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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 seven.
Editor’s Note: RotoBaller’s fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups list is updated every single day. Our awesome writers bring you analysis on hot or emerging starting pitchers, and also all other fantasy positions. You can also download our waiver wire iPhone app for free, and easily stay updated.
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Top 5 Two-Start Pitcher Streamers
Tyler Wilson, BAL
vs Seattle 5/17, @Anaheim 5/22
After a number of spot starts last year and a spot in the bullpen to begin 2016, Tyler Wilson is finally starting consistently. Having made four consecutive starts, he appears to be finding his form, earning consecutive quality starts in his last two appearances. Wilson is not a strikeout artist, but he also serves up less than one home run every nine innings. Command is one of his strengths, as he’s lowered his BB/9 rate from 2.75 to 2.05 this season. In his first start this week, Wilson is scheduled to pitch against the Seattle Mariners. Leading the AL West, the Mariners are one of the highest scoring teams in the American League. Wilson’s great advantage against them however, will be their penchant for striking out, as they are currently ranked fourth in the AL. With his great command, look for the 26-year-old to keep the Mariners at bay. Keeping things in the AL West, Wilson’s second start of the week will come on the road against the Angels. The Halos are one of the worst teams in the league, but they strike out little and walk at a solid pace. Their failure to score runs mixed with their poor home record bodes well for Wilson. Owned in a mere six percent of Fleaflicker leagues, he presents a strong case for two-start streamer consideration.
Jerad Eickhoff, PHI
vs Miami 5/16, vs Atlanta 5/22
Jerad Eickhoff’s 1-5 record in 2016 is quite deceiving. Although he sports a 4.43 ERA on the year, he’s allowed more than three earned runs just once and has made four quality starts in seven outings. His biggest downfall has been run support, ranking a whopping 96th in MLB with just 2.29 runs of support per game. Eickhoff has good strikeout stuff, having punched out 25 batters over a three-game stretch earlier in the year. He’s also lowered his BB/9 rate to under two batters, but his home runs allowed have been a slight issue early on. This shouldn’t be a terrible problem in his first start of the week against the Marlins, as the fish rank in the bottom 10 in home runs. They also rank in the bottom 10 in walks, something that bodes well with Eickhoff’s improving BB/9 rate. Six days later, Eickhoff will face another division foe in the Atlanta Braves. While Atlanta got to him for seven hits and three earned runs this past Wednesday, this next start will be at home, where he has been significantly better. Owned in 19% of Fleaflicker leagues, Eickhoff is a solid gamble in a two-start week.
J.A. Happ, TOR
vs Tampa Bay 5/16, @ Minnesota 5/21
It has finally happened. Our first returning two-start streamer is James Anthony Happ. The 33-year-old veteran has been exceptional for the Toronto Blue Jays early on, sporting a perfect 5-0 record with a cool 2.05 ERA. Last time we checked in on Happ, he was getting ready to take on the Red Sox and A’s in mid-April. He picked up two victories, going seven innings in both outings. Happ isn’t striking out many batters and is actually walking more hitters than usual, but his LOB% has skyrocketed to 89.9%. Incredibly, he’s still available in over half of Fleaflicker leagues, owned in only 41% of them. This week, Happ will take on the two worst offenses in the American League in terms of runs scored. His first start of the week will be on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays have the fewest hits in the AL, the worst AVG and the second-least runs scored. In two starts on the road against them this year, Happ has allowed five runs in 12.2 IP. Having earned a quality start in each of his outings thus far, expect more of the same from the left-hander. His second start of the week will be on the road in Minnesota, another poor hitting team. As of this morning, the Twins have yet to win 10 games this season, clearly the worst team in the American League. J.A. Happ could be the two-start streamer lock of the week.
Wei-Yin Chen, MIA
@ Philadelphia 5/16, @ Washington 5/22
The 30-year-old Taiwan native was signed by the Marlins this offseason to serve as the team’s number two starter. After a rough season debut, Chen has been mostly effective, making five quality starts in seven appearances. Fresh off a 12-strikeout performance his last time out, he’ll be on the road for two starts against division rivals this week. First, Chen will take on the Philadelphia Phillies and fellow two-start streamer Jerad Eickhoff. While the Phillies got to him in a previous start in Miami, Chen seems to be quite comfortable pitching on the road. In two starts this season, he’s picked up victories in Los Angeles against the Dodgers and in Milwaukee against the Brewers. With Philadelphia counting to strike out often and walk rarely, look for Chen to capitalize on his terrific last outing. For his second start of the week, the 52%-owned left-hander will take the mound in the nation’s capital against the Nationals. While Washington features an offensive ranked in the top 10 of most hitting categories of the NL, Chen has seen them already this season. Just under a month ago, he went seven innings, giving up three runs against the Nationals in Washington. Expect Chen to have a decent shot to win in both games.
Juan Nicasio, PIT
vs Atlanta 5/17, vs Colorado 5/22
Our second returnee is Dominican right-hander Juan Nicasio, who was featured in our first installment of the season. This week, he gets a pair of home starts against offenses on opposite sides of the spectrum. First, he’ll take the mound against the Braves on Tuesday. Whenever a pitcher gets to go against the Braves, you feel good about their chances to come away with victory. For those who haven’t been keeping score, the Braves rank last in the NL in runs, hits, home runs, RBI and AVG, among other things. With one of Nicasio’s biggest weaknesses being home runs, Atlanta’s lack of power bodes well. Expect a good chance at victory in the first start of the week. In his second start, things get tougher as the Colorado Rockies come to town. The Rockies have gotten off to an average start, but feature one of the elite offenses in the NL. Ranking in the top five of nearly every hitting category in the league, the most shocking aspect of their season has been their hitting superiority on the road. Perhaps the fact that they’ve played more road games than home games factors into this outcome, but it’s still been quite impressive. Holding a 3.09 ERA at home, however, expect Nicasio to withstand the attack, relying heavily on the fact that Colorado’s pitching is one of the worst in the league. It won’t be pretty, but Nicasio’s first start against the Braves will be his strongest suit. He’ll need to rely on his offense to provide him some breathing room in his second start of the week. Owned in 22% of Fleaflicker leagues, he’ll have two good chances at victory.
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