Welcome to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. Use this column to improve upon your neediest categories in this, the final week of the season.
Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Tuesday, September 26.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Looking Back
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Looking Back
I like to occasionally take a peek at players who used to regularly appear in this column. If you took my vociferous advice in April, you rostered Aaron Judge. It's been a long and pleasant ride. Although he slumped through the middle portion of the season, he's back to regularly launching big flies. Here are two from yesterday.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
The iffy forecast in Colorado has mostly cleared up today. Kansas City is in for a dousing tomorrow. There's a chance the game may be flat out cancelled since the visiting Tigers aren't playing for anything. However, KC probably prefers to run a doubleheader. Keep an eye out for double-stats.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Tuesday, September 26
Pitchers to Use
I'm going to switch up the format slightly by briefly discussing all the startable pitchers in buckets. Make your choice based on the type of pitcher you need.
Let's start volatile. If you need to throw a Hail Mary or two, Kevin Gausman, Rafael Montero, and Dinelson Lamet are the guys to try. They're capable of studly outings, but they're also not immune to meltdowns. Gausman is particularly unpredictable.
A few guys offer a blend of volume innings with a chance for a win - namely Trevor Williams, Josh Tomlin, R.A. Dickey, Jason Vargas, and Parker Bridwell. Although I've been picking against Bridwell all season, I like his matchup the most opposite the White Sox.
Since the start of July, Blake Snell has been flat out good. He's posted a 3.15 ERA with 7.87 K/9, 3.03 BB/9 and a 4-1 record in 13 starts. He's somewhere in between the above two buckets.
Daniel Mengden also gets his own category. He avoids hard contact with his four pitch mix, although he also tends to make short starts. He's opposed by the Mariners.
Other Targets: that's all
Pitchers to Exploit
Jake Thompson has a 4.14 ERA in 41.1 innings despite ugly peripherals (6.53 K/9, 4.35 BB/9, 1.74 HR/9). I figure the Nationals should enjoy the matchup - especially since Bryce Harper is back in action. Look for him to be eased into every day play. He may be reduced to pinch hit duties tomorrow.
Other Targets: Bartolo Colon, Carson Fulmer, Matt Moore, Anibal Sanchez
Homers on the Wire
It's a rare bad day for power hitters on the wire. I'm inclined to strongly consider Jose Pirela and Hunter Renfroe against Alex Wood. Renfroe in particular has the capacity to deliver lethal blows with the bat.
Other Targets: Mitch Haniger, Mark Canha, Marcus Semien, Brian Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Keon Broxton, Sam Travis, Scott Schebler, Max Kepler, Aaron Altherr
Steals on the Wire
Even though he's a knuckle ball pitcher, almost nobody runs against Dickey. Even so, Jose Reyes may be your best base running target on the wire. The only real alternative is Delino DeShields opposite Dallas Keuchel.
Other Targets:
Skill Positions
Jorge Alfaro or Cameron Rupp - probably whichever one doesn't start today - will have the platoon advantage against Gonzalez. That's more useful in the case of Rupp. Alfaro doesn't strike me as particularly platoony.
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