It is hard to believe the baseball and fantasy baseball seasons are almost over. We are getting down to the wire, which means many of you are vying for championships or looking to avoid a last-place finish. Finding the right pitching streamers is a key to success in fantasy baseball, and I am here for another few weeks to help you find the right ones.
Below are my top Week 26 pitching streamers.
Pitching Streamers Available in Some Leagues (Over 30% Rostered)
David Peterson (SP – NYM)
Next Start: Monday 9/16 vs WAS
David Peterson has been a quality start machine this season. He has 10 on the season including nine in his last 15 starts, and in five of his last six.
While Peterson has not met the strikeout expectations from last season, with a 7.8 strikeout-per-nine rate compared to a 9.2 average for his career, he has improved his walk rate and strand rate, which has made him an excellent streaming target this season.
He faces the Nationals in his next outing, a matchup that should lean heavily in Peterson’s favor. The Nats have the sixth-worst run differential, the second-fewest home runs, and the third-highest groundball rate in the league. This is great for Peterson, who has limited home runs, stranded 80% of runners, and induced a 51% GB rate. Washington has also struggled against lefty pitchers in particular, with the third-fewest homers and the ninth fewest walks – both playing into Peterson’s strengths. Playing in the seventh most pitcher-friendly park in the league should also help Peterson in this game.
Peterson’s pitching arsenal includes four of five pitches with whiff rates between 24-32%, and three pitches with a batting average against of .250 or better. Using this arsenal has led to a high rate of quality starts, but also a high win rate as well:
The @Mets have won 14 of David Peterson's 17 starts, the highest % (.824) of any pitcher with at least 15 starts this season. pic.twitter.com/zNEYkCB5rV
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) September 10, 2024
Peterson should be among your top targets for anyone looking for pitching streamers in the upcoming week.
Lance Lynn (SP – STL)
Next Start: Tuesday 9/17 vs PIT
Lance Lynn has bounced back after allowing 10 earned runs to Washington in early July. In 21 innings across four starts since then, the veteran has given up just four earned runs while striking out 18 and walking seven batters.
Lynn has a lower-than-usual K/9 rate but faces Pittsburgh in his next start, a team with the fifth most strikeouts and the seventh-highest strikeout rate in baseball. His groundball rate is also slightly below league average and below his career average, but Pittsburgh has the second-highest GB% and the fifth-fewest home runs. While Lynn has some flaws, Pittsburgh does not appear to be the team that will exploit them. In fact, Lynn may even be able to improve those averages against one of the worst offenses in the league. This game being played in St. Louis should also help Lynn, considering it leans pitcher-friendly.
Lynn should lean on his fastball and curveball combination in this one. He has one of the best fastballs in the league this year. It has a .198 batting average against, a 28% whiff rate, and a 23% putaway rate. Take a look at it here:
In a jam after the first two #Reds hitters reached base in the top of the third inning, #STLCards RHP Lance Lynn rallied to strike out three straight batters. After getting Elly De La Cruz to whiff on an 0-2 high fastball, Lynn screamed out and showed plenty of fiery emotion. pic.twitter.com/bsh4PPc0b0
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) September 12, 2024
Lynn seems to have fixed some of his issues from earlier in the season, and you should trust him as one of your top pitching streamers in this matchup.
Clarke Schmidt (P – NYY)
Next Start: Friday 9/20 at OAK
Clarke Schmidt made his first start on September 7 after recovering from a lat injury. That injury caused him to miss significant time, but he looked good in that start. Schmidt lasted 4.2 innings, striking out two batters and walking one, and did not pick up any earned runs. While he may not last long enough in this game to earn a quality start, he has a shot at earning a win against the struggling A’s.
Before his injury, Schmidt had shown signs of improvement from last season, with a 9.5 K/9 rate – a full strikeout better than last season. He also had an excellent strand rate, and a GB% hovering around league average.
This matchup could not be better for Schmidt, with the Athletics owning the fifth-worst run differential, the fourth-most strikeouts, and the fourth-highest K%. If Schmidt can continue that improvement in his strikeout rate, this game should be a walk in the park for him. The A’s also play in a pitcher-friendly park, which should work in Schmidt’s favor and help him avoid the long ball.
Oakland also performs poorly specifically against righty pitchers. They have the fifth-worst batting average and the second-most strikeouts against them. Schmidt has a wipeout sweeper that has a .204 BAA, a 30% whiff rate, and a 19% putaway rate. That pitch should keep the Athletics on their toes. Here is a look at it from earlier in the season:
Clarke Schmidt, Nasty 87mph Sweeper. 😨 pic.twitter.com/l7UYSXtiP4
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 26, 2024
If your league favors quality starts, Schmidt probably is not the target for you. But if you need solid ratios, and perhaps a win, make Schmidt one of your top pitching streamers for the week ahead.
Widely Available Pitching Streamers (0%-30% Rostered)
JP Sears (SP – OAK)
Next Start: Sunday 9/15 at CWS
JP Sears has had two clunkers recently – both five-run outings – against Seattle and Milwaukee. Aside from those starts, Sears has looked locked in since the end of July. In eight starts since July 30, Sears has six quality starts and a 4-2 record.
Sears has seen his strikeout rate drop from last season but improved both his walk and groundball rates, which have led to an improved ERA. He also owns a league-average left-on-base rate, which makes sense considering he has allowed fewer walks and induced more groundballs.
His next matchup against the White Sox plays into those strengths. The White Sox possess the worst run differential in baseball while hitting the fewest home runs, striking out at the ninth-highest rate, and grounding out at the 10th-highest rate. Sears’ changeup and sinker each have single-digit degree launch angles, clearly reasons for his improved GB%.
Chicago also happens to be one of the worst teams against LHP. They have the second-worst AVG, the fourth fewest walks, and the fewest home runs against them. While his changeup and sinker have worked well, Sears’ best pitch this season has been his fastball. It possesses a .217 BAA, a 26% whiff rate, and a 19% putaway rate. Take a look and you can see why it is so tough to hit:
JP Sears, Elevated 93mph Fastball…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/uioipQHe3r
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 11, 2024
This is a great matchup for Sears and one you should consider if you are looking for pitching streamers for the upcoming week.
Cooper Criswell (P – BOS)
Next Start: Wednesday 9/18 at TB
Cooper Criswell has been used as both a starter and reliever this season, pitching well in both roles. He only owns two quality starts on the season, so he should be avoided in those formats. But in leagues that value wins, he is an excellent target for the upcoming week.
While he does not strike out many batters – he owns a sub-7 K/9 rate, he does well at limiting walks and has an elite 50% groundball rate. A major reason for that GB% is a changeup with a -2 degree launch angle. Pitches like that and his cutter have kept him in games and helped him limit scoring. Criswell’s cutter has a .149 BAA, a 28% whiff rate, and a 20% putaway rate, and should be a pitch he leans on against one of the worst offenses in baseball in the Tampa Bay Rays. Here is a look at his cutter from earlier this season:
Cooper Criswell, Painted 88mph Back Door Cutter. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/dQaivSbmp7
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 16, 2024
Tampa has the eighth-worst run differential, the sixth-most strikeouts, and the sixth-highest K%, as well as the third-fewest home runs in the league. They also perform poorly against RHP, with the second-lowest AVG, the fourth-most strikeouts, and the third-fewest homers. Tropicana Field in Tampa also ranks as the fifth friendliest park for pitchers, making him a must-start streamer.
Trust Criswell in this outing, especially if you have a league that favors wins. He should be one of your main pitching streamers for the week ahead.
Jameson Taillon (SP – ChC)
Next Start: Thursday 9/19 vs WAS
Jameson Taillon has been a stalwart in the streamer ranks for most of the season. Between July 29 and August 26, Taillon had several rough outings, but both before and after has pitched well, and he should pitch well in his next matchup against Washington.
Taillon has 13 quality starts on the season, including two in his last two starts. Prior to that, he had seven in his last 14. Additionally, since the beginning of August, Taillon has a 3-2 record across seven starts, making him valuable in leagues that value both wins and quality starts.
His matchup against Washington could not be better. Washington struggles to score and Taillon has excelled at limiting runs. He has a BB/9 rate under two, a 74% LOB rate, and a 40% GB rate. That works out great considering Washington’s struggles at hitting home runs and hitting ground balls – the Nats have hit the fewest home runs against RHP this season. Wrigley Field in Chicago has also played extremely pitcher-friendly this season – it ranks as the second most pitcher-friendly in the league.
One major reason for Taillon’s success this season has been a disgusting sweeper. It has a .185 BAA, a 33% whiff rate, and a 20% putaway rate. That should give the Nationals fits in this game, kind of like this:
Jameson Taillon, Dirty 81mph Sweeper…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/NF0VIEv2Fm
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 10, 2024
Taillon should be on your radar as one of the top pitching streamers for the week ahead.
Backup Plan Streamers for Week 26
- CWS Jonathan Cannon vs OAK – Sunday 9/15
- STL Andre Pallante vs PIT – Monday 9/16
- NYM Jose Quintana vs WAS – Wednesday 9/18
- STL Erick Fedde vs PIT – Thursday 9/19
- CIN Nick Martinez vs PIT – Friday 9/20
Desperation Streamers for Week 26
- KC Alec Marsh at OAK – Sunday 9/8
- LAA Reid Detmers vs CWS – Monday 9/16
- WAS Jake Irvin at NYM – Monday 9/16
- WAS Mitchell Parker at NYM – Tuesday 9/17
- ChC Javier Assad vs OAK- Wednesday 9/18
- WAS DJ Herz at NYM – Wednesday 9/18
- LAD Landon Knack at MIA – Thursday 9/19
Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we’re not stopping any time soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn’t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com!