We’re happy with the way last week’s hosts played, but we’ve also had some bumps in the road. That will definitely happen, but we want to make sure that we continue to grow, and putting you in advantageous positions is what we really care about. Like MLB players, nobody hits at 100 percent, but putting yourself in the top positions every week is the best way to be successful in the long run. With that in mind, let’s take a look at our favorite broadcasters this week!
Popular Team Games
7 Games
Atlanta Braves (at CHC, at PIT)
Baltimore Orioles (at STL, at CWS)
Chicago White Sox (at TOR, vs. BAL)
Detroit Tigers (in KC, vs. TOR)
San Diego Padres (at CIN, vs. NYY)
Seattle Mariners (NYY, WAS)
Toronto Blue Jays (vs. CWS, at DET)
6 Games
Cincinnati Reds (vs. SD, vs. LAD)
Colorado Rockies (at OAK, vs. PHI)
Houston Astros (vs. LAA, at OAK)
Los Angeles Dodgers (vs. ARI, at CIN)
Milwaukee Brewers (MIA, BOS)
Minnesota Twins (at WAS, vs. TEX)
Philadelphia Phillies (vs. TEX, COL)
Tampa Bay Rays (vs. BOS, vs. KC)
Throwing Streamers
Reese Olson, DET (at KC, vs. TOR)
We had Olson as one of our hosts last week and we got to go right back to him. Detroit’s forward is still under 40 percent of Yahoo’s rankings, but he should be listed in every league at this point. Despite posting an unspectacular 0-4 record, Olson has a 2.09 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. It’s hard to believe he has that 0-4 record, and it’s even more shocking when you realize that Olson has allowed one or fewer runs in six of his eight starts. That makes him less likely to disappear in week two starts, especially in two pitcher’s parks. The Royals are ranked 24th in OBP, while the Blue Jays are 22nd in wOBA and 29th in runs scored.
Streaming Average: $2.6
Sean Manaea, NYM (vs. SF)
Manaea can be hard to trust, but he’s always been one of our top broadcasters. The lefty has a 3.05 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in what turned out to be a solid season. He actually found that form at the end of last season, accumulating a 2.61 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over a two-month shutout. We’ve seen this guy talk like this in the past, and a move to Citi Field could be just what the doctor ordered. Manaea has a 3.54 ERA and 1.17 WHIP at home over the past three years, and Citi Field is one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in baseball. San Fran is far from a horror game, sitting 21st in OBP, 22nd in runs scored, and 24th in xwOBA.
Average Stream: $31.2
Dean Kremer, BAL (at CWS)
The Orioles have developed one of the best bats in baseball, and Kremer is having a career season. The Orioles righty has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts, including a 2.79 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 9.6 K/9 average in those seven outings. It’s the hitting stuff that really surprises us, but his 3.72 xFIP proves it’s anything but. Our favorite part about this is the comparison to Chicago, which sits last in scoring, OBP, OPS and wOBA. In his last two games with the White Sox, Kremer has allowed one run in 11.2 brilliant innings. It’s rare that we have one of our broadcasters as a 200 favorite, but that might be the case with how bad Chicago has been.
Streaming Average: $20.6
Michael Wacha, KC (vs. DET, at TB)
I thought Wacha was going to be a champion when he was cutting down batsmen in St. Louis at the beginning of his career, but that’s not over yet. Either way, he’s still pitching poorly, allowing three or fewer runs in six of his nine starts. If you throw out one stinker against a horrible Texas lineup, Wacha has a 3.72 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He also has a 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.8 K/9 over his last two starts and should continue that impressive form against Detroit and Tampa. The Motor City Kitties are ranked 23rd in K rate, 24th in runs scored, and 27th in wOBA, while the Rays are ranked 28th in xwOBA. That looks even better since he started at Kauffman Stadium and Tropicana Field, compiling a 2.89 ERA and 1.15 WHIP at home over the last three years while the Tropicana was a pitcher’s park!
Streaming Rate: $11
Joe Ross, WAS (MIA)
It’s hard to believe we have Ross as one of our broadcasters because he hasn’t been a fantasy-related option since 2016. This wouldn’t be the first pitcher Milwaukee has revived, but it’s really encouraging as this guy has created some great things. in the past. Either way, this guy is showing some flashes, allowing three or fewer runs in six of his first eight starts. He also has a 2.59 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in those six outings and we expect him to repeat that form against Miami. The Marlins ranked 27th in runs scored, 28th in wOBA, and 29th in OBP. In five career starts against Miami, Ross registered a 2.50 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP!
Streaming Rate: $-0.2
Hitting Streamers
Ryan O’Hearn, BAL (at STL, at CWS)
The Orioles have been one of the best organizations in developing players, and they have done just that with O’Hearn. The platoon player always sits when Baltimore is like a lefty, but that doesn’t matter this week. Not only do the O’s have seven games but six of those games are expected to be against righties! That means O’Hearn could hit three sixes this week because that’s his usual spot whenever they’re in trouble. It’s easy to understand why, as O’Hearn is putting up a .398 OBP, .533 SLG, and .931 OPS against them this season. It’s not a scary team for the right guys either, facing a St. Louis team. Louis ranked 25th in wOBA and a Chicago team ranked 24th in the same stat!
Richie Palacios, TB (vs. BOS, vs. KC)
We’ve had Palacios as one of our broadcasters several times this season because he’s been a team player in Tampa. The youngster has started 15 of the last 19 games for the Rays, hitting second or sixth every time he faces the right-hander. They did that because he has been rocking right this year, registering a .376 OBP and .786 OPS against them. It’s not like his numbers against lefties are ridiculous, totaling a .942 OPS in 33 at-bats against them over the past three years. That doesn’t matter this week, though, because the Rays are expected to go with six right fielders! He has four homers and seven steals against the righties this year and is one of the few pitchers who can do little else this week!
SAGNOF (Saves/Steals No Face)
Theft Specialists
Jacob Young (WAS)
We saw Young rise to the top spot earlier in the week, making him a player worth picking. He is one of the league leaders with 14 steals, recording all of that in his last 31 games!
Jorge Mateo (BAL)
Mateo is no longer an everyday player for Baltimore but has played 10 games in the last 15 days. That’s all we can hope for from a speedster like this, with Mateo recording 67 steals between 2022 and 2023.
Keeps Professionals
Jalen Beeks (COL)
Picking up a Rockies reliever is less profitable than Russian Roulette, but here it is! Beeks ran away with their closer’s gig, posting a 2.21 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. More importantly, he has four saves in his last five games, and three of those came in a four-day span last week. You are a boy if you wish to save!
Michael Kopech (CWS)
Having two of the worst teams in baseball in this division isn’t surprising, but Kopech is proving to be the guy again. He has three saves in his last four games and should get the few chances Chicago has going forward.
Feel free to comment here or contact me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
