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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. 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, June 22. Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Rangers Closer
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Rangers Closer
Who is it? Hector Rondon was closing his palm around the gig before blowing a game the other day. Yesterday, with a 5-1 lead, Ken Giles pitched the ninth inning. That's not a save, but it could be a sign he's back as closer. Perhaps Texas will continue to befuddle fantasy owners by involving additional relievers like Brad Peacock and Chris Devenski. Really, this couldn't be any more obnoxious. For now, both Rondon and Giles need to be owned and played in any 12 team or deeper league.
2. Today's Weather and Updates - Thursday, June 21
The Nationals game has a small risk for storms. If they're delayed at any point, the risk of postponement increases. Cincinnati and Chicago are in even more trouble. The Reds game is maybe 50/50 to happen while the White Sox have already been postponed to tomorrow.
3. Streamer Picks - Friday, June 22
Pitchers to Use
Shane Bieber has a certain Josh Tomlin feel to him. The stuff is seemingly better for inducing swinging strikes, but he has that same penchant for working in the strike zone. Tomlin is terrible this year despite a long run as a solid streaming asset. Bieber could fill a similar role. He'll face a Triple-A quality Tigers offense.
Chris Stratton is generally pretty bland. He does just enough to be worthy of consideration when pitching at home against the right opponent. The strikeout prone Padres are very much the correct nemesis. Stratton has earned a decision in 12 of 15 starts, going 8-4 in the process. This is another chance for him to pick up a win with slightly below average ratios.
Other Targets: Zach Eflin, CC Sabathia, Fernando Romero
Pitchers to Exploit
The White Sox are running Lucas Giolito and James Shields tomorrow. Sounds like a rough day on the bullpen. Shields has actually made a few modest improvements this year - enough to be below average rather than heinous. Giolito though... woof. He still has more walk than strikeouts with a basically luck neutral 7.19 ERA. I feel like he needs a trial run in the bullpen or some other change to his routine. The status quo does not serve to help him improve.
While I've been waiting for opportunities to switch from exploiting to using Wei-Yin Chen, he just isn't cooperating. Every positive indicator of recovery is quickly erased by several red flags. We have it easy this week though - he's visiting Coors Field. Go pick on him.
Other Targets: Alex Cobb, Danny Duffy, John Lamb, Marco Estrada
Homers on the Wire
Between a doubleheader at Guaranteed Rate Field, bad starting pitchers, and a shaky bullpen, the Athletics couldn't ask for a better matchup. I tend to worry just a tad about their pairing versus Shields just because they're heavy on fly ball hitters. Fortunately, the freely available options are far less extreme and thus less likely to succumb to easy fly outs. Chad Pinder frequently bats second while Mark Canha, Stephen Piscotty, and Franklin Barreto may also nab 18 innings of action.
Randal Grichuk has caught fire in the past. We seem to be living in the midst of one blazing hot moment. Since returning from injury on June 1, Grichuk is batting .321/.379/.698 with five home runs and five doubles in 58 plate appearances. He's also shaved his strikeout rate to just 19 percent over the streak, although that's not supported by peripherals. He'll have the platoon advantage versus Lamb.
Other Targets: Daniel Descalso, Niko Goodrum, John Hicks, Lonnie Chisenhall, Jason Heyward, Wilmer Flores, C.J. Cron, Jake Marisnick, Robbie Grossman
Steals on the Wire
Splitter specialist Junior Guerra tends to be stolen base prone. Harrison Bader - if he starts for Dexter Fowler - could take advantage. Bader isn't the speediest chap on the waiver wire, but he has the skills to take 15 to 20 bases over a full season.
Other Targets: Mallex Smith, Jonathan Villar, Travis Jankowski, Ian Kinsler
