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Welcome back, RotoBallers! As a reminder, in this piece we're looking for weekly streamers in head-to-head leagues, which means players who are 50% owned or less in Yahoo! leagues and who have seven or more games in the week. These players could provide great value off the waiver wire, particularly in head-to-head leagues, for week 11 of the 2017 baseball season.
To catch my streamers column each and every week, add me on Twitter @rotonails and always check the RotoBaller MLB page.
With that said, let’s dive into the stream(ers).
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Bats to Stream and Start in Week 11
Max Kepler (OF, MIN) - 30% owned
Kepler has a .267/7/29/26/3 line to start the year. This week, he has eight games! He will face anywhere from five to seven righty starters, and he has mashed them, hitting .301 with a homer every 22 at bats this year against them. Add him and you should receive solid production in four categories this week, with the reasonable possibility of a stolen base.
Didi Gregorius (SS, NYY) - 39% owned
Through 35 games, Gregorius has posted a .319/5/20/21/1 line. In 153 games last year, it was a .276/20/68/70/7 line. It’s safe to say that the 27 year-old has arrived as a fantasy asset. With seven games against decent pitching matchups this week, he makes for a solid streaming option.
Michael Taylor (OF, WAS) - 4% owned
As is common of many players in today’s game, Michael Taylor has a strikeout problem. However, his is more severe. For his career, he has a 32.1% k-rate, and this year it sits at 32.9%. So why do I recommend him? Because despite the strikeouts likely leading to a low average, he has a great combination of power and speed and plays in a spectacular lineup. In 2015, he had 14 homers and 16 steals in 138 games. Last year, he had seven homers and 14 steals in only 76 games. This year, it’s six homers and three steals in 47 games. Expect more of the power/speed combo this week, together with serviceable run production. Just don’t bet the farm on him putting up a good batting average.
Trey Mancini (1B/OF, BAL) - 10% owned
Scouts were tough on Mancini in the minors. They criticized him for having too long of a swing. They further criticized him for not having enough power for a first baseman. And they said he was a poor defender. Well, the latter may be true, but I have not seen the former. To me, Mancini has great plate coverage and sprays the ball to all fields. In 42 games (but only 154 plate appearances), he is hitting .296 with nine homers and 30 RBIs. He has beat out Hyun Soo Kim for near everyday playing time, and he has continued to hit. Despite the fact that the Orioles face five righties and he started the season as a platoon bat, he is worth the gamble with his increase in playing time as of late.
Joe Mauer (1B, MIN) - 6% owned
Mauer would be higher in this week’s ranks if these rankings were not for 5x5 leagues. The Twins play eight games, will face from five to seven righties, and face favorable pitching matchups. Over the past two years, Mauer has crushed righties while struggling mightily against lefties. The problem is, that while Mauer can put up average and run production, he doesn’t steal bases and has marginal power. If you are seeking a player to provide a decent average with good run production, and the possibility of a homer, Mauer is a good choice.
Tim Anderson (SS, MIN) - 37% owned
The 23 year-old Anderson turned on the jets in May, posting a .316/4/11/9/1 line for the month. Anderson has prospect pedigree and is finally starting to show a power/speed combo while mixing in some average after a slow start to the year: .257/6/26/17/4. Add this speedster (49 steals in the minors in 2015) and hope for decent production this week against decent pitching matchups.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN) - 25% owned
Byron Buxton is on the list again? To be fair, while he has appeared on the list a couple times, he isn’t a regular. And the Twins have eight games this week. Moreover, despite his struggles, he has nine steals on the year. The 23 year-old is still striking out at an alarming rate, but his stolen bases give you a solid floor (even though he is a dart throw to contribute in any other categories). Consider him a high-risk, high-reward play this week and ask yourself one question: are you feeling lucky?
Mitch Moreland (1B, BOS) - 13% owned
The Red Sox face seven righties this week, and the pitchers are favorable matchups. Moreland specializes in righty-mashing, with a career OPS over .100 higher versus righties (.783) than lefties (.677). While he is not particularly strong in any one category, he can provide serviceable home run production and overall run production, while hitting about .260. With favorable matchups this week, maybe expect even a little more. The only issue for Moreland is that the Red Sox play two games in Philadelphia this week, and he may very well find himself riding the pine.
Also worth monitoring
Andrelton Simmons (SS, LAA) – Simmons headed into Friday with a .276/6/25/25/7 line, but he typically fares better against righties and only faces three this week.
Brandon Crawford (SS, SF) – Crawford can put up a handful of steals with double-digit power over the course of a season while hitting .250, and he gets to play four games in Coors this week.
Hunter Pence (OF, SF) – The oft-injured, former fantasy star gets to play four games in Coors this week. Based on his pedigree, he could be worth the chance despite a disappointing stat line this season.
Leury Garcia (OF, CHW) – Garcia has been a fantasy surprise to start the year, with a .298/6/26/21/6 line, and he faces decent matchups this week.
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