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Below are my top MLB hitter streamer options for Week 16 of fantasy baseball after taking off the short three game week. All players listed here are 50% owned or less in Yahoo leagues and play seven games this week.
Streaming hitters is a great way to increase production and fantasy stats off the waiver wire for your head-to-head matchups. It can also help to mitigate the damage done by underperformers. Check back weekly for my favorite hitter streamers for the upcoming week.
Editor’s Note: RotoBaller’s fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups list is updated every single day. Our awesome writers bring you analysis on hot or emerging starting pitchers, and also all other fantasy positions. You can also download our waiver wire iPhone app for free, and easily stay updated.
Top Hitter Streamers
1. Marlon Byrd, OF, Reds
(4 vs CHC, 3 @ COL) – 41% owned
For the second week in a row, Marlon Byrd sits atop the streaming recommendations. This week, he will play three games at Colorado. On top of that, he will play in a doubleheader, which can lead to better pitching matchups. As a player who has been quietly producing power this season (14 homers despite an extended trip on the DL) after a terrible April, I am hopeful that Byrd has enough in the tank, even at age 37, to produce this week in favorable power parks.
(3 vs Pitt, 3 vs HOU, 1 @ STL) 41% owned
Rios got off to a slow start and missed a large chunk of time this season. This month, however, he is hitting .316 with 3 steals. Rios has a long track record of hitting for a high average and stealing bases. In a good lineup, he should also score some runs. He is only available in this many leagues due to his injury and slow start, but he represents a good speed and average play this week, while likely also producing runs.
3. Kyle Schwarber, C, Cubs
(4 @ CIN, 3 vs PHI) – 40% owned
Schwarber has a 1.042 OPS across 147 minor league games. His worst OPS at any of his five minor league stops was .952. He has a .982 OPS in his six major league games. He was the MVP of the minor league All-Star Game. To put it shortly, he has succeeded literally everywhere he has played. With Montero landing on the DL, Schwarber got the call. While there are concerns about his strikeouts and his usage, he is too good not to try as a streaming option. While his defense has been questioned, that will not hurt you in fantasy circles.
4. David Peralta, OF, Dbacks
(3 vs MIA, 4 vs MIL) – 12% owned
After quietly posting a .770 OPS in 88 games last year, Peralta is now sporting a .816 OPS at the break, to go along with 8 homers and 4 steals. While not all the pitching matchups are set in stone, he should face anywhere from 5 to 7 righties, who he hits considerably better than lefties (.838 OPS vs .729 OPS). Even with Inciarte's impending return, Peralta has shown he can hit lefties well enough to likely manage some playing time against them. With seven home games and somewhat favorable matchups, Peralta is a good streaming option this week.
5. Alejandro De Aza, OF, Red Sox
(3 vs DET, 3 @ HOU, 1 @ LAA) – 17% owned
De Aza appeared in this column a few weeks back when he was 3% owned and was a major success. This week he appears again with a caveat - it is necessary to check as the week approaches how many righties he will face. In 31 games since joining the Red Sox, De Aza has hit .323 with 3 homers and 3 steals. He has a career .757 OPS vs righties, and has shown speed with a little power mixed in. Playing in favorable parks, De Aza should get a look this week so long as a number of lefties are not announced as opposing starters.
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