Stream, Stream, Stream: #2xSP (7.27-8.2)

Hey, we’re coming at you live from a week prior to the trade deadline. We’re not really dealing with any trade candidates this week, but if these teams were to acquire additional pitchers, it could jumble some rotations and move some guys around. Additionally, if you opt to use Kevin Gausman — who is allegedly on the block — next week, you should keep that in mind. He just missed the cut here due to a tough Detroit matchup on the back end. Good luck, and happy streaming.

Here are the totals halfway through week 14 (with updates from previous listing):

21-36 record (1-2)
4.54 ERA (+0.07)
6.5 K/9 (+0.1)
2.2 K/BB (no change)
1.41 WHIP (no change)

Here’s a look at this week’s recs, with team wOBA in parentheses. Y! ownership numbers pulled courtesy of twitter pal @PandaPete21, whom you should give a follow:

LHP Robbie Ray – 17.1% ESPN/13% Y! – @SEA (.299), @HOU (.320)

Ray’s improvement across the board has been marked and impressive, as he’s fanning 7.5 batters per nine and has cut his walks by more than one. His home run rate is flukishly low — especially considering his 35.1 percent groundball rate — but I’m happier to see him throwing at Safeco rather than his home park for the first start, though I think Houston could get a bit dicey. His strand rate has been a not-so-nice 69 percent, so while he isn’t exactly pitching like a guy with a 2.72 ERA, he’s not really evading peripherals like Bonnie and Clyde, either. A big key to Ray’s revival is two added ticks to his fastball, as he’s now pumping heat at an average of 93.3 mph. For a lefty, that’s really something. The slider (13.1%whiff rate this year, 5.3% last) has also improved greatly.

RHP Ivan Nova – 18.4% ESPN/11% Y! – @TEX (.314), @CWS (.289)

I chose Nova over Gausman and Nate Karns primarily due to matchups, though in retrospect it came down to a Detroit matchup for both that probably isn’t as scary without Miguel Cabrera involved. Oh well, such is life. I still think Nova can show a bit more strikeouts-wise, but ultimately grounders will rule the day, and he’s done a good job of inducing them so far (50%). I admit Nova is a pretty big gamble here, so I won’t be upset if you take Karns, but I just couldn’t justify gambling on Gausman yet, either. And I love Gausman.

RHP Kyle Hendricks – 33.4% ESPN/27% Y! – v. COL (.328), @MIL (.308)

On the surface these matchups don’t stand out, but that’s before considering the Rockies have a .359 home wOBA (No. 2 overall) and a .289 road wOBA (No. 24). I like Hendricks’ chances to run up a few strikeouts — five or more in four of his last five starts — while putting together competitive efforts. He’s coming off a rough start — five earned in six innings against the Reds — but he had allowed just one earned run over his previous four starts combined prior to that. Hopefully we can tap into that positive juju.