The Mets have said that they are planning to call up Steven Matz from AAA Las Vegas sometime after July 1st. If there are any other pitching prospects worth keeping an eye on, Matz is the cream of the crop. He’s pitched a 9.07 K/9 and a 3.27 BB/9, leading to a 2.11 ERA and a 3.47 FIP, all while the Pacific Coast League is one of the biggest hitting environments in all of the minors. Some prospect guys around the league feel like he may have as much upside as Noah Syndergaard, and he’s a pitcher who showed up when FanGraphs writer Carson Cistulli was looking for the next Garrett Richards. Keep an eye on this situation, as he could be a boost to your team if you need a full-time starting pitcher for the rest of the season. Now, on to tomorrow’s streaming pitchers!
Streaming Pitchers: 6/20/2015
Jesse Hahn RHP OAK (vs. LAA)
HAHN! I’ve probably said this before, but Jesse Hahn is under-owned and under-appreciated in fantasy leagues. But that’s okay, because that means that you can keep using him to your advantage as one of your favorite streaming pitchers. His strikeouts have been low so far, at a 5.73 K/9, but his 2.10 BB/9 and his 52% ground ball rate make him an above average option, as his FIP (3.35) and xFIP (3.85) attest to. He’s got a really favorable matchup too, as he faces the Angels at spacious O.co Coliseum. They only bat an 86 wRC+ on the road and a 96 wRC+ against righties. This is a great matchup for a great pitcher.
Yovani Gallardo RHP TEX (@ CWS)
I’ve probably bitten off more than I can chew with recommending one road starter pitching in the Cell, but I feel pretty good about Gallardo’s chances. He’s been about as good as the Rangers hoped he would be when they traded for him, posting a 6.86 K/9, 2.72 BB/9, and a 54.5% ground ball rate. The ground ball rate is a welcome increase from last year’s 50.8%, and has helped keep his HR/9 down from 0.98 to 0.76. Personally, I think that this means that the gains that he’s made in his FIP (3.59 this year compared to 3.96 last year) are going to stick, and that he should continue to be an above average starter, even while pitching in Texas. This is why, even with him pitching in the Cell, I think he’s got a good matchup against the miserable White Sox, who are hitting a 75 wRC+ at home and an 85 wRC+ against righties. Don’t be afraid of the Cell if the matchup is good, and this one is very good.
