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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, May 8. Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Foul Fowler?
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Foul Fowler
I keep listing Dexter Fowler because...
- Guy is good
- He has a .160 BABIP
- Career .334 BABIP
- Career best fly ball rate
Fowler keeps tossing up 0-fers intermingled with home runs. Consider: since April 13, he has four home runs and a .095 BABIP. I don't know what's going on here. I do know I bought low on a similarly befuddling Fowler last season, and he abruptly reverted to standard stealth fantasy stud mode. I have every confidence it will happen again. He's 35 percent owned and set to face Jake Odorizzi tomorrow.
2. Today's Weather and Updates - Monday, May 7
Warm weather and modest winds rule the day. No restrictions for weather today.
3. Streamer Picks - Tuesday, May 8
Pitchers to Use
Favorite of this column, Sean Newcomb, is up to 51 percent owned. He's set to visit the Rays in what should be viewed as a very favorable matchup. Although the Rays technically have performed as an above average offense, I'm not buying that for a second. Too many of their players are due for heavy duty regression - the bad kind. Newcomb can be relied upon for a strikeout per inning mixed with an entirely random ERA and WHIP.
Mike Minor looks like a 4.00 ERA pitcher with entirely acceptable/unexciting peripherals. That's perfectly streamable at home against a tepid Tigers offense. Miguel Cabrera is out, and the rest of the crew is average or worse at the plate. An alternative in the "just a guy" department is Jeremy Hellickson. He's visiting the incredibly strikeout prone Padres. The San Diego offense may not be enough to help Hellickson record strikeouts. This may be the only time all season I recommend him.
Other Targets: naaaa
Pitchers to Exploit
If and when Pomeranz flubs his start against the Yankees, I'm expecting to see him cast to the waiver wire in most leagues. I'm still hopeful his velocity will trend back over 90 mph as he moves past his latest injury. He'll eventually face some softer competition.
In a similar vein, I like Luis Castillo long term. Short term, I'm avoiding him at Great American Ballpark versus the Mets. Not that New York is exactly firing on all cylinders. Neither is Castillo. He could earn a win opposite Jason Vargas.
Other Targets: Danny Duffy, Derek Holland, Jason Vargas, Mike Fiers, Lucas Giolito, Andrew Heaney, Jon Gray, Clayton Richard
Homers on the Wire
Well, there's no shortage of power options on the wire. Very few stand out as potential difference makers. Aaron Altherr bats cleanup for the Phillies when he plays. Although his seasonal stats look awful, he's also on a fiery .325/.404/.525 line over his last 47 plate appearances. Rather than falling for the early season slump or the recent hot streak, we should remember the big picture. He's an above average hitter with power and a good matchup versus Holland.
I don't know where these 60 percent of leagues that aren't rostering Aaron Hicks can be found, but this seems like a glaring oversight. Hicks has power, speed, and he bats in the middle of the friggin' Yankees lineup. He's opposed by a struggling Pomeranz.
Other Targets: Fowler, Mark Trumbo, Danny Valencia, Aaron Hicks, Maikel Franco, Scott Kingery, Ryon Healy, Jesse Winker, Brandon Guyer, JaCoby Jones, John Hicks, Jeimer Candelario, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Renato Nunez, Ronald Guzman, Adam Frazier, Colin Moran, David Dahl, Carlos Gonzalez, Luis Valbuena, Jabari Blash, Nick Ahmed, Daniel Descalso, Howie Kendrick
Steals on the Wire
It's Rajai Davis day! At Miller Park. Davis has sneaky pop at times and can feast on the basepaths versus an exploitable Brewers battery.
Travis Jankowski has been drawing leadoff start for the Padres. He's showing improved contact skills and plate discipline. There's a chance he'll stick this time around.
Other Targets: Jose Peraza, Mallex Smith, Delino DeShields, Manuel Margot
Skill Positions
Jim Johnson is maybe the latest closer du jour for the Angels. I warned of this day. Who can tell what's happening in a Mike Scioscia bullpen.
Francisco Cervelli is the latest player to realize he should stop hitting crappy ground balls. He should be rostered in all but the most shallow formats. A game at Guaranteed Rate Park is promising.
