Below are my top MLB hitter streamer options for Week 22 of fantasy baseball. All players listed here are 50% owned or less in Yahoo leagues and play seven games this week.  With only six teams playing 7 games this week, and one team playing 8 (Colorado), the streaming pool is shallower than usual.

Nonetheless, 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 for Week 22

1. Marlon Byrd, OF, Giants

(3 @ LAD, 4 @ COL) – 41% owned

Yes, Byrd does face Greinke and Kershaw this week. However, he also gets to play four games in Colorado against De La Rosa, Bettis, Flande, and Gray. Byrd already has 22 homers on the year in 103 games after slamming 49 in the previous two seasons. Playing four games in Coors Field makes him a good bet to increase those homer totals this week, along with good run production.

 

2. Nick Hundley, C, Rockies

(4 vs ARIZ, 4 vs SF) 40% owned

Hundley is the latest in the long line of beneficiaries of Coors Field. A career .247 hitter with a .698 OPS, Hundley is hitting .299 with a .806 OPS and 10 homers this year. While it may seem like he is having a breakout year, looking at the numbers more closely reveals the effect of Coors Field: he has a .603 OPS on the road and a .973 OPS at Coors. This week, Colorado has 8 home games on the schedule. As a catcher, Hundley will not play them all, but with his numbers at home, he is still a good streaming option this week.

 

3. Jayson Werth, OF, Nationals

(3 @ STL, 4 vs ATL) – 36% owned

Werth is having an injury-riddled, down year. But if he wasn't, he wouldn't be available in so many leagues. Over the past several years, he has consistently shown that he can give you over 20 homers, over 10 steals, hit around .300, and provide good run production; he is a five category player. While he does not face the best pitching matchups this week, his bat has started to show signs of life lately, and he is worth a gamble in a shallow pool of streaming options.

 

4. Wellington Castillo, C, Diamondbacks

(4 @ COL, 3 @ CHC) – 30% owned

Castillo, who is on his third team of the year, looks like he has finally found a home. After 24 games in Chicago and 6 in Seattle with limited success, Castillo has a .916 OPS with 15 homers in just 57 games with Arizona. Playing four games in Coors, and facing three LHP (.842 career OPS vs LHP, .707 career OPS vs RHP), Castillo is a good bet to do some damage this week.

 

5. Nick Markakis, OF, Braves

(3 vs MIA, 4 @ WAS) – 37% owned

Markakis does not have the power he used to have, but he is a source of good batting average and run production. A career .291 hitter, Markakis is hitting .300 on the year. Even though he only has two homers, he still has managed 52 runs and 48 RBIs. While you should not expect anything spectacular from him this week, he could plug a lineup hole if none of the others are available.

 

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