July 11 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Streamers: Aaron Civale, Albert Suarez, David Peterson and More
A look at Thursday's probable starters who are widely available in fantasy leagues and have good matchups.
It’s 7/11: Go down to your local shop and grab a Slurpee and hot dog for lunch, and hey, why not double up and do it again for dinner! In the baseball world, we have four days until the All-Star break, a good chance for players and fans alike to clear their heads and have a little fun before the home stretch of the season.
After a light day for streamers yesterday, we have a more robust group today despite less games on the schedule. That’s the way it works in baseball: sometimes there are a lot of options, sometimes there aren’t so many, and sometimes it rains.
Let’s run through Thursday’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.
Aaron Civale, Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Civale showed up here often when he was pitching for the Rays, but his first action with the Brewers was a rude introduction: He got to face the Dodgers, against whom he allowed three home runs, though he did strike out eight in a no-decision. Civale’s strikeout rate is above average on the season and in his career, while his walk rate is lower than average both in 2024 and throughout his career.
The Pirates are a much softer landing spot than LA, as Pittsburgh hitters rank in the bottom 10 in essentially every major offensive stat while sitting fifth in most batter strikeouts. Outfielder Bryan Reynolds leads the team with 104 hits, 17 home runs and a .280 batting average, and shortstop Oneil Cruz has played his exciting style to 75/14/.247 in the same numbers, but no one else on the team has made a big and/or consistent impact.
Civale is a mid-level streamer with upside. His strikeout work jives well with the Pirates’ weakness, and the matchup is right to earn his first win in a Brewers uniform (though Paul Skenes will surely have something to say about that).
Spencer Howard, Cleveland Guardians @ Detroit Tigers
Howard has yet to make an appearance for Cleveland, recently coming from the Giants, who designated him for assignment. There’s not much to be excited about with his arrival; Howard’s career numbers include worse-than-average strikeout and walk rates and an ERA near 7.00. His best hope is that the pitcher’s haven of Cleveland helps him find average results, though I need to see it before believing it.
Detroit follows the script of most teams listed here in that they are in the bottom 10 in many offensive stats, but they are closer to 20th than 30th in most of those areas. They are still a good matchup, but they don’t offer the same reprieve as their division-mates on the south side of Chicago, for instance.
Howard is a low-level streamer. Until we see anything more, he must be treated as a replacement-level pitcher or worse and he’s more fit for the last spot in your lineup if you’re desperate for an arm.
Jack Kochanowicz, Los Angeles Angels vs. Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are on the other side from the Tigers: They reach the bottom of the league in many of those major stats, including bottom-three rankings in runs, hits, batting average, slugging percentage and OPS. Oh, and they’ve struck out 60 more times than any other team.
Kochanowicz is making his major league debut in this one. It’s surely exciting for him, but I don’t share the same enthusiasm. He hasn’t made an appearance above Double-A, and Kochanowicz owns a minor league ERA near 5.50 with well less than a strikeout per inning.
Kochanowicz can’t be more than a bottom-level streamer. There’s no reason to expect good results other than Seattle’s own ineptitude.
David Peterson, New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals
Peterson has faced the Nationals twice this season with mostly positive results: 13 combined innings with just four runs allowed, but also only four strikeouts and three walks. His season numbers match that low strikeout rate with a walk rate almost two percentage points higher than average; Peterson isn’t helping himself (though his career K% is much better).
Washington has a few pieces in place that could be the core of their next playoff team. I wrote yesterday that their best position player (CJ Abrams) and pitcher (MacKenzie Gore) both came from the Juan Soto trade along with James Wood, he of less than 50 at-bats but sky-high potential. The rest of 2024 is likely to be a struggle, though, as the rest of the roster is sub-par.
Peterson is a low- to mid-level streamer. His lack of strikeouts is concerning, but he has found decent results, and the matchup gives him the chance at another quality outing.
Albert Suarez, Baltimore Orioles vs. Chicago Cubs
This series is 2-0 between the last-place Cubs and first-place Orioles, but it’s opposite of what you might think, as Chicago took the first game 9-2 before shutting out Baltimore 4-0 yesterday. It might be tempting to steer clear today, but I’m trusting the season-long numbers in this one. Cubs’ hitters are seventh in most strikeouts while ranking in the bottom 10 in home runs, batting average, slugging percentage and OPS.
Suarez continues his successful return to the majors, holding an ERA under 3.00 in 11 starts and seven relief appearances. His strikeout rate is below average, especially when considering his time in the bullpen, but he has been right at the average with walks. Suarez’s last two starts have combined for 12 innings with just two runs allowed, eight strikeouts and one walk.
Suarez is a mid-level streamer here. The matchup could be better, but he has thrown the ball well and has a chance at a quality outing in this one.
Thursday’s Streamer Rankings
- Aaron Civale, MIL
- Albert Suarez, BAL
- David Peterson, NYM
- Spencer Howard, CLE
- Jack Kochanowicz, LAA
