I think this is the worst title of my writing career.

It’s been an insanely busy month for me, so pardon my lack of creativity. However, although I generally find pop music to be distasteful, I do enjoy this song. Is it because Umphrey’s McGee did a mashup cover of it with ‘Rock With You’ and ‘Dreams? You bet your ass it is. Here’s a live version of it from 2015. Check out that attire! The entire Zonkey album is ridiculously good, by the way.

Oh, right, baseball.

It’s another weird week in the streaming world for fantasy baseball. Lots of good pitchers going to hitter’s parks, bad pitchers with great matchups, and plenty of oddities in between. I wish I had time to write about a hundred pitchers this week. Oh well, maybe next week! I’m thinking next week I am going to have to do a special start-sit-cut edition of the pitching planner to really help my homies in the playoff hunt.

Until then, it’s time to RANK ‘EM UP!

2018 Fantasy Baseball Week 19 Pitching Planner

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Auto-Start

The Auto-Start tier strictly includes pitchers that should be started every week regardless of league size and matchup.

Name Team Opp1 Opp2 Max Scherzer Nationals ATL Justin Verlander Astros SEA Clayton Kershaw Dodgers @OAK Jacob deGrom Mets CIN Luis Severino Yankees @CWS Corey Kluber Indians MIN Gerrit Cole Astros SEA

Promotions & Relegations

We got no movement in the top tier this week. PHEW!

Auto-Stream

This tier consists of pitchers who don’t quite reach the trust level of the Auto-Starts. However, due to matchup or recent performance, they are capable of having elite level production in a given week.

Name Team Opp1 Opp2 Noah Syndergaard Mets CIN @MIA James Paxton Mariners @HOU Aaron Nola Phillies @SD Charlie Morton Astros @SF SEA Carlos Carrasco Indians MIN @CWS Trevor Bauer Indians MIN @CWS Zack Greinke Diamondbacks PHI Robbie Ray Diamondbacks @CIN Madison Bumgarner Giants HOU Patrick Corbin Diamondbacks PHI Blake Snell Rays @TOR Jose Berrios Twins @CLE

Promotions & Relegations

We got no movement in this tier either other than welcoming back Blake Snell!

Dream Stream

The Dream Stream group more closely reflects the pitchers that you are contemplating starting or sitting. These are all worthy starters in a typical 12-team mixed league.

Name Team Opp1 Opp2 Lance McCullers Jr. Astros SEA Chris Archer Pirates @COL Walker Buehler Dodgers @COL Andrew Heaney Angels DET Dallas Keuchel Astros @SF Kenta Maeda Dodgers @COL Jon Gray Rockies LAD Rich Hill Dodgers @OAK @COL Masahiro Tanaka Yankees TEX Jose Quintana Cubs @KC Alex Wood Dodgers @COL Luke Weaver Cardinals @MIA @KC Jack Flaherty Cardinals @KC J.A. Happ Yankees @CWS Miles Mikolas Cardinals @MIA Jameson Taillon Pirates @COL @SF David Price Red Sox @BAL Cole Hamels Cubs @KC WSH Zack Wheeler Mets @MIA Tyler Glasnow Rays BAL Zack Godley Diamondbacks PHI @CIN Nick Pivetta Phillies @ARZ Shane Bieber Indians @CWS Mike Clevinger Indians MIN Tyler Skaggs Angels OAK Kevin Gausman Braves MIL Joe Musgrove Pirates @COL @SF Ivan Nova Pirates @SF Gio Gonzalez Nationals ATL Joey Lucchesi Padres PHI Wei-Yin Chen Marlins NYM Vince Velasquez Phillies @ARZ Luis Castillo Reds ARZ Jose Urena Marlins NYM Ervin Santana Twins @DET Rick Porcello Red Sox @TOR Zach Eflin Phillies @SD Jake Arrieta Phillies @ARZ @SD Trevor Richards Marlins STL Junior Guerra Brewers SD Marco Gonzales Mariners @TEX Nick Tropeano Angels DET OAK Kyle Hendricks Cubs WSH Freddy Peralta Brewers @ATL Nathan Eovaldi Red Sox @TOR Danny Duffy Royals STL Marcus Stroman Blue Jays BOS TB Carlos Rodon White Sox CLE Lance Lynn Yankees @CWS TEX Mike Foltynewicz Braves @WSH

Notables

This group has a Rocky Mountain High to it. So many damn starters having to head to Coors Field this week. I’m generally one to start my studs. However, if you are stacked with pitchers in a weekly league, I could see the argument to sit them out. That said, I’m certainly sitting Joe Musgrove for his first start if you are in a daily league.

for his first start if you are in a daily league. I expect J.A. Happ to return this week from hand, foot, and mouth disease. Seriously, is there like an outbreak of this in New York right now? Because I want no part of that. That sounds like a nightmare. Anyway, I would typically sit starters in their first game back, but it’s the White Sox. Soooooooo.

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Shane Bieber needs a bounce-back game here against the White Sox. He’s had a run of four or five mediocre-to-terrible games, but I have faith in him still. The strikeout-to-walk ratio is great and he’s keeping the ball in the park. A 0.373 BABIP can’t keep up and his ground-ball rate will continue to rise from its already fine 45%. Better days lie ahead.

needs a bounce-back game here against the White Sox. He’s had a run of four or five mediocre-to-terrible games, but I have faith in him still. The strikeout-to-walk ratio is great and he’s keeping the ball in the park. A 0.373 BABIP can’t keep up and his ground-ball rate will continue to rise from its already fine 45%. Better days lie ahead. Wei-Yen Chen, Ervin Santana, Trevor Richards, and Nick Tropeano are all low-owned guys that I want to target on the waiver wire this week. The streaming options are thin around this time of year, so act accordingly! (For the record, I wouldn’t start Tropeano if you are locked into also starting him against the A’s. No thanks to that!)

Buyer Beware

These pitchers are better left on your bench for the week if not the waiver wire. Guys closer to the top could be on the brink of being promoted in the right matchup or with a continued hot streak. If a player is not listed in any tiers, that should be the cue to drop the said player.

Name Team Opp1 Opp2 Tanner Roark Nationals @CHC Jon Lester Cubs WSH Andrew Suarez Giants PIT Tyler Anderson Rockies LAD Sean Manaea Athletics LAD @LAA Mike Minor Rangers @NYY Trevor Cahill Athletics @LAA Kyle Gibson Twins @CLE @DET Chase Anderson Brewers SD @ATL Jhoulys Chacin Brewers SD German Marquez Rockies PIT Jake Faria Rays @TOR John Gant Cardinals @MIA Anibal Sanchez Braves @WSH Mike Montgomery Cubs @KC Clayton Richard Padres @MIL PHI Drew Pomeranz Red Sox @TOR @BAL Pablo Lopez Marlins STL Mike Leake Mariners @HOU Wade Miley Brewers @ATL Felix Hernandez Mariners @TEX @HOU CC Sabathia Yankees @CWS Wade LeBlanc Mariners @TEX @HOU Sean Newcomb Braves @WSH MIL Trevor Williams Pirates @SF Felix Pena Angels OAK Dylan Bundy Orioles BOS Sal Romano Reds @NYM Austin Gomber Cardinals @KC Jalen Beeks Rays BAL Jakob Junis Royals CHC STL Julio Teheran Braves MIL Jake Odorizzi Twins @CLE Clay Buchholz Diamondbacks @CIN Tyson Ross Padres @MIL Derek Holland Giants PIT Matt Boyd Tigers @LAA MIN Jordan Zimmermann Tigers MIN Anthony DeSclafani Reds ARZ Jeremy Hellickson Nationals @CHC Antonio Senzatela Rockies PIT LAD Max Fried Braves @WSH Dan Straily Marlins STL NYM Chris Stratton Giants PIT Dereck Rodriguez Giants HOU PIT Matt Harvey Reds ARZ Alex Cobb Orioles @TB BOS Marco Estrada Blue Jays TB Adalberto Mejia Twins @CLE @DET Mike Fiers Tigers @LAA Kyle Freeland Rockies PIT LAD Ryan Borucki Blue Jays BOS Sam Gaviglio Blue Jays TB

Notables

The Nationals have been EN FUEGO offensively over the past week or so. Therefore, they are bumping down a few pitchers that are usually in the streaming section. See Jon Lester , Sean Newcomb , and Anibal Sanchez .

, , and . If I’m predicting a player in this section to make out like a champion in Week 19, I would go with Chase Anderson. He’s been pitching good enough for the past month or so and the matchups aren’t bad. The Padres are definitely worth the stream. I don’t think the Braves start kills you either.

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If you’re feeling lucky, roll out John Gant against the Marlins. His last two starts were awful against the Pirates and Cubs, but he’s facing a much different lineup here. Outside of Brian Anderson and J.T. Realmuto, it’s just an ugly bunch of hitters. There’s a saying within my friend group that is repeated often when someone is on the fence about something – “do it if you’re bad”.

against the Marlins. His last two starts were awful against the Pirates and Cubs, but he’s facing a much different lineup here. Outside of Brian Anderson and J.T. Realmuto, it’s just an ugly bunch of hitters. There’s a saying within my friend group that is repeated often when someone is on the fence about something – “do it if you’re bad”. I hope the Rays ramp up their newly acquired pitchers to become starters rather than just ‘openers’. You see Tyler Glasnow in the streaming section and I’m not kidding about that one. In this tier, we have an interesting starter in Jalen Beeks. I’m very interested to see which side prevails – his stellar numbers at Triple-A or everyone calling him mediocre at best.

Arms Amending

This is usually where I put the players that are on the disabled list or making rehab appearances. Not only is it important to know where they are in their recovery, but knowing who will be replacing them is key as well.

Name Team Injury Stage Return Stephen Strasburg Nationals Pinched nerve in neck Mid August Ross Stripling Dodgers Toe inflammation Mid August Yu Darvish Cubs Triceps inflammation Bullpen work Mid August Chris Sale Red Sox Shoulder inflammation Late August Eduardo Rodriguez Red Sox Right ankle sprain Flat Ground Late August Carlos Martinez Cardinals Shoulder strain Late August Michael Wacha Cardinals Oblique strain Flat Ground Late August Johnny Cueto Giants Tommy John surgery 2019

Notables

Ross Stripling was placed on the DL because the Dodgers want to give each of their starters a break instead of run a six-man rotation and keep the extra roster spot for relief help. Oh, sorry, what I meant to say was he has a hurt toe. He will be back when eligible, then we will figure out which Dodger starter has a hurt toe next.

was placed on the DL because the Dodgers want to give each of their starters a break instead of run a six-man rotation and keep the extra roster spot for relief help. Oh, sorry, what I meant to say was he has a hurt toe. He will be back when eligible, then we will figure out which Dodger starter has a hurt toe next. Shoulder inflammation didn’t initially sound swell for Chris Sale . However, there are reports that he could return this week against the Blue Jays on Wednesday. Plan accordingly! I suppose the Red Sox were just giving him a little rest, but they could’ve used something a little lighter like, you know, ‘toe inflammation’.

. However, there are reports that he could return this week against the Blue Jays on Wednesday. Plan accordingly! I suppose the Red Sox were just giving him a little rest, but they could’ve used something a little lighter like, you know, ‘toe inflammation’. Sadly, we have another casualty in the pitching landscape. Johnny Cueto undergoes the dreaded Tommy John surgery. With it being so late in the year, this puts his 2019 season in jeopardy. As a 32-year-old who had already been showing signs of decline, this could be the beginning of the end for once an elite starter in the fantasy baseball world.

Check out the rest of our great 2018 Fantasy Baseball content.