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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 weakest categories and target players who may be available on your waiver wire.
Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Average Help
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Average Help
In today's game, most people are glued to their TVs to watch long home runs and runs batted in. Unfortunately, that has also led to a record rise in strikeout rates for hitters.
In the fantasy realm, it's become harder to find players that will boost your team's batting average. Two players both currently hitting over .300 -- Nick Markakis and Starlin Castro -- can help you, although they won't do you many favors in the counting stats.
Markakis, often avoided because of his lack of power, is being overshadowed in Atlanta by Ozzie Albies and top prospect Ronald Acuna, but the lefty batter has quietly hit .302 with four homers, 18 RBI and 16 runs in 106 at-bats.
Castro, traded to Miami from New York in the offseason, is the best hitter on a rebuilding club (.312/.366/.367), but he has not cleared the fences this year and has just 10 RBI and one steal.
Consider either of them in rotisserie or head-to-head leagues if you are struggling in the average department. Despite their high contact rates and helpful averages, you probably won't have too much competition while attempting to add them off the waiver wire.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
There's a chance of rain in Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago, but probably not enough to seriously threaten those contests on Wednesday. There is a chance of a thunderstorm at Busch Stadium for the White Sox-Cardinals tilt.
3. Streamer Picks - Monday, May 1
Pitchers to Use
Drew Pomeranz (48 percent owned) hasn't looked good at all in his first two starts (8 2/3 frames) off the disabled list, allowing seven earned runs, including three long balls in his most recent start against the Rays. The southpaw has also shown diminished velocity and less definition on his signature curveball.
If he's going to bounce back, though, it'll be against the Royals, who he pitched well against in two no-decisions in 2017. On a positive note, Pomeranz did have seven K's in his first outing of the season and has 11 in his 8 2/3 innings so far (11.4 K/9).
The Royals have struck out 82 times against southpaws in 2017, which ranks them sixth most in the majors. KC could also be without their brightest offensive star in Mike Moustakas.
After allowing six runs (five earned) in his season debut against the Nats, lefty Sean Newcomb has settled down to the tune of a 3.09 ERA in his last four starts, while going at least six innings in three of those outings. The high-upside youngster also gave up just two earned runs in six innings against his Wednesday opponent, the Mets, on April 20.
Perhaps most intriguing is that Newcomb has fanned at least five hitters in each of his five starts to begin 2018 (11.1 K/9). His BB/9 of 4.6 is a bit upsetting and he'll need to show better command in the long run to realize his potential, but his high-strikeout upside is tantalizing.
Other Targets: Ivan Nova
Pitchers to Exploit
Matt Moore is one of the most hittable starters in baseball, as evidenced by his 32 hits allowed in 25 1/3 innings this season. He's fortunately allowed just one homer on the season, but that is sure to change quickly. The left-hander hasn't been able to pitch into the sixth inning in four of his five starts this year.
Overall, he's sporting a 1-3 record, 5.33 ERA, scary 1.69 WHIP and meager 6.0 K/9. With Cleveland's offense heating up after a slow start -- they sport the sixth best OPS (.812) in the last seven games -- and Moore not missing many bats these days, he is one to stack against.
We're picking on southpaws on this hump day. Brett Anderson will be called up from Triple-A to make his first start with the A's since 2013. He posted a 6.34 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and weak 6.2 K/9 in 13 starts with the Cubs and Blue Jays in 2017.
The 30-year-old left-hander was pitching well on the farm, but he'll have a much tougher time against a Mariners team that has the fifth best OPS (.774) against southpaws on the year.
Other Targets: Wade Miley, Tyler Anderson, Lucas Giolito
Homers on the Wire
Tigers rookie third baseman Jeimer Candelario is still owned in far too few leagues (35 percent), and while his matchup against southpaw Blake Snell isn't the greatest, you can't ignore his .382 average, three homers, nine RBI and 1.125 OPS in the last two weeks.
Ryon Healy can be streaky and he just recently came off the disabled list, but he's been hot since his return (.353 average, 1.294 OPS, three homers). Oh, and he's facing Brett Anderson -- see above. Healy is owned in just 16 percent of leagues, but we imagine his ownership will increase in the coming days if he continues to produce.
Other Targets: Yonder Alonso, C.J. Cron, Teoscar Hernandez, Mitch Moreland, Franchy Cordero, Robinson Chirinos
Steals on the Wire
Mallex Smith and Carlos Gomez have a combined seven steals in the last 14 days for the Rays and could be looking to run early and often against Michael Fulmer on Wednesday.
Other Targets: Delino DeShields, Jose Peraza, Manuel Margot
Skill Positions
Jonathan Lucroy was a huge fantasy disappointment with the Rangers and Rockies last season, leaving many to completely forget about him in 2017 with Oakland. He's starting to heat up a bit, hitting .308 (4-for-13) in the last week.
He'll face James Paxton, who he is hitting .455 against in 11 at-bats with one homer and four RBI.
