April 15 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Streamers: Frankie Montas, Martin Perez, Seth Lugo and Cole Irvin
A look at the probable pitchers on Monday who are widely available in fantasy leagues and have a good matchup this time through the rotation
Some days on the MLB schedule have plenty of streaming options for starting pitchers, but others, like Monday, are thin due to multiple factors. Any day with a lot of aces on the mound means most starters are already owned, and sometimes those who would be stream-able are facing tough lineups, making for risky fantasy propositions.
I have four recommendations for you today, three of which are strong options. Things could be worse, but even Opening Day offered more streamers. Let’s run through the probable starters Monday (according to MLB.com) who are widely available in fantasy leagues and have at least some streaming value.
Many stats and rankings are from ESPN.
Cole Irvin, Baltimore Orioles vs. Minnesota Twins
Irvin has allowed 14 hits and nine runs in 10 innings of work this season. That includes just seven strikeouts to five walks, meaning Irvin isn’t producing much value anywhere. On a day with more streamers, Irvin might not be mentioned here, but there is one reason for optimism.
Minnesota showed off a lot of power in 2023, finishing in the top 10 in runs scored, home runs, slugging percentage and OPS. They are in the bottom 10 in all those categories through the first few weeks this year.
The rest of their numbers last season weren’t as good, and I overestimated the Twins’ lineup coming into 2024. They have been hapless without that power; Minnesota is 6-8 early in the season, second worst in its division.
There’s plenty of time for things to turn around, but the Twins are showing what happens when a team relying on home runs doesn’t hit enough.
Irvin is a low-end streamer, capable of filling the last spot in your lineup. He won’t strike out many batters, and he hasn’t shown the ability to regularly sit guys down with weak contact.
Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals @ Chicago White Sox
Lugo’s results have been a revelation for a hot Royals team: Three starts, 2-0, 1.45 ERA in 18.2 innings. The only place he’s been lacking is strikeouts, as he just nine and five walks. Lugo has struck out batters at a better-than-average rate in his career, so there is hope he can turn that around.
Two of his starts were against the White Sox and Twins, two of the worst offenses teams so far, but the last came against Houston, when Lugo gave up just two runs in six innings. Again, the strikeouts aren’t there, but everything else is rolling.
He started against the White Sox on April 4, a game KC won 10-1. Lugo threw 7.2 innings and allowed the one run. Given Chicago’s struggles last year and through this short season (2-13 through Sunday), there’s no reason to expect different results this time around.
Lugo probably won’t be a Cy Young contender all season, but he has taken advantage of matchups to start the year as well as anyone. Roll with him in this one and maybe for the near future depending on your roster. Lugo is a high-level streamer.
Frankie Montas, Cincinnati Reds @ Seattle Mariners
Montas’ percentage owned has been rising through the season, especially when his first two starts combined for 12.2 innings and just one run allowed. After a rough outing against Milwaukee last Tuesday (five runs allowed in five innings, though just three earned), Montas gets a chance to face one of the worst offensive teams early in 2024.
Seattle is near the bottom of the league in most major offensive categories. They are one of the clearest examples of a team to target in fantasy baseball with starting pitchers. It’s hard to trust a team that doesn’t hit for average or power to find their groove on any given day; the Mariners need multiple things to go right to score volume runs.
Montas has good strikeout rates in his career and has been a hair below that level through three starts, but he hasn’t walked many guys (something he regularly excels at). Expecting Montas to throw much better than he has is a losing proposition, but it’s easy to imagine him continuing his success in this matchup.
Montas is a high-level streamer in this one and, like Lugo, makes a case for a spot on your roster if you don’t have strong pitchers.
Martin Perez, Pittsburgh Pirates @ New York Mets
Perez is another guy who keeps popping up on my list of streamers and has taken advantage of the good matchups. He has thrown 19 innings in three starts and given up just four runs, striking out 15 with five walks.
Miami, Washington and Detroit were fairly easy matchups, but the Mets will be a little bit tougher. They are in the middle of the league in most offensive categories, not standing out but showing power, as you would expect from a team led by Pete Alonso.
While not a cupcake matchup, the Mets are also a team owners shouldn’t fear, especially with someone throwing the ball as well as Perez. He will have a poor start eventually, but this one looks to be in his favor.
Perez is a mid-level streamer; he shouldn’t tank, but he also may struggle to find the same level of success against a stronger opponent. He’s worth a spot in your lineup.
#waivers #2024-fantasy-baseball
