RADIO
Welcome back to my hitting streamers column for Week 24, taking a look at hitters to add or stream off the waiver wire for this week's scheduled games.
To keep things simple, I pick from players who are 50% owned or less and who play at least seven games in the week. If someone jumps off the page at me as a less than seven game player, I may make an exception, but otherwise, the advantage in a number of games dictates my choices.
Streaming can be a valuable tool, by allowing you to feast on favorable pitching matchups and simply have your hitters play more games than your opponents' hitters. If you have the roster space, streaming a hitter can be useful not only to fill a vacant lineup spot but also to fill in for someone who has five games that week or faces tough matchups. In 5x5 leagues, four of the five hitting categories are counting stats, making the value of extra games significant. Streaming also can allow you to target a specific category of need. This week there is a mediocre pool of seven-game streamers. It is deep enough that I am not adding six-game options, but it is not so deep that you need to sit good regulars. Let's dive in.
Bats to Stream and Start in Week 24
Shohei Ohtani (UTIL, LAA) - 39% owned
After a putrid spring training and the announcement that Ohtani had possible elbow damage, Ohtani surprisingly took the baseball world by storm to begin the season. The Babe Ruth comparisons seemed on point. Recently, it was announced that Tommy John surgery was recommended for Ohtani. He responded by going 4-4 with two homers and a stolen base. So long as Ohtani continues to play through the injury, he looks to be a must start. On the season, he is batting .287 with 18 homers and seven steals in just 247 at bats. Continue to monitor this site for any news as to plans for whether he will continue to play through the injury this season. Unless you get such news, add him and start him with confidence.
Adalberto Mondesi (2B/SS, KC) - 14% owned
Mondesi carries loads of value in his ability to steal bases. In just 52 games, he already has 18. In his MLB career, he has 32 in 124 games. He had 31 over his last two minor league seasons in 114 games. Given how scarce stolen bases are these days, he is worth starting for that asset alone so long as the matchups are not so terrible that he will never find first base. But he has also provided additional value, homering six times in 52 games and batting .267. This week, he faces decent matchups and is definitely worth starting.
Michael Conforto (OF, NYM) - 44% owned
As I often write, I do not look to recent performance over a longer span of performance unless there is a reason to do so. With Conforto, there is a potential reason why that is the case. He was coming off of an injury to start the year, and the All-Star Break provided some rest. In 45 games since the break, he has posted a line of .259/10/28/28/0. In approximately a quarter of a season of games, those are strong numbers in terms of power and run production. Conforto faces decent matchups this week, has talent, and has been producing since the break. Add him and start him if he's available.
Todd Frazier (3B, NYM) - 37% owned
The Toddfather has been consistent over the last few years. He hits a ton of homers, steals you a decent amount of bases, provides good run production, but destroys your batting average. This week, you should expect more of the same. He faces decent pitching matchups. If you can stomach a major hit to your batting average, he can produce in the other four categories. He has 16 homers and nine steals in 94 games, and has hit as many as 40 homers and stolen as many as 20 bases in recent years.
Amed Rosario (SS, NYM) - 34% owned
Rosario, a former top prospect, is still just 22 years old. In just 177 MLB games, he has a line of .255/11/79/53/25. 18 of those stolen bases have come this year. Even though Rosario is still developing as a 22 year-old, he is now providing fantasy value and should be started in the right week. This is one of those weeks. If you need stolen bases with the potential for some contribution in the other categories, he is a decent option.
Ryan O'Hearn (1B, KC) - 7% owned
In 61 at bats against righties this year, O'Hearn is batting .361 with eight homers and a 1.311 OPS. That is a microscopic sample, but Wow. The lefty is a power hitter who likely will hit for a low average and not steal you bases, but he can provide value in the right week. Given that he will face almost all righties this week, he is worth a gamble if you are seeking homers.
Others To Consider
Brandon Nimmo - (OF, NYM) - 26% owned - Nimmo has a line of .272/16/68/43/8 in 118 games this year and faces decent matchups. He is worth a start.
Jorge Polanco (SS, MIN) - 8% owned - Polanco can provide you across the board production without standing out too much in any one category. He has a .273/4/25/29/4 line in 55 games this year and could provide steady production this week.
Derek Dietrich (1B/2B/3B/OF, MIA) - 34% owned - Dietrich has a .267/16/69/44/2 line on the year. Like Polanco, he should provide you some steady production without winning you any particular category.
