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 catching a glimpse of yesterday's Royals-Red Sox box score, I figured I was in for Livan-type disappointment when I returned home and checked out the line of Brad Penny, yesterday's pick. While it wasn't that terrible, three earned runs in five innings with only one strikeout can't be classified a success either. Today, Joe Blanton will be taking the hill for the Stream Team -- be sure to keep an eye on his game against the Pirates tonight.
Usually, I give you two main reasons to pick a spot starter. The first is dependent upon the pitcher, and the second on the team he's facing. Today, we're going to throw away that second reason and concentrate on picking a guy that has done excellent, even though he faces a tough team. Brad Bergesen has been slowly earning people's trust by turning in quality starts in seven of his last eight games. Among them was a brilliant eight-inning no-decision against Boston on July 1st, when Bergesen struck out six Red Sox players while allowing no walks and just one run.
Bergesen doesn't have the potential to record a ton of strikeouts, and having only 50 Ks in almost 100 innings pitched is usually a sign of mediocrity. But by keeping the walk total low enough and getting a little lucky on balls in play, the Orioles pitcher has compiled a 3.59 ERA and 1.19 WHIP this season. He'll take on Toronto at home, where Bergesen has excelled, posting a 2.83 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 36/9 K/BB ratio. We'll add him to the Stream Team with hopes the lefty can stymie the righty-dominated Blue Jays at Camden Yards.
