RADIO
Welcome to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. Use this column to improve upon your neediest categories.
Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Wednesday, August 30.
Let's get to it.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and weekly lineup resources:- Fantasy baseball injury reports
- Fantasy baseball trade analyzer
- Daily MLB starting lineups for fantasy baseball
- Fantasy baseball BvP matchups data (Batter vs. Pitcher)
- Fantasy baseball PvB matchups data (Pitcher vs. Batter)
- Who should I start? Fantasy baseball player comparisons
- Fantasy baseball closer depth charts, bullpens, saves
- Fantasy Baseball live scoreboard, daily leaderboards
Agenda
- Williams Flashin' It
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Williams Flashin' It
With Rhys Hoskins finally unavailable, I enthusiastically recommended Phillies outfielder Nick Williams. Hitting in front of a stud can't hurt. Since my latest review on Sunday, he's gone 3-for-8 with a homer, double, and this catch. I know you don't get credit for flashy defense, but this is an important element to Williams' long term success. Defensive measures are currently unimpressed with his work. Williams is probably going to be a streaky hitter. He's going to need his glove to keep him in the lineup through the offensive droughts.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
The Phillies game is an endangered species with rain likely all day through midnight. Baltimore, Washington, and New York are all at serious risk too, although there's at least a chance for the rain to clear out. Cincinnati has a lesser risk for delay or postponement. There may be multiple doubleheaders tomorrow.
We should have a rain-free day tomorrow.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Wednesday, August 30
Pitchers to Use
My first scan through the names available tomorrow revealed only one I was interested in streaming - Jerad Eickhoff. In the interest of giving you options, I've added some other guys I'd much rather avoid. As for Eickhoff, he's seemingly back in top form after struggling through the first half of the season. Since returning from injury in early July, he has a 3.47 ERA with 9.49 K/9, 4.01 BB/9, and 1.09 HR/9. The latter figure is important since home runs were his bane earlier in the season. Eickhoff is still walking an unusual (for him) number of hitters. He'll face a mediocre Braves offense. The scariest bat, Freddie Freeman, recently complained of a sore wrist.
Remember, the "other targets" are desperation plays.
Other Targets: Parker Bridwell, Kendall Graveman, Ty Blach, Chad Bettis, CC Sabathia
Pitchers to Exploit
Josh Tomlin was pitching very well prior to landing on the disabled list with a strained hamstring. However, I expect some rust after missing most of a month. And a visit to Yankee Stadium is never a good thing for a homer prone fly ball pitcher.
Other Targets: Julio Teheran, Ariel Miranda, Ubaldo Jimenez, Rafael Montero, Homer Bailey, Derek Holland, Brandon Nimmo, Wilmer Flores, Dominic Smith,
Homers on the Wire
Derek Fisher has been forgotten at the bottom of the Astros lineup. The toolsy rookie is struggling with a high strikeout rate. I think he's being just a little too passive. He makes enough contact to shave off a quarter of his punch outs. Fisher offers an interesting mix of power, speed, and patience versus Cashner.
It's... Enrique Hernandez day? The preeminent lefty masher is opposite Robbie Ray. Hernandez has solved other elite southpaws like Madison Bumgarner, but that's no guarantee he can handle Ray. In 24 plate appearances, Hernandez has seven hits and four walks, including a double, triple, and three home runs. Go ahead and take a shot.
Other Targets: Jed Lowrie, Chad Pinder, Matt Chapman, Matt Joyce, Boog Powell, Luis Valbuena, Enrique Hernandez, Hunter Renfroe, Jose Pirela, Jorge Polanco, Kennys Vargas, Mitch Garver, Scott Schebler, Chris Young, Mitch Haniger, Yonder Alonso, Nick Williams
Steals on the Wire
Julio Teheran struggles versus left-handed hitters, and he's among the worst at holding base runners. If Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis are ever going to predictably steal a base, it's tonight. The switch-hitters are in the perfect situation to reach base and show off their wheels.
Other Targets: Jose Peraza, Wilmer Difo, Michael Taylor
Skill Positions
Austin Hedges will have the platoon advantage against Blach. Hedges actually has reverse splits, although the peripherals look as though he consist versus lefties and righties. He's a fly ball hitter facing a ground ball pitcher - typically a good matchup for power.
More Lineups Advice
Premium Tools & DFS Research
Get a free trial of our powerful MLB Premium Tools. Our famous DFS Optimizer & Lineup Generator, daily Matchup Ratings, expert DFS Lineups/Cheat Sheets, and more.
