Every Streamer Option Analyzed: 9/26 Games

Another day, another myriad of streaming possibilities! If you’re still in the hunt and a bunch of strikeouts and a potential win could move you closer to victory, then you’re at the right place.

Trevor Cahill @ Robbie Erlin

Cahill’s strikeout rate and control have declined this season which allows us to slap on the stream label, rather than a regular member of a fantasy team’s starting staff. He still induces a ton of ground balls, though, but that just means he won’t benefit as much from the pitcher friendly Petco Park. He does face an offense that ranks second to last in wOBA versus right-handers. That is enough to make him a solid option. Stream

Robbie Erlin vs Trevor Cahill

Erlin is coming off the best start of his young career in terms of results, second best in terms of xFIP. The southpaw doesn’t really do anything particularly well, though his walk rate has been pretty good. Unfortunately, his SwStk% sits at just 5.9%. The Diamondbacks aren’t particularly good against lefties, ranked 19th in wOBA against them and 27th in ISO. Pitching at home, that makes Erlin another reasonable choice to stream. Stream

Miguel Gonzalez vs Mark Buehrle

Gonzalez gets a home start against the injury ravaged Blue Jays and basically defines the word mediocrity. Gonzalez certainly isn’t exciting and you shouldn’t expect a big strikeout performance. But the Blue Jays offense is in a sorry state at the moment, allowing you to stream pitchers you normally wouldn’t. For that reason, he gets a thumbs up. Stream

Tyler Cloyd @ David Hale

Cloyd has posted an unimpressive SwStk% and doesn’t offset all the balls in play with a high ground ball rate. The one glimmer of light is the potential for an improved walk rate moving forward given his above average F-Strike%. Facing a Braves offense away makes this an easy decision. Don’t Stream

David Hale vs Tyler Cloyd

Who is David Hale? He dominated the Padres during his Major League debut, posting a ridiculous 17.2% SwStk%. His minor league record is uninspiring though, so he doesn’t appear to be some hot shot rookie who will become the next Braves ace. That said, the Phillies offense is weak and Hale will be pitching at home and opposed by a starter who makes a win more likely for the Braves. Stream

John Hellweg @ Dillon Gee

It’s official: John Hellweg has the worst peripherals I have ever seen for a starting pitcher. 22 walks in 26.2 innings with just 6 strikeouts is laughably bad. Even against the Mets, you don’t touch him in any leagues. Don’t Stream

Edinson Volquez @ Tim Lincecum

I had been a fan of Volquez for many years. He was only improved control away from a major breakout! But that has proved to be elusive and with the exception of 2008, he has essentially been unstartable. Well, the control has finally improved, but now his strikeout rate is at a career low. We simply cannot have it all I guess. Luckily, Volquez is facing a weak Giants lineup in a pitcher’s park and still does possess that strikeout upside. Stream

Zach McAllister @ Andrew Albers

Given the number of times I have recommended McAllister in recent weeks, you might get the false impression that I’m a big fan. I’m not, he has just had a real soft schedule. He still has that mediocre at best skills package, but is facing a weak Twins lineup in a pitcher’s park and an opposing pitcher who is allergic to the strikeout. Stream

Andrew Albers vs Zach McAllister

No matter who the opponent, you don’t ever start a pitcher who has struck out just 23 batters in 54.1 innings for a putrid 10.4% K%. He has impeccable control, but that’s his only redeeming quality and what has kept him in the Majors. Don’t Stream

Jeremy Guthrie @ Andre Rienzo

Sure, it’s a good matchup against a poor White Sox team and lineup, but I simply cannot ever recommend a pitcher that owns a 4.80 SIERA. Guthrie has kept runners from scoring at the highest rate of his career as described by his LOB% and that’s not something you figure is sustainable. With a low strikeout rate, there’s just nothing attractive about him as a pitcher. Don’t Stream

Andre Rienzo vs Jeremy Guthrie

After five starts, Rienzo looked like an intriguing young pitcher, posting a 3.56 ERA. But, it was accomplished with smoke and mirrors given his poor peripherals. The weak skills finally caught up with him and his ERA quickly shot up to its current 5.04 mark. Even in a home start against a power starved Royals lineup, I wouldn’t start him. Don’t Stream

Jerome Williams @ Matt Garza

Not much needs to be said here. While the Rangers offense hasn’t performed exactly how we expected them to, ranking just seventh in the American League in runs scored, you still cannot start a pitcher sporting a 4.55 ERA and 4.43 SIERA in Texas. He also opposes a solid pitcher in Garza, so this is easy. Don’t Stream