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Welcome to the top hitter streamers column for Week 16 of the MLB season (7/15 through 7/18). This weekly piece should be helpful for anyone looking to gain an edge in their league. If you need a fill-in for an injured player or want to exploit some plus matchups in order to gain an edge on your opponent then you're in the right place. This article aims to keep you informed while helping you stay ahead of the competition so you can get an early jump on those waiver claims before your opponents.
Remember that this piece is forward-looking and a lot can happen over the course of a week. Potential pitching matchups, lineups, and projected number of at-bats are all subject to change so make sure you're following the @RotoBallerMLB account on Twitter to stay up to date! We have a very short week ahead due to the All-Star break. The Yankees and Red Sox begin a four-game series on Thursday (7/15) while the Tigers, Twins, Phillies, and Marlins play doubleheaders that will start on Friday (7/16). The remaining 24 teams are playing just three games over next weekend so bear that in mind when selecting your streamers.
Disclaimer: I am only highlighting players that are currently rostered in 50% or less of Yahoo! leagues, meaning you should have a decent chance of picking them up on the waiver wire. These recommendations should apply to most league settings and formats as I'm looking for players who can help you across a variety of scoring categories. If the following names aren't available, feel free to read our Waiver Wire Pickups piece that drops every Monday for more ideas. Alright, let's get after it.
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Bats to Stream and Start in Week 16
Four Game Weeks:
BOS, DET, MIA, MIN, NYY, PHI
Stream of the Week
Garrett Cooper (1B/OF, MIA): 14% Rostered
Cooper has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball since being activated from the injured list back on June 25. He's slashing an absurd .485/.605/1.514 with four home runs, nine RBI, and nine runs scored with an 11:10 K/BB ratio over 12 games (43 plate appearances). Overall, he's got a .288/.379/.480 batting line with nine home runs, 31 RBI, and a stolen base over 198 at-bats. His expected stats are relatively close to his actual batting line as well with a .269 xBA, .363 xwOBA, and .470 xSLG. He's posting career-highs in hard-hit rate (51.5%), barrel rate (10.6%), and walk rate (11.7%).
He hasn't exactly been the model of health this season, requiring two separate IL stints due to COVID-19 vaccine side effects that kept him out for four games and a lumbar strain that sidelined him for 3 1/2 weeks. He also missed time with foot and oblique issues, hence the lower number of at-bats. But he finally looks healthy so now is a good time to get him in your lineup.
The Marlins hit the road next week to face divisional foe Philadelphia for four games. They're projected to face all right-handers in Aaron Nola, Zach Eflin, Vince Velasquez, and Zack Wheeler. On paper, not all those matchups look easy but Cooper has a .815 OPS in 138 at-bats righties this season. He's a combined 9-for-34 (.264) in his career against the aforementioned hurlers with most of his success coming against Velasquez (3-for-11) and Wheeler (3-for-6). Sure, those numbers aren't phenomenal but they prove that Cooper isn't overmatched. He's riding high and streaming is all about striking while the iron is hot as we like to say. Let's just hope that he can remain healthy and that he doesn't cool down over the All-Star break.
3 for 3. 2 HR. 1 single. 1 walk.
Heck of a night for Garrett Cooper. @Marlins | #JuntosMiami pic.twitter.com/66JT8wi0kA
— Bally Sports Florida: Marlins (@BallyMarlins) July 8, 2021
Catcher
Elias Diaz (C, COL): 8% Rostered
After a painfully slow start to the season, Diaz has come alive over the last month. The 30-year-old backstop is slashing a cool .304/.381/.679 with three doubles, six home runs, and 11 RBI with a 7:7 K/BB ratio over the last 28 games (56 at-bats). The majority of that production has come within the last 10 contests as he's slugged 1.410 and hit five home runs across 32 at-bats in that span. He homered in four straight games from June 28 to July 2, one of which was a walk-off three-run shot against the Cardinals.
Overall, he's got a .205/.280/.384 batting line with seven home runs and 17 RBI across 151 at-bats. His poor rate stats are indicative of his slow start but his expected stats (.257 xBA, .339 xwOBA, and .454 xSLG) and recent play suggest he's turned a corner. Colorado hosts the Dodgers for a three-game weekend series and Diaz has a .756 OPS with five home runs in Coors Field (.546 OPS, two home runs on the road).
He's also slashing .250/.314/.435 against right-handed pitching this season and will face at least one righty in Walker Buehler. The Dodgers rotation is somewhat in flux at the moment with Clayton Kershaw hitting the injured list so the third game of the series could feature the Dodgers' bullpen, which is predominantly right-handed. The Coors Field bump certainly helps hitters but all seven of Diaz's home runs this season have been classified as "no doubters," meaning they would have left the yard in all 30 MLB parks. The slate is small next week but Diaz could be worth rostering beyond that given the sad state of the catcher position.
Elias Diaz has tied the #Rockies' record for homers in consecutive games for a catcher, 4 (Charles Johnson, 6/28/2003-4/9/2004) and holds single-season record. He is club's first player to homer in four straight since David Dahl went deep in five straight 9/24-9/28, 2018. pic.twitter.com/1tEjEzFcvn
— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) July 3, 2021
Also Consider: Jorge Alfaro (C, MIA): 6% Rostered
Corner Infield
Jeimer Candelario (1B/3B, DET): 14% Rostered
Candelario is quietly putting together a solid season in Detroit. He's got a .269/.350/.388 batting line to go along with 20 doubles, five home runs, 24 RBI, and 36 runs over 294 at-bats. There's not a huge variance between his actual slash line and his expected one either, which is always a good sign. A .253 xBA, .321 xwOBA, and .389 xSLG certainly aren't lighting the world on fire but it shows that his modest production hasn't been that flukey. He's really picked it up at the dish over the last 11 games, slashing .317/.404/.512 with one home run, five RBI, five doubles, seven runs, and a 6:5 K/BB ratio.
He's working on a modest six-game hitting streak entering Friday's action and will look to finish the first half of the year on a strong note. The Tigers are one of six teams to play four games next week as they host the Twins. Detroit should face three right-handers out of the four games and Candelario has a .727 OPS with 13 doubles and five homers against righties this year.
He's homered off of two probable starters in Kenta Maeda (once) and J.A. Happ (twice) and has a 1.667 OPS in six plate appearances against Michael Pineda. Sure, the sample sizes are small and he's got a low ceiling with his lack of home run power but he's posted a 37% Hard Hit Rate so far this year, which is good the second-highest mark of his career. He's also got a pretty safe floor with his 23.5% strikeout rate--his lowest mark in four seasons-- and 10.5% Walk Rate.
Also Consider: Wilmer Flores (1B/2B/3B, SF): 17% Rostered; Ty France (1B/2B/3B, SEA): 44% Rostered
Middle Infield
Nicky Lopez (2B/SS, KC): 3% Rostered
There's a reason that Lopez is only rostered in 3% of Yahoo! leagues and it's his lack of power. He has just three home runs in 769 career big-league at-bats but he does possess some redeeming qualities, mainly his speed and plate discipline. Both attributes should make him a quality streamer next weekend. For the season, Lopez has a .267/.352/.330 batting line to go along with eight doubles, three triples, 14 RBI, eight stolen bases, and 35 runs scored over 221 at-bats. He's been hot over the last 20 games as well, slashing .369/.431/.400 with a pair of doubles, four RBI, two stolen bases, and seven walks.
Plate discipline is the name of the game with Lopez as he's sporting a rock-solid 13.6% strikeout rate (92nd percentile) and 11.2% walk rate, which is a career-high. His 14.5% whiff rate (95th percentile) is elite and he's got an above-average Z-contact rate (91.9%) and chase rate (23.4%). He also ranks in the 80th percentile in sprint speed.
The Orioles have been an easy streaming target all season, especially when playing at home. The Royals visit Camden Yards for a three-game set next weekend and will be facing three of the O's worst pitchers in Jorge Lopez (6.02 ERA/5.12 FIP), Matt Harvey (7.70 ERA/4.73 FIP), and Tom Eshelman (7.16 ERA/6.66 FIP). There isn't a ton of upside with Lopez as he bats ninth in the Royals lineup and lacks power as previously mentioned. But who couldn't use some help in batting average, on-base percentage, and stolen bases? If you raised your hand, then Lopez is your man. Hey, that kind of rhymed!
Also Consider: Cesar Hernandez (2B, CLE): 20% Rostered; Kike Hernandez (2B/SS/OF, BOS): 35% Rostered
Outfield
Max Kepler (OF, MIN): 42% Rostered
Kepler was highly rostered at the beginning of the season but he's battled a lingering hamstring issue and inconsistency, which has dropped him below the 50% threshold. He's actually looked good at the plate over his last seven games, slashing .292/.370/.708 with three home runs, four RBI, three walks, and six runs scored. Overall, he's got a .214/.307/.439 batting line with nine home runs, 31 RBI, and seven stolen bases over 187 at-bats. His rate stats haven't been as bad as they look, per his expected batting line of .249 xBA, .346 xwOBA, and .460 xSLG.
His .225 BABIP this season is the lowest mark of his career as well. It feels like there's been some bad luck (bad juju?) for the German slugger. Despite his struggles, he's actually rocking career bests in hard-hit rate (46.4%) and barrel rate (11.6%) while walking 11.3% of the time, which is the second-best mark of his career. His 22.6% strikeout rate is the highest it's been in seven seasons, though, and he's struggled mightily against left-handed pitching.
He's got a .164/.233/.273 batting line over 55 at-bats against southpaws pitching this season, which is where he comes into play as a potential streamer next week. The Twins head to Detroit for a four-game set against the Tigers and Kepler has been much better on the road (.256/.354/.523) than at home (.163/.257/.357) this year. He's also going to face three right-handed pitchers in Casey Mize, Jose Urena, and Wily Peralta. Our options are limited next week so you could do worse than Kepler, who believes he's gotten rid of the bad juju that was previously plaguing him at the plate. All jokes aside, he'll look to finish this weekend on a high note before rebounding in the second half of the season.
Double-dinger-day for Germany's finest ??
That's three home runs in two games for Max Kepler ?#MLB #MNTwins #MLBEurope pic.twitter.com/hR9UqjhseY
— MLB Europe (@MLBEurope) July 6, 2021
Also Consider: Leury Garcia (2B/3B/SS/OF, CWS): 5% Rostered; Robbie Grossman (OF, DET): 33% Rostered
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