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Elliott Baas analyzes hitter streamers and starts for Week 25. These bats are potential fantasy baseball waiver wire adds to stream for head-to-head leagues.
Welcome to the hitting streamers column for the week of 9/16 through 9/22. Whether you're looking to maximize the number of games played, exploit favorable matchups, or fill in for injured players, streaming hitters can be a fruitful strategy for those willing to put in a little work every week.
Keep in mind that this column highlights players owned in approximately 50% or fewer of Yahoo leagues who could present nice streaming options for the upcoming week. This applies to any league but specifically is geared toward head-to-head weekly leagues where matchups are more critical.
If the following names aren't available, don't hesitate to check our famous waiver wire pickups list to find some appealing alternatives. Let's get to it.
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Bats to Stream and Start in Week 25
Seven-Game Weeks: BAL, CHC, DET, KC, MIL, MIN, SD, STL
Stream of the Week
Wil Myers (3B/OF, SD): 63% Owned
Myers’s ownership level is slightly above the threshold I typically aim for in this article, but with so few MLB teams playing a full slate and many fantasy teams already eliminated, Myers is out there in enough leagues that it’s worth checking to see whether he’s available. Myers has feasted on September pitching for a .469 AVG and 1.204 OPS thus far, and has reclaimed an everyday role in San Diego. Myers was a top-100 player coming into the season, and even with his struggles there’s little reason to doubt the raw talent in this profile. The Padres will also benefit from four games in Milwaukee, a much more hitter-friendly park against questionable pitching. Myers is a great player to add for this week and to ride for the remainder of the season.
Behind the Plate
James McCann (C, CWS): 52% Owned
If you’re streamer catcher this week, good luck. There aren’t any viable options on full slate teams, so we’re looking at maybe four games from someone with a decent slate of matchups. McCann fits the bill, as the White Sox have three games in Minnesota and three in Detroit, with three total games against left-handed starters. McCann has a .858 OPS and .202 ISO against left-handed pitching this season. This is as good as it gets for streaming catchers.
Roberto Perez (CLE): 18% Owned
If McCann is owned in your league and you still need catching help, then Perez could be a solid alternative. Cleveland has six home games this week, three against Detroit and three against Philadelphia. They also face three left-handed starters, and Perez has a .840 OPS and .241 ISO against lefties this season. He’s in a similar spot as McCann this week but is available in far more leagues.
At the Corners
Renato Nunez (1B/3B, BAL): 37% Owned
Baltimore has seven games this week, with six at home and four against left-handed starters. That creates ideal circumstances for Nunez, who thrives at home and against southpaws. Nunez has a .909 OPS and .264 ISO at home against lefties, and a .858 OPS and .245 ISO at home overall. This is free power, sitting out there in 63% of leagues. Nunez is a great option at either corner infield spot this week.
Miguel Sano (1B/3B, MIN): 50% Owned
Obviously, Sano’s back injury needs to heal, but if he returns to the lineup over the weekend he’d be another good streaming choice for power. The Twins have seven home games this week against the White Sox and Royals, which means plenty of mediocre pitching for Sano to crush. As long as Sano can prove he’s healthy, he’s a worthwhile corner infield streamer this week.
UPDATE: Sano is back in the lineup for Saturday. He was scheduled to start Friday as well but the game was postponed.
Also Consider: C.J. Cron (1B, MIN): 30% Owned, Eric Thames (1B/OF, MIL): 7% Owned
Up the Middle
Hanser Alberto (2B/3B, BAL): 24% Owned
If facing four lefties this week was good news for Renato Nunez, then it’s amazing news for Hanser Alberto. Alberto has terrorized southpaws for a .418 batting average and 1.002 OPS this season. He doesn’t provide much in terms of power or speed, but Alberto could certainly provide a boost in batting average and counting stats this week as he faces some favorable matchups.
Tommy Edman (2B/3B/SS/OF, STL): 40% Owned
The Cardinals don’t have the easiest pitching matchups this week, with three games against the Nationals and four against the Cubs, but they do face three left-handed starters. Edman has hit .333 AVG and .908 OPS this season. Edman has overtaken Matt Carpenter as the Cardinals’ every day third baseman, and that gives him plenty of valuable volume in a seven-game week for St. Louis.
Also Consider: Jonathan Schoop (2B/SS, MIN): 39% Owned, Luis Arraez (2B/3B/OF, MIN): 14% Owned
In the Outfield
Anthony Santander (OF, BAL): 38% Owned
Who says Baltimore isn’t playing for anything? With their favorable matchups this week, the Orioles will have a big impact on thousands of fantasy playoff matchups. Like the previous Baltimore hitters mentioned, Santander performs well against left-handed pitching, owning a .282 AVG and .845 OPS versus southpaws this season. The switch-hitting Santander isn’t just a lefty-killer though; he has a respectable .276 AVG and .793 OPS against right-handed pitching as well. For those who need to stream an outfielder along with either a middle or corner infielder, Santander pairs nicely with either Hanser Alberto or Renato Nunez.
Trent Grisham (OF, MIL): 7% Owned
In the wake of the Christian Yelich tragedy, Grisham benefits as he will now get every day playing time as Milwaukee’s leadoff hitter while playing right field. The Brewers have seven home games this week and only face one left-handed starter. Grisham has had even platoon splits in his limited playing time regardless, and is in a position to help with moderate batting average, power, and runs contributions this week.
Also Consider: Jason Heyward (OF, CHC): 25% Owned, Alex Gordon (OF, KC): 36% Owned
More Streamers and Head-to-Head League Columns
