RADIO
I like to consider myself a pioneer of the streaming approach. I won a league about seven years ago by completely ignoring saves and just stacking up the starts each week. While streaming is undoubtedly more directly associated with pitching, there's plenty of value in streaming for offense as well.
Maybe you have a stacked roster and you can't drop anyone. But for those of us with a couple of guys on the roster fringes, it's never too early to look into targeting a specific player or two to gain an edge in a particular category. This season, I will be making weekly recommendations for extreme short-term category specialists every week in three offensive areas: speed, power, and average; and three pitching areas: strikeouts, wins, and ratios (ERA/WHIP).
Below are my Week 26 category streamers for fantasy baseball. All position eligibility and ownership percentages are based on Yahoo! fantasy leagues.
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Head-to-Head Category Streamers to Consider
Speed
Jackie Bradley Jr. (OF, BOS) - 24% Owned
It's slim pickings for speed out there so we have to ride the hot hand heading into the final week of the season. Jackie Bradley has three stolen bases in the past week and 16 on the season.
Alex Gordon (OF, KC) - 13% Owned
Another "not really a speed guy" is Alex Gordon. But we have to dig deep and gamble that the guy with three stolen bases in the past two weeks will steal a few more next week.
Power
Randal Grichuk (OF, TOR) - 12% Owned
All four of Grichuk's home runs over the past two weeks have come in two games. Otherwise, he's been...not great. However, we know the power is there and we're hoping to sneak in one more multi-homer game.
Joc Pederson (OF, LAD) - 19% Owned
Joc Pederson has been similar to Grichuk in that he's hit four home runs over the past two weeks including a two-homer game. Pederson wrecks right-handed pitching so start him against righties.
Average
Scott Schebler (OF, CIN) - 16% Owned
Scott Schebler is hitting .273 on the season and opens next week against the Royals, who are second worst in batting average against. Schebler should reach base multiple times during those two games.
Joey Wendle (2B, 3B, OF, TB) - 28% Owned
Joey Wendle is hitting a hair under .300 on the season and .270 over the past two weeks. He closes out next week with a three-game stint with the Blue Jays, who are fifth worst in batting average against.
Strikeouts
Marco Gonzales (SP, SEA) - 36% Owned
While Marco Gonzales has a K/9 that is under 8.00, he will enjoy the free-swinging Ranger bats against next week at home. The Rangers have struck out the fourth most in baseball this season.
Joey Lucchesi (SP, SD) - 31% Owned
Joey Lucchesi strikes out more than a batter an inning and has a home start against Arizona next week. The Diamondbacks have struck out the fifth most times in baseball this season.
Wins
Wade Miley (SP, MIL) - 34% Owned
Next week, Wade Miley gets a home start against the Tigers. The Brewers should be solid favorites in that game and Miley has actually pitched quite well this season, starting with a 2.08 ERA.
Framber Valdez (SP, HOU) - 13% Owned
There's certainly a chance this start means nothing for Houston and they sit some starters, but if not, a road start in Baltimore is a game the Astros should win. Framber Valdez has a 2.20 ERA and the Orioles are one of the worst teams in baseball.
ERA/WHIP
Steven Matz (SP, NYM) - 33% Owned
Just like back in Week 1, it is advantageous to stream against the Marlins. That is who Steven Matz, owner of a 4.03 ERA, gets to face at home next week. Matz had a quality start in his last outing against the Marlins in Miami.
Sandy Alcantara (SP, MIA) - 15% Owned
Similarly, streaming against the light-hitting Mets is also a good idea. Sandy Alcantara has a 2.35 ERA to start his career and the Mets are 21st in the league in runs scored.
