AL OF: Stream Edition

Instead of the (somewhat) typical post of ranking and stock watch, this American League Outfield article is in regards to excellent stream candidates. The basic criteria is:

– A sub 50% ownership rate in Yahoo! or ESPN
– Favorable matchups, either via ballpark or opposing starting pitchers

Matt Joyce – Joyce has six straight games in a row against the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays. Both of those pitching staffs rank in the bottom half of away pitching FIP. The Jays are actually fifth worst, at 4.70. Following that favorable home stand, the Rays are on the road at Boston and then at the Chicago White Sox. Between the home parks and the quality of opposing pitchers, expect Joyce to have an excellent final two weeks. Joyce’s ownership rate is below 40% in Yahoo! and hovering at 43% in ESPN leagues.

Ben Revere – With a three game set in Cleveland, which holds the ninth worst home FIP at 4.11, and then another three game series in Detroit, Revere should see plenty of pitches to hit and chances to run. Unless Detroit does some rotation shuffling (highly doubtful) then Revere won’t see Verlander at all and won’t face Scherzer until next Sunday. For this week, Revere makes for a very good stream option if you’re looking for some cheap steals and a high averag; basically an ideal head-to-head option. He is available in 64% of Yahoo! leagues but just 20% of ESPN leagues. The comment section is for complaining about Yahoo! and ESPN’s varied ways of ownership calculation.

Delmon Young – This one comes with a huge caveat, and it isn’t that Young is usually awful. Young obviously has power and RBI potential, but his rate stats are brutal and so is his walk rate. The caveat that I’m speaking of is that I would delay on grabbing Delmon until after this A’s series. The A’s have an excellent pitching staff on the road too, as they have the 11th best away FIP at 3.67 thus far. After the A’s series, the Tigers play at home against the Twins and Royals, then wrap up the season away against the Twins and Royals. If that doesn’t have hitting potential, then I don’t know what does. Young is owned in 34% of Yahoo! leagues and 58% of ESPN formats.

Michael Brantley – Without being too hyperbolic, Brantley could be the sleeper that helps you win this week. The Indians are at home to face the Twins for now, and the Twins have the worst road FIP in the league, at 4.92. After that feast, Brantley and the Indians travel to Kansas City to face the 8th worse home pitching staff, posting a 4.19 FIP at Kauffman. Next week starts off with a trip to U.S. Cellular, and we all know how friendly that place is for batters. I’ve grabbed Brantely everywhere that I could. I suggest you do the same. He is owned in just 32% of ESPN leagues and 24% of Yahoo! leagues. I know he is coming back from a strained muscle in his chest, but his pitching match ups are just too favorable to pass on.

As for a stream candidate that I would avoid, David Murphy is someone who may seem like a good idea, until you see the remaining Rangers schedule. This week they are in Anaheim and then Seattle. After that is a week of home games; but they are hosting the A’s for four games then welcome the Angels again. Finally, they wrap up the season at the Coliseum to face the A’s in their spacious home park. That kind of run environment and pitching talent makes me want to stay away from Murphy. If you want to risk it, Murphy is available in 65% of ESPN leagues and 69% of Yahoo! leagues.