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Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire all season long. This article, now in its second year, runs seven days a week.
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 Monday, June 25. Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Sayonara Senzel
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Sayonara Senzel
Top Reds prospect Nick Senzel will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right index finger, immediately ending the constant speculation that he will be called up in the immediate future. Between the long-term contract extension the team gave to Eugenio Suarez last offseason, Suarez's stellar 2018 numbers, and the fact that Senzel was also struggling with an unrelated vertigo issue, even dynasty owners may need to reevaluate whether Senzel is worth holding onto moving forward. At best, the still rebuilding Reds figure to leave him in the minors for super-two reasons next season.
2. Today's Weather and Updates - Sunday, June 24
Thunderstorms are in the forecast for both Boston and Denver today. They're a little after game time in Boston, so the contest is likely to start but then get delayed. The opposite is true in Denver, as the thunderstorms should clear out an hour or so after scheduled first pitch. Cincinnati, Cleveland, New York, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota also have some rain in the forecast, but they should play. Check closer to game time just to make sure.
3. Streamer Picks - Monday, June 25
Pitchers to Use
Did you know that Seth Lugo is having an amazing season? The Metropolitan fill-in has a 2.85 ERA, 3.04 xFIP, 27.3% K%, and 5.6% BB% on the season. He's throwing his signature curve more often (29.4% this year vs. 17.4% last), using its high spin in place of a traditional fastball (it's his most used pitch). It's working so far, and the Pirates in a pitcher's park are not an intimidating opponent.
Jonathan Loaisiga is also scheduled to make his third career start, and his first outside of Yankee Stadium. He's been striking out plenty of opposing batters (26.3% K%) and keeping the ball on the ground (54.5% GB%), but his 15.8% BB% means that his pitch counts are often too high to last deep into games (8 2/3 IP in two starts so far). His ratios are good, but he may not be what you're looking for if you're after wins or QS.
Other Targets: Shelby Miller @ MIA, Felix Hernandez @ BAL
Pitchers to Exploit
Shelby Miller could be worth starting against the lowly Marlins (82 wRC+) in his first start back from Tommy John, but he might fit in this category too. He was great at A ball in two rehab starts (0.77 ERA, 42.9% K%, 0% BB% in 11 2/3 IP), but stumbled badly against Double-A competition (10.57 ERA, 25.6% K%, 15.4% BB% in 7 2/3 IP). He's a total wild card.
Andrew Cashner (4.72 ERA, 4.61 xFIP, 18.8% K%, 10% BB%) is just bad. His supporting cast is also bad (83 wRC+), to the point that I recommended King Felix above because he'll probably record a W. Otherwise, Felix could fit here too.
Other Targets: Frankie Montas @ Detroit, Jordan Zimmermann vs. OAK, Dan Straily vs. ARI, Cole Hamels vs. SD, Mike Montgomery @ LAD
Homers on the Wire
Jordan Zimmermann has struggled with the long ball this season, allowing 1.24 HR/9 despite a low 10.2% HR/FB. The reason why is the sheer volume of airborne balls he allows: 45% FB% and 26.6% LD%. His 4.05 xFIP might look reasonable, but he's throwing BP out there. The A's get to take advantage tomorrow, with waiver bats such as Matt Joyce, Mark Canha, Marcus Semien, and Stephen Piscotty making for interesting streamers.
Other Targets: Leonys Martin, John Hicks, Niko Goodrum, Kike Hernandez, C.J. Cron, Christian Villanueva, Hunter Renfroe, Albert Pujols, Daniel Decalso, Nick Ahmed, Michael Conforto, Jeimer Candelario, Yonder Alonso
Steals on the Wire
Michael A. Taylor is having a fantastic fantasy campaign, but the emergence of Juan Soto and the return of Adam Eaton have relegated him to a fourth outfielder role. I still think the team is likely to manipulate Soto's service time at some point, so Taylor is a name to remember later.
Other Targets: Jose Iglesias, Jarrod Dyson, Niko Goodrum, Jonathan Villar, Delino DeShields, Mallex Smith, JaCoby Jones, Dustin Fowler, Marcus Semien, Kevin Kiermaier, Manuel Margot
