5ive Guys to Stream: Week 13 (Jun 27 - Jul 3)

Daniel Mengden @ SF, vs PIT (10% owned ESPN)

Mon, June 27^th & Sat, July 2^nd

He turned in a great performance last week when we recommended him, save an opposite jack via the bat of Scooter Gennett. He looked great. The wind-up truly throws hitters balance off hence the nine K's he raked up in six innings. His stuff is legit and he brings a little entertainment to the mound when he pitches every five days. Thanks to the calendar schedule we get to be entertained twice this week.

Daniel gets two pitcher-friendly parks against two pretty good high-contact teams that haven't seen him. It is a bit sketchy expecting a quality start against a team that is red hot right now in the Giants, but I think he does well enough there to suffice for a great start at home versus the struggling Pirates on Saturday. Give Mengden a rip this week if you need more innings pitched. I'm thinking his final line after these two starts is something like this: 12 IP, 12 K, 5 BB, 6 ER, 1 QS, 1 W. That's viable.

Collin McHugh @ LAA, vs CWS (32% owned EPSN)

Mon, June 27^th & Sat, July 2^nd

McHugh's first 6 starts: 3-3, 27.1 IP, 20 ER, 23 K, 7 BB, xFIP 4.71

McHugh's last 9 starts: 2-2, 57 IP, 24 ER, 56 K, 14 BB, xFIP 3.65

He's obviously turning it around. He looks good and is striking out more batters while going deeper in games. The xFIP has dropped a single run over his last 9 games and he just tore up the Angels recently who he gets to see again. I like both of the matchups this week for McHUGE to have solid fantasy impact. Especially since he gets the White Sox at home rather than visiting U.S. Cellular Field.

Scott Kazmir @ PIT, vs COL (65% owned ESPN)

Mon, June 27^th & Sat, July 2^nd

He isn't owned in 35% of leagues and this recommendation probably isn't viable for most of you out there, but if it is, grab him and hold him. He looks like he's turned a corner.

Scotty gets the freezing cold Pirates in a great park for his type of batted ball mix. He's been sporting a 1.44 GB/FB rate in June and that reminds me of the old Kazmir that was dominant. Include that to the fact that the Pirates are 27^th/30^th over the past two weeks in wRC+ and sport a 27%:6% K:BB rate, I'd say he has a good chance to make the Pirates look silly this week.

The Colorado match up is never a good one, but at least its in LA instead of being a mile high from sea level. Scott Kazmir has looks good enough over his past six starts for me to warrant this play.

Scott's last six starts: 2-0, 32 IP, 12 ER, 39 K, 12 BB, xFIP 3.37

Note: Over those six starts he's faced very good offenses in the Giants, Cubs, and Nats; all while maintaining 11 K/9. He's been impressive.

Jake Peavy @ OAK (20% owned ESPN)

Wed, June 29^th

Yeah, I can't believe I'm recommending Peavy either, but hey... you gotta give it up to the veteran. He's battled some adversity this year (Giants fans wanted him long gone after he sported a ERA of 6.34 through his first 11 starts) and thanks to the always-impressive management of the Giants, he's looking more and more like a savvy vet we saw in late 2014 and most of 2015.

I like that he has been pitching better, but what warrants this stream even more is that he's been pitching on the road better and better as the season trudges along. OAK is no powerhouse and Jake gets a ballpark similar to his home park in terms of run production, or lack there of.

Yordano Ventura vs StL, @ PHI (45% owned ESPN)

Tues, June 28^th, Sun, July 3^rd

Yordano has been a baaaaad man...

Since plunking Manny and getting a forearm to the head... He's looked a lot better, ironically. That whole situation might have lit a fire under his ass (or maybe it was the fact that the Royals came out and said they are looking for trade partners for Ventura) and let's hope it did. Remember when he was one of the worst pitchers last season, dropped in many of fantasy leagues, sent down to AAA, and came back to totally light it up? That fire-hot Yordano might be just around the corner again. I think it's a good idea to speculate with me and pick him up in some leagues to see if he truly has turned it around.

2015 1^st half for Yordano: 7.22 K/9, 19% K%, 3.95 FIP

2015 2^nd half for Yordano: 9.69 K/9, 25% K%, 3.27 FIP

The talent is there. He just needs to harness it. Scoop him up before your league-mates do...