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Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. This article, which began last season, runs seven days a week. Even with only a week and a half of the season in the books, we are always ready to stream.
For those who are newcomers to this feature - use this column on a daily basis to improve upon your neediest categories, and target players who may be available on your waiver wire.
Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Friday, April 20. Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Ooh Shiny
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Ooh Shiny
Tyler O'Neill is the latest shiny call up from minor league land. My analysis is quite parsimonious. He's Domingo Santana with less plate discipline. You may recall, Santana is George Springer with less plate discipline. Thus, by the transitive property, O'Neill is Springer minus discipline.
On a more detailed level, O'Neill has serious power potential including easy 30 home run ability. He's athletic enough to steal 10 to 20 bases early in his career before slowing down (see Springer). He may whiff too much to ever do anything at the big league level. Even if he adjusts, growing pains could be significant. It took Santana years to finally stick in the majors. And he's off to a slow start after thriving last season. By comparison, Springer figured it out rather quickly.
In any event, O'Neill is worth stashing in most formats just in case you catch lightning.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
Aside from chilly conditions in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, and Detroit, there's nothing to worry about today. Expect slightly less power along with more walks and strikeouts at those venues.
3. Streamer Picks - Friday, April 20
Pitchers to Use
Here's the story with Sean Newcomb. He's supposedly tapped into a half or full grade improvement to his command. Previously, it was a 40 on the 20-80 scouting scale. Now it's in the 45 to 50 grade range. Translation, he's better-executing his already plus stuff. I say "supposedly" because the actual results include an ugly 4.60 BB/9. He's sandwiched a couple four walk outings around an absolute gem at Coors Field. You can bank strikeouts and there's borderline elite upside. Just be prepared for an ugly ERA and WHIP when it turns out nothing has changed. He probably won't win opposite Noah Syndergaard.
If you're chasing the victory, I'd try Andrew Heaney hosting Jeff Samardzija and the tepid Giants. Heaney coughed up four runs in his 2018 debut last week, but the overall results were encouraging. His stuff and command looked to be in midseason form. Heaney has been trying to prove a breakout since 2016, but injuries keep getting in the way. Let's see if this is the year he puts it all together.
Other Targets: Jason Hammel, Lance Lynn, Jhoulys Chacin, Tyson Ross
Pitchers to Exploit
I can't promise you that Ben Lively will crater tomorrow. He's one of those guys who's going to mix surprisingly effective outings with clunkers. I do know I want to target Citizen's Bank Park for home runs - it's the friendliest in the land. Ivan Nova could find himself in trouble too. He throws a few too many sinking fastballs in the strike zone.
The Diamondbacks are calling upon Matt Koch to patch their rotation. He's a control pitcher who probably won't carry over his low walk rate from the minors. If he does, then he's making way too many mistakes in the strike zone. Scouting reports are scant. They mention an unappealing sinking fastball and a plus cutter.
Other Targets: Daniel Norris, James Shields, Trevor Richards, Brandon Finnegan, Kendall Graveman
Homers on the Wire
O'Neill, Dexter Fowler, and Jedd Gyorko all seem like wise targets opposite Finnegan. The southpaw had a shaky 2018 debut last week, demonstrating broken command and inducing very few swinging strikes. I fully expect the Cardinals to feast.
Other Targets: Austin Jackson, Luis Valbuena, Stephen Piscotty, Jose Pirela, Franchy Cordero, Christian Villanueva, Freddy Galvis, Jesse Winker, Derek Dietrich, Miguel Rojas, Brian Anderson, Nick Williams, Adam Frazier, Yangervis Solarte, Curtis Granderson
Steals on the Wire
Derek Fisher isn't guaranteed to play, nor can I promise he'll reach base. However, if both conditions ring true, Shields is one of the most stolen base prone pitchers in the league. Fisher also has good power potential at Guaranteed Rate Park.
Robinson Chirinos isn't catching any would-be base thieves. Literally. The Mariners have a couple obvious runners who won't be found on your waiver wire. Instead, roll the dice with Taylor Motter. He usually starts against southpaws.
Other Targets: Jose Peraza, Jonathan Villar, Cameron Maybin, Mallex Smith, Isiah Kiner-Falefa
Skill Positions
Chirinos is making a ton of hard, pulled, fly ball contact. Only two have flown over the wall, but it feels like only a matter of time before he goes on a binge. Perhaps against King Felix?
