The way teams’ schedules line up make Week 6 a tough week to find pitching streamers that I am willing to trust with a roster spot. To add a streamer, it means you need to have someone you are willing to drop for a player you may only add for one start. In light of the conundrum this week, I have added a “Desperation Streamer” section for those in very deep leagues who are looking for some extra help.
Here are my recommended pitching streamers for the week ahead.
Pitching Streamers Available in Some Leagues (Over 50% Rostered)
Reynaldo Lopez (P – ATL)
Next Start: Tuesday 4/30 at SEA
With Spencer Strider out of the rotation, Reynaldo Lopez has slotted in and done surprisingly well. In 18 innings across three starts, he has a 0.50 ERA. He has yet to allow a home run and possesses an 11:6 K:BB ratio.
Lopez is averaging nine strikeouts per nine innings, and the Mariners have the highest strikeout rate in baseball at 27%. They also have the second-most strikeouts against right-handed pitchers. Lopez has achieved his 9 K/9 rate by utilizing a wipeout slider ad a nasty curveball in order to miss bats. His slider has a 36% whiff rate and a 27% putaway rate. Here is a look at it:
Reynaldo López, Filthy 85mph Slider. 😷 pic.twitter.com/aQnWZA7grF
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 17, 2024
Walks are a concern for Lopez, but the Mariners have the seventh fewest walks against RHP. They also have the 10th-lowest batting average.
Also in Lopez’s favor is that Seattle has the friendliest pitcher’s park in baseball. So Lopez could put up another clean sheet for home runs in this game.
Lopez may still be available in shallower leagues for those not trusting the converted reliever. But you should trust him and make him one of your top pitching streamers if available.
Pitching Streamers Available in Most Leagues (30%-50% Rostered)
Edward Cabrera (SP – MIA)
Next Start: Thursday 5/2 vs COL
Edward Cabrera was lights out in his season debut against the Giants. He picked up a quality start, going six innings and allowing five hits and an earned run. He struck out 11 and walked just one in that game. In his second game, the Cubs knocked him around for three earned runs across five innings, but he still struck out seven.
This matchup against the Rockies should lean in Cabrera’s favor. Colorado has the fifth most strikeouts and the fifth-fewest walks against RHP. They also strike out the third most overall as a team. Cabrera possesses a career 10 K/9 rate, making him highly likely to rack up a bunch of strikeouts in this game.
Cabrera’s early success this season has resulted in nearly a 14 K/9 rate. He has shown signs of better command, walking just three batters per nine innings so far. He has also induced a 50% GB rate, nearly identical to his career average.
Cabrera has three pitches with whiff rates over 30% this season, including his changeup, curveball, and slider. All of them, plus his fastball, have putaway rates of 25% or better. Here is his changeup, which he has thrown 74 times. It has turned into a hit just five times:
Edward Cabrera, Unfair 94mph Changeup. 😯 pic.twitter.com/wrRDpSylyJ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 21, 2024
If Cabrera is available in your league, you should add him right now. He is one of the best pitching streamers for the week ahead, but could be a pitcher you hold onto the rest of the season.
Widely Available Pitching Streamers (0%-30% Rostered)
Jameson Taillon (SP – ChC)
Next Start: Monday 4/29 at NYM
Jameson Taillon looked great in his first matchup of the season against the Marlins. He tossed five innings, allowing an earned run and three hits. He did not walk any batters and struck out four. As of writing, he has not pitched against the Astros in his next slated matchup. The result of that matchup should not influence your decision to stream him against the Mets.
The game against New York should bring Taillon some success. The Mets rank in the middle of the pack in terms of batting average and strikeouts against righty pitchers. They have had some success this season in terms of working walks. Despite that, Taillon has been excellent at limiting walks over his career, so he should be able to avoid extra baserunners in this contest.
Taillon has induced groundballs consistently over his career. This should help him avoid homers in New York, which also happens to be the second-best pitcher’s park this season.
This should be a good game for Taillon who should be on your radar as one of the top pitching streamers for the week ahead.
Martin Perez (P – PIT)
Next Start: Wednesday 5/1 at OAK
Martin Perez should be rostered more widely, but fantasy managers may be wary of his 4.42 career ERA and low K totals. Despite his past issues, Perez has been successful this season, and plays in an excellent matchup against Oakland on Wednesday.
Oakland has the ninth-worst average, the ninth-most strikeouts, and the sixth-fewest walks against LHP. That is exactly the matchup Perez needs, considering his 7 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 rates this season. Perez has a chance to improve on both against an A’s team that has a hard time even getting on base.
Additionally, the Athletics have the worst K rate in baseball as a team. This is a great game for Perez to lean on his changeup and curveball, which have 27% and 40% whiff rates respectively. His curve also has a 40% putaway rate.
Oakland also struggles to put the ball in the air. They have the 12th-highest groundball rate as a team, which plays into Perez’s strengths. He has a top-25 GB% among qualified starters. Plus, Oakland’s park leans pitcher-friendly.
Fantasy managers need to consider Perez one of the top pitching streamers in deep leagues for this week and beyond.
Backup Plan Streamers for Week 6
- ChC Javier Assad at NYM– Tuesday 4/30
- COL Ryan Feltner at MIA – Wednesday 5/1
- NYM Jose Butto vs ChC – Wednesday 5/1
Desperation Streamers for Week 6
- CWS Eric Fedde vs TB – Sunday 4/28
- MIA Sixto Sanchez vs COL – Tuesday 4/30
- MIN Simeon Woods Richardson at COL – Wednesday 5/1