Stream, Stream, Stream: #2xSP (8.10-8.16)

Alright, now that we’re fully settled in the new place, I can try getting back to bringing you all the #content that you deserve in a timely fashion. And hopefully, we can get this thing turned around, a la Van Halen’s “Right Now.” I’ve got three recommendations this week that I’m pretty enthused about, so let’s get right to it.

Here are the totals halfway through week 16 (with updates from previous listing):

24-41 record (2-2)
4.63 ERA (-0.04)
6.7 K/9 (+0.1)
2.2 K/BB (no change)
1.42 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 @j_euerle, whom you should give a follow:

RHP Drew Hutchison – 26.1% ESPN/41% Y! – v. OAK (.303), v. NYY (.332)

I don’t love this any more than you do, but I’m going with Hutch over Jon Niese simply because I think it’s a way to (potentially) grab a couple cheap wins. I love the way the Blue Jays are rolling right now, and Hutchison has been the benefactor of insane run support all season long. That’s only bound to be better with Troy Tulowitzki now in tow, as the Blue Jays offense went from scary to absolutely terrifying with that acquisition. The latter game will be a slugfest, so I’m hoping Hutch can do a five and dive with say, two or three earned runs and a decent number of strikeouts.

RHP Joe Ross – 36.3% ESPN/31% Y! – @LAD (.330), @SFG (.322)

Ross was recently tabbed as a regular starter for the Nationals, with Doug Fister headed to the bullpen. That tells you how much the Nationals value the youngster, and it’s time fantasy league folks took note. When I saw Ross’ name up on the list to start on Tuesday, I figured there was no chance he was sub-50% in ownership, so this is a pleasant surprise. Ross has a ridiculous 47-4 K/BB ratio through seven starts, and has yet to walk more than a single batter in any start so far. This is by no means an easy week, as Ross gets two lineups that are in the top six in team wOBA, so it’s time for the rubber to meet the road, so to speak.

LHP Brett Anderson – 22.4% ESPN/23% Y! – v. WAS (.309), v. CIN (.312)

It’s a couple middle-of-the-pack offenses this week for the criminally under-owned Anderson. And look, I get that fantasy owners are like jilted lovers afraid to trust, and Anderson’s injury sheet is about a mile long, but I think I’m definitely ready to trust him right now. The big story for him — besides staying healthy, that is — is the nearly devilish 66.3% groundball rate he’s been working with. That’s by far the best in the major leagues, a full 3% ahead of next comer and a guy you’ve definitely heard of in Dallas Keuchel. In fact, just only four other qualified pitchers — among 93 — are within 10 percent of Anderson. He hasn’t been a superstar, and certainly doesn’t need to be in that rotation, but he’s been a nice find and should be a relatively safe option this week. I think it’s a good counterbalance for Hutchison, all things told.