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Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire all season long. This article, now in its second year, runs seven days a week. We're coming up on the halfway point of the season, but there's still plenty of options on the waiver wire to aid your championship quest.
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 Saturday, June 30. Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- What Type Of Streamer Do You Need?
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. What Type Of Streamer Do You Need?
If you ask a fantasy expert for trade advice this time of year, the answer is almost always "that's fine, if your standings page says that you need Player X more than Player Y." The same is true of streamers. If you're in the middle of the pack and really need some stellar performances to get back in the hunt, upside should be the only thing you consider when looking for streamers. By contrast, a strong roster nursing narrow leads in multiple categories should be much more conservative. In some cases, streaming may present more risk than the upside warrants.
2. Today's Weather and Updates - Friday, June 29
The weather gods must think Brad is writing this column, because there is no rain anywhere today. That's never happened to me before!
3. Streamer Picks - Saturday, June 30
Pitchers to Use
If you need to make things happen to save your season, Vincent Velasquez is the streamer you're looking for. His 4.69 ERA suggests that there is some risk in his profile, and his home park is not favorable to pitchers. However, his 3.66 xFIP, 28.5% K%, and 9% BB% suggest that he has the potential to help in all pitching categories except saves.
Most of the pitchers on the slate are neither good enough to use nor bad enough to exploit. That means that pitchers scheduled to face some of the worst teams in the majors are available for the taking. All of the arms below are only worth starting because of a relatively easy path to a coveted W.
Other Targets: Sam Gaviglio vs. DET, Jhoulys Chacin @ CIN, Felix Hernandez vs. KC, Trevor Williams @ SD, Dereck Rodriguez @ ARI
Pitchers to Exploit
How does a team as good as the Cleveland Indians keep trotting Adam Plutko to the mound every fifth day? His 52% FB% and 15.7% HR/FB leave him with no viable path to fantasy relevance, especially since his Ks are also lackluster (17.2% K%). Oakland bats make for an intriguing stack.
Carlos Rodon presents a similar situation to Plutko, except his supporting cast and home park are much worse. His 3.70 ERA looks okay, but a pedestrian K% of 18.5% plus a 52.7% FB% make him incredibly risky in our game.
Finally, Tyler Chatwood needs to stop walking people. 20% BB%, seriously?
Other Targets: Matt Boyd @ TOR, Adalberto Mejia vs. CHC, Andrew Cashner vs. LAA, Tyler Mahle vs. MIL, whoever replaces Brandon McCarthy @ STL, Jason Hammel @ SEA, Eric Lauer vs. PIT, Shelby Miller vs. SF
Homers on the Wire
If you want a homer, the two pitchers with >50% FB% rates should be your preferred targets. Available Oakland bats include Matt Joyce, Stephen Piscotty, Marcus Semien, and Dustin Fowler. The best Rangers are all widely owned, but you could try catcher Robinson Chirinos.
Other Targets: Yonder Alonso, Yan Gomes, Josh Reddick, Albert Pujols, Kike Hernandez, Eric Thames, Max Kepler, Logan Morrison, Nick Williams, Mark Trumbo, Trey Mancini, Danny Valencia, Luis Valbuena, Colin Moran, Teoscar Hernandez, Randal Grichuk, Kendrys Morales, Joc Pederson, Derek Dietrich
Steals on the Wire
While I understand that Bartolo Colon has developed a cult following, I remain unclear on why. I don't trust him to keep the White Sox off base in his Saturday start, nor do I think Chirinos (3-for-36 throwing out base thieves) will do anything to stop them from running all over the diamond. I know Chirinos gets picked on a lot for this, but when your CS% is .077 and everyone else is at least .150, it bears repeating.
Other Targets: Michael A. Taylor, Jose Peraza, Niko Goodrum, Jonathan Villar, Dustin Fowler, Eduardo Nunez, Keon Broxton, Ehire Adrianza, Scott Kingery, Delino DeShields Jr., Jarrod Dyson, Austin Meadows, Marcus Semien
