July 23 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Streamers: Jon Gray, Jose Soriano, Lance Lynn and More
A look at Tuesday's probable starters who are widely available in fantasy leagues and have good matchups.
The Olympics are picking up the end of the dog days of summer, giving us more to focus on before football really gets underway. It’s a chance to see under-appreciated athletes who are at the top of their game in a sport that doesn't get much publicity. Aside from the men’s basketball team, of course, which features names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid, just to name a few.
Focusing on baseball, let’s look at Tuesday's probable starters (according to MLB.com) who are widely available in fantasy leagues and have good matchups, creating streaming value. Most stats and rankings are from MLB. The full streamer rankings are listed at the bottom.
Jake Bloss, Houston Astros @ Oakland Athletics
Bloss has only pitched two games in the big leagues, combining for 7.2 innings and four runs allowed. He struck out about a batter per inning in the minors, so there is hope that can translate, but we don’t know enough about Bloss to make any real statements on his MLB upside.
Oakland hits the ball out of the park, the only strength of the offense (no pun intended). They are only in the middle in slugging percentage because they don’t do much else, ranking in the bottom five in hits and doubles. The A’s are very boom-or-bust, evidenced by a few big games but a lot of light days.
Bloss is a low-level streamer. The lack of information on Bloss caps his projected ceiling, even while having a good matchup.
Jon Gray, Texas Rangers vs. Chicago White Sox
Gray is our only streamer today who is pitching at home. His numbers are close to the same on the road and at home, so that’s not as big of a factor as his opponent, the hapless White Sox. Chicago has the worst record in the league along with ranking 29th or 30th in runs scored and all four slash categories.
As for the pitcher, Gray is lower than average in strikeout rate for the first time in his career. He is close to the middle, and at least he is doing very well limiting walks, holding the best walk rate of his career. It has all led to slightly better than average results.
Gray is a mid- to high-level streamer here. The matchup is as good as it gets, and Gray’s previous strikeout rate gives hope for a high ceiling.
Lance Lynn, St. Louis Cardinals @ Pittsburgh Pirates
Lynn was listed here as a streamer before his July 6 start against the Nationals; he gave up 11 runs in just 2.2 innings. He was back prior to his last start against the Cubs and fared much better, earning the win with six innings of two-run baseball. Most importantly, Lynn has been slightly above average striking batters out, though he walks a few too many.
The Pirates offer a matchup not quite on the level of the White Sox but also not that far away. They are in the bottom 10 in runs scored, hits, home runs and all four slash categories but no lower than 26th in any area. That’s not exactly a glowing review, but it means they aren’t fully in the basement.
Lynn is a mid-level streamer with upside. His strikeout work matches up well with a Pittsburgh team whose batters have struck out the fifth most.
Jose Soriano, Los Angeles Angels @ Seattle Mariners
Soriano has faced the Mariners twice this season. He gave up four runs in six innings the first time out with just three strikeouts and two walks. The second meeting was Soriano’s last start before the All-Star break, and things went more smoothly: six innings, one run allowed, five strikeouts and four walks. His season-long numbers are good but not great in every area.
Seattle provides the highest ceiling of any team for opposing pitchers. They have struck out over 50 more times than any other team, averaging more than 10 Ks per game. On top of that, they are in the bottom three in runs scored, hits and all four slash categories. It’s a real testament to the team’s pitching staff that Seattle is fighting for the top of the division.
Soriano is a mid- to high-level streamer. The matchup is sweet, and his strikeout work is near average, which should play well with the swing-and-miss Mariners.
Albert Suarez, Baltimore Orioles @ Miami Marlins
Every time I think we have found the worst offense, another contender appears. Sticking with the bottom-three theme, Miami is 28th or worse in runs scored, home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. With the trade deadline looming, things will probably get worse before they get better.
Suarez spent time in Korea and Japan between his MLB stints, returning this season for the first time since 2017. It has gone well, as he holds an ERA under 3.00. The underlying numbers aren’t quite as bright, as Suarez has a below-average strikeout rate, but he has seen positive outcomes.
Suarez is a mid-level streamer. Again, the matchup makes the man here, and Suarez has had enough success to expect more good things.
Tuesday’s Streamer Rankings
- Jon Gray, TEX
- Jose Soriano, LAA
- Lance Lynn, STL
- Albert Suarez, BAL
- Jake Bloss, HOU
