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, September 5.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Happy Labor Day
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Happy Labor Day
Here's Billy Hamilton laboring earlier today. Not what you expected, huh?
2. Today's Weather and Updates
Atlanta has a chance for storms tomorrow. That's typical.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Tuesday, September 5
Pitchers to Use
Garrett Richards is returning from the 60-day disabled list tomorrow. He's 35 percent owned. His most recent full season in the majors was 2015 when he posted a 3.65 ERA in 207 innings. Based on what I can find, most of Richards' rehab was not performed against minor league hitters. In fact, I can find reference to only two such innings. Expect a short outing as a result.
Robert Stephenson is an attractive option tomorrow because he's facing the most strikeout prone team in the majors. The Brewers also happen to be a highly productive offense on a hot streak. Pitching at Great American Ballpark has not gone well for Stephenson. He's allowed 1.69 HR/9. Stephenson is a great play if you need strikeouts but can ignore ERA and WHIP. Conversely, if ratios are your need, then avoid him.
Other Targets: CC Sabathia, Steven Brault, Miguel Gonzalez
Pitchers to Exploit
The Rangers are heavy on left-handed hitters, and they have several speedy players in their lineup. Braves starter Julio Teheran struggles against opposite-handed foes, and he can scarcely hold a base runner.
Other Targets: Jeremy Hellickson, Anibal Sanchez, Ben Lively, Odrisamer Despaigne, David Holmberg, Ty Blach, Antonio Senzatela, Ariel Miranda
Homers on the Wire
The list of power bats is surprisingly thin for a full schedule. I find myself drawn to Keon Broxton against Stephenson. Few batter-pitcher matchups promise more volatility. They've been high strikeout players with high home run rates. Should be interesting to watch.
Since joining the Rays, Lucas Duda is hitting for power, drawing walks, and struggling to BABIP worth a damn. He's slashing .188/.311/.485, but the poor average is entirely due to a .164 BABIP. Duda is usually a low BABIP guy - to the tune of a career .282 rate. Perhaps some positive regression will come his way opposite Bartolo Colon.
Other Targets: Stephen Piscotty, Brandon Phillips, Matt Adams, Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, Brandon Moss, Steve Pearce, Mitch Moreland
Steals on the Wire
At least two of Delino DeShields, Shin-Soo Choo, and Carlos Gomez will be in the lineup against Teheran. Unfortunately, DeShields is the most likely to sit - a shame since he's the most likely to attempt one or more steals.
Other Targets: Jarrod Dyson, Denard Span, Wilmer Difo
Skill Positions
Francisco Mejia may get some looks in the Indians lineup. He's one of the top hitting prospects in the minors, although he'll have trouble cracking a regular role in Cleveland. If he plays, the switch-hitter would have the platoon advantage against Holmberg.
Stephen Vogt will have the platoon advantage against Stephenson at a tiny venue. Chris Iannetta can do his lefty mashing routine against Ryu at a not-so-small park. James McCann also has the advantage and similarly ridiculous splits.
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