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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.
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 Sunday, May 27. Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- The WTF DFA
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. The WTF DFA
In a move that surprised many, the Red Sox designated Hanley Ramirez for assignment. Though it's true that Ramirez has struggled since a searing hot start to the season, it's uncommon to see such a high-profile player tossed aside. If nothing else, this turn of events should serve as yet another reminder to fantasy owners to chill out about early-season performance. There was serious, if limited, chatter about Hanley going 30/30 this year after he notched three home runs and three stolen bases in his first 12 games. That was always pretty ridiculous, but Friday's news just underlines how much of a small-sample overreaction it was.
2. Today's Weather and Updates - Saturday, May 26
Storm systems in the northeast could cause problems for Cardinals-Pirates, Jays-Phillies, and Angels-Yankees. Otherwise, all systems are go.
3. Streamer Picks - Sunday, May 27
Pitchers to Use
Trevor Cahill is by orders of magnitude the best streaming option out there on Sunday. He's close to a top 10 starter by swinging strike rate, and the Diamondbacks whiff more often than any other team in the majors. The only other arm worth a shot belongs to Jhoulys Chacin, who has allowed two or fewer runs in six of his last seven turns and draws a struggling Mets squad at home.
Other Targets: None
Pitchers to Exploit
Matt Harvey at Coors Field. They don't get much easier than this, folks. I know Harvey has been surprisingly not awful since joining the Reds, but...c'mon.
Jason Hammel has a 5.39 ERA and 1.43 WHIP since joining the Royals last season, and this year he's lost a half-dozen percentage points from his already pedestrian K%. The Rangers may be a mess right now, but so is Hammel. Even after limiting the Cardinals to one run over seven innings in his last appearance, he's allowed 26 runs over his last 28 innings of work.
Other Targets: Mike Leake, Mike Foltynewicz, German Marquez, Zack Wheeler
Homers on the Wire
With Paul DeJong out for an extended period after sustaining a broken hand, Jedd Gyorko will reportedly draw most of the starts at shortstop for St. Louis. The super-sub has averaged a 32 HR/600 PA pace since joining the Cardinals in 2016. He'll face Jameson Taillon, who has been more vulnerable than usual to the long ball lately.
Other Targets: Franchy Cordero, Mitch Moreland, Teoscar Hernandez, Yonder Alonso, Max Kepler, Mark Canha, Adam Duvall, Pedro Alvarez, Christian Villanueva
Steals on the Wire
Only a dozen players in MLB currently have cracked double digits in the stolen base column. The only ones who aren't owned in the majority of leagues (usually the vast majority) are Michael A. Taylor and Mallex Smith. It's understandable with Taylor, as he's hitting a mere .186 and has only one steal since May 2. Why Smith is so overlooked despite hitting .293 and swiping 11 bags on the year is less obvious. Sure, you won't get much else from him, but speed is speed, particularly with several studs who run currently sitting on the disabled list.
Other Targets: Travis Jankowski, Jarrod Dyson, Niko Goodrum, Jose Peraza, Jonathan Villar, Delino DeShields, Aaron Hicks, JaCoby Jones, Franchy Cordero
