Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Streamers For Week 10 (Part 2)

Below are some of the starting pitcher streaming sleepers for the second half of Week 10 to consider adding off your league’s waiver wire. Some of these SP options can be considered sleepers for your team depending on the league format and depth, including NL-Only, AL-Only and head-to-head formats.  The latter part of this week offers a few starting pitchers that may soon no longer be eligible for this list, as they are on the cusp of being owned in over half of leagues.  Better pick them up while you still can.

Thursday Starting Pitcher Streamers

Mike Leake (CIN vs SF)

It’s early in the article, so let’s just get Leake out of the way.  Owned in 46% of Yahoo! and 39% of ESPN leagues, you can expect this to be the absolute last time Leake is eligible for this list.  With a 57% GB (ground ball) rate, Leake won’t give up a lot of home runs in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.  It’s even better against the Giants, because most of their offense on the road is generated by the long ball.  The Leakester won’t be flashy-- he has a pedestrian 5.54 K/9-- but he can give you solid numbers in IP, ERA and WHIP, at the very least.

MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream

Drew Pomeranz (OAK at NYY)

Ownership: 48% Yahoo!, 41% ESPN.  Though Pomeranz has good numbers this year (2.37 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 22.7% K rate), owners should beware that teams are hitting him much better when he’s on the road.  The Yankees are also in the top ten of most offensive categories against left-handed pitchers.  Start Pomeranz only if desperate.

MATCHUP RATING: Desperate Stream

Friday Starting Pitcher Streamers

Tommy Milone (OAK at BAL)

Ownership: 12% Yahoo!, 7% ESPN.  Like his teammate, Milone is getting roughed up more on the road than at home.  It’s also a bad omen that Milone is a fly ball pitcher who will be pitching in hitter-friendly Camden Yards.  Still, Oakland is rather hot, which increases his win chances, and he’s given up only five ER over his last five starts.

MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream

Brandon McCarthy (ARI vs ATL)

Considering his 5.20 ERA and 1.32 WHIP, it’s no wonder McCarthy is only owned in 5% of Yahoo! and 1% of ESPN leagues.  If you look past those numbers, you’ll see a right-handed starting pitcher that has a 20.5% K rate going against an offense that is atrocious against right-handed pitching.  Against righties, the Braves own a 22.7% K rate (fourth-highest), a .230 BA (fifth-worst), a .643 OPS (third worst), and they're in the bottom third in all power categories.  Expect McCarthy to flirt with double-digit strikeout numbers.

MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream

Tanner Roark (WAS at SD)

To say that Roark, owned in 30% of Yahoo! and 9% of ESPN leagues, has struggled on the road this season would be an understatement, but his next start will be in pitcher-friendly Petco Park against the pitcher-friendly Padres.  His last road start was nearly a month ago in Oakland, and he allowed only one run in seven innings.  Expect that Roark to show up, and with the way the Nationals have been scoring at will lately, expect a “Curly Dubya” for his owners.

MATCHUP RATING: Solid Stream

Saturday Starting Pitcher Streamers

Josh Tomlin (CLE at TEX)

Ownership: 8% Yahoo!, 7% ESPN.  With a 6.00 K/BB ratio, Tomlin has been forcing batters to earn their way on base, which probably is the main reason he has a silly-low 0.96 WHIP.  He is a fly ball pitcher however, so he may give up a long ball or two against the Rangers.

MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream

Danny Duffy (KC vs NYY)

Ownership: 9% Yahoo!, 2% ESPN.  Duff-Man is begin to assert himself as not just a spot-starter for the Royals.  To earn his spot, he’ll need another solid start, but this time against the Yankees.  New York has rather average offensive numbers away from Yankee Stadium, but Duff-Man has rather average numbers at home.

MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream

Streaming Like Sunday Morning

Collin McHugh (HOU at MIN)

Mr. McHugh (he has earned a “Mister” in front of his name) is owned in 36% of Yahoo! and 31% of ESPN leagues, so he won’t be available in all that many leagues.  If he is, it would be prudent to not only start him on Sunday but to also keep him on your roster.  There’s really not much more that could be said of Mr. McHugh that hasn’t already been noted on RotoBaller.  If you’re still not convinced by his 27.1% K rate, .187 BAA, 0.96 WHIP and 13% IFFB (infield fly ball) rate, then there’s really nothing else to say to you.

MATCHUP RATING: Must Stream

Henderson Alvarez (MIA at CHC)

Ownership: 18% Yahoo!, 7% ESPN.  Alvarez has all the numbers and inside stats to suggest he’ll have a double-digit strikeout game and dominate Chicago.  There’s just one thing: the eligible players for the Cubs have collectively gone 12-for-33 with a .936 OPS against him.  Buyer beware.

MATCHUP RATING: Risky Stream