Stream Team: Kuroda the Easy Pick

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.

We suggested streaming Bronson Arroyo last night -- as soon as the article went live, I started having second thoughts. After all, every time it looks safe to pick up Arroyo and start him, he gives up a seven-run pounding and finds himself right back on the wire. Last night, he kept humming along, pitching seven innings and striking out six, allowing one run and earning a win. We've got a 3.61 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in September, with 9 wins and a K/BB ratio better than 3/1.

Since Hiroki Kuroda was so good in his last Stream Team start, why not use him again? After a rough first start back from the DL, Kuroda was magnificent on September 11th, allowing three hits and no walks in eight innings, which works out to a 0.38 WHIP for the day. On the season he has a 4.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, 71 strikeouts and 20 walks. He pitches for an NL West-leading Dodger team that scores plenty of runs, so why is Kuroda available in seven out of 10 leagues?

Jump on him, since he faces the Pirates at home. Pittsburgh has scored the second-fewest runs in the league this year, and they've been particularly bad lately, posting a .633 OPS over the last week while scoring 16 runs in 6 games. If that's not enough, they are the lowest-scoring team on the road this year. In two career starts against the Pirates, Kuroda is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 0.85 WHIP.

Love the pitcher, love the matchup, and love the pick. Kuroda should have success tomorrow and bring you one step closer to your championship.

Stream Team Data

September: 87.1 IP, 9 Ws, 3.61 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 65 Ks, 21 BBs.
Post-ASB: 354.2 IP, 27 Ws, 4.06 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 268 Ks, 105 BBs.
Since 7/1: 417 IP, 31 Ws, 4.32 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 304 Ks, 121 BBs.