Top 5 Hitter Streamers For Week 13: Waiver Wire Targets

Normally I use this introductory part of my fantasy baseball sleepers and streamers article to reflect on the current goings on in fantasy baseball, some weeks talking about recent injuries, others discussing players on the rise. Today however is different. Today is just a couple days after Wednesday, June 18^th and on Wednesday, June 18^th Clayton Kershaw pitched one of the most amazing games I've ever had the pleasure of watching. Frankly I think it would be criminal to write an article about baseball without mentioning that no-hitter. If you haven't watched it yet, go find yourself a Dodgers fan because I'm sure they'll have it saved on their TiVo till the end of time (just make sure you update your rosters first).

As always the rest of this article will be devoted to picking out the fantasy wheat from the chaff, as I'll be listing five hitters owned in less than 50% of leagues who I think could be impact bats for fantasy owners this week. If you have injuries to worry about and are having trouble patching your rosters, these are the hitters I'd turn to first.

 

1) Tommy La Stella (ATL, 2B)

2014 Stats: .333 BA, 6 Runs, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB

Ownership: 20.1%

Opponents: (at) Astros, (at) Phillies

Games Scheduled: 7

I can't imagine the Braves, or Fantasy Baseball Owners for that matter, could have possibly hoped for more from Tommy La Stella when he was originally called up to man second base for the aging Dan Uggla. He's provided an excellent batting average at a scarce position in fantasy baseball, and now that manager Fredi González seems to have entrusted him with lead-off duties, his .391 OBP could make him a major runs contributor for fantasy owners. With a full weeks worth of games to take advantage of, La Stella is the first name I'd turn to for help at second base this week.

 

2) Kendrys Morales (MIN, 1B/DH)

2014 Stats: .225 BA, 4 Runs, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB

Ownership: 50.4%

Opponents: (at) Angels, (at) Rangers

Games Scheduled: 6

Since picking him for my article last week, Kendrys Morales seems to have decided to do his best to make me look foolish. I won't hide the fact that he's been terrible so far, because he has. Rather, I'm going to chalk that up to rustiness after the long off-season and trust that the hitter who delivered a .270 batting average with 20+ home run power each of the last two years is still in there. He'll be facing the tattered remains of the Rangers ball club this coming week in the hitters paradise that is Arlington Park. In addition, he'll go up against his former team at Angels stadium where he has been a career .293/.337/.500 hitter over 858 at-bats. That should be more than enough to get his bat going and hopefully some home runs will come along with it.

 

3) Eric Young  (NYM, OF)

2014 Stats: .231 BA, 29 Runs, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 17 SB

Ownership: 17.5

Opponents: Athletics, (at) Pirates

Games Scheduled: 6

Before he went down with the hamstring injury that cost him the the end of May and most of June, Eric Young Jr. was a force to be reckoned with on the base-paths. He stole 17 bases in only 141 plate appearances and assuming he's fully healthy now, which all indications seem to suggest that he is, there's no reason to think that he can't once again be a dominant force in the stolen base category for Fantasy Baseball Owners. This upside does go down admittedly once Juan Lugaras returns to the majors, as he is expected to do sometime this week. Nonetheless if you're looking for some major stolen base help, Young is about as good a bet as you can hope to have, especially while his bat is hot (he's hitting .333 since returning from the DL).

 

4) James Loney (TB, 1B )

2014 Stats: .278 BA, 29 Runs, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 2 SB

Ownership: 29%

Opponents: Pirates, (at) Orioles

Games Scheduled: 7

Three of the last four games have seen James Loney hitting cleanup for the Tampa Rays, a nugget of information which could have a big effect on a player who's highly dependent on his RBI/Run values for his fantasy relevance. With seven games scheduled against two teams who rank in the bottom third in both team ERA and OBP allowed, I think the Rays could be in for a very nice upcoming offensive week. This is even more true once you factor in park advantages: the Rays will enjoy home field advantage for three of their seven games in week 13 with the other four being played in the incredibly hitter friendly Camden Yards. Batting cleanup or fifth, I think Loney is in the right spot to take advantage of these circumstances. I'd add him if you were looking for either batting average or RBI support this coming week.

 

5) Zack Cozart (CIN, SS)

2014 Stats: .237 BA, 22 Runs, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 2 SB

Ownership: 3%

Opponents: (at) Cubs, (at) Giants

Games Scheduled: 5

Cozart is admittedly one of those “play him while he's hot, drop him when he's not” players (full credit to Tristin H. Cockroft for that catchy little jingle). The skill set over a full season isn't terribly impressive, but as anyone who's played fantasy baseball knows, even a mediocre player can be a game changer over small samples, provided they’re locked in. With a .348 batting average over the last seven days and a .286 average over the month of June, I'd say Cozart fits that bill right now. In a very weak shortstop market, I'd take him on the gamble that the streak lasts through next Sunday.