Streaming Starters: September 4th, 2019

Down the stretch, we’ll be covering the probable starters and highlighting our favorites to stream as you chase down your fantasy titles. Let’s get started with Wednesday’s slate. The pitcher in question must be available in 50% or more of leagues according to FantasyPros.com which combines ESPN and Yahoo! roster rates (sometimes exceptions just over 50% will be mentioned if they are really good and should have a much higher roster rate).

Edwin Jackson (3-8, 9.35 ERA) at KC | 0%: No, of course not.

Jakob Junis (8-12, 4.93) v. DET | 17% roster rate: Just about anyone facing the Tigers is going to be a “yes”. While Junis has a near-5.00 ERA on the season, he’s down at a passable 3.96 over the last 10 games with 59 strikeouts, 17% K-BB, and 1.26 WHIP in 61.3 innings. He hasn’t allowed more than 4 ER in any of those starts, including a 6 IP/2 ER/6 K gem against these Tigers back on August 11th.

Patrick Sandoval (0-1, 5.24) at OAK | 1%: Sandoval hasn’t allowed more than 4 ER in any of his five outings (4 starts and a 5-inning “follow”), but he’s maxed out with 5 IP and only done that twice so he still has a pretty high ERA. The bookends of these five outings have seen him strike out 17 hitters, including nine in five shutout innings his last time out. The 22-year old lefty is interesting thanks to a deep arsenal, big swinging strike rate, and ability to keep the ball in the yard. If you’re chasing strikeouts, Sandoval is a solid play here.

Tanner Roark (2-1, 3.30 w/OAK; 8-8, 4.04 all season) v. LAA | 30%: Despite a surge in HR rate since joining Oakland (1.5 HR/9), Roark still has a strong 3.30 ERA/1.13 WHIP in 30 innings with the A’s. He has strong outings against the Cardinals, Astros, and Yankees among his five starts with his new team and I’m surprised he’s this widely available when pitching has been shaky throughout the summer. I’d take a shot on him in just about every format.

Aníbal Sánchez (8-6, 3.80) v. NYM | 33%: Sanchez had a 5.10 ERA through mid-May before a hamstring injury sent him to the IL. Since returning, he has a 3.21 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 92.7 innings. He’s allowed more than 4 ER just once in the 16 starts. After allowing a home run per start from June 5th through July 20th, he’s allowed just two in his last seven starts. Pick him up.

Robert Dugger (0-1, 4.50) at PIT | 0%: Dugger might look appealing after a strong start against Cincy (7 IP, 2 unearned runs) his last time out, but the Pirates are sneakily solid against righties. They are 8th in wOBA against righties this year and only the Astros have a lower strikeout rate than Pittsburgh’s 18.6% mark.

Trevor Williams (7-6, 5.26) v. MIA | 15%: The Marlins are dead last in wOBA against righties this year. Like the Tigers, I’m basically open to starting any pitcher against them down the stretch if I’m streaming starters regularly.

Iván Nova (9-11, 4.48) at CLE | 25%: Have you benefitted from Nova’s insane second half? He was his regular unreliable self for the first two starts after the break, but since then he has an impossible 1.56 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 52 innings and that’s with a 4 IP/4 ER dud in Atlanta his last time out (0.94 ERA in 48 IP before that). There is nothing different about Nova’s profile and his 8% K-BB rate is legitimately poor, but I’m sure some of your reading this have actually had some of these great starts on your team. Hats off to you if so, but I’m still reluctant to trust him and he’ll find himself quite low on my rankings of these starters at the end of this piece.

Michael Wacha (6-6, 5.07) v. SF | 10%: Wacha returned to the rotation on August 5th with an ugly 3.7 IP/6 ER dud in LA against the Dodgers, but he has put up a 3.05 ERA/1.16 WHIP in the four starts since, including a 7 IP/2 ER gem against Cincy last time out. His gaudy home run rate makes him a little tough to trust, though. Even in those last four starts, he has a 1.7 HR/9. The Giants aren’t a power-heavy team, but part of that is because of their home park so getting them outside of SF makes them tougher than you’d expect. Be careful here.

Antonio Senzatela (8-9, 6.95) at LAD | 1%: C’mon, you know better.

SPOT STARTER RANKINGS FOR WEDNESDAY:

1. Tanner Roark
2. Anibal Sanchez
3. Jake Junis
4. Patrick Sandoval
5. Trevor Williams
6. Michael Wacha
7. Ivan Nova
8. Robert Dugger
9. Antonio Senzatela
10. Edwin Jackson