If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re in a daily-transaction fantasy baseball league and are vying for the championship. So first: congratulations for making it this far! I really hope the hard work and dedication pay off and you can hoist your league’s trophy (some leagues have trophies, don’t they?). Chances also are that you’re looking for some pitching streamers to put you over the top during the final weekend. If so, you’ve clicked the right link.
Below are my nine favorite pitching streamers for the last three days of the season. They are sorted by day and, within the day, are in roster-percentage order. So feel free to start scrolling, good luck, and as always, please stream responsibly.
Not ready for the fantasy baseball season to be over? No problem! Go check out the Fantrax Playoff Commissioner and keep the fantasy fun going for just a little bit longer!
9 Pitching Streamers to Target for the Final Weekend
Pitching Streamers For Friday
Kyle Hendricks SP Cubs
Last start: Thursday, September 21 vs. Pirates – 6IP L 1ER (3R) 7H 2BB 5K
Final start: Friday, September 29 @ Brewers
If you’re looking to protect ratios in a categories league, but aren’t overly concerned with strikeouts, Kyle Hendricks might be your guy. In addition to compiling a days-of-yore ERA/WHIP of 3.66/1.18 this season, he’ll draw the Brewers in his last start. They’re ranked 22nd in WOBA, have just a .696 OPS against righties, and have already solidified their division title and playoff seed. Even if they still had something to play for, the 33-year-old veteran offers the highest floor of what’s left.
John Means SP Orioles
Last start: Saturday, September 23 @ Guardians – 7.1IP W 1ER 1H 1BB 4K
Final start: Friday, September 29 vs. Red Sox
The results have been mostly positive for John Means since his return from Tommy John surgery. His three starts have left him with an impressive 2.60 ERA/0.81 WHIP. Saturday’s start against the Guardians was the best of the bunch. He kept them hitless for over six innings and ended up yielding just one run over 7.1, earning him the win. It looks like the Orioles are building up the 30-year-old lefty for the playoffs, too. His pitch count has steadily increased with each start (75, 86, and most recently 96 pitches), meaning there should be no restrictions for his last tuneup. Before you get nervous about his opponent, the Red Sox, consider that they rank 28th in WOBA over the last 30 days, have done far more of their damage at home (only a .710 OPS on the road vs. .803 in Fenway), and are not quite as good against lefties (.741 OPS vs. .762 OPS against righties). This seems like a perfect deep-league clutch stream. Or even a sneaky standard-sized points-league play.
Chase Silseth SP/RP Angels
Last start: Friday, September 22 (minor leagues) – 3.1IP 0ER 2H 4BB 4K
Final start: Friday, September 29 vs. A’s
It’s looking like Chase Silseth will come off the IL (concussion) to make one more start this season. He flashed some serious upside before getting hurt. During a four start stretch in July/August, he pitched to a 1.59 ERA/0.88 WHIP while striking out 31 over 22.2 innings. He’ll also line up to face the A’s. They rank 29th in WOBA, last in runs per game, and should be about the safest landing spot for a pitcher returning from a layover. Will the 23 year old cover enough innings to make this stream worth it? He did throw 60 pitches in his latest rehab start. So five or six innings is certainly possible. You could do a lot worse in a deep league, or in a standard categories league where you’re just trying to pile on the strikeouts.
Pitching Streamers For Saturday
Cristopher Sanchez SP/RP Phillies
Last start: Sunday, September 24 vs. Mets – 7IP W 2ER 3H 1BB 10K
Final start: Saturday, September 30 @ Mets
Cristopher Sanchez matched his career high in strikeouts on Sunday against the Mets, ringing up 10 batters, earning a win, and inducing 20 swinging strikes. The outing lowered his season-long ERA/WHIP to an impressive 3.48/1.06. The breakout 26-year-old will finish up with a rematch against the Mets. They’re ranked 22nd in WOBA against lefties and have averaged just 4.1 runs per game in their last 10. Seems like a good bet to keep your ratios tight with plenty of room for strikeout upside.
Edward Cabrera SP Marlins
Last start: Sunday, September 24 vs. Brewers – 5IP W 1ER 5H 2BB 5K
Final start: Saturday, September 30 @ Pirates
Since returning from the minor leagues, Edward Cabrera has been effective both as a bulk reliever and starter (1.89 ERA/1.16 WHIP and 22Ks over 19 innings). It was the latter on Sunday against the Brewers. He earned a win and yielded just a run over five innings. His final start is a juicy one. He’ll draw the Pirates on the road. They rank 20th in WOBA and 21st in runs per game. Though the walks have been better over the last two starts (three in 10.1 innings), the 25 year old still has a 5.91 BB/9 rate overall. So if ratios are really close, this pick sure is risky. Proceed with caution.
Connor Phillips SP Reds
Last start: Saturday, September 23 vs. Pirates – 5IP 3ER 5H 3BB 9K
Final start: Saturday, September 30 @ Cardinals
After mostly struggling in his first two career starts, Connor Phillips has now put together a couple of good ones. His nine strikeouts (accompanied by 13 swinging strikes) over five-plus innings were particularly impressive against the Pirates on Saturday. He’s now struck out 16 over his last 12. The rookie will finish on the road against the Cardinals. Their offense has gone dormant lately. They’re ranked 28th in WOBA over the last 30 days and have averaged just 4.13 runs per game this month. Seems like a great deep-league play, or in a categories league where you’ve already lost ratios and are chasing strikeout/win upside.
Pitching Streamers For Sunday
Michael King SP/RP Yankees
Last start: Tuesday, September 26 @ Blue Jays – 6IP 0ER 1H 5BB 5K
Final start: Sunday, October 1 @ Royals
All hail Michael King! Since entering the rotation from the bullpen, he’s done nothing but impress. He hasn’t allowed more than a run in any of his seven starts and his ERA/WHIP during that time is a stellar 1.04/0.99. The 47 strikeouts in 34.1 innings ain’t too bad either. The King will fittingly oppose the Royals in his last start. Despite a recent winning streak, they still rank just 26th in WOBA, 24th in runs per game, and have just a .696 OPS against righties. If he’s somehow been overlooked in your league (doesn’t matter what type), he seems like the perfect secret weapon with your season on the line.
Ryan Pepiot SP Dodgers
Last start: Tuesday, September 26 @ Rockies – 6IP 1ER 5H 1BB 9K
Final start: Sunday, October 1 @ Giants
The late-season surge of Ryan Pepiot continued at Coors Field on Tuesday. The righty allowed just one run over six innings and struck out a career-high nine batters. Over the first seven starts of his season, he now sports an eye-popping 1.85 ERA/0.74 WHIP, partly fueled by a minuscule 0.92 BB/9 rate. If you’re only choosing one of these pitching streamers to get you a championship, regardless of league type, the 26 year old is probably your best bet. He’ll oppose the Giants on the road. They rank 24th in WOBA and have averaged just 3.65 runs per game in September.
Reese Olson SP Tigers
Last start: Tuesday, September 26 vs. Royals – 5.2IP 1ER (2R) 5H 2BB 7K
Final start: Sunday, October 1 vs. Guardians
If you’re searching for deep-league pitching streamers on Sunday, the pickings are sadly looking slim. If Reese Olson is available, though, snatch him up as soon as possible. The 24 year old has been excellent over his last six starts, holding his opponents to two runs or fewer in each of them and pitching to a 1.51 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. He’ll draw the Guardians in his final start. They rank 27th in both WOBA and runs per game. They’re also eliminated from playoff contention. The Tigers are too for that matter. Might everyone be looking to catch their planes as soon as possible on the last day of the season? That situation usually benefits the pitchers.