, which could improve against Oakland considering the have the second most strikeouts overall, the second highest K% in the league, and the most strikeouts against RHP. They also have the second-worst AVG against righties as well.

Fantasy managers can reasonably expect Suarez’s 2.70 ERA to regress closer to his advanced ERA data, which put his ERA above four, but this should not be the game where that happens. Oakland has the fourth-worst run differential, and Suarez has been excellent at limiting runners from scoring. He possesses a 79% LOB rate and a modest 34% GB rate.

Oakland’s park leans pitcher-friendly, which should keep Suarez’s 3% HR/FB rate from ballooning in this start. Also, he has an absurd changeup that will play well in this park. It has a .167 BAA and a 23% whiff rate:

Albert Suárez, Nasty 83mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/9D5kq3O0VB

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 23, 2024

Consider Suarez among your top pitching streamers for the week ahead.

Backup Plan Streamers for Week 15

• HOU Spencer Arrighetti at TOR – Tuesday 7/2
• BOS Brayan Bello at MIA – Wednesday 7/3
• CLE Triston McKenzie vs CWS – Thursday 7/4
• CWS Jonathan Cannon at MIA – Friday 7/5

Desperation Streamers for Week 15

• ATL Spencer Schwellenbach vs PIT – Sunday 6/30
• PHI Christian Scott at WAS – Tuesday 7/2
• KC Michael Wacha vs TB – Wednesday 7/3
• BAL Dean Kremer at SEA – Thursday 7/4
• LAD Landon Knack vs ARI – Thursday 7/4