RADIO
It is finally time for fantasy baseball, which means it is also time to start scouring the waiver wires for hitting streamers! This first edition of the column is for July 27 through August 2.
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. With the shortened season, staying on top of desirable streamers will be even more important to snatch up. I will try to identify hitters who I think have the best chance to do well for the following week, even if they are hardly owned.
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. With the introduction out of the way, let’s get going!
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Behind the Plate
Francisco Mejia (C, SD) - 43% owned
I would have had Jorge Alfaro as my top catcher to stream until he was placed on the IL, so my next best option is Francisco Mejia. It's hard to find fantasy value at the catcher's position, but Mejia compiled a respectable .265/.316/.438 slash line with eight home runs and 22 RBI over 244 plate appearances last season.
This upcoming week he will get one game against the backend of the Diamondbacks rotation, three games at the Giants (pitcher-friendly park but hitter-friendly rotation), and three games at Coors Field, the pantheon of fantasy hitting. The strong matchups make Mejia a viable streaming candidate for those of you who just lost Alfaro.
Also Consider: Sean Murphy (C, OAK) 25% owned
At the Corners
Brian Anderson (3B/OF, MIA) - 26% owned
Brian Anderson is an underrated fantasy player, given his past performance and his multi-position eligibility. He provided a respectable .261/.342/.468 slash line with 20 home runs and 66 RBI in just 120 games in 2019 (he missed time with a broken left hand). His 86th-percentile hard-hit rate supported his HR numbers. Anderson will get the same favorable slate as Alfaro mentioned above, making for a solid opportunity for his power to come through.
Maikel Franco (3B, KC) - 2% owned
Ok, there are some understandable reasons why Franco is only 2% owned at the start of the season. He hit a poor .234 in 2019 and consequently didn’t consistently start with the Phillies. That being said, he had a respectable 8.4% walk rate and 14.3% strikeout rate in 2019, hit 17 HR in just 428 plate appearances, and his starting position is now solidified with the Royals, who’s lineup may not be as poor as anticipated.
More importantly, he gets a pretty decent set of matchups this week. He’ll get the Tigers for four games in hitter-friendly Comerica Park with Matt Boyd slated to be the only tough matchup, followed by three games at home against the White Sox. The Royals should dodge Lucas Giolito in this series, and the rest of the team’s starters were inconsistent in 2019. Overall, Franco seems like a pretty decent option to stream this week and is definitely available in your league.
Also Consider: C.J. Cron (1B, DET) 38% owned, Wil Myers (1B/OF, SD) 31% owned, Jon Berti (SS/3B/OF, MIA) 20% owned
Up the Middle
Cesar Hernandez (2B, CLE) - 44% owned
This guy is one of the higher-end streamers for the week. Cesar Hernandez is set to hit atop a pretty good Indians lineup this season. The veteran can provide a little bit of everything fantasy-wise, posting a .279/.333/.408 slash line with 14 HR, 71 RBI, nine steals, and a 15% strikeout rate in 2019 with the Phillies. I’m actually a little surprised he made it into the sub-50% ownership group.
Hernandez is a player who could be streamed in a pinch regardless of matchups, but his matchups are decent this week. The Indians get three games against the White Sox at home, with the only tough matchup coming against Lucas Giolito. They then get four games in Minnesota. The Twins rotation is pretty solid, but the Indians at least won’t have to face Jake Odorizzi, who is on the IL with back soreness. Hernandez is a player who may not be qualified for this column for long, so grab him while you can.
Jonathan Schoop (2B, DET) - 8% owned
Schoop’s fantasy profile is pretty well-solidified at this point in his career; he never walks, strikes out fairly often, can sometimes hit for decent average, and can hit for power. There are some things to like in there, especially now that he will be a definitive starter for the Tigers. The Tigers will get to play all their games at home for this period, four against the Royals (a very favorable matchup), and three against the backend of the Reds rotation. Trevor Bauer could be a tough matchup, but Wade Miley and Anthony DeSclafani are fine pitchers to face from an offensive perspective. Given the matchups and Schoop’s new hitter-friendly home field, I wouldn’t be surprised if he hit a couple of long balls over this stretch, making him a somewhat-exciting streamer.
Also Consider: Freddy Galvis (2B/SS, CIN) 9% owned, Jurickson Profar (2B/OF, SD) 6% owned
In the Outfield
Shogo Akiyama (OF, CIN) - 49% owned
Shogo Akiyama is my top streamer of this period. Some fantasy players may not be aware of him as he has spent his entire career in Japan, but I think he has the chance to be a solid fantasy asset. Akiyama compiled a stellar .301/.376/.454 career slash line over nine seasons with the Seibu Lions and had a nice 2019 season with a .303/.392/.471 slash line, 20 HR, 62 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. He will be hitting at the top of an improved Reds lineup and should have plenty of opportunities to help fantasy teams.
The Reds will play the cubs for four games at home, slated to get two decent matchups (Jon Lester and Alec Mills) and two potentially tough matchups (Kyle Hendricks and Yu Darvish) before heading to Detroit for a favorable three-game matchup. I would stream Akiyama against most matchups, but this week makes him an even better play.
Corey Dickerson (OF, MIA) - 21% owned
As you can probably guess by now, I am a fan of the Marlins’ matchups for this slate. Corey Dickerson missed a good portion of the 2019 season due to several injuries, but put up a respectable .304/.341/.565 slash line with 12 HR and 59 RBI over 279 plate appearances. Dickerson can hit for average and some power. His matchups this week at Camden Yards and his new home (Marlins Park) should help him maximize his power numbers to start the season.
Also Consider: Yoenis Cespedes (OF, NYM) 48% owned, Alex Gordon (OF, KC) 2% owned
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