RADIO
Welcome back to my hitting streamers column for Week 19, taking a look at hitters to add or stream off the waiver wire for this week's scheduled games.
To keep things simple, I pick from players who are 50% owned or less and who play at least seven games in the week. If someone jumps off the page at me as a less than seven game player, I may make an exception, but otherwise the advantage in number of games dictates my choices.
Streaming can be a valuable tool, by allowing you to feast on favorable pitching matchups and simply have your hitters play more games than your opponents' hitters. If you have the roster space, streaming a hitter can be useful not only to fill a vacant lineup spot, but also to fill in for someone who has five games that week or faces tough matchups. In 5x5 leagues, four of the five hitting categories are counting stats, making the value of extra games significant. Streaming also can allow you to target a specific category of need. This week offers a decent streaming pool. Let's dive in.
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Bats to Stream and Start in Week 19
Greg Bird (1B, NYY) - 46% owned
The first baseman on MLB’s second-highest-scoring offense is on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues, and this week he has seven games with favorable matchups. Add him. He likely will not help you in the batting average department, but he has a career line of .230/29/63/86/0 in 148 games. Given his matchups this week and the state of the Yankees’ 2018 offense, I think those rates underestimate his expected production this week. Bird is a good bet to homer this week and provide good run production, and he might even provide you a respectable average given the matchups. Add him with confidence.
Leonys Martin (OF, CLE) - 9% owned
After the trade deadline, Martin moves from MLB's fourth-worst offense to its third-best (in terms of runs per game). In just under half a season of games (79), he has nine homers, seven steals and a .252 batting average. That production can now be combined with increased run production, leading to a very useful fantasy asset. Facing favorable matchups this week, Martin could actually provide a decent batting average while producing in the other four categories.
Jackie Bradley, Jr. (OF, BOS) - 23% owned
After not hitting better than .203 this season until the month of July, Bradley finally got it rolling with a .260/2/14/17/2 line in 22 July games. He has posted better numbers against righties, and he should face five or six of them this week. Moreover, he gets to face the Orioles’ pitching staff. At 28 years old, Bradley is just two seasons removed from a .267/26/94/87/9 line. There is talent there, and he has a good chance to show it this week.
Gerardo Parra (OF, COL) - 9% owned
What hitter doesn’t like a week with seven games at Coors Field? Parra has posted a respectable line of .294/5/42/45/7 this year. While Parra has hit slightly worse at home this year, that is likely a sample size issue as he has previously hit better at Coors. With Colorado scoring the fourth most runs per game at home, there should be a lot of run production to go around. Parra has performed better against righties, and he should get to face five of them this week. Even though his pitching matchups aren’t great, the other factors still make him a nice streaming option this week.
Jonathan Villar (2B/OF, BAL) - 31% owned
Villar faces tough pitching matchups this week. However, he looks to be the everyday leadoff hitter and second baseman for Baltimore. If he can get on base, expect him to run. In 2016, he stole 62 bases and swatted 19 homers. This year, in just 262 at bats, he has a line of .263/6/27/22/14. He is a great option for stolen bases, and he can also smack a homer. The matchups will limit his potential this week, but he is still worth a gamble. He is a buy and hold rather than a streamer.
Willie Calhoun (OF, TEX) - 13% owned
Calhoun has shown the ability to hit for power and average in the minors. In 2017, he batted over .300 with 31 homers in 128 games. In 2016, he had 27 homers. After a slow start in the minors this year, he got rolling and received a callup. He has not yet produced in the majors, but that 13 game sample should not dissuade you. His defense and lack of walks will not hurt you in 5x5 leagues. Even though he only faces average pitching matchups this week, he is still worth a look as an upside option for power and average.
Franciso Cervelli (C, PIT) - 37% owned or Yan Gomes (C, CLE) - 35% owned
If you need a catcher, there are two good streaming options this week in Cervelli and Gomes. Cervelli has a 133 wRC+ on the year, and in just 65 games, has a line of .265/10/27/40/1. Healthy again, he faces favorable matchups this week. Gomes has a .238/11/38/35/0 line on the year, which is in line with his production in recent years. He also faces good matchups this week. If either is available and you need a catcher, they present good options.
Others to Consider
Johan Camargo (2B/3B/SS, ATL) - 20% owned - In just 83 games, Camargo has a line of .257/12/38/48/0. His impressive strikeout and walk rates predict continued success.
Jason Kipnis (2B/OF, CLE) - 31% owned - Kipnis is having a down year, but he has shown himself as a top 50 talent in the past and faces favorable matchups this week.
