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 Thursday, July 27.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- All The Wasted Years
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. All The Wasted Years
I recently started playing OOTP, and it's essentially taken over my life. I've even forgotten to set my fantasy lineups a couple of times because I was so engrossed in the game. The fact that I can't see the time on my computer screen while playing just exacerbates the issue. It's akin to the lack of windows in a casino. Send help...but, you know, not right now.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
No risk of inclement weather today. Tomorrow will likely see rain in Toronto, but that won't matter thanks to the retractable roof at Rogers Centre.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Thursday, July 27
Pitchers to Use
With a limited slate today, there aren't really any appealing arms on the wire. CC Sabathia is basically it. He's allowed one or zero runs in five of his last six starts and will get the Rays at home. He's won both of his starts against them this year with a 0.90 ERA, though it's worth noting that both games were in Tampa and he only went five innings in each of them. Sabathia has a 9-3 record and solid ratios (3.44 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) but just seven quality starts on the season.
Other Targets: If you're desperate, Luis Perdomo
Pitchers to Exploit
Matt Garza's results have been surprisingly solid this season, though his fantasy value is limited by a pedestrian strikeout rate. He's got a 1.65 ERA in three July starts, but just nine strikeouts and eight walks. The Nationals have one of the best lineups in the game, so expect them to tee off on the veteran.
J.C. Ramirez has been doing the Jekyll and Hyde thing for the better part of the last two months. Bet on the bad version showing up against Cleveland.
Other Targets: Robert Stephenson, Mike Pelfrey, Chris O'Grady, Trevor Bauer
Homers on the Wire
Hunter Renfroe has four dingers in his last six games and will get a chance to hit against Chris Flexen, a pitcher with less than 50 innings above A-ball. Renfroe doesn't have any issues with power at Petco Park; he's got 10 homers there and 10 on the road this season.
Joey Gallo is showing signs of life again at the plate, having homered in four of his last five. Of course, he has only three other hits this month, but that's par for the course for a guy hitting .199. Gallo has 54 hits this season, and 25 of them were home runs. He's also struck out 120 times. There may not be a player who embodies the modern game more than Gallo.
Other Targets: Nick Castellanos, Matt Chapman, Mike Napoli, Josh Bell, Randal Grichuk, Lucas Duda, Paul DeJong
Steals on the Wire
Bradley Zimmer has been seeing some time in the leadoff spot of late for the Indians, and he had a big game on Tuesday, hitting a homer and swiping two bags. He's a good bet to run against J.C. Ramirez, who's tied for eighth in the AL in stolen bases allowed.
Other Targets: Jarrod Dyson, Orlando Arcia, Whit Merrifield, Rajai Davis, Manuel Margot, Mallex Smith
Skill Positions
With Stephen Vogt out of commission, the door has opened to more at-bats for Manny Pina. The Brewers rookie is hitting .302/.345/.470 on the year, and has collected multiple hits in six of his last 11 contests. Kurt Suzuki has been similarly outside his mind of late, hitting .371 with six homers over the last month. He doesn't play much, but that could change if Tyler Flowers continues to scuffle.
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