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Welcome to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. Use this column to bolster your neediest categories.
Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Wednesday, May 10th.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Yonder's Last Day?
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Yonder's Last Day
Yonder Alonso has risen to 41 percent owned, a near 30 point increase in the last two days. The nationwide hype is starting to get out of control - especially for an Athletic. While he won't maintain his current 25.7 percent HR/FB ratio, the rest of his stat line is "real." There's even a chance his strikeout rate will improve as he adjusts to his new swing.
Alonso is not the only one who can adjust. Scouting reports - and by extension opposing pitchers - could discover some fatal flaw. Frequently, fly ball hitters struggle with fastballs high in the zone. Ryan Howard and Josh Hamilton were bullheadedly blind to low and away sliders. If Alonso's fairy tale ends, it's probably because opponents found an exploit. Or he's beset by injuries. That happens all too often during breakout seasons - see Mitch Haniger, remember him?
2. Today's Weather and Updates
Yesterday's Cubs-Rockies game was pushed back to today. Doubleheaders are always a fun opportunity to earn bulk production in one day. Unfortunately, neither the Rockies nor Cubs are particularly streamable. The Cincinnati game is a storm risk today. The second Rockies game may be interrupted too. Tomorrow, watch out for rain in Chicago and Denver.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Wednesday, May 10th
Pitchers to Use
Pitcher streamers include Joe Musgrove and a trio of risky veterans. Let's start with Musgrove who may one day be a fantasy asset. That day isn't today. Or tomorrow. While his avoidance of hard contact is a plus, his 6.82 K/9, 5.40 ERA, and one win aren't exactly filling up the scoresheet. He's only finished the sixth inning in two of six starts. Musgrove has a soft matchup against the Braves offense. It's Freddie Freeman or bust in the ATL.
Francisco Liriano is 40 percent owned. There's reason to expect a lower ownership rate going forward. The southpaw usually has decent command. This season, he's walked 20 batters in 26.1 innings. He's still piling up strikeouts (10.25 K/9), but short outings have hindered his value. Liriano will face the Indians. Volatility is the name of this game.
Wade Miley is sitting on some mysteriously good results. He has a 2.27 ERA with 10.80 K/9. He's also caught the walk bug with 19 free passes in 31.2 frames. Miley has never been a strikeout pitcher, but he also usually avoids bases on balls. Expect around a 4.00 ERA going forward. He has a difficult assignment versus the Nationals.
Last and perhaps least is Derek Holland. The White Sox southpaw has a 2.02 ERA which can be directly linked to a fluky .220 BABIP. Once regression kicks in, he'll be quite similar to Miley - with a shakier health history. At least Holland is opposite the Twins. They're a much easier foe than the Nats.
Other Targets: nah
Pitchers to Exploit
Zach Eflin's pitch-to-contact approach will eventually backfire. His 2.42 ERA relies upon a .198 BABIP. He has just 4.15 K/9 and 1.04 BB/9. Eflin is one of the top anti-TTO* hurlers. One of these days, he'll be BABIPed to death. Perhaps at the hand of the Mariners. His opponent, Yovani Gallardo, is also exploitable.
*TTO stands for Three True Outcomes, i.e. home runs, walks, and strikeouts.
German Marquez is a well-regarded prospect, but it's never easy to call Coors Field home. Most pitchers need years to adjust to the majors. The process is that much harder at altitude. Marquez stands little chance versus the Cubbies. Both clubs will be short on relievers after a doubleheader today.
Matt Cain showed his true colors at Cincinnati last week. He coughed up nine runs on 10 hits and six walks in 3.1 innings. The Mets may be without their best bat - and a few others to boot - but that just means there is more to use on the wire. The Giants lineup lacks desirable streamers, but several receive upgrades against a scrublord like Tommy Milone. He'll spot start for the Mets.
Kyle Kendrick be bad.
Other Targets: Jesse Chavez, Tom Koehler, Jason Hammel, Phil Hughes, Chad Kuhl, Zack Godley
Homers on the Wire
I already said my 200 words about Alonso today. Jed Lowrie homered twice yesterday, an event I miraculously predicted on Rotoworld in a DFS write-up. He's a nice high average option at a skill position. And as we just witnessed, he has enough power to supply some thump. Matt Joyce continues to struggle despite a good batted ball profile. Something's gotta give here...
The Mets have T.J. Rivera, Neil Walker, and Wilmer Flores likely to line up against Cain. Rivera bats second. Unfortunately, his power is minimal. Still, we've seen a lot of non-power bats do damage this season. Walker bats cleanup while Flores is the fifth or sixth batter.
A cacophony of injuries have handed Derek Dietrich the starting third base job. Only J.T. Riddle is around to share it. Despite his dearth of home runs this season, Dietrich is a solid play against any right-handed pitcher. The power will come. He'll see Lance Lynn on Wednesday.
Andrew Toles should be widely owned for his leadoff role against right-handed pitching. I only have so many ways to recommend a player. His teammate, utility man Chris Taylor, has probably wrested the starting second base job from Chase Utley. Logan Forsythe is still on the rehab trail. Take advantage of Taylor's bat until Forsythe returns.
Other Targets: Josh Bell, Andrew Toles, Chris Taylor, Brandon Drury, Tyler Collins, Jim Adduci, Mitch Moreland, Domingo Santana, Robbie Grossman, Max Kepler, Carlos Gomez, Shin-Soo Choo, Logan Morrison, Colby Rasmus, Brandon Guyer, Randal Grichuk, Christian Arroyo, Aaron Altherr
Steals on the Wire
Andrew Romine ain't much to look at, but he's batting leadoff for the Tigers while the rest of their lineup watches from the disabled list. Romine has 20 to 30 stolen base speed. Unfortunately, his plate discipline and contact skills don't even belong in the majors. Still, the role is of interest, especially in very deep formats.
Ben Gamel is batting second for the Mariners, but its his teammate Taylor Motter who most interests me. The utility man has an over-40 percent hard contact rate, placing him among a powerful crowd. He also has the speed necessary to steal based. Motter entered the season as a 26th man. Suddenly, he appears to have a very bright future. Jarrod Dyson also lurks at the bottom of the Mariners lineup.
Jose Reyes is still plateaued at 31 percent owned. He's one of the top 50 hitters over the last two weeks.
Other Targets: Josh Harrison, Hernan Perez, Keon Broxton, Delino DeShields, Kevin Kiermaier, Kolten Wong
Skill Positions
Nick Ahmed is not entirely useless against left-handed pitching, and he even bats second sometimes. Well, usually he bats eighth and Chris Owings hits second. Ahmed is a career .269/.320/.384 hitter versus southpaws.
My money is on Manny Pina starting for the Brewers tomorrow. Or Jett Bandy. There's still very little rhyme or reason to this platoon. Ideally, Bandy would start against sinker pitchers with Pina handling the others.
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