At this time of year, streaming starters in fantasy baseball is the key to victory. In most cases, there aren’t enough weeks remaining to make it worth taking a chance on a young starter with loads of potential. Chasing volume is the name of the game, which means that successful managers will grab at least one name off this list before sending him to waivers next week. I’ve also listed a few hitters who can provide temporary help thanks to a favorable schedule.
Two-Start Pitchers (listed in order of preference)
Cade Horton, Cubs, 41% (@ TOR, vs. PIT): Horton has found his groove in the majors, tossing 22.2 scoreless innings while allowing just 17 baserunners in his past four starts. Fantasy managers cannot ignore this excellent combination of recent success and substantial upside from someone who was a notable prospect, especially when he is heading into a two-start week that includes a weekend matchup with the lowest-scoring team in baseball.
Will Warren, Yankees, 46% (vs. MIN, @ STL): Warren has had a couple of poor starts this summer but deserves credit for allowing two or fewer runs in seven of his past nine starts. His premium strikeout skills (10.4 K/9 rate) make him especially appealing in points leagues, but he is worth the risk in roto formats as well. It helps that he will face a depleted Twins squad and a mediocre Cardinals offense.
Chris Paddack, Tigers, 25% (@ CWS, @ MIN): Paddack has had one good start and one bad start for the Tigers, which mostly corresponds to his inconsistent pattern during his tenure with the Twins. I’ll admit that the 29-year-old is a risky option, but he also has plenty of upside for a two-start week with favorable matchups. For those who are chasing wins, Paddack is a risk worth taking.
Bailey Falter, Royals, 12% (vs. WSH, vs. CWS): Falter did not fare well in his initial start with the Royals but still deserves credit for posting solid results (3.73 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) in 22 starts with the Pirates. His appeal is similar to that of Paddack, as he will make two home starts against teams who sit last in their respective divisions. He has an excellent chance to pick up a win, which is fantasy gold at this time of year.
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José Soriano, Angels, 36% (vs. LAD, @ ATH): There is an easy way to decide on Soriano in roto leagues this week — how much do you care about your WHIP? The righty induces so many grounders that he should log a respectable ERA. And the ability to keep the ball on the ground makes him a good fit at the Athletics' hitter-friendly park. But plenty of those grounders sneak through the infield, which means that Soriano’s 1.40 WHIP is likely here to stay.
Cade Cavalli, Nationals, 14% (@KC, vs. PHI): It has been a long road back to the majors for Cavalli, who threw 4.1 scoreless innings in his first start since 2022. The 26-year-old is still regarded as a solid prospect, and has a favorable matchup this week against a Royals offense that ranks 29th in runs scored. I can see the case for chasing Cavalli’s upside over adding some of the boring veterans on this list.
Yu Darvish, Padres, 40% (@SF, @LAD): Darvish has been inconsistent since returning from the injured list on July 7. He seemed to turn a corner when he tossed seven scoreless innings on July 30, but took a step back when he allowed three runs over four frames in Arizona last time out. He is backed by a solid lineup and dominant bullpen, but his matchups this week are fairly difficult. He is best left for those in 15-team leagues.
Miles Mikolas, Cardinals, 9% (vs. COL, vs. NYY): Adding Mikolas would be the ultimate case of chasing a win in deep leagues. The veteran is not an effective starter, as is evidenced by his 5.11 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. But he could pick up a victory against the 30-87 Rockies at the outset of the week.
Dean Kremer, Orioles, 22% (vs. SEA, @HOU): Kremer enjoyed an effective stretch during late June and most of July before taking a step backward by allowing 12 runs over 17 innings in his past three starts. The right-hander has little upside for a two-start week that includes matchups with a pair of potential postseason teams, which means that his value is mostly limited to roto managers who could use 8-10 strikeouts.
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One-Start Streamers
In order, here are the best streamers for the week, with their start date and Yahoo roster rate in brackets.
Emmet Sheehan @ LAA (Tuesday, 25%)
Jacob Lopez vs. TB (Tuesday, 32%)
Michael Wacha vs. WSH (Tuesday, 48%)
José Quintana vs. PIT (Tuesday, 36%)
Michael McGreevy vs. COL (Wednesday, 6%)
Slade Cecconi vs. ATL (Saturday, 34%)
Joe Boyle @SF (Saturday, 16%)
Nestor Cortés Jr. @ SF (Tuesday, 21%)
J.T. Ginn vs. TB (Wednesday, 6%)
Joey Wentz @ CLE (Saturday, 9%)
Jake Irvin @ KC (Wednesday, 12%)
Cam Schlittler vs. MIN (Wednesday, 13%)
Charlie Morton @ MIN (Thursday, 29%)
Eduardo Rodríguez @ COL (Thursday, 17%)
Hitters with favorable matchups this week
Lourdes Gurriel Jr., D-backs, 44%: Arizona has arguably the best offensive schedule this week, as four of their seven games will be played in Colorado. Gurriel has become the team’s cleanup hitter, which makes him the top option to add, in hopes that he will often drive in the likes of Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte. In deeper leagues, Tyler Locklear (5%) and Alek Thomas (1%) are solid streamers as well.
Mickey Moniak, Rockies, 18%: The Rockies are another team with seven games this week, and their hitters will enjoy playing four of them at home. They could also fare well at the start of the week against a Cardinals staff that lacks elite arms. Five of the contests will come against righties, which makes the lefty-hitting Moniak a great option. Jordan Beck (37%), Tyler Freeman (8%) and Warming Bernabel (29%) are good options as well.
Colt Keith, Tigers, 18%: The Tigers will face seven unimposing right-handed starters this week. The lefty-hitting Keith should bat leadoff in all seven games, which could lead to plenty of hits and runs scored.
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