Streaming Pitching Options for Week 6: Lewis Frias & More

On a weekly basis, I will be profiling those starting pitchers who are scheduled to take the mound in the upcoming scoring period. This is done to help you determine who to place try to grab from your league's free agent pool and/or who you should target as a player to send your FAAB funds on. Note that all the streaming options listed below are owned in less than 50% of leagues, and thus could be available on your waiver wire. Here are this week's set of potential streaming targets.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Colby Lewis TEX vs KC Danny Duffy

Lewis is sporting a 2.61 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP over six starts in 2015, covering 38 innings. The 29:9 K/BB ratio is good, although his K/9 sits well below league average (6.9 as compared to 7.5 in the AL). He is keeping the ball in the park, having given up just three homers on the season. His splits slightly favor him on the road, but it is not a drastic difference by any means, unlike last season. Kansas City is playing very well, but Lewis is your best option on Monday if you need to swap in a starting pitcher.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Carlos Frias LAD vs MIA Dan Haren

Frias has moved into the starting rotation for the Dodgers and his 11:3 K/BB ratio holds promise, as does his extreme 3.83 GB/FB ratio over his initial 12.2 innings pitched in 2015 ( two starts preceded by two relief appearances). He is not yet pitching deeper into games, with his longest start being the 5.1 innings he threw against the Brewers in his last start, but as his arm gets stretched out, he has the capacity to provide quality starts. His current strand rate of 85.7% cannot be sustained, but a .308 BABIP sends a message that he is not being overly lucky, either. Miami is no push over, but pitching at home makes him a decent spot start here.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Hector Santiago LAA vs COL Jordan Lyles

Brett Anderson LAD vs MIA Jarred Cosart

Nate Karns TBB vs NYY Adam Warren

Wednesday gives us riches in terms of streaming possibilities, with three good options. Santiago has allowed more than three earned runs only once in his first six starts, although he did give up three to Houston along with four walks in his last outing. I like him at home against the Rockies, and would expect some decent strikeout numbers, although the walks are concerning.

Anderson has a nice matchup at home against the Marlins. He is demonstrating great control to open the season, but the strikeouts are a disappointment so far, with a rate well below MLB average (4.7 K/9!). He is effective because he is getting hitters to drive the ball into the ground, as evidenced by his superb 3.1 GB/FB ratio over his six starts in 2015.

Karns has a role in the Tampa Bay rotation with Alex Cobb undergoing Tommy John surgery and being out for the rest of the season. He did struggle at Triple-A in 2014, with a 5.08 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP in 27 starts, but he also struck out batters at a better than one per inning pace (153 Ks in 145.1 innings). His control is an issue, having issued 19 walks in seven starts covering 40.1 innings, but he has been less wild in his last three starts, so that is a good trend. The Yankees are a tough opponent early this season, but getting them at home should help.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Jon Niese NYM @ CHC Travis Wood

Vance Worley PIT @ PHI Aaron Harang

I am going to keep promoting Niese, who does lots of things correctly when he takes the mound. Those things do not necessarily show up in his stat line, as his K rate is well below league average, and he suffers bouts of wildness. He has been keeping the ball on the ground, showing off a 4.00 GB/FB ratio over 37 innings in his six starts this year. His WHIP is trending down, but is still at an unacceptable 1.43. Normally I would worry about pitching at Wrigley, but the offensive stats on the North Side are not scary so far this season.  

This is strictly a matchup pick, as Worley is just a pedestrian SP for the most part. He will not provide a ton of Ks, with his 88 MPH heater, and he tends to hand out too many free passes to be a great option. But, he is facing one of the worst offenses in baseball in 2015. The park factor is not in his favor, but the opponent makes this a decent streaming option.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Wei-Yin Chen BAL vs LAA Jarred Weaver

David Phelps MIA vs ATL Julio Teheran

Unlike my categorization of Worley as pedestrian, Chen is a good pitcher that gets no recognition. Sure, he only has one victory on the season, but he has thrown four QS out of  his six starts in 2015. His BABIP (.230) and strand rate (85.3%) scream regression, but if he can keep it together for one more start, then he is a worthy starter against the Angels, whose offense is in the bottom third of all MLB clubs.

Phelps has a decent matchup, pitching at home against the middle of the pack Atlanta offense. He is on a four game QS streak, not having given up more than two earned runs in any of his five starts this season. He has yet to let any batter put one into the stands, and his 3.04 FIP is not much above his 2.90 ERA. His home park is an advantage, as well, being an extreme pitcher's park. The Marlins are playing better ball lately, and that makes for a decent streaming option on Friday.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Colby Lewis TEX vs CLE Danny Salazar

Look above at Monday's entry for what I have to say about Lewis. I like his chances better here against the Indians than I do for his Monday start against the Royals, but I do like him as a two start pitcher this week.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Carlos Frias LAD vs COL Kyle Kendrick

Frias is another two start option as well as streaming possibility this week. You can review my analysis if you look at his Tuesday start. Pitching at home is better than facing the Rockies at Coors Field, although not that much early on this season.

If you have any questions about starting pitching or fantasy baseball, feel free to contact me at ia@fantasyalarm.com.