Fantasy Baseball: Osvaldo Bido, David Festa among top two-start pickups for Week 23
As was mentioned in last week’s edition, fantasy baseball managers who are focused on getting two starts at this time of year should attempt to add pitchers who are scheduled to make their second outing on Saturday. Unfortunately, Valente Bellozo is the only man on this week’s list who fits that description. On the hitting side, the Guardians and Tigers are the best sources of help over the next four days.
Two-Start Pitchers (listed in order of preference)
Osvaldo Bido, 38% (@HOU, @CWS)
Facing the White Sox is fantasy baseball gold these days. Not only is Chicago the worst team and worst offense in baseball, but the gap from them to the next club is massive. Bido sits atop this week’s list by virtue of having a start against Chicago and for having produced a solid 3.41 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 63.1 innings. His start against the division-leading Astros is much more difficult, although it’s worth noting that Houston sits 17th in runs scored during the second half. One additional note: Bido’s start against Chicago is slated for Sunday, which means that any schedule change could wipe it out.
David Festa, 27% (vs. LAA, vs. CIN)
After some initial struggles, Festa has shown improved consistency by logging a 3.27 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP and a 43:10 K:BB ratio across his past seven starts. The rookie has plenty of potential to post helpful ratios and earn a win this week when he makes two home starts against teams with losing records. The matchup against the Angels (27th in runs scored) is especially favorable.
MacKenzie Gore, 39% (vs. ATL, vs. MIA)
Gore's 1.50 WHIP has made him a player to avoid in fantasy baseball leagues this year. However, he has made progress of late, allowing just four runs while logging a 19:2 K:BB ratio across his past three starts. This week, Gore is set to face two offenses that have been in the middle of the pack in most measurables during the second half, although Miami ranks 29th in runs scored this season. Like Bido, he would be more appealing if managers didn’t have to wait until Sunday for his favorable matchup.
Rhett Lowder, 12% (@STL, @MIN)
The seventh overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, Lowder has produced a mixed bag of results in his initial two MLB starts. The right-hander has limited scoring (0.87 ERA) while allowing nary a homer, but he has also logged an unimpressive 9:8 K:BB ratio is 10.1 innings. His matchups this week are mediocre, as both the Cards and Twins have been average offenses in the second half. Overall, Lowder checks enough boxes to be used in head-to-head leagues and deep roto formats.
Aaron Civale, 40% (@SF, @ARI)
On the surface, it seems that the Brewers have helped Civale to get on track. After all, the right-hander has posted a 3.88 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP with his new team after logging a 5.07 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in 17 starts with the Rays. But there is little data to suggest a change in Civale’s skill set, as his rates of strikeouts, walks and homers are mostly the same between the two teams. Civale’s start at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park is a favorable one for someone who struggles with homers, but his outing against the highest-scoring offense in baseball (Arizona) will keep him on waivers in roto leagues.
Valente Bellozo, 8% (@PIT, @WSH)
Through nine starts with the Marlins, Bellozo has logged respectable ratios (3.78 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) despite struggling to strike batters out (6.2 K/9 rate). He allowed three homers in two of his past three starts and struck out just six batters across those outings, which is enough reason for managers to be wary of using him outside of points leagues. A pair of starts against teams with below-average offenses is the only reason to give Bellozo any attention.
Keider Montero, 5% (vs. COL, vs. BAL)
Montero isn’t a good major league pitcher; he has produced a 5.47 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP across 74 rookie-year innings, and in his past two starts, he has allowed eight runs over 9.1 frames. He opens the week with an attractive home matchup against a Rockies team that is 28th in runs scored on the road, but his Sunday start against the Orioles (fourth in total runs scored) is an intimidating one. Fantasy baseball managers can use him for the first outing and hope the second one gets pushed back (or drop him in daily managed leagues).
One-Start Streamers
In order, here are the best streamers for the week, with their start date and Yahoo roster rate in brackets.
Matthew Boyd @CWS (Wednesday, 37)
J.T. Ginn @CWS (Saturday, 9)
Andrew Heaney @SEA (Sunday, 39)
DJ Herz vs. MIA (Thursday, 16)
Mitch Spence @CWS (Friday, 7)
Simeon Woods Richardson vs. CIN (Saturday, 20)
Casey Mize vs. COL (Wednesday, 6)
Patrick Corbin vs. MIA (Saturday, 20)
Edward Cabrera @WSH (Friday, 14)
Martín Pérez @SEA (Wednesday, 17)
Mitchell Parker vs. MIA (Friday, 20)
Joey Estes @HOU (Thursday, 13)
Frankie Montas @SF (Thursday, 24)
Davis Martin vs. CLE (Wednesday, 2)
Dean Kremer @BOS (Wednesday, 20)
Albert Suárez @BOS (Tuesday, 31)
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Favorable Monday-Thursday hitting matchups
Guardians @White Sox, vs. Rays
The Guardians should score often against a White Sox team that has the worst second-half ERA in the league, and they have the added bonus of having a fourth game on Thursday. There aren’t too many waiver wire options to consider from this team, but Daniel Schneemann (1%) and Kyle Manzardo (6%) are are options. Also, David Fry (37%) and Bo Naylor (18%) can be streamed in a catcher spot.
Tigers vs. Rockies
Detroit only plays three games over the next four days, but their matchup against baseball’s worst pitching staff is good enough to make them preferable to the teams who have four contests. The Tigers are also an appealing choice for this section by virtue of having several waiver wire hitters to offer, including Colt Keith (33%), Matt Vierling (26%), Spencer Torkelson (43%) and Parker Meadows (9%).
