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Whether it’s because of an injury or poor performance, there are always opportunities to stream players off the waiver wire. The best players to stream are those who are under-owned and face appealing match-ups for the upcoming week.
Here are five players who are available in more than half of Fleaflicker leagues and have attractive match-ups during the 12th week of the season.
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Top Hitter Streamers for Week 12
Colby Rasmus (HOU, OF) - 29% Fleaflicker
Rasmus has just nine homers in 220 AB this season for the Astros, but his career rate of 22.59 AB/HR indicates that he should pick up the pace a little in the power department. He is hitting .227/.316/.391, but for a lifetime .243 hitter, those numbers might not improve all that much. However, Rasmus has enjoyed particular success against righties— .243/.328/.422 with eight homers in 173 AB.
The Astros have three games at home against the Angels and three in Kansas City this week. Pitching for those teams will be Jhoulys Chacin, Hector Santiago, Matt Shoemaker, Yordano Ventura, Edinson Volquez and Chris Young. Santiago is the only lefty of the bunch, but his 5.30 ERA make him vulnerable— even for left-handed bats. Throughout his career, Rasmus has had tremendous success against these arms: 4-for-10 with a homer vs. Shoemaker, 2-for-4 with a homer vs. Chacin, 2-for-6 with a homer vs. Young (who has given up a Major League-high 13 HR to LHH), 5-for-14 with a homer vs. Volquez. Past success is never a guarantee for future success, but it does give Rasmus some added appeal this week.
Angel Pagan (SF, OF) - 14% Fleaflicker
Pagan had a down year in 2015, with just three homers and 12 SB to go along with a .262/.303/.332 line, but he is still hitting .281 lifetime with 54 HR. He has bounced back in 2016, despite appearing in just 37 games so far. He has been battling a nagging hamstring injury all year, but when healthy, he has contributed nicely from all different parts of the Giants’ batting order. Pagan is hitting .298 vs. LHP and .280 vs. RHP, so lefty/righty doesn’t really affect his playing time or value.
In week 12, the Giants will play a four-game road series against the Pirates and then host the Phillies for three. Taking the mound will be Jeff Locke (5.92 ERA), Juan Nicasio (5.83 ERA), Francisco Liriano (4.90 ERA), Jonathon Niese (4.60 ERA), Zach Eflin (27.00 ERA in 2.2 IP), Jeremy Hellickson (4.46 ERA) and Aaron Nola (3.51 ERA, but has allowed 10 ER in last 6.2 IP). As long as he remains in the lineup, Pagan should have ample opportunities to reach base and score runs.
Yangervis Solarte (SD, 2B/3B) - 14% Fleaflicker
Solarte has been cold over the last week and a half — 1-for-23 in eight games — but that slump came after a 12-game stretch in which he went 17-for-45 with four home runs. A left thumb contusion that held him out of two games may have something to do with his recent struggles, but he remains in the starting lineup this weekend so it is obviously nothing serious. He has only played in 28 games, but has shown flashes of strong production. Solarte is a switch hitter with power and solid rate stats from both sides of the plate, and can contribute in all five categories.
On the upcoming schedule for the Padres are the Orioles and Reds; both road series. Solarte will face Tyler Wilson (5.01 home ERA), Mike Wright (5.31 ERA), John Lamb (5.14 ERA), Brandon Finnegan (4.28 home ERA), Anthony DeSclafani (2.31 WHIP) and one Reds pitcher to be announced. Of the five known starters, three are righties and two are lefties, but none of them make for particularly daunting match-ups. This week offers Solarte a good opportunity to break out of his slump.
James Loney (NYM, 1B) - 1% Fleaflicker
Loney has been playing just about every day at first base for the Mets since joining the team in late May. Despite the reputation as a defensive-minded first baseman with little offensive abilities, Loney actually holds a .285/.338/.410 career slash line. This year, he is slashing just .240/.290/.339, but those numbers should eventually creep back towards his career averages. He has typically excelled against righties— he hit .300/.351/.412 vs. RHP over the last three seasons with the Rays.
In week 12, the Mets host the Royals and then travel to Atlanta for a four-game series with the Braves. On the hill for those teams will be Ian Kennedy, Danny Duffy, John Gant, Aaron Blair, Julio Teheran and Bud Norris. Duffy is the only lefty of that group. Loney has gone 7-for-16 with a home run in his career against Kennedy, and 14-for-24 with a home run vs. Norris. In a week where four of the opposing pitchers hold an ERA above 4.00, Loney could begin to improve on his rate stats.
Ike Davis (NYY, 1B) - 0% Fleaflicker
Davis was unexpectedly picked up by the Yankees earlier this past week after Chris Parmelee went down with a hamstring injury. With Mark Teixeira still sidelined, Davis is expected to platoon with Robert Refsnyder at first base, with Davis getting the bulk of the starts against righties.
The Yankees will draw Tyler Duffey (5.56 ERA), Ervin Santana (5.10), Ricky Nolasco (5.12), Jon Gray (4.72) and Chad Bettis (5.63) over the next few days. All five of those pitchers are right-handed, meaning Davis could play in all five games. For fantasy owners in deep leagues still looking to replace Teixeira or Lucas Duda with some cheap power, Davis could be an option as a streamer. With five games in Yankee Stadium on the schedule, Davis is a candidate to drive a couple of balls over the short porch in right field.
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