Fantasy Baseball: Week 17 Starting Pitching Streamer Options and Closers Update

Week 17 of the Fantasy Baseball season begins Monday August 3, 2015. If you are in need of starting pitching or daily streamers I have some options for you to consider for Monday to Thursday. Due to changes made at the MLB trade deadline I'm also including a special bullpen report with this posting.

Week 17 Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report

Edward Mujica is now closing games for the Oakland Athletics. Over the past 14 days Mujica has posted a 8.10 ERA, 1.80 WHIP with 2 strikeouts, zero walks and 1 bomb in 3.3 innings pitched. He didn't record any saves nor did he blow any and recorded 2 holds. Mujica is widely available and if you need saves he may be an option for you this week.

Jonathon Papelbon was traded to the Washington Nationals and has become their closer replacing Drew Storen. Both are owned in over 80 percent of Major Fantasy Baseball leagues.

Aroydos Vizcaino is now closing games for the Atlanta Braves. Over the last 14 days Vizcaino has posted a 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP with 5 strikeouts, 2 walks and zero bombs in 6 innings pitched. Vizcaino has 2 holds and a win during that 14 day span and is currently available in over 80 percent of Major Fantasy Baseball Leagues.

Alex Wilson is currently closing games for the Detroit Tigers. Over the last 14 days Wilson has posted a perfect ERA, 0.56 WHIP with 6 strikeouts, 1 walk and zero bombs in 9 innings pitched. He also recorded 1 save and 1 hold and is available in over 90 percent of all Major Fantasy Baseball leagues.

A.J. Ramos is still closing games for the Miami Marlins. Over the past 14 days Ramos has posted a 3.60 ERA, 1.80 WHIP with 9 strikeouts, 4 walks and 1 bomb over 5 innings pitched. Ramos has also recorded 3 saves with 1 blown save and 1 loss. He is available in roughly 30 percent of all Major Fantasy Baseball leagues.

Ken Giles is now closing games for the Philadelphia Phillies. Over the past 14 days Giles has posted a 1.04 ERA, 1.73 WHIP with 10 strikeouts, 3 walks and zero bombs over 8.7 innings pitched. Giles also has 2 saves, a 2-0 record with 1 hold and one blown save. Giles is currently available in over 50 percent of all Major Fantasy Baseball leagues.

Carson Smith is currently closing games for the Seattle Mariners. Over the past 14 days Smith has posted a 7.71 ERA, 1.93 WHIP with 6 strikeouts, 6 walks and zero bombs in 4.7 innings pitched. Giles has also recorded 3 saves and 2 losses and is available in just over 60 percent of all Major Fantasy Baseball leagues.

Week 17 Waiver Wire Starting Pitching Options

Each of the options below are the probable starting pitchers listed at the time of this publication. Please be sure to check your lineups daily for any changes to the schedule.

Monday

Tom Koehler and the Miami Marlins host the New York Mets in a Monday night contest. Koehler is 1-3 over his last 4 starts posting a 2.86 ERA with 16 strikeouts, 9 walks and 2 bombs over 25 innings pitched. Excellent 1.03 WHIP and .203 BABIP and about average 4.04 FIP and 4.24 xFIP. He'll face a Mets team slashing .241/.305/.367/.702 against righties with a 21 percent strikeout rate, .115 ISO, .275 BABIP, .287 wOBA and wRC+ of 82. Koehler should be a good option on Monday night at home.

Jesse Chavez and the Oakland Athletics have a Monday night home game with the Baltimore Orioles. Over the past 4 starts Chavez is 1-2 with a 5.21 ERA on 18 strikeouts, 8 walks and 2 bombs over 19 innings pitched. Extremely high 1.63 WHIP and .333 BABIP. Average 3.97 FIP and 4.38 xFIP. Baltimore slashes a .251/.310/.425/.735 line against righties with a 19 percent strikeout rate, .131 ISO, .313 BABIP, wOBA of .316 and wRC+ of 96. It's a big ballpark and I like the strikeout possibilities on Monday night.

Tuesday

Jimmy Nelson and the Milwaukee Brewers play host to the San Diego Padres in a Tuesday night game. Over his past 4 starts Nelson is 2-1 with a 0.99 ERA with 27 strikeouts, 11 walks and zero bombs over 27.1 innings pitched. Good 1.06 WHIP and .254 BABIP. Great 2.53 FIP and 3.40 xFIP. The Padres slash a .239/.292/.377/.669 line against righties with a 22 percent strikeout rate, .125 ISO, .267 BABIP, wOBA of .275 and wRC+ of 74. I've liked Nelson for most of this season and I like him a lot against the hapless Padres on Tuesday.

Jon Niese and the New York Mets are in Miami for a Tuesday night game with the Marlins. Over the past 4 starts Niese has a 1-1 record with a 3.86 ERA with 13 strikeouts, 3 walks and 3 bombs in 23.1 innings pitched. Average 1.16 WHIP and decent .280 BABIP. Average 4.28 FIP and much better 4.06 xFIP. The Marlins slash a .281/.330/.432/.762 line against lefties with a 18 percent strikeout rate, .136 ISO, .324 BABIP, wOBA of .327 and wRC+ of 109. Niese has been a solid 5^th starter this season and should have a good outing Tuesday night.

Wednesday

Brett Anderson and the Los Angeles Dodgers have a Wednesday night game in Philadelphia against the Phillies. Over his past 4 starts Anderson is 0-2 with a 4.57 ERA on 12 strikeouts, 5 walks and 3 bombs in 21.2 innings pitched. WHIP on the high side at 1.33 and much better .288 BABIP. Below average 4.46 FIP and much better xFIP of 3.77. The Phillies slash a .264/.323/.387/.710 line against lefties with a 22 percent strikeout rate, .163 ISO, .325 BABIP, wOBA of .335 and wRC+ of 110. This will take some guts but Anderson could score straight across the board on Wednesday.

Carlos Rodon and the Chicago White Sox play host to the Tampa Bay Rays in a Wednesday afternoon contest. Rodon is 1-2 over his last 4 starts with a 6.86 ERA with 25 strikeouts, 13 walks and 2 bombs over 19.2 innings pitched. Horrible 1.78 WHIP and .408 BABIP but average 4.30 FIP and even better 3.91 xFIP. The Rays slash a .253/.323/.420/.723 line against lefties with a 20 percent strikeout rate, .123 ISO, .294 BABIP, wOBA of .305 and wRC+ of 96. Rodon is 3-1 in day games and I look for a pile of strikeouts and maybe a win on Wednesday against the Rays.

Wei-Yin Chen and the Baltimore Orioles are in Oakland to play the Athletics in a Wednesday afternoon contest. Chen is 1-2 over his last 4 starts with a 5.09 ERA on 19 strikeouts, 1 walk and 5 bombs over 23 innings pitched. Below average 1.52 WHIP and .377 BABIP with a below average 4.52 WHIP and much better 3.77 xFIP. He'll face an A's team that slashes a .242/.312/.367/.679 line against lefties with a 19 percent strikeout rate, .139 ISO, .283 BABIP, wOBA of .312 and wRC+ of 99. Home runs shouldn't be a problem for Chen on Wednesday.

Thursday

Matt Wisler and the Atlanta Braves host the Miami Marlins in a Thursday night contest. Wisler is 3-0 in  his last 4 starts with a 4.01 ERA on 18 strikeouts, 7 walks and 3 bombs in 24 innings pitched. Below average 1.42 WHIP and .321 BABIP with an average 4.06 FIP and a bit high 4.4.42 xFIP. The Marlins slash a .244/.297/.358/.654 line against righties with a 23 percent strikeout rate, .162 ISO, .317 BABIP, wOBA of .329 and 106 wRC+. This should be an ideal situation for Wisler to rack up some strikeouts on Thursday.

Joe Ross and the Washington Nationals play host to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a Thursday afternoon contest. Ross is 1-2 over his last 3 starts with a 2.75 ERA on 22 strikeouts, 2 walks and 1 bomb in 19.2 innings pitched. Impressive 0.86 WHIP and good .286 BABIP and great 2.12 FIP and solid 2.60 xFIP. Arizona slashes a .263/.324/.407/.730 line against righties with a 20 percent strikeout rate, .141 ISO, .292 BABIP, .302 wOBA and a wRC+ of 85. This could be a good matchup for strikeouts and good numbers straight across the board for Ross on Thursday.

Good luck this week Fantasy Baseball owner!