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Welcome to the top hitter streamers column for Week 5 of the MLB season (4/26 through 5/2). This weekly piece should be helpful for anyone looking to gain an edge in their league. If you need a fill-in for an injured player or want to exploit some plus matchups to gain an edge on your opponent then you're in the right place. I'm here to help you make some informed decisions to remain competitive in your league. The aim of this column is to help you stay ahead of the game and get an early jump on those waiver claims before your league mates.
Remember that this piece is forward-looking and a lot can change over the course of a week. Potential pitching opponents, batting orders, and projected number of at-bats are all subject to change so make sure you're following @RotoballerMLB on Twitter to stay up to date!
Disclaimer: I am only highlighting players who are currently rostered in 50% or less of Yahoo! leagues, meaning you should have a decent chance of picking these guys up on the waiver wire. These recommendations should apply to most league settings and formats as I'm looking for players who can help you across a variety of scoring categories. If the following names aren't available, feel free to read our Waiver Wire Pickups piece that drops every Monday for more ideas. Alright, let's get after it.
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Bats to Stream and Start in Week 5
Seven Game Weeks:
ATL, BAL, CHC, COL, DET, HOU, LAD, MIL, NYY, OAK, PHI, SEA, STL, TB, TEX
Stream of the Week
Justin Upton (OF, LAA): 15% Rostered
The Angels only play six games next week but they have some tasty matchups on paper with a three-game series in Texas against the Rangers and another three-game set vs. the Mariners in Seattle. Upton is only batting .235 with a .310 on-base percentage over 51 at-bats to begin the year but he's slugging .510 and has four home runs to go along with 10 RBI. He's been crushing the ball in the early going, ranking in the 99th percentile in max exit velocity (116.5 mph) and the 82nd percentile or better in average exit velocity (92.7 mph), barrel rate (14.3%), and hard-hit rate (51.4%).
The Angels will be facing some pitchers that have been prone to giving up the long ball. Jordan Lyles (2.1 Hr/9), Mike Foltynewicz (3.3 HR/9), Nick Margevicius (1.5 HR/9), and Justus Sheffield (1.6 HR/9) have all surrendered multiple home runs this season. Lyles has allowed five long balls while Foltynewicz has coughed up a league-leading eight over his four starts. Upton has hit cleanup or fifth all season and should see plenty of RBI opportunities next week; he already has one grand slam this season. Just saying.
Catcher
Dom Nunez (C, COL): 2% Rostered
The Rockies are playing seven games next week, none of which are at home, which is a bummer but they're not facing the toughest of opponents. They kick the week off with a three-game series at San Francisco followed by a four-game set in Arizona to cap things off. One look at Nuñez's rate stats (.235/.263/.534 over 34 at-bats) and you'll understand why he's only rostered in 2% of Yahoo! leagues but he's shown some solid power in the early part of the season with a double, a triple, four home runs, and nine RBI.
Nuñez started the year in an even time split with fellow backstop Elias Diaz, but has now started four straight games entering Friday (4/23). Díaz has yet to hit a home run, has zero RBI, and owns a horrendous .071/.161/.071 batting line over 28 at-bats. Nuñez has the hot hand and should continue to see semi-regular at-bats in the interim. Sure, the 26-year-old hasn't been great, but he's a vast improvement over Díaz. He never hit for a high average in the minors and he does whiff a lot (37.8% K rate) but he just needs to go yard and knock in a few runs to pay off as a streamer. The Rockies are slated to face five right-handers next week and Nuñez is rocking a .974 OPS in 30 at-bats against righties this year. The majority of his production has come at home and there's always the concern of the Coors Field hangover so he could get off to a slow start next week. Just bear that in mind if you decide to pick him up.
Also Consider: Francisco Mejia (C, TB): 2% Rostered
Corner Infield
Jeimer Candelario (1B/3B, DET): 22% Rostered
Candelario was largely forgotten as a fantasy commodity until he re-emerged in 2020. He slashed .297/.369/.503 with seven home runs and 29 RBI across 52 games last year. While he's scuffled a bit over the last two contests (0-for-10) he's still off to a decent start with a .269/.347/.373 batting line to go along with one home run and seven RBI. He's compiled 18 hits in 18 games and while he has struck out 17 times, he's also drawn eight walks. He's also increased his zone contact rate (88%) and his walk rate (10.7%) from last season while decreasing his whiff rate (23.1%).
He's hit no lower than fifth in the lineup this season with the majority of his at-bats coming at third or cleanup. The Tigers should see six right-handed starters next week and Candelario has a .733 OPS over 54 at-bats against righties this year. He'll get to face the likes of Brad Keller, Dylan Cease, Corey Kluber, and Domingo German, all of whom have looked vulnerable in the early part of the season. Candelario is more of a high-floor, low upside stream this week but he'll play every day and get you a minimum of four plate appearances per game.
Seth Brown (1B/OF, OAK): 1% Rostered
The legend of Seth Brown continues to grow. The 28-year-old is slashing a robust .300/.382/.633 with three home runs and five RBI over 34 plate appearances this season. Most recently, he went 4-for-6 with two runs, a home run, and three RBI in the A's series sweep of the Twins. Brown has been an integral part of Oakland's 11-game winning streak and is available in nearly 100% of leagues. He hasn't been with the club long, but has put some impressive stats to date. He's in the 90th percentile in max exit velocity (112.4 mph) and has a .310 xBA to go along with a .423 xwOBA and .616 xSLG.
The A's are one of many teams to play seven games next week and are slated to face at least four right-handed pitchers, which is Brown's forté. He's rocking a 1.054 OPS in 27 at-bats vs. righties in the early going and should get his fair share of plate appearances against the likes of Michael Wacha, Matt Harvey, and Dean Kremer. Brown likely won't start when Oakland is facing a left-hander so keep that in mind if you're in a league that only allows weekly lineup changes. But if you're playing in a format with daily changes then get him in your lineup whenever he's up against RHP.
Also Consider: Yandy Diaz (1B/3B, TB): 4% Rostered; Phillip Evans (3B, PIT): 20% Rostered
Middle Infield
Miguel Rojas ( SS, MIA): 14% Rostered
The Starling Marte (rib) injury, while devastating to the Marlins and fantasy managers alike, has opened up an opportunity for one Miguel Rojas. He was already having a stellar year at the plate before Marte went down, but he's now moved up to second in the batting order in the wake of Marte's injury. Rojas is slashing a cool .316/.409/.439 with five doubles, a triple, six RBI, and three stolen bases with a 4:8 K/BB ratio over 66 plate appearance this year. He's largely flown under the radar because he plays for the Marlins, doesn't have much power, and was batting in the bottom half of the order until recently.
The 32-year-old burst on to the scene last year with a .888 OPS in 40 games and is picking up where he left off this season with a .848 OPS thus far. The ceiling isn't very high, but he's only a liability in one category, home runs. He's in the 98th percentile in strikeout rate (6.1%) and has a 12.1% walk rate to go along with that. He draws the incredible Corbin Burnes on Monday but his matchups should improve throughout the week as the Marlins will face four left-handers over their final five games. Rojas has an absurd .500/.636/.688 batting line over 22 plate appearances against southpaws this year. But we save the best for last as the Marlins face Patrick Corbin on Sunday, May 2. Rojas has gone 11-for-24 (1.269 OPS) against Corbin in his career.
Paul DeJong (SS, STL): 48% Rostered
DeJong barely makes the cut on this list as his roster shares have ticked up significantly the last two days after slugging three home runs and driving in six over a three-game span from April 17-19. He began the year batting cleanup for St. Louis but struggled out of the gate and was hitting as low as .097/.263/.290 back on April 11. His season batting line, while improved, still leaves a lot to be desired at .200/.324/.450 across 60 at-bats. He does have five home runs and 10 RBI, though. For reference, DeJong only hit three home runs in 45 games last season.
DeJong's 32.4% strikeout rate is a career-worst but his 14.1% walk rate is a career-best mark. He has registered a max exit velocity of 109.5 mph and also ranks in the 93rd percentile in barrel rate (18.9%) to go along with a .537 xSLG. For all his flaws as a hitter, his power seems to be back and the Cards face six right-handed starters out of seven games this upcoming week. DeJong has a career .788 OPS vs. righties and has gone deep against Zack Wheeler twice and Aaron Nola once. Wheeler and Nola are two of the tougher pitchers he'll face next week.
Also Consider: Adam Frazier (2B/OF, PIT): 27% Rostered; Nicky Lopez (2B/SS, KC): 2% Rostered
Outfield
David Peralta (OF, ARI): 25% Rostered
There's a very good chance that Peralta is more than 25% rostered by the time you're reading this article; that tends to happen after you go 5-for-6 and drive in seven runs, which is exactly what Peralta did in the D-Backs' 14-11 win over the Reds on Thursday. Prior to his eruption against Cincinnati, the 33-year-old was slashing .213/304/.361 on the season. He now owns a .269/.347/.478 batting line with two doubles, three triples, two home runs, and 16 RBI over 67 AB's. He's also rocking a 12:8 K/BB ratio (17.4% strikeout rate, 11.6% walk rate).
He's in the 94th percentile in max exit velocity (113.8 mph), which is nothing new as he's ranked inside the top 10% in that statistic every year since 2015. The Diamondbacks are facing four right-handers next week and Peralta is a career .305/.358/.507 hitter vs. righties. Chris Paddack, Antonio Senzatela, Jon Gray, and Chi Chi Gonzalez profile as strong matchups for him. He's 12-for-26 (1.020 OPS) in his career against Gray.
Pavin Smith (1B/OF, ARI): 2% Rostered
Smith has been getting regular AB's with first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) on the injured list with an oblique strain. In a more intriguing development, the former first-round pick hit leadoff for the D-backs in their most recent series, a three-game sweep of the Reds. His season batting line is nothing special at .259/.310/.389 (54 at-bats), but his 42% hard-hit rate ranks in the 88th percentile. He's also registered a .306 xBA (88th percentile) and .352 xwOBA.
He's produced a .776 OPS over 46 at-bats against right-handed pitching this year and is facing the same vulnerable righties mentioned in the Peralta section above (Paddack, Senzatela, etc). He doesn't have a very high ceiling but he's worth a dart throw as long as he's hitting leadoff for the surging Diamondbacks.
Also Consider: Austin Riley (3B/OF, ATL): 36% Rostered; DJ Stewart (OF, BAL): 1% Rostered
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