Pitching Streamers to Target in Week 19 of Fantasy Baseball

The All-Star Break marks essentially the mid-point of the season. As we approach MLB’s trade deadline, many fantasy managers are approaching their deadlines as well. While trades are one way to help win your league, utilizing the waiver wire is another way. And as the season continues to move along, it becomes more important than ever to find worthwhile pitching streamers.

Below, you can find my favorite streamers for week 19.

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

Brandon Pfaadt (SP – ARI)

Next Start: Friday 8/2 at PIT

Brandon Pfaadt has been excellent in his last four starts, allowing just two earned runs across 23.1 IP. He struck out 25 and walked just three batters during that span. This matchup against the Pirates looks to be a great streaming situation for those in need.

Pfaadt has a sub-2.0 walks-per-nine rate while striking out over 8.5 batters per nine innings. He has a 10% HR/FB rate, a 70% LOB rate, and a 42% GB rate, all of which legitimize his 3.74 ERA. His xFIP and SIERA both sit within four points of his actual ERA, which means he should not regress much, if at all.

Pittsburgh has performed poorly this season across the board. They have the sixth most strikeouts and the seventh highest strikeout rate, as well as the seventh fewest home runs, and the third highest groundball rate.

The Pirates also struggle with righty pitchers. They have the third-worst batting average, the 10th most strikeouts, and the fifth-fewest home runs against them. Pfaadt should perform well in this matchup since most of his strengths line up with most of Pittsburgh’s weaknesses.

Pfaadt’s sweeper has been absolutely dirty this season. It has a .177 batting average against, a 35% whiff rate, and a 24% putaway rate. Take a look:

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

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 14, 2024

If he leans on his sweeper, along with a solid fastball, this matchup should go his way. Make sure Pfaadt is one of your priority pitching streamers if he is available in your league.

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

Simeon Woods Richardson (SP – MIN)

Next Start: Monday 7/29 at NYM

Simeon Woods Richardson has two quality starts in his last three games, including a six-inning shutout against the Phillies in his last outing. His next outing comes against the Mets, which should give fantasy managers some confidence.

While the Mets have a modest offense, SWR has the stuff to neutralize it. Since May 17, he has given up more than three earned runs just once in an outing, in a four-run clunker against Oakland.

Woods Richardson has a ridiculous slider that has worked well for him this season. It has a .176 BAA and a 24% whiff rate. He pairs that with a fastball and curveball that both induce whiffs over 20% of the time. Here he is striking out the side with a slider and two fastballs:

Simeon Woods Richardson's 3Ks in the 5th pic.twitter.com/Ashb9jd1mE

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 20, 2024

This game will happen in a pitcher-friendly park, which should also lead to a solid outing for Woods Richardson. Consider him as one of your pitching streamers for the upcoming week.

Michael Wacha (SP – KC)

Next Start: Tuesday 7/30 at CWS

Michael Wacha has three wins in his last four games, along with two quality starts. This has been another great season for Wacha, who has a sub-4 ERA for the third straight year.

Wacha has done this with a slightly retooled arsenal, adding a slider that has a 43% whiff rate. Though Wacha’s strikeout rate has dipped slightly, he has improved in other areas. His BB/9 and GB% have both gotten better this season. These strengths play well against an awful White Sox offense.

Chicago has the worst run differential, the ninth most strikeouts the seventh worst K%, the third fewest homers, and the ninth highest GB% in the league. They also struggle against RHP in particular. Against righties, the White Sox have the worst AVG, the fourth most strikeouts, the fifth fewest walks, and the third-fewest home runs. This game plays right into Wacha’s hands.

Chicago’s stadium also leans pitcher-friendly, which helps Wacha, with his above-average GB%, especially since Chicago hits a ton of grounders.

For fantasy managers looking for pitching streamers, Wacha is a great option.

Alex Cobb (SP – SF)

Next Start: Wednesday 7/31 vs OAK

Alex Cobb will likely make his season debut against Oakland, after dealing with injuries for much of the last three seasons. Despite that, this is the perfect matchup for Cobb to start and for fantasy managers to target.

Cobb has looked solid in five rehab starts this season. He has given up five earned runs, with a 20:5 K:BB ratio across three levels. Cobb has shown the ability to strike out batters and limit walks at the major league level when healthy. Across parts of the last three seasons, he has an 8.6 K/9 rate and a 2.5 BB/9 rate. Cobb also has a 58% GB rate over that span.

What makes this a great matchup is that Oakland’s offense struggles both overall and against righty pitchers. Overall, Oakland possesses the sixth-worst run differential, as well as the second-most strikeouts and the second-highest K%. Against RHP, they have the fifth-worst AVG and the second-most strikeouts.

Cobb should do well in this matchup as long as he continues to throw strikes against one of the worst teams when it comes to striking out. He also has the benefit of playing in one of the top pitchers’ parks in the league.

Cobb is one of the best sneaky pitching streamers of the week and should be on every fantasy manager’s radar.

Spencer Schwellenbach (SP – ATL)

Next Start: Thursday 8/1 vs MIA

Spencer Schwellenbach has performed admirably in his debut season despite possessing a 4.62 ERA. He has had a few tough outings this season but has two quality starts in his last four.

Do not let the ERA fool you, Schwellenbach is due for some positive regression. He has an 8.7 K/9 rate and a 1.7 BB/9 rate. Schwellenbach’s LOB rate sits at 69%, while his HR/FB rate is a bit high at 12%. This data legitimizes his 3.74 xFIP and 3.66 SIERA, both of which are nearly a run better than his current ERA.

This may be the game where that positive regression happens. Miami has the third-worst run differential, the second-fewest homers, and the highest groundball rate in the league. They also have the fewest walks and home runs against righty hurlers.

Schwellenbach’s bread and butter this season has been a filthy splitter, which should play to Miami’s weaknesses. He has allowed just one home run on it despite throwing it 110 times. It has a .128 BAA, a 48% whiff rate, and a 33% putaway rate. Check it out here:

Spencer Schwellenbach, Filthy 86mph Splitter. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/LiEMPoT10c

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 25, 2024

Miami should have a hard time against Schwellenbach, meaning he should be one of the pitching streamers you consider for the week ahead.