Head-to-Head Hitter Streamers and Starts Week 23

August 30, 2019

Elliott Baas analyzes hitter streamers and starts for Week 23. These bats are potential fantasy baseball waiver wire adds to stream for head-to-head leagues.

Welcome to the hitting streamers column for the week of 9/3 through 9/9. Whether you're looking to maximize the number of games played, exploit favorable matchups, or fill in for injured players, streaming hitters can be a fruitful strategy for those willing to put in a little work every week.

Keep in mind that this column highlights players owned in approximately 50% or fewer of Yahoo leagues who could present nice streaming options for the upcoming week. This applies to any league but specifically is geared toward head-to-head weekly leagues where matchups are more critical.

If the following names aren't available, don't hesitate to check our famous waiver wire pickups list to find some appealing alternatives. Let's get to it.

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Bats to Stream and Start in Week 23

Seven-Game Weeks: BAL, CHW, CIN, CLE, DET, MIN, OAK, PHI, SF, STL, TB, TEX, WAS

Stream of the Week

Corey Dickerson (OF, PHI): 32% Owned

Dickerson has been on fire in the second half, hitting .320 with seven homers and a .982 OPS since the break. The move to Philadelphia has put Dickerson in a hitter’s park for the first time since his Colorado days, and the change has shown in his performance. He also has seen a big power increase this month, with five home runs and a .305 ISO since being traded to the Phillies. The Phillies are on the road for all seven games, but have four games in Cincinnati, which should be great for Dickerson. He’s been bouncing between cleanup and leadoff for the Phillies, and in either lineup spot, Dickerson is in a premium position. He is an excellent player to stream this week, as he should be a four-category contributor for a high-powered offense.

Behind the Plate

Travis D'Arnaud (C/1B, TB): 36% Owned

Travis d’Arnaud has had a nice career renaissance in Tampa Bay, crushing 14 homers with a .194 ISO in 306 PA this season. He should get plenty of opportunities against bad pitching this week, as Tampa Bay has three games against Baltimore and four games against Toronto. There aren’t many great options at catcher this week, so d’Arnaud is a fine streaming option for those in need.

Roberto Perez (C, CLE): 19% Owned

Perez has been one of my go-to catchers for cheap power all season, and I’m happy to go back to him this week as Cleveland gears up for seven divisional games. They face four bad pitchers to begin the week with a four-game set against the White Sox. The competition becomes a little more formidable in the second half of the week, as Perez and the Indians take on the Twins, but that shouldn’t scare owners off Perez. He’s a nice alternative in leagues where d’Arnaud isn’t available.

Also Consider: Tucker Barnhart (C/1B, CIN): 15% Owned, Kurt Suzuki (C, WSH): 11% Owned

At the Corners

Renato Nunez (1B/3B, BAL): 38% Owned

The Orioles have a seven-game week coming up, with at least three of those games coming against left-handed starters. It’s always good when Nunez faces a lefty, as he’s hitting .277 with a .868 OPS and .259 ISO against southpaws this season. The second half of the week is especially good for Nunez, as Baltimore has four home games against Texas. That series should be high-scoring on both ends, and the Orioles’ cleanup hitter is bound to produce solid power and RBI numbers.

Evan Longoria (3B, SF): 22% Owned

Longoria has been on fire in the second half, hitting .345 with a .928 OPS and .202 ISO since the break. He also has 10 of his 17 home runs since July 1. Longoria hits either cleanup or third for the Giants, and should have plenty of opportunities for run production as the Giants have a seven-game week. Normally, we wouldn’t look forward to seven games in Busch Stadium and Dodger Stadium, but they are both park upgrades for Longoria. He is a sneaky veteran to add for the upcoming week.

Up the Middle

Freddy Galvis (2B/SS, CIN): 48% Owned

Galvis has been hitting well since coming to the Reds, posting a .309 AVG, .873 OPS, and .237 ISO in August. He’s in good shape for a productive week too, as the Reds’ have seven home games, with at least four games against left-handed starters. Galvis has hit lefties well this season, with a .292 AVG and .739 OPS on the year. His ownership level has been on the rise over the last few weeks, but Galvis is just below our streamer threshold and out there in enough leagues that it’s worth checking in on the veteran.

Nick Solak (2B, TEX): 6% Owned

To call 38 PA a small sample size would be an understatement, but it’s hard to ignore Solak’s .387 AVG and 1.048 OPS over his first 38 major league plate appearances. Solak has already catapulted to fifth in the Rangers order, and has every day playing time locked down. The Rangers may have seven road games this week, but with three in Yankee Stadium and four in Camden Yards, owners shouldn’t worry too much about Solak getting out of Globe Life Park. He is out there in over 90% of leagues, and a solid streaming option at middle infield.

Also Consider: Rougned Odor (2B, TEX): 44% Owned, Luis Arraez (2B/3B/OF, MIN): 11% Owned, Eric Sogard (2B/SS/OF, TB): 25% Owned, Willy Adames (2B/SS, TB): 17% Owned

In the Outfield

Willie Calhoun (OF, TEX): 38% Owned

Calhoun was once one of the premier hitting prospects in all of baseball, but some of the shine has worn off over the last two years. That seems to have made people overlook him, because Calhoun has been crushing the ball this season. He has a .290 AVG, 16 home runs, and a .286 ISO in 223 PA this season, along with a 16.6% strikeout rate. He’s been hitting cleanup for the Rangers and should be a key cog in what should be a high-scoring seven-game week for Texas. He’s the top streaming option behind Corey Dickerson.

Mike Yastrzemski (OF, SF): 39% Owned

Yastrzemski has been quite the unheralded surprise for San Francisco this season, with 17 home runs and a .837 OPS in 303 PA. He has had a huge uptick in power this month, with eight home runs and a .357 ISO in August. The Giants have a seven-game week this week, with just one game against a left-handed pitcher. Yastrzemski should get plenty of volume as the Giants’ leadoff hitter, and owners can ride his hot hand into September.

Also Consider: Oscar Mercado (OF, CLE): 30% Owned, Kevin Pillar (OF, SF): 49% Owned, Avisail Garcia (OF, TB): 17% Owned

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