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Hitters to add from the waiver wire and stream in Week 25 of the 2021 fantasy baseball season. Jon Mathisen analyzes the top batter streamers to pick up.
Welcome to the top hitter streamers column for Week 25 of the MLB season (9/13 through 9/19). 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 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.
There are just seven teams playing seven games next week so we don't have very many high-volume streaming options on the slate. This is still an exciting time in fantasy baseball with the postseason underway and the playoff races heating up in the majors. Streaming has been more important than ever this season given the absurd amount of injuries that we've had to deal with, especially to high-profile players. Streaming can help mitigate bad luck and offset some of those injuries, which can end up being the difference between advancing in the playoffs or not. It's time to buckle up, get focused, and find some high-performing hitter streamers for Week 25.
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 25
Remember that this piece is forward-looking and a lot can happen over the course of a week. Potential pitching opponents, lineups, and projected number of at-bats are all subject to change so make sure you're following @RotoBallerMLB on Twitter to stay up to date!
Seven-Game Weeks:
HOU, MIN, NYY, SD, SF, TB, TEX
Stream of the Week
Carter Kieboom (3B/SS, WSH): 6% Rostered
Kieboom struggled in limited action over his first two stints with the Nationals back in 2019 and 2020. He slashed a meager .181/.309/.232 with two home runs and 11 RBI over his first 165 plate appearances at the major league level, not good. He appeared in a few games in early April this season before being sent down to Triple-A Rochester where he compiled a .236/.376/.385 batting line with five home runs, 23 RBI, and a solid 31:26 K/BB ratio over 148 at-bats. The Nationals were sellers at the deadline, which opened up the door for another Kieboom call-up in late July. The results have been mixed since then but he's looked much better than he has at any other point in his previous, albeit limited, major league appearances. He's getting a chance to play every day and is slashing a decent .248/.333/.396 with six home runs and 20 RBI over 42 games since his call-up.
He's been heating up over the last 11 games, collecting at least one hit in nine of those contests while batting .295 with a .795 OPS. The Nationals host the Marlins for three games next week and the Rockies for another three-game set. The good news for Kieboom is that he's fared much better at home than he has on the road this year. The 24-year-old infielder is slashing a robust .324/.395/.554 over 74 at-bats at home and just .171/.276/.237 across 76 at-bats on the road. Sandy Alcantara and Trevor Rogers will be difficult matchups but things should lighten up against Jesus Luzardo, Kyle Freeland, Ryan Feltner, and Jon Gray. The Nationals lineup is considerably weaker without Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber in the mix but it still packs a decent punch with Lane Thomas, Alcides Escobar (another potential streamer), Juan Soto, and Josh Bell to round out the top four. Kieboom has generally hit out of the six-hole and should see enough RBI opportunities to warrant a stream next week.
Carter Kieboom has 10 hits and 5 RBI in his last 8 games.
He's hitting .313/.353/.531 over that stretch.@carterkieboom // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/AtQOdmfLk5
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 7, 2021
Catcher
Alejandro Kirk (C, TOR): 16% Rostered
Kirk has been raking at the plate since getting recalled on July 23. He's slashing a rock-solid .303/.360/.517 with four home runs and 14 RBI over 100 plate appearances since then and has a .273/.347/.492 batting line with seven home runs and 22 RBI over 132 at-bats for the year. The 22-year-old backstop has a solid .293 xBA, .383 xwOBA, and .537 xSLG. He pairs that with a 46% Hard Hit Rate, 12.3% Strikeout Rate, 8.2% Walk Rate, and 12.4% Barrel Rate. He's smashed three homers and driven in six RBI over the last seven games and should see plenty of at-bats for the surging Blue Jays next week. Toronto is hosting the Rays for a three-game series and the Twins for another three-game set.
They're expected to face five right-handed starting pitchers and one southpaw in Shane McClanahan (update: McClanahan will miss his scheduled start with a stiff back), who will be the toughest pitcher that Kirk will face next week. The good news is that Kirk is slashing a robust .350/.426/.625 in 40 at-bats against southpaws this year. He hasn't performed quite as well against right-handers (.247/.313/.449) this season but he's not facing anyone particularly difficult in Michael Wacha, Bailey Ober, Michael Pineda, and John Gant. The Blue Jays have been one of the hottest teams in baseball and Kirk represents one of the few remaining pieces that are still available on the waiver wire. His greatest asset is his plate discipline so he's not going to hurt you with a bunch of empty at-bats and strikeouts. He typically hits between fourth and sixth in the lineup and should see plenty of RBI for the red-hot Jays.
Captain @alejandro_kirk's so nice, he'll go yard TWICE 🚀 pic.twitter.com/FKvkzYObCw
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 8, 2021
Also Consider: Victor Caratini (C/1B, SD): 2%
Corner Infield
Brandon Belt (1B/OF, SF): 30% Rostered
Brandon Belt has had an interesting 2021 season. He got off to a sluggish start following offseason heel surgery and a battle with COVID-19. He then dealt with an oblique strain in late May, which required a stint on the injured list. He came back in early June but then hit the IL again with right knee inflammation, which kept him out for nearly a month and a half. Despite all of that adversity, he's slugged a career-high 21 home runs. The 33-year-old first baseman is slashing .250/.353/.537 with 21 bombs, 43 RBI, and three stolen bases in just 268 at-bats. He's rocking a .320/.382/.600 batting line with four homers, six RBI, and 1o runs scored over the last 12 games as well. He's sold out more power this season, as evidenced by his career-worst 28.8% Strikeout Rate and 71.8% Z-Contact Rate. He's traded some of his signature plate discipline for more pop and the gamble appears to have paid off with an Average Launch Angle of 22.7 degrees and a 15.1% Barrel Rate.
He still has a decent 12% Walk Rate, which is below his career average of 13.3%, but still healthy. The Giants are one of seven teams to play seven games next week and they're expected to face six right-handed starters in their homestand against the Padres (four games) and the Braves (three games). Belt, who hits from the left side of the plate, is only batting.247 against right-handed pitching this year but he does have a .891 OPS and 17 bombs to go along with that. He'll face a few tough pitchers in Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Charlie Morton but should see success against Jake Arrieta, Chris Paddack, and Touki Toussaint. It never hurts to get a piece of good offenses in your lineup and San Francisco has proven to be one of the best all season. Belt typically hits towards the top of it as well so he should be a good source of power and runs scored.
Brandon Belt - San Francisco Giants (21) pic.twitter.com/lTYdk3mPVw
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) September 5, 2021
Also Consider: Bobby Dalbec (1B, BOS): 37% Rostered; Yandy Diaz (1B/3B, TB): 5% Rostered
Middle Infield
Alcides Escobar (2B/SS, WSH): 3% Rostered
Escobar has actually been a solid contributor for the Nationals this season after not playing in the MLB in 2019 and 2020. He signed a minor-league contract with Kansas City in May but didn't record an at-bat with the club before they traded him to the Nats for cash considerations in July. Through 53 games with Washington, the 34-year-old infielder is slashing .277/.333/.382 with two home runs, 17 RBI, and two stolen bases over 220 at-bats. He's been locked into the number two spot in the batting order and could be a boost to anyone looking for help in batting average and runs scored. Escobar has never been known for his power so don't expect much there. He is posting a career-best 3.3% Barrel Rate and Average Launch Angle of 11 degrees but home runs are not his specialty.
The Nationals host the Marlins for three games next week before the Rockies come to town. Escobar has fared relatively well against both right-handed pitching and lefties this season. He's slashing .290/.339/.394 vs. right-handers and .246/.319/.354 against southpaws. Washington will see three righties (Sandy Alcantara, Ryan Feltner, and Jon Gray) and three lefties (Jesus Luzardo, Trevor Rogers, and Kyle Freeland). Alcantara and Rogers are not easy matchups but it's not unreasonable to think that Escobar, who's 18-for-59 (.305/.354/.441) over the last 15 contests could put up some steady numbers against the other hurlers. The ceiling isn't very high here but he could serve as a nice fill-in piece on your fantasy club if he's in the right matchup.
Also Consider: Joey Wendle (2B/3B/SS, TB): 43% Rostered; J.P. Crawford (SS, SEA): 12% Rostered
Outfield
LaMonte Wade Jr. (1B/OF, SF): 11% Rostered
The Giants schedule sets up perfectly for Wade Jr., who bats left-handed. San Francisco not only plays seven games but they'll face six right-handed starters and just one lefty. Wade Jr. and Darin Ruf, who's having an incredible season, have been platooning for most of the season. Ruf will sometimes see at-bats against right-handers but Wade Jr. has only logged 31 at-bats against southpaws this season. Virtually all of his season production has come vs. righties as he's slashing .274/.350/.561 with 13 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, 44 RBI, and six stolen bases over 237 at-bats against them. Overall, he's slashing .257/.333/.519 with 17 home runs and 45 RBI so his limited at-bats against left-handers have only hurt his numbers.
The 27-year-old has made the most of his opportunity with the Giants and his expected stats back up his real-life production. He's rocking a .263 xBA, .357 xwOBA, and .487 xSLG. He's posting a 42.4% Hard Hit Rate, 10.4 % Barrel Rate, and Average Launch Angle of 18.4 degrees. There are a few tough matchups on the docket for the Giants as they'll face Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Charlie Morton. But Darvish has looked vulnerable lately and the rest of the arms that the Giants will face are far from intimidating. Jake Arrieta, Chris Paddack, and Touki Toussaint all look like plus matchups for Wade Jr. and the other San Francisco bats. Much like Brandon Belt, mentioned above, Wade Jr. is a cheap piece of one of the best offensives in all of baseball. He's guaranteed to see plenty of at-bats and should hit anywhere between leadoff and cleanup for a Giants squad that's trying to hold off the Dodgers and obtain their first NL West title since 2012.
LaMonte Wade Jr. has delivered when it matters the most 😤 pic.twitter.com/qlRGzmaYcG
— SFGiantsNationCP (@SFGiantsCP) September 9, 2021
Also Consider: Austin Hays (OF, BAL): 23% Rostered; Darin Ruf (1B/OF, SF): 4% Rostered
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