Arizona Diamondbacks Robbie Ray: May 21 Streaming Option

By Bill Pivetz | May 20, 2016

May 16, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray (38) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray has a decent matchup on May 21. If you don’t want to own him long-term, he is a good streaming option to pick up.

Streaming pitchers takes a bit of skill and a lot of luck. So far this season, luck has not been on my side when picking streamers. That’s why I’m trying a third time. If you need a boost in some of your pitching stats this week, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Robbie Ray faces the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday and is a matchup that could lean in Ray’s favor.

For the season, Ray is 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA, 1.63 WHIp and 47 strikeouts. He had a couple of rocky starts towards the end of April, but made a big improvement this month. He is 1-1 with a 3.71 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 20 strikeouts in 17 innings. His first two outings went a combined 10 innings. His last start went seven innings with two runs earned.

More from Fantasy Baseball

Robbie Ray holds a career high 9.99 K/9, and a career high 4.25 BB/9. He works himself into trouble at times, but his 75 percent LOB rate proves he’s working himself out of it. His ground ball rate is down two percent from last season, but his fly ball rate is also down about four percent.

His contact rate is down 5.4 percent and his swinging strike rate is up two percent. The increase in swings-and-misses obviously helps his strikeout numbers, but it proves that he has a good fastball and off-speed stuff.

The St. Louis Cardinals have been an above-average offense this month. They rank 10th in average, ninth in OBP, 12th in home runs and fifth in runs scored. Matt Carpenter is crushing the ball, nine home runs and 32 RBI. Shortstop Aledmys Diaz and Matt Holliday both have six homers and 21 RBI.

While those numbers look too high to stream a pitcher against, but Ray pitches well enough to get a quality start.

Robbie Ray has not allowed more than three runs and struck out 20 in his last three outings. He just needs to limit his walks to lower his ERA and WHIP, but that comes with him settling down and nailing his mark.

Next: Padres Melvin Upton Jr. Waiver Wire Add

Robbie Ray is owned in just 6.6 percent of ESPN leagues. So, if you want to use him as an end-of-week streaming option, you shouldn’t have a problem picking him up. The matchup is one that some would avoid, but is a good enough one that it’s worth the risk. He will strikeout anywhere from six to nine batters and allow two runs, but the walk rate needs work.

Fingers crossed that this pick works out.

Home/Fantasy Baseball