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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 Tuesday, June 5. Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Enjoy the Draft
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Enjoy the Draft
For tonight, the big story is Casey Mize. He features a premium fastball-slider-splitter combo and is the consensus top player in the draft. The right-handed stud might last until the third pick. Of all the players available, he's the most likely to quickly reach the major leagues.
The Tigers supposedly are hemming and hawing about taking a safer (i.e. a hitter), less expensive player. Although Mize is presently the most valuable asset in the draft, pitchers are prone to career altering injuries. A cheaper alternative would give Detroit more resources to go overslot with their later picks. The Giants pick second. There are reports of mutual disinterest between San Francisco and Mize. As a college junior, he does have the option to decline to sign. Philadelphia picks third. They lost their second and third round selections due to free agent signings. They would need to go overslot to sign Mize, meaning their fourth and fifth picks would likely need to be inexpensive.
All of this speculation will be rendered moot shortly after at 6:00pm this evening.
2. Today's Weather and Updates - Monday, June 4
The tiny Monday slate includes no weather conflicts.
3. Streamer Picks - Saturday, June 2
Pitchers to Use
Tomorrow features the return of Madison Bumgarner along with an unusual quantity of decent pitchers under 50 percent owned. Several of them like Andrew Heaney, Fernando Romero, and Kyle Freeland live in the 40 to 50 percent owned bracket. Their availability is far from guaranteed. Before you get too excited about Freeland escaping Coors Field, recall that Great American Ballpark is another very homer friendly venue. He mostly leans on three fastballs. His cutter in particular is a high quality offering. The rest of the repertoire is suspect. I think he's a relatively safe play versus Cincinnati.
If you're hunting more widely available treasure, Steven Wright may be making a move on Drew Pomeranz's rotation slot. Wright has tossed 16 innings across six relief appearances. The knuckler has been effective - he's induced copious soft contact. A few too many walks to sink his fortunes. He's always a high risk, moderate reward play - even at six percent owned. He's opposite the Tigers.
Other Targets: Fernando Romero, Nate Eovaldi, CC Sabathia, Andrew Heaney, Jordan Lyles
Pitchers to Exploit
Zack Littel is set to make his major league debut. He'll handle the back end of a doubleheader. The 22-year-old Twin was acquired from the Yankees in the Jaime Garcia trade (remember when the Twins had Garcia for roughly 20 minutes last season?). Scouting reports are limited. None of his pitches play as plus nor is does he have above average command. Despite strong minor league statistics, the industry consensus seems to indicate he's a tweener.
Little isn't the only tweener on the bump tomorrow. The Tigers will call upon Artie Lewicki - yet another reason to consider using Wright. Lewicki has a four pitch repertoire, none of which stand out as major league quality offerings. Like Littel, the command isn't sufficient to dream for a breakout.
Other Targets: Marco Estrada, Jason Vargas, Alex Cobb, Matt Moore, Lucas Giolito, Brad Keller
Homers on the Wire
Brandon Nimmo is no longer available on the waiver wire. He's climbed to 59 percent owned. Meanwhile, Michael Conforto has slipped to only 50 percent owned. The slugger has yet to fully establish himself in the majors, and it seems clear to me he rushed back from a major shoulder injury. The power seems to be returning. Since May 7, he's batting .284/.376/.511 with six home runs in 101 plate appearances. He'll face Alex Cobb.
Other Targets: Matt Adams, Miguel Andujar, Aaron Hicks, Danny Valencia, Matt Chapman, Daniel Palka, Luis Valbuena, Christian Villanueva, Franmil Reyes, Jose Pirela, Hunter Renfroe
Steals on the Wire
The Milwaukee battery of Junior Guerra and Manny Pina are rather stolen base prone. This feels like an excellent opportunity to snag Bradley Zimmer. The biggest speedster in the league is recently returned from a rehab assignment.
Other Targets: Eduardo Nunez, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jose Peraza, Manuel Margot
