Stream, Aim, Fire – First Weekend Streaming Options

Streaming is a bit of a funny proposition this early in the year. Less than a week in, you’re probably not ready to cut bait on any players on your roster to take a flyer on a single match-up. After all, you drafted these guys for a reason.

But perhaps a player has hit the disabled list, or a prospect you were sure would make the team has been sent down. If you find yourself with a roster spot in hand and a desire to Stream, Aim, Fire, then by all means, read on.

The following streaming options are owned in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, with an extra deep streamer tucked away at the bottom.

Felix Doubront – Though he heads into Rogers Centre against what appears to be a potent line-up, the Jays bats are yet to leave the proverbial nest this year. Doubront impressed with a 22:6 K:BB ratio in spring training over 18 innings – the strikeouts are likely the real deal, while the walks will dictate his overall success. The Jays have already struck out 18 times in two games, making them a good candidate for Doubront to rack up punch-outs again. I can’t guarantee a quality start, but he should be good for at least a half dozen Ks.

Chris Tillman – Because Tillman started the season on the disabled list, he went a bit under-drafted relative to his skill level. You’d be wise to jump in and grab him now before the market corrects in advance of his Saturday start. Tillman rocked a 2.93 ERA in 15 starts last year, hiding a less impressive 4.24 FIP, thanks mostly to a .221 BABIP. Still, he posted his best month of the season with his highest BABIP, so he’s shown he can work when the peripherals self-correct. The Twins have already struck out 22 times, thanks in part to Justin Verlander, but they’re also somewhere short of imposing. Take the risk that Tillman isn’t sporting a hangover from his Friday birthday celebrations.

Mike Fiers – Fiers will take on the Diamondbacks at Miller Park, which isn’t exactly friendly. But Fiers shouldn’t have this low an ownership tag, anyway, a year after posting a 3.09 FIP over 127.2 innings. Fiers can rack up the strikeouts and limits walks, making home runs the key for him, an area he managed well last year on the road but struggled with at home. He also struggled with the long ball in the spring, so I’d understand if you hesitate to start him, but pick him up regardless. I’m plugging him in, as I think his 2012 was more legitimate than his shaky spring. This is, admittedly, more of a “pick-up” suggestion than a one-game stream suggestion.

Shaun Marcum – Marcum may not get the nod depending on how a visit with team doctors goes late in the week, but if he does his ownership rate needs to climb. Marcum will be opening his Mets career against the Marlins, a friendly assignment if ever there was one. Marcum has good control and gets a decent amount of strikeouts, but all of that is really moot next to the fact that the Marlins are yet to score a run through two games. This is an exploitable match-up for any pitcher, so stream away.

Deep Stream:Daniel Straily – The rookie gets to make his 2013 debut and eighth career start against the Astros, meaning he’s already been credited with four strikeouts, and he’s not even in Houston yet. Yes, the Astros are that K-prone, having gone down on strikes 43 times through three games. The book on them was that they would be three true outcome-heavy, but they’ve walked just four times and homered once. Yes, Yu Darvish was filthy, but Alexi Ogando and Matt Harrison are not whiff artists (although Ogando certainly has the potential). Straily is very highly thought of in the Athletics organization and this could be a nice coming out party for the 14 percent-owned righty.

Some of there may be riskier than you’d like on the first weekend of the year. That’s fair, considering we don’t know a ton about opponent offenses quite yet and fantasy players may be hesitant to make roster moves a week into the year. I tried, but I won’t be offended if you don’t take these recommendations (at least until I prove myself, y’heard?). If this hasn’t done it for you, I’ve put all of this weekend’s projected starters in a Google Doc for you here. If this is a big value-add, I can try to do this on a weekly basis, let me know in the comments.