The Righties – Focused Streaming for a Championship Run

Whats up, buddies.

With the commerce deadline behind us and rosters principally settled, it’s time to take one last crack at figuring out the groups try to be going out of your solution to stream in opposition to, and who needs to be prevented each time potential.

With waiver-wires lengthy since picked clear, discovering precious streamers is your quickest solution to large adjustments in your standings as we enter the championship run. However because the white-haired lothario, Kenny Rogers, as soon as opined, it’s additionally about figuring out when to fold ’em. Because the season dwindles, so too should your spectrum of usable starters, a minimum of in comparison with what it was early within the season, given how rather more data you’re working with. Clearly, that begins with figuring out rather more about workforce offenses now than we did in Could, however simply as large of a call driver needs to be your individual particular person league circumstances.

We’re now not within the willy-nilly instances of spring and early summer time; in case you’re looking for a championship in the midst of August, you’ll be able to’t simply throw out each cheap begin you might have obtainable. The nearer we get to the top, the extra explicit you may should be, honing in on the classes you want to push, or presumably sacrificing any you’ll be able to afford to. Which may imply opening up your spectrum of usability for a workforce that’s sneakily been within the dumps in opposition to a sure hand (just like the Dodgers vs LHPs), or tightening it virtually all the best way as much as keep away from a power-surger (Toronto vs RHPs).

We’ll deal with what to do with right-handers first, beginning by splitting the season into two (unavoidably) arbitrary samples, utilizing April via June, and post-July as our borders. We’ll additionally use runs scored as a leaping off level, however let’s first acknowledge the constraints of utilizing workforce runs scored versus a specific hand.  IE. It’s not as black and white because the numbers counsel, given inherited runners, pitcher switches, and many others.

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Regardless, right here’s how the offenses stand at the moment, in addition to how they scored in our two time intervals, sorted by whole runs for the season:

I imply, it tells us some issues (who’s surging, who’s falling off), however it doesn’t present us with a whole lot of data for streaming functions, given how otherwise some groups carry out in opposition to different-handed pitchers. With that in thoughts, it’s time to stretch issues out.

Right here is how groups have carried out general, in addition to in opposition to every hand of pitcher, in our two time intervals:

Ahh, now we acquire some illumination, together with, however not restricted to, observations akin to:

• Toronto is surging in opposition to everybody, however is murdering right-handers
• Arizona and Tampa Bay have fallen off general, however the bottoms have fallen out vs RHPs.
• Cleveland has been terrible vs RHPs all season, however has scored the second-most runs vs LHP because the begin of July.
• Detroit has gone from one in every of baseball’s finest groups vs LHPs to one of many worst.
• Pittsburgh stays horrible versus the world — then, now, eternally.

Okay, now that we’ve acquired the fowl’s eye view, let’s drill down additional to raised inform our streaming choices, beginning with how groups are dealing with the righties. However earlier than we discover some targets, let’s make certain we’re avoiding any landmines. And the way will we try this?

With completely official tiers, foolish.

Tier: To not Be Trifled With

Toronto Blue Jays

As talked about beforehand, the Blue Jays are simply straight Canadian killling fools. I’m not even kidding; listed here are the 19 right-handed starters they’ve confronted because the begin of July:

This isn’t a matter of trade-deadline enhance, as Toronto principally solely added Ty France, and it’s not just some guys carrying the load.

It’s the entire rattling workforce:

The Blue Jays are getting on base, hitting for energy, and infrequently placing out. This combo is to not be trifled with; I repeat, to not be trifled with.

Upcoming RHPs: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Cade Horton, Colin Rea, Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi

Chicago Cubs

Going by simply runs scored, the Cubs seem like they’ve gone from one in every of baseball’s finest offenses vs RHPs to one thing way more mediocre. However that’s the place simply whole runs can steer you down a wayward path.

They haven’t scored as many runs because the begin of July, however most of what’s below the hood seems to be actually just like how they carried out earlier than. Whereas their general energy metrics have dropped some (.450 SLG to .419 SLG, .191 ISO to .177 ISO), Chicago’s HR per PA fee of 0.36 is simply barely down from a 0.38 HR per PA. And whereas a .319 wOBA is down from a .337 wOBA, their anticipated numbers (.347 xwOBA to .339 xwOBA) say not a lot has modified.

This won’t be the identical stage of trifling-avoidance as we noticed with Toronto, however I wouldn’t get too frisky, notably if Wrigley’s climate occurs to rear its ugly head. The Cubs have been a top-five offense vs RHPs all season, hitting for energy, however nonetheless placing up elite non-whiffery (4th in Okay%, eighth in SwStr%)

This isn’t a recipe for potential trifling.

Upcoming RHPs: Andre Pallante, Sonny Grey, Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, Max Scherzer, Braxton Ashcraft, Mike Burrows

Houston Astros

The Astros have been in the midst of the pack all season by way of runs scored vs RHPs, however have seen modest enhancements because the begin of July. Notably within the energy division, rising from a .026 HR per PA to a .030 HR/PA, in addition to going from a .133 ISO and .389 SLG, to a .168 ISO and .435 SLG.

It’s the additions that can make them extra harmful, although.

A kind of was Carlos Correa; nonetheless, he’s extra of a lift for going through LHPs. However there’s additionally the latest “addition” of a returning Jeremy Pena, who’s slashing .322/.376/.490 vs RHPs in 2025, with a 141 wRC+ and .374 wOBA.

Nonetheless, they each pale in comparison with the actual trade-deadline steal…

The Jesus.

Latest Astro, Jesus Sanchez, is perhaps one in every of baseball’s worst hitters in opposition to left-handed pitchers. Don’t imagine me? Wager:

Profession vs LHP: 362 PA – .177/.225/.283, .224 wOBA, 36 wRC+, 33% Okay%

Advised ya.

And make no mistake, he hasn’t improved any in 2025, at the moment sporting a .178 wOBA and 5(!) wRC+ over 59 PA. However my man Jesus can nonetheless smack these righties:

2025 vs RHP: 304 PA – .284/.345/.465, .349 wOBA, 123 wRC+, 19% Okay%

The Astros had been already a lot improved vs RHPs, simply acquired their finest hitter again, in addition to a righty-mashing specialist with a penchant for smashing dongs and sharpening balls.

Feels like an ideal mixture for a trifle-avoidance strategery.

Upcoming RHPs: Luis Gil, Dustin Could, Walker Buehler, Brandon Younger, Dean Kremer

Tier: To Be Trifled With

Pittsburgh Pirates

We would as effectively begin with ol’ devoted(much less). The Pirates have been one in every of baseball’s worst groups vs RHPs actually all season, and there’s no cause to suppose something is about to vary.

Choose a class, any class, and also you’ll most likely discover the Pirates in final vs RHPs. Pittsburgh is twenty ninth in wOBA for the yr (twenty seventh to thirtieth), twenty sixth in xwOBA (twenty second to thirtieth), thirtieth in SLG (twenty ninth to thirtieth), and thirtieth in ISO (thirtieth to…thirtieth). However, hey! At the very least they’re solely twenty fourth in Okay%!

You need extra particulars? Positive. Right here’s how they’ve fared because the begin of July vs RHP:

Any time your streamer scouting technique begins with “you’ll be tremendous so long as you will get previous Tommy Pham*”, you’re most likely in nice form.

*Please, nobody inform Tommy Pham that I stated one thing probably unfavorable about him…Nicky’s not trying to get man-slapped.

Upcoming RHPs: Nick Martinez, Zack Littell, Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks had been already swooning earlier than their deadline sell-off, however with the delivery off of Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez, issues will solely get extra dire as their energy vacuum continues to open up.

Arizona hit 98 HR vs RHP via June, tying the Angels for the league lead. Nonetheless, because the begin of July, somebody has hit the oppo-switch — the Diamondbacks have hit simply 22 HR vs RHP, with a .032 HR per PA (down from .041 HR/PA).

Transferring away from simply residence runs, their different energy charges present the identical drops in SLG (.463 SLG to .418 SLG) and xwOBA (.344 xwOBA to .310 xwOBA).

Whereas there may be loads of blame to go round, the most important holes are apparent:

Josh Naylor vs RHP: 266 PA – .310/.390/.493, .378 wOBA, 144 wRC+

Eugenio Suarez vs RHP: 325 PA – .271/.335/.582, .387 wOBA, 150 wRC+

This mathin’ ain’t too exhausting — when your finest two hitters vs RHPs (outdoors of Corbin Carroll) get traded and are changed with unreliable kids, you’re most likely not going to see a whole lot of enchancment.

I’m anticipating Arizona to proceed floundering and can hammer them with streamers till they show in any other case.

Upcoming RHPs: Bradley Blalock, Tanner Gordon, Nathan Eovaldi, Jack Leiter, Merrill Kelly, Bradley Blalock (@ COL), Tanner Gordon (@ COL), Anthony Molina (@ COL)

Cleveland Guardians

As famous earlier, Cleveland has been sneaky-decent vs LHPs because the begin of July, so that you may wish to be extra cautious when making an attempt to hit them with a substandard stream.

However not with righties! Appearing just like the Pittsburgh of Ohio, the Guardians had been terrible vs RHPs via June, and have remained terrible vs RHPs since July. Consistency, thy title is Cleveland*.

*To not be confused with Consistency, a dancer on the Airport Loopy Horse in Cleveland, the place a latest Google assessment gushed, “low cost drinks, nice value lap dances, ask for Serena.”

Unhealthy from head to tail, the Guardians at the moment sport a .300 OBP (.298 OBP to .305 OBP), .385 SLG (.385 SLG to .385 SLG), .301 wOBA (.300 wOBA to .303 wOBA), and a 7.9% Brl% (8.4% Brl% to six.6% Brl%).

That’s to not say their lineup is with out RHP-punishers; Jose Ramirez (.395 wOBA vs RHP since July 1) does nonetheless exist, in spite of everything. However there may be additionally Kyle Manzardo (.391 wOBA and 154 wRC+ vs RHP since July 1), and Steven Kwan, whereas not his former self, remains to be sporting a 104 wRC+ because the begin of July, whereas Bo Naylor (albeit in solely 60 PA) has a .352 wOBA and 127 wRC+.

However the place your streamer of alternative could make a whole lot of hay is with the underside half of a lineup that entails a whole lot of Gabriel Arias (.289 wOBA, 84 wRC+ vs RHP in 2025), Nolan Jones (.286 wOBA, 82 wRC+), and Brayan Rocchio (.275 wOBA, 74 wRC+). To not point out a bench full of men who’re solely suited (at finest) to be short-side platooners, like Austin Hedges, David Fry, and Angel Martinez.

And to not get too grasping, however we’d additionally ultimately see the return of Jhonkensy Noel, and that’s solely a great factor on the subject of streaming righties. Over his quick profession (54 PA), Noel is slashing .154/.185/.288, with a .206 wOBA and 27 wRC+.

So long as you don’t go in anticipating a whole lot of strikeouts – Cleveland annoyingly stays one of many tougher lineups to pile up Ks in opposition to – the Guardians ought to stay a tremendous streaming goal for the remainder of the season.

Upcoming RHPs: Sean Burke, Davis Martin, Janson Junk, Eury Perez, Edward Cabrera, Erick Fedde, Spencer Strider