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Fantasy Baseball Pitching – Streaming Options for April 1

By Bill Pivetz

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 23: Julio Urias #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game One of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 23: Julio Urias #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game One of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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If you need a quick boost in your fantasy baseball pitching stats, here are three streaming options for April 1.

Fantasy baseball owners are going to have to manage starting pitching all season. If you don’t have one of the few aces in the league, you will likely have to mix and match Fantasy Baseball Pitching based on matchups and recent performances. There may be a viable option on the waiver wire that you want to add for a particular matchup.

That strategy is called streaming. It’s used in fantasy football, most likely with defenses. In fantasy baseball, it means you’re signing a new starting pitcher almost every day, just for their matchup and then dropping them.

It’s popular in head-to-head leagues if you need to meet a starts minimum, get a couple of extra strikeouts or one more win. It could be used in roto leagues if you’re a couple of points behind in one of those stats. The downside is that pitcher is not the best or else he would have been owned which could lead to a not-so-great start.

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Some fantasy baseball commissioners try to limit this with a transaction cap or stat maximums. I don’t see the benefit of that because the owner is taking a big risk with this strategy. But, there is a big reward if it pays off.

In what will, hopefully, be a daily post, here are my three streaming options for April 1. In order to qualify, these pitchers will be owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues.

Julio Urias, vs. SF

The Dodgers are dealing with injuries to two of their pitchers, Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill. But, they have a deep pool of starting pitchers. This allows Urias to make his first start of the season against the Giants.

The Giants have a fairly weak lineup outside of Buster Posey, Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford. Though, health has been a concern for most of the team. Urias had a great spring and is my top pitching option. If he pitches well, I wouldn’t be surprised to see his ownership get over 50 percent.

Domingo German, vs DET

The Yankees are also dealing with injuries as they are without Luis Severino and CC Sabathia. As a result, German will be making the start on Monday.

German was up and down in his 21 games last season. Luckily, he gets a good matchup against the Tigers. Outside of Nicholas Castellanos, I don’t see a threat in the lineup. Miguel Cabrera was hit by a pitch on his hand but X-Rays were negative.

He may not see a full six innings if the Aaron Boone decides to turn to the bullpen early but there is a possibility he makes it six innings, too.

Steven Matz, @MIA

Matz had a rough spring but those games don’t officially count. He gets a good matchup in the Marlins. Though, Miami has scored 14 runs in four games, 10th in the league. Their lineup overall doesn’t scream “stay away” as other lineups do. On paper, Matz should be able to make it six innings.

Matz had a good 2018, 3.97 ERA and 1.247 WHIP in 30 starts. As long as he can stay healthy, he’ll be a good back-of-the-rotation piece for the Mets and a possible addition for longer than one start.

Next. Fantasy Baseball - Week 1 Waiver Wire Targets. dark

Streaming pitchers is a risk. It may not make sense this early in the season. We haven’t even made it through a full turn of the rotation. But, you may have drafted starting pitching late and need some help. I like streaming pitchers because you may find a long-term option as a result.

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