RADIO
Welcome back to my hitting streamers column for Week 14, 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.
Streaming can be a valuable tool, by allowing you to feast on favorable pitching matchups and simply have your hitters play more games than your opponents' hitters. If you have the roster space, streaming a hitter can be useful not only to fill a vacant lineup spot, but also to fill in for someone who has five games that week or faces tough matchups. In 5x5 leagues, four of the five hitting categories are counting stats, making the value of extra games significant. Streaming also can allow you to target a specific category of need. This week is a deep pool of streamers without any top end options. With that said, let’s dive right in.
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Bats to Stream and Start in Week 14
Johan Camargo (2B/3B/SS, ATL) - 9% owned
Camargo has emerging power, and he gets to play three games at Yankee Stadium and four in Milwaukee. Even though he only has 11 homers in 141 MLB games and was not a prolific home run hitter in the minors by any means, he has 35 other extra base hits in those 141 MLB games. For a 24 year-old, that is often a sign of power to come. Moreover, he is sporting a 13.0% walk rate with only a 17.1% k-rate this year. Facing average to decent pitching matchups in great power parks, Camargo has a chance to provide average, power and run production this week.
Leonys Martin (OF, DET) - 22% owned
Leonys has done nearly all of his damage against righties this year, and he should face five of them this week. In the past “all of his damage” might lead to a bad but well-deserved joke. This year, however, he has a line of .257/9/44/28/7 in just 69 games. Importantly, he has started stealing more bases of late, with five of those coming this month. Martin is the best stolen base option among the group this month, with the possibility to add elsewhere too. Give him a look.
Eric Thames (1B/OF, MIL) - 47% owned
In just 39 games, Thames has a ridiculous power-speed combination of 10 homers and five steals. Last year, he swatted 31 homers in 138 games. Suffice it to say that the question of whether the power he showed overseas would translate to MLB has been answered. Thames does most of his damage against righties, and he should face five or six of them this week. While his matchups aren’t great and he isn’t known for his batting average, his power and speed nonetheless make him a worthy play this week.
Starlin Castro (2B, MIA) - 47% owned
Castro is one of the rare breed on this list that actually hits for a decent average without doing too much in the power department. In 82 games, he has a line of .276/5/49/31/4. For his career, he is a .281 hitter and he batted .300 last year. He is not likely to hit you a home run, but he adds decent run production and the occasional steal. That has value. Despite not facing great pitching matchups this week, his track record still makes him a decent streaming option.
Jose Iglesias (SS, DET) - 10% owned
After a slow start, Iglesias has been a fantasy producer in the last two months. In May, he posted a line of .283/2/11/12/3. In June, he has followed with .307/0/5/9/5. He is the batting average and speed option on this list, while providing that production at a premium position. He faces decent pitching matchups this week and thus should continue to perform. If speed and average are what you are seeking this week, he is the best option on the list.
Jeimer Candelario (3B, DET) - 21% owned
Candelario is a 24 year-old with 12 homers and 31 extra-base hits in 70 games this year. He walks at an 11.8% clip, putting him on base for scoring opportunities. And while he is hitting just .238 on the year, that looks to be partly due to bad luck. Candelario is not going to win you a batting title, but he should be able to produce a stomachable average while providing good run production and the possibility of a home run. He faces better than average pitching matchups this week, which should provide a nice boost.
Justin Bour (1B, MIA) - 46% owned
While there are still some TBDs on the Marlins’ opposing pitchers this week, it looks like Bour will face mainly righties. Against them, he is batting .259 with a homer every 14.5 at bats this year. On the year as a whole, in exactly half a season of games, he has posted a line .240/13/29/37/0 and has been remarkably consistent month-to-month. This week, I’d expect more of the same: some power, a not-so-great average, some run production, and little speed. While that doesn’t sound like the best salespitch in the world, there is some value here.
Logan Morrison (1B, MIN) - 13% owned
Morrison has been a fantasy liability this year. And I am not confident in him just flipping the switch. On the year, he has a line of .191/9/29/28/1. He isn't even hitting twice his jersey number - how often can you say that? So why is he on this list? Well, he should face six righty pitchers this week in decent matchups. Against righties he has swatted all nine of his homers and compiling the large majority of his run production. This week is a good chance for him to swat a homer and create some runs. If those are the categories where you’re seeking production, he is not a bad gamble.
Others to Consider
Michael Taylor (OF, WAS) - 46% owned - Taylor is part of an outfield with too many outfielders, but he is a good bet for a stolen base nonetheless. On the year, he has a line of .241/5/32/24/23.
John Hicks (C/1B, DET) - 45% owned - If you need a “catcher”, Hicks is a good option. On the year, he has a line of .284/6/26/25/0 and should see regular playing time.
Dansby Swanson (SS, ATL) - 21% owned - Swanson has a .253/7/29/30/3 line on the year and faces decent pitching matchups.
