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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. Even at this early juncture, there's 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, May 3. Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Panic Button
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Panic Button
With just over a month of the 2018 season in the books, it can be instructive to look to the recent past for examples of slow starts that didn't wind up being harbingers of doom. Last season, at the conclusion of April action, the following players were among the worst hitters in baseball: Carlos Correa, Eric Hosmer, Alex Bregman, and Edwin Encarnacion. All recovered to be exceedingly valuable fantasy assets. The latter two have stumbled out of the gate again this year, to much consternation and hand-wringing on the part of fantasy owners.
2. Today's Weather and Updates - Wednesday, May 2
As is usually the case on Thursdays, we're already dealing with a limited slate before weather conditions are considered. Thunderstorms are likely across the Upper Midwest, putting Tigers-Royals and Twins-White Sox in jeopardy. Blue Jays-Indians may be delayed, but they should be able to get the game in eventually.
3. Streamer Picks - Thursday, May 3
Pitchers to Use
It's grim out there for viable streaming options. Mike Fiers will take the ball for Detroit in a plum road matchup with the Royals, who are the lowest-scoring team in baseball. The veteran has struck out just 15.25 of the hitters he's faced so far in 2018, well below his career 22.1% mark. He's also as homer-prone as ever, having allowed four in his four starts. Fiers is, however, inducing swinging strikes at a higher rate and issuing fewer walks than usual. He should have a good shot at a win with respectable ratios.
Other Targets: Daniel Mengden's mustache
Pitchers to Exploit
Chris Tillman earned his first win of the year in his last start, shutting out the Tigers through seven innings of one-hit ball. It was the first time this season he had pitched past the sixth inning or allowed fewer than four runs. The Angels will present a much tougher test.
Jason Vargas got absolutely crushed by the Padres at Petco in his 2018 debut, coughing up nine runs on nine hits and three walks while failing to escape the fourth inning. Now he'll have to face the Braves, who lead the National League in runs scored.
Eric Skoglund, Jason Vargas, Jaime Garcia, Chris Tillman, Erasmo Ramirez
Other Targets: Eric Skoglund, Jaime Garcia, Erasmo Ramirez
Homers on the Wire
Turns out Pedro Alvarez is still a thing! The former second overall pick doesn't offer much in the way of baserunning, defense, or contact ability, but he can still mash taters when he does get hold of a pitch. Alvarez has gone deep four times since Sunday, with a pair of 2-HR games in that time.
Speaking of recent power surges, Yonder Alonso has recovered from a slow start and hit five home runs in the last two weeks.
Other Targets: C.J. Cron, Mark Canha, Tyler Austin, Max Kepler, Lucas Duda, Jorge Soler
Steals on the Wire
Avisail Garcia's injury has opened a spot in the White Sox outfield for Leury Garcia. The switch-hitter showed modest pop and speed as a rookie, with nine homers and eight steals in about a half-season's worth of plate appearances. He's a perfect 5-for-5 on the base paths so far in 2018.
Other Targets: Mallex Smith, Michael A. Taylor, JaCoby Jones, Delino DeShields, Jose Peraza, Manuel Margot
Skill Positions
Robinson Chirinos took a while to get going, but the Rangers' primary backstop has four home runs in his last five games.
Joakim Soria hasn't had many save chances, but he's been scored upon in just one of his 10 appearances this season, and that was almost a month ago.
