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.Well, yesterday was a big bowl of yuck. Chad Gaudin didn't make it out of the fourth inning, giving up six runs in the process. We've still scored some excellent numbers in our six August starts (sub-1.00 WHIP, three wins), so we can afford a bad start here and there. Tommy Hunter is up for the Team today, and since I had a lot of trouble settling on him as my pick yesterday, I'll be crossing my fingers for this one.
We have a couple solid options for tomorrow. If Joe Blanton is still available in your league, he's a must-grab. Bud Norris, who made a run at a no-hitter in St. Louis of all places in his first start, gets a slumping Brewers offense at home. Paul Maholm is at home, where he pitches very well, against St. Louis, who has had trouble against lefties this season. But of them all, I'll stream Jeff Niemann against the Mariners in Seattle.
The Tampa Bay pitcher is already a ten-game winner, so there's great potential present to pick up another win for the Team. In his last start, he went eight innings in a win against Kansas City, giving up one run while striking out seven and walking none. Three starts ago, he also struck out seven and walked none in a win at Chicago, and the start before that he pitched a complete-game shutout against Oakland.
He did have a rough outing against Toronto two starts ago, but his 3.62 ERA and 1.31 WHIP on the season shows he's been more than just a pitcher with a hot month.
The Seattle team Niemann faces is 26th in the league in OPS against righties this season. They also have the second-worst home OPS (behind San Diego) in the league, so while you should be careful streaming road starters, this one looks like the perfect storm for Niemann. This will make two straight road spot-stars for the team; let's hope we've made smart choices delving into the realm of road starters.
Stream Team Data
August: 35.1 IP, 3 Ws, 3.06 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 26 Ks, 6 BBs.
Post-ASB: 122.1 IP, 7 Ws, 3.31 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 99 Ks, 34 BBs.
Since 7/1: 184.2 IP, 11 Ws, 4.14 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 135 Ks, 50 BBs.
