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Welcome to another edition of our daily fantasy baseball streamers! Are you playing in leagues with daily moves and looking to beef up those rosters? We here at RotoBaller are there for you and all of your streaming needs. Whether you are just trying to get that elusive category win or you are trying to make up for a lackluster start by Cal Quantrill against the hopeless Twins to start the week, we can help. Each day, RotoBaller will provide you with some of the best streaming options to consider in both shallow and deep fantasy baseball daily leagues. Streaming hitters and pitchers to exploit matchups are important to help you win your league.
It is important to know your league if you're going to stream. I'm not just talking about which teams your leaguemates root for. I'm talking about whether strikeouts count against you for hitters or if fielding stats are included. Most importantly, you need to know how many transactions you have per week. You don't want to blow your allotment within a couple of days. You can also use these recommendations to help build your DFS lineups. This article will use rostered percentages and position eligibility from ESPN leagues.
We have eight pitchers going that are rostered in more than 90% of ESPN leagues. Six more are owned in more than half of leagues. That leaves us with a shade more than half of the pitchers going today to choose from. Who are the best of the worst to start off our week?
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Hitter Streamers for 8/17 - Shallow Leagues
Anthony Santander (OF, SHB, BAL) - 49.7% Rostered
Matchup: at TB RHP Drew Rasmussen
The Orioles have been worse than the Cubs lately. Last night, they dropped their 12th straight game. It may seem counterintuitive to use one of their hitters, but Santander has four homers and six RBI in the last eight games. The Orioles may be losing, sometimes in spectacular fashion that brings flashbacks to those of us old enough to remember the 1988 version of the Orioles, but Santander isn't the reason why.
Amed Rosario (SS/OF, RHB, CLE) - 45.3% Rostered
Matchup: at MIN RHP Bailey Ober
Rosario is cooking in the August heat, hitting .355 with nine RBI, three steals, and seven runs scored in 14 games this month. He has racked up 17 hits in his last 11 games, only going hitless in one of those. That's not going to happen against this terrible pitching staff. Rosario is going to get something tonight, even if he won't help the power numbers much. He at least has a shot at some steals and runs.
Mike Zunino (C, RHB, TB) - 38.7% Rostered
Matchup: vs. BAL LHP John Means
Zunino no longer starts every day, but he has homered in four straight games and has a eight-game hitting streak going. In that span, Zunino is hitting .407 with five homers, seven RBI, and ten runs scored. He has been streaky his entire career. A lefty on the mound virtually assures Zunino will start today. He should be starting for your team as well until he cools off.
Josh Rojas (2B/SS/OF, LHB, ARI) - 32.2% Rostered
Matchup: vs. PHI RHP Kyle Gibson
They don't come much hotter than Rojas right now. After going hitless in his first six at-bats off the IL last week, Rojas closed the week with ten hits in four games with a homer, four RBI, and four runs scored. He is back in the leadoff spot for Arizona, right where he was before he injured his finger in the middle of July.
Hitter Streamers for 8/17 - Deeper Leagues
Aledmys Diaz (2B/3B/OF, RHB, HOU) - 21.8% Rostered
Matchup: at KC LHP Daniel Lynch
Diaz gained a spot in the everyday lineup with the trade of Abraham Toro, and he has not disappointed. He is hitting .435 with a homer, three runs scored, and five RBI in the last week and is hitting .341 since Toro was dealt to Seattle. Diaz isn't known for his power, but the Royals aren't known for their pitching (in a good way) either. Diaz should be good for something tonight.
Bobby Dalbec (1B, RHB, BOS) - 11.1% Rostered
Matchup: at NYY LHP Jordan Montgomery, at NYY RHP Luis Gil
Dalbec may only start the first game against the lefty, but regardless, I want him in my lineups. Dalbec is hitting .467 with three homers, five runs scored, and a staggering 11 RBI (in just 15 at-bats!) in the last week. This is a small park that can't hold many hitters whether they are hot or not. Dalbec could be in for a huge day if he plays both games.
Connor Joe (OF/1B, RHB, COL) - 7.6% Rostered
Matchup: vs. SD LHP Matt Strahm
For some odd reason, the Rockies have Joe batting leadoff. Anything that gets the guy more at bats against a lefty is good news for me. Joe is hitting .325 since August 5 with five homers, 11 RBI, and seven runs scored. So what if he isn't stealing bases? He's finding the bleachers at Coors with regularity. That's what we play Rockies for.
Frank Schwindel (1B, RHB, CHC) - 5.9% Rostered
Matchup: at CIN RHP Vladimir Gutierrez
Much like Santander, Schwindel is lighting it up for a team that is sucking it up. Since taking over full-time for Anthony Rizzo on August 1, Schwindel is hitting .380 with four homers, eight runs scored, and 13 RBI. This may not be a great matchup, but it is a great hitter's park and the Reds bullpen can be had. I'll ride the hot hand once again.
Pitcher Streamers for 8/17 - Shallow Leagues
Vladimir Gutierrez (RHP, CIN) - 41.2% rostered
Matchup: vs. Cubs
The Cubs have lost 11 straight coming into this and Gutierrez has won four straight starts. They haven't been cheapies either. Gutierrez has only allowed five runs in 25.1 innings while striking out 21 against the Cubs, Mets, Braves, and Pirates. The bad news is that only one of those starts has been at home. He faced the Cubs before they sold everything, so there's reason to believe he should be at least as good as he was against them on July 27 when he gave up two runs in 6.1 innings while striking out five. Gutierrez is a great way to get an early win this week.
Luis Gil (RHP, NYY) - 30.9% rostered
Matchup: vs. Boston
Gil likely wont be as dominant as he has been in his first two major league starts. He struck out 14 in 11 innings while breezing through the Orioles and Mariners. Boston is going to be a little tougher test. The good news is that it's in the second game of a doubleheader. Gil is worth streaming for the strikeouts and a possible cheap complete game if he pitches well since the stupid seven-inning rule is in effect. I hate it, but that doesn't mean that I wont try to take advantage of it in fantasy leagues.
Pitcher Streamers for 8/17 - Deeper Leagues
Tanner Houck (RHP, BOS) - 18.2% rostered
Matchup: at NYY
This is another rookie starting in this twin bill, but Houck may be in a better spot. If guys are going to sit, it's likely going to be in the first game. Though the Yankees offense has come alive some in August, they still aren't the Bronx Bombers were looking for. Houck has only allowed five runs in 20.1 innings since returning to the majors on July 16. He wont go deep into the game, but the 32 strikeouts in that span make him worth streaming. This kind of strikeout potential is rarely available on waivers in deep leagues.
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