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H2H Category Streamers - Week 3 Waiver Wire

Players to target or add from the waiver wire in Week 3 for fantasy baseball H2H (head-to-head) leagues. Zach Alexander identifies the top pickups of the week based on rising fantasy value.

h2hThere are plenty of strategies that fantasy managers explore in hopes to get an advantage over their opponent. Heavy lineup, heavy starting pitchers, no catcher, all (or mostly) reliever staff, no reliever staff, etc. Even if you play a balanced lineup, injuries can cause holes. A few weeks without a key player won’t kill a season, but why accept losing when you can stream?

Streaming can be a risky business. If you do it right and check the necessary boxes, you can win the week. This column will do most of the work for you. It’ll cover weekly recommendations for when you need: steals, home runs, average, strikeouts, wins, and/or ratios (ERA/WHIP).

All position eligibility and ownership percentages are based on Yahoo! Fantasy leagues.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Steals - Head-to-Head Category Streamers

Kevin Kiermaier (OF, TB) - 25% Owned

The Rays have begun the season with some serious aggression on the basepaths. They’ve stolen 14 bases as a team, which is tied for second in the league. That’s a good place to start. Add that Kiermaier has been good at the plate hitting .282/.341/.564, and we have a recipe for a good probability of a stolen base.

Nick Ahmed (SS, ARI) - 15% Owned

Nick Ahmed has been a nice surprise to start the season as he carries a .314 batting average and .327 on-base percentage through 13 games. Out of the seven steals that the Diamondbacks have, Ahmed has two.

He only stole five last year so this could be a start to an aggressive season on the basepaths. The improvement in on-base percentage combined with the two early steals make for a good stream option this week.

 

Home Runs - Head-to-Head Category Streamers

Hunter Renfroe (OF, SD) - 45% Owned

Renfroe is still under-owned (45% in Yahoo leagues)! He has a 95.8 mph average exit velocity and a .491 weighted on-base average so far this year. He wasn’t playing every day early in the season and that made him less attractive to fantasy owners.

With Franchy Cordero (elbow) and Travis Jankowski (wrist) ailing, Renfroe has the ability to take full advantage of an everyday lineup spot. He’s got four dingers and is slashing .324/.378/.824 so far this season. If you need power there isn’t a much better or widely available player available.

Mitch Moreland (1B, BOS) - 13% Owned

Moreland is currently on a power tear. He’s hit three home runs in his last three games and four in his last five. His matchups are favorable for Monday through Wednesday this upcoming week. The Red Sox visit homer-friendly Camden Yards Monday and lefty-heaven Yankee Stadium for the next two.

Moreland seems to fly under the radar each year as he’s in a platoon with Steve Pearce at first base. Despite this, he racked up 15 bombs last year in 404 at-bats. Be aware that the platoon means he only starts against righties and he’s slashed .246/.331/.450 against them with a .242/.305/.379 slash against lefties in 2018.

 

Batting Average - Head-to-Head Category Streamers

Jorge Polanco (SS, MIN) - 28% Owned

Let’s give this man some love. He’s batting .375 with a couple of taters this year. He’s batting second in a yet-to-heat-up Twins lineup. Polanco is an under-appreciated asset in the fantasy community, mainly based off of his suspension in 2018 for PEDs. This is a 15 homer, 15 stolen base shortstop in a league that is shallow at the position.

He’s hit .276 in his career, and with a full season could put up solid fantasy numbers. A seven-game slate against the Blue Jays and at Camden against the Orioles is the perfect mix for him to rake and see his ownership numbers rise.

Jose Martinez (1B/OF, STL) - 28% Owned

This one is very short term and will require some diligence. Martinez doesn’t play every day mainly because of the Cardinals crowded outfield. However, when he does play, he hits. Last season in 534 at-bats, Martinez hit .305! This is a guy who would easily be 75 percent owned or more if he was in the lineup every day.

Some would argue that Dexter Fowler’s time as the everyday right-fielder is running out as he’s currently hitting for a nauseating .176 average and has backed that up with a slightly better .180 average in 2018. Check to make sure Martinez is in the lineup before grabbing him for a stream and know that he hit righties (.313/.366/.468) better than lefties (.279/.358/.418) in 2018. Those slashes are playable against either hand whenever Martinez is in the lineup.

 

Strikeouts - Head-to-Head Category Streamers

Michael Pineda (SP, MIN) - 36% Owned

He hasn’t pitched a full season since 2016, but that’s fine because we only need him for one week. He’ll line up to see the Orioles on Friday in an obvious play as the birds are hitting .210 against right-handed pitchers this year.

Pineda has struck out 10 batters in nine innings so far, and also posted strikeout rates in the mid-20’s in his time with the Yankees. If Chris Davis even sniffs the Orioles lineup for Friday, you can count on at least two strikeouts from him alone.

Derek Holland (SP/RP, SF) - 10% Owned

Holland has been serviceable so far this year posting a 3.38 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 16 innings. Except for his first start where he let up three runs and was pulled after four innings, he’s had two pretty impressive outings striking out seven Dodgers and nine Padres.

He is expected to line up against the Pirates next weekend who have slashed .194/.280/.209 against southpaws so far. I’d say that’s a pretty safe bet for some strikeouts from a widely available arm.

 

ERA/WHIP - Head-to-Head Category Streamers

Wade LeBlanc (SP/RP, SEA) - 5% Owned

Wade Leblanc has been a solid pitcher for the Mariners rotation. In 27 starts in 2018, he posted a 3.72 ERA. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher but he should line up to face an Angels lineup that is currently slashing .172/.287/.263 against left-handed pitchers. That’s enough to fire him up this week.

Aaron Sanchez (SP, TOR) - 25% Owned

Can we get 2016 Sanchez back? Coming off a nice performance in Boston where he let up only one run in five innings of work, Sanchez is looking much better than he has the past two years. He has dealt with some injuries and pushed himself mostly out of the fantasy conversation. He is expected to face the Twins next week, and although they hit righties well (.269/.326/.484), Sanchez is an option here.

Despite Boston’s struggles early, they’re not an easy lineup to navigate and Sanchez did that well. A nice confidence boost from that start combined with a swinging strike rate of 10.6 percent (9.5 percent is league average) so far this year should give some momentum going into the start against the Twins. If this one does go well, you may consider holding him to see if he can bring the 2016 guy back out.

 

Wins - Head-to-Head Category Streamers

Anibal Sanchez (SP, WAS) - 20% Owned

Is it fair that he had to face the Phillies lineup in both of his first starts? Absolutely not, but this is a good chance to jump on the low ownership and get him going for a stream this week. Sanchez was a stud in 2018 pulling off a major comeback to throw a 2.83 ERA over 136 2/3 innings.

Whether you believe in the re-emergence, Sanchez should face the Marlins next weekend. The Marlins are slashing .188/.262/.301 against right-handed pitchers. There’s a high probability for a win here with the Nationals offense to back him up.

Aaron Brooks (SP/RP, OAK) - 2% Owned

Brooks has had a solid start to the season. He went six innings with no runs against the Red Sox, got hammered for five runs over five innings against the Astros, and managed a quality start, letting up three runs in six innings against the Orioles.

The Blue Jays are up next for the 28-year-old righty and they are dead last in batting average against righties in the league so far. The Jays are slashing a not-so-terrifying .179/.271/.338 against right-handed pitchers. Oh, also give me the guy who has Khris Davis (and the rest of the A’s lineup) mashing behind him for run support.

More Streamers and Head-to-Head League Columns




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Joe Burrow

Bengals Not Closing the Door on Joe Burrow Returning This Year
CFB

LaNorris Sellers to Play Against Missouri?
Kyle Tucker

Progress has "Plateaued"
Isaac Paredes

has "Outside Chance" to Return This Weekend
CFB

Kaidon Salter Expected To Start for Colorado on Saturday
Willson Contreras

Goes on 10-Day Injured List, Done for Season
Justin Fields

Ruled Out for Week 3 Due to Concussion
Jayden Reed

Out Indefinitely After Foot and Shoulder Surgery
Washington Commanders

Preston Smith Signs With Commanders
Trey Jemison III

Joins Knicks on Two-Way Contract
Kevin McCullar Jr.

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Knicks
Matt Ryan

Returns to Knicks on Exhibit 10 Contract
New York Knicks

Alex Len Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Expected to Take on Larger Offensive Role With Hawks
Thomas Sorber

Undergoes Surgery
Dominic Canzone

Has Five-Hit, Three-Homer Game Tuesday
Cal Raleigh

Sets Single-Season Home Run Record for a Switch-Hitter
Jayden Reed

Undergoes Clavicle and Foot Surgeries, Out for Foreseeable Future
Bo Bichette

to Miss Rest of Regular Season
Zach Neto

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Hand Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Out on Tuesday, Dealing With "Significant" Ankle Sprain
Aaron Jones Sr.

Vikings Place Aaron Jones Sr. on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injury
CFB

Diego Pavia Refutes Report of Seeking Seventh Collegiate Season
Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
CFB

Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Darren Waller

Not Expected to Play in Week 3
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension

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