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Jeff Kahntroff analyzes hitter streamers and starts for Week 2. These bats are potential fantasy baseball waiver wire adds to stream for head-to-head leagues.
Welcome back to my hitting streamers column for Week 2, taking a look at hitters to add or stream off the waiver wire for this week's scheduled games.
To keep things simple, I pick from players who are 50% owned or less and who play at least seven games in the week. If someone jumps off the page at me as a less than seven game player, I may make an exception, but otherwise the advantage in number of games dictates my choices.
With that said, let’s dive right in.
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Bats to Stream and Start in Week 2
Michael Brantley (OF, CLE) 43% owned
The question with Brantley the past couple years has always been the same: can he stay healthy? The answer: I don't know. However, he was just activated on Friday and had two RBI in his first game back. He should be healthy for Week 2, and that's what matters. In just over half a season last year, Brantley posted a line of .299/9/47/52/11. And even though he only played 11 games in 2016, in 2014-2015 he hit .310 and .327 with a combined 35 homers and 38 steals. Brantley is not just a streamer, but rather a buy and hold for as long as he is healthy. Moreover, Brantley gets four games this week against the Tigers, which should provide favorable matchups.
Yonder Alonso (1B, CLE) 50% owned
Like Brantley, Alonso faces favorable matchups this week. Even since buying into the fly ball revolution, Alonso has gone from a prospect whose star had dimmed to an attractive fantasy commodity. Last year, he hit .266 with 28 homers in just 451 at bats. Despite getting off to a slow start to the season (after crushing the ball this spring), Alonso has a lot of talent around him in the Cleveland lineup. Even though it is a small sample, his fly ball rates and hard-hit rates compare favorably to last year, and he is striking out less. Alonso is a definite streamer this week if available, and depending on your league format, he may even be a buy and hold.
Jose Pirela (OF, SD) 7% owned
At 27 years old, Pirela burst onto the scene last year. In just 48 games at AAA, he went .331/13/37/42/8. Then, in 83 games at the MLB level, he posted a line of .288/10/43/40/4. This week he gets three games at Colorado, and then four games against the Giants' staff without MadBum and Shark. He has some power and speed and the potential for a decent average, making him a great streaming option this week in leagues where the top two are unavailable.
Kole Calhoun (OF, LAA) 27% owned
Kole Calhoun's fantasy star has continued to dim, and to be honest, he is not much of a fantasy asset. However, that does not mean he cannot provide value on a given week, and this may be one of those weeks. He faces favorable pitching matchups against Texas and Kansas City, and he has hit at least 17 homers each of the last four years. While he is not much of an asset in any one category, his matchups this week could provide you some value across the board.
Jesse Winker (OF, CIN) 9% owned
Winker was a prospect well-known for his penchant to draw walks, and unfortunately that will not do you much good in 5x5 formats. Moreover, he is part of an outfield that has four members for three spots. So why is he on the list? First, his power started to emerge last year and he hits for a decent average. Second, the Reds lineup has some talent. Third, he faces serviceable pitching matchups. Fourth, there really was not anyone else better available. Here, we are down to the deeper league streamers, and Winker is an option at that point.
Yolmer Sanchez (2B/3B, CHW) 7% owned
Sanchez put up a yawner of a line last year: .267/12/63/59/8. However, at just 25 years old, he could stand to improve on that line this year. With eligibility at two positions, and average pitching matchups, he can provide value across the board. He is not going to excel in any one category, but he can provide overall value if you are struggling to fill MI, 2B, or 3B.
Others
Logan Morrison (1B, MIN) 37% owned - LoMo is off to an ice cold start, but he hit 38 homers last year and should turn it around.
Albert Pujols (1B, LAA) 49% owned - Pujols is a shell of his former self, but he faces good pitching matchups in the middle of a lineup that includes Mike Trout.
Brandon Belt (1B/OF, SF) 46% owned - Belt faces average pitching matchups, but is a solid bat that we have been waiting for years to take the next step. Even if it never happens, he's still a worthy streamer with modest pop.
