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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, September 18.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- He's ALIVE
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. He's ALIVE
Carlos Gonzalez's owners finally gave up on him around the end of August. The timing, predictably, could not have been worse. While his seasonal numbers remain terrible, CarGo has posted a .321/.389/.542 batting line since mid-July (190 PA). He has seven home runs and 16 doubles over the span. Since the start of September, he's batting .391/.500/.870 with five home runs and seven doubles in 56 plate appearances.
The start of his hot streak coincides with a period when his ownership dipped to 20 percent. If you jumped on the bandwagon, you've been amply rewarded. If he's still floating around, go grab him. Look what he's doing!
2. Today's Weather and Updates
Watch out for storms in Chicago and Colorado today. The risk is below 50 percent at the moment. It might be quite rainy tomorrow. Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York (AL), Pittsburgh, and Detroit all have at least some rain in the forecast. Considering it's only a seven game slate, that could really affect the action. New York and Detroit appear to be the most at risk.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Monday, September 18
Pitchers to Use
It's the stretch run. We have to reach for anything that might be capable of helping us to victory. Doug Fister feels like he was bad for a huge chunk of the season. However, only four of his 12 starts were poor. The remaining eight were all above average. Six of those could be described as a gem. Fister is coming off arguably his worst start of the season. He allowed six earned runs over four innings to the Athletics. Nothing looked broken last week - he just got BABIP'd to death (and also ran afoul of Matt Olson).
Fister is easily the most streamable pitcher for his visit to Camden Yards. The Orioles offense is volatile, adding bonus risk and reward to the equation. While we can reasonably expect a quality start from the Bostonian, the same can't be said for the two guys listed below. They're desperation plays.
Other Targets: Jaime Garcia, Steven Brault
Pitchers to Exploit
You may find yourself needing to use one of these guys. I recommend Nick Pivetta. The righty has some of the traits we look for in successful pitchers including 9.39 K/9 and 3.80 BB/9. Those decent peripherals equate to a 4.36 xFIP. Alas, he's struggled with a .344 BABIP and 1.78 HR/9 - hence his actual 6.75 ERA. Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers will probably dismantle Pivetta. I feel better about his chances for a surprise quality start than the other three listed here. If all you need are strikeouts, then Pivetta is an easy start.
Other Targets: Jharel Cotton, Buck Farmer, Matt Harvey
Homers on the Wire
While Olson is no longer streamable (54 percent owned), a whole stack of Athletics is poised to provide value tomorrow. It all starts with probable leadoff man Matt Joyce. The righty masher is an OBP and power double threat versus Farmer. Marcus Semien, Jed Lowrie, Mark Canha, Matt Chapman, and Boog Powell should all be considered above average assets tomorrow. Surely at least one of them is available to you.
Other Targets: Jose Pirela, Hunter Renfroe, Justin Bour, Jeimer Candelario, Keon Broxton, Hernan Perez, Adam Frazier, Chase Utley, Austin Hays, Mitch Moreland
Steals on the Wire
If you want stolen bases, I have one (1) guy for you - Jose Reyes. The Mets leadoff man is on a hot streak, batting .347/.442/.573 with four home runs, eight steals, and more walks than strikeouts over his latest 89 plate appearances. There's no reason to hide from a matchup against Dan Straily - especially with such a shallow schedule tomorrow.
To be fair, the following sluggers could have been listed in this category - Semien, Broxton, Perez, and Frazier.
Other Targets: no
Skill Positions
Mitch Garver sometimes finds his way into the lineup against left-handed pitchers. A visit to Yankee Stadium could help him to access the power that got him to the majors. He's yet to go long in 44 plate appearances after popping 17 homers in 372 Triple-A plate appearances.
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