The notable lack of "safe" streaming plays available on the waiver wire this week likely speaks to a larger trend in the MLB pitching pool. Indeed, if ownership trends are any indication, fantasy owners appear to be valuing, in this crucial final month, pitchers less likely to get rocked as much as they are targeting upside. Note, for instance, the steady ownership for ho-hum starters like Dan Straily and Jose Urena, both about as widely owned as high-upside-but decidedly-volatile Lucas Giolito.

Streamers in competitive leagues are thus left with a lot of widely available names in that Giolito class, with great potential for success but notable capacity for setbacks and blowups. Week 24 will be all about managing risk, and as tough to fully trust as these five pitchers might be, they all have a clear path to helping fantasy owners make critical headway in the standings.