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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 Tuesday, August 22.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Total Eclipse
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Total Eclipse
You know you're old when everybody you know is taking this total eclipse nonsense entirely too seriously. I'm pretty confident the sun will return. However, I do have confirmation of a new report:
As part of the total eclipse, all of the moon balls hit in the last dozen years will be returned to earth, including https://t.co/A3KvO8xDPa
— Brad Johnson (@BaseballATeam) August 21, 2017
Feel free to at me your favorite moon balls for an easy RT. That's right, I spelled out "at."
2. Today's Weather and Updates
MLB foolishly didn't schedule any day games which means I can't use my joke about "eclipsy" weather. Storms threaten the action in Chicago (second game), Pittsburgh, and Baltimore. Thus far, the risk is below 50 percent. Check your preferred weather source later in the day.
Tomorrow, Cleveland, Detroit, Cincinnati, Chicago (AL), and Kansas City are all at risk of postponement. It could be a messy day.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Tuesday, August 22
Pitchers to Use
Brock Stewart will make a spot start for the Dodgers on Tuesday. His last two spot starts lasted 3.2 and 4.0 innings. Don't count on a chance for a win or a quality start. Instead, view this as an opportunity to change your team name to Brock Lobster. He should post decent rates too.
Jose Urena is the best target for owners hunting wins. He's set to face the Phillies in the second game of a doubleheader. He'll probably have difficulty outdueling Aaron Nola. Urena appears to be the luckiest pitcher in the league. He's posted a solid 3.61 ERA despite run estimators all predicting a roughly 5.00 ERA. Nearly half of his pitches are breaking balls. The Phillies offense is roughly league average at the moment.
Other Targets: Clayton Richard
Pitchers to Exploit
I have a secret to tell you. Lucas Giolito isn't any better than last year. With the White Sox Triple-A affiliate, Giolito has posted a 4.48 ERA with 9.37 K/9 and 4.13 BB/9. It's a near-perfect match for his performance in Double-A last year - except with a much higher ERA. Strangely, his penchant for inducing ground balls has completely disappeared since joining the White Sox system. I wonder what they have him emphasizing. He's set to face the Twins. Look for strikeouts and too many walks.
I think there's something to this Marco Gonzales fella. First though, he has to go through a self-discovery prospect in which he stays healthy and learns how to best use his quality stuff. He should model himself off Cole Hamels. In the mean time, exploit him without hesitation. The Braves benefit tomorrow.
Other Targets: Nick Pivetta, Ubaldo Jimenez, Paul Blackburn, Doug Fister, Matt Boyd, Homer Bailey, Steven Matz, Lucas Sims, Kyle Gibson, Tyson Ross, Ricky Nolasco
Homers on the Wire
Rhys Hoskins is up to 27 percent owned. Frankly, the climb is going much slower than expected considering he now has five home runs in 47 plate appearances to go with eight walks and seven strikeouts. I'll continue to comp him to prime Jose Bautista. For a power hitter, he makes an absurd quantity of contact. The profile reads like a super star. Don't overreact though, pitchers will find a weakness.
Other Targets: Nick Williams, Freddy Galvis, Derek Dietrich, Tomas Telis, Seth Smith, Matt Chapman, Jed Lowrie, Matt Joyce, Curtis Granderson, Josh Bell, Wilmer Flores, Lucas Duda, Brandon Phillips, Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson, Mitch Haniger, Taylor Motter, Max Kepler, Eddie Rosario, Jose Pirela, Hunter Renfroe, Stephen Piscotty, Randal Grichuk
Steals on the Wire
Kevin Kiermaier has 20 stolen base speed and an excellent matchup against the Blue Jays. Their catchers are piss poor when it comes to controlling the running game. Kiermaier has hit leadoff in the three games since his return. He's gone 5-for-13 with a homer.
Other Targets: Cesar Hernandez, Bradley Zimmer, Leury Garcia, Byron Buxton, Delino DeShields, Manny Margot
Skill Positions
Alex Avila has a friendly matchup for a homer (Bailey). Tyler Flowers will probably start tomorrow.
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