A Decisive Weekend for Fantasy Baseball Championship

As we approach the concluding weekend of the regular season, it’s time for the final exertion to secure those enviable fantasy baseball crowns. Let’s ensure each decision counts. Saturday presents a list of potential streamers, with Shane Baz leading the pack, facing off against the Boston Red Sox during an away game.

Shane Baz: A Promising Choice for Fantasy Baseball

Baz, in his last seven starts, boasts an impressive 2.25 ERA and 0.84 WHIP, with four games against playoff teams. Remarkably, he has restricted opponents to two or fewer earned runs in six consecutive starts, failing to reach the sixth inning only once. The upcoming face-off with the Red Sox presents a favorable situation for Baz. Boston’s offense has struggled recently, ranking 27th in MLB with a 79 wRC+ and a 26.6% strikeout rate. Baz’s prior encounter with the Red Sox this month resulted in a clean seven innings, with two-run ball, six Ks, and just two hits allowed. The right-hander from the Rays is available in 71% of ESPN leagues and is one of the day’s top streamers.

Other Saturday Fantasy Baseball Essentials

Andre Pallante, rostered in 6% of fantasy baseball leagues, has been a consistent performer in the St. Louis Cardinals’ rotation over the last two months. He has recorded a 2.74 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across his past eight starts, including his two most effective performances of the year. Pallante shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates with nine Ks across seven innings, followed by a one-run, seven-inning effort against the Cleveland Guardians. His upcoming match against the San Francisco Giants, who have an 87 wRC+ and a 28.6% strikeout rate, puts him in the streaming spotlight.

Kutter Crawford (59%) is also worth considering as he gears up to face the Tampa Bay Rays. Post the All-Star break, Tampa’s offense has been lackluster, ranking 24th in baseball with an 89 wRC+. Their 26.1% strikeout rate is the worst in the American League. Considering Crawford’s past encounters with six top-10 offenses in his last seven starts, Saturday’s game could be a relief. Despite challenging competition, he has allowed more than three earned runs only once in his past seven games.

Andrew Heaney: A Potential Game-Changer

Andrew Heaney (19%) comes with some volatility but still holds appeal as a streaming option. The Los Angeles Angels have shown vulnerability against left-handed pitchers this season, ranking 21st in MLB with a 91 wRC+ against them. Heaney’s recent performances, boasting a 3.66 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 9.4 K/9 over his past nine starts, provide reasons to be hopeful. As the race to accumulate wins and Ks tightens, Heaney is a viable contender in the streamer debate.

When selecting pitchers to stream hitters against, we aim for those with potential to falter. The Angels’ Griffin Canning fits this description. He’s allowed six or more runs on four separate instances since the break, resulting in a 5.88 ERA in the second half. With the Rangers visiting, Wyatt Langford (48%), Josh Smith (25%), and Nathaniel Lowe (17%) are all prime streaming candidates. Langford, who is hitting .306/.385/.600 with six homers and five steals over his past 22 games, is the priority addition.

Rankings, Reports, and Projections

The remainder of this article will cover the ranking of starting pitchers for Saturday, reliever reports, hitting reports, and projections. It will also provide information on each team’s bullpen hierarchy, pitchers potentially facing fatigue, and who might likely snatch a save or pick up a surprise hold in their stead. It will also present a preview of the next 10 days for every team, projecting the matchup quality for hitters and base stealers. This information is crucial for planning ahead in fantasy baseball.