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.While the early part of August was a testament of what can happen when streaming goes right (13 wins in 20 days), this past week has been a reminder of what happens when the strategy goes terribly wrong. Horrible starts from Bud Norris and Clay Buchholz, coupled with poor starts from Kenshin Kawakami and Anibal Sanchez, have shot our ERA up to the mid-fours, which is where it sits on the season. Barry Zito was today's pick -- desperate times call for desperate measures, and he's been quite good lately.
Since I wanted to pick Bronson Arroyo a few days ago, it only seems right that I stick with the pick today, as he's taking the mound tomorrow against the Dodgers. Here's what I said about Arroyo on Thursday:
[He] has turned in quality starts in each of his last six outings, and he's walked just three hitters in his last for games combined. He also brings with him the benefit of working late into games, nearly assuring he'll record a decision one way or another, which is reflect in his 11-12 record in 26 starts. This is more of the same from last year, when he went 15-11 in 34 starts.
The Dodgers offense is doing even worse now, with only 18 runs scored and a ..674 OPS in their last six games.If Arroyo is unavailable to you, either because he's currently rostered or he's still on waivers, I'd definitely roll with my favorite road starter, Jason Hammel, who has a 2.88 ERA and 1.23 WHIP on the road this season. He's in San Francisco on Sunday, and he's posted quality starts in both previous games against the Giants.
Stream Team Data
August: 161.2 IP, 13 Ws, 4.40 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 119 Ks, 50 BBs.
Post-ASB: 248.2 IP, 17 Ws, 4.05 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 192 Ks, 78 BBs.
Since 7/1: 311 IP, 21 Ws, 4.40 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 228 Ks, 94 BBs.
