August 27 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Streamers: Andrew Heaney, Brant Hurter, Jeffrey Springs and Johnny Cueto

Most of the pitchers who end up on the streamer list top out with middling performances, the most successful guys throwing seven innings with 10 strikeouts. It’s exciting to see one of the guys I recommended having a huge day, though, like Toronto’s Bowden Francis did on Saturday.

Francis gave up no hits through eight innings, entering the final frame with over 100 pitches but a chance at history. The first batter he faced in ninth, outfielder Taylor Ward of the Angels, hit a solo home run, breaking up the no-hitter and ending Francis’ day.

Francis finished with 12 strikeouts and three walks, having a huge game by any standard, let alone as a streamer. No one below will probably reach that level of success, but one benefit of picking on weak offenses is that pitchers are set up for big days.

Let’s look at Tuesday'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.

Johnny Cueto, Los Angeles Angels @ Detroit Tigers

Here’s a fun one. Cueto has been trying to hold on for the last few years, taking minor league contracts with the hope of sticking with a team. He made 13 appearances for Miami last year (10 starts) and made his 2024 debut last Wednesday against the Royals, when he gave up three runs in 6.1 innings with two walks and a strikeout. That’s not great, but it’s also not so bad, is it?

The Tigers are a little easier matchup than their division-mates in Kansas City. While the Royals are in the top 10 (or close to it) in runs scored, hits, doubles and all four slash categories, Detroit is in or near the bottom 10 in each of those stats (plus home runs). They are also in the top 10 in most batter strikeouts, a nice little cherry on top.

Cueto is a low-level streamer. Detroit is below average but not a basement team, and Cueto’s lack of recent work leaves him with both a low floor and ceiling, as every outing will be a mystery.

Andrew Heaney, Texas Rangers @ Chicago White Sox

It’s hard to find guys you’d expect to make any real impact on a winning team when combing through the White Sox offensive roster. There are a few who could play bench roles and/or platoon, but Luis Robert Jr.might be the only guy who could really step into a playoff lineup without looking out of place. There are enough holes on this team that it will take multiple years to build something close to average.

Heaney has better-than-average strikeout and walk rates both this season and in his career. Essentially every number for Heaney is as good or better than in 2023, but due to Texas going from a World Series team to 10 games under .500, he has a 4-13 record (10-6 last year). It’s a perfect example of why we don’t look at a pitcher’s record as the true level of his success much anymore.

Heaney is a high-level streamer today. Despite the superficial failure, he has looked good when on the mound, and he couldn’t ask for a better matchup.

Brant Hurter, Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Angels

Hurter has appeared in four games this month working in long relief, each time seeing his outing last between three and six innings. He will get his first big-league start in this one, though he did work mostly as a starter in the minors this year. He did high-level strikeout work in his minor league career, and that has continued with the Tigers, as Hurter has struck out 17 guys in 17.2 innings with just one walk.

Over the past month, the Angels are in the bottom 10 in runs scored, hits, home runs and all four slash categories while ranking in the top 10 in most batter strikeouts. This is similar to their season-long numbers, as the team has had a dwindling performance for months now. LA is a team to target for the rest of the season.

Hurter is a mid-level streamer with upside. It’s tempting to predict big things given his early success, but it’s important to temper expectations for all young players.

Jeffrey Springs, Tampa Bay Rays @ Seattle Mariners

Seattle is a high-level fantasy opponent for starting pitchers. Their batters have struck out 10.2 times per game, about half a strikeout more than anyone else. It doesn’t stop there, either, as they are in the bottom 10 in most offensive categories, only succeeding with hitting home runs, which they have done at a league-average level.

Springs missed almost all of 2023 and the first four months of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery. He has made five starts and picked up where he left off, with both a strikeout and walk rate better than average. Over a recent two-start stretch against the Diamondbacks and Orioles, Springs threw 10 innings with two runs allowed and 15 strikeouts to just one walk.

Springs is a mid-level streamer with upside. He has topped out at five innings since his return, something unlikely to change much in 2024, but the short stints are good enough to provide fantasy value.

Tuesday’s Streamer Rankings

1. Andrew Heaney, TEX
2. Brant Hurter, DET
3. Jeffrey Springs, TB
4. Johnny Cueto, LAA