Five top hurlers to stream for this week include Los Angeles Dodgers' Dustin May among top choices, however, this article will focus on the pitchers mentioned in the source material.
Among the five two-start pitcher options who should be added and streamed in standard Yahoo formats, Keider Montero stands out for his excellent ERA estimators (3.38 xERA, 3.57 FIP) despite a .231 BABIP.
Montero will face two offenses that are middle of the pack against righties, although it's worth noting that the Athletics are dangerous at their hitter-friendly home park. This could be a challenge for Montero, but his control skills and ability to limit hard contact make him a useful option.
Zac Thornton, another two-start pitcher, has allowed just one run over 19 innings in three summer starts, albeit with a brief return to the minors between the initial two outings. His recent success makes him worth the risk in most formats.
Thornton's matchups this week are against the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins, both teams that are currently occupying a postseason berth. This could be a test of his abilities, but his recent performance suggests he's up to the task.
Walbert Ureña's 2.78 ERA is a favorable mark, as his ERA estimators are mostly a full run higher. He has allowed one or zero runs in four of his past five starts, which will get him into most lineups for a two-start week that begins with a challenging matchup against the Astros.
Ureña's ability to induce grounders has made up for poor control (4.8 BB/9 rate). He has a chance to succeed against a strikeout-prone Angels lineup and a Rangers offense that ranks 22nd in runs scored.
Tatsuyi Imai, an Astros pitcher, showed some encouraging signs in late June when he struck out 21 batters over a two-start stretch. He could have a productive week against a strikeout-prone Angels lineup and a Rangers offense that ranks 22nd in runs scored.
Imai's recent performance has been a positive, but he will need to continue to pitch well against two tough opponents. His ability to limit hard contact and induce grounders could be key to his success.
Brady Singer, a Reds pitcher, has rebounded from a poor start to the season by logging a 2.98 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 46:13 K:BB ratio over his past eight starts. He has a strong ability to throw 6+ innings, which is essential for fantasy success.
Singer will need to take advantage of his matchup with a Guardians lineup that ranks 29th in runs scored, as he finishes with a Pirates offense that is the second-highest scoring group in baseball. His recent performance suggests he's capable of doing so.
Mitch Keller, a Pirates pitcher, is the definition of an innings eater, having produced poor ratios (4.90 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) despite finishing the sixth inning in half of his 20 starts. He has favorable matchups this week, as the Diamondbacks (30th) and Reds (27th) are two of the least effective teams against righties.
Keller's recent performance has been a concern, as he has allowed at least three runs in all but seven of his past nine starts. His ability to succeed against two weak opponents will be crucial to his fantasy value.
Kumar Rocker, a Rangers pitcher, rebounded by striking out six White Sox over six shutout innings on July 21. However, his matchups against two teams that have been above average against righties make him a weak option during a scoring period with so many quality alternatives.
Rocker's mediocre performance across the board in his first full season as a big league starter has limited his fantasy value. His ability to succeed against two tough opponents will be essential to his success.
Tyler Mahle, a Giants pitcher, has pitched better than is indicated by his 5.31 ERA, but his 77:33 K:BB ratio is an average mark. His start against the 66-39 Brewers is enough reason to leave him on waivers in standard leagues.
Mahle's poor control and average strikeout skills have limited his fantasy value. His ability to succeed against two tough opponents will be crucial to his success.
Brandon Sproat, a Brewers pitcher, has been more effective across his past five starts, but his success has coincided with abbreviated outings. He will remain a poor option in 12-team leagues until he lowers his walk rate, which will allow him to work deeper into games.
Sproat's ability to succeed against two favorable opponents will be crucial to his fantasy value. His recent performance suggests he's capable of doing so.
Martín Pérez, a Braves pitcher, has been effective over 19 appearances (15 starts) with the Braves, logging a 3.38 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. However, he rarely works past the fifth inning and hasn't even made it through five frames in three of his past four starts.
Pérez's ability to succeed against two tough opponents will be essential to his fantasy value. His recent performance suggests he's capable of doing so.
In conclusion, the five top hurlers to stream for this week include Keider Montero, Zac Thornton, Walbert Ureña, Tatsuyi Imai, and Brady Singer. Their recent performances and matchups make them attractive options for fantasy managers.
Source: Yahoo Sports
