RADIO
Welcome back to another installment of the hitting streamers column! This edition is for August 10 through August 16.
As will be the case every week, I will offer a couple of worthy streamers for each position (catcher, corner infield, middle infield, outfield) based on the number of games the players have for the upcoming week, favorable matchups, or injury replacements. You may not always see well-known names in this column; my goal is to identify hitters who I think have the best chance to do well for the following week, not just to identify names you may recognize who are available.
This column will highlight players owned in roughly fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues who could present as nice streaming options for the upcoming week. The season is still young, but hitters are starting to accumulate some stats, making it easier to identify strong performances. Let's get going!
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Behind the Plate
Martin Maldonado (C, HOU) - 15% owned
There aren't a ton of productive fantasy catchers out there on the waiver wire, but this one hits in one of baseball's best lineups. Martin Maldonado has produced mediocre numbers at the plate this season, compiling a .240/.406/.240 slash line with no home runs and seven RBI. However, the Astros get two great matchups this week against the Giants and Mariners, both at home. There really isn't much more to consider here; Maldonado is the available catcher with the best matchup in the best lineup.
Also Consider : Isiah Kiner-Falefa (C, TEX) 13% owned
At the Corners
Christian Walker (1B, ARI) - 51% owned
Christian Walker has yet to show the HR prowess he displayed last season but has still hit well, posting a .317 batting average and .463 slugging percentage. This week could help him get going. He will get three games at hitter-friendly Coors Field and three games against the Padres, who have a team ERA of 4.70. He's been hitting the ball extremely hard (average exit velocity is in 86th percentile of baseball, hard-hit rate in 98th percentile), so the favorable matchups and environment could help him get on the HR board this week. He is one of my top streamers for the week.
Daniel Murphy (1B, COL) - 48% owned
This one is a throwback to a once-prominent fantasy player. 35-year-old Daniel Murphy is not quite as good as he was when he played for the Nationals a few seasons ago, but he can still hit (.303/.361/.455 slash line in 37 plate appearances). One of the things that has benefitted him is that he now plays his home games in Coors Field, and the Rockies will play all six of their games at home this week. They will get some nice matchups against a struggling Diamondbacks rotation (5.71 team ERA) and a lackluster Rangers rotation (4.59 team ERA). Murphy is set up for a turn-back-the-clock week.
Also Consider: Starlin Castro (2B/3B, WAS) 44% owned, Wilmer Flores (1B/2B, SF) 10% owned, Chris Owings (2B/3B/SS/OF, COL) 2% owned
Up the Middle
Kike Hernandez (2B/SS/OF, LAD) - 46% owned
It wouldn't be a streaming column if I didn't mention Kike Hernandez at least once throughout the season. As fantasy players will likely know, Hernandez is an intriguing fantasy option because of his position versatility, his streakiness, and the fact that he hits in the Dodgers lineup. He has a .262 batting average with one HR and six RBI so far this season, but his seven game slate against the Padres and Angels this week make him a worthy streamer. Hopefully, he can take advantage and have a strong week.
Hanser Alberto (2B/3B, BAL) - 46% owned
Hanser Alberto was a surprise fantasy contributor last season and has continued to produce this season, posting a .326/.354/.522 slash line with two HR, five RBI, and a stolen base. I am actually surprised he isn't more owned given his numbers and multi-position eligibility. This week he'll get three games on the road against a poor Phillies rotation (5.88 team ERA) and then three games at home against a Nationals team that may not be as ominous as previously thought, depending on if Max Scherzer (hamstring) is ready to go. Alberto is a player who can be used in fantasy in most matchups, so he is worth the add for this week and future weeks.
Also Consider: Howie Kendrick (1B/2B/3B, WAS) 40% owned, J.P. Crawford (SS, SEA) 28% owned
In the Outfield
Leury Garcia (2B/SS/OF, CHW) - 19% owned
Leury Garcia has shown that he can do a bit of everything over the course of his career and he has gotten off to a hot start this season, batting .300 with two HR and five RBI. The White Sox have an improved lineup this season and Garcia's multi-position eligibility has helped ensure routine playing time. This week the White Sox will get three games on the road against a poor Tigers rotation and then three games at home against a Cardinals team that has not played for a while. If Garcia can continue to stay hot he could be a nice pickup for this week and potentially beyond.
Dylan Moore (2B/3B/SS/OF, SEA) - 12% owned
Dylan Moore has come out of nowhere for the Mariners this season; he has a .367 batting average, a .700 slugging percentage, two HR, four RBI, and two steals over 30 plate appearances. The 28-year-old had a poor rookie 2019 season but has been a surprise contributor to this point. The Mariners will get three games in hitter-friendly Globe Life Park and three games on the road against an Astros rotation that has been hittable this season (4.30 team ERA). It's too early for me to say that I think Moore is the real deal, but he's a hot bat worth taking a flyer on this week.
Also Consider: JaCoby Jones (OF, DET) 35% owned, Kevin Pillar (OF, BOS) 20% owned, Marwin Gonzalez (1B/3B/OF, HOU) 6% owned
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