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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 readily available in Fleaflicker leagues and have attractive match-ups during the eighth week of the season.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily. Prefer using your phone? Our free waiver wire app is available for download in the Apple & Android Stores.
Top Hitter Streamers for Week 8
Jay Bruce (CIN, OF) - 76% Fleaflicker
Bruce has fallen off mightily since his third consecutive 30-HR season in 2013, but he is enjoying a decent resurgence in 2016. He owns a .273/.329/.525 line with eight homers and 27 RBI despite hitting in a poor Reds offense. He typically struggles against left-handers, but has slashed .323/.382/.484 against them so far this year. For the month of May, Bruce has hit .297/.348/.525 with four bombs and five multi-hit games.
Ignoring Clayton Kershaw on Monday, the Reds will face Ross Stripling, Scott Kazmir, Zach Davies, Chase Anderson and Jimmy Nelson. The four arms in the middle of the week all have an ERA above 4.80, so Bruce should be able to keep his bat hot.
Bruce missed Saturday’s game with a sore knee, but he is expected to be back for Sunday’s tilt. If you have a streamable outfield spot and Bruce is available in your league, he should be the one to fill that spot for the entire week.
Josh Harrison (PIT, 2B/3B) - 51% Fleaflicker
Harrison has quietly developed into a very strong hitter over the last three years, with Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte garnering most of the attention in Pittsburgh. Harrison is hitting .303/.333/.408 over his first 152 AB (.393/.433/.536 vs. LHP), with two home runs and six stolen bases. He endured a cold streak earlier in May, but has hit safely in six of his last seven games.
This upcoming week, the Pirates draw Shelby Miller, Rubby De La Rosa, Patrick Corbin, Cole Hamels, Derek Holland and one pitcher who has yet to be determined. Corbin, Hamels and Holland are all lefties, and Cesar Ramos, who could potentially be the other starter for the Rangers in that series if Yu Darvish is not ready, is also left-handed. Harrison has been a solid play all year. In a week in which he could potentially face four lefties, he is an absolute must-start player.
Colby Rasmus (HOU, OF) - 46% Fleaflicker
Despite playing on a team with Evan Gattis, Luis Valbuena, George Springer and Carlos Correa, Rasmus leads the Astros in home runs with 33 since the start of the 2015 season. The 29-year-old Rasmus is hitting .244/.331/.472 with eight home runs and 28 RBI in 123 AB against righties. Only David Ortiz has more RBI vs. RHP this season. Rasmus was blessed with the opportunity to bat cleanup behind Jose Altuve, Springer and Correa and has taken advantage of his run-producing opportunities.
This week, the Astros draw Chris Tillman, Tyler Wilson, Mike Wright, Matt Shoemaker, Jered Weaver and Nick Tropeano — all of whom are righties, none of whom are known to be dominant starters. Shoemaker, Weaver and Tropeano have all, on average, allowed at least one home run per start, so Rasmus could find himself on a power surge late in the week.
Angel Pagan (SF, OF) - 33% Fleaflicker
Pagan was hitting .315/.366/.457 before missing time with a hamstring injury, but he is just 4-for-22 since returning. However, three of those hits have come in his last two games. The same hamstring caused him to miss Saturday’s game, but he is expected to return to the lineup on Sunday. The Giants are 9-1 in their last 10 games, and should continue to put up runs over the next two series, when they host the Padres and travel to Colorado.
On the bump for those teams will be Drew Pomeranz, Andrew Cashner, James Shields, Tyler Chatwood, Chad Bettis and Chris Rusin. The three Rockies’ pitchers — Chatwood, Bettis and Rusin — have all struggled mightily at home, Cashner owns a 7.14 ERA on the road, Shields has been wildly inconsistent, and Pomeranz allowed Pagan to collect two hits in as many plate appearances earlier this season. Playing at home, where he is hitting .327, and at Coors Field should help Pagan pick up the pace.
Jonathan Villar (MIL, SS) - 16% Fleaflicker
Villar has been a major piece in a surprisingly decent Brewers offense this year. The 25-year-old shortstop owns a .293/.391/.400 slash line with 18 R, 13 RBI and 14 SB in 150 AB. Only Jose Altuve (15) has swiped more bags. A switch hitter, Villar has had more success from the right side of the plate, but a .354 OBP against righties is more than respectable. Since the start of May, he is hitting a robust .329/.417/.425.
On the schedule for the Brewers this week will be the Braves and Reds, who will send out Julio Teheran, Mike Foltynewicz, Matt Wisler, John Lamb, Alfredo Simon and Brandon Finnegan. Excluding Teheran, who is enjoying a nice bounce-back season, there is very little experience in that group. Of the remaining pitchers, only Simon, whose 10.34 ERA is the highest among all starting pitchers, has at least 160 innings under his belt. Expect Villar to continue his hot hitting against a group of young pitchers in Week 8.
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