Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.After yet another poor Stream Team start, this one a no-strikeout, two-HR allowed head-scratcher from Vin Mazzaro, I was in the dumps. Three straight stinkers left me with a pretty bad success rate. Luckily, Joe Blanton came out and locked the Mets down by scattering four hits through 7.1 innings, allowing no runs while striking out five batters. He also gave the Stream Team our first win! Who should we stream as we play for our second victory?
If Randy Wells or Ricky Romero are available in your league (as they are in far too many leagues), then pick them up and use them tomorrow. In fact, plan on hanging on to them for the second half. Since I like to dig deeper for a guy that's widely available, I'm going to pick Mike Hampton to be the next member of the Stream Team.
He faces the Pirates tomorrow in what will be his third start against Pittsburgh this season. His previous two outings against them were consecutive away-and-home starts in late May/early June. The brittle right-hander went seven innings in each of those starts, allowing one earned run in each while striking out a total of eight batters and walking only one. He also notched two wins in those quality starts.
After spending a few weeks on the disabled list, Hampton returned on June 30th to post a quality start in San Diego, striking out six batters in six innings and allowing one run. With this next start coming against an opponent that's given Hampton little trouble this year and in his career (13-3 record, 2.44 ERA, 1.10 WHIP in 136.1 IP), he looks like the percentage play for us. Six innings, one or two earned runs, and four to six strikeouts should be on tap for the Stream Team tomorrow.
