There aren’t many great streaming options this week. You’ll probably tilt your head and laugh at some of the names the further you go down this list, but there is a rhyme and reason for each guy cracking next week’s streaming recommendations. So without further adieu here are some names to look at as we head into Memorial Day Weekend next week!

 

10-Team Leagues

Fernando Romero (MIN) – It might be wise to pick up Romero as soon as possible in your shallow league because he won’t be available much longer. He’s got a matchup Saturday against Milwaukee and draws the Mariners in Seattle next Friday. In three starts this season (16.2 innings) Romero is 2-0 with a 0.54 ERA and 20 strikeouts. He hasn’t surrendered a home run, but the walks are somewhat of an issue. He averages 4.86 BB/9 hence his FIP of 2.72, but to be fair that’s not an awful FIP. But it does signal that regression could be coming for the 23-year-old righty. I’m getting the feeling Romero’s ownership will continue to spike so he won’t be on this list too many times in the near future. You can stream him today or next Friday and possibly hang on to him as a regular starter moving forward.

Freddy Peralta (MIL) – Fernando Romero ’s opponent later today also makes an appearance on this list coming off a very hot debut in Coors Field earlier this week. Peralta stunned the Rockies to the tune of 13 strikeouts, two walks, and just one hit over 5.2 innings of work. It is a very small sample size, but it’s always impressive when a guy can log a negative FIP (-0.39) in any game and Peralta was just that good earlier this week. Now the Rockies lineup isn’t as good as it has been in the past, but the fact he still pulled off a performance like this in Coors speaks volumes to his potential. And lets be realistic he basically used just two pitches in this start (fastball and curveball). To be successful long-term obviously he’ll need more in his repertoire, but for now he’s worth stashing on your roster as a streaming option. He faces the floundering Mets next week at home.

Tyler Skaggs (LAA) – Skaggs has quietly strung together some solid starts. He has four straight starts with at least seven strikeouts and he’s recorded a quality start in three of his last five outings. He’s still prone to giving up the long ball (1.21 HR/9), but he’s done well to limit the walks with just nine over his last 29.2 innings of work. He gets a road start next Wednesday in Toronto and the Blue Jays are just 4-10 over their last 14 games and in nine of those games the offense has scored three or fewer runs. Skaggs has fared much better on the road this year. His ERA on the road (1.14) is three full runs lower than at home (4.44) and opponents are slashing .202/.260/.247 when he’s not pitching in Southern California. This looks like a good start to utilize Skaggs.

 

12-Team Leagues

Jeremy Hellickson (WSH) – Despite getting the Padres this coming Monday it will be Hellickson’s lone start of the week, but you should consider hanging on to him for the following week when he’s a two-start pitcher against the Orioles and Braves, with both those starts coming on the road. For this week, Hellickson will draw the Padres at home in D.C. Over his last three starts (17.1 innings) he’s allowed just one earned run and on the year he’s only given up two home runs. He’s only logged one win and one quality start in six outings so that’s a bit annoying, but he gets a nice matchup this week and he still has one of the best offenses in baseball supporting him. He’s been gradually striking more hitters out while keeping the walks to a minimum. All in all he’s just been solid and hopefully next week he can help your team get a win.

Tyler Chatwood (CHC) – Yes, Tyler Chatwood is back babaaaaay! If you’re in a leaguet that uses K:BB or BB/9 as a stat then maybe it’s not in your best interest to pick him up. The reason being is that over his last six starts he owns a 7.59 BB/9. That ought to be enough to make you throw up in your mouth. HOWEVER, he’s still capable of getting you a win and helping out in ERA for the time being. He owns a 2.53 ERA with a 4.05 FIP, so obviously he’s been the beneficiary of good luck especially with an elevated walk rate. He hasn’t allowed a home run since April 10th and while the walks are a huge concern he’s given up just four or fewer hits in each of his last six appearances. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but he is. He could get blown up by Cleveland next week, but the streaming options in 12-team leagues aren’t that great next week so if you’d like you can look elsewhere.

 

Deeper League Options

Matt Boyd (DET) – Boyd gets just one start next week on the road against Minnesota, but there’s reason for optimism right now. So far in May he owns a 3.60 ERA with a nice 1.94 FIP in 25 innings of work. He’s logged 27 strikeouts, six walks, and hasn’t allowed a home run at all this month. On top of that he has a 11.6% swinging strike rate this month including a 15.8% rate over his last two outings. The matchup next week could be beneficial to Boyd because it’ll be in Target Field against the Twins and Minnesota’s ballpark has been very friendly towards pitchers to start the year. The Twins are okay against lefties, but they’ve only hit nine home runs off southpaws to start the year so I’m a big fan of Boyd next week in deep leagues.

Matt Harvey (CIN) – Earlier when I said I wasn’t a big fan of the streaming options this coming week I wasn’t joking. Matt Harvey’s cracked the list as a deep league option and he hasn’t reached the fifth inning in either of his two starts with Cincinnati. That’s how bad it is this week. But there are some reasons to be excited about Harvey in a new market. In eight innings of work with the Reds, Harvey has seven strikeouts, no walks, and he’s given up three earned runs on eight hits. In his last outing against the Giants he managed to log an 11.7% swinging strike rate. That’s pretty solid if you ask me. Harvey gets two starts next week against the Pirates (at home) and then the Rockies (in Coors). If you’re in a deeper league you should consider using him for both starts. PNC Park plays as more of a pitcher’s park and yes, while Coors is still the best hitter’s park in baseball, the Rockies are a different offense this year especially with DJ LeMahieu landing on the DL again. The big question that remains with Harvey is will the Reds allow him to go deeper into his outings?

Clayton Richard (SD) – This is if you’re absolutely desperate and need a late-week streamer next Friday. Clayton Richard is typically awful on the road. He owns a 5.12 career ERA on the road and opponents historically have slashed .300/.361/.479 against him when he’s the visitor. However, based on his last two starts I’m willing to give him some consideration in the deepest of leagues. I’m probably going to stream him next week in my TGFBI (The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational) league where each league is 15 teams deep. Over his last two outings against the Cardinals and Nationals he’s worked 16 innings (eight innings in each start), he’s struck out 18 batters, walked only one, and he’s given up five earned runs on 12 hits. He’s induced a 13.7% swinging strike rate over that span so he’s earned some consideration as a streamer next week. The Dodgers also slash just .224/.307/.349 against southpaws and Dodger Stadium has catered to lefties this year. Richard’s historically an atrocity on the road, but don’t write him off completely next week.