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. Even at this relatively early juncture, there's plenty of value in streaming.
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 Thursday, June 7. Let's get to it.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and weekly lineup resources:- Fantasy baseball injury reports
- Fantasy baseball trade analyzer
- Daily MLB starting lineups for fantasy baseball
- Fantasy baseball BvP matchups data (Batter vs. Pitcher)
- Fantasy baseball PvB matchups data (Pitcher vs. Batter)
- Who should I start? Fantasy baseball player comparisons
- Fantasy baseball closer depth charts, bullpens, saves
- Fantasy Baseball live scoreboard, daily leaderboards
Agenda
- Happy Birthday
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Happy Birthday
To me, probably at least one person reading this, and the following baseball persons: Joey Lucchesi, Anthony Rendon, Junichi Tazawa, and Matt Belisle. I am celebrating today by, uh, working late. Birthdays seem to get less and less fun every year...
2. Today's Weather and Updates - Wednesday, June 6
Plenty of cloud cover on the docket for today's games, but it appears as though all games will proceed without weather-related impediments.
3. Streamer Picks - Thursday, June 7
Pitchers to Use
Dennis Santana's debut could have gone better, but Coors Field isn't exactly an ideal place to make your initial appearance in the majors. Santana will make his first career start in much more hospitable conditions, on the road against Pittsburgh.
Since the end of April, James Shields has resumed looking like an actual MLB-quality starter. He's posted quality starts in six of seven outings, posting a 3.45 ERA and 0.98 WHIP during that time. The Twins have been better of late, but still rank in the bottom third of the league in runs scored.
Other Targets: Jalen Beeks, Frankie Montas
Pitchers to Exploit
Assuming ESPN rather than Yahoo has the scheduled starters represented accurately, Andrew Cashner will take on Jaime Garcia in a battle of two of the league's worst starters.
It's also a good day to fade Tylers - Tyler Anderson vs. Tyler Mahle at Great American and Tyler Chatwood at Wrigley against the Phillies.
Other Targets: Jason Hammel, Matt Boyd
Homers on the Wire
Fantasy owners are beginning to sit up and take notice of what Max Muncy is doing in LA. He's homered four times in his last eight games, giving him nine on the year in just 130 plate appearances. His ownership rate has skyrocketed in the last 24 hours, but you can still grab him in three out of every four leagues on Yahoo.
Other Targets: Mark Trumbo, Jeimer Candelario, Nick Williams, Daniel Palka, Derek Dietrich, Scott Schebler, Adam Duvall, Carlos Gonzalez, Trey Mancini, Teoscar Hernandez, Harrison Bader, Matt Chapman
Steals on the Wire
Kevin Pillar's bat has cooled in recent weeks and he's only swiped one bag since May 13, but he'll be going against an Orioles squad that has allowed more stolen bases than all but two other teams. One of them is his own Blue Jays, but the Orioles' only real SB threats (Craig Gentry and Jace Peterson) are part-timers who can't hit.
Other Targets: Harrison Bader, Dustin Fowler, Mallex Smith, Denard Span, Delino DeShields