August 21 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Streamers: Ryan Pepiot, Andrew Heaney, Michael Lorenzen and More
Wednesday's probable starters who are widely available in fantasy leagues and have good matchups.
Wednesday becomes a much more bearable day when football season starts, doesn’t it? With a game on Thursday, Wednesdays feel more like Friday in a way because it’s only one day until an NFL game.
It’s not Friday (not even close), but at least there’s something to look forward to that isn’t there during the offseason. Oh, this is an article about fantasy baseball, so we’ll talk about that too, I guess.
Let’s look at Wednesday'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.
Andrew Heaney, Texas Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
When focusing only against left-handed pitchers (which Heaney is), the Pirates are near the middle of the league in most offensive areas. One place they don’t excel, though, is with strikeouts, where the Pirates are in the top 10 in most batter Ks. That matches their numbers against all pitchers, where they also fall into the bottom 10 in most categories.
Heaney is a good strikeout pitcher, holding a K rate a little better than average this season and well above average in his career. Strikeout pitchers have higher ceilings and floors, able to put up a positive number even if they allow runs and really pump up a good start.
Heaney is a mid- to high-level streamer. He’s a good enough pitcher that his strikeout work gives him a decent outlook in a good matchup.
Michael Lorenzen, Kansas City Royals vs. Los Angeles Angels
Lorenzen was acquired from the Rangers at the trade deadline, and he has done fairly well in three starts with his new team. He started against the Angels twice while with Texas with mixed results:
- May 19: 6.1 innings, two runs allowed, six strikeouts and three walks
- July 10: five innings, five runs allowed, three strikeouts and three walks
That’s OK, though LA is poor enough on offense to allow for better results this time around. Lorenzen is also on a better team meaning it’s more likely he picks up a win; that’s a nice little bonus.
The Angels follow the script of a team in the bottom 10 in essentially every major offensive box stat. They don’t hit for contact or power, though the lineup is in the middle in batter walks and strikeouts. LA is the offensive version of the “mid-level streamer,” simply meeting the criteria.
Lorenzen is a low- to mid-level streamer. His walk and strikeout rates are both a little on the wrong side of league average, so the matchup is what puts him here today.
Mitchell Parker, Washington Nationals vs. Colorado Rockies
Colorado’s stretch of ineptitude is a real story. They haven’t had a winning season since 2018, and after another winning year in 2017, you have to go back to 2010 for a winning record and 2009 for a playoff appearance. This team just isn’t competitive, and their lack of talent in or close to the major-league level means they are probably several years away from even thinking about the playoffs.
Parker made one start against the Rockies back in June, but that was at Coors Field, which is a whole different animal. He allowed four runs in six innings, though eight strikeouts to just two walks is a nice ratio. Parker is just a hair below average with strikeouts, and the Rockies strike out about as much as any team in the league.
Parker is a mid-level streamer. The matchup is right, and he is a good enough pitcher to get into your lineup.
Ryan Pepiot, Tampa Bay Rays @ Oakland Athletics
Mitch Spence, Oakland Athletics vs. Tampa Bay Rays
This series is gracing us with abundant streamers, as unheralded pitchers keep facing weak offenses. Looking at just since the trade deadline gives an even bleaker outlook than their season-long ineptitude, so both teams are steadily on the way down as the 2024 season creeps toward the end. At least Tampa has a possible competitive roster coming back next year.
Pepiot returned from a stint on the IL to make a start on Friday, and I joked that he may have Spider-Man-like powers because that’s what knocked him out: a spider bite. Well, he wasn’t super-human, but Pepiot struck out five guys in 5.1 innings while walking one and giving up two unearned runs. Pepiot is an above-average strikeout guy who should be in a lineup in all leagues.
Spence has been good with walks but a little below average striking guys out in his first season. Spence started one game against the Rays back in May and allowed just one hit and no runs in 5.1 innings with four strikeouts and one walk. He has been good enough to be on the streaming radar, even if Spence doesn’t do anything at a high level.
Pepiot is a high-level streamer and Spence a low- to mid-level streamer. Pepiot’s strikeout work is enough to put him near keeper status, and Spence’s value is dictated by the matchup.
Wednesday’s Streamer Rankings
- Ryan Pepiot, TB
- Andrew Heaney, TEX
- Mitchell Parker, WSH
- Mitch Spence, OAK
- Michael Lorenzen, KC
