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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 games in the week. These players could provide great value off the waiver wire, particularly in head-to-head leagues, for week 12 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 12
Matt Adams (1B/OF, ATL) - 23% owned
The change of scenery has done wonders for Adams. In 24 games with the Braves, he is hitting .289 with eight homers, 18 runs and 21 RBIs. For his career, he is a .272 hitter and averages 20 homers per 162 games. This week, he faces six righties against whom he has a career .287 average and a .824 OPS (as opposed to .207 and .586 versus lefties). Even though he his pitching matchups are merely average this week, stream him with confidence nonetheless.
Jarrod Dyson (OF, SEA) - 18% owned
Dyson is a speedster. In his prior five seasons, he stole 156 bases despite not being a regular. This year, he already has 14 steals. While he doesn’t pack much power, he is hitting .266 on the year and has a career .266 average versus righties. He will face six righties this week. He should provide acceptable average and is an incredible base-stealing threat, while he could even sneak you a homer (he has three this year). Grab him for speed, and there’s a chance he could provide value in other categories too.
Hernan Perez (2B/3B/SS/OF, MIL) - 48% owned
Perez is an underrated fantasy player. Last year in merely 123 games, he posted a .272/13/50/54/34 line. So far this year, he has a line of .276/9/26/30/5. Yes, Milwaukee does have a logjam of players and Ryan Bruan will likely begin a rehab assignment soon. However, Perez has continued to find playing time, and with how he’s been performing on a team that is surprisingly contending, he should keep seeing regular time. His pitching matchups are merely decent this week, but he is still a strong streaming option this week.
Shin-Soo Choo (OF, TEX) - 16% owned
Choo used to be a fantasy star, posting three 20/20 seasons, two of which came with .300 averages. Less than a month from his 35th birthday, his fantasy star has obviously dimmed. However, he has a strong .257/9/35/30/6 line on the year. He will face at least five righties this week, and his career splits are staggering (.295 average with a .894 OPS versus righties, but merely a .243 average and a .695 OPS versus lefties). That trend has continued this year. Moreover, he gets to play at Yankee stadium, with the short right field porch, and at home. Even though the pitchers he faces are somewhat tough matchups, these other factors are too much to ignore. If he’s available, he’s worth an add this week.
Orlando Arcia (SS, MIl) - 4% owned
Arcia has prospect pedigree, and it’s possible that he is starting to realize that potential. In his last four minor league seasons, he had 91 steals. Last year in only 55 MLB games, he had eight steals. And his power is starting to come around a little, with four homers on the young season. Importantly, he gets seven righties this week, against whom he has a career .269 average and a .764 OPS (as opposed to .226 and .605 against lefties). With decent matchups and a good lineup, he is a good middle infield option this week who is widely available.
Bradley Zimmer (OF, CLE) - 14% owned
Zimmer was called up this year as one of the top prospects in the game. He does have an issue; he strikes out a lot. However, in his last two full minor league seasons, he stole 44 and 38 bases. He also has some power, with 16 and 15 homers in those two years. In just 24 games in MLB this year, he already has four homers and five steals. Thus, it should be clear that what you’re looking at in Zimmer is great speed, with decent power, and poor average. His playing time is mainly coming against right handed pitching, and he is hitting .294 with all four homers against righties. Good for him that the Indians get five righties this week. While he likely won’t give you seven games, he is a nice dual threat facing decent pitching matchups.
Kevin Pillar (OF, TOR) - 43% owned
Pillar is really scuffling lately. However, that is the only reason he’s available in 57 percent of leagues. And as savvy fantasy players, we like opportunities to buy low. Pillar hit .273 with 19 homers and 39 steals over the prior two years. This year, he is off to a .257/8/40/17/10 start. He has some power and speed, and he faces decent pitching matchups. Take this chance to buy low, and he very well could turn it around for you this week.
Also worth monitoring
Hunter Pence (OF, SF) – Pence has almost always hit when healthy, so give him a chance this week against decent pitching matchups.
Ben Gamel (OF, SEA) – Gamel has started the year with a .345/2/29/20/1 line in 23 games, after showing decent promise in the minors (32 steals, 20 homers, and over .300 average last two full seasons).
Trey Mancini (1B/OF, BAL) – Mancini faces tough pitching matchups this week, but he is hitting .298 with 10 homers on the year and has earned regular playing time.
Adam Frazier (2B/OF, PIT) – Frazier hit for average and stole some bases in the minors and continues to do so in the majors, with a .288/3/24/22/5 line to start the year.
Matt Chapman (3B, OAK) – Chapman is a prospect who was just called up, and he has great power offset by a poor batting average.
More Streamers and Head-to-Head League Columns
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