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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. Even at this early juncture, there's value in streaming.
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 Thursday, April 26. Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Marking Time
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Marking Time
We're now one month into the 2018 season, and in just a few more days, you won't have to hear anyone say, "It's April!" until next year. I still wouldn't advocate flipping the panic switch unless you're in truly dire straits. If you find yourself in a similarly bleak spot on Memorial Day, though, you have carte blanche to rage-drop to your heart's content.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
A low-pressure system in the northeast brings the threat of rain to Diamondbacks-Phillies and Rays-Orioles, but forecasts have the chance of precipitation below 50 percent in both cases, and suggest that delays are more likely than outright postponements. Otherwise, today's games should move forward as planned.
3. Streamer Picks - Thursday, April 26
Pitchers to Use
I'm no great fan of Sean Newcomb, but he's bound to rack up some strikeouts against the hapless Reds.
Opposing him will be Homer Bailey. After three injury-ravaged seasons in which he made just 26 starts with a 6.39 ERA and 1.72 WHIP, Bailey has to be happy with his 2018 performance thus far. The veteran is still looking for his first win of the season, but he's run a 3.68 ERA and 1.16 WHIP through five starts. He'll face a Braves lineup that ranks among the highest-scoring in the early going but has run hot and cold.
Other Targets: Ivan Nova, Jordan Montgomery
Pitchers to Exploit
Chris Tillman is clearly broken. You name the stat, he's been terrible by it. More walks than strikeouts? Check. A sub-50 F-Strike%. Yep. Homer-prone? He's allowed five in 17 innings. The Rays aren't exactly a challenging matchup, but I'd take pretty much anyone against Tillman based on the early returns.
Speaking of broken pitchers, how 'bout Lucas Giolito? The recipient of no small amount of sleeper buzz entering the season, Giolito has by some measures been even worse than Tillman. His K-BB% is a double-digit negative! You almost have to be trying to pitch this poorly. The Royals are bad and their park is pitcher-friendly, but Giolito can't be trusted right now. He's also opposed by Jakob Junis, who sports a 2.03 ERA and has three of KC's five wins this season.
Other Targets: Ben Lively, Marco Estrada
Homers on the Wire
C.J. Cron has gone deep three times in his last three games and gets to face Tillman. Matchups don't get much more streamable than that. Teammate Carlos Gomez is hitting below the Mendoza line, but he does have three bombs to his name.
Other Targets: Tyler Austin, Yonder Alonso, Max Kepler, Lucas Duda, Jorge Soler
Steals on the Wire
Opponents have successfully stolen a base on 77% of their attempts against Mike Zunino going back to last season. That bodes well for both Bradley Zimmer and Michael Brantley, even with a lefty on the mound in James Paxton.
Other Targets: Mallex Smith, Dexter Fowler
Skill Positions
Kurt Suzuki remains available in nearly 70 percent of Yahoo leagues at the moment despite outperforming all catchers not named Yasmani Grandal and Yadier Molina so far this season. Nothing reads as fluky in his performance, either - he's just making a ton of quality contact. He'll continue to get the vast majority of starts behind the plate while Tyler Flowers works his way back from an oblique strain.
Save opportunities haven't exactly been plentiful on the South Side, as the White Sox are among the worst teams in baseball. Nate Jones has outperformed nominal closer Joakim Soria, though, and could easily usurp the ninth inning from him.
