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Hitter Streamers (Week 18): Head-to-Head Leagues

Jeff Kahntroff analyzes hitter streamers and starts for Week 18. These bats are potential fantasy baseball waiver wire adds to stream for head-to-head leagues.

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 18 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).

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Bats to Stream and Start in Week 18

Aaron Altherr (OF, PHI) - 26% owned

The Phillies face favorable pitching matchups this week and six righties. Altherr was just activated from the DL on Wednesday, but in 80 games he has a .290/14/42/44/5 line. He has hit righties significantly better this year and throughout his young career, and he gets to play in Coors Field this week. What is not to like? So long as he has no further issues with his hamstring in the next day or two, stream him with confidence.

Matt Adams (1B/OF, ATL) - 34% owned

Adams has a .286 average on the year with 16 homers in only 250 at bats. Against righties, he’s batting .313 with 13 homers in 201 at bats. This week, he faces five righties in acceptable pitching matchups. With Freddie Freeman back, he is part of an under the radar, but decent, offense. If you don’t need steals, Adams is a good bet in the other four categories.

Maikel Franco (3B, PHI) - 45% owned

Expectations were high for Franco heading into the season. He followed up on a .280/14/45/50/1 line in 80 games as a rookie with a .255/25/67/88/1 line in 2016. His batted ball profile had many predicting a breakout in 2017. However, he has disappointed with a .226/15/39/54/0 start to the year. Nevertheless, it looks like his bat may finally be coming around, and even if the average does not, he still provides some power and run production. Facing favorable pitching matchups, he is a good option.

Nick Williams (OF, PHI) - 27% owned

Williams is a highly-regarded Phillies’ prospect off to a hot start. The 23 year-old is batting .309/4/11/19/0 in his first 22 games. Before the callup, he was posting a .280/15/43/44/5 stat line in just 76 AAA games. While his strikeout rate makes it difficult to see him maintaining a good average, he should provide you with some pop and the chance for a stolen base. The young lefty gets to face six righties and overall favorable pitching matchups, making him worth a look.

Jorge Bonifacio (OF, KC) - 3% owned

Who? Bonifacio is a 24 year-old Royals rookie who has ranked among their top prospects in various seasons. In 76 games, he is hitting .264/14/44/32/1. He has decent power, but is unlikely to produce too much in the way of average. However, the reason he is this high on the list is due to favorable pitching matchups. If you need a lesser-owned player, he is worth the gamble.

Brandon Phillips (2B, ATL) - 29% owned

Phillips represents a change on the list from young prospects to an aging vet. Phillips is 36 years old, but he has back-to-back double-doubles if you will (i.e. years with double-digit steals and homers). In those two years, he had 23 homers and 37 steals. This year, he already has eight homers and seven steals while batting .286 (after averages of .291 and .294 the prior two seasons). He is an unexciting option, but could provide decent value this week.

Joey Gallo (1B/3B, TEX) - 33% owned

If you look at Gallo’s 5x5 statline with your finger over his average, he looks like a superstar. He has also been fairly immune to splits this year, making the decision to play him almost solely based on the difficulty of the opposing pitchers. Gallo takes his .200/25/54/47/6 line up against average pitching matchups this week. He is worth the play if you can stomach the hit to batting average.

 

Also worth monitoring

Marcus Semien (SS, OAK) – Semien already has three homers and three steals in his 17 games back from the DL.

Brandon Moss (1B/OF, KC) – Moss gets to take his lefty power against favorable matchups.

Freddy Galvis (SS, PHI) – Galvis is again flying under the radar, with a .251/11/39/41/7 line to follow up on his 2016 statline of .241/20/61/67/17.

Trey Mancini (1B/OF, BAL) – Mancini has suffered a bit of a power outage lately, but still boasts a .301/16/38/53/1 line in his rookie year.

Danny Valencia (1B/3B/OF, SEA) – Valencia provides multipositional eligibility, and is sporting a respectable .265/11/43/50/1 line.

 

More Streamers and Head-to-Head League Columns

 

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Josh Allen

Seen Limping From X-Ray Room, Says Foot Injury Didn't Affect Him
Geno Smith

Diagnosed With High-Ankle Sprain
John Collins

Won't Face the Pistons on Sunday Night
Trey McBride

Sets All-Time Tight End Receptions Record
Geno Smith

Exits Early With Ankle Injury
DJ Moore

Suiting Up Against 49ers on Sunday Night
Ricky Pearsall

Officially Active for Week 17 Against Bears
George Kittle

Officially Inactive for Week 17
Ja'Marr Chase

Snags Two Touchdowns in Week 17
Geno Smith

Questionable to Return With Ankle Injury
Chris Godwin Jr.

Goes Over 100 Yards in Loss to Miami
Matthew Tkachuk

Returns to Practice
Chris Olave

Extends Touchdown Streak in Win Over Titans
Linus Ullmark

Takes Leave of Absence
Travis Sanheim

Good to Go Against Kraken
Kyshawn George

Ruled Out on Sunday
Zach Charbonnet

Scores Twice in Lead-Back Role on Sunday
Nick Foligno

Set to Return Sunday
Chase Brown

Finds End Zone Twice in High-Volume Role on Sunday
Jock Landale

Out Again on Sunday
Rhamondre Stevenson

Scores Twice, Plays Major Pass-Catching Role
William Nylander

Out Against Red Wings
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Enjoys Another 100-Yard Performance in Week 17
Jared McCann

Available Sunday
Vince Dunn

on Track to Return Sunday
Breece Hall

Not Concerned About Knee Injury
Blake Lizotte

Activated From Injured Reserve
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Buccaneers Not Expected to Fire Todd Bowles?
DK Metcalf

Steelers Won't Void the Guarantees in DK Metcalf's Contract
Drake Maye

Throws for Career-High Five Touchdowns in New York
T.J. Watt

Expected to Play Against Ravens in Week 18
Breece Hall

Injures Knee in Loss to Patriots
Tyler Herro

Showing Progress but Still Without Timetable
CFB

Jay Hill Expected to be Next Michigan Defensive Coordinator
Zach Collins

Exits Late With Lower-Body Injury
Chris Boucher

Ruled Out Sunday for Personal Reasons
Gabe Vincent

Out Again Sunday With Back Issue
Jrue Holiday

Remains Out Sunday Against Celtics
Collin Murray-Boyles

Unlikely to Play Sunday Due to Illness
Andrei Svechnikov

Extends Scoring Run With Three-Point Effort
Auston Matthews

Bags Three Points Saturday Night
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Records First Career Hat Trick
William Nylander

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Saturday
Zach Werenski

Unlikely to Play Sunday
Jake Evans

to Miss 4-6 Weeks
J.J. Moser

Inks Eight-Year Extension
Ajay Mitchell

Cleared to Return Sunday
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic Ruled Out for Sunday
Kyshawn George

Iffy for Sunday
De'Anthony Melton

Sits Out First Leg of Back-to-Back
Jaxson Hayes

Unlikely to Play Sunday
Derrick Jones Jr.

to Return From Knee Injury Sunday
Jock Landale

in Danger of Missing Another Game Sunday
Vince Williams Jr.

Won't Play Sunday
Robert Williams III

Inactive on Sunday
Jerami Grant

to Sit Out Fifth Consecutive Game
Brandin Podziemski

Probable to Play Sunday
Jakob Poeltl

to Miss Another Game Sunday
Ryan McDonagh

Misses Saturday's Action
Jordan Kyrou

Jimmy Snuggerud Back for Blues Saturday
Tanner Jeannot

Misses First Game of the Season
Rasmus Dahlin

Won't Play on Saturday
Elias Pettersson

Ready to Return Saturday
Leo Carlsson

Available Against Kings
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Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
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Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach

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