Thursday's Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Streamers: Logan Allen, Charlie Morton and More

Today is a very short day on the MLB schedule: We have only five games after having a full slate every day since last Friday when play resumed after the All-Star break. That usually leaves us hurting for streaming options, but we actually have some numbers considering the circumstances. The options aren't exciting, but there are a few guys to consider if you really need to fill a spot.

Let's look at five starting pitchers in action on Thursday who have good matchups and are widely available in fantasy leagues. Most stats are from MLB.com, as are the probable pitchers. The full streamer rankings are listed at the bottom.

Check out daily fantasy baseball projections at FantasySP all MLB season!

Logan Allen, Cleveland Guardians vs. Baltimore Orioles

Charlie Morton, Baltimore Orioles @ Cleveland Guardians

This series has gifted us two streamers each day of the week so far; it's sad to see it come to an end. The results weren't always great for our guys, but we're talking more about potential than actual results when looking for streamers. Anything can happen on any day. I want the season-long numbers in my favor, as they are with these two bottom-10 offenses.

Allen is a little worse than average with both walks and strikeouts, not a good profile for finding consistent success. He has been able to limit the damage, though, giving up less than one hit per inning and a home run only once every 8.7 innings, a good rate. His career numbers are the opposite with those hit and HR numbers, so maybe this is just luck, but we'll take the positives where we can get them.

Morton lost seven of his first 10 starts and didn't pick up his first win until his 14th outing of the season. Things have been better since that time, but Morton has still allowed 97 hits and 57 runs (55 earned, 5.58 ERA) in 88 2/3 innings while holding an inflated walk rate. His only positive is an average strikeout rate, something that has been a strength his entire career.

Allen and Morton are both low-to-mid-level streamers. The matchups are right, but both pitchers have their shortcomings, Allen with his Ks and BBs and Morton with getting hit too hard.

Jason Alexander, Houston Astros vs. Athletics

Who are you, Jason Alexander? I'm the opposite of every pitcher you've ever met. Alexander's famous name is much more of a crowd pleaser than his career results, which include worse-than-average marks in BB%, K%, ERA, WHIP, and more. Most of those numbers are far worse than the middle. If it weren't for the short schedule, Alexander wouldn't be listed here. Maybe he would have been better as a marine biologist?

The A's are an average (maybe a little better) offense over the full season, but they are playing half their games in a minor league park in Sacramento, a home field that is behind only Coors Field in Baseball Savant's park factors in favor of hitters. When looking at only games teams have played away from home, the Athletics drop to a below-average team, though they still hit for power. On a short day, the A's will have to do as a potential target.

Alexander is a low-level streamer. Don't trust him. It's not worth it. More than anything, I put him here today because it allowed me to make the George Costanza jokes. Serenity now!

Yu Darvish, San Diego Padres @ St. Louis Cardinals

Darvish's career numbers are those of an above-average pitcher, a guy who would be owned in every fantasy league. He has made only three starts, though, after beginning the year on the IL, and it hasn't gone well: 13 1/3 innings, 13 hits, nine runs, seven walks, and eight strikeouts. It should be expected that it will take time to work into shape, but that means Darvish is a tough guy to trust in fantasy.

St. Louis has started the second half ice cold, losing five of six games and scoring three or fewer runs in four of those games. Yesterday, they were shut out by the Rockies, Colorado's first shutout in over 200 games. Worst of all, that game was at Coors Field. The Cardinals are at least an average offensive team over the full season (probably a little better even), but they are vulnerable right now.

Darvish is a low-level streamer. He's still trying to work to an acceptable level, and the matchup is middling at best. This is a player to skip, though it's worth keeping an eye on his progression.

Logan Evans, Seattle Mariners @ Los Angeles Angels

Evans is in his first season, just 54 1/3 innings into his career. He has been OK with walks, but he holds a below-average strikeout rate, something that was also true in the minor leagues. That seriously limits his fantasy upside and is part of why he has struggled (60 hits, 28 runs, and nine home runs allowed). Evans might have a brighter future, but he's a below-average pitcher right now without much reason to hope for big things.

The Angels have bounced on and off our target list this season, most recently not among the worst teams. The best thing they offer is a great K-to-BB ratio: LA batters are just three walks above the bottom five and have struck out the second most. They hit for a ton of power, but the Angels are vulnerable in other areas.

Evans is another low-level streamer. His own work hasn't been good enough to count on in fantasy, and the matchup is only middling, not truly good.

Thursday's Streamer Rankings

1. Charlie Morton, BAL
2. Logan Allen, CLE
3. Logan Evans, SEA
4. Yu Darvish, SD
5. Jason Alexander, HOU