Pitching Streamers to Target in Week 24 of Fantasy Baseball

As you continue to work your way through the playoffs – or consolation bracket – finding the right pitching streamers is paramount to winning. Hopefully the streamer suggestions here will help get you to the promised land.

Below are my top Week 24 pitching streamers.

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

Cristopher Sanchez (SP – PHI)

Next Start: Wednesday 9/4 at TOR

Cristopher Sanchez has had an incredible season, considering this is his first as a full-time starting pitcher. As of writing, he has 14 quality starts on the season and 10 in his last 15 starts. He also has quality starts in back-to-back outings (as of writing), including a complete game. He combined for 15 innings pitched and gave up four earned runs with a 12:1 K:BB ratio in those two starts.

Sanchez faces Toronto in the coming week, which looks like a great matchup for him. Despite a below-average 7.1 strikeout-per-nine rate, Sanchez has been able to limit scoring by limiting walks and inducing a ton of ground balls. He has a 2.1 walks-per-nine rate and a 58% GB rate that ranks second in baseball among qualified starters.

A major key to that groundball rate has been his changeup, which possesses a -1-degree launch angle. It also has a .180 batting average against, a 34% whiff rate, and a 22% putaway rate. That should help him immensely against the Jays. Take a look at it here:

Cristopher Sánchez, Nasty 86mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/p6BKYs6tfn

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 22, 2024

Sanchez should be able to limit Toronto’s ability to score considering how often he can keep the ball on the ground. Plus, the Jays have the seventh-worst run differential and the seventh-fewest home runs in the league. They also struggle mightily against left-handed pitchers. The Blue Jays have the worst AVG, the second-fewest walks, and the fourth-fewest homers.

Sanchez does not have to strike batters out to induce outs, and Toronto’s weaknesses should play right into his strengths, making him one of the top pitching streamers where available.

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

Jameson Taillon (SP – ChC)

Next Start: Sunday 9/1 at WAS

Yes, Jameson Taillon has had a rough August. During the month he allowed 17 earned runs in 22.2 IP across four starts. However, he still ended up with a 2-2 record, and prior to that, he had eight quality starts across 11 games. There is still juice to squeeze here.

Taillon has a career-low 7.9 K/9 rate, but his 1.8 BB/9 rate is the second-best of his career. Those go along with a modest 73% LOB rate and a 39% GB rate. He faces a Washington team that has had difficulties producing on offense. They have the sixth-worst run differential, the fewest home runs, and the third-highest GB% in baseball. Against righty pitchers, they have the fifth fewest walks and the fewest home runs.

If he continues leaning on his sweeper, he should be able to avoid homers and induce grounders in this one. It has a .186 BAA, a 34% whiff rate, and a 21% putaway rate. That should keep the Nats off the board. Imagine trying to hit this:

Jameson Taillon, Dirty 81mph Sweeper…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/NF0VIEv2Fm

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 10, 2024

This is an ideal streaming matchup for Taillon, who will play in the seventh most pitcher-friendly park in the league. Make him one of your priority pitching streamers for the coming week.

Simeon Woods Richardson (SP – MIN)

Next Start: Monday 9/2 at TB

Simeon Woods Richardson has performed well in August so far. He sports a 2-1 record with one quality start and a 21:7 K:BB ratio in 21 IP. On the season, he has a 7.9 K/9 rate, a 2.8 BB/9 rate, a 75% LOB rate, and a 36% GB rate.

Tampa has arguably been the worst offense in the league this season. They are the only team to rank among the worst 10 in all of the following categories: run differential, strikeouts, strikeout rate, home runs, and groundball rate. They rank eighth , fifth , eighth, third, and ninth worst in those categories respectively.

It does not get much better in a streaming matchup than this one. The Rays are also particularly bad when facing RHP, posting the eighth-worst average and second-most strikeouts against them. Plus, SWR gets to play in the fourth most pitcher-friendly park in the league in this one.

SWR possesses three pitches with whiff rates between 20-25% – his fastball, slider, and curveball. His slider is arguably his best pitch, and one he should use to exploit the Rays’ weaknesses. It has a .191 BAA and a 25% whiff rate. This is why it has been hard to hit:

Simeon Woods Richardson, Dirty 85mph Slider. 😨 pic.twitter.com/Z7JOGaH2z9

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 8, 2024

Make sure to scoop up SWR if he is available, because he should be one of the best pitching streamers for the week ahead.

Cade Povich (SP – BAL)

Next Start: Tuesday 9/3 vs CWS

The Tuesday slate does not feature many streaming selections, but Cade Povich could fit the bill if you need a Tuesday start. He has had a couple of clunkers since his season debut in June, but did toss two good games in tough matchups against Boston and Atlanta. Both of those outings resulted in quality starts.

Povich has a low 6.2 K/9 rate, but it was never lower than 10 at any level in the minors. So things should start to click, and there is a chance they click against the White Sox. Chicago owns the ninth-highest strikeout rate in the league and the second-worst batting average against LHP.

Povich does have some control issues – he has a 4.6 BB/9 rate in the majors, which reflects similar stats in the minors. Luckily the White Sox have the fourth fewest walks against lefty pitchers, so that may help him out. Chicago also has the worst run differential in the league, along with the fewest homers both overall and against lefties.

Povich is a bit of a dart throw, but this matchup makes him viable as one of the top pitching streamers for the coming week.

Zebby Matthews (SP – MIN)

Next Start: Thursday 9/5 at TB

Zebby Matthews has made three starts as of writing. He lasted five innings in all of them, allowing a total of five earned runs. He has a 1-1 record over that span, along with a 13:2 K:BB ratio.

Like Povich, Matthews sported a 10 K/9 in the minors at all but one stop but has a below-average 7.8 K/9 in his three starts in the bigs. However, Matthews has been excellent at limiting walks, and that has transferred to the majors. He owns a 1.2 BB/9 rate so far. His 41% GB rate is just under league average, which is also impressive, and will certainly help him in his next matchup against Tampa.

As previously mentioned, Tampa has been awful, and they have been particularly awful against righty pitchers. This game will also occur in Tampa, a pitcher-friendly park. This plays right into Matthews’ strengths and Tampa’s weaknesses, making this an ideal stream.

Matthews has a few nasty pitches. His fastball has been the toughest for batters to hit, with just a .100 BAA. He also tosses a slider with a 39% whiff rate and a 21% putaway rate, as well as a cutter with a 23% whiff rate and a 25% putaway rate. Take a look at him earning some strikeouts with a 12-6 curveball (.000 BAA, 25% putaway), and a biting slider:

Zebby Matthews, 2Ks in the 3rd.

6Ks thru 3. pic.twitter.com/sqVae8EFNI

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 25, 2024

Make sure you add Matthews as one of your top pitching streamers for the week ahead.

Backup Plan Streamers for Week 24