The penultimate week of the season is a busy one for fantasy baseball. Nearly half of the teams will play seven games, and the extra volume has allowed several intriguing pitchers to play two games. There are also a few series that are meant to provide fireworks for offenses. Managers who remain committed to rolling players through the end of the season are likely to have plenty of success in the days ahead.
Two-Star Launchers (Listed in Order of Preference)
Reid Detmers, 40% (vs. CWS, @HOU)
Managers who dismiss Detmers based on his season-long ratios (5.64 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) will be missing out. The lefty has been effective in two starts since returning to the big leagues (12 IP, 4 ER, 18 SO) and has the potential to post a stunning stat line when facing an incompetent player. The White Sox alignment Monday. His match against the Astros is more difficult, but it should be noted that Houston ranks 16th in points scored in the second half.
Matthew Boyd56% (vs. MIN, @STL)
Boyd has been terrific in six starts since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2023, posting an impressive 35-7 strikeout-to-strike ratio to go along with a 2.18 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. And the lefty is striking out batters at an especially high rate of late, racking up 23 strikeouts in his last three outings. Boyd has some reasonable matchups next week — the Twins rank 11th in runs scored and the Cardinals rank 25th — and he should be a starter in virtually every league.
Albert Suarez32% (vs. SF, vs. DET)
Suarez has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen this season, and his overall numbers (3.39 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) have been solid. He’s also done well (2.43 ERA, 1.13 WHIP) since joining the rotation on Aug. 6, with his worst start in that span coming against the White Sox, who were poor quality. A pair of starts against middling offenses in his home ballpark, where pitchers are most comfortable, makes Suarez a target to target in most formats.
Joey Estes16% (@CHC, against. NYY)
While he doesn’t strikeout at a high rate, Estes is emerging as a key part of the A’s rotation and a viable streamer in fantasy baseball leagues. After all, since the All-Star break, the 22-year-old has produced a 3.29 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 10 outings. He has an average game against the Cubs to open the week, but a rough second start against a Yankees offense that ranks second in runs scored. Still, he’s pitched well enough of late to be a fixture in deep rotations and most face-off formats.
Tylor Megill8% (vs. WSH, vs. PHI)
Megill has already sparked fantasy managers on several occasions, and he once again showed his potential by posting an 18:4 K:BB ratio while allowing four runs in 15.1 innings since returning to the rotation. His two-step is reasonable this week, as he gets a favorable matchup (the Nats) and both outings will come in his pitcher-friendly home stadium. Like Estes, Megill is a solid option in deep rotation formats.
André Pallante10% (compared to PIT, compared to CLE)
Pallante is the definition of a boring streamer. The right-hander has unremarkable ratios (4.13 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) and a poor K:BB ratio (77:45) but uses a strong focus on ground balls to be a serviceable starter for the Cardinals. He has reasonable matchups this week against a Pirates offense that ranks 21st in runs scored and a Cleveland The team that ranks 14th, but managers will be holding their breath for grounders to find gloves rather than holes in both starters. For that reason, Pallante makes the most sense in deep-rotation formats.
Aaron Civale43% (vs. PHI, vs. ARI)
This is a tough match. Civale was a trusted starter before 2024, and after getting off to a poor start with the RaysHe was useful (3.84 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) in 11 outings with the Brewers. But before managers get back into the swing of things, it’s worth noting that the right-hander faces two opponents next week who rank in the top six in runs scored. The recommendation here is to avoid Civale in any situation where a manager is trying to protect his ratios.
Single Start Streamers
In order, here are the top streamers of the week, with their start date and Yahoo! price in parentheses.
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Martin Perez vs CWS (Saturday 24)
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Andrew Heaney against SEA (Saturday, 43)
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Landon Knack @MIA (Wednesday 10)
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Dean Kremer vs. SF (Wednesday 27)
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Javier Assad against OAK (Wednesday 34)
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Zack Littell against BOS (Thursday 20)
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Yariel Rodriguez @TB (Saturday 12)
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Nick Martinez vs. PIT (Friday 31)
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Rhett Lowder vs. PIT (Saturday 28)
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Alec Marsh against DET (Wednesday 5)
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DJ Heart @NYM (Wednesday 22)
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David Festa @BOS (Friday 17)
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Edouard Cabrera against LAD (Thursday 22)
Favorable confrontations from Monday to Thursday
The Diamondbacks @Rockies
This matchup seems too good to be true for managers who need offensive help at this late stage of the season. Arizona They’ll take the most prolific offense in baseball to the best park for hitters, and they’ll face the pitching staff with the worst ERA. Geraldo Perdomo (42%) and Adrien Del Castillo (12%) are the men to stream here, with Pavin Smith (8%) also being an option.
Angels vs. White Sox, @Astros
There hasn’t been much to like about the Angels’ offense in recent weeks, but it’s hard to ignore a team that’s expected to face the pitching staff with the highest ERA in the second half. Nolan Schanuel (9%) is the player to target in this attack.
