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A wise fantasy baseball manager never rests. He is never satisfied with his team and is always on the hunt for the player that can help in both the present and future. For this article, we’ll focus on the present, as we present the top pitcher streamers who’ll be making two outings this week.
We do this every week, because deep down we all know those last two or three guys taken in drafts won’t be with us the whole way through. Mix and match is the name of the game and maximizing these players’ values is the goal. Here are the top five two-start pitching streamers for Week 14. NOTE: these are expected starts.
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Going Twice, Roll The Dice
Rick Porcello, BOS
vs TEX 7/4, vs TB 7/10
Owned In: 63% of Fleaflicker Leagues
We regularly feature enigmatic pitchers on this weekly series and Rick Porcello is certainly no exception. The 27-year-old right-hander had a strong April before faltering in May and improving this past month. His lone consistency this season has been effectiveness at home. While Porcello is 3-2 with a 4.02 ERA on the road, he’s a perfect 6-0 with a 3.48 ERA at Fenway Park. He’s striking out hitters at a career-high pace and stranding a strong, 73.5% of runners on base.
This week, Porcello will make two starts, beginning with a July 4th matchup against the Texas Rangers. While the Rangers have emerged as the best team in the American League, they’re coming off a pair of heart-wrenching losses to the lowly New York Yankees. Porcello’s second start of the week will come against the last-place Tampa Bay Rays, a team which he’s already beaten twice this season. With his commanding effectiveness at home, look for Porcello to deliver a pair of strong starts.
Lance McCullers, HOU
vs SEA 7/4, vs OAK 7/9
Owned In: 35% of Fleaflicker Leagues
The last time we checked in on 23-year-old Lance McCullers, he was getting set for a pair of starts at the end May and beginning of June. He emerged victorious both times and has been relatively effective in his three starts since. Making his season debut in May after dealing with shoulder troubles, the Tampa native is 3-2 with a 3.91 ERA. Out of his eight starts, he’s surrendered more than three runs just twice, recording three quality starts. His strikeout numbers are superb, and while his walks have increased from last year, he’s only allowed one home run through 46 innings of work. Like his fellow streamer Rick Porcello, McCullers has also been strong at home, with a 2-1 record and a 2.37 ERA.
This week, he’ll take on a pair of division rivals in the Athletics and Mariners. While the Mariners are in free-fall mode, the Athletics have one of the worst road records in the American League. With McCullers in fine form, having conceded just three runs in his last 12 innings, look for him to feed on the weak opposition with two likely chances at victory.
Aaron Sanchez, TOR
vs KC 7/4, vs DET 7/9
Owned In: 57% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Aaron Sanchez has emerged into somewhat of a two-start streamer stalwart. For the third consecutive month, he’s been one of our candidates and surprisingly remains eligible with his ownership percentage. The 24-year-old is off to an 8-1 start with a 3.08 ERA and has actually been improving as the season rolls forward. In June, he went a perfect 4-0 with a 2.72 ERA, now unbeaten for over two months. One thing to keep an eye on is how Sanchez deals with his home starts.
This will be just the second time all year in which he makes a pair of consecutive starts at the Rogers Centre. Luckily for him, his opponents will be the Royals and Tigers, who are two of the worst road teams in the American League. In Detroit and Kansas City, Sanchez will encounter two of the most impatient offenses in the AL, which will bode when accompanied by his strong command and low walk rates. If Sanchez gets past the Royals on July 4th, his week could be perfect, as he’s already faced the Tigers and delivered eight strong innings against them last month.
A.J. Griffin, TEX
@ BOS 7/5, vs MIN 7/10
Owned In: 22% of Fleaflicker Leagues
28-year-old A.J. Griffin is one of the bigger mysteries we’ve featured in this series. He’s made just eight starts this year and has been effective despite durability questions. Still, he holds a 3-0 record with a 2.93 ERA and has been significantly effective when available. Having just returned from the disabled list following a bout with shoulder soreness, Griffin’s improved from one start to the next, which is an encouraging sign as he gets ready for his biggest challenge yet.
On Tuesday, he’ll take on the Red Sox at Fenway Park. There are two important factors that may bode well for Griffin. The first is his recent experience against the Red Sox, having pitched against them exactly a week ago. While he failed to make it through five innings, he only surrendered two runs while striking out six. This minuscule success could go a long way in raising his confidence. Perhaps the biggest factor to his start at Fenway Park, however, will be the opposing pitcher. While David Price has been a bust in the first half of this season, he’s been particularly bad at home, pitching to a 4.70 ERA. Price is clearly not himself right now, and Griffin and the Rangers have a golden opportunity to pounce. His second start of the week will in Arlington versus the Minnesota Twins, who are nearly 30 games under .500. If his success thus far is to be believed, he’ll take care of business against the Twins.
Junior Guerra, MIL
@ WAS 7/4, vs STL 7/10
Owned In: 20% of Fleaflicker Leagues
31-year-old Junior Guerra’s story is an epic, with just making the major leagues being the happy ending. After beginning his minor league career 10 years ago, he would go on to get suspended 50 games for violating the drug prevention and treatment program. He followed that up by heading over to Spain, where he played for the “Club de Beisbol Sant Boi.” He would go on to play in Italy, Mexico, Venezuela and the Wichita Wingnuts of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. Finally, he would sign for the White Sox last year, appearing in three games for the major league team. Guerra would eventually be claimed off waivers by the Brewers and finally get promoted to start at the beginning of May.
After a pair of shaky starts to begin his season, he’s been mostly effective and has even gotten better as time transpired. Guerra’s strikeout numbers are respectable, his walk rates are fine and his 5-1 record through two months are encouraging, but he simply finds ways to be effective. In his last nine starts, he’s delivered seven quality performances, aided by a 75.2 LOB%. This week, Guerra will take on the Washington Nationals in the nation’s capital, certainly a tough task. He’s already had strong performances against the likes of the Cubs, Mets and Dodgers, however, indicating he’s up for the challenge. In his second start of the week, he’ll take on the St. Louis Cardinals at home. Guerra is a fabulous 4-1 at home with a 2.48 ERA. Combined with his experience against the Cards already this season, it’s hard not to have faith in this crafty veteran, who’s already battled more than many pitchers he’ll face.
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