Pitching Streamers to Target in Week 25 of Fantasy Baseball

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

Cristopher Sanchez (SP – PHI)

Next Start: Monday 9/9 vs TB

Cristopher Sanchez once again tops the list of streamers to target, in what has been a breakout season for the 27-year-old. He has nine quality starts in his last 14 outings, and in three of his last four. In those last four games, Sanchez earned a 2-1 record.

On the season, he has some modest ratios including a 7.4 strikeout-per-nine innings rate, along with allowing two walks per nine innings. He has a 69% LOB rate, which is disappointing considering his 58% groundball rate ranks second best among all qualified pitchers. If he had a bit more defensive help, he could potentially have a better ERA than his current 3.45. His xFIP sits at 3.15.

Sanchez faces Tampa in his next outing, which makes for a great start for the lefty hurler. The Rays arguably have one of the worst offenses this season. They are one of two teams to rank among the 10 worst in run differential (seventh), strikeouts (sixth), strikeout rate (sixth), fewest home runs (fourth), and GB% (10th).

Sanchez, a pitcher that has been excellent at limiting walks and homers, while also inducing a high amount of grounders. Tampa struggles against lefty pitchers in particular. They have put up the seventh fewest walks and home runs against LHP.

Sanchez should continue to lean on his filthy changeup in this one. It clearly has a lot to do with his success, especially at creating ground balls. His changeup has a .183 batting average against, a -1 degree launch angle, a 34% whiff rate, and a 22% putaway rate. Take a look here:

Patrick Corbin (SP – WAS)

Next Start: Sunday 9/8 at PIT

Patrick Corbin has started to turn things around at the end of the season, his last under contract with the Nationals. He has a quality start in two of his last three games, all of which resulted in wins. During that 17.2-inning span, he allowed three earned runs and posted a 22:6 K:BB ratio, while improving his ERA to 5.41.

Corbin’s 7.1 K/9 rate is up from last year, and his 3 BB/9 rate and 47% GB rate reflect an improved pitcher. In fact, his 4.19 xFIP and 4.49 SIERA suggest that Corbin could improve even more before the end of the season, and this matchup against Pittsburgh could help that happen.

Next Start: Tuesday 9/10 at CWS

Ben Lively has had an impressive season, though he has regressed some lately. His last two games were back-to-back clunkers, but in the six games prior, he had four quality starts and a 3-2 record. He plays the White Sox, the team with the worst record in baseball, in his next outing.

On the season, lively has a 7.2 K/9 rate and a 2.8 BB/9 rate. He has stranded runners on base at a 78% clip while inducing a 40% GB rate and posting a 4.07 ERA.

He could see improvement to many of those numbers when he faces Chicago in his next start. The White Sox have the worst run differential in baseball, largely in park to also possessing the fewest home runs in baseball. They also own the ninth-highest K%. That should help Lively, whose strikeout rate is below league average.

The White Sox have also had a rough time facing righty pitchers in particular this season. Against RHP, they have the worst batting average, the 10th most strikeouts, the second-fewest walks, and the fewest home runs. Plus, Chicago’s park is the tenth friendliest to pitchers, so there is even a little more working in Lively’s favor.

If Lively wants to succeed in this one, he will likely have to lean on his slider, which possesses a .263 AVG, a 40% whiff rate, and a 20% putaway rate. That should keep Chicago’s batters on their heels and help Lively avoid homers and induce some strikeouts.

Matthew Boyd (SP – CLE)

Next Start: Wednesday 9/11 at CWS

Matthew Boyd made his season debut on August 13, after recovering from Tommy John surgery. So far this season, he has tossed 22.2 IP, and given up six earned runs to go along with a 14:5 K:BB ratio. He owns a 1-1 record and has quality starts in his last two games.

He has not pitched much yet, but so far, Boyd has a 7.9 K/9 rate. That is about a strikeout below his career rate, which likely means that he should improve over the next few weeks. He also has a 1.9 BB/9 rate, a bit better than his career. His 80% LOB rate is also a bit high, which means that we could see some regression to his 2.38 ERA the rest of the way. He might be able to avoid regression in his next outing against the White Sox, though.

The White Sox do not just struggle against RHP, but against LHP as well. They have the second-worst AVG, the fourth fewest walks, and the fewest homers against lefties. For a pitcher like Boyd, who has shown the ability to limit walks, this is a great matchup. Boyd should also benefit from playing in a park that favors pitchers.

On the young season, Boyd has flashed an absurd slider. It has a .118 BAA, a 31% whiff rate, and a 27% putaway rate. That is a pitch he should rely on in this matchup.

Osvaldo Bido (P – OAK)

Next Start: Thursday 9/12 at CWS

Osvaldo Bido has been a surprisingly consistent streamer candidate for much of this season. Yes, he gave up four earned runs in his last game, which was against Seattle, but he had four quality starts in his last five games. Bido had a 3-1 record during that span. And in 12 starts since May 8, Bido has allowed more than two earned runs in just three games.

Bido’s 8.8 K/9 rate is up slightly from last year, and his 3.6 BB/9 is also a slight improvement. He has a modest 70% LOB rate as well.

He faces a White Sox team that has been awful this season, both overall and against RHP. Plus, he faces them in their home park, which leans pitcher-friendly.

Bido’s best asset in his arsenal is a ridiculous slider that owns a .197 BAA, a 27% whiff rate, and a 22% putaway rate. Here is a look at it:

Mitchell Parker (SP – WAS)

Next Start: Friday 9/13 vs MIA

Mitchell Parker has been a great surprise for the Nationals this season. Aside from a nine-run outing against Philadelphia earlier this month, Parker has pitched well recently. He has a quality start in four of his last six games but only has two wins to show for it. parker may be a better option in leagues that favor quality starts over wins, since the Nationals have had a hard time scoring runs.

This season, Parker has a 7.9 K/9 rate and a 2.3 BB/9 rate, both impressive for a rookie who was not necessarily expecting this role. He also has a solid 36% GB rate.

Parker faces Miami in his next matchup. The Marlins have the third-worst run differential, the third-fewest home runs, and the highest GB%. This is great for Parker, who has done well at limiting runs and homers, and has the stuff to induce grounders.

Miami also struggles mightily against lefty pitchers. They have the third-worst AVG, the fourth-most strikeouts, and the eighth-fewest home runs against them.

Parker should continue counting on his splitter in order to find success. This season, it has a .214 BAA, a 37% whiff rate, and a 22% putaway rate. Check it out:

Backup Plan Streamers for Week 25