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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 Monday, August 28.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Old Friend Alert
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Old Friend Alert
Tommy Pham keeps mashing. He popped a walk-off home run yesterday, his 17th of the season. He also has 17 steals to go with a .304/.400/.501 batting line. Pham used to be a daily recommendation in this column. My only regret is not believing he could maintain this level of success. Pham has a long history of power and high BABIPs. However, as a ground ball hitter with a track record of deep slumps, I figured he's turn pumpkin. It hasn't happened yet.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
Chicago (AL) has a small risk of late storms this afternoon. Of the 10 games on Monday, only Chicago (NL) looks to be in any danger.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Monday, August 28
Pitchers to Use
I've been very cautious about buying into Edwin Jackson. I remain extremely skeptical - mostly due to his 5.44 FIP and 5.43 xFIP. His 3.38 ERA is over two runs better than those typically accurate run estimators. Jackson does appear to be in top form. His velocity is back up to 94 mph - only a tic below where he sat in his prime. He's also limited walks while inducing a healthy swinging strike rate. The Nationals host Jose Urena and the Marlins. Urena is another option versus a depleted Nationals offense.
Other Targets: Trevor Williams, Mike Montgomery
Pitchers to Exploit
While initial reports suggested that Andrew Heaney was near top form while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, it's now clear that he's missing spots inside the strike zone. Heaney has allowed seven home runs in 10 innings. Aside from the middle-middle mistakes, his stuff does look impressive. He's inducing plenty of whiffs while avoiding walks.
Jordan Zimmermann and his over-6.00 ERA is visiting Coors Field. Oh boy... Antonio Senzatela is on the other side of this matchup. Senzatela's shallow repertoire is better suited for relief work.
Other Targets: Marco Gonzales, Chris Tillman, Austin Pruitt, Ian Kennedy, Daniel Gossett, Lucas Sims
Homers on the Wire
Now that Rhys Hoskins is finally unavailable to us, I have another Phillie to hype. Nick Williams has a long standing reputation as a swing-at-everything slugger. Unsurprisingly, it didn't take long for major league pitchers to avoid the strike zone. Williams has adjusted by taking more pitches. He's posted a 12.7 percent walk rate over his last 79 plate appearances. He'll probably return to his free swinging ways, but it's nice to see he can keep pitchers honest. He bats third in a suddenly potent (or at least not impotent) Phillies lineup.
Marcus Semien usually leads off against left-handed pitchers. He also has plenty of pop, making his matchup versus Heaney especially tasty. Semien is a career .285/.332/.479 hitter versus southpaws.
Other Targets: Jed Lowrie, Matt Chapman, Luis Valbuena, Mikie Mahtook, Lucas Duda, Steve Pearce, Mitch Moreland, Freddy Galvis, Derek Dietrich, Howie Kendrick, Mitch Haniger, Yonder Alonso
Steals on the Wire
Ben Revere is supposedly recovered from his bruised knee. He'll probably bat leadoff versus Gossett. The Athletics are one of the most stolen base prone teams in the league. Revere has hit well in the second half of the season.
Other Targets: Cesar Hernandez, Wilmer Difo
Skill Positions
I should probably recommend Mike Zunino more often. He's an all-or-nothing hitter. Despite a painful .231 average and .312 OBP, he's still an above average hitter (113 wRC+ or 13 percent better than average). He's slugged 19 home runs in 340 plate appearances. He'll also frequently strike out (36.8 percent strikeout rate). Tillman and Camden Yards work in his favor.
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