Fantasy Baseball: 5 Pitchers to Stream in Week 1

Dereck Rodriguez, San Fransisco Giants

Starts: March 30th at San Diego Padres, April 5th vs. Tampa Bay Rays
ESPN ownership: 19%

Considering the appetite for young, upside-rich starting pitching during draft season, it's a bit surprising that Dereck Rodriguez, one of 2018's rookie standouts, remains a bit of an afterthought. Perhaps the middling draft stock of the San Francisco Giants' righty is understandable given that his sharp 2.84 ERA across 118 1/3 frames last season is somewhat sullied by a 3.74 fielding independent pitching (FIP) mark and a pedestrian 18.3% strikeout rate.

Even if some negative regression looms for the sophomore hurler, he still calls San Francisco home. And while Oracle Park may be newly renamed, it's still as cavernous as ever, providing cushion for Rodriguez's above-average 37.5% fly-ball rate. So too should the spacious Petco Park, where Rodriguez begins the season as the Giants' number three starter before taking his first turn at home next week against the Rays.

Rodriguez seems likely to fall back to earth over the balance of the season, but he's set up for a hot start to 2019. Fantasy owners shouldn't be sleeping on him as an early plug-and-play.