Welcome back for week 21 of Streams and Nightmares, where we try to help you plan out your fantasy pitching staff for the upcoming week.
Pitchers are broken down into the following 4 groups. No Brainers, which is pretty self-explanatory. Lock and Load, who are must starts based on match-ups and their expected total value for the week. Proceed with Caution are guys that, depending on the options I have available, I probably start in most 15 teamers, but iffy below that. Potential Nightmares are guys to avoid in mixed leagues. Streamers are guys with lower ownership levels that I am looking to add for this week. Their availability will be league size dependent.
No Brainers:
Clayton Kershaw vs TOR vs NYY
Shane Bieber @ NYM, vs KC
Stephen Strasburg @ PIT, @ CHC
Trevor Bauer vs SD, @ PIT
Lock and Load:
Domingo German @ OAK, vs LAA (Enough K’s to negate his homer problem most weeks)
Steven Matz vs CLE, vs ATL (On fire lately. Ride it out)
Kyle Gibson vs CWS, vs DET (These are sweet match-ups)
Wade Miley vs DET, vs LAA (Has been good at home. Can’t imagine sitting him with these match-ups)
Cole Hamels, vs SF, vs WAS (Enough track record that I trust him to work it out)
Zac Gallen vs COL, @ MIL (Colorado at home is nice and the skills at holding up so far. Great acquisition for Arizona)
Proceed With Caution:
Aaron Sanchez vs DET, vs LAA (The “Houston fixes every pitcher” hype has finally cooled after a rough last outing. Good match-ups at home though and the Astros will manage him well)
Dallas Keuchel vs MIA, @ NYM (Last time Miami got to him. Surely he won’t let that happen again)
Joe Ross @ PIT, @ CHC (Ross will be one of the big pick-ups this week. I hope he stays hot and provides some value for your FAAB)
Jalen Beeks vs SEA, @ BAL (Good match-ups and a genuine shot at 2 wins)
Chris Archer vs WAS, vs CIN (You’ll have to hold your nose for the Nats start. At least it’s at home. Should get you K’s if nothing else)
Marco Gonzales @ TB, vs TOR (He’s decent enough to roll out there considering the Jays match-up)
Brendan McKay vs SEA, @ BAL (Hasn’t been performing, but the talent is there. With these match-ups, he’s worth taking a chance on this week)
Andrew Heaney @ TEX, @ HOU (Looked back against CWS last week. Problem is that was the White Sox and this week he has the Lone Star road trip. It depends on where I stand in the ratios compared with W’s and K’s as to whether I would start him this week)
Potential Nightmares:
John Means vs KC, vs TB
Eric Lauer @ CIN, vs BOS
Ivan Nova @ MIN, vs TEX
Joe Palumbo va LAA, @ CWS
Kolby Allard vs LAA, @ CWS
Zach Davies @ STL, vs ARI
Dylan Bundy vs KC, vs TB
Dillon Peters @ TEX, @ HOU
Dakota Hudson vs MIL, vs COL
Trevor Williams vs WAS, vs CIN
Sean Reid-Foley @ LAD, @ SEA
Michael Wacha vs MIL, vs COL
Elieser Hernandez @ LAD, @ SEA
Spencer Turnbull @ HOU, @ MIN
Kyle Freeland @ ARI, @ STL
Edwin Jackson @ HOU, @ MIN
Chi Chi Gonzalez @ ARI, @ STL
Jorge Lopez @ BAL, @ CLE
Brian Johnson, vs PHI, @ SD
Streamers I Want:
Yusei Kikuchi vs TOR (Fantrax 67%, CBS 36%, ESPN 47%) – Put it all together in Toronto last week. This week, he gets them again at home without Vlad in the line-up.
Jason Vargas @ MIA (Fantrax 48%, CBS 43%, ESPN 10%) – Has been surprisingly serviceable and gets to pitch at Miami. Basically the definition of a streamer.
Mike Montgomery @ BAL (Fantrax 23%, CBS 19%, ESPN 3%) – Coming off a couple of nice outings, he faces the 6th worst offence in the league this week.
Good luck everyone!
-Matchups and ownership percentages are accurate as of 8/18.
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