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Welcome to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. Use this column to improve upon your neediest categories.
Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Friday, August 11.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Rally Kitten
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Rally Kitten
Why do the Cardinals get all the animals? They're already named after a bird. Then they took ownership of squirrels. Now they have rally kittens (watch out for the claws!). Thankfully, the Angels already claimed monkeys, thus disrupting the tyranny of St. Louis.
The linked video is also a great example of why it's bad to throw middle-middle fastballs to major league hitters. Except Ben Revere. You can throw him middle-middle all day.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
The White Sox game is at risk of early storms. Postponement seems unlikely. The Nationals game may be a tad wet tomorrow.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Friday, August 11
Pitchers to Use
The White Sox acquired Reynaldo Lopez over the offseason as part of the Adam Eaton trade. Lopez has a solid stat line at Triple-A, and he's been killing it recently. Since late June, the hard-throwing righty has 63 strikeouts and 15 walks in 46.2 innings. He's posted a 2.70 ERA over the same period. Scouts are mixed about his long term viability in the rotation. They always worry about small pitchers. Listed at a generous six feet, zero inches, Lopez relies on a 96 mph fastball, frequently used curve ball, and a changeup. He'll host the Royals.
Other Targets: Eduardo Rodriguez, Mike Foltynewicz
Pitchers to Exploit
The Mariners acquired Marco Gonzales from the Cardinals earlier this season. The former prospect remains a work in progress. He mainly leans on a fastball and change combination. His curve ball is show-me quality offering. Gonzales doesn't have the fastball velocity or changeup of a Cole Hamels despite using the same approach. As such, he's likely to turn in several ugly outings.
Chris Stratton is a former first-round college draft pick who took the long way to the majors. He's now viewed as a swing starter with the upside to one day join a major league rotation on a full time basis. He has four decent pitches, although none of them are wipe out offerings. He may stick around the periphery of the majors long enough to figure things out. For now, you can exploit him with no reservations.
Other Targets: Jaime Garcia, Edwin Jackson, Nick Pivetta, Kyle Gibson, Anibal Sanchez, Homer Bailey, Ubaldo Jimenez
Homers on the Wire
I know Keon Broxton has his problems, but a 31 percent ownership rate is absurd. The guy has 15 home runs and 19 steals. Almost nobody offers that combination of power and speed. He's a better bet for home runs than steals opposite Bailey.
I think major league pitchers will eventually figure out a way to exploit Nick Williams' aggression. When that happens, it will be up to him to adjust. However, there's been no sign of that happening yet. Seth Lugo strikes me as exactly the sort of pitcher against which Williams' approach can reap a reward. Perhaps a big fly.
Other Targets: Enrique Hernandez, Jed Lowrie, Matt Joyce, Seth Smith, Matt Adams, Dansby Swanson, Jose Martinez, Brandon Moss, Derek Dietrich, Max Kepler, Robbie Grossman, Joe Mauer, Eddie Rosario, Jim Adduci, Tommy Joseph, Freddy Galvis, Brian Goodwin, Chris Young
Steals on the Wire
Cameron Maybin is back in action, although it's unclear how often he'll run after sustaining a serious leg injury. Maybin is especially unlikely to run against Mike Zunino. He shuts down the running game. You're better off with Jarrod Dyson on the versus Nolasco.
The Astros struggle to hold base runners, especially with Brian McCann catching. For that reason, consider trying Delino DeShields, Shin-Soo Choo, or Carlos Gomez against Charlie Morton. It's not a good pitcher-hitter matchup, but at least they'll probably run if they reach base.
Other Targets: Rajai Davis, Kolten Wong, Cesar Hernandez, Wilmer Difo
Skill Positions
Assuming his hand is recovered, Austin Barnes is always a great pick when he's set to face a lefty. Barnes has been a top 15 catcher despite receiving backup catcher reps.
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