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Welcome to the top hitter streamers column for Week 7 of the MLB season (5/10 through 5/16). This weekly piece should be helpful for anyone looking to gain an edge in their league. If you need a fill-in for an injured player or want to exploit some plus matchups to gain an edge on your opponent then you're in the right place. I'm here to help you make some informed decisions to remain competitive in your league. This column aims to help you stay ahead of the game and get an early jump on those waiver claims before your league mates.
Remember that this piece is forward-looking and a lot can happen over the course of a week. Potential pitching opponents, batting orders, and projected number of at-bats are all subject to change so make sure you're following the @RotoBallerMLB on Twitter to stay up to date!
Disclaimer: I am only highlighting players that are currently rostered in 50% or less of Yahoo! leagues, meaning you should have a decent chance of picking these guys up on the waiver wire. These recommendations should apply to most league settings and formats as I'm looking for players that can help you across a variety of scoring categories. If the following names aren't available, feel free to read our Waiver Wire Pickups piece that drops every Monday for more ideas. Alright, let's get after it.
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Bats to Stream and Start in Week 7
Seven Game Weeks:
ARI, BOS, CWS, CIN, COL, HOU, KC, MIA, PIT
Stream of the Week
Willie Calhoun (OF, TEX): 13% Rostered
Calhoun has quietly been raking since being activated from the injured list back on April 17. He was sidelined the first two weeks of the season with a groin strain but has looked excellent since returning. He's currently slashing an impressive .328/.397/.492 with three home runs, seven RBI, and a 10:6 K/BB ratio over 61 at-bats. The sample size is smaller than the average player's due to the missed time so we should take the numbers with a grain of salt. But a .475 xSLG, .386 xwOBA, and 43.8 % Hard Hit rate back up his numbers.
Calhoun has always profiled as a contact hitter who's tough to strike out (16.8% career K rate) so you can expect a solid batting average. He's also recorded an 8% Walk rate in the early going, the highest mark of his young career. Since coming off the IL Calhoun has pretty much hit leadoff every time the Rangers have faced a right-handed starter and they're slated to face five next week between the Giants and Astros. He's collected a hit in 14-of-16 games this year with five multi-hit games over that span. Calhoun has always been an intriguing player from a fantasy perspective but poor injury luck has always stunted his potential. I like him as a streamer next week but he could be a season-long hold if things continue to break right.
Willie Calhoun with the tomahawk chop ? to give the Rangers (+155) the lead in extras!
Can Texas pull off the sweep on the road in Minnesota? pic.twitter.com/jmb60JLIYn
— The Game Day MLB (@TheGameDayMLB) May 6, 2021
Catcher
Tucker Barnhart (C, CIN): 27% Rostered
The Reds are one of nine teams to have seven games next week and the seven-game slate means more to the catchers than any other position since they take more days off than your average player. Barnhart (.323/.397/.554 with 3 home runs and 11 RBI over 65 at-bats) and Tyler Stephenson (.364/.417/.477 with one HR and 6 RBI over 44 AB's) are both having stellar seasons for the Reds but the former has edged him out in playing time so far and he'll likely get more plate appearances next week. Cincinnati hits the road next week with a three-game set in Pittsburgh followed by a tasty four-game series vs. the Rockies at Coors Field.
If the schedule holds the Reds should face seven right-handers next week, which favors Barnhart. He's slashing .327/.413/.527 with a pair of home runs and seven RBI (63 plate appearances) vs. right-handed pitching this year. He's facing a handful of pitchers that rely heavily on their fastballs such as Mitch Keller (57.4%), German Marquez (48.5%), Chi Chi Gonzalez (50.4%), Antonio Senzatela (46.6%), and Jon Gray (45.8%). Barnhart has a .533 xSLG and .383 xwOBA against fastballs this year and is set up for success next week.
Also Consider: Dom Nunez (C, COL): 14% Rostered
Corner Infield
Andrew Vaughn (1B/OF, CWS): 19% Rostered
The preseason hype towards Vaughn quickly died down once the season began and the fantasy community realized he wasn't the everyday player many expected him to be. He struggled to make an impact in the batter's box out of the gate, an issue that was likely amplified by the lack of consistent at-bats. He was hitting as low as .188 back on April 20 and couldn't get into a rhythm while adjusting to major league pitching. The recent injury to Luis Robert has cleared a path for Vaughn to play every day. He's started the last three games in left field and has bat seventh, sixth and fifth, respectively. Due to injuries, the White Sox are essentially forced to start Vaughn at this point, regardless of how manager Tony La Russa felt about him at the beginning of the season.
Chicago plays seven games in six days, including a double-header vs. the Royals on May 14. This pick isn't so much matchup-based as it is betting on the 23-year-old's talent. He's got his season batting line up to an average .241/.338/.328 with a pair of RBI and a 19:7 K/BB ratio over 68 plate appearances, which is nothing to write home about but it isn't a colossal failure either. He should continue to see regular playing time and still has very low ownership in Yahoo! leagues. He's yet to hit his first Major League home run and this could be a chance to roster him at a very low opportunity cost. Don't forget that he was Chicago's number one prospect and arguably the best hitter in college baseball during his three years at UC Berkeley.
Andrew Vaughn has hit safely in seven of his last nine games, going 11-29 (.379/.419/.419) with three doubles, two walks and four runs scored.
⏰: 5:40 p.m. CT
?: @NBCSChicago +
?: @ESPN1000 pic.twitter.com/yh7BaEKM21— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 4, 2021
Also Consider: Jeimer Candelario (1B/3B, DET): 18% Rostered; Brandon Belt (1B/OF, SF): 21% Rostered
Middle Infield
Brandon Crawford (SS, SF): 6% Rostered
A look at Crawford's season numbers may surprise you. The 34-year-old shortstop is slashing a solid .244/.337/.500 over 78 at-bats and has found his power stroke with six home runs and 14 RBI. He's also swiped three bases for good measure. He hit eight home runs in 54 games last season so that gives you an idea of the pace he's on. The expected stats back up his production as he's rocking a .266 xBA, .370 xwOBA, and .523 xSLG. The Giants host the Rangers for a quick two-game set to begin next week and finish with a four-game series in Pittsburgh.
If the schedule holds, the Giants should face 5 right-handed starting pitchers and Crawford has excelled against righties this season with a .286/.403/.536 slash line to go along with four home runs and nine RBI. He's always been a streaky hitter and he's in the midst of a hot spell with a 1.931 OPS over his last six games. Obviously, that's unsustainable but his 12.1% Barrel rate, a career-high, and 11.2% Walk rate tell us that he's been locked in at the dish all season. Keep an eye on how he performs in the Giants' weekend series vs. the Padres. If he continues to play well then you may want to scoop him up off the wire sooner than later.
Brandon Crawford - San Francisco Giants (6) 2-run. pic.twitter.com/rBe9gbT5m5
— MLB HR Tracker (@hr_mlb) May 5, 2021
Also Consider: Jurickson Profar (2B/OF, SD): 26% Rostered; Matt Duffy (2B/3B, CHC): 2% Rostered
Outfield
Robbie Grossman (OF, DET): 5% Rostered
Grossman isn't setting the world on fire with his .212 batting average but his .366 on-base percentage and seven stolen bases certainly will play in fantasy leagues. The Tigers host the Royals and the Cubs for three games apiece starting on Tuesday (5/11) and are slated to face at least three pitchers that struggle with walks: Brady Singer (3.4 BB/9), Brad Keller (4.8 BB/9), and Trevor Williams (4.7 BB/9). In addition to that, Grossman is 8-for-23 with a 1.053 OPS vs. Danny Duffy in his career.
Grossman is a preferred play in OBP leagues as his batting average could hamper you but he's entrenched atop the Tigers' batting order and should be primed to get on base at a high clip, score runs, and steal some bases for you. He should provide a stable floor next week with his current 24% K rate and 18.4% walk rate (career-high).
Josh Naylor (OF, CLE): 4% Rostered
Naylor has been on a heater over his last nine games, picking up hits in six contests, including four multi-hit performances. He's slashed .324/.361/.618 with four doubles, two home runs, and six RBI in 34 at-bats over that nine-game span. After a suboptimal start to the season, Naylor is starting to make some noise at the plate and next week sets up nicely for the 23-year-old.
The Indians will face the Cubs for a quick two-game series then head to Seattle for a four-game set. Probable right-hander starters Adbert Alzolay (4.50 ERA), Zach Davies (8.22 ERA), Chris Flexen (3.33 ERA), and Ljay Newsome (6.59 ERA) have all looked vulnerable or have just plain struggled in the early going. Naylor has been a solid hitter with a Max Exit Velocity of 114.7 mph (95th percentile), 43.1% Hard Hit rate, and an average launch angle of 11.1 degrees, which are all significant increases from last season's numbers. Naylor should provide a high floor next week given the recent show of good form coupled with the underwhelming pitchers he's expected to face.
Also Consider: Jake Marisnick (OF, CHC): 3% Rostered; Adolis Garcia (OF, TEX): 44% Rostered
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